The Sunday Snag – A Garden's Last Light

I am tremendously lucky to be living in such a temperate area of the country. It is November and we still actually have a few flowers clinging to their last mildly warm days. We have had the temps dip a few times overnight, but daytime temps are still in the 50s which is wonderful. I don't do well in the cold. My body just doesn't quite function as it should once it falls below the 50 degree mark. Which is why I'm lucky to live here!

These photos were taken on one of the last truly lovely days in early November. I didn't even need a jacket! The hubs and I wanted to get out and enjoy the remaining warmth, so we headed to a beautiful garden in a neighboring town to walk, snap some pics, and see which plants were holding steady against the coming cold. 

This dress was ideal for just such an outing! It is a heavier woven fabric (almost knit weight) in a dark blue with teeny tiny red dots throughout. This dress is coooomfy too. Soft and easy to wear with an easy tailored quality to it (structure is there, but not constrictive structure). It is a 1940s piece that I picked up in June from 1919Vintage during a summer sale. I knew this would be perfect for fall and the dress didn't need a lick of alterations when it came. Bonus! It has its original belt! 

My hat was a coincidental purchase just one day later. I was attending a dance event in Cleveland at this time (All Balboa Weekend). I had been browsing Etsy during a break in the schedule at night and bought the dress. The next day, one of the vendors for the dance event, Flower Child Vintage, had this hat at their booth. It was perfect for the dress I had just purchased! What wonderful timing! This hat is so much fun! It is a 1950s/60s straw with red velvet edging, thin red veiling and the cutest velvet star shaped flowers across the top. This isn't a tilt hat but I tilted it anyway (I can't help myself).

I stuck with classic accessories including nude seamed stockings and my 1930s/40s reproduction oxfords. Those shoes are stable you guys! I don't tend to want to do a lot of walking in heels, but these puppies are comfy and wide heeled, making them a safe park/garden walking shoe. My sole piece of jewelry is a ring coming soon to my shop. It is so sweet. It is an antique button with a couple of young lovers sitting on a fence under an umbrella. Many items have been "coming soon to shop" because I've been soooo busy with local craft fairs and events that these beauties are ready, but just haven't been photographed yet. If you ever see something you love but can't find it in my shop, just write me. I probably have it and can give you the info, price, etc. Don't hesitate to ask.

Photoshoot Notes: Unusual experience during this one. We were taking photos and there were hardly any people in the garden (it had been raining off and on). However, a young man approached us and said that he was doing a photo documentary of things that happen in the garden for a school project. He wanted to know if he could take photos of us taking photos. Unusual, but sure! I must admit, it was really weird to have my husband taking my photo and this boy in the background taking both our photos!

Outfit Details

Dress: 1940s from 1919Vintage

Hat: 1950s/60s Straw & Velvet from Flower Child Vintage

Shoes: Gramercy from ReMix Vintage Shoes

Ring: Antique Lovers, coming soon to my shop ChatterBlossom

Last Week's Sunday Snag:

Sharp Dressed Woman

Saturday Shop Talk – By Any Other Name

 "By Any Other Name"

Personality: The Delicate and Warm Spirited
Places you'll find yourself: Brushing your fingertips along the blooms that cover grandma's garden wall while gently humming an old favorite of hers

This classic floral necklace was made with an antique button (title: Rose, circa 1880-1918) set atop a brass filigree charm. The button depicts the simplest of images, the rose, but does so in a beautifully poetic way. I can easily imagine a lovely Edwardian lady walking through gardens wearing this, her favorite of all the blooms.

"By Any Other Name"

View my entire shop here.

Last Week's Saturday Shop Talk:

Atop the Trees

Friday Photo Swoon – Fading Blooms

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Oh how I love autochrome photos! They capture a romance, a fading romance like no other. Fading in light at least. I don't pretend to understand how autochrome photographs were made and even the simplest Wikipedia info is above my head regarding this technique. But I do know that it was used mainly in the early 1900s into the 30s and that the photos are gorgeous. No matter what season the photos were taken in, to me, it always feels like the dying light of a warm early autumn day. Like the remaining flowers only have so long before their long sleep begins.

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Last Week's Friday Photo Swoon:

Suit Up, Ladies

Thursday Thrill – Stark Raving Plaid

Last week, I held my very first fashion linkup along with the lovely Helen Mae of Lovebirds Vintage! We wanted to share our love of plaid with you and you all shared some fabulous plaids with us! Thank you so much for participating and inspiring me with so many interpretations of one print! We had 40 outfits shared!!

We had said last week that we would be showcasing a few of our very favorites. Helen Mae has chosen her favorites over on Lovebirds Vintage (make sure to take a look!) and I have, with tremendous difficulty, chosen mine. This was hard you guys, VERY hard. Narrowing down a list filled with gorgeous outfits all in a print I love? How? Well, I did my best but please know that every one of the outfits linked were stellar and I loved them! The three that I picked are just the delicious cherry on top of an already gorgeous treat.

My Personal Top Three:

#1: Most Enviable Overall Ensemble

Midnight Maniac

#2: Straight Shot To My 40s Heart

Nora Finds

#3: Most Beautimous Color & Accessorizing

Chronically Vintage

Honorable Mention: Best Casual, Everyday Cuteness

Flashback Summer

A HUGE thank you to all of you that participated in my first fashion linkup and a HUGE thank you to Helen Mae for suggesting such a great event!!! I had so much fun looking through all your beautiful ensembles and seeing how each of you uses a print so common in all our styles! 

I would love to do another one of these in the future too! If I do, are there any requests or ideas on what the next theme should be??? 

Last Week's Thursday Thrill:

Mad About Plaid!