I bought this dress on ebay for the price of a steak dinner and a bottle of wine. When I opened the package, I swayed in place. My cheeks flushed. When I tried it on, I went light-headed.
Tampilkan postingan dengan label articles of dress. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label articles of dress. Tampilkan semua postingan
My favorite
Diposting oleh fawaid on Rabu, 20 Januari 2010
Erie Basin
Diposting oleh fawaid on Minggu, 03 Januari 2010
True fact- I have a secret and repressed jewelery fetish. I don't wear any jewelery at all because of a highly developed tomboy streak and my humorously Amish fear of self ornamentation. Okay, I wear a watch and own a single ring. That I do not wear anymore.
Behind this closeted jewelery obsession is a store. A store that spins out a sticky spiderweb of irresistible impossibilities so dizzying even a seasoned antiquer needs to hold on to her hat. Erie Basin, how I love you.
Grace Bonney got me this little 1930s celluloid compass button for christmas and my heart jumped about ten feet in the air. Me? Own something from theee Erie Basin? I'm inching toward, nay, resolving to take the jewelery plunge this year. Just like I'm resolving to go eat some ice cream now.
My jacket, my mountain
Diposting oleh fawaid on Selasa, 15 Desember 2009
Humor me while I interrupt the thought-provoking stream of inspiration and genius that is normally featured here on an apple a day to talk about my jacket. It's important that you understand about my jacket.
Rewind your clocks to 1993. I am 9 years old and in the hall of my grandfather's house. I spy this unassuming jacket hanging on a peg. I've recently been forced to wear laura ashley for picture day and hated every moment of it. I dream of what it would be like to have such a normal jacket. A jacket with a wool plaid lining from a sporting goods store. A jacket that boys would think was cool.
Fast forward to 1995. I am 11 and in the same hallway. The jacket is on the same peg. It's been abandoned by my older cousin Andy. Its zipper is broken. Victory is mine.
I've worn this coat, off and on, for 14 years. Its lining makes me quiver. The drawstring confirms in my mind the existence of god. It's from the early 1980s. Me too.
The kicker is that it says Crotched Mountain 5 on the back. It causes sideways glances from people not intimate with the geography of southern New Hampshire, but that's fine with me. When I lay in bed in my favorite room at Elmwood, I can see Crotched Mountain. When my mom was my age, she lived on top of Crotched Mountain. As a baby, my dad carried me up Crotched Mountain. My aunt's ashes are scattered on Crotched Mountain. I love Crotched Mountain, and this jacket.
Brimfield bits
Diposting oleh fawaid on Sabtu, 10 Oktober 2009
I found these 30s/40s heels in a puddle on the ground at some weird army navy tent. I squealed. They fit. It was an honest to goodness cinderella moment, nevermind the mold and broken heel caps.
In a good shoe, I wear a size six, but a seven feels so good, I buy a size eight. (name that movie!?)
Well, more like an 8 1/2 or 9 which makes finding pre-1950s shoes really hard. Pretty ones that fit can get really pricey so the 5 dollars I paid is just a joke.
Well, more like an 8 1/2 or 9 which makes finding pre-1950s shoes really hard. Pretty ones that fit can get really pricey so the 5 dollars I paid is just a joke.
The whole trip I'd been eyeing padlocks but was sort of revolted by the $80+ price tags. Lest you think that because of my $5 shoes, brimfield is a bargain hunters paradise- sadly it ain't. Dealers generally seemed to know what they had and charged accordingly. More than your local flea market, anyways. When Amy A. pointed out this heart shaped lock for waaaay less, I pounced.
Now i just need to find something to lock up around the house.
A leather bound, scalloped, starred, empty address book. This is the sort of thing I hardly need but makes me the most giddy.
A romantic alternative to my boring and useful gmail contact list. Fit for, you know, scrawling the names of the handsome gentlemen I happen upon during my windy walks alone in the wilds of brooklyn. Oh god. I've been reading too many Austen novels again.
A small victory
Diposting oleh fawaid on Minggu, 04 Oktober 2009
So maybe it isn't as old as i had dreamed of or deliciously worn in as i had hoped for, but at least I finally found one.
If you've ever been to a thrift store with me, or a vintage store, or a flea market or, i don't know, talked to me for more than 20 minutes, you know that i have been searching high and low for a vintage emerson college sweatshirt since middle school. Who would have thought they'd be so hard to find?
Got my first edition this week, but my eternal love and gratitude will go to the the person who can find me one from the 60s or before. Plus a stupidly high amount of money.
I can't even say how much because my hippie mom reads my blog and i don't want her to know what a lost cause consumer i've grown up to be.
The church basement
Diposting oleh fawaid on Senin, 10 Agustus 2009
There is a church in New Hampshire that consistently blows my mind with it's basement thrift store. Awesomeness all around, all for 25 cents. I normally make one pilgrimage a year, so this is an annual report of sorts.
This year's favorites are as follows.... An Elly May-ish short sleeve shirt, a funny patterned bandana and a polka dot hankie, all from the 50s. I have big plans for the hankie that involve a repurposing it into something a little more, um..... scandalous. Details to follow.
This year's favorites are as follows.... An Elly May-ish short sleeve shirt, a funny patterned bandana and a polka dot hankie, all from the 50s. I have big plans for the hankie that involve a repurposing it into something a little more, um..... scandalous. Details to follow.
The men's section is utter perfection. Flipping through the rack it's like vintage pendleton, vintage ll bean, vintage filson, vintage woolrich on repeat with a smattering of j peterman and ralph lauren. And you wonder why I am the way I am. Sadly, I can only buy so many men's things before I officially turn into a boy, which is not the direction I want to be headed.
That being said, I could not turn away these two wool flannels which are single handedly getting me excited for fall. The gray one has perfectly worn in leather elbow patches and the plaid one, well, it's plaid and awesome.
And who on earth was this mysterious "Jeef" who's jacket displays pitch perfect penmanship? I bet his little lady spelled out his name before he shipped off. It's so romantic it makes me wanna cry. And this is the pathetic reason I didn't buy it.
It may take a few months to forgive myself this lapse in normally sound thrifting judgement.
**ADDENDUM**
After some well placed google search terms, I've learned that C.E. Jefferess was actually a commander in WWI who returned to live in Winston, NC. Isn't the internet wonderful?
It may take a few months to forgive myself this lapse in normally sound thrifting judgement.
**ADDENDUM**
After some well placed google search terms, I've learned that C.E. Jefferess was actually a commander in WWI who returned to live in Winston, NC. Isn't the internet wonderful?
Say cheese
Diposting oleh fawaid on Jumat, 07 Agustus 2009
That tall boy in the middle with the bow tie? Yup. Totally love him. I want to give him a kiss on the cheek and watch him wipe it off with that adorable disgust that little boys do so well. Yuck, girls.
The tomboy with skinned knees second from the left would be my best friend. Her hair bow and rumpled sweater, oh gosh.
If you had to pick a best friend, who would it be?
If you had to pick a best friend, who would it be?
The gentle cycle
Diposting oleh fawaid on Rabu, 29 Juli 2009
1920s swiss dot lawn dress, 1900s chemise corset cover, 1910ish voile blouse (with original bone collar stays!), 1920s linen knickers, 1918ish lace tunic blouse.
All from the same junk shop. All my size and totally wearable. All under $20 (after some well played register haggling). A haul like this will never happen again.
All from the same junk shop. All my size and totally wearable. All under $20 (after some well played register haggling). A haul like this will never happen again.
These knickers are the one thing that Ginny had to needle me into to buying because I knew I'd never wear linen balloon kickers outside. Funnily enough, they're also the one thing I couldn't stop grinning about on the way home. I feel like Viola from Twelfth Night in them. Which, really, is priceless.
I love the mending job on the chemise. Her tiny hand stitches have lasted so long, it's really such a gentle reminder that clothes don't have to be disposable and that a little patch can go a long way.
It's in the bag
Diposting oleh fawaid on Senin, 27 Juli 2009
I've been wanting a "grownup" bag forever now. A bag that isn't either A. a printed canvas tote or B. a darling vintage handbag that's so small it can barely fit my wallet and cellphone inside. I've reached that stage in life where I, gasp, have to carry my computer places for work and I was getting tired of hauling it in an African basket tote.
I've been eyeing this one for a couple of years, ever since I starting stalking the Mulholland website, thanks to J. Peterman. (Mulholland makes the Peterman gladstone, which I've been lusting after nearly my whole natural life and gosh darn, it's gone up another $100 in '09!)
A hearty thanks to the new and improved "vintage" room at Stella Dallas. It was $50. Instead of $500. Brand new. How's that for shameless bragging. That was classless, I'm sorry. A real lady would never tell.
My dear friend Kit says, without a hint of irony, that I'm going to end up getting married to the bag. We're going to grow old together and ride off into the sunset, side by side.
PS- It's kinda scary posting pictures of ones self on a blog. Now y'all know what I look like when I'm not in flapper costume, just my daily New England of undetermined vintage costume.
PPS- Dress look familiar?
PPPS- I have insanely exciting news that will have to wait till next week. Na Na Na Na nana.
Sticks tongue out and wiggles fingers behind ears.
My dear friend Kit says, without a hint of irony, that I'm going to end up getting married to the bag. We're going to grow old together and ride off into the sunset, side by side.
PS- It's kinda scary posting pictures of ones self on a blog. Now y'all know what I look like when I'm not in flapper costume, just my daily New England of undetermined vintage costume.
PPS- Dress look familiar?
PPPS- I have insanely exciting news that will have to wait till next week. Na Na Na Na nana.
Sticks tongue out and wiggles fingers behind ears.
Elmwood clothesline
Diposting oleh fawaid on Senin, 20 Juli 2009
And so begins the steady stream of Elmwood photos... The most summery, girly photos first!
Growing up, my family didn't have a dryer. Nor did we find it all that romantic at the time, it meant a lot of stiff jeans, scratchy towels and thunderstorm disasters.
Now, of course, I consider clotheslines just to die for. If I could sun bleach all my sheets in fresh air (not Williamsburg truck exhaust), I would.
PS- My sister patterned and made all of these unmentionables. That's another childhood nightmare that's come full circle to be one of my favorite things ever, homemade underpants!
Frankenstein lace
Diposting oleh fawaid on Kamis, 02 Juli 2009
Confession- I've spent the last several years wearing mostly men's clothes.
Button downs knotted and cinched high waisted trousers. suspenders and military shorts. keds. old 505 levis. men's brogues (size 6 1/2!). briefcases. I'm in a serious rut. A cute, Annie Hall type rut, but a rut none the less.
Lately i've been wanting to look more like a girl, but I hardly know where to begin.
What's that you say? Lace? ok. I'll try it.....
I've collected bits of antique lace forever and last week I dug through my undies drawer (where I keep my lace stash, don't ask why, it just seems to make sense) and sewed up a Frankenstein mashup of Victorian corset cover, depression crochet yoke and 40's hair bow into a little lady blouse.
I think I'm going to like being girl. But only if I still get to wear 1970's men's cutoffs every day.
Button downs knotted and cinched high waisted trousers. suspenders and military shorts. keds. old 505 levis. men's brogues (size 6 1/2!). briefcases. I'm in a serious rut. A cute, Annie Hall type rut, but a rut none the less.
Lately i've been wanting to look more like a girl, but I hardly know where to begin. What's that you say? Lace? ok. I'll try it.....
I've collected bits of antique lace forever and last week I dug through my undies drawer (where I keep my lace stash, don't ask why, it just seems to make sense) and sewed up a Frankenstein mashup of Victorian corset cover, depression crochet yoke and 40's hair bow into a little lady blouse.I think I'm going to like being girl. But only if I still get to wear 1970's men's cutoffs every day.
Wellesley Girls
Diposting oleh fawaid on Minggu, 15 Februari 2009
The darling Francesca from The Snail and The Cyclops knows how much I'm obsessed with Wellesley College history, since my great great grandmother was a member of the first graduating class in 1875 and I have a copy of her journals documenting her college experience (definitely worth reading the few excerpts I posted back in the spring if you haven't).
She, in her infinite sweetness, alerted me to an online archive of the Wellesley Legenda, the school's yearbook of sorts. So far, they've archived from 1890 to 1922 and it's amazing.
Jean Baxter Watson, from 1914, is one of my favorites. Most of the other girls in her year were wearing these beautiful delicate white lace gowns, she looks like she'd be voted most likely to win a canoe race or grow a prized vegetable garden. My kind of girl!
I'd like to believe that Marion read a lot of Jane Austen. She certainly looks like the elegant scholar.
And Lillian, so shy, is just darling.
Plus these books are a great source for sweet girls names; Mabel, Nellie, Hazel, Bea, Winnie, Minnie, I could just go on and on...
The 1904 Mandolin Club, which Chelsea and I certainly would have belonged! She on the mandolin and I on the guitar, after a few more moths of practice, mind you.
One long garland of ivy and roses from 1908. I don't know what their doing, but I wish I could have been there.
The 1915 golf team. I do love beautiful tomboys.
After looking through all of the yearbooks non stop over the weekend, a small mental brake down ensued. Maybe it was too much computer time or too many beautiful girls in too many beautiful lace dresses. I don't know what it was for sure, but by Sunday morning I was a wreck.
I needed to be transported to spring in 1914, wearing a long, elegant tomboy getup on a canoe, with a straw hat, immediately. So I did what any non rational girl would do and plunked down a shameful, weeks worth of groceries money on a dress that would become my Wellesley time machine.
I am a girl who has no business buying clothes. I have lots of clothes from my years at Marc and I mostly "work" from home now. My normally so sturdy impulse control just vanished! The amazing Judith at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market rightly pointed out that I could have easily paid a few hundred more for it downtown (ahem Stock), but that could just be my guilt talking.
It is just the most yummy, tightly woven cotton stripe, with shell buttons , linen collar and french seams. I'm going to wear it every freaking day this spring (and summer). And it's in amazing shape, this dress was sewn to take a beating.
It's by a company that was called Dix-Make, a uniform company from 1910. Not being an expert, I think it's from the 20's or 30's as I found a few Dix-Make adverts that look pretty similar.
I promise you, in 6 months, I will regale you with photos of this dress splashed across all of my warm weather spots. Elmwood, a row boat in Central Park, the crooked branch of my favorite weeping beech tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Chesapeake Bay, Riverside Drive, my kitchen, outside Ralph's Italian Ice.....
Until then, I don't know about you but I'll be dreaming about being an old timey Wellesley girl.
She, in her infinite sweetness, alerted me to an online archive of the Wellesley Legenda, the school's yearbook of sorts. So far, they've archived from 1890 to 1922 and it's amazing.
Jean Baxter Watson, from 1914, is one of my favorites. Most of the other girls in her year were wearing these beautiful delicate white lace gowns, she looks like she'd be voted most likely to win a canoe race or grow a prized vegetable garden. My kind of girl!
I'd like to believe that Marion read a lot of Jane Austen. She certainly looks like the elegant scholar.
And Lillian, so shy, is just darling.Plus these books are a great source for sweet girls names; Mabel, Nellie, Hazel, Bea, Winnie, Minnie, I could just go on and on...
The 1904 Mandolin Club, which Chelsea and I certainly would have belonged! She on the mandolin and I on the guitar, after a few more moths of practice, mind you.
One long garland of ivy and roses from 1908. I don't know what their doing, but I wish I could have been there.
The 1915 golf team. I do love beautiful tomboys.After looking through all of the yearbooks non stop over the weekend, a small mental brake down ensued. Maybe it was too much computer time or too many beautiful girls in too many beautiful lace dresses. I don't know what it was for sure, but by Sunday morning I was a wreck.
I needed to be transported to spring in 1914, wearing a long, elegant tomboy getup on a canoe, with a straw hat, immediately. So I did what any non rational girl would do and plunked down a shameful, weeks worth of groceries money on a dress that would become my Wellesley time machine.
I am a girl who has no business buying clothes. I have lots of clothes from my years at Marc and I mostly "work" from home now. My normally so sturdy impulse control just vanished! The amazing Judith at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market rightly pointed out that I could have easily paid a few hundred more for it downtown (ahem Stock), but that could just be my guilt talking.
It is just the most yummy, tightly woven cotton stripe, with shell buttons , linen collar and french seams. I'm going to wear it every freaking day this spring (and summer). And it's in amazing shape, this dress was sewn to take a beating.
It's by a company that was called Dix-Make, a uniform company from 1910. Not being an expert, I think it's from the 20's or 30's as I found a few Dix-Make adverts that look pretty similar.
I promise you, in 6 months, I will regale you with photos of this dress splashed across all of my warm weather spots. Elmwood, a row boat in Central Park, the crooked branch of my favorite weeping beech tree in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Chesapeake Bay, Riverside Drive, my kitchen, outside Ralph's Italian Ice.....Until then, I don't know about you but I'll be dreaming about being an old timey Wellesley girl.
Boaters
Diposting oleh fawaid on Kamis, 05 Februari 2009
I think admitting out loud my lust for straw-hat weather has made it much worse.
It's freeeezing outside and all I can do to stay warm is ogle these boaters from my favorite accessories inspiration source, a good old fashioned dover pictorial. Don't get me wrong, I love a floppy french straw hat, but I think this summer I'm going to be all about the boater.
Especially the little one, it looks straight out of my favorite John Singer Sargent painting at the MET. Oh, how I was born into the wrong time.
It's freeeezing outside and all I can do to stay warm is ogle these boaters from my favorite accessories inspiration source, a good old fashioned dover pictorial. Don't get me wrong, I love a floppy french straw hat, but I think this summer I'm going to be all about the boater.
Especially the little one, it looks straight out of my favorite John Singer Sargent painting at the MET. Oh, how I was born into the wrong time.
Hat recycling
Diposting oleh fawaid on Rabu, 04 Februari 2009
You can tell when I'm ready for the current season to be over when I start getting fidgety about hats. Last week I was dying to whip out my beloved straw hat collection again. No, Amy, not yet. Several more months to go.
In the meantime, I'm entertaining myself by cutting apart proper felt hats, the kind I should be wearing on a 20 degree day like today.
In the meantime, I'm entertaining myself by cutting apart proper felt hats, the kind I should be wearing on a 20 degree day like today.
Maybe it's all of the 40's watch instantly Netflix movies I've been watching, but while dinner was on the stove, I snipped and snipped away at my old felt bucket hat till I got this. Well, this with a few hand stitches to attach the bow.
It took about 15 minutes and it's basically just a little shaped felt oval and bow. So easy and now I finally have something for the mandatory head accessory wedding of a lifetime.
Now I just need to track down some tiny grey elastic to keep it on my head while dancing (and maybe glitter it up, in honor of Ginny).
