Although I realize I am embarrassingly late to the party, I never managed to watch the Emmy winning show Mad Men when it was on (I know! don’t judge). While we lived in Australia, we were very much out of the loop with regards to when new shows were airing, because most things were many months behind, and got into a general habit of streaming old favorites and not really paying a lot of attention to shows that were au courant.
To me, there are definitely some items in my closet I just couldn’t live without. Usually described as “basics,” these are the staples of your wardrobe. It should be the pieces you know you can reach for that go with just about everything. Now, in my world, this probably doesn’t mean what you think it means. I’m not talking about black pants and neutrals. I find the basic foundation of my wardrobe include full skirts, novelty prints, bright colors and that perfect go-with-everything striped tee….
These days I do the bulk of my shopping online. I think this is partly due to the natural progression of technology – there is a veritable ambrosia of options with the few clicks of a button. And when I lived in Australia, I struggled to find shops that had the kind of clothing I loved, so I would naturally venture cyber-ward more and more. After so many years of being used to online shopping, I developed a practiced eye for the way something might fit me – a model or blogger shot could usually reveal whether the cut would…
It’s impossible to be stressed when you’re staring out to sea. For some reason, it always gives me perspective, the feeling that I’m just a tiny boat on an enormous sea, bobbing in the waves. It reminds me to surrender to the forces that pull me forward, and let go of the things that are being pulled away. And when I’m a headless chicken and can’t find my way to the coastline, a 1950’s seaside print dress will do just fine…
Lately, I’ve felt an irresistible pull towards creating the perfect home. I browse home decor websites, vacillate between different color schemes, and spend hours looking for my dream countertops. This will come as no surprise if you’ve been following along lately, because Mr. Dressed and I have embarked on the dizzying adventure of buying a home. As I’ve said before, despite my love for adventure and seeing the world, the thought of putting down roots and having some stability is more than a little appealing. Weekends are now full of open house viewings and I spend about as much time on…
There are some projects that simply take forever. Not because they’re particularly complicated, but because life just… happens. Several years ago now (it’s actually embarrassing to think about how long ago it was…), I started to draft this dress. Like most of my creations, she was born from a true vintage piece that could never be mine. And as with most unrequited loves, I forlornly tucked her into the back of my mind. But, I never forgot her.
Some days are about practicality (if we’re being honest here, most days). Although it’s pretty obvious my day-to-day style veers towards most people’s fancy, my version of “practical” is a cotton sundress, some sort of sparkly belt, and 40’s inspired heels (which tend to be a bit easier to race around in). But every now and then, I’m in the mood to dress up like a frothy, floral cupcake fantasy. And I’m not sorry….
It’s safe to say I’ve moved around a lot in my life. And I’m not talking about the within-city moves (though we’ve racked up a fair few of those too). I’m talking about the uprooting your life, move to another country, then four years later do it again (cause it was so fun and stress-free the first time!) Truthfully, I wouldn’t change those experiences for anything in the world. Living in other countries has given me perspectives I never would have gained otherwise and afforded me insights into new places and new cultures. I know I wouldn’t be who I…
One of my all time favorite posts that I do on occasion here on the blog is where I turn the spotlight on one of my favorite vintage shops. I always think it’s important to support small businesses – and knowing what goes into sourcing vintage (from the endless searches and estate sales, to the cleaning and mending, to the photography and promotion), I appreciate these entrepreneurial rockstars all the more. They keep our vintage-loving closets stocked and happy and that is no small task…
If there’s one thing to love about summer, it’s sundresses! Bugs and sweltering heat aside, there’s nothing like being able to throw on a single item and feeling instantly put together. I’ve definitely been reaching for my spaghetti strap dresses more and more now that we’re in the official throws of summer – with a pair of sandals and bit of extra SPF on my burn-happy shoulders, I’m good to go!