Autumn, I heart thee.

Now that October is upon us, this hippie is even happier than usual. Why, you ask? Because the time has come to bust out those pieces of my wardrobe that I couldn't use during the repugnant summer months.

While I detest bone-chillingly frigid weather, I adore the crisp, clean air of the fall and the ability to wear layers again. Aside from the color-changing of the foliage and the final (at last!) break from the humidity, autumn is my favorite time of year to get dressed. While summer requires a degree of minimalism, and winter requires about 10 pounds of gear just to prevent frostbite, autumn is that perfect, happy medium.

To add to my excitement for autumn ensembles, various street fashion blogs are just chock full of layer-clad beauties for inspiration.




Credit: Face Hunter, The Commodified, street fancy

eVintage Blog Tag - 'Bare Your Sole'

Time for the weekly eVintage Blog Tag! I was tagged by - Julie at Damn Good Vintage

1) SHOW US YOUR FAVORITE PAIR OF SHOES IN YOUR INVENTORY.
I love these 1940s Peep Toe Wingtip-style Shoes. They are small though, sz5-1/2 or 6. Too narrow for my wide feet. Sadly, I don't handle very many shoes, I wish I came across more of them in sellable condition. But I do have several pairs listed - http://www.dandelionvintage.com/shoes.html




2) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STYLE OF VINTAGE SHOE TO SELL?
I like high vamp 1930s shoes, 1940s Dancing shoes, good old classic Granny Swing Shoes, 1940s platforms and 1950s 'Bad Girl' shoes like Springolator's, Lucite heels etc.

3) FAVORITE VINTAGE SHOE TO WEAR?
I love 1940-50s shoes, Slingbacks, wedges, semi-casual with lowish heels. I tend to wear vintage shoes from Spring to early Fall, I don't have many Winter-wear vintage shoes.

4) FAVORITE PAIR YOU OWN?
I bought these 5 pairs of shoes last Summer. All from the same seller on ebay. The black slingbacks with the low heels got the most wear last Summer and I can't wait until the weather starts to warm so that I can start wearing them again!



HOLY GRAIL OF SHOES?
I don't think that I have a single Holy Grail of shoes - Other than finding a great stash of 1940-50s sz6 Wide shoes to fit me and then a big stash of larger sized shoes to sell!

Follow the tag over to Pin-up Glam to Groovy Kitsch

Paula Patton

Paula Patton arrives at the First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon on February 21, 2008 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Paula Patton was the epitome of girlish-chic at the recent First Annual Essence Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon. If you're going to wear a dress this flirty and bold, ease up on the jewelry and just sport classic stud earrings. If you're too big in the chest to comfortably (and safely) wear a strapless dress, this look will work just as well with spaghetti straps. See below for the low down.

Two birds with one stone.

Today's post incorporates both of my current projects. Project one: the three R's.







Voila, one man's pants is another gal's purse. This handy little tote was a pair of Dean's vintage corduroys in it's past life, now it's been reconstructed into my new favorite bag. It's the perfect size for all the odds and ends I need to carry and it's wide strap is super-comfy on my shoulder. My favorite aspect is the two perfect pockets for my cell phone and keys and such. I added a lining from some vintage scrap fabric that I believe used to be a blanket, and one of my antique buttons.

Here's said satchel in a daily ensemble, which takes care of project numero dos, my W.E.I.O. post for today:



vintage floral sundress: thrifted
vintage cowboy boots: thrifted
crocheted slouchy beret: Wal-Mart
reconstructed corduroy bag: handmade by moi
vintage wayfarers: Spence's Bazaar

Woot for efficiency. :]

Tahitian Black Pearls

Exotic Pearls

Tahitian Black Pearls are some of the rarest, most valuable pearls available and have the distinction of being the world's only naturally black pearl. They range in size from 9mm to 16mm making them some of the largest pearls available. They are rarer than other types of pearls, since only a small number of oysters survive to produce a fine Tahitian pearl.





Tahitian Pearl Starfish Pendant

Pearl pendant enhanced with .18 carats of diamonds, a true Tahitian saltwater pearl. Excellent luster, blemish free, deep peacock overtone, set in 14k white gold with 20 diamonds.



Black Pearls are harvested in the azure blue lagoons French Polynesia from the Pinctada Margaratifera oyster, one of the largest pearl-producing oysters in the world. One hundred times more rare than white pearls, Black Pearls are considered to be one of the rarest gems on Earth.





Tahitian Pearl Dark Multicolor Bracelet

Perfectly round pearls strung on twin silk, natural colors with various dark overtones, 14k gold clasp.



Although they are called Black Pearls, the colors range from iridescent emerald green, sea green, pale silver blue, melon, peach-copper, pink, cranberry, Bordeaux, indigo and aubergine, to dark green and deep midnight black. Shimmering, iridescent, exotic and rare, Black Pearls are the ultimate gift.





Tahitian Black Pearl Bamboo Man's Ring

Available in three finishes:

• Natural sterling silver

• Rhodium-plated

• Argentium sterling

The setting anchors the 10 mm black Tahitian pearl so it rotates and appears to float on the surface. The ring's base has subtle bamboo design elements while its shape - wide at the top, tapered in the back - insures maximum ergonomic comfort.



Since each Tahitian Black Pearl is unique and doesn't resemble any other, it takes hundreds of Tahitian Pearls to find the matching ones required to make a single strand. So if you're looking for unique pearl jewelry with exceptional value, Tahitian Pearl jewelry might be just what you're looking for.



Catherine the Great of Russia owned a strand of 30 Tahitian black pearls, the largest weighing as much as .14 ounces. In Europe, pearls became a hot item reserved only for royalty through laws that forbade any citizen to own or wear pearl jewelry!

See full article.





Related Entries:

Beautiful Black Pearls - 24 June 2006

Pallavi Dudeja Foley - 02 August 2006

Tahitian Pearl Power - 01 January 2007

Pearls in the Bag or Baggins - 06 April 2007

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Day 2 of W.E.I.O.

Holy Hannah, the chill has finally arrived and oddly enough, I couldn't be happier. I woke up this morning shivering and stating excitedly, "it's freezing!" Bring on the fall wardrobe! At last!

Yesterday was Dean's Grandma's birthday, and it was finally cool enough for me to bust this little number out of hiding.



vintage dress: thrifted
black boots: Wal-Mart
black fishnets: no idea
black beaded necklace: Claire's
small black bag: Old Navy

By the way, I didn't attempt to dye my hair orange in some strange pattern, it's the sunlight.

I call this "June Carter Cash in hooker boots."

Speaking of Miss Cash, my coiffure originally was back-combed and poofy and looked just like hers, but thanks to the wind, it went a bit flat by the time I managed to take a picture.

Now I'm off to get dressed (and rather excited about it, thank you autumn chill). The first thing I'll be donning is a good pair of socks, my toes are turning into tater tots.

Gathering My Thoughts

Carol, a little while back, sent me THREE BOXES of patterns. Just because. (I know, am I lucky, or what?)

The boxes were FULL of treasures, but this one in particular caught my eye, even though I'm not a huge devotee of this era. But look at those gathers, and the sweet curve of the neckline!

So the plan is to go ahead and make the bodice, slap it onto a plain circle skirt, and see what happens. I'll have to change the waistline gathers to small darts (I don't like blousiness at my waist), and there will be some fiddling involved with the sizing (this is a B32; I ... am not). However, I figure that the 1940s propensity for shoulderpads will work in my favor; by leaving them out I will get more room through the shoulder seam and the gathers should help with fullness over the bust. (And I have the "make the waist bigger" alteration down pat.)

I'm sure La BellaDonna could tell me why I want to put a circle skirt on this one -- I think this straight-skirt cut is probably fine for those shaped like Rulers and Vs, but I need more sweep in the skirt to balance out what I insist is an Hourglass (but may in fact be a Pear -- or perhaps just an Hourglass that needs to be flipped over?)

The only thing I can't decide is what fabric to use. I was thinking "huge floral!" (because I always think "huge floral!") but this might also be adorable in, say, gingham. Or seersucker. Or even eyelet. Ideas?

Oh, if you want to see the back of the pattern, it's here.