My candle burns at both ends

My candle burns at both ends
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends-
It gives a lovely light.
Edna St. Vincent Millay

I been busy! I went to Missouri over the weekend with family and failed to document it. It was a personal trip! I got mom to take a photo of one outfit in the Springfield airport. Not wearing sweatpants I was essentially the fanciest person flying that day. What is up with everyone wearing their pajamas to travel? I for one would like to see the day of men in suits and women in their sunday dresses to fly the friendly skies!

Dress- Vintage, thrifted
Moto jacket- Vintage, Buffalo Exchange
Shoes- FRYE
Scarf-a lovely gift

The best part of the trip? Sitting next to the most notorious MADAM from New Orleans. That's right, me and the once great purveyor of a six-hundred girl strong Big Easy brothel had a nice hour long chat. I did confirm that Obama has the hooker vote guys. Right on. She was a very sweet and compelling lady with about one thousand stories to tell. None of which are appropriate to be retold here. The good news is when the FBI busted her she took down half the elite men in the city. Get it girl.

So to keep this blog from fizzling out in the wake of my minds exhaustion I decided to steal the designer quiz from ELLE magazine. Keep in mind these questions are deisgned to be answered by designers. Please feel free to do this on your blog, for my amusement! I love a good Q&A session. Consider yourself TAGGED.

Other than yourself, who are your favorite designers?
Pierre Balmain, Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Alaia.

If you could come back as a dress, which one would it be?
I'd love to choose a vintage piece but I am going to be honest and choose the Balmain dress Kate Hudson wore last year...to something. It is perfection in my green monster eyes.
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If you could come back as a model, who would you be?
Lara Stone! Fo sho.
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What's your favorite color?
Apple Green. Or Gold.

What's your favorite junk food?
Tater tots dipped in honey mustard.

If you could have another body, what would it be?
Mine, circa 2000.
OR Lara's.

Who are your fantasy dinner guests?
My daughter, age 18, Barack Obama! Stevie Nicks, June Carter Cash, and the grandpa I never had the pleasure of meeting. Him and Obama at the table would be especially hilarious.

Where's your favorite place to have a drink?
The doug fir in Portland, OR. I enjoy faux rustic interiors.

Last book you read?

Pets?
A bad ass fighting fish named Mousey.

Breakfast?
Not often to be honest.

At age seven, you wanted to be?
A movie star.

What's the one thing you find easy to forgive?
Bad taste.

What's the one thing you find impossible to forgive?
Cruelty to children.

What's your biggest self-indulgence?
Caffeine and TERRIBLE television.

Favorite Place to shop?
Joshua Tree junk shops.

Whose wallet would you like to steal?
Whose wallet wouldn't I like to steal? I mean, honestly, anyone who has more money than I do.

Whose diary would you most like to read?
I don't think I would. I would be devastated if someone did that to me. I would refrain for the sake of my karma.

If you were an inventor, what would you invent?
Spray on denim. Makin money offa the HIP KIDS, yeaaaaa.

What's your nickname?
I honestly do not have one.

When and where are you happiest?
Whenever my daughter and my husband are laughing together in my presence. Wherever that may be.

Who is your best friend?
Jasmine!
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maid of honor!!

 I think a lot of people would say their husband but...your husband is not your friend. Don't kid yourself. A best friend should make you feel better and agree with you even when you're irrational. Husbands aren't like that. It is more realistic.

Who is your worst enemy?
Anyone who would hurt my kid. Well, really, I am their worst enemy.

What piece of art would you most like to own?
I know NOTHING about art.

What's your favorite vacation spot?
So far, Joshua Tree.

What's your most treasured possesion?
My great-grandmothers heart necklace

What's your favorite band?
Whiskeytown!

If you weren't a designer what would you be?
Well, I am not a designer. But if I weren't...what I am now, I'd like to be a travel writer

What's your biggest fashion regret?
The years I spent wearing khaki pants while I worked at Starbucks.

Always...
tell them you love them.

Never...
phone it in.

xoxo

I almost forgot.

Follow my blog with bloglovin´

08

Good Morning!!

Jordan loves Angela.

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Photos Pierre Bailly

Sometimes I see an editorial so soft and inviting, so perfectly tailored to my own tastes that I spend months looking at it every single day. Reminding myself why I shun the contemporary edginess of bowed legs inside their lycra/cotton homes, slouchy v-necks, and menswear... It all has a place in the fashion spectrum, of course, and a place in my heart! But, I will probably spend the rest of my life getting dressed in the most feminine manner possible. Putting on a dress and shoes with a heel, wearing slips and lockets, enjoying the freedom of movement underneath a skirt, and emphasizing every last inch of the ratio between my measurements...the curve!! It doesn't have anything to do with weight. The linking of the words curve and weight is misleading. Miss Lily Cole is parading her own meandering femininity in the photos above! She goes out, she comes back in, she goes out again! Just like me, and you most likely. Although we aren't lucky enough to do it in those ensembles or under the forgiveness of a soft focus lense!


So today I got dressed in the best way I know how. I put on a vintage dress with a waist and a smattering of flowers.

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Everyone needs a fall back look and this is mine. I don't believe in fall back careers but this is different. Sometimes you need to look good easy...cause it makes you feel good easy. I have been manipulating, abusing, and wearing thin the obvious combination of vintage dress + vintage boots for many, many years. Since way back when it was considered cool. An era that I think peaked in 2004? I blame Sienna Miller. I blame myself mostly though, because she moved on and I never will. Moving on is overrated. Find love and never move one, that's what I say.

Other news in "things I didn't buy new or pay much for either way."
dress as top-Target brand, THRIFTED
Skirt- American Apparel many many moons ago
shoes-Marc by Marc Jacob, Buffalo Exchange

The shoes only I love. Apparently.

Have you ever made a purchase you're OH SO EXCITED about and you run around town going "ooooh look what I found!!!" and the response you get is usually "oh?" Yeah, that's what happened with these shoes. I love them so much!! I love them so much I "hyperbole hyperbole hyperbole." I will spare you. No one else loves them with the same special intensity I do. But come on! They have SEQUINS! WEDGE HEELS! MARC! They were made for me, so I guess I am glad no one else loved them enough to snatch them up. And for $20 no less!

While I am on a rare streak of NOT crapping all over American Apparel, I pulled this random mustard yellow, cowl-neck top from the epicenter of cool out of my closet last week and...tried to make it happen.

Not so much.
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Top- American Apparel
Skirt-American Apparel
Booties-Walmart
Belt-THRIFTED
low score for thrifting on this one

Slightly better. I may have to look grown up one day...
Jacket-THRIFTED
skirt-H&M
Shoes-Steve Madden

I wasn't thrilled by anything happening there. I sent it back. To the back of my closet, I mean.

I was however thrilled with my new POUFY JACKET from the ever generous Goodwill...

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My apologies for the wonky colors on this last one!

Ooooh, I love the folds and the texture!!! I need more texture in my wardrobe. I also need a new place to self-photograph myself...or whatever. I have the most boring bedroom of all time. I mean the way it looks, of course.

OH, and Halloween is coming! I have almost decided on my costume..what do you think?

Angela?

Or Rayanne?

If you never watched My So Called Life you should probably hurry up and do so. The moment when Jordan realizes he does love Angela and he takes her hand in the hallway. It's epic. Who is with me?

Goodnight.











It's a trip.

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Wow! I had a busy week. 

That's rare. For those who are interested, Sarah's days usually pass in a haze of repetitive tasks like...

*internet. post blogs, bulletins, ebay listings, ebay promotions, answer ebay questions, read blogs, watch dumb youtube videos, etc.
*measure vintage clothes, fold vintage clothes, try to make vintage clothes look decorative placed around house, try and hide vintage clothes.
*make pot of coffee
*put in laundry
*get distracted by random items in my home. "Has that ceramic owl always been here?" "Hm, I wonder how I should clean those antique doilies?" "I haven't looked through my circus freaks coffee table book in a while..."
*make pot of coffee
*respond to photographers asking me to work for free...say no politely. Wonder why I bother.
*examine pores in mirror
*realize laundry has been sitting wet in machine for hours and has probably mildewed, wash again.
*run in glorified pajamas to the corner for red bull. I have a caffeine issue.
*fold laundry. Place on bed where it can be conveniently thrown on floor at bedtime.
*try and get daughter to eat ANYTHING but cereal.

You get the gist.

On the good days I go thrifting, take my kid to Jamba Juice, and wait in line at the post office. Wondering why the postal workers hate me so much...

Sometimes I style photo shoots. It's not a bad life, just not particularly...interesting?

But this week I was lucky enough to go on a road trip with my mom. Our destination?

*drum roll*


No, my eyes are not open in this photo.
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top, shoes, purse, and sweater THRIFTED. Boo yah!!

Boutique AND Bistro!!!
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Marketing. Doin it's job.

Yes, that's right. The MECCA of all things little girl. They are not dolls, they are an empire. They are dolls with history and historically appropriate clothing. They are Swedish dolls, Hippie dolls, Colonial dolls, and dolls who look JUST LIKE YOU. These dolls have nicer bedrooms than you, more wardrobe options, shinier hair, and better attitudes. They solve mysteries, they save the environment, they ice skate, and they bake. I know that last one because we bought Kirstens baking set and baking outfit. Cupcake anyone?

I know this has little to do with vintage or thrifting...or anything that this blog pretends to be about, but bear with me. My mom has been waiting to take Avery (the kid) to the American Girl Place since the day she was born. Four years later we packed up the Highlander and drove to Dallas. If mom could have fit it into her schedule I am sure we would have made it to the three story flagship in Chicago. C'est la vie. Maybe next birthday.

The real achievement on this trip was me avoiding the giant GALLERIA across the parking lot from AGP. I mean, it's a giant mall. We picked up some Starbucks before the AGP opened and I just about fainted walking past these bad boys...

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Tacky? THISCLOSE to stripper shoes? Yes. Look at me caring...

Then, to make the whole "not buying new things" even more painful I look across the aisle of the quiet morning mall and see

FOREVER 21
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You know the scene in ELECTION when Reese Witherspoons character Tracy sees that the jock guy is going to run against her for president and you hear this shrieking, tribal screaming that signals the battle ahead?? It was kind of like that. I just kept thinking "no one will know. Just one dress. Just one pair of super hot, super uncomfortable, and cheaply made lace-up, oxford platforms..." But, I am strong. I thought of my kind friends reading this and their faith in me. I resisted. At least I am an equal opportunity fashion luster. You dont have to be quality to make me want you! That sounds...wrong, but I am going to let it stand.

In better news, my mom took us driving the lazy, crooked way home through some tiny Texas towns for some good old fashioned thrifting and antiquing. I must say, I scored!

But, if I showed you that now I would probably have nothing else to blog about for the rest of the week. Or two.

Oh, and I forgot to mention we went to the Texas State Fair. Only the biggest of all state fairs. If I had a snarkier blog going I could probably shut down your blog reader with posts about the kind of people you can observe at the fair. Not to mention the 1,100 pound pig names Boris. But instead I am the soft, fuzzy, lovin kinda blog.

WARNING
Shameless "how cute is my kid?" pics ahead.
Scroll down QUICKLY to avoid.

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ohmygoodness. where to start.
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pose. obviously.
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my mom in her natural state.
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shovel cotton candy.
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how dare he give it others!
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Future Farmer of America

ah. before cow and pig become insults.
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Avery: "geez mom. put some makeup on."
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Me: "you first kid."

Someone's been to the MAC counter...

Aaaaaand enough of that. That is just about the most activity I have had in months. Thanks Mom!!

Now what....hmm. Did you want to talk about vintage or something? Oh, OK.

Lots of girls love vintage clothing. Lots of girls wear vintage clothing. But special few of us get really, really obsessed with high end vintage FROCKERY. Yeah, I made that word up. It applies. Want to know what my ten year goal is? I want to own a vintage boutique. But to be honest, there are plenty of awesome vintage boutiques out there. I have been to a few hundred of them. The good ones are immaculately maintained with well edited selections and decent prices. They have shiny mirrors and a good boot selection. Their dressing rooms are spacious and you don't need a jack to pry the item you want from the overstuffed racks. The shop girls say hello and are dressed enviously. The good ones don't feel like a garage sale. If you want a great example check out FEATHERS Vintage here in Austin. The bad ones? They are the opposite of what I wrote above.

So I don't want to own your basic awesome vintage boutique. I want to own a Vintage Fancy Frock Stop. I want to have my own little shop specializing in vintage party, cocktail, and event wear. Drowning in Tulle 1950's prom gowns, silky jersey draped gowns from the 1970's, and shiny brocade mini dresses from the 1960's. It will be the kind of place the discerning high school girl can come and find a homecoming dress. Or the kitschy bride can come for a drop waist beaded gown in not so white wedding cream. I want to have netted hats and long gloves and mile long lariats. So no vintage tees, no high waisted denim, no boots selection (Cause those stores already exist and are doing a lovely job of it!) All at nice, formal wear standard prices. I want to offer styling, makeup, hair, and special order services as well. Sound like fun? Let me know, would you shop there?

So in the meantime, I am quietly scouring the internet at all hours of the night for inspiration. And for fun.

If you're like me, and you love this end of the vintage spectrum, troll Vintageous for a while. You won't be disappointed. All high end and out of my price range it is still good times and hours whiled away...Some of the highlights from the first page!!

Paging Joan Holloway!
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I love this so much it is giving me stress induced acne.
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Too much ruffle is never enough.
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So that is all I can stand tonight. There are hundreds more! So feast on that tonight.

and if you're not into browsing, cause you want to buy...Don't miss the new items up for sale in the Magnolia Family Vintage shop this week...

xoxo

Never say winter...

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I'm not going to lie. I get obsessed. 

A couple of posts ago when I was waxing poetic about making everything in my closet wearable for fall, I got a comment from Meghann about transitioning MAXI DRESSES for fall. Everyone was rocking long flowy maxi-length dresses this summer. 



Then fall comes in and again you have aahhhhmazing pieces in your closet that basically have to be put down. No one likes to put down a beloved pet...or dress. OK, that metaphor was a gigantic FAIL, but I am not perfect.

So the obsession kicked in pretty hard and fast when I started thinking about snatching up those discarded ankle grazing dresses from thrift stores and making them cool weather compatible. The plan isn't going exactly how I'd like because people aren't giving the dresses up quite that easily. My hunt continues. In the meantime here are some great inspiration photos to keep motivation high.

my favorite. love the belt.
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natasha poly wears burberry cardigan and vintage dress belt and bag at maxmara
nicole richie benjamin sunglasses maxi dress leather jacket balenciaga bag
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UmaThurman

Note: NO baseball caps. unless you're playing baseball miss Miranda!

I think we can see that they key to making this look work is paying attention to color and proportion. Match the easy, slouchy feel of a summertime maxi dress with an easy, slouchy grandpa cardigan. Longer sweaters in not too bulky knits is pretty important. Or in the case of dressing it UP, like Uma, wear your high end luxurious maxi with a luxurious and full cut coat. Looks vintage inspired to me, it does.

It also seems to me that dresses in muted, soft, seasonally ambiguous tones work best for fall. Avoid neons, super super brights, and tropical prints. All the dresses above are soft, rich, feminine tones without being garish. Sometimes we get garish in the summer, you know? Pair neutral toned sweaters in khaki, black, and grey for the best results.

In honor of this idea, I gave in to the animalistic cry of Polyvore.com and made a set...

An expensive, not vintage, light years from thrifted set...


HOLY CRAP GUYS. Polyvore is fun. I knew, I knew, I KNEW it would be a bad idea for me to join the site and that is why I held off for so long. I saw pretty sets posted all around the internet and still I resisted. What can I say? I may as well become a shut in now, because I could do that all day. It is like crack, right? Like crack without all the legal repercussions, sores, weight loss, and disintegrating relationships. LOVE.

Isn't if fun to read a blog by someone who catches on to things remarkably late?
xo