Do Bump Bump de Do

 

So in case anyone is confused ~ yes, the baby did come.  She’s currently snuggled up and asleep in her bassinet.  These photos are from before, but I thought I’d put them up anyway as they are still good, vintage styled, maternity fashion shots ~ right?

I don’t know about any of you, but I find dressing a baby bump is pretty challenging.  I managed to find some cute vintage items to wear this time around ~ I felt like I was much more true to my style this time around than when I was pregnant with Theodore.  So the more outfit inspiration ~ the better I think!  

Nonetheless, I am glad, glad, glad{!} that I can start wearing all my pretty dresses again!  I even have some new ones that I can’t wait to show you.   ヽ(*⌒∇⌒*)ﾉ

xox,

bonita

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White Hair Bow  ~  Diva  Vintage It’s Plaid Baby Top  ~  Etsy    Basic Denim Capris   ~  Crossroads, this season   Moscow Moccasins  ~  FSW Footwear, two years ago

Hold You Love

I honestly can’t think of anything to say…. 

I blame it on the baby brain.  Really.

I am currently alternating between being too tired to do much of anything except rest, {they don’t call it an irritable uterus for nothing…  It’s so irritating!}, and having insane bursts of energy which results in manic “MUST CLEAN ALL THE THINGS”!!

~ * Yes, I just generated my first meme.  Ironically, I think that’s where this image came from ~ from a must clean all the things post.  (> . <)  * ~

And that’s the extent of my functioning at the moment.  I am looking forwards to be able to think again in about ~ oh, 3 months?   Ah, the joys of late pregnancy/life with newborns.  (￣▽￣*)ﾉ

xox,

bonita

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White Pleasant Blouse  ~  Thrifted    Pastel Pink Capris  ~  Crossroads, this season     Blush Bloom Lace Socks  ~  Thrifted    Sandy Sandshoes  ~  Thrifted

Dear Daisy Blue Dress

Has anyone watched the BBC program “Call the Midwife”?  I saw the first six episodes on DVD the other day and loved it.  I won’t give out any spoilers, but I must say that the clothing is gorgeous ~ showing a blend in fashions as style crosses over from 1940s to the 1950s “New Look” {I believe the series is set in the early 50s}, and the story telling of life in those days really is lovely.

There’s tragedy and drama, to be sure, but also a very strong theme of love, life, and duty which I find very uplifting.  I do so hate it when you watch period t.v. or movies that only focus on the grotty “shock” factors of those times ~ like extra marital affairs, babies out of wedlock, and the like.  I find it kind of annoying personally, because I tend to watch those shows or movies precisely for their “old fashioned” values! 

Yes, there were such goings on back in those times, I don’t deny that, but I also think that values back then were hugely different from today, and that’s one thing that I find very strongly influencing and shaping my appreciation of the past. 

My love of vintage fashion is most definitely tied to my love of the values and ideals found back then.  No, they weren’t all perfect, I am the first to admit that ~ there were many attitudes that were wrong, even as there were many that were right.  I do feel however, that the attitudes of selfless duty and love that many people had, and thusly acted on ~ just because it was the right thing to do ~ were good ones.  Ones that have really been lost today, much to society’s detriment. 

We are so caught up in seeking out our own pleasures that the thought of doing something for others, or even our community and country, at great cost to ourselves is often a foreign one, and at times I feel that it is sorely missed.  I’m not saying that those attitudes and actions would solve all our problems, but I do feel that in many cases it could help, if not prevent, the problems from occurring.  

That being said, I do enjoy and appreciate the freedoms of the century I live in, and I am glad for the ability to choose which parts of the past I want to admire and emulate, even as I can choose which parts of the present I can admire and emulate.  There is much to be said for the freedom of personal choice, though as they say, with great power comes great responsibility.  (◕‿◕｡)

I should probably finish off now, before this turns into a massive dissertation {kudos for getting this far!}, but I am curious ~ what do you think?  Are the values of the 1950s, and further back, as worth while keeping as the clothing is?  Do those values affect you at all, or are they irrelevant?  I know a lot of vintage life stylists do get into the whole “Make Do and Mend” way of thinking, but as vintage enthusiasts, how much is too much in allowing the past to influence your ideology and attitudes?

xox,

bonita

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Dear Daisy Blue Dress ~ Made by Me, 2012   Pastel Yarn Comb  ~ Made by Me, tutorial here  Gladys Owl Broach ~ Acorn and Will   Jade Bracelets  ~  Hong Kong ‘08 & Thrifted   Polka Bow Wedges  ~  Big W, ‘11

Link Love ~ Casual 1940s & 1950s Style Inspiration

It’s been a while since the last Link Love, no?  Still, when I saw this post on casual vintage style by Miss Virginia of Retrospect, I knew I had to share it.

Talk about the perfect out-and-about outfit inspiration!  I love the elegant touch of a neat blouse and Capri pants; in fact I’ve actually bought two new pairs of Capris recently that I can’t wait to show you in an outfit post.  In the mean time, however, enjoy these lovely looks from the past, and don’t forget to hop on over for the rest of the gorgeous pictures.

Kelly Casual

~ *  My favorite vintage lady: Grace Kelly naturally…  * ~
  ~ *  I positively adore this outfit ~ I will be trying to replicate it very soon!  Mind you, it might very well be minus the white blouse, as white and toddlers really don’t mix with happy results...  > u <  * ~

xox,

bonita

Happy Go Lucky

 

I have been wanting to write this post for the last two weeks, but as I recently procured a new notebook to replace my old laptop {11” Mac Air – eee!}, I couldn’t actually write it until Hubby set up a virtual computer to host Windows on.  Once he did that, I could finally access Live Writer again. 

Apparently there is not one good PC based blogging platform for Macs at all.  Wordpress is supposed to be the best web-based blogging platform available, but frankly, I really dislike their set up for handling photographs.  Of course, this blog is quite picture-heavy, so that’s kind of a little important!

Anyway, I’m finally back – yay!  : )  

Now to the heart of the post ~ I love how simple this outfit is!  Cute heels, cute dress, a pretty updo, and I am ready to take on the world, pregnant or no!

It’s so easy that I think I’m going to live in floaty vintage dresses this summer.  A forgiving, but cute dress is the perfect uniform when your figure is constantly changing, and even more relevant, when it’s super hot.   >  <

I aim to sew at least two dresses to add to my limited supply ~ as over half my dress wardrobe no longer fits.  I do hope to eke out the ones that do a little longer.  I also may have one or two new items to show you, but they’ll have to wait until later.  ; )

xox,

bonita

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Vintage A Patch of Garden Dress  ~  Etsy    Gingham Picnic Wedges  ~  Modcloth

She’ll Be Comin’ ‘round

 

 

It’s taken a lot of thought, but I think I’ve figured out what I want to do blogging wise. 

Everyone has been super supportive, and I’ve been really glad to hear from you, but it’s actually a little chat I had with my sister, who is also a writer as well as my co-authoress, that really clinched the matter!
I just mentioned it to her in passing, but she really laid it out for me. 

She very sweetly encouraged me to keep at it, because she enjoys my blog{!! ♥ }, and she thinks I should keep it up.  Plus, she reminded me in a very timely comment that sometimes it doesn’t matter how frequently or non-frequently I might post, it’s the quality of the content that matters.  Like on Youtube, if the posters there take the time to post quality videos that are interesting to them and to their users, people are much more likely to appreciate that work, rather than someone who may churn out a video everyday, but doesn’t take the time to make quality content.

That, plus your very reassuring comments make me feel that if I do keep posting on DT!, it doesn’t matter if I stick to any sort of schedule, but focus on posting when I can/feel like it. 

It may be twice a week, it might be twice a month.  I honestly don’t know right now, but I promise that I will try to make every post worth reading.  I think it’s going to be fun that way, don’t you?

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~ This isn’t a proper outfit post ~ more like the daily co~ordinate or something….  Anyway, if I do these types of quick clicks, I won’t put up a list of the clothes that I am wearing.  If you do want to particularly find out about a certain item, just let me know in the comments and I’ll fill in the details.  
> __ <

Grey Cardigans and Clouds

I put all the vintage elements in my outfit together and imagine my surprise when I came out looking nothing as so like a hipster!  I don’t know if it was a combination of the wrong undergarments with the tights with my beanie, but there you have it.  A very modern vintage take I feel. 

*shrug* Ohwell.  And it’s pretty much decided me, I need to find another pair of glasses frames!  These ones have been growing on me, but I can tell that they are just not quite the look that I am going for from these pictures. 

xox,

bonita

P.S.  ~  Yes, I am wearing tiny piggy tails for my hair style.  It helps to tame it as it dries.  : P 

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Cream Bean Beanie  ~  JayJay’s,’09    Grey Knit Cardigan  ~  Big W, ‘08     A Patch of Garden Dress  ~  Etsy     Grey Day Tights  ~  ??    Cushions Comfort Mary Janes  ~  ??   Sling Black Shoulder Bag  ~  Thrifted

Dancing with Cherry Trees

A picnic lunch at the park, sunshine, pink blossoms and family ~ what a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon!   Our family has a big picnic tradition, Husband and I are always eating out at our local park when the weather is nice, it’s one of our favourite ways to enjoy the outdoors. 

We often prefer a quick grab’n’go lunch, but one of these days I’d love to hunt down a vintage picnic wicker basket set and a blue gingham picnic blanket!  Then we can go all out with the food ~ ham, cheese and tomato sandwiches, fruit slices, fruit cake {a firm favourite of the men} and anything else we can think of!  So dears, what are you favourite picnic foods?  Any particularly tasty recipes you’d like to share?  I am sure we’d all love to hear them!

xox,

bonita

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Lace Ivory Hair Bow  ~  Diva   Reel Red Cardigan  ~  Thrifted   Porcelain Flower Brooch  ~  Thrifted   Fall Fancies Dress  ~  Made by Me, ‘12    Cream Cable Stockings  ~  Target    Berry Well Oxford Pumps  ~  Modcloth

Wild & Windy Spring Days

It’s the last week of winter here, but honestly spring still seems so far away with all the wet, wild and windy weather!  All the tiny splashes of purple about my feet beg to differ ~ we’ve had our violets blooming in profusion.  I do so adore violets, and I love the fact that we have so many growing around our home that you can actually catch a whiff of their delicate scent as you walk by.

That and the blossoms are coming out everywhere!  Now if only these dark clouds that I’m seeing out the window will blow away, taking their sleet and hail with them….  Mind you, the 2 meters of snow at Perisher is nothing to be sneezed at ~ the hubs and I have been enjoying our season passes this year for sure.

Now, I don’t know if you have at all been curious as to why I seem to have disappeared for so long, but I promise I have a good reason. I just can’t tell you what it is yet.  Hopefully, I’ll be able return to a more regular update schedule in the up coming weeks, and I promise that when I can, I’ll tell all.

xox,

bonita

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Netting Snood  ~  Made by Me, ‘12     Blue Danube Cardigan  ~  Made by Me, ‘12    Cherry Picnic Brooch  ~  Frock It Up Canberra, ‘12   Back in Black Top  ~  Thrifted    Red Rose Belt  ~  Dotti   Seeing Spring Skirt  ~  Thrifted    Black Knee Hi Socks  ~  ??  Can’t remember…   There’s No Place Like Home Heels  ~  Rivers

Link Love ~ An Easy Short Hair Up Do

This is the perfect up-do tutorial for a lovely vintage 1940’s inspired hair style that works well with short hair!  I love this look and cannot wait to try it out myself ~ and as always, amble on over to The Freelancer's Fashionblog for the rest of the darling illustrated instructions.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR AN EASY 'DO

…In general, a good tip for a easily achieved fancier-than-it-actually-is look that works for as well long and short hair, is to concentrate on your hair in the front and just gather the hair in the back and cover it with something nice…

In short, it works the following way:

1) style your hair fabulously in the front - rolled bangs, rolls, pin curls, the choice is yours.
If you suck at styling, try to learn at lest one thing that will work for you. You can do it!
2) make a quick and simple bun or chignon in the back and pin well for it to stay
3) cover the hair with lots and lots of decorations. Something simpler like a scarf or bow or one big flowers will be good for everyday wear, while more glittery and colourful flowers puts your head into party mode!

If your hair is super short, roll up or wave it in front and just pin all the rest together in the back and cover it with as many flower pins and -clips as you can fit! You can curl very short hair in the front nicely too, I have done it to ladies, so it's possible. If you can't manage anything, pin smoothly to the side and put in a flower there too. Ta-da, up do feeling achieved!

But now, back to the actual apple-blossom do...

xox,

bonita

My Fall Fancies Dress

Fall Fancies Dress  ~  Made by Me, ‘12    Harvest Guardsman Gloves  ~  Etsy   Basic Brown Belt  ~  Thrifted   Cream Cable Stockings  ~  Target   Tan Penny Loafers  ~  Big W  
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M’dears, I am dreadfully excited to show you this dress as it has been an extraordinary length of time in coming! Can you believe I started it in February no less?  Mind you, it has been finished for a couple of weeks as I completed it on the 2nd of July, but I have been waiting for a chance to wear it.

I was originally planning for it to be my autumn dress, hence the title, but five months {give or take} in the making and we were well into the winter season before I was done!  I shall give you more details on why it took so long in my stitching-stories-sewing-geekery post that is coming later, but for now I will say that I am glad it is finally finished!  

Yes, I have already started planning the next project in my head, and I have gotten as far as “It won’t be a dress!”  Sadly to say, for the moment I am over dresses.  They just seem so complicated and time consuming! 

It’s not that I can’t do all of the steps, {with a little help from the sewing master ~  teh Internetz!}, it’s more that there are SO many steps that it takes too long!  *sigh*  And while I love a pretty vintage dress, I just would like to get my teeth into some shorter and more winter friendly projects ~ like some blouses, or a pair of 40’s slacks…  I am itching to cut into Simplicity 3688 which is all the rage with vintage blogger seamstresses at the moment ~ mostly because of the near-perfect trouser fit; something almost unheard of!

If anyone hears of a Simplicity or Butterick or Vogue online pattern sale ~ do let me know!  I have some favourites to buy, but want to wait for a sale.  Then maybe I can try my 1940s trousers!

xox,

bonita

The Call of the Siren Suit

*Warning ~ picture heavy post ahead!*

Rose Dream Earrings & Brooch Set  ~  Diva   The Siren Suit  ~  eBay   Chequered Deluxe Top  ~   Tightrope   Celtic Cast Tights  ~  Target    Swingin’ Kitten Heels  ~   Thrifted

~ * ♥ * ~

M’dears, I am so totally excited to show you this outfit like you would not believe!  The darling two-piece wool suit I am sporting caught my eye on eBay and when I received it in the mail I was even more thrilled to find out that it was all it promised to be and more!! 

As you can see, it’s fully lined with a sweet red and black plaid taffeta fabric and the skirt has a cute little lace hem detail.  The skirt also has pockets, and the jacket with it’s black velvet collar and princess seams is to die for.   I love the cut of this suit ~ with the full skirt, combined with the puffed sleeves, it is the perfect blend between a 1940s style and a 1950s style which leads me to believe that it could be a ‘New Look’ suit!  *le gasp!*

Even better than that ~ I snapped it up for a mere $55.00 AUD…..   O_____o 

It literally was the bargain of a century ~ I’d been eyeing it on and off for two months or so, and was so excited to see a 50% off sale price that I didn’t even hesitate to click “Buy It Now”.  Seriously, it’s the epitome of the thrill of the hunt, and the ultimate ‘trophy’.

I really can’t tell if I am more excited about how perfect this suit suits me or about the astronomically fantastic price!  Either way, this is most definitely my favourite thing in my wardrobe at the moment!  I can’t wait to mix the pieces up and it’s just what I need to ward off the winter chill. 

Happy hunting to y’all!  

xox,

bonita

Link Love ~ 1940’s Dress and Style Guide

Glamour Daze is a wonderful source of authentic vintage style inspiration.  I love their latest mini series on 1940s fashions, it’s chock full of fabulous original material.  Swing by and check out their style guide post for a full run down on how to achieve an authentic 1940s look. 

Easy Guide to a 1940′s Woman’s Dress and Style

I wouldn’t call it a costume, but this video still has some helpful tips to start off your 1940s style.

… First of all, before you go looking anywhere else, try your own wardrobe. The 1940s day suit is a little harder to create, so keep it simple and find a frock ! A calf length or knee length will do, preferably pleated, and buttoned up at the front, with a fitted waist. If you can’t find a dress with a fitted waist, then a nice belt with a bow tie, can cinch your waist quite adequately. Shoulders were padded or ruffled, so remember that…

xox,

bonita

A Step In Time

Back to Black Cloche Hat  ~ gifted from my mother!    Frosty Cardigan   ~  Thrifted   Basic Red Knit Top  ~  too old to remember    Pleats Button Me Up Skirt  ~  Thrifted    Threesome Brooches  ~ Jane flower brooch trio, Acorn & Will    Shutter Knee-Hi  ~  too old to remember   Saddle Shoes  ~  Amazon.com   Azure Atom Bag  ~  Oasap.com

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It’s interesting to me how I tend to reach for a stronger, bolder colour palette come winter ~ jewel tones like ruby red, or onyx tempered with a touch of pale cream seem to be my favourite mix at the moment. 

However, I really like the pop of blue that my purse provides to offset all the serious red and black, it’s nice and cheery on a cold winter’s day!  You might have seen this purse sneak into my Instagram ~ as I love the style of it.  But there are some downsides, which I am about to warn you of!

Oasap.com Product Review ~ The Three Pin Buckle Detail Makeup Case with Lace Trim to Flap

I am not happy with the quality of this bag. It is advertised as a makeup bag, so that may have something to do with the cheap feel, and the horrid plastic-y smell it had!  I could live with both of those facts, particularly now that the smell has dissipated somewhat, but I am not impressed with how quickly the bag has started to break.  : /   The front strap guards are starting to pull away, they don’t seem to be attached securely.  The worst damage is to the edging ~ the lace scallops around the edge of the bag flap have split and peeled, almost within the first week of carrying it. I had to mend the scallops with super glue and felt to stop them from breaking completely off! 

That’s not good in my books, especially considering that I paid the full $42.00 for the purse as the 20% discount I was supposed to get didn’t apply to the transaction.

I did email Oasap about it, but they basically told me that if I wanted the discount I’d buy something else from them to get it.  Er, no thanks!  If the discount didn’t work the first time, why the heck would I buy something the second time and risk it not working again?  Customer service fail if you ask me.

So long story short, although I love the look of my new bag, I am not sure I would buy it again if I had the choice.  It’s a poor quality make in my opinion, too expensive for what it is and I was less than impressed with the customer service of that site.  Sorry Osasp, but I am not buying from you again!

Have you guys had any experience with Oasap?  Was it good or bad?  Let me know in the comments, I want to be fair about this review.   : )

xox,

bonita