The Sunday Snag – Fox and The Houndstooth

Are you smiling yet? I am! I really can't quite help it in this getup. Plus, look at this setting! I mean geez, can it be any more beautiful?! Autumn was definitely out in all her glory when we took these photos. She had laid her golden cape across this forest just as I was taking out mine from the cedar chest. I would say I couldn't possibly ask for a better day to test out my first cold weather outerwear!

I know many of you are already deep into the cold but we have just started our chilly weather streak here in Raleigh. I've had only a few days so far that I've needed to start bundling up a bit. I thought I might start with this cape that I purchased all the way back in early spring. If you are in the market for winter outerwear, then start keeping your eyes open in the spring for the first of the sales. People forget all about the heavy garments as soon as the first spring flower pops on the scene, so it is a fabulous time to find these pieces at a great price. Plus, it's like getting a present when cold weather rolls around! I packed this cape away as soon as I got it and then promptly forgot about it until changing over to my winter closet months later. It was so fun to discover it again!

The cape is a classic piece of vintage outerwear. We don't do capes so much anymore, which is sad because they are so much freakin' fun to wear! Why do you think every superhero has one?! Mine, purchased from Vacation Vintage, is a black and white, 1960s houndstooth in what seems to be an acrylic and wool mix. It has giant woven rope frog closures, a mandarin collar, and a fantastic red lining! And yes, just so's ya know, I was absolutely running through the woods pretend flying with this thing!

One might think that a patterned cape with red lining might be hard to style or could be limiting, but oh no! Quite easy actually because it limits you in a good way. More like focuses you. You have some boundaries but sometimes that peeks my interest just as much as having free rein. When putting this together, I knew I wanted to show off the cape, so I wanted some bit of red and something that would set off the houndstooth but not get lost. Pattern mixing seemed perfect! I have four pencil skirts in my closet. They are all the same one but with different colors and I bought them all on the same day. You can see the black one on me here and the beige one here. They are so versatile! This is the only one I bought with a print and the plaid is the perfect size to complement my cape. I need to tailor this skirt a bit (waist is a tad too big), but it works just fine (which is probably why I've been putting off tailoring it...). 

My top is actually a cardigan. This was part of my uber sale purchase from The Paraders and is just darling. It is a 1950s wool that is basically felted at this point. There were moth holes and a non-matching button that I needed to repair and the sleeves ended up being too tight. Here is where the felting turned into a major advantage. Because the knit would no longer unravel, I just cut slits up the 3/4 sleeves to open them up a bit. Worked like a charm and it doesn't really even look like I did anything. Just looks like the design was always like that! Win! The neckline is hard to see here because the black is dark, but it is so neat with an asymmetrical cross button design!

It was chilly on this day but not cold so I didn't really need a scarf or long sleeves, so I just wore black tights and mid-length black gloves. I'm still trying to find vintage gloves but it is difficult. I'm not used to sizing gloves as many people don't wear them anymore. I've had to do a bit of trial and error regarding my size, which makes it hard to buy online until I become more acquainted with what fits. I bought these and a chocolate pair from antique stores that I could physically try them on. Just a few days ago, I ordered my first pair online to try guesstimating my size. They were really low cost so I felt like I could try and not feel bad if they didn't work. Fortunately, they fit so I'm a bit closer to knowing my glove size. Let me know if you all have any experience or advice in this area!

My hat was waiting for an outfit like this! I purchased this hat from My Vintage Hat Shop back in August when I was looking for some vintage toppers for colder weather. This red felted tilt seemed to fit the bill perfectly! One, it's red and I love wearing red. Two, it is an asymmetrical tilt which I tend to get all giddy over! I really love asymmetry. It looks off and sometimes unsettling and I love it! This hat has some moth bites and the little beaded accent was coming undone (which is why I could afford it), but the accent was easy enough to fix and I don't mind the little moth bites at all. It is a 1940s or 50s piece that is still in perfectly wearable condition!

My shoes are modern and terribly comfortable. I bought them a few years ago when I was working on my feet all day in a retail setting. They are patent leather with cute little flowers and they are from Softspots, which puts an extra cushy insole inside.

Only two pieces of jewelry came out with me this day. My hat pin, which you saw before here, and a ring from my shop. The ring is adjustable which worked perfectly to use over top of gloves. It is an antique button ring with a large open chrysanthemum flower tinted in a charcoal gray set on a silver base.

 

Outfit Details
Cape: 1960s Houndstooth from Vacation Vintage
Top: 1950s Wool Cardigan from The Paraders
Skirt: Modern Plaid Pencil from Express
Hat: 1940s/50s Felt Tilt from My Vintage Hat Shop
Shoes: Modern Patent Leather from Softspots
Ring: Antique Chrysanthemum coming soon to my shop ChatterBlossom
Hat Pin: Vintage Faux Opal Stick from Revival House
Gloves: unknown antique shop during travels

Last Week's Sunday Snag:

Picked Me a Plum