Why Vintage?

My latest musings and thoughts have been set towards vintage clothing. Why do I dress the way that I do? What is the true appeal of vintage and pre-owned goodies? After asking myself these questions, I came up with a few illustrated answers I think are worth sharing.

                                                         *************************

 

{This top was a thrift store find. It is a smooth silk and judging by the construction it was hand made. A huge bonus to it's handmade quality, it fits like it was made for my body measurements!}

Vintage styling can be an expression that says "Hey! I'm not so down with main stream culture!" In a way it is a rebellion against status quo. I am not completely dissing contemporary fashion and style, I am merely expressing my freedom of choice. Mixing vintage with modern is a great way to have a very full and rich wardrobe.  

{This dreamy mint colored sun dress is another thrift store find. My heart jumped a little when I saw it. I also squealed with joy when it fit perfectly.}

By wearing vintage I am paying tribute to women I look up to. Women such as my grandmothers, mother, and aunts. These are people who worked hard and looked great doing it! I was raised by my mother to take pride in how I dressed. A person's impression of another is strongly based on looks. Why not put your best foot forward? There is a certain great feeling that comes with dressing well.

 {This funky beauty was a generous gift from Kelsie McNair, owner of the vintage boutique With Lavender and Lace in Norfolk, VA. Check out the facebook and give it some likes :-) Thanx Babe!}

On a more material level, I feel like I am rescuing and reusing something that is a quality made item. If it can last as long as it has, it was made right the first time. Some people may have qualms with used clothing but once laundered or tailored most clothes can be good as new.

{I scored these lovely shoes at an antique store in Richmond. Having a size 9 & 1/2 can prove to be a challenge in the shoe world. When I do find great shoes in my size I almost always buy them.}  

 It is all in the details. Small cut out shapes, intricate laces, screen printed patterns, etc. Vintage clothing tend to have amazing and quirky details. It is this attention to detail that makes a piece of clothing unique.

**********************

What vintage or reused beauties get you excited about dressin up?

Reflection Redux

       Change is as natural as air, and very much just as necessary. If asked, anybody who has ever lived with me can tell you that any space I consider home is readily changing. Furniture gets rearranged on a whim, surfaces get a fresh coat of paint, fabrics get covered and recovered, and new things appear on the walls with regularity. In a way, rearranging is how I keep inspiration flowing.
                                              ********************************

         In the picture below is a large mirror that I found during one of many "thrifting adventures" {as I like to call them}. I saw it and had to have it. When I got it into my apartment, I had no idea what to do with it. It was large, heavy and not exactly the right colors. Instead of getting rid of it, I kept it and shuffled it around the living room along with all the other furnishings. After some time it found a good home on the dining table.

    Being the artist that I am, I could not keep paint away from the mirror. Instead of the bright reds, and oranges, and dark blues, I decided to go with a more soothing analogous color scheme.

         After several coats of paint, and many brush cleanses later, the mirror changed into a piece that vibes better with the rest of the living room. That is not to say that I wont ever change it again ;-)

Inspiration Station

     
  Every design studio needs a designated space for a very, very important supply: Inspiration. A very fun and easy to refresh way of displaying things that inspire you is to create an "Inspiration Wire." This does not have to be an intense DIY extreme makeover project. In my home studio, I created my "wire" by using a few screws and natural twine. To hang my collected materials I used drapery clips, and clothes pins.
       If you are wondering what to hang, begin with magazines or catalogs that you subscribe to. There is a reason you were attracted to these publications and you may want to highlight or remember the most interesting things in them. Maybe you liked a wallpaper pattern in a home decor magazine, or a color scheme of cashmere sweaters in a fashion catalog. Another great item to add to your wall of inspiration is a collection of paint chips. You can usually find them for free at your local hardware store or at a place that sells interior/exterior paints. One last suggestion: vintage linens, such as the bird napkins in my studio, can add texture among paper goodies.

     Happy hanging!! If you have any other inspiration materials to share, please feel free. :-)

Couch Love

Our wardrobe is not the only thing that deserves a make over every once and a while. Today I created several different looks with the same banana leaf sofa by adding/subtracting a few pillows and a throw. For the first look I took away the large back support pillows and added an array of smaller multi-colored pillows. To make the look cohesive, I made sure the colors in the pillows all stayed in the same color scheme (blues, tans, dark brown). The second look I tried added the back support pillows and made a monochromatic statement with one large oat colored pillow. By placing the pillow in the middle, a more minimalistic look is achieved. The next look is slightly traditional with a twist. The placement of the pillows is traditional in the sense that they are symmetrical, but the twist comes into play by using two contrasting pillows (one is dark, one is light). The last look was created with a simple light blue quilted throw. When placed in the middle of the couch, the throw becomes part of the couches' decoration instead of an after thought. I added a throw pillow in a similar shade of blue to emphasize a blue theme.
I hope these few looks can inspire some new looks in your apartment. Happy Redecorating!