thrift dog

A dog and her boy.

A dog and her girl.

The girl's outfit.  1960s plaid dress and Isaac Mizrahi for Target herringbone tweed flats.

These have probably been on the blog before.  They're one of my favorite, most-worn pairs of shoes, and for a cheap-o Target buy they've held up amazingly well.  The occasion for these photos was a little long-overdue thrift trip we took over the weekend.  Lucy and I were both excited to get out of the house and on the road.  I never find 1940s dresses while thrifting, but there's this one store where I've found them two or three times now--and this trip did not disappoint!  You'll see it in the shop soon.

xo

K

hot coffee

It has felt like autumn in Michigan ever since Labor Day.  The main sign that autumn is here?  I have almost made the switch to hot coffee in the chilly mornings. (Though I'm still drinking it iced in the afternoon).  I am looking forward to Oktoberfest, autumn thrift trips with a certain boy and a certain dog, and changing leaves.

Here is the latest Etsy shop preview.

1960s fleur de lis knit dress, by Lampl.

Nautical chambray jacket.

1950s brown plaid seersucker dress, by R&K. 

Pink kangaroo toile print blouse, by the Villager.

1960s paisley voile pleated trapeze dress.

1950s pleated plaid wool blend skirt, by Madison/Milliken.

1950s paisley patchwork print wiggle dress.

1960s folklore mosaic print top.

1960s Pucci-esque print dress in Neapolitan ice cream colors.

1950s striped puff sleeve blouse, by Macshore Classics.

1950s square dance dress.

1960s golden autumn tapestry bolero jacket, by Miss Elliette.

1960s floral print shift dress with bows at cuffs, by Cherberg.

1970s Vera Neumann blue butterfly print blouse.

1950s gingham shirtwaist dress, by Serbin.

Bohemia print tunic.

1960s maroon linen sheath dress with passementerie trim.

1950s quilted red zigzag dress, by Jolyn Junior.

1950s chocolate brown pleat pocket blouse, by Macshore Classics.

1950s Regency Era print dress with matching belt and jacket.

xo

K

i want to live in a norwegian summer home

I mean, look at this place!  Who wouldn't?  I found these photos on the Desire to Inspire blog.  The photos are all by Mary Beth Koeth, and they are of a summer house in the forest at Nesodden, Norway.  I want to now paint all our walls white (the floors already are) and switch out most of our furnishings.

I need a (jute?) rug just like this, and those chairs!  I love the lace doily on the little table.  It might be harder to come by a porthole window, though.

The most perfect little napping/reading nook.  Actually it makes me think of a ship's berth.  

This last photo is mine.  This is the printer's tray I found earlier this year.  We finally hung it on the wall, and now I need to fill it with tchotchkes!

xo

K

fall fashions of 1955

From the September 1955 issue of Women's Home Companion, a fun autumn fashion spread.  Click the photos to make them even bigger.

Love the Vera Maxwell silk dress with the tweed coat, on the left.  The look on the right is by Claire McCardell and is described, most unhelpfully, as a "Wonderful drive-your-own car look."  So...this is what you wear on the days when Jeeves isn't around to drive you?  Anyway.  I love the gloves on the center model, and the yellow gloves shown in the vignette above, which also describes a "black suede pump, high-throated, for elegant afternoons."

Gorgeous raspberry plaid dress and jacket by Claire McCardell--with the pink bow and red gloves!  Fabulous.  The center look is described as having "the afternoon elegance of velvet."  What were these ladies of the 1950s doing in the afternoons?  Nice Arnold Scaasi glen plaid suit with red blouse.  I love a nice glen plaid.  In the afternoon.

I love the layout of this shoe spread, with the shoes on top of the hopscotch game.  I'll take a pair of the black matte pumps and the brown oxfords.

A cute bonus spread from Redbook's August 1962 issue, featuring a couple of McCall patterns.  I particularly love the look on the left, with the plaid skirt and little bolero jacket fastened with a brooch.  And gloves, of course!

xo

K

hello autumn! sale

15% off everything in the shop (prices already discounted) now through Labor Day, September 5, 2011.

Happy shopping!

xo

K 

august inspirations

Here's a sampling of some of my favorite images from the internets over the last month.  Some of the things that caught my eye were obvious: plaid, Richard Armitage, dogs smoking pipes.  But I found myself getting stuck on a couple new-to-me themes, namely: old books and things medieval.  Who knows where this will lead (I can see the old books becoming a problem).  You can click the collages below to make them bigger.

(Oh, and for more of this type of thing, you can follow me on my Tumblr: always the sea.) 

1. Journeys Through Booklands endpapers, published 1922.  (phoebe photo Flickr stream)

2. 1920s postcard of Norma Shearer in a cute knit cap and tie. (Chuckman's Collection Chicago Postcards)

3. A-frame bookshelves. (Kaerbear on Tumblr)

4. King Creosote (Kenny Anderson) and Jon Hopkins, whose Diamond Mine album is still rocking my world. (King Creosote & Jon Hopkins Facebook page)

5. Lovely Parisian street style! (Street Style Aesthetic blog)

6. I could totally live in this gorgeous room, which is in the home of ceramicist Henry Chapman Mercer.  (PDN Photo of the Day)

7. How to Know the Ferns by Frances Theodora Parsons, 1899.  (Calsidyrose's Flickr stream)

1. Vintage photo of dog dressed as a British soldier, 1905. (Shorpy)

2. It's not my Tumblr without a photo of Richard Armitage.  Lovely photo of the lovely man himself, walking the rainy pavement. (recycledvinyl on Tumbler)

3. Camp Wandawega in Elkhorn, Wisconsin.  I just need an iron bedframe, and my bedroom could easily look like this.  (Poppytalk)

4. Lauren Bacall in a great plaid dress. (Monsieur Verdoux on Tumblr)

5. San Gennaro Festival, New York City, 1948, by Sid Grossman.  I can smell the sausages and peppers. (earwigbiscuits on Tumblr)

6. A Northern Night, painting by Franz Johnston, 1917. (National Gallery of Canada)

xo

K

boot up

A little accessories update with an emphasis on that fall/winter wardrobe staple--boots!  The first pair are deadstock, and nearly identical (only in much better condition) to the pair I wore in college during the late 80s/early 90s.  Since they're my size, I was tempted to keep them, but I've decided to let them go.

Combat jump boots.

1970s caramel brown men's Dingo boots.

Cafe latte cutout slingbacks.

Ostrich texture Doc Martens boots.

1970s auburn leather boots.

Stacy Adams dress boots.

Maroon Abilene boots.

1950s Schlesinger Brothers black leather portfolio.

Stetson fedora with box.

Silk Saint Angelo medieval fish scarf.

Sterling silver salamander brooch.

xo

K