Style Crush: Robert Taylor

Style Crush is finally back this week and it's featuring one of my favourite old Hollywood actors and crush in general...Robert Taylor.

I remember the first film I saw Robert in.  It was Waterloo Bridge and I fell madly for him.  He had a charm that was palpable through the screen and made me feel deeply for his character and the struggles he faced.

The next film I saw was Camille.  Poor Robert played yet another character that wasn't the luckiest in love.  It furthered my love of him and I began to watch every film of his that TCM aired.

He's able to pull off the looks of so many different characters.  He can wear the casual tennis jumper and then change into a tuxedo and look just as dashing.  I love the men's fashion of old.  It was just such a put together, polished look.  The fedora, the three piece suit, the wingtips...  There's just something about a well dressed man that makes a gal swoon a bit...

I'll Never Let Go

This post is coming to you early on account that I'll be at World War II Weekend tomorrow and won't have time to post except via Instagram.  So if you don't follow me on there, be sure to add me.  My username is _vintage_vixen_

I'm now onto mid-April for my backlogged photos.  This was the outfit I wore on the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic.  It's not exactly period specific, as I don't have anything really 1912-ish.  It's more so inspired by and a nod towards that era.

This outfit is centered around the Le Cœur de la Mer or, the Heart of the Ocean.  My mum got it for me as a gift back in 1997 when Titanic the film was all the rage.  We went to a Titanic themed tea party where we got to dress up, wear big hats, and drink tea.  It was really enjoyable.

Outfit Details:

vintage skirt, vintage shoes, vintage hat, vintage earrings, belt {thrifted}

Titanic necklace, vintage jacket {gifts}

backseam stockings {eBay}

camisole, jumper {boscov's}

I would love to go to another themed event like that.  Well, obviously apart from WWII Weekend.  That's the only local vintage event but I love getting all dolled up for a specific reason.  There should be more themed parties or events around here.

I'll never let go of my love for the beautifully tragic Titanic.  I ended up seeing it 11 times in cinemas when it first came out and then even saw it again when they re-released it in 3D.  It was the film that brought Leo into my life and the lives of thousands of other young girls.

Style Crush: Ginger Rogers

In preparation for WWII Weekend coming up June 7-9, the next two Style Crushes will be old Hollywood starlets.

This week is one of my favourite classic actresses, the lovely and amazingly talented triple-threat, Ginger Rogers.

Ginger, to me, can pretty much pull off any look and look flawlessly in them.  In Top Hat, she's a desirable model being pursued, in Stage Door she's a no-nonsense actress, and in Primrose Path she plays a tomboy.

Her wardrobe in films and for photos is just so amazing.  The gowns, the two piece suits, the hats!

I absolutely adore this casual trouser look she's wearing above!  I need to recreate this.  Ginger is sheer perfection here to me.  I have lots of vintage and vintage looking dresses, skirts, and shirts; but I don't have trousers like this!  Thankfully I've got a Butterick pattern with four different high waisted looks that I need to get on making.  And we must talk about that hat with the snood!

I don't know what it is about her in casual looks, but she just looks so amazing in them.  The polka dot halter top and white shorts with tennis shoes is just such a cute summer look!

This green gown is the sweetest confection!  I love the colour to start, since green and purple are my favourite.  Then throw in the lace and ribbon trim and it's just so lovely.

Ginger and her films will always hold a special place in my heart and serve as style inspiration.

And now I will leave you with Bob Thaves' famous quote about Fred Astaire and Ginger: "Sure he was great, but don't forget Ginger Rogers did everything he did backwards...and in high heels!"

My Week According to Instagram

Happy Mother's Day to all you mummies out there (even mummies to pets)!  Today I got to spend the day with my mum, brother, sister-in-law, and nephew.  Mum and I went to church as usual and spent a bit of the early afternoon together.  Then we went over to my brother's house and spent time with his wife and son while waiting for him to come home from work.  We ate dinner at a local chicken restaurant and had a good time, until my nephew got cranky because he couldn't go miniature golfing.

Yesterday I got to hang out with my best friend Michelle whom I don't get to see as often as I'd like.  We live close to an hour apart, which isn't too terrible, but it does hamper getting together at times.  We spent the day walking around Lititz, which is a really beautiful area.  It's got loads of old historic buildings along the streets and also a bunch of sweet little boutiques and shops.

1-2. I am in love with last Sunday's 1930s inspired outfit.

3-4. Another photoshoot at the train tracks.  This is becoming a regular spot for me.

5. Last week's Instagram post.

6-7. Outfit for running errands.

8. Photoshoot by the cherry blossoms again.

9. Tested out my flapper outfit to go see The Great Gatsby.

10. A close up of my beautiful 1920s cloche hat.

11. 1920s shoes. I want them all!

12. A gorgeous couple from the 20s.

13. A sweet shot of my sweet Smudger.

14. Hmm...which to wear when I go see Star Trek Into Darkness...

15. Benedict Cumberbatch was on a fair amount of talk shows!

16. Carey Mulligan was this week's Style Crush.

17. Shared this blog post on Instagram.

18. My great-grandparents in March of 1920.

19. My great-grandmother on the far right in the 1920s.

20. Shared this post on Instagram.

21. There's just something tasty about British villains.

22. I cannot wait to see (Benedict in) Star Trek Into Darkness.

23-24. I couldn't pass up the photo-op by this caboose built in 1942.

25. I should have bought these cute cat-eye glasses.

26-27. The bedroom display at The Curiosity Shoppe is incredible.

28. Michelle and I couldn't pass up the chance to pose in these extravagant vintage hats.

29. We should have been hat models.

30. Oh no! The Enterprise is crashing!

It was really going into the different shops and looking at all the gorgeous vintage items (and lusting over a lot of them!).  We also tried on glasses and extravagant hats.  We laughed over some ridiculous 1970s clothing including some pretty out there jumpsuits.  Next time I said we will have to try on the craziest outfits we can find and take photos like we did with the hats.

My favourite store we went into by far was The Curiosity Shoppe.  It's loaded with lovely vintage items everywhere.  They've even named the shop's pet birds Fred and Ginger!  This is definitely my type of store.  The owner even told me about some future events because she knows from the last time I was in there (and from my outfit yesterday) that I'm very much into the past.  I hope I'll get to go to the one event in June she mentioned that will have swing dancing and whatnot.  It's only a few days after I am scheduled to get my wisdom teeth out so it will have to depend on how I'm feeling and what the swelling situation is at that time.

How was your weekend?  Did you get to do anything fun?

My Week According to Instagram

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I hope everyone had a good weekend.  Mine was filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Friday night I had a first date with a guy that went well.  Saturday I had plans to hang out with some girls but then ended up falling down the last few steps in my apartment.  Ouch.  I landed against an antique trunk and my vintage bicycle.  I'm okay mostly.  Nothing is broken and it wasn't bad enough to go to hospital.  I am just very stiff, very bruised, and very sore.  Oh stupid clumsiness.

1. Oh Daryl, yes, yes yes.  Is it time of TWD yet?

2. Smudger got comfy on my legs.

3. Vintage cookbooks and repro Coke bottles line the ledge in my kitchen.

4. I discussed the gorgeous Oscar fashion here, including Jessica Chastain.

5. Some homemade banana bread.

6. This post went up on the blog.

7. New Style Crush post featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

8. Heh, yes.  And my list is extensive but currently is starring Norman Reedus.

9. Some Jack the Giant Slayer bookmarks I got at the library.

10. Yum. Homemade strawberry whoopie pies with strawberry buttercream filling.

11. Shared this post on Instagram.

12. I wore my 1930s dress on a date Friday night.

13. A close-up of Friday's hair and makeup.

14. I discovered a Doctor Who cookie jar with departure noises!

15. And The Walking Dead board game. I must get these!

16. Another photo from this blog post.

My week thankfully was pretty uneventful to make up for the weekend.  I just hope this fall didn't make my back injury any worse.  It certainly feels that way now along with my bum, hip, shoulder, and wrists/hands.  Golly.  I'm going to keep this short and sweet as typing doesn't feel to good right now.  Today I will be spending the time resting and counting down until I see a certain muscly redneck wielding a crossbow.

My injury happened whilst digging in my purse as I walked down the steps.  Have any of you had any stupid injuries because you weren't paying attention or something along those lines?

My (Past Two) Week(s) According to Instagram

Sorry sorry sorry!  I've been MIA for over two weeks.  Life caught up with me and I neglected you as a result.  But I'm back a day late and a dollar short.  I also apologize for the spacing issue.  I tried to remedy it, but it's still acting up.

This past weekend my brother and sister-in-law drove down from Boston for a visit.  It was so lovely to see them.  They're both doctors so they work crazy hours and don't have much time off so I'm lucky if I see them once a year.

Saturday night my dad's side of the family all went out to eat at Viva.  Sunday my brother and his wife (plus my adorable niece, Daisy, the golden retriever) came over for brunch.  My mum made an amazing spread and I chipped in with apple struesel muffins and another red velvet cake.  My sister-in-law really wanted to try it after I posted photos of it on Facebook.  It was really special because I used my grandmother's recipe and it was even in her hand writing.

 

1. Sharing this post via Instagram.

2. The 1980's hot rollers I use to curl my hair.

3-4. Photo shoot for a future post; rocking my vintage fur hat.

 

5. The bridge at location with the sun hitting it just so.

6. Stone ruins I passed on a walk.  I wonder what it once looked like.

7. The handsome and well dressed Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

8. Knowlton Drugs and Seeds- could it be an old relation?

 

9. Creamy tomato pasta dinner.

10. Geeked out over Nicholas Hoult being a clue on Jeopardy.

11. A pearl bracelet I made.  It's for sale per request.

12. Longing for warmer weather.

 

13. Smudger keeping my lap warm during a nap.

14. An inspirational quote from the late great Audrey Hepburn.

15. Titanic cross-stitch in progress.

16. A gorgeous 1930's fur trim coat a neighbor gave to me.

 

17. A lovely 1930's dress my neighbor gave me.

18. And an Asian inspired vintage dress I was also given.

19. A plethora of vintage knitting, crocheting, cross-stitching, and fashion catalog magazines I got for free from my library.

20. A few of my favorite.

 

21-22. I love Emily Marie Palmer's style.  No idea who she is but she's in Catching Fire.

23. The stone ruins on a foggy day.

24. Showing off my gams in black thigh high back seam stockings and a garter belt.

 

25. Mixing patterns for a future blog post.

26-27. Red velvet cake using my late grandmother's famous recipe.

28. The gorgeous and recently single Nicholas Hoult.  If only you were mine.

 

29. Throwback photo from when I wore side-swept fringe.

30. Made Irish soda bread.

31. A very Irish dinner: corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread, and taters.

32. Dessert: apple dumplings.

 

33. My first attempt at fingerwaves since beauty school 4 years ago.

34. I used vintage clips designed for the wave.

35. Wearing my 1920's hat with my fingerwaves.

36. Still longing for warm weather in my grandmother's 1940's swimsuit.

 

37. One sexy zombie: Nicholas Hoult as R in Warm Bodies.

38. Craziness! Over 400 followers and counting!

39. What I wore out to dinner with my family.

40. Just finished reading this series (I know, a little late) and am in love.

 

41. I devoured this book in a day.  The film version won't come soon enough.

42. Warm Bodies looks so good. Nicholas Hoult is even beautiful as the undead.

My neighbor was sweet enough to drop off three vintage pieces that she couldn't sell at her thrift shop.  I was so thankful since I've been tight for money and haven't been able to buy anything for myself in a couple of months.  It's difficult to see everyone's swell thrift finds on Instagram, and not be able to revel in it yourself.  I know I am very blessed and have a wonderful closet full of items.  But that doesn't curb the urge at all.  It's not like a proper shop where the items will still be there weeks from now.  Once that piece is gone, it's out of your life forever.  That's part of the charm about thrifting though.  It's like a treasure hunt.  I know I will get to go shopping again in the future.  My drought won't last forever.  I'll just have to live vicariously through others and make due until that time comes.

I've been on a book reading bender lately.  I read four books in just a week or so.  I couldn't put down the Hunger Games series and Warm Bodies was read in a day.  There's something bittersweet about finishing a book you love so much.  You don't want to let it go yet at the same time you greedily want to consume the last few pages like it's the air I breathe.  Now I'm left wanting more.

Do you have any suggestions of books or a series I should read?

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