vintage sailor coat

I'm taking a page out of Kate's book and posting something I very much wish I could buy. Sadly, I have no funds in the "Spur of the moment vintage coat purchasing" account and this marvelous beauty is not my size. :(

But if it fits you and you would like it, please have at it!

Anchors Away Vintage Canvas Sailor Jacket Medium from plaidpony

Need. Now.

Vintage evening gown on Etsy!

If it were not the price of my yearly earnings (well ALMOST! ;-D), I would totally be buying this dress right now!

Masquerade Ball Gown in Black and White

From DarkPonyDesigns on Etsy {$175}

I am MORE than slightly in love with this dress. In fact, I WANT it VERY much. It even comes with the necklace. AGHHHKKK! I must resist it!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick's Day! Aside from Christmas this is probably my favorite holiday. I'm partly Irish and my mom's side of the family has always made a big to-do about the wearing of the green -- my grandmother always makes an Irish meal, but we've always opted for the less traditional (and kind of strange) dye-everything-green approach. When I was little, I'd sneak some green food dye into everything on March 17th... milk in my dad's cereal in the morning, the chicken we ate at night. Everything!

One of my favorite Irish symbols is the Claddagh. I was going to explain it, but Wikipedia already did so in such an informative, neat and concise way that it was easier to just cut and paste:

The way that a Claddagh ring is worn on the hand is usually intended to convey the wearer's romantic availability, or lack thereof. The ring is worn on the right hand with the heart facing outward to show that the wearer is not romantically linked but is looking for love. When turned inwards, it is shown that the wearer is in a relationship, or their heart has been "captured". Noting that the heart is pointing down the hand and into the veins which lead to the wearer's heart. The ring worn on the left hand with the heart facing outward shows the wearer is engaged; turned inward indicates the wearer is married.

Isn't that sweet?! Here are some of my favorites from good old etsy! :)
Images link to the product pages.

artwork by Vivienne Strauss

My good friend Vivienne Strauss just debuted some new oil paintings on her flickr account yesterday, and I was completely blown away!! This might actually be one of my favorite paintings EVER, of any artist ever -- on etsy, in museums and galleries. I can't get over how much I love this painting.

If you aren't familiar with her work yet, you need to check it out. In the dictionary, next to "multi-talented" there is a photo of Vivienne. She has two etsy shops, one for her fantastic collages, and one for her amazing watercolors (and prints.) You can also view her sold work on flickr to see her previous works in gouache. Here are some more examples of her outstanding work!

The Art of Flower Arranging



Marion Clack with her dog Walter



Each autumn Myrtle Burnstein felt the urge to run away from home. She packed her suitcase over and over but never went anywhere.



Full title: Girard Boudreux directs his first production with Ballets de L'automne Legumes. They finally incorporated the costumes at dress rehearsal and there were many glitches that needed working out. The pumpkin and onion were both top heavy, the beet was suffering from serious stage fright and it was quite obvious that the radish (intended to be a minor role) was going to upstage the whole show.

(This one is my favorite!)



The Power of Glamour



I'm Particular

How to dress (and generally just be cool) like Sandra Dee!

When people think of memorable style icons of vintage times, Sandra Dee doesn't usually come immediately to mind. She was neither as groundbreaking nor sheerly iconic as her fellow actresses, Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly (among others). But nonetheless, Sandra Dee was a major fashion icon of her day, and the style she embodied continues to be extremely present in today's fashions.

I personally find Sandra, along with Audrey and Grace, to be a major style influence for me. And the very special thing about Sandra is that her style is in many ways the most accessible and "easy" of all vintage looks.

This post is not only a guide to how to dress like Sandy, but also a celebration of her lovely (and very spiffy) style.

Blowing Bubbles Dress by Modcloth (ONLY ONE LEFT!)

A major "Sandraness" thing were her casual chic dresses. So, in order to properly emulate Sandra Dee, you're gonna need A LOT of dresses...in a lot of colors. The colorfulness is especially important.

Absinthe Dress by Modcloth

Sally Jane Dress by Modcloth (ONLY ONE LEFT!)


Sandy with her husband, Bobby Darin in That Funny Feeling

Dress Side Story by Modcloth (ONLY TWO LEFT!)

Natalie Colorblock Knit Dress by dELiAs

Kellie Eyelet Dress by dELiAs


Telephone Switchboard Dress by Modcloth
{I am so beyond in love with this right now!}


With Bobby on the set of Come September

Another definite part of Sandra's style, was her ability to wear the most casual and "comfortable" outfits and turn them into style moments. She especially loved simple (often tunic) blouses and toreador capris.

Embroidered Crepe Woven Top by Forever21



Vintage Toreadore Capri Pants (1950's) on Etsy by LipStickWhiskey

Life of Leisure Top by Forever21

The Kathryn Pant by Modcloth

Button Column Cardigan by Forever21


Luxe Toreador Pant by Forever21

Right on the Button Flats by Modcloth (ONLY ONE LEFT!)

Sandy also wore many skirts. Pencil, A-line, and flared were the most often represented!

Belted Pencil Skirt by Charlotte Russe

Ivanka Skirt by Modcloth

Fashion Mogul Skirt by Modcloth

With Bobby in Italy during the filming of Come September

Bicycle Built for Style Skirt by Modcloth (ONLY ONE LEFT!)

The Sassie Lassie Skirt by Modcloth


The Style Solution Skirt by Modcloth

As any true and proper 50's/60's style icon should, Sandy wore quite a lot of beyond cool and amazing coats (including the one pictured at the top of this post)!

Double Breasted Knit Coat by Forever21

Linen Peacoat Jacket by Forever21

Bubbled Coat by Forever21

Anna Von Diederitz Coat in Snow by Modcloth (faux-fur collar)

Italian Ice Jacket by Modcloth

No Sandra Dee style guide could be complete without some swimsuits, I mean she IS Gidget, after all!

Beach Blanket Bingo Retro Suit by Modcloth

The Betty Swimsuit by Modcloth

In A Summer Place (I'm certain she's trying to hide from His Blandness Troy Donahue...;-D), Sandy wear THE coolest hat ever. Half sunhat/half sunglasses. If I could ever find a hat like this, my life would be complete. I sadly can't.

Hampton Straw Hat by Forever21
{This is the best I could find!}
F7019 Sunglasses

Sandy + any type of accessories = COOLNESS!
Vintage Busker Hat by Modcloth (ONLY ONE TOTAL!)

Vintage Holding Hands Gloves by Modcloth (ONLY ONE TOTAL!)

Rosette Leatherette Wallet by Forever21

Solid Vinyl Wallet by Forever21

Fab Metallic Wallet by Forever21
Gold Trim Carry All by Forever21
Soothing Song Heels by Modcloth
Footbridge Heels by Modcloth
Well-Heeled Black Heels by Modcloth
Vinyl Bow Wallet by Forever21

An ever-important aspect of Sandy's style was the need for "fancy" gowns. For in what else could she attend her many movie premieres, or Bobby's nightclub shows?

Beachland Ballroom Dress by Modcloth


Grecian Green Dress by Modcloth

1960's Sandra Dee Bouffant Vintage Electric Blue on Etsy by goldenaftrnoon

As you can now tell (if you are indeed still reading this super-long post...haha) Sandra Dee was QUITE a stylish lady, one who deserves a status of style icon! And plus, besides wearing SPIFFY clothes she was also a great actress (comedic as well as drama), was married to Bobby Darin, and generally just went through life being super-cool.

For great style moments, watch:
That Funny Feeling
If A Man Answers
Come September
Take Her, She's Mine
and OF COURSE Gidget!
{Every Sandy film is amazing, but the above few are just some of my favorites, style-wise!}

-Millie