Dolled Up In My Glad Rags

I went to an evening showing of “Oklahoma” at my local theatre a week or so ago, and obviously I dressed up to the nines!  I wasn’t sure about wearing my one-and-only vintage hat, but I am glad I did as it really finished off my outfit.  Plus, I don’t get to wear hats that often, so any chance to pull them out amIright?

Although my sisters think that my hat looks like brains…  Cute brains, but brain nonetheless!  ヽ(≧0≦)ﾉ  I just pretend that I don’t know what they are talking about, even though I kind of have to agree with them!  Ah, the first world troubles ~ when your fashion sense comes across like a cosplay!

Also, I do have to apologize for the lack of smiles.  Apparently I was much more tired than I realized, but hey, that IS kind of what happens when your new baby is kickin’ around with bright blue eye that just. won’t. shut. until 11:00pm or later every night.  (-_-‘)

Speaking of, I have to say adieu and tuck my family into bed.  Goodnight!   ♥ ♥ ♥

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
Vintage “brain” Hat  ~  Love Vintage Show, ‘11    Fab Faux Fur Swing Coat  ~  Winter Canberra Vintage Show, ‘12    1940’s Darling Day Dress  ~  Etsy    Black Gloves  ~ Etsy    Cream Cable Stockings  ~  ??Old   Swingin’ Kitten Heels  ~   Thrifted

Link Love ~ Matching Vintage Family Outfits Inspiration!

I love these matching outfits posted by Lucille Needles of Call Me Lucille.  Not only is she a huge outfit inspiration for me, I know I'm going to have to try and get the hubs in on pulling off a matching family day like this one sometime!  So cute!

"CALL ME LUCILLE": Our Striped Summer ~

Y'all know that I Inka is usually accessorised to match whatever ensemble I have on, even to go to the shops! But on a sunny day last week, I went a step further and accessorised my boyfriend to match my outfit...

xox,

bonita

New Mom Me

 

I thought I’d try out something new, so I took these outfit shots with my phone.  I actually really like how they came out ~ the iPhone 5’s camera is pretty decent and you can get some super editing programs on it that create some lovely results.

I really like how easy and quick it is to snap, edit and go with this method ~ though I am wondering if the picture quality is a little low?  I don’t know ~ what do you think?  iPhone photos a yay or nay? Would you be able to tell they are phone photos if you didn’t know? Do you care?  Should I care?  Oh, so many questions!  (￫o￩)

Please don’t mind that I don’t have the full range of shots though ~ I don’t have any shoe shots or full length pictures because I just set up the phone on the dresser in my room and snapped away while the baby was napping and Little T was running around! 

Speaking of Little T., I just have to mention that last photo; he’s hamming it up for the camera already and he’s not even two yet!  Haha ~ he must take after his mama…  (~￣▽￣)~

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
Filigree Hair Bow Barrette  ~  Old; Target   Custom Portrait Broach  ~  Giveaway Gift  40’s Basic Black Knit ~  Thrifted    Spotted Spot Skirt  ~  Old; Modcloth   Dotty Tights  ~  Old; Target

Link Love ~ Vintage Angelfish Outfit

I love this outfit of Solanah's ~ it's stunning!  If you haven't already; do check out the full post.

Vixen Vintage: Angelfish   

This weekend my mother hosted an "Under the Sea" party, and I went as an angelfish.  :)

xox,

bonita

Last Time Around

 

So I was 38 weeks + one day in these shots, and boy, oh boy, am I feeling it at this stage!  If I look bloated and puffy and dead…  Well, don’t mind me, because I am bloated, puffy and dead!  : P

Still, it was worth it for this!

 
~ *  Hi Mamma!! * ~

xox,

bonita

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

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

Link Love ~ Setting Lotions for Pin Curls

This is a great post from Lisa of Snoodlebug on the different types of setting lotions you can use for pin curls.  Check it out ~

Ready, get SET go!:


Yep, another bad pun – I do love a bad pun. 

I’ve had a lot of questions about setting lotion lately – both online and in real life - so I thought a quick post on what it is and what it does might be useful. Back to basics for a lot of you I’m sure but that never hurt anyone. 

So. Let's begin at the beginning...

What is it?

Well, somewhat obviously, setting lotion is product that is applied to hair in order to set styles. i.e. to make them neater and last longer. It comes in many forms – liquids which do or do not need dilution, crèmes such as boots curl crème, foaming products and even gels. Some people even make their own. Some are best applied to wet hair and some to dry – some can be used on both. Finding the right setting lotion for your hair can be a little like finding your Holy Grail foundation, but once you have found it you won’t ever want to change....

xox,

bonita

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

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
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

Holidays in Lavender

These are old-ish snaps are from our Christmas holiday to South Australia ~ taken in various locations.  The tumble-down Victorian mansion is just outside of Rutherglen, Victoria, and the amazing pink hydrangeas are in a garden in the bottom of a sink hole in Mt Gambier, South Australia. 

I wore this lovely lavender 1940’s maternity dress quite a bit while we were away, but unfortunately the stitches keep breaking in the seams, so I have to keep on mending it.  That’s one of the problems with vintage wear, although I must say I haven’t had as much trouble with my other vintage pieces as I have with this one.   : /  

Of course, then I don’t want to wear it as much, even though I do love the colour!  That’s one of the challenges of wearing vintage while having small children, but I’ll keep pegging away at it.   It makes me even more keen to sew my own vintage clothes, because then I don’t have to worry about them being ruined. 

Speaking of…. 

That will be my next update ~ I’m finally able to show you the dress I made before we went away.  Yay!  There’s a bit of a story as to why it’s taking me so long to post about it, but I’ll keep that for later.

xox,

bonita 

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
Lavender Lace 1940’s Dress  ~  Etsy   Painted Floral Broach  ~   Thrifted   Dot Flats  ~  Way too old!

Sailor Me Away

I’ve been hankering for a nautical inspired outfit for a while, and this 70’s-does-a-little-late-30s/early 40s maternity dress fits the bill nicely!  It’s been my outfit of choice for the past few weeks ~ easy to slip on and go as the dress does a lot of the work so it doesn’t need much in the way of accessories and fancy do-dads.   Yup, do-dads is a word.  I’m sure of it.   ~ _ ^

During this insanely hot summer weather, the less fuss the better! 

Now les’see, I think Bump Watch makes me at 28 weeks in this outfit?  Wow, I can’t believe how quickly the time is flying by!  Not long now and we’ll actually be able to meet little Bump ~ how super thrilling.  : D

Anyway, apparently this heat has sapped any and all witty, intelligent, thought provoking, and extremely interesting post content that is clearly my usual standard of fare to offer, so feel free to insert said writing here:

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
Pearl Earrings  ~  Christmas Gift from Hubs   Nautical Navy Dress  ~  Etsy   White Tooled Belt  ~  JayJays   There’s No Place Like Home Heels  ~  Rivers

Borrowing Tips from Grace Kelly’s Style

  


 

Easy to wear blouse, Capri pants, cute flats, simple hair and glam sunglasses?  Check, and check!  Whether or not I’ve managed to pull off the ‘Grace Kelly’ look, I do not know, but I do know that I love the simplicity of this outfit!

The vintage baby-doll top I recently purchased is one of the best maternity pieces I have ever laid eyes on ~ it’s the one item in my current wardrobe that I wish I could wear when I’m not expecting.   

As you can imagine, I getting a lot of use out of this blouse.   ; )  It’s just too cute not to wear as much as possible!  And on the subject of cute, how amazing are these repro 1950s styled sunglasses?? 

I think they are simply the bee’s knees, and even better, I could order them with my current script so I don’t have to either a}. Go blind and just wear the sunglasses or b}. Have to wear my sunglasses over the top of my actual glasses.  Which, let’s face it, isn’t an attractive look so that only happens when I’m driving and no one can see what I’ve done.   > o <

Thankfully these sunglasses have arrived now, so my days of dorky glasses-over-glasses can be safely thrown out the window ~ just in time for my family {and extend family} trip to South Australia. 

I’m looking forwards to our Christmas away, and I will try to keep updating, but I don’t know how consistent my ‘net connection will be, so I’ll wish you all “Happy Holidays!” just in case I don’t get to post until I get back. 

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~
Repro Glam Up Glasses ~  Zenni Optical    Vintage It’s Plaid Baby Top  ~  Etsy    Basic Denim Capris   ~  Crossroads, this season     Go Glitter Flats  ~  Modcloth 

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

To Dress a Vintage Bump

  



 

Busy weekends with so many things to do!  We had an engagement party on the Saturday, and a family BBQ Sunday afternoon.  Our silly season is off and racing, and I haven’t even thought about Christmas yet. 

What is even more crazy is that all our running around started in the beginning of November…  Whew! No wonder I’m tired already ~ : P

So I’ve got a little secret.

I wore this same 30s inspired outfit two days in a row.  …> >…

Shh!  Don’t tell!  But seriously, two different parties, two different crowds.  No one knows except my hubby and the little one, and they aren’t going to say anything, so we are all good right?!

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

Picnic Straw Hat  ~  Gift from my Mom    30’s Inspired 70’s Vintage Dress  ~  Thrifted   Cream Buckle Belt  ~  Thrifted    Santa Cruz Beach Heel  ~  Modcloth

The Casual Sporty 50s Vintage Pregnant Mama

Try saying that five times fast!  ; )




 

So this is my take on a sporty 50s look ~ as you can tell by the title of course! 

I think the pony tail, shoes, socks, and blouse are right, but if I wasn’t 20 weeks pregnant I definitely would have changed my skirt for a classic circle skirt ~ the perfect finishing touch.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any that fit at the moment…
  
Oh, the woes and problems ~ right?    > X <

Like the fact that early one morning, my sewing machine started sewing all by itself…..

And it wouldn’t stop!

*dadda-dum-da!*

Time for eerie music and ghost stories?? 

…No, actually, my foot pedal has shorted so now I cannot work on my new dress.  >: P   

Oh well, it’s not all bad ~ I can borrow my sister-in-law’s foot pedal in the mean time, so I hope to finish my dress anyway.  It’s going to be awesome I think, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see what everyone else thinks to really know.  : )

xox,

bonita

~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~ * ♥ * ~

Think Pink Blouse  ~  Thrifted   White Belt  ~  JayJays   Blue Bayou Skirt  ~  Valley Girl   Random Pink Socks  ~  ???    White Tennis Shoes  ~  Thrifted