Inspiration: Wards S/S 1960

I have always been a black and white type of person. A few years back I took a black and white film photography class. I've always viewed it as more flattering, artistic and mysterious and beautiful than color. But recently I've felt differently. Maybe the thing that changed my mind was those beautiful color photos of Audrey Hepburn in Rome or those lush vintage covers of "Holiday" magazine. Or maybe it's just spring in the air. Either way I've been marathoning technicolor movies for the last few days and am growing a great deal fonder of them. A few I've watched: Tonight and Every Night, North by Northwest, How to Marry a Millionaire.
Anyway, keeping in the spirit of things here are some of the lovely outfits from a Montgomery Ward catalogue, found for me by my aunt and uncle, P and D.

Beneath the stars

My two favorite fashion elements of the 1920s (and 1930s for that matter) are the use of the color white and of shiny embellishment. When I got my hands on an honest to goodness 20s dress, I couldn't resist combining these two things, which resulted in the pictures below.

(Also featured: Charlie Chaplin + co. in the 1910s, a woman on a paper moon in the 1920s)

Inspiration: Prada Candy

Wes Anderson directed a series of commercials shot in French for Prada, starring the delightful Lea Seydoux (of "Midnight in Paris" fame). Shot in Paris, Lea as Candy is pursued by two besotted Frenchmen. They bake her cakes, go to movies with her, etc. It is so so charming. I did a few screen caps for the benefit of the readers, but you still need to watch the commercials.

In somewhat unrelated news, next year as a graduation present I'm getting a trip to Paris. You have no idea how excited I am! (Well maybe you do.)

Spring estate saling in the suburbs

There are a lot of downsides to living in a smallish town, even if it is rather close to Seattle. But one of the few upsides is the one seriously amazing estate sale I (and my family of course) manage to find every spring. It is not a yearly thing put on by a certain organization, it just happens. This years estate sale had loads of vintage clothing and midcentury patterns. The clothing dated all the way back to the 1910s up to the 1970s. I found 3 patterns, a camisole from the 1910s (in need of alteration in the bust, but after all it was $2.50), a stellar flowered 50s dress, a vintage silk scarf from my home state, and a 20s dress (to be featured in an upcoming post). My best friend found a silk 20s blouse she was quite besotted with and every member of my family found something they liked. The family that estate sales together stays together, I think.

When I was young I thought we were power lines

Yesterday it was a beautiful day and the following happened.
- Greenlake
- 2 Mighty-O donuts were eaten.
- A trip to the U-District
- High waisted black jeans were purchased.
- A slice of Pagliacci's was consumed.
- vintage shop browsing
- Trader Joe's
- A flower was stolen by yours truly.
- vegetable potstickers for dinner
- Mad Men episodes with my best friend
- 2 A.M. Ice cream binge with said friend.

I took some pictures with my trusty iPad mini. Voila!

Estate sailing

Today my family, a friend, and I went estate sailing. We started in the Lake Forest Park area and then went to Renton. One house in particular, struck my fancy. It was essentially a 1960s time capsule, meaning almost everything was from the 60s, and if not from then than earlier. It was so much fun to dig around in and the prices were dirt cheap. There were a ton of great 50s and 60s fashion magazines but I was too overwhelmed by everything and terrified by the prospect of going up the steep and crowded staircase again, so I don't buy any. Ultimately I found three books, three sewing patterns, two 60s blouses, a vintage (possibly late 50s) cape, and a new comforter.

Et voila!

Has anybody seen my gal?

While on a day trip to Tacoma (pictures later), I found a 1920s cloche for $9! It's very possibly the best vintage find of my life. Tacoma is a much more interesting city than I thought. It has so many vintage malls. In this one chunk of Broadway there are at least 10 of them. There were all of these beautiful old theatres and tall twenties apartment buildings. Although it was a Saturday afternoon, downtown Tacoma had almost no other people in it. Strange. Anyway this is what I wearing on that day (minus my blue coat).

Photographs by Amelia.

Brimless cloche: vintage
Shirt : borrowed
Skirt: H and M
Tights + flats: target