A Touch of Vintage Asian Inspiration

It's been ages since I've posted!  After a very busy winter and spring (I've added professional sign maker to my resume) I'm finally feeling like my feet are under me.  Managing two businesses, from home, can be overwhelming but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Today's outfit is a sundress in lime green with dots of white and black with black shoulder straps and trim at the neckline.  It is home sewn by yours truly from a 1955 pattern.  It is not well sewn - there are a few wonky seams and a strange little gap under the arm!  I like it though and will use the pattern again and see if I can improve on the next one.

The skirt of the dress is fantastic - a full circle.  Note to self: sew fishing weights into the hem.  I actually flashed the entire parking lot of Kroger grocery store this afternoon when a gust of wind took me by surprise.  Sadly I was not wearing a crin which would've looked a heck of a lot sexier than the plain white slip I wore.  I was laughing so hard - first the back flew up over my shoulders and as I reached back to settle it the front flew up in face, I was a sight.  To all of my fellow shoppers - you're welcome for the comic relief I provided.

The sweater is magnificent - 1950s lambswool lined in silk crepe with the most amazing beading.  Asian characters (wish I knew what it said), a rickshaw on front and a fab pagoda on the back.  I purchased it from the lovely Nicole of Bombshell Shocked.  

The earrings are from the every-so stylish Melanie at Vintage Fashion Boutique.  Celadon (they aren't quite as yellow in real life as they look in the pic) painted metal Buddhas dangle from pagoda studs.  1950s clip ons at their finest.  I love them and bought them specifically to wear with this sweater.  I do have a growing collection of asian inspired vintage jewelry - I'll have to post some more photos!

Household note - I haven't had the time to sew anything since last fall so I'm really hoping to carve out some time and space to make a new dress.  Better news from the garden though - I realized today that the enormous flowering shrub that appeared a few years ago is an elderberry plant!!  I have already found a recipe for elderberry jelly.........and wine!  Yep - I'm going to try my hand at wine making.  Sadly the recipe says you should wait a year before drinking it - I'm sure that won't happen in this house.  We'll be too curious to wait that long.

Elderberry flowers

If you're looking to add a little Asian style to your vintage wardrobe here's a great swim suit from my shop.

Link here

The Magnolia Collection

Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my eBay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you - leave a comment!

Until next time....Happy Vintage Hunting!

Carrie

The End of Summer and a New Begining

I've been so inspired by some recent vintage blogs that I've decided to dust off the old blog and give it a new shot!  I always love seeing what other vinties are wearing so I will definitely share some outfit posts...mind you I tend to look startled and uneasy in photos (hopefully that will change) and unlike some vintage gals who really focus on a particular era,  I wear almost all eras!

I also want A Vintage Life to a place to share new old finds!  So whether they're bits of furniture, art,  retro glassware, fabulous recipes or clothing and jewelry, this will be their stage!

ok....my first Outfit  post!!

Yesterday I had a wonderful day - on the spur of the moment (ok, so honestly it was mid-morning and I was out of coffee) I decided to take the day off.  I LOVE being a vintage clothing seller and really enjoy working; but even so, every once in a while you need what my mom called "A Mental Health Day" and yesterday was it!

I donned a purple barkcloth Asian inspired 70s Hilo Hattie Hawaiian dress with the prettiest cream hibiscuses and paired it with fakelite faux jade clip on hoops, a big black feather hair bunny and black wedges.

 

I spent the day at a few thrift stores, had lunch and then hit the local antique mall (where I used to have a booth) and spent hours wandering!  It was heaven!!  A pair of Tiki mask earrings found me and of course they were perfect with the dress so I got them as well as the sweetest little red plastic bird pin and a fab hat....but more on the hat later.

How cute??

So here I am in the mirror at The Magnolia Collection Headquarters!  It was the end of a humid 97 degree day so what little makeup I started with was long gone.  How perfect are those earrings???

 

The Magnolia Collection

So what is on your vintage wish list when you're out and about?  Thanks for reading and of course I'd love to have you stop by my ebay shop - that's the link up there!  I'd love to hear from you!

Until next time....promise it won't be another 5 years!

Carrie