The Secret World of Haute Couture

While recently scrolling my favorite blogs for news from NY Fashion Week and perusing Pinterest endlessly, I came across this beautiful image of a shoe with the tag "Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2013" and thought I just HAD to look up the collection. Wow...I was not disappointed. It was actually the Winter 2014 collection that this shoe was from, and while not from a haute couture collection, it was unbelievably beautiful, inspiring, and breath-taking.

You can view the whole fashion show lineup on their website here,but beware you will find yourself lost in the beauty. The simple detailing and construction techniques that went into these pieces is astounding.

Because I love the 50s silhouette this first photo was my favorite piece, but each piece was wearable and so terribly chic. It's been so long since I've seen something so beautiful, I'm just about at a loss for words. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Really though the whole collection is worth looking at for hours on end. The detail warrants it.

Anyway it got me talking to a fellow clothing lover and fashion lover who mentioned a video I'd like to share with you. It's a 45 minute documentary from the BBC on the making and wearing and collecting of haute couture. Dolce and Gabbana have only been doing haute couture for about a year, and from what I hear it's out of Italy and not Paris...but let's not get picky here. Watch the video, it's enlightening, and if you've ever tried on a beautifully made, astounding piece of clothing that fits you perfectly, you know why these women collect the garments the way they do.

What was your favorite item from the fall runways???

Outfit Post: Casual Nouveau

I bought a great dress for the shop and with it was a button up shirt in a matching pattern. I knew right away I had to keep the shirt for myself in order to let the dress make it to a new home. I typically don't wear shorts, despite any heat, and if I do they are usually 5" or bermudas... but these vintage Gap denim shorts have been a staple in my closet for a few years. Maybe once or twice a summer I'll break them out. Most of the time I wear them to the beach, but today I decided to mix them with the mucha-esque button up top.

 Still trying to get the range right on my new DSLR. I think I'll have to get a remote for it soon.

 Went with teal and gold accessories to bring out the green in the blouse print.

 Vintage bangles, and a druzy bangle from a fashion show in Boston.

 I enjoy the clarity of the grass in this photo.

 Romping dachshund.

A shot of the matching dress. Isn't the print amazing? Required a lot of TLC to get it vibrant and clean, but it was worth it.

Shoes / Delia*s

Blouse / Jan Sue California, Vintage

Necklace / Gift

Bangles / Vintage Givenchy, gold/teal druzy

Shorts / Vintage Gap

Belt / Betsey Johnson

SHOP UPDATE: Spring Fever

Call it what you will, but I'm calling it SPRING FEVER! And boy have I got it!

Temperatures are barely reaching the 50s but I've been seen in nothing but dresses for the past week. Sandals, cute handbags, pretty dresses -- Ooh lala. All of these pieces are chic and modern enough to be incorporated into any wardrobe, so take your pick!

1980s Chartreuse Blazer

1980s Western Boho Skirt

Spring Scarf

1970s Tori Richards Spring Dress

Mimi Di Ni Frog Belt

Vintage Woven Mules

Whiting & Davis Clutch

Vintage Geometrically Cute Blouse

And of course keep checking back for even more vintage flooding into the shop. My racks are bursting and I can't photograph fast enough!!

All About the Accessories!

Sometimes it's all about how you wear the accessories. What you choose for accessories can really define your outfit. One moment you're a dainty gal, and you change up a few accessories and next thing you know you're bohemian, or rockabilly! Having a wardrobe full of vintage accessories is the perfect way to change up your look in a snap. I find that vintage accessories have a lot of flair and the right handbag or bracelet can change the whole appearance of whatever I'm wearing. 

Straw and Leather Hinge Purse

70s Givenchy Bangle

Mexican Panama Hat

80s Floral and Lace Dress

70s Woodworks Leather Wedges

70s Oversized Sunglasses

Here, I took this on-trend floral and lace dress and paired it up with different accessories to get two different looks. The look on the right is all about summer and delicate and sweet. The look on the left has a little more edge, with a music festival feel.

In the first look, I paired the dress with a sweet straw and leather hinge bag, delicate gold bangle and necklace, and pretty leather wedges. The overall look is a little sweet and petite.

In the second look, I wanted to go a little more rock, and a tiny bit country, so I paired the dress with a vintage mexican panama hat, a stack of wood, leather and enamel bangles, oversized 1970s sunnies, and some sweet Nine West shoes I begged my mom for in my teen-age-years (Hey, ma! Still got 'em!).

Recently I've been reading some great articles from 1950s magazines about ways to re-use your same garments over and over again through the different seasons. A lot of it was all about changing necklines and adding accessories. So there you go - the idea has been around for quite a while!

What's your favorite way to mix it up and change the look of an outfit?

Oh, also - I've added my blog and shop to this great link-up! If you have a vintage or handmade shop or blog, you should link-up too!

Bohemian Spring

 I haven't had hair this long since I was about 12 years old! Whenever I curl it a bit or let it dry naturally wavy, I get a real 1970s vibe. So the fact that I've been finding some fabulous 1970s pieces recently has been a total treat. I love putting on clothes from another era and coming out with a totally different vibe. This pretty dress is silky on top and sturdy on the bottom. Lovely for a brisk spring day when it's too cold for sleeveless, but too warm for sweaters.

70s Purple Mosaic Dress

1970s Wood Stacked Heels

The shoes are kind of perfect, too. I picked these up not knowing if Aldo was really that old of a company, but turns out they started out in 1972 in Canada. Being so close to Canada here in New Hampshire... I love to think of the story behind these. Either being bought on a trip to Canada by some 70s New Englander, or brought down by a Canadian who may have migrated... The European sizing on the shoe (38) as opposed to the US sizing tells me that they weren't bought here in America, and since the company originated in French-Canada, it's safe to assume they made their way down from our northern neighbor! Research is one of my favorite parts of selling vintage!

Sometimes, the odds are stacked up against you finding out where your item came from, what its value is, or what era it's from...but with enough persistence there's often something there for you. Try researching one of your own vintage pieces and see what kind of quirky information you can come up with!