Pleats and snowflakes

I found this top at an estate sale a few months ago. It's basically my dream blouse--blush pink and heavily pleated with a small collar and crystal buttons down the back. Sure, it's a size or two too big, but when have I ever let that stop me?

I'm constantly on the lookout for vintage dance costumes, so when I found this wool skirt, custom-made for a 1950's figure skater, I purchased it in a heartbeat! I used to think a lot about how to "modernize" vintage, but lately, I just want to be in costume. Figure skating skirts, leaf crowns, sequin vests, Edwardian petticoats...

Outfit details:
1950's blouse found at an estate sale (for $1!)
1950's skirt via Dethrose Vintage
Nine West heels

Lightness

I'm not sure what it is about hot air balloons that I love so much. I think there's just something wonderfully surreal about floating away in a big, colorful balloon. And I can only imagine how incredible it would have been to walk into an air show or World's Fair in the early 1900's and see these flying machines tethered down indoors!

I always seem to pull out this hot air balloon skirt when I'm feeling particularly stressed--like today, when I felt down about this blog and somehow managed to burn a 50's skirt I was ironing for my etsy shop. On off days like today, I try to remember that getting dressed ought to be joyful, and I think of all the times my dance students have told me I'm "so pretty." Eventually, the uncertainty recedes and I start to feel lighter.

The first air show at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. September 30th, 1909. Photographed in Autochrome Lumière by Léon Gimpel. (via Art Nouveau and Art Deco)

Metal hot air balloon wall sculpture by Curtis Jere (American, 20th century). (via Antique Helper)

Outfit details:
Anthropologie sweater
1950's skirt via Very Vintage
1933 World's Fair bracelet via the Washington Antiques Fair (blogged here)
Nine West heels

Weekend antiquing

My mom, sister, and I went antique shopping last weekend (which I thought sounded much more appealing than working on a paper due Monday). My favorite antique mall was having a sale, and I ended up buying a few things, including an Edwardian skirt (which needs a good soak in Oxi Clean), metal globe, and apothecary bottle.

The star of my outfit was this 1950's blouse printed with horses. The blouse has a neat story (involving estate sale fail, the nicest couple, and the most incredible collection of antique clothing I've ever seen!), but I'm going to save it for another post.

That last picture is pretty representative of my post-antiquing look--crazy excited, a little cheesy, and more than a little rumpled.

Outfit details:
1950's blouse purchased from Michelle and Vince (see this post)
J.Crew cardigan and skirt
Nine West heels

1930's knitwear

I really love 1930's and 1940's knitwear, but I rarely find them at Pittsburgh estate sales. (And when I do, they're usually completely riddled with moth holes.) So when I saw this dress in Lauren's shop, I knew I had to snap it up!

It feels good to post here again. I started graduate school in August, and to say that I've been stressed out would be an understatement. Estate sales, etsy shop updates, and some spectacular additions to my vintage collection have been welcome distractions, and I need to try a bit harder to share them with you.

Outfit details:
1930's dress via Dear Golden
J.Crew belt
Nine West heels

On fashion and furniture

This dress came from the same estate sale where I purchased the orange striped dress I wore a few posts ago. I was planning on selling it in my etsy shop because the waist was snug, but when I put it on today, it fit like a dream. So I guess it'll be staying with me for a while! (This instance isn't too bad, but I have serious issues letting things go for the shop...even things that will never ever fit me.) Sensible as always, I wore it to go pick up a barrister bookcase that I found on Craigslist. That's me; hauling furniture in snug-fitting 50's dresses!

Speaking of furniture, I've been accumulating things for my apartment, but it's slow-going. I never realized just how painfully expensive furniture can be. So far I've got a chrome and yellow laminate table, a metal kitchen cart from the 50's, and the aforementioned barrister bookcase. I have my sights set on a mid-century modern desk, but everything I've found has been way out of my budget. Feel free to leave any decorating links you find inspiring, as I'm pretty obsessed with all things home related.

Outfit details:
1950's dress via an estate sale
Coach belt
Capezio heels