ah, marcello!

Just to give you all a heads up, we'll be traveling for Thanksgiving next week, and while I'll have the Etsy store open for shopping, there will be no shipping from 11/22-11/26 (normal shipping will resume on 11/29).

In the meantime, here is a peek at a few more men's pieces coming to the shop. I love selling vintage menswear. We find quite a bit of it, and my model is very easy to work with. Seriously, if there's anything in particular you'd like to see for men in the shop, please let me know!

Striped gray cardigan.

Red plaid Pendleton coat.

Amazing mod 1960s silver sharkskin suit by Cesare Larini.

Skinny mod yellow and gray tie (the pattern reminds me of hard boiled eggs!).

I probably should have had Andy wear shades for that last photo. Even without them, though, he reminds me of this fine fellow. Man, I really wish the suit was A's size!

xo

K

before, during, after

Andy and I went out to dinner last night to take advantage of Grand Rapids' first-ever Restaurant Week. We ended up going to Bistro Bella Vita, an old favorite, because we were too slow to make reservations at super-fancy 1913 Room.

I wore a newly-acquired vintage fur collar. I was going to sell it in the shop, but decided to keep it. I attached a pretty moss green satin ribbon to it to fancify it up a little.

Something I didn't realize about fur collars: they are really, REALLY warm. The last time I wore fur (vintage, naturally) was in Montreal in March, several years back. Last night was an unseasonably warm evening, and I was quite toasty, bare arms and all. I'm showing the cape I wore here, as proof that I do wear it, since it was an item I'd previously shown on the blog in a shop preview and then--very rudely and selfishly--kept. Bad Karen!

Anyway, despite our delicious meal at Bistro, it was a depressing Restaurant Week, as with it came news that two of my local favorites, Bloom and Corez, are closing. This is very sad news, as both places served amazing, innovative food using local ingredients (and amazing cocktails at both places I should add), and restaurants that do that are very scarce indeed in Grand Rapids.

On another note, here's a little Before (well, During, really) and After peek at what we did to our bedroom!

xo

K

holiday wishlist--the scottish edition

It's that most wonderful time of year again! And I'm still obsessed with all things Scottish. So, in (temporary) lieu of a trip to Scotland, I'll take any or all of the following for Christmas, thank you. (Start shopping now if you want them to arrive in time for the holidays--all items with the exception of the last one come from Etsy sellers based in Scotland.)

Since I do my packing and shipping in our freezing cold basement all winter, I'm pretty sure I need a pair of these gloves, from seller clovaknits. They might be the only thing standing between me and a horrible Numb Hands Tape Gun Incident.

I love everything in 13threads' shop, but particularly this tailored yet romantic herringbone tweed jacket.

Tuwhittuwhoo has the best shop name on Etsy. And the shop is full of cute things, like this adorable appliqued tablecloth.

The quirky and very funny work in paulofnavarone's shop makes me smile. Even though his name reminds me of the Guns of Navarone toy that I never got for Christmas (see last year's wishlist post).

This Harris tweed houndstooth satchel from breagha is just the bee's knees!

I would have to keep it on a high shelf away from Lucy (of course, that's how she's used to seeing most squirrels), but I do love these wild-eyed herringbone baby squirrels from dragonhouseofyuen.

Aaaaand here it is, from thedoghouse, pretty much the perfect thing for a childless couple obsessed with their dog (erm, not that I know anyone remotely fitting that description): the doggy advent calendar! Brilliant.

Have I mentioned lately we're removing all the disgusting carpet in our house? Thus, I am obsessed with rugs of all sorts, but particularly with cute crocheted ones, like this from emmalamb.

And, finally, this is more of a need than a wish--I have got to get some Pastels cds.

xo

K

midland

Andy, Lucy and I took a little road trip to Midland, Michigan and environs on Saturday. It was a chilly day, so I took the opportunity to wear my newly-aquired vintage Saks Fifth Avenue cream wool swing coat. I was excited to find this because--even though I have dozens of coats as it is--I don't have one, or much of anything really, in this color. The rest of my outfit is non-vintage old standbys: dress and cardi from Target, boots from J. Crew.

We didn't arrive in time to tour the historic mid-century modern Alden B. Dow home (Dow Chemical is in Midland), but I hope to get to see it on another visit. However, I did take photos of the Midland County Courthouse, which was designed by the very colorfully-named Bloodgood Tuttle.

Lucy loves being on the move. Look at those ears fly!

xo

K

name dropping

I am a bit proud of this preview. Not to be all name-droppy, but...Tina Leser. Anne Fogarty. And you'll start to see in this preview some holiday party-worthy items, to get you all ready for this season's festivities. (I've already found the perfect skirt to wear to any party I'm lucky enough to attend, even if it's only the rather intimate Small Earth Vintage holiday gathering.)

Oh, and a couple of you have been asking me about the Paul Klee skirt. Well...scroll on!

Plaid taffeta and black velvet party dress.

Mustard wool sweater, by Adelaar.

1960s scallop/fish scales print dress.

1950s Ionic columns print blouse, by Shapely Classic.

1950s green and brown checked wool shirtwaist dress, by Nat Turoff.

1950s red corduroy skirt with cute pockets!

Chocolate brown and black check wool jacket with bow neck, by Kimberly.

1950s silk shantung floral print dress, by Stephan Ltd.

Caramel silk blouse.

1980s does 1940s cocoa crepe dress with ruched waist and silver beaded neckline.

Mod plaid lined raincoat, by Sears.

1930s or 1940s black rayon crepe dress with tons of soutache trim on the bodice.

Mod plaid and polka-dot dress with striped belt (it has it all!), Now is the Time by Puritan.

1950s bird and flower print cardigan.

1960s purple and peacock blue Indian silk dress, by Tina Leser.

1950s black and brown pinstriped blouse, by A Glamour Original.

The Mermaid Queen! A 1950s sea green lace and gold taffeta gown with jacket, by Corrine Original.

You may have seen this on the blog before. Well, I've finally decided to sell it! Paul Klee print full skirt (with separate, matching button-close waist sash), by Modern Jr. (See my previous post about this neat skirt here.)

1960s Grecian style drop waist dress, by Sacony Ciella.

Navy blue cardigan with embroidered stars and nautical flag appliques.

Gorgeous silk taffeta purple and forest green rose print skirt suit, by Nelson-Caine.

Navy silk taffeta swing jacket with rhinestone embellishments at collar, by J. Doctor.

1960s wavy tiger stripe knit dress, Collector's Items by Anne Fogarty.

Velvet ribbons, lace, and pearl embellished cardigan, by Alice Kaye Originals.

1930s black rayon crepe dress with velvet waist and floppy velvet bow.

xo

K