The Vintage Bride

Whether you're a bride who fancies the 1930s, 1940s or the 1950s the SHOP has you covered. 

These are the newest gowns in the shop (images are linked); see all the vintage wedding dresses HERE.

Hit Refresh

The long weekend spent visiting my lil' bro at our nation's capital has passed and I'm all set to settle in for this hot summer. Thankfully trips usually have to intended effect on me; I am elated to be home, feel refreshed and am wholeheartedly ready to throw myself headlong into work. Here's a SHOP update to start up the engines. 

Wiksten SS12

photos by Jen Causey

I am still working on getting back to a normal routine after returning from our trip.  I have to admit it's been harder than I thought it would be.  In the meantime, aren't these new looks from Jenny Gordy's Wiksten line adorable and comfy looking?  I enjoy reading along to Jenny's blog because everything she makes seem to be made with such love and attention to detail.  It felt like summer here today and I would have loved to have been wearing any one of these outfits.

A Line a Day

Recently I picked up this day journal at a local antique store - I couldn't resist. The diary was kept by a woman in my town from 1915 through 1919. These two post cards, blank, were also in the diary. There are only 2-3 lines per day as that is how the journal is set up, but it's really interesting to read in of itself, nevermind that she went to school (for teachers) at the college blocks away from my house and visits parks that are still around today. I have gathered that she isn't all that young, maybe mid to late 30s. She has some daughters, one of which lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Literally, a quarter of the entries include a note that someone she knows or someone she knows of in the town has died, which I thought was so weird. She often wakes up at 4am, just to start house chores or whatever and she always mentioned that laundry and gives a number in parenthesis after. For example, "Washed (75)". Did she wash 75 items? Why note that? No idea.

One night I read all of 1915 and jotted down some highlights:

• February 23, 1915 
Tue. School again, but I am too dull to amount to anything. Heard a robin twitter on my way home."
I liked this entry because it's no different than something I would note in February, or when spring is approaching...


• April 24, 1915
Sat. Hot. up at 4:30. Washed (98). Did nearly all ironing. Colored man moved lawn and put in screen. Early trees in bloom. Took off underwear (???). Asparagus up. 


• May 7, 1915
Fri. Rainy. Alice went home at 11:36 taking her mother with her. 'Lusitania' torpedoed at 2:30 this P.M. off the coast of Ireland. Belle Saunders' husband drowned."


• May 23, 1915
Sun. Rainy. Ruby & I to Grand Rapids on new electric road. Left at 8:35 & arrived home at 8:10. Fine time.


• October 10, 1915
Sun. Called at Mrs. C's on way to church and found her dead. Called help. They took her to the morgue. To Allan's to baby's birthday dinner. 


• December 15, 1915
Wednesday. Busier than two bees. 

Five Favorites (& 20% off!)

Now that there are more pieces in the shop than I ever I felt it might be good to reinstate something I was doing on the blog over 3 years ago. Every week I will be featuring five things from the "back of the shop", meaning the Etsy shop where things can get a little buried and pretty fantastic vintage can get overlooked. Enjoy!

Right now everything in the SHOP is 20% off, so be sure to get to the "back of the shop"! 

Memorial Weekend Sale!

The entire SHOP is 20% off -take yourself shopping! 

Just a label or four for your enjoyment

 



From our recent updates to both the webstore and our etsy store, I wanted to show you a few American designer pieces that may not be major names, but do show the variety and quality of Ready to Wear that was available to American buyers in the 1950s and 60s. 





1950s Greta Plattry Hand Screen Printed Plaid Blouse



Plattry was a respected American sportswear and separates designer of

Backyard Garden

While we were away, I missed two things in particular.  One was our cats.  Those furry creatures are such a big part of our everyday routine.  The other thing was my mornings in the backyard.  I usually wake, grab some breakfast and then head out the back door with Jack (the one eyed pirate cat) to see what's blooming, what's growing and what needs tending to.  I missed that routine and couldn't wait to get home and see how big everything had gotten in the two weeks we were gone.  I think Jack missed it too since he's been sitting at the backdoor meowing a lot the past couple of days.

I was pleasantly surprised that most everything had thrived.  I spied a couple of tiny peppers growing and a few green tomatoes on the vine.  They'll be used to make fresh salsa when they're ripe.  This is the first year I've tried growing Brussels sprouts and the plants doubled in size.  All of the herbs are ready to be used and we had fresh cilantro with our black beans last night.  It's already starting to bolt, but that's OK since it will give me some fresh coriander and I'll replant the rest of the seeds.  Jack, of course, enjoyed a bit of catnip from his plant this morning.

In case you're wondering what everything is, from top to bottom, left to right:  mint, huechera (or coral bells),  impatiens, brunneria, creeping jenny, fuschia, hydrandgea, chives, cilantro, basil, catnip, Brussels sprouts, roma tomatoes, blueberries, yellow Hungarian wax peppers, jalapenos and Jack. 

bon voyage | a shop update

No, it's not a nautical themed shop update, but rather a bon voyage to me. I am off to visit my brother in Washington, D.C. He's got some fun things planned and even some antique malls have made it on the itinerary! So I'll be away, but the shop will be in full effect and dressed in red apparently! Somewhere along the line I have started to like red. I used to feel fussy about adding red pieces to the shop, but they have somehow won me over and I quite like all of the red in this update. All of the above is available in the SHOP.

We're finally back from our adventure and are working on getting settled back into day to day life.  I have so many stories and photos to share!  Here's just a little peek into our travels.  I'll be back soon with more photos, a huge shop update and regular posts.  It's good to be back!

Hot-cha-cha

Yup. My favorite color right now is coral. Coral in various shades, and yes I think coral comes in various shades. The weather has been straight up blissful and even summery which is so great because I can look like I took more time to get dressed, but all I really did was slip on a super great dress. 

1950s cotton halter dress - I can't remember!

coral scarf - thrifted

coral leather & cork platforms - Franco Sarto via DSW