Arabella Ramsay

A few outfits from Arabella Ramsay's shop that I'd love to get my hands on. More here.

Kayla

I got several rolls of film back yesterday that I'm hoping to post on the blog soon! The first roll I'm working on is the set I shot of my niece Kayla a while back. As usual, I held onto the film for way too long and nearly forgot that I had it. I also forgot to request CD's of the photos, so I'm patiently scanning them in two x two. Here's a teaser of some Instax photos I took. More soon!

Make me a Teddy Girl

Quite sometime ago I found a set of vintage photographs online that inspired me more than anything else had seen in quite sometime. I immediately dragged them from the screen and safely into an inspiration folder on my desktop where they sat. and sat. and sat. and sat. And now, finally, today is the day that I get to set them free!

They were of Teddy Girls in the mid 1950's (see the two smaller photos below), and I remember being so captivated with their effortless Edwardian-era styling and their tough, tomboy attitudes. In the time since, I've done a wee bit of research on Teddy Girls, enough to know that I would have been A-okay with being one if I had been around in the 50s.  They spent their spare time away from factories buying or making their trademark clothes which included – get this – drape jackets, pencil skirts, long plaits (aka braids!), rolled-up jeans, flat shoes, tailored jackets with velvet collars, straw boater hats, cameo brooches, espadrilles, coolie hats and long, elegant clutch bags (taken from wikipedia!). I mean, other than the coolie hat, which of those things would you not want to wear right now?

It was only recently that I rekindled my love and appreciation for Teddy Girls, and I owe it all to Liz Ham's 2010 interpretation for Oyster Magazine. More than anything they make me ready for spring and maybe a little anxious for a pair of shiny black oxfords!

1955 photos shot by Ken Russel!

Thrift Trip Magic

My latest round of thrifting was inspired by American Apparel and their overpriced cable knit pullovers. I spent some time on their site the other day, trying to exchange a dress for something else I liked, but the only things I saw were incredibly overpriced or out of stock. Frustrated by $70 pullovers and 'out of stock' signs on the only colors I wanted, I opted to ask for a refund instead. With all that extra money in the bank, I decided to take that inspiration to the thrift store. I was on a mission to find an affordable cable knit pullover.

Who knew I was about to find so much more than just that! It was on the first rack I went to at Goodwill, along with a white Lacoste cardigan. Then I found that J. Crew gingham button up, and the chambray button up tank (that's layered underneath the pullover in the first photograph). The chambray blouse is great because it's sleeveless: no more worrying about bulky sleeves underneath my sweaters.

I also lucked out and found a couple other button ups, too. My favorite of those is a men's plaid, wool shirt, perfect for the days when I want to look like I borrowed from the boyfriend. In the accessories aisle, I found a beautiful navy Dooney & Bourke satchel and a YSL brown leather belt!

Needless to say, it was a lucky day of thrifting.