shop update.

I haven't been updating as much as I'd like since I moved, mostly because the color of my walls is so hard to work with for shop photos. Depending on the garment color, sometimes it comes out a light, pretty custard-y yellow, and other times it comes out a harsh, dark mustard yellow. Which is fine as a wall color but a bit too severe for shop photographs and definitely not as soft as I'd like. It made it very difficult to create a cohesive look in my shop. 

So...I finally gave up trying to work with my stubborn, difficult walls and painted my shop-photo wall WHITE. It's so much easier to work with now, and I'm still working on it but I think it looks much, much better. Now I'm motivated to list more often (and shop for my shop more) which is a good thing because after all, this is my job.

This week's shop update is filled with pretty 1950s and 1960s dresses with bold prints- perfect for Spring and Summer. A bit of a mish-mash but I wanted to pile in as many new listings as I could just to get caught up. The next one will be a bit more coordinated. All dresses are available in the shop now.

SHOP HERE

shop update preview.

We had a bit more sun today, so I was finally able to photograph this weeks' shop dresses. All of the dresses shown (except the blue beaded one- I decided to keep that one for now!) will be in the shop this evening or tomorrow at the latest. If you have any questions about one of the dresses or would like to reserve something, you can contact me here.

I still haven't gotten around to putting my shelves up yet...I need to borrow a screwdriver (and maybe a ladder) but I think I'll have a little helper this weekend to assist with hanging shelves and picture frames and mirrors and all the pretty little things that make houses cozy, so expect house-progress updates next week!

my new little aloe plant and peace lily that are waiting for homes!

fall is kind of here.

"Fall" is finally here. Florida Fall, at least. which means that the weather is really nice, way less humid but still pretty warm during the day, and a little bit chilly at night. I'll take what I can get. I've been in a slump lately, and this weather definitely changes my mood. 

I spent all week soaking and fixing up some really pretty things for the shop, but the light was so weird all weekend and all my shop photos came out looking green-ish and crazy, like they were taken underwater or. something. I tried again today and the photos came out a little better, so hopefully I'll have those new things listed by the end of the week. Just about eight to ten things, a few perfectly worn-in cotton 1940s dresses, a long edwardian skirt, a 60s jacket, a few pairs of boots and oxfords, and an edwardian tea dress. The palette is mustard, cream, sage, lavender, and brown, and I think those colors are really nice for early Fall. 

I'm trying to get as much done this week as possible, because one week from tomorrow, I'll be flying off to New York for the week. I'm verrrrrry excited. I haven't been there in over three years, and I've never been in the Fall or Winter, which I'm MOST excited about. I can't wait to bundle up and dress for actual Fall weather and stroll the streets of bklyn with my bestest gal. Some things on the itinerary are pretty dress shops, brunch at a french cafe, a dessert date at The Chocolate Room, caramel apple making, and if I'm lucky, a visit to the MET. (all of the best things, basically)

This dress I'm wearing is a dress from the shop, I hated the photos I had because you couldn't tell how cute it really was so I decided to throw it on and take some new ones today since the weather was so nice. It's kind of silly of me to be selling it because this is one of my favorite kinds of dresses, but I'm trying to be better about not keeping every single thing. I do have a shop to run, afterall. So you can find it here.

mod.

i went through a pretty big 'mod' phase years and years ago (didn't everyone?), when all i wore were tights paired with tiny mini dresses and black or silver flats, big rings and cat-eye liner (which i still do). my favorites styles are still split between the 60s and the 20s, i don't find the 1960s nearly as enthralling and romantic as the 1920s and other early 20th century decades, but i still find myself gravitating towards these pieces when i come across them. i found these pretty, glossy patent heels at the estate sale i visited last weekend, and i just couldn't resist. i've been searching everywhere for a pair just like the black ones, but unfortunately these are not my size. both of these are in the shop right now.




                           black 1960s strappy maryjane heels   chartreuse 1960s heels

new year.

these are sort of embarrassing and i can't believe i'm posting them, but they are the only photos i have of myself from new year's eve (standing on a toilet, no less) and i guess i don't mind that they're a bit silly, i think maybe they sum up my year pretty well. i took these before i made a grocery store run to grab some last minute NYE essentials, and i just wanted to be comfortable and a little bit cute.

pink knit 1960s sweater ∙ thrifted
 black suede 1940s heels ∙ ebay

1960s carpet bag ∙ dear golden

i actually spent new year's eve alone at home, drinking woodchuck and champagne and watching the rules of attraction and probably my favorite modern film of all time (among a few others), eternal sunshine of the spotless mind, and i wouldn't have had it any other way.

i don't make resolutions, but i do make lists. i'm constantly making them, i'm always jotting down things i would probably otherwise forget. but, there are two kinds of lists, the necessary lists that serve as reminders or dictate what is to be done, and then there is the fun kind. wishlists, pretty things you want to buy, fun things you want to do, places you want to go- and those are the best kind. here's my list for the new year, a little bit boring, but mostly fun, things that i'd like to do, eventually, one day, in the future, no pressure.

1. thrift out of town more. take day trips to far away towns and dig through shops to which i've never been and visit estate sales in places i've never seen.

2. take swing dancing lessons. again. when i was ten, my little friends and i went to a one-day swing dancing lesson, and it was amazingly fun, and somewhat easier than i imagined (the beginning stuff, at least). i think i'd enjoy it even more now.

3. take a train somewhere. anywhere.

4. finally watch boardwalk empire. who would have thought that my obsession with the 1920s and my infatuation with michael pitt could come wrapped up in one package that also includes steve buschemi and martin scorsese? i started to watch the first episode online but it cut off midway, but what i saw so far was amazing. which brings me to my next goal...

5. find more pieces from the 1920s. this has always been my favorite era, but i've found it so hard to come across garments/shoes/accessories from this era lately. my ultimate vintage-related goal for the year (aside from business things) is to begin building a pretty substantial collection of amazing 1920s pieces.

6. speaking of business related things, i really want to focus more energy on my shop this year. i had a good momentum going for a while, but got pretty discouraged around the holidays and kind of neglected it a bit. i have so many lovely pieces to list, so i'm planning to start having bigger updates, and getting some of my stock listed.

kind of awful photo of an amazing lavender 1930s dress that needs some tlc

7. i guess maybe i can squeeze in one resolution-type goal. i'm going to try to be less hard on myself in general, especially when it comes to things that aren't my fault, and things i have no control over. i know that was as vague as it could possibly be, but i think it certainly applies.

happy new year!!

also,

8. how could i forget to include my objective to obtain and master the banjo? my effort to acquire one via ebay has thus far been fruitless, but i'm not giving up! i WILL learn how to play before 2011 is over, and fulfill my dream of starting a jug band. (i'm serious.)

9. i don't have a number 9 but i hate even numbers so i'm sticking this here anyway. maybe i'll think of something else i left out and come back and fill this in with a proper goal.

xx