Summer Plans

     I am loving sleek, sophisticated looks right now. If you follow me on Pinterest, you will have noticed that I have been pinning lots of pictures of Grace Kelly. I am going to be experimenting with my hair over the next few weeks, coming up with easy, sleek fifties updos. I have already discovered one, and you can see some of the remnants of it in this picture. I had already had a long day of it by this time, and the wispies weren't in the original. Perhaps I will do a tutorial in the near future! I am going for bolder cat eyes, sleeker hair, and basically a more "femme fatale" look overall.

Of course, I don't really think that polka dot pajamas contribute to that very much... 

     I am so excited for summer! I have some new outfits to share with all of you very soon. I am going to be home for the summer, and I will be working, provided I find a job. Actually, it isn't an option; if I don't find a job, I won't be able to afford returning to school. I am not really concerned though; there's always fast food. I will be heading East for vacation this year, and I can't wait to go exploring! I've never been East before, except for a couple day stay in New York in the airport. I didn't get to see the city though, so I don't count it. 

Easter Sunday with my sister!

     I am just two finals away from freedom, and I can almost taste it! My room is an absolute disaster, since Rachael and I have been packing. Goodbye homey dorm room, you will return next year. I love school, but I will be so glad to have a break. 

     Take a moment, listen to some French music or some Beach Boys, and enjoy the beauty of life. It only lasts for a while, and a bad grade or job that hasn't been found is small in the grand scheme of things. You will remember a day of drinking tea and listening to music when you "should" have been stressing out, and you'll be glad for it.

Lots of love!

A Very Parisian Day

                                               

                                               

     If there is anything that can describe my ideal vintage aesthetic, it would be "1950's Parisian". I adore the carefree, and yes, sometimes casual, look that Paris had in the fifties. Being, as I am, only nineteen, I always feel as though I should wear younger, more girlish styles. But every time that I try to dress like an American 1950's teenager, I feel awful. Bows and frills and frufru just don't suit me right. I like them very much, but they don't look right on me; and if I try to wear vintage collegiate, I feel too dressed down. Paris just had the perfect happy medium! Granted, this does not mean that I do not like to wear girly clothes or fancy clothes; that's all I do wear, actually. What I mean is that the more streamlined, simple styles feel right. Parisian style is perfect for me.

     If you look at old pictures on Pinterest, you will find that the styles in Paris were different than America, though not drastically. What I have noticed is that the styles relied less on added frills, and more on pattern and texture. Of course, there were different styles just as there were in America. The ultra sophisticated, or the simple and carefree; but I love them all. This is not a hard and fast rule, or even researched very extensively. It is just my observation.

     I was able to channel my inner Parisian the other day. I recently bought a crop top at Wet Seal, with the intended purpose of wearing it over tank tops for working out (since racer backs are annoyingly against my school's dress code). It then occurred to me that a striped, cropped T-shirt is very Parisian, and it works marvelously with my trusty black pencil skirt (which has been worn no end this winter). The other day, since I got out of bed at a proper time, I was able to experiment with my crop top. I didn't get any pictures that day, but I'm ok with that now. I have been wanting a pair of simple white sneakers, which are comfortable, casual, and vintage appropriate. I found this pair at Walmart, waterproofed them (which, fingers crossed, will keep them from getting too dirty), and was able to wear them yesterday, making my style feel even more Parisian! I am so excited to be taking French next semester; I imagine I'll emerge quite French at the end of it all, hehe.

                                                

Gloomy Days

     It's rather funny, really. I have spent the entire winter in gloom, and feeling unproductive. But when there is a gloomy day after a few weeks of sunshine and warmer temperatures, my crafty side comes out full force. You may remember that I have plans for starting an Etsy shop this summer (which already exists, though I haven't listed anything as of yet). My plan is to grade my vintage patterns and have a variety of sizes available, so that no one will be left out. I have most of my vintage patterns at school with me, and I am simply dying to get going on them. The issue is that what I ought to be doing is writing a paper and preparing a presentation; but gloomy days are so lovely for sewing!

     Perhaps I will work for a little while, I've been at school all year, and done very little in the way of sewing. This will be my first adventure in pattern grading, and I'm so excited for the results!

Here is a little sneak peek at what will hopefully be available this summer! I hope that you will be interested. 

Lots of love to you!