A few weeks ago I went to a humongous antique mall and found lots of goodies, but my most favorite find was this pair of 1930's shoes, practically in perfect condition.  And what's more, they actually fit my big feet!  I was so ecstatic, I planned my entire outfit for church around my shoes.....and here's the outcome:

 

LOVE,

Old Lady Shoes? Pish Posh + Reviews

I think these shoes are cute.  Kind of a 1940's secretary feel.  But certain someones (minus mom and dad) told me these would be considered old lady shoes even in the 40's and they wouldn't be caught dead in them.  And I respectfully kept my opinions to myself. 

See, my friends and family (minus my mom and dad and various other family members) have been a little, hmmm... they just never seem to like what I wear.  Which is fine, whatever, everyone has their own style opinions, but sometimes it gets frustrating to me (though I get frustrated easily so that's no big news).  What I really hate is when people (I'm not saying anyone has actually said this) act and talk like this is a phase I am going through and have to "get through" until I can be/dress normal again.  I'm sorry, but honestly I think the way people who wear vintage is very stylish and classy and modest.  I don't think anyone can create something negative about those things.  I'm not hurting anyone.  It allows me to put my sewing skills to use instead of wasting them away.  I'm not dressing provocatively.  So I just don't get it.  Do any of you have to deal with comments like that all the time from your friends or family? 

I just realized today that I am in desperate need of navy shoes.  For as much nautical inspired and navy clothes I have, you would think I would have at least one pair of navy shoes.  But alas, not one.  I must get on that.  I made the 40's 8 gore skirt from a Simplicity (I think) reproduction pattern.  The sweat my mom got me for Christmas.  I love it because, 1- its cashmere, and 2-the really cute atomic feel.  And I was just having one of those days were all the pictures I was taking came out rather crummy, but these were the best ones :D

Warning.  I didn't know I could write so much about each thing.  i guess I just get really passionate about things i watch.  So fair warning, it feels like I wrote a book about each thing haha.

What I've Been Watching (and its a lot)

The Phantom of the Opera           A-

One of my very favorite stage shows and favorite movie musicals.  I think they could have done so much more with the choreography, and it bothers me that I can tell they are lip syncing, but that doesn't stop me from falling in love with the soundtrack every time I watch or listen

Who Framed Roger Rabbit          A+

I honestly do not have a negative word to say about this movie.  It is a family favorite and we have watched it so many times.  It has everything I love- crime, mystery, animation, a lovely song, romance, humor.  And it has such a nostalgic feel.

The Lord of the Rings (there's not separation with me.  I watch them together.  Always)         A+

Honestly what can I say about the Lord of the Rings that hasn't already been said.  I practically live breathe and sleep Lord of the Rings.  Its the one movie that is perfection.  It is the one movie that I never, ever tire of.  It is the one movie that I can count on entertaining me every time I sew a new dress.  It is the one movie that inspired not one but two outfits of my senior year of high school: my prom dress and my dance costume I made for a 4-H project.  It is the one movie that I have written pages and pages of character development/arcs on just for myself.  It is love.

Downton Abbey          A+

Wowee.  I didn't think I could fall in love with a series as quickly as I did with Downton Abbey. It is so rich with characters, politics, social status, that there is not one boring moment it.  Not to mention the gorgeous clothing.  I've really been getting into the older style (20's and 10's) of clothing lately.  I've always admired the clothing on Titanic (I know, totally different everything), even when I didn't wear vintage.  But now that I do, I might venture further down the timeline.  And my first stop will be to make a dress inspired by the striped dress Mary is wearing in the picture.  That's my favorite dress.  Plus Hugh Bonneville is in it as Robert Crawley.  I've always thought him to be a rather handsome man and he frequents period dramas a lot.  Yay him.

Legend of the Seeker         A-

I wrote about this show on my blog a bit ago, so I won't waste more time singing it's praises.  It's one that I could watch over and over and over (though I can do that with most sci-fi/fantasy shows).  And I can now say I have read the first book in the Sword of Truth series that the show is based on, 900+ pages of it, and I can say I like the show better.  Yes, the show changes quite a bit...quite a bit.  In fact, even from the opening scene you can tell it is going to be a very different show, but to be honest, in the vein of LOTR, the changes make the show better imo. 

Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind           A+

I've written about how much I love Hayao Miyazaki movies before.  He is so adept at creating a masterpiece that is appropriate for both kids and adults.  I don't think even Disney does that with most of their stories (don't get me wrong I HEART Disney movies with a fiery passion).  But these stories feel more adult to me in that there is not a 100% good and 100% evil represented in the stories.  The characters tend to be more ambiguous. There are so many themes in it that would pass right over a child's head. And I am surprised that I like them so much because they are rather quite liberal, and I tend to not like movies that are so overtly liberal (Rent excluded).  

This was the first movie that of his (and Studio Ghibli) that I saw and fell in love with as a child.  This movie is about a young princess from the Valley of the Wind.  They are near the toxic jungle where all the giant insects inhabit.  They are a peaceful nation, but that gets turned upside down when the warring nation of Tolmekia crashes their airship near the valley.  What happens then is a long line of events that unfolds a plan to revive this giant warrior embryo to destroy the toxic jungle and allow the humans to gain back control of the land.  It is honestly an epic masterpiece of an animated movie.  I know my description is sorta crap, but trust me and see this movie.  I just reserved the Manga series of this movie at the library and am super excited to read it !

La Femme Nikita          A+

Wow, I'm giving out a lot of A-pluses aren't I?  Well this series definitely deserve it.  My mom and I  started off watching season one off the computer with crap quality, but we like it so much that I went ahead and just bought the rest of the seasons on dvd.  I only do that with shows that I know I will watch multiple times.  I would compare this slightly to Alias, and of course Nikita on the CW (which is a continuation of sorts to this series).  However, I would go as far to say that this is better than Alias.  It is darker, more serious, tighter story line and has way more character develpment (which yall know I love, right?).  Anyways, it tells the story of Nikita, a young homeless girl that gets sentenced to death for a murder she did not commit.  However, a anti-terrorist group called Section fakes her death in prison and makes her into an operative.  Another operative, Michael, trains her for two years.  He teaches her how to fight and kill, and how to use her beauty to her advantage.  There is so much sexual tension between the two of them it practically seeps off the screen.  I have never fallen so deeply in love with a character as I have for Michael (except for Dean Winchester in Supernatural.  He will always.  Always be my first love).  I fall in love with characters often, but there is just something about Michael that makes him stand out.  He is a very conflicted character.  He is stoic, and hardened.  He is a man of very few words.  He kills without question.  He romances others without question.  Yet we still root for him and Nikita to work things out.  Gah.

Tuck Everlasting                 B+

I love this story.  It is such a sweet and innocent love story/coming of age story.  It is refreshing to have such a pure story, but sometimes I wonder why it takes a period drama to make a clean teen romance movie?  Some people still have morals in this day and age too and we should be able to have movies set in the present day about them.  Anyways.  Off my soapbox.  This story kind of reminds of me Twilight in that the Tuck family found this magical pool of water that they drank from and now they never age and will never die.  Winnie Foster is a young girl feeling the pressures of society and from her family to do the right thing and go to school to learn to be a lady.  To escape the confinement of home, she runs away into the woods and stumbles upon Jesse Tuck drinking from the water.  His older brother, in fear that she might drink from the water herself or find out about them, kidnaps her so she won't tell.  From there a very chaste and adorable romance happens between Jesse and her.  I love it so much.

Lastly, I created a formspring account, which I know some of the blogs I read have and a few of my friends of facebook have as well.  I think its a fun informal way to talk to people.  So if you want to ask me anything go ahead.  I 'll answer anything you want.  http://www.formspring.me/timelark 

 

Sunday Sunday, Who Has a Cute Dress?

Well, I have definitely been working on my dress that I cut out on Wednesday. I promise.

See.  Proof, I have been working diligently, but the fabric has turned out quite disappointing.  And I finally finished it last night after hand sewing more things than I cared to do, and it fits like a T, so I will post it tomorrow, after looking all nice and proper with my hair done up right.  But enough about the future, lets talk about right now.  It's a daily outfit post today!  I think I should relabel that as a weekly outfit post, since I seem to be only doing them on Sunday's after church.  Hmm. Well, today I had to get up way too early, at a time I never really care to see again to sing. The chancel choir was singing at early service today with the kid's choir, which was absolutely adorable.  And you would not believe how good the kids are at singing (A lot better than my 4 year old Sunday School class, although my kids are quite cute).  Anyway, enough about the kids.  I wore a dress I got on ebay for $10.  Very cheap, very much a price I can handle paying.

  Cute, huh?  I thought so, until I got it in the mail.  The people forgot to mention that half the buttons were falling off, half the seams needed to be resewn, and there were a few dark spots around the bodice.  I couldn't really complain though, since it was only $10, and I easily fixed it.  I also found time last night to finally start pin curling my hair again after a week of sloppy dressing, and leaving to go to work with wet, sloppy hair, it was lovely to be all nice and proper once again.  My hair thanked me as well.  It does so enjoy getting to dress up.  Although the rain had different ideas for my it.  Very different ideas.  My hair was not tight curled and bouncy like normal, but instead flat and frizzy.

I think if I am going to continue taking pictures of myself in the mirror, I should probably clean off my vanity quite a bit.  Otherwise, what would be the point of taking a picture in the mirror if you can't see anything but my accessories.  It would be quite terribly boring.

Sadly, it was only in my imagination that I wore this truly lovely hat.  When I go to church and sing in the choir, we have to wear very drab and unflattering choir robes.  Well, I don't have to tell you how funny I would look with the maroon choir robe on and this delightful hat on.  So, only when I came home did I put on the hat just for a moment to have a complete look.  (Although I did wear a hat on Easter with my choir robes.  Quite funny looking.) 

Side not: Those of you who know little Dexter, know that he a small, little black feisty fuzzball poodle who is quite a demanding little fellow who in fact demanded to be featured in my blog today.  So after promising to be perfect in every way, and promising to pose quite adorably for my pictures, I agreed.  As you can see, he was a little gentleman.

I also had a quite lovely dinner at Red Lobster with Megan today, after searching around Dublin for a Halloween Store.  We were unsuccessful.  She is one of my very best friends, and when I am actually doing something fun and adventurous, and not staying around the house to sew or be lazy, it is usually with her (or Priscilla).  Next time, I promise to get some pictures of our adventures.

And look, I am wearing my new shoes!!!  Aren't they just full of character?  I received several  lovely comments from some very lovely ladies in choir today.

So, tomorrow, I will, depending upon how my hair decides to cooperate, post my new outfit I made, and anything else lovely that comes along.  Maybe a hot geek crush this week, perhaps.  We shall see.

I almost forgot, a close up of my makeup and I wore very splendid jewelry indeed today from the flea market! And if anyone knows any tips for getting some bounce and spring into your pincurls, please don't be shy.  Comment!
I bid you adieu, until tomorrow!

Dress: Forever Lovely Vintage
Shoes:Kohls
Hat: Flea Market

Finding the Perfect Shoes

So part of every lovely vintage outfit is the perfect vintage shoe...which I have yet to find.  I have decided thus far, my feet have proven to be far too large for the delicate and petite shoes I have found from the 40s and 50s.  Therefore, I will make do for now with modern shoes.  The problem is where do I find affordable shoes with a vintage flair.  The closest thing I've found to affordable vintagy shoes is Urban Outfitters, even if does seem not totally fashionable for a vintage doll to shop at modern shops.  However, even those shoes are expensive, but after careful searching I have found several options for summer shoes, but which to choose, which to choose?

From Top Left Clockwise: Blue T-Strap, Black T-Strap Heel, Black and Gray Oxford, White and Tan Oxford,Dotted Swiss Tan Oxford, Red Polk-a-dot Peep toe, Black T Strap flat, Pink Sandal Flat