I wish...

I wish this outfit was in my size! Cutest cowgirl outfit ever! I almost want to buy this for my future, unborn child... but I have too much stuff as it is. Yay for TheVintageCookieJar.

Elaborate Jellies!!

Aren't these amazing? Oh, Vivienne Westwood, what a gal! If only these adorable shoes were not $100. They may be made sustainably but how sustainable is it for a parent to pay $100 for a pair of shoes that the kid is going to outgrow in 4 months? All the same, they are hard to resist.

Lucky for us they come in big girl sizes and our feet have stopped growing so the price is more justifiable, no? You can see more here.

Cowgirl Inspiration

Well, my hunt for country casual continues. I had no such luck in the thrift stores this week. In fact, I think I had more luck at Disneyland of all places! If you're not sure what I mean, just take a look!

Yep, I took two days off in the middle of the week to go to Disneyland and not only was I inspired by the fashion of animated characters but I had the best time ever! Probably more fun than an adult at Disneyland should have, but wait a minute- what am I saying?! You can never have too much fun! I'm really diggin' this vintage cowgirl thing. Love that hat and the sass that comes with it. Also, I have discovered that I am not the only one finding inspiration here:

If only I could have this model's hair and hats... I love this white one. It's all working well with my love of children's clothing also. Yee-haw.

Image credits: Disney/Pixar Toy Story 2, Miss Oklahoma: Bregje Heinen, Numero 111

Uncontrollable Urge

I have been invited to a friend's wedding! The invitation says "country casual" attire... I'm not sure what that means but I think I am going to have fun figuring it out! The wedding is in July (super short notice) so I have been scouring Etsy to find something appropriate. If I am honest with myself, I know I have at least 3 dresses in my closet right now which would totally pass as country but I am not excited to wear any of them probably because I am a shopaholic. Anyway, I am feeling a little discouraged and guilty right now because I made some bad online shopping choices and bought what I thought was a country style blouse but according to my mom, it looks like something a Mormon wife would wear. Plus, then I decided I wanted to wear a dress and I bought one that turned out to be ripped, cheap and unflattering. So, now I am kind of feeling like I should just suck it up and make something work from my existing closet... but that is like telling a gambler to quit when they are down.

Image from a favorite Etsy store La Meow

When I read the invitation, my first thought was that I would finally have an excuse to hunt for a Gunne Sax dress! I have come across some really cute Gunne Sax dresses before but the waists are always impossibly small! I thought I might be able to find one that fit me on-line but I have had no such luck. Still, <3 Gunne Sax. If only I had more time to hunt... so this is my number one choice. I think I will go thrifting this week- cross your fingers for me!

Vintage Cowboy Dress from Etsy

My second idea is to find a really great vintage print dress with horses on it or some other western theme. The good news is that I found it, the bad news is that it is waaay out of my price range. Still, isn't this fun? If you can't see the details, the fabric has a cowboy riding through a desert landscape. I love it. I think stuff like this is pretty rare but maybe I will really luck out and find something like this for cheaper when I go thrifting.

Vintage cowboy hat, western shirt, and boots from Etsy. Corduroys from Built By Wendy.

The great thing about picking out an outfit for a wedding is that I get to pick out my date's outfit, too! I try not to be too controlling but I think my boyfriend likes it when I help him pick out what to wear. I love it when he lets me. In fact, I love it when anyone lets me! Which is probably the reason why I started this blog. Anyway, these are my picks for my boyfriend's "country casual" look inspired by this image from a real wedding I read about over at 100 Layer Cake.

Is It Friday Yet?

Omg, it is!

The English Are Surfing and Overcooking their Tomato Soup

Aunt Flo is on her way to town, if you know what I mean, and I am starting to feel

like this.

Still as hideous as I am, I am able to laugh and I did so this morning when I read this.

Image credits: See origin here; image from 1981 Ray Harryhausen masterpiece, "The Clash of the Titans"... I think Warner Brothers has rights...

My Barbie Dream House

In many ways I am stricken with Peter Pan Syndrome, but I am excited about one thing that comes with growing up, having my own house! I can only hope that I somehow have enough money to buy the one I want... Luckily dreams don't factor in monetary limitations, so dream I will! Here is a list of things I would like to have in, out, near and above my dream house.

This exact foyer!

White, vintage wrought iron patio furniture and stylish guests...

Lovely wall paper...

Vintage appliances...

A garden...

An electric car...

A Loquat tree...

A gorgeous kitchen...

Chickens in this coop...

Records and plants EVERYWHERE...

A treehouse...

A sky above...

And this bicycle-pony!

Image credits: I can't remember where I found it; Stella McCartney Resort 2011; photograph by her; vintage stove stolen from a craigslist add; Martha Stewart; Zap! Electric vehicles; Loquat tree; reblogged from Color-Collective; Coop stolen from a craigslist add; I can't remember where I found it; treehouse by Blue Forest; sky by me; bike of the day

Just Too Little, Too Little, Too Little, Too Little, Too LITTLE!

Maybe it's because I went to a baby shower over the weekend, but have you ever noticed how seriously cool some little girls dress? I know their parents are the ones buying and picking out the clothes for the most part but I certainly remember arguing with my mother about what I wanted to wear. Plus, there are some things that you just can't find in adult sizes... like anything with Scottie dogs, dinosaurs, or cats printed on it, for example. Maybe this is why I am obsessed with the Miu Miu Fall 2010 collection...

Check out this amazing Bug-print outfit I found on Etsy! I felt compelled to favorite this despite the fact that I have no children to dress... I think it might be because I secretly wish I could still wear an outfit like this. How great would that be?

This frog dress by Leifsdottir is pretty close. I have been dying for it to go on sale. I love that how when you first see it, you just see a beautiful pattern and then you realize that it is frogs! Glorious, good fun. 

Photograph by Nina Leen

Another thing little girls really know how to do is rock the cowboy style! Check out this young thing! She really knows how to put it together. I am going to a wedding in July with "country casual" attire. Oh, how I wish I could find this outfit! Also, note her awesome hat (seen behind her).

 

Yet another stylin' little girl, oh wait-- that's me! Check out my wicked dress. Man, I wish I could wear this now. It's got amazing pink and white Scotties all over it! The cred really should go to my Uncle Mark for this one though, since he bought me the dress. Thanks, UM!

Do you like caressing statues?

 

I do!

Versailles, France

Venice, Italy

Debrecen, Hungary

Top image from Vogue Nippon, Malgosia Bela by Cédric Buchet .

Diane, You Von Kill Me!

Once again Diane Von Furstenberg takes the cake for me in her resort line! 2010 is giant bows and color play, 2011 will be slouchy, chic and well patterned. Love it.

These are my three favorite looks. Love the bag and these black and white prints. I usually don't like black and white prints very much but these are so dynamic. I like how different patterns meet to create one or how one pattern twists to become many. They remind me of my current wallet and a purse I just bought. I like to think of it as Hawaiian chic.

Diane must have gotten her inspiration for those prints from handmade items like these. I love it. The weaving effect of her prints is stunning.

I'm also diggin' these looks.

DIY Shoes!?

Have you ever thought about making your own shoes?

She did!

Meet Mary Wales Loomis, author of "Make Your Own Shoes". This woman is my new idol. She taught herself to make shoes using a cast of her own feet (cobblers call it a "last") now she has custom shoes that match her dresses and they fit her perfectly. You can read her story here. 

I often have thought about trying to make my own shoes... how hard can it be?

 

I bought these vintage hush puppies two years ago and I have worn them to death. And I am still wearing them; I am wearing them beyond the grave. I am wearing them right now, in fact. But every time my mother sees me in them she says, "You need to throw those shoes out!" They certainly don't look like this anymore. The leather is dry and cracked all over. My first thought was to take them to my shoe repair guy, but he said the leather is beyond repair. My second thought was to search for an identical pair... no such luck. My third thought was to have someone custom make them for me but I have not been able to find anyone who does that. Where have all the cobblers gone? Then I found Mary's website and I am starting to believe I can do this myself!

Imagine the possibilities...

Today I miss Santa Cruz...

Pictures of a place I miss:

Image credits: First photograph by me; Heron Nests a woodcut by Santa Cruz artist Andrea Rich; Nice Fan (steamer lane) by this person; Homeless Life in Santa Cruz, Ca by Franco Folini; Vintage postcard; Santa Cruz Beaches by Rachel Nelson Smith; Lighthouse with 'missiles' flying over head by this person; Willy Wonka by her; Still from Lost Boys, Lost Boys Movie & Images ©1987 Warner Brothers; Sea Of Fog by Ivan Makarov; Monarch Butterflies by Ron Wolf; Mr. T and bikes by Richard Masoner