I love this town

Found on the streets of Cambridge, MA

Put a birdie on it!

Dress: Vintage 1940’s, bought at Café Society
Shoes: Nicole Miller, Thrifted
Hair clip: Blue Flying bird, from Now Voyager
Necklace: Vintage sparrow pendant, bought at Café Society



I remember when I found this dress, it was summer, two years ago. I was driving home and passed Café Society on my way. It was customary for me to look in the window every morning and evening to see if there are any new items.



On this day when I glanced at the mannequin I was not intending to stop in but when I saw that this was in the window I new I had to turn around and try it on. It came with me obviously and so did a pair of silk tap shorts in case a stiff wind was to blow the skirt up (speaking from a lot of experience on this.)

Yes, those are badminton shuttlecocks!

I did make a minor alteration to the dress. Originally it was a crew neck which I find suffocating, so I cut a square neckline instead.

The end of a legend

Sad news in Boston, the last bastion for vintage lovers has been sold to a new and hipper owner. Café Society has been my retail refuge for years, providing vintage clothing at reasonable prices without that annoying trendy hipster vibe felt in many new stores.



I discovered Café Society about four years ago when I changed my route to work and I have been a customer every few weeks since. Imagine my surprise when last Wednesday I drive past the shop and see in the window a moving sign. Anticipating my breakdown, Betsy sent me a note explaining the selling of the shop and that the new owner is changing locations but will keep the store name, but I know it will never be the same again. Knowing that this was my last chance to buy all of the items I had been eyeing before they double in price I grabbed the boyfriend and his wallet and spent several hours looking through the racks and just hanging out.


Betsy, Café Society's owner and Lindsay her shop assistant on the last open weekend.



Café Society was exactly what it said it was and nothing more and I will miss driving past the windows every morning scoping out the newest dress on the mannequin who I believe has been in the window since the store opened 30 years ago. The owner, Betsy, loved vintage clothing and when she opened in the early 80’s she was ahead of her time selling jewelry and authentic clothing dating back as far as the Victorian period.



I am so proud to have been part of Café Society’s history and to have known Betsy. I wish her the best on her next adventure. I plan to explore the new Café Society when it re-opens but I don’t expect to spend hours hanging out like I did with the wonderful people who worked at Café Society.

I made a video!

My first YouTube video! I hope I get a bit more skilled at producing vintage beauty videos, I hope to create more.

Casual Friday!

Pants: Vintage 50's denim, online purchase from Kitch Cat
Top: Vintage sunflower blouse, online purchase from Rococo Vintage
Shoes: Aldo...a billion years ago
Hair Flower: Double Blue Hibiscus from Sophisticated Lady

About four times a year I will come to work in denim on a Friday. I'm of the thought that when at work, dress to be at work. This is easy for me to do as my my wardrobe is almost entirely comprised of dresses and pants generally make be feel self conscious about my figure. Today was different, today I really wanted to get these pants out on the town... or at least the office for now.

Robin's Egg Blue

Dress: made by me, McCalls pattern #9712
Shoes: Nicole Miller, thrifted
Hair FLower: White Lily from Crafty Aple

Stepping into the 50s today for no real reason other than I wanted to wear these shoes.



There is something about polka dots that makes me go gaga. I flip every time I find a fabric with just the right colour combination of dots to background and this one just jumped into my arms. There is never enough robin's egg blue in a girls closet if you ask me. Anyway, I think I started sewing up this dress the day after I received the pattern (which was an Etsy purchase from My Sweetie Piepie's shop.) My special touch was the all silk lining I added to the skirt.

No, I didn't create the bolero jacket from the pattern but I intend to when I get the right colour cotton. My thought behind the shrug I designed was due to the necessity of keeping warm in winter with a sleeveless dress. I found this perfect shade of brown wool and lined it with the polka dot cotton of the dress. I thought it was a nice touch even if it makes the shrug a bit stiffer than it would be.

My Great Grand Pappy

Recently I obtained a membership to Ancestry.com and I can't say that I know what I'm doing since I am just running into my aunt's completed tree but I was ecstatic to run into some photos she uploaded of my great grandfather Frederick I. Robichaud. I'm kinda crushing on him.


Fred on a 1914 Harley Davidson Model Ten C, Single Cylinder

My eyes just popped out when I saw this! Grand Pappy Fred was an owner of one the the first Harley's created, not to mention his fantastic style in clothing.



Seriously, can this man get any more dashing?

1938 Frock

 Dress: Made by me, Pattern from Eva Dress 
Shoes: Guess (DSW) 
Necklace: My Grandmother's 
Hair Clip: Made by me 

Finally a warm sunny day in Boston and every spring like day deserves a floral dress. I lurved making this dress. The pattern was purchased from my favorite online shop Eva dress and the fabric was a random rayon find at the local fabric shop. I think I was so excited about this pattern I got the whole shebang completed in one day, and this is including surging on all exposed edges and the belt. I did try to update the pattern (okay, to the 40's) by not including the ruffling and sortening the hem closer to my knee line. 1930's dresses hit mid calf on me and as flattering as I think it is, it does make me look more matronly and I would rather look like i'm going dancing than to a nunnery.

 

P.S. Before you mention how cute the shoes are I must say that they are killing my feet.

1940's Red Swing Dress

Dress: made by me
Shoes: Tahari (from DSW)
Hair flower: made by me 

I loved this dress pattern from Sense and Sensibility. I've made two so far and would make more if the first few steps to making this dress were not so frustrating. I nearly gave up the first go around until I found that a sew-a-long was done on Elegant Musings and careful step-by-step photos were posted which calmed the madness. This red dress was my second attempt and with enough patience I will make another with some rayon fabric I bought.

   

Champagne. Sashay

This dress always makes me think of an old nursing uniform even though it looks nothing like one. It must be the bodice and neckline. The fabric has become delicate in the underarms and I think it might be time to take it apart and create a new pattern from it.

Classic Cars and Classic Girls

This weekend at the Trade Center in Boston was the World of Wheels which is this huge car show. This year I was told there was a pin-up contest being held by the Bombshell Betty's. Hot diggity dog!

 

Yes, that is me on the far right. I put on one of my custom made by me dresses and sensible heals (should have put on some rocking kicks) grabbed my BF and headed off to motor land.

So terrifying, I discovered that I cannot model against a car and when interviewed on stage, I become even more of a babbling idiot. We are sent on stage to answer 3 questions, easy right?

First Question:
Host: What era describes your fashion and why?
Me: Well that would be the 40's and my influence is my late grandmother... enter the waterworks.

Second Question:
Host: What is your favorite car accessory?
Me: the break!
Host: And why is that
Me: Because I will run into someone without it.

Third Question:
Host: What inspired you to sign up for this contest?
Me: ...By this point I was just babbling and have no idea what I said.

Sad news, I didn't win, good news, I did get Fan Favorite which came with a cash prize and a pink sash! I think Fan Favorite is the nice way of saying "Miss Congeniality" or "Third". Whatever it means it doesn't matter, I had so much fun and the fellow contestants were so great, wish I had a group of girls like this in my circle of friends.

After the jump, gratuitous shots of shiny classic cars!

My Middy

I finally got the guts up to get the Middy which is a hair cut popular in the 1940s. The reason for my nerves? Not one single hair dresser knows what you are talking about when you ask for it. So when I made an appointment at a salon (a la Living Social) I asked for the stylist to research this. Of course the first appointment was postponed a week and when I went on Saturday I found they didn't look it up, but did know I wanted a hair cut that they were not familiar with... again, this is why I asked for it in advance. No problem, I brought the iPad and had the diagram all queued up in case, I was not going to roll over and let them destroy my hair.

I was lucky that my stylist was the owner himself and he did an amazing job, It even looks fabulous when it's unstyled. One thing that I will need is some practice getting used to the layers, but for my first run, I have to say I'm satisfied.

Ahoy, matey!

 It's a grey cold and wet day out, why not put on something nautical? Blouse is vintage, Skirt made by me using the skirt portion of an old 1930's dress design I have, and the shoes are thrifted. 

1940's "Girl Next Door" hair style

Quick and easy set for your hair and it goes great with a hair net, head scarf or snood.

This wet set works best using the Rag method. I prefer to use the Conair Slip-Free rollers, but cloth strips or those great Wrap Snap and Go rollers (tie them instead of snapping them)work just as well.

To start, part your hair in the middle and apply your setting lotion/wrapping foam to the sections of hair (seen in diagram) onto the rollers and tie/bend them to hold. Sit under a hood dryer or sleep overnight. When sleeping in rollers, don't forget to use a scarf or other soft fabric to protect the hair.

In the morning, remove the rollers. Get some pomade on your fingers and begin to separate the curls before combing them out. Once your hair is nice and fluffy begin brushing it out, brush the hair against your palm to prevent frizzing at the ends.

When every thing is to your liking section out the "fringe" and part in the middle. Brush these sections and when you ease the tension on the hair you should see the wave created by the rollers. Pin this section back with a bobby pin. then take the section of hair above the ears and comb it out. twist this section (as you would a french twist) up and pin behind the first bobby pin. You can add a flower pin at this point or collect the hair in a net which is my preferred method. I have a small collection of decorative hair nets, these are nets with the addition of small coloured beads. Gather your hair in the net/snood and pin in place. Voila! Instant adorable vintage.

Favorite Reds

 Red lipstick is pretty much a staple in my cosmetic arsenal. I can't go without it and I can't be seen without it. I leave little red lips on all glasses and on my dog's head throughout the day. I even got in trouble for my red lips in middle school. An English teacher of mine tried to convince my parents that I was having trouble concentrating because my lipstick was too bright. Yeah, I thought she was full of it too.

 Anyway, I have compiled five of my favorites. These are my "I must buy two, one for the home, one for the purse and then one more in case it get's discontinued" lipsticks.

No. 1: Sephora Lip Stain #01

My absolute favorite lipstick at the moment is the Sephora brand cream lipstain. It has staying power and most important, is a matte shade. Top off with a dab of gloss if you are uncomfortable with the dry nature of matte lipstick and still look glamorous.

Hepburn Slacks

The fabulous Katherine Hepburn was a fashion icon of her time. Her best fashion accessory, a long pair of slacks that went all the way up. No "whale tails" here girls.
Blouse is vintage and slacks were made by me about two years ago.





Pattern number 1002 from Wearing History

Deconstruction: Day 1

Have you ever found the perfect vintage piece but the quality is absolute rubbish? If not, count yourself lucky, I was totally hoodwinked with this silk 1940s number. When I saw it in the shop the only issue I saw was a missing belt (typical of vintage dresses) and missing side snaps. No worries I've got a needle and thread and can put these back on, but honestly for the $90 price tag this should have been done already. I get the dress home and the snaps replaced and find that this has NEVER been dry cleaned as the arms smelled like a sweaty gorilla. $90, I'm just sayin'.



Anyway, I get it cleaned up and the silk just starts ripping and falling apart and there was no way to keep it together without additional damage occurring. What to do? Take that bad boy apart and create a new pattern, that's what.



So with my trusty seam ripper and some coffee I sit down to the delicate task of slowing taking the dress apart. I didn't get very far, I was able to separate the bodice from the skirt and have taken apart one of the two pockets. Tonight, I hope to take the entire skirt apart.



As each piece is removed, they will be labeled and marked with placement and general construction.