Etsy

I think I'm finally starting to get a hang of this etsy thing. It seems so much easier than my days spent on ebay hassling with html. I was seriously close to giving up on it all until etsy changed my mind! :)
I stocked the store with lots of different sizes and styles this week including my favorite vintage camisole that I've been hanging on to for some time. It really doesn't fit me, I just love how romantic and dreamy it is, especially when it hits the light! It's too beautiful to continue hanging on my dress rack so I went ahead and put it in the shop. I suppose I could go on and on about why I love each piece, but I won't do that to you all so here's the link!

Eyelashes

Once again I've been captivated and inspired by the alluring photographs in Lula Magazine. I only own the most recent issue with Chanel Iman on the the cover, so it took the Lula facebook fan page to show me some things that I missed. I immediately fell in love with the photograph shown on the bottom right which sent me on an internet search for anything similar! I was optimistic at first, but then I realized I really didn't know how to search the topic. I tried several different froms of "hippie sequin lashes" and "hippie clown eyes," but there didn't seem to be anything similar. With that being said, I just decided to post some of my favorite eyelash photos from the 70's with the exception of the modern day time altering goddess, Courney Brooke. Her painted eyelashes and retro style are both so enviable along with her self portraits which are the most exquisite photographs I've ever seen.

the home of my dreams

Just weeks before my boyfriend and I moved into our new apartment back in April, I spent every spare second of my time daydreaming about the placement of the decorations and the arrangment of the furniture. We don't own a lot of living room furniture and we certainly didn't plan on buying any in this economy, so I had the idea to stack a few vintage suitcases together to form an end table. The plan was to use two or three which would be held together by a few rubber suckers, but of course I never found the exact suitcase that I wanted and eventually forgot about my diy furniture project.
It wasn't until I stumbled upon these crafty vintage suitcase ottomans here that I was immediately reminded of my idea. Now I'm back on the hunt for the perfect vintage suitcase, but this time I'm going to attemp to make an ottoman. I think they're pretty amazing and great for storing the remotes and proping up my legs! Can you think of some other ways to use a suitcase?

Another thing that I would love to have in my home is a charming little drop light. I've seen a lot of pretty innovative lights including tea cup, vases, and legos, but I think the one with the hats is my favoirte. I've got a thing for bowler hats and I think these pendants would add a great "gentlemen" theme to any room...especially a manly room used for poker or pool! But don't get me wrong, I would definitey hang these in my kichen if I could afford the price.

And if money was no issue at all, this is how my living room would look. I know a lot of people tend to prefer a cozier place to live with knit blankets draped here, stuffed pillows thrown there and lots of things piled everywhere but not me. I love simple but elegant, french victorian with a touch of modern. Unfortuantely I'm poor and I have no idea how to tie a room together as a whole. I'm good at saying "I like this, yes"..."I like that, yes"...do they go togehter, "I have no idea." Thankfully, this is where my sister shines! I do the clothes, she does the houswares. Hopefully with my obsessive internet searches for creative ideas and her knack for finding the best vintage decorating pieces we can make some sense of my place!

And just in case your wondering, I posted the second photo of the dress/shirt because I'm absolutely in love with it, really...in love with it! It's one of Hannah's favorites.

I heart Chloe Sevigny...

....and Coconut Records! I'll be posting for real later, just couldn't resist this fun little viggio.

A Fairy Tale World

All photos found via fffound and posted because they make me smile.

I've decided to be a little lazy with the blog today since I had such a terrible time trying to sleep last night. The thunderstorms that charged the city brought the most ferocious sounds I've heard in some time. I couldn't help but think a tree might fall right on top of me while I slept! Isn't fear a ridiculous thing...

French Stripes

Coco Chanel 1930, Audrey Tautou in "Coco Before Chanel", Rhianon from Liebemarlene, Sadie from Sadie's Wardrobe, Andrea from Lookbook

By now you've probably taken notice to all of the stripes that have graced the pages of your favorite magazines, blogs, and street style sites all over the web. I've seen 'em coming for a few months, black and white striped tees, or navy if your feeling nautical, paired under blazers, dresses, and rompers to recreate that classic look that Chanel had such an affinity for. I'm kind of embarrassed to say it now, but I really hated the trend when I first saw it emerging back on the scene. I couldn't help but conjure up the image of a mime, clad in stripes and face paint trying earnestly to get out of his selfmade box. I don't think it was until I saw the movie trailer for "Coco Before Chanel" that I really started to appreciate the look and now I'm on a thirft store mission. I've only been to a few shops this week, scouring the blouse racks stopping only for the stripes in search of that perfect french striped tee. I haven't had any luck yet, but I'm almost certain that by the end of the week something will have turned up!

One Versatile Dress, Three Different Looks

There's nothing like adding a great versatile piece to your wardrobe. The joy I get in mixing and matching items is evident the second you take a look at my closet floor. Blanketed under cardigans and scarves you'll find tsraps and oxfords thrown about in no orderly fashion. They're shuffled through as I chase after the next idea in my head, brainstorming to form the perfect outfit. Whether it works out or not is a different story, but the mess is a guarantee...surely I'm not alone here?
When I tried on my new (and perfect) dress from Modcloth, I knew I had a winner for the mix and match challenge. I decided to form three completely different looks from one dress to see just exactly how resourceful I could be.

Look #1/Shirt
For this look I chose to wear the dress as a shirt. I paired it with my favorite vintage high-waist skirt and a great pair of knit knee high socks, both thrifted for a grand total of $6. I finished the look with a vintage suede purse, also thrifted, a pair of lace up oxford heels from Target, and some darling heart-shaped sunglasses from Forever 21.
I think this look was my favorite. I really like how the bow (which is meant to tie in the back) brought the eye to the waist and eliminated the need for a belt or any heavy accesories.

Look #2/Skirt
For the second outfit I went with a 50's style cardigan and a pair of t-strap heels, both thrift finds originally from American Eagle. The short sleeved cardigan fit great over the top of my dress and couldn't have been any more perfect for the warm Arkansas weather! I topped it off with a lightweight, vintage Banana Republic purse and some turquoise horn rimmed glasses reminiscent of the one's that were worn in the 50's.
Although it was definitely my least favorite of the three looks, I was satisfied with how it turned out. I think a skinny belt would have looked nice, but with all the beautiful ruffles and buttons on the dress underneath, a belt would have highlighted some unwanted details creating more of a distraction to the look rather than complimenting it. The only regret that I have is hiding that lovable peter pan collar in the second photo! I was without a mirror when I slipped the cardigan on and completely forgot to pull the collar out. We took tons of photos before I realized what I'd done. How could I forget that collar? It's the BEST detail on that dress!

Look #3/Dress
Last and certainly not least is THE dress itself! It's the "hannah dress in summer sunset" paired with the "when the west was cute" belt, both from my choice shop Modcloth. The belt is actually meant to be worn on the hips, but with a few adjustments I was able to secure it at my waist. Combined with a pair of vintage slouchy boots, the look began to take on an indian element which always reminds me of Pocahontas or Tiger Lily, two of my favorite childhood indian princesses!

Photos by Cody Henslee

Which is your favorite look?

Photography Inspiration

There's a bit of magic to these photos . . .

. . .the concept and the colors left me wanting more. . .

My friend showed me these photos recently on a blog that was in a foreign language with no way of translating the page. We were so curious as to who the model was, what the photos were for, and why the lady in the last photo is holding a pregnancy test combined with a look of terror and realization. . . uh, oh.
With just a bit of searching on the web, I was able to find out what this set is all about! The photos are a collaboration between photographer Neil Krug and supermodel Joni Harbeck for an upcoming Pulp Art book due out at the end of the year. I know I mixed the photos up just a little, I only hope that I didn't mess with the story too much!
Seems pretty interesting, definitely eye-catching. . .

Pulp Art flickr set and Pulp Art Website

Fourth of July: Family Farm

I really enjoy going out to the "boonies" to visit my parents house every now and then. It's quite a drive through southern cop town on past the shoe tree and a few country general stores and when it feels like you can't go any further, go ten more minutes and there is my home! It's not the life I would I choose, too far from civilization, but it's perfectly fitting for my parents with all of there animals and children! They moved there just after I left home for college so they could live the country life with tons of horses and dogs running around and plenty of scenery to take in. I had a blast running, and jumping, and swinging, and playing with my best ole' bud Dakota. . .the greatest dog ever! With a pond and a pool and so much land, my sister and I had the perfect setting for taking a few photos. I managed to sneak one of my dad fishing just before I left. . . he's always bettin' on that big catch!

Dress: Vintage/Estate Sale $5
Shoes: Urban Outfitters $20
Flower Clip: Rue 21 $2.50

Coco Before Chanel

I can't stop watching this trailer....c'mon September 25th!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....

....these are a few of my favorite things.....

1. These bottles of Seagram's VO and Smirnoff vodka were imported in 1969. They were given to me by a friend who found them with the labels still sealed in his parents attic. The vodka is actually mine and the whiskey my boyfriends who doesn't have quite the appreciation for history as I. It took less than a week for him to pop the label and take some shots.

2. I found these 19th century silhouette book ends at an estate sale for $8. It was love at first sight. . . I could have decorated my whole apartment around these two!

3. The blue skirt shown on the dress form was once a really long maternity dress. I really couldn't figure out what the designers intention for it were, so I just cut it uber short to make a high waist skirt. The length was a bit of an accident, I wish I would have kept it just a little longer, but seeing as there is no going back I just leave it on display in my living room. It's not completely unwearable so I'm sure there will eventually be some photos of me in it.

4. I hit the jackpot when I found this Ah- mazing vintage record player for just $50 at an estate sale. The speakers were closed at the sale so it took a little bit of curiousity to figure out exactly what it was. I had been searching for a great record player for months so I was ecstatic when I finally figured it out. I couldn't believe that it actually worked! The speakers are a little scratchy, but all in all it is probably my most favorite vintage items to ever pick up.

5. Our collection of records has grown to be pretty impressive. Where I spend money on clothes, my boyfriend dumps money on records and I ain't complainin'. I love listening to all the old and new artists on vinyl. Some of my favorites (just to name a few) are Panda Bear, T. Rex, Bill Withers, Grizzly Bear, Dark Was the Night, and Downriver Revival.

6. My magazine mirror almost always sparks the question, "did you make this?" As much as I would love to claim this work of art, sadly I didn't make it... I actually ordered it about a year or two ago from Urban Outfitters.

7. This piece right here is my prized possession! It's a 50's faux skirt swimsuit that's in absolutely impeccable condition. With gold stripes and diamond studs the lady who owned this had to feel like a Hollywood star. It's no where near my size, but I just don't think I could part with it. No price seems to make me smile as much as I do every time that I look at it.

8. A local vintage store owner was holding a yard sale at her home where she sold me a bag of dresses for $15. They all needed a bit of work, zipper repairs here, hem jobs there, but really not too much work at all. In that bag was this beautiful 1930's dress. I'm no good at identifying the fabric, but I can tell you it's lightweight, sheer, and dreamy! The damage on this dress is probably more than I can repair being that it's so old. It's really no big loss since it didn't really fit anyway, so I just leave it there on display with the suit. My two most treasured vintage clothing pieces!

On another note.....
I received the "One Lovely Blog Award" from Mrs. Aya of Strawberry Koi


I just want to take a second to tell all of you how wonderful I think you are. Before I started this blog I never realized how united the blogging community really is. You ladies enlighten and inspire me everyday and I am very proud to be amongst such beautiful people. Thank you Aya for giving me this blog award, it means a lot to get recognized by such a lovely and talented lady!

To whoever started the "One Lovely Blog Award," thank you! I have discovered so many new and fabulous blogs by tracing this award, hopefully we can continue to pass it on. I'll do my part by handing it off to some of my favorite daily reads that I don't think have been recognized yet:

Dizzy Dame, Roseate Spoonbill, Wish Wish Wish, Vintage Found

MacArthur Park: Bike Rides

Ever since my sister moved into the apartment upstairs we've become best friends again. She's only nineteen months older than me so we grew up close, loving and hating each other guts but always being stuck with one another. Now that we're older and much more mature with a shared love for fashion we're always hanging out, talking vintage and taking photos. She's my biggest help with this blog, my etsy store, and pretty much everything that I do.

She let me borrow her bike yesterday to take pictures for the Chictopia bike contest. Evey since I moved to the historic district in downtown Little Rock, I've been dying for a bike. . . I figured I'd try to win one before I finally broke down and bought one (through Craigslist, of course). Her bike is really cool. It's a vintage Schwinn in the best shade of green with skinny tires and the cutest basket on the front. She found it at goodwill with her amazing thrifting skills for like 7 bucks, I think.

We needed some air in the tires so we made a big loop around through MacArthur Park to get to the gas station. I felt like her little kid riding my bike out in front of her as she walked and I rode through the park. We followed the sweetest family of ducks down the sidewalk and around the corner to find a mama duck and her beautiful baby chicklings. I just couldn't resist sneaking into a photo with them. . .there so darling when they're little!

Shirt: Thrifted $3
Pants: DIY (Reworked Jumpsuit) $1
Shoes: WalMart $10
Hat: Forever 21 $12
Bag: DIY $4

Big huge thanks to my big sister Kristi! I'll be doing a post on her soon...she's way too fabulous to hide behind the camera all the time.

GOOD DAY!

DIY: My little creations...

I found this 90's Noir Noir jumpsuit at a huge yard sale that was raising money for cats? It was kind of weird, but I got a lot of things there for dirt cheap. I think this piece cost me a dollar. I really couldn't ever see myself wearing it, so I cut the top off and made a great pair of high waist, pleated pants.

I made this purse a while back, it's just been tucked away amongst a mess of projects. I cut the sleeve from a vintage dress and sewed the top of it shut. I used the button cuff as the purse closure and added a little bit of twine for the strap.

I'll post more pictures of the outfit tomorrow!

Roaring 80's

Dress: Cazimi Etsy (hemmed shorter)
Hat: Vintage

I had to wear this dress just once before I sold it! It's the best drop waist dress that I own except for the fact that it's almost too little in the hip department, nothing too uncomfortable though. As much as I like the drop waist, I think the oversized sleeves are my favorite detail. They make me feel like a little kid playing dress up in my moms closet... how I miss those days!

Holli: The Long Lost Beauty

I love looking though rolls of vintage photographs that chronicle someones life and collectively tell a story about what they were like, where they had been, and what kind of people they hung out with. It's delightful to be impacted by all the love and laughter that they shared and all the big moments that they went through in their lives. What I'm most interested in, however, is those lovely ladies that went through their 20's in the 1940's. I'm so fascinated by their tales of love, rebellion, war, fashion, technology...all the things that I have encountered as a young girl in my 20's.

I guess it's because of that that I felt immediately drawn to the woman in the following photos, not to mention her infectious smile and her sensational taste in clothes. The photos give you such an intimate look into her world of friendship, love, and family that you almost feel like a friend at the end.

As if her beauty and smile weren't enough, her photos are accompanied by the most bizarre and coincidental story that I've heard in some time. I didn't want to butcher it or forget a detail so I decided to deliver it to you just as I read it.

"HOLLI"

"Here is one of the happiest faces I have come across in a long time. She is in most of the photographs in this "found" batch of old prints. They date from the 1940's and do tell a bit of a story. What do you see?

I had to make up the names "Holli and her friend "Thelma." They have glamorous smiles and lots of clothes.

She just looks like a Holli, maybe “Hollywood”. She dominates a set of 116 pictures found all in one bunch from an estate sale in Johnson City, New York. I posted the whole set originally in August of 2008.

There was nothing noted on the reverse of any of the photographs but there are lots of landmarks, lots of people. Someday I hoped, someone would recognize something and at least establish a location..."

"Then, in June of 2009 I found another batch of photographs from an estate sale in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. You can imagine my moment when I saw “Holli” again looking up at me from the stack, about 400 miles from the first group and ten months later.

I was able to coordinate some of the photographs by means of the photo lab’s series stamps on the reverse of many of them. Others matched in physical details of the prints. Six photographs, unrelated in any other way, have a light red stain at the edges showing they have been stored in the same place for a long time and thus linking them together. A few of the photographs in the Pennsylvania batch must have been taken on the SAME ROLL of film as the New York batch. From the clothing and locations, obviously some were taken the same day, perhaps only minutes apart. So now there are 63 more photographs of our Hollie, her friends and her time.

One thing stands out in the Pennsylvania group. There is ONE photograph with a date on the reverse. November 22, 1943. Hollie stands on her toes to give her man in uniform a big smooch. It must have been a special moment for them."

"In the set I have designated each item as Ney York Source or Pennsylvania Source in the tags to show where each photograph was found. In addition I have noted the origin in some of the captions.

Our Holli was a popular girl, perhaps a USO volunteer. She loved the beach and the sun. Her bright smile probably made her an instant friend to anyone she met.

Look carefully at these photographs. What do you think is the story?"
-anyjazz65

Etsy Update: American Girl

Cazimi Etsy is finally here! I'm so excited to finally get the shop up and going, and with the upcoming holiday just around the corner I figured there was no better time to sell the red, white, and blue. I hope you all enjoy the American Girl theme!

Shop Now

I watched a bird learn how to fly today.

Dress: Thirfted (hemmed shorter)
Sandals: Target
Purse: Hayden & Harnett for Target
Headband: Made by me!

The Uniform Project

What would you do if you had to wear the same dress for the next 365 days?

It sounds crazy, but after wearing a uniform for years at her public school in India, it's hardly a challenge for Sheena Matheiken. The Uniform Project is a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all of the contributions will go toward the Akanksha's School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for slum children in India.
In May, Sheena embarked on her mission to exercise sustainable fashion as she documents her daily looks along the way. With tons of accessories and seven identical staple dresses, Sheena is on her way to creating 365 creative and stylish looks. What an inspiration!

If you are a designer or a stylist and feel like you could contribute an accessory or a look, Sheena's got 10 months left and would love to collaborate!
Click the links for more information about donating tips or even just some old accessories!

How can I sell it when I love it this much?

Dress: 40's Cotton Dress/Estate Sale
Shoes:Vintage Seychelles/Goodwill
Purse: 50's Straw Basket/Estate Sale

I've had this dress in my closet for about 5 months now, but this is my first time to wear it. Can you believe that? I actually put it on with the intention of selling it in the etsy shop, but now I'm having second thoughts! The fabric is so sturdy, and the condition is absolutely flawless. Gah, why does it have to fit so well? I used to hate dresses that stopped right below the knee because I didn't think they were flattering on me at all, but now I'm really not bothered by it. I think it's a big part of the vintage look!

Ah, decisions, decisions.
Maybe I'll wear it a few good times before passing it on!

Summer Ginghams and Blogger Care Packages

Dress: Vintage gingham from Chicken Dinner Candybar
Shoes: Thifted
Flower: Vintage gingham fabric from an estate sale

All of the other lovely items came as a gift for my purchase (necklace, headband, book, and sample of perfume). It was such a nice surprise to receive so many wonderful things in my package!