synesthesia

People who associate colors with certain numbers or letters are known as synesthetes. Synesthesia takes other forms (and you can read more about it here, on the Wikipedia). I don't think I'm a synesthete by nature, but I've been thinking for awhile that it would be fun to combine two of my favorite things--vintage clothing and perfume--in a blog post. The most obvious way was to take a few favorites from my perfume collection and find items on Etsy that evoke the scents for me.

Below is a photo of my perfume tray which holds some of my current rotation of favorites.

1. 10 Corso Como. This is a dark, smoky sandalwood. I think of it as a "serious" scent--there's nothing playful about it, though I do find it comforting and a bit cozy. This military-inspired Emanuel Ungaro dress from allencompanyinc is serious in style and cut, but there's something cozy and comforting to me about wool and about the dress' soft colors.

2. Black Cashmere by Donna Karan. Intensively spicy and woodsy scent (in an uber-cool modern-minimalist laydown bottle). Though called "cashmere," it's not soft, but rather luxuriously warming and dark--like this faux fur coat from swaneegrace.

3. Parfumerie Generale's Cadjmere 18, however, lives up to its name as a milky vanilla and woods blend with a decided note of orange peel on my skin that keeps it from being cloying. It is soft and comforting, just like this cozy cashmere sweater dress from Lolavintage.

4. Lorenzo Villoresi is probably my favorite perfumer, and his Piper Nigrum, one of my early favorites, remains at (or near) the top of my list. Though mainly a black pepper scent, it is rounded out with quite a lot of nutmeg, making it a scent at once cozy, spicy, and sparkling--just like this beaded knit outfit from DearGoldenVintage.

5. Dzing! by L'Artisan. This weird yet wonderful scent is my all-time favorite and my most-worn scent. It was inspired by the circus and smells of leather, sweetness, and a touch of animal. These great leather oxfords from dahlilafound encapsulate Dzing! for me: stylish, goes great with anything, and hardworking.

6. Balmain Ambre Gris. This is probably one of the least "me" scents of my collection. I admit (shamefacedly) that I broke the first law of perfume-buying, and bought this unsniffed, based on some online raves, the beauty of the bottle, and the fact that it was being sold at a deep discount. I was pretty sure the touch of tuberose in the notes would make it something I'd trade away immediately. Quite the opposite! This is a big, sweet, amber-spice scent, and that touch of tuberose gives it just the right dose of femininity. I love it, and wear it yearlong, but just a single spritz to the back of my neck.

This stunning Emma Domb dress from 13bees makes the same femme-but-not-too-delicate statement as Ambre Gris, I think.

7. I wish I had a better photo of my bottle of L.T. Piver Cuir de Russie, as the label has a charming illustration of a pair of Russian dancers. This is a honeyed leather scent. Actually, specifically, it smells to me of soft leather and beeswax candles, and is kind of how I imagine this wonderful leather coat from figandtwig smelling.

xo

K

true grit

Andy and I went to see the Coen brothers' True Grit remake the other day, and it was, as expected, wonderful. I have to admit, I can't recall seeing the original ever, so I can't compare the two films. But the cast, scenery, dialogue--everything about it is excellent! (And don't you love the artwork from the 1969 hardcover book?)

Mattie Ross, the 14-year-old and exceptionally determined heroine, is dressed mostly in men's clothing that is too big for her--clothing that is practical for the journey she is undertaking. She wears pants and a man's overcoat, belted tight, and a fantastic wide-brimmed hat.

I tried to find a similar hat on Etsy, and this one from LonesomeBrown (what a great name!) was close enough.

I didn't find much more clothing of that era on Etsy that reminded me of Mattie, but this amazing outfit from VeraVague does look like something the adult Mattie would have worn.

Speaking of which, I got all excited when I saw Mattie, near the end of the film, wearing a suit kind of similar to--and made from what looks like nearly the same fabric--as this cute 1940s suit in my Etsy shop.

I also have in the shop prairie boots of the same era--surely the same kind of boots Mattie would have worn--as well as a 1950s petticoat skirt that looks like it could hail from the Old West.

And please let me share with you a few more Etsy items that have that True Grit feel. Tooled leather belt from belovedvintage.

Pyrography carved wood frame, from MouseTrapVintage.

Antique photo of a most determined-looking girl, from PaperMoChez.

Old money receipts book, from nesstiques.

Vintage spurs, from pearlsvintage.

Neat old aluminum coffee pot, from AntoinettesWhims.

xo

K

of all the gin joints...

My best friend Stephani is coming to visit us this weekend, and as always, I am very excited to see her! She only lives across the state, but we don't get to get together nearly often enough. I'm also (cautiously) geeked about the opening of a new bar in town, a 1930s speakeasy-style joint that is claiming to specialize in classic cocktails. (Hence the above photo from RustBeltThreads' shop, which aside from cute vintage fashion, has a a great selection of vintage barware.)

[Prohibition, of course, wasn't all flapper fun and good times in speakeasies. For an interesting read about Prohibition's effects on society, specifically in New York, check out Dry Manhattan by Michael A. Lerner. And I've just added Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent to my reading list.]

In anticipation of checking out this place, I was inspired to search out Prohibition era stuff on Etsy.

Cream raw silk flapper dress from greatestfriend.

Deco rhinestone bracelet from jeanjeanvintage.

Peach crêpe de Chine chemise (that is also a romper!) from DearGoldenVintage.

Silver 1920s mary janes from thegetupvintage.

If it fit me, I would wear this 1930s gown and jacket from the shop, but since it doesn't, I might instead just force Andy to bob my hair for me (no time to schedule a proper haircut, and four days in a row of near-90s temps are getting to me).

This gorgeous deco compact by American Elgin from Coloradofinds would make the perfect flapper accessory.

I love this sepia photo of a 1920s French couple, from comeungarcon.

And a photo of an actual former speakeasy (which I've visited!), Chicago's Green Mill, by helenesmith.

Love this Prohibition era sheet music celebrating one of the earliest home-based businesses! From MyMusicNation.

I'll probably be mixing up some Hendrick's and tonics for Stephani and me, but I really wish I owned this wood-bound 1939 Just Cocktails book, from usedbooks.

To see some more great Etsy speakeasy style finds, check out the treasury I made on Etsy (click photo to see the treasury full size on Etsy).

Chin chin!

xo

K

macro thrift trip

Some shots from last Saturday's thrift trip, which was filled with early spring produce from the farmers market, a fantastic lunch of celery soup and goat cheese tart, and some great thrifting finds.

Here I am, in a 1940s print crepe blouse, ever-present mustard J. Crew cardigan (seriously, I wear it all the time), jeans, and 1950s lady cop oxfords.

Close-up of the print on the blouse, which buttons up the back with the cutest clear blue plastic buttons with flowers on them.

The most ridiculous print I have ever seen on a western shirt.

Gratuitous dog shot. Well, not entirely gratuitous. We celebrate Lucy's birthday every Cinco de Mayo, so please join us in wishing her happy birthday. She's about 77 in dog years, but can still run circles around me. When she's not napping. We celebrated with a trip to the pet supply store where she was allowed to sniff the various rawhide items to her heart's content, and where I learned of the existence of cherry-flavored pigs' ears. Like plain pigs' ears aren't disgusting enough. There will be a nice walk in the woods once the weather improves, and special treats. No pigs' ears--just chicken jerky.

xo

K

vintage prom

Although I'm way past my prom days, I still thought it would be fun to do a post about vintage prom dresses. And I was hoping to start things off with a photo of me in my prom dress (circa 1987). Unfortunately, I could not find the photo. I didn't wear a vintage dress to prom, although I had started thrifting and wearing vintage at this point. My dress was, however, vintage-inspired. It was a pretty amazing black satin floor-length sheath, with a fishtail hem, and I wore it with long gloves and rhinestone jewelry. Very Hollywood movie star! The effect, however, was pretty much ruined by my giant hair.

Since I don't have a photo of me and my dress (and my cute prom date!), here's a photo from the same time period of me and the hair (and our cute college counselor! Who is obviously quite rightly puzzled by the hair).

The rhinestone earrings? I wore those to prom!

Anyway, if I were 18 and attending prom today, I would want to go wearing one of the many amazing and well-priced vintage dresses you can find on Etsy! And naturally, these vintage party and cocktail dresses work just as well for more grown-up affairs. I put together an Etsy Treasury of 16 of my favorites. Click the photo to see a larger view of the treasury (links to each seller's dress below the photos), or click this link to go directly to the Treasury itself, which includes clickable links to all the dresses.

Row 1, l-r: 13bees; AdelaideHomesewn; HuzzahVintage; DearGoldenVintage

Row 2, l-r: swaneegrace; thegreedyseagull; persephonevintage; HinterlandVintage

Row 3, l-r: shopREiNViNTAGE; MariesVintage; denisebrain; landof1000dresses

Row 4, l-r: brownbagvintage; salvagelife; VivaLaVintageShoppe; studio1950

And here's a little selection of prom/cocktail party-worthy dresses from the shop.

Clockwise, starting at upper left corner: 1950s Black Taffeta MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION Party Dress; 1950s Blush Pink Chantilly Lace Dress; 1950s MIDNIGHT Sparkle Peg Palmer Party Dress; 1950s Satin BLUE HEAVEN Satin Cocktail Dress by Miss Brooks

Clockwise, starting at upper left corner: 1950s LILAC SMOKE Lace Party Dress; 1940s Black Taffeta R&K Originals Dress with Rhinestone Buttons; 1980s Metallic EMERALD Party Dress; 1960s Abstract ORCHARD Print Tiered Skirt Cocktail Dress

And hey, if you have a chance, check out this week's prom themed Etsy Voter, and if you're so inclined, put a vote in for my 1950s Lilac Smoke Lace Party Dress, which was nominated--my first time ever in an Etsy Voter!

xo

K