༺ Is That Dior? ༻

Of course, when one galivants off to view daring ensembles and darling frocks, one also has to pull out a fabulous ensemble to suit the occasion…

For my visit to The Dressmaker costume exhibition I tried tor a Dior New Look inspired outfit ~ I feel like it really is the silhouette and style to go for if you ever want to look instantly glamourous and Parisian chic ~ as you see in the movie with all those jaw-dropping ensembles.

I think it worked out to some degree. I do wish I had a cream or white Lilli Ann or Suzy Perette suit jacket to really finalize the silhouette properly. However, the biggest niggle for me was that I must of packed my glove collection away in storage because I cannot find hide nor hair of them, and that meant I had to wear navy gloves with my black accessories and it was the worst. The WORST I tell you!

Except for the fact that my pin curls wouldn’t brush out properly ~ and I was stuck in the 80’s…

So Fluff. Much Pooff.

And that was the WORST ~ the absolute WORST I tell you!

#vintagegirlproblems anyone?

Haha!

I think the best thing about this outfit is that some of the pieces I’ve had since my very first thrift shop for vintage style pieces, and some of them literally arrived in the mail that week…

Believe it or not, the Mary Jane heels predate my vintage style. I’ve had them since 2007 when I first started a full time job. They caught my eye when I was looking for work shoes and I’m glad they did as they are my favourite pair of black shoes with the dainty heel and strap.

My black top I’ve had since 2010 ~ I think? I’m pretty sure I found it the very first time I ever went “shopping” for vintage at the op shops, and it’s stayed with me ever since. Even though I don’t wear black all that often, it’s such a classic, timeless piece that it’s survived many culls that most of my older wardrobe hasn’t. Miraculously it even fits through all the weight gain with my thyroid disease!

The next oldest piece is my faux fur jacket which I bought in 2012 at the Frock It Up Vintage fair and it’s been a heavy staple in my wardrobe every winter. You can dress it up, dress it down ~ I often throw it on with jeans and a plain top, and it’s just been such a fabulous buy.

The handbag was gifted to me from a friend who thought of me when his mother was passing on some handbags. It’s an 80’s piece, but I loved the classic vibe it has and thought it fit so well with this look.

The velvet platter chapeau from 2015 is somewhat faded and misshapen as it’s that dusty brown rather than a true black at some angles, but I really love it because I feel like this hat was worn and loved during it’s lifetime. I’m just continuing the trend of doting on it as it’s a charming, not-too-out-there-but-still-a-statement-piece style. I actually have no clue what era it’s from, but my best guess would be the 1940’s.

I’m wearing my one and only piece of Miriam Haskell jewellery ~ and if you get into vintage jewellery collection, that’s name you will see a lot. She was a very prolific designer, and her pieces are much sort after for statement jewellery. This feather brooch is one of her more demure designs, but it suits my style so well, I’m glad it joined my collection in 2018.

The pleated skirt ~ well, you might have guessed by the long run down that it’s the piece that arrived that week in the mail! An incredibly lucky eBay find that was way prettier in person than I was expecting, this one made me gasp when I opened the parcel.

It’s so long and full, and swishes so beautifully. I was absolutely chuffed to find out that I could fit my biggest, flouffiest cupcake petticoat under there ~ my Doris petticoat in peach. I haven’t worn such a copious amount of pouf in way too long, and let me tell you ~ I was grinning from ear to ear as I spun around in the kitchen showing my mister how epic the fluff was!

Almost a full decade {!!} of collecting vintage and this is the perfect outfit to really showcase the beauty of classic, timeless fashion. All the pieces fit together no matter how far apart I’ve collected them, and in a way, it’s completely ageless. It’s so cool, and a wee bit surreal to think that I’ve been wearing vintage for almost ten years, but at the same time, I’m so happy.

This is so me, even after all this time.

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

Vintage Velvet Double Rose Platter Hat | Can’t remember where I purchased it!
1950s Faux Fur Swing Jacket | Frock It Up Vintage Fair
Black Embroidered Top | Thrifted
1940’s Navy Gloves | eBay
Miriam Haskell Pearl Embellished Brass Feather Brooch | Instagram
80’s Bottle Purse | Gift
Vintage Pleated Skirt | eBay
Fish Net Stockings | Kmart
Crinoline | Doris Designs Adult 26" Petticoat in Peach
Suede Mary Jane Heels | Payless (Old)

༺ ♡ ༻
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༺ Tip To The Traveling Hat ༻

You all probably know by now how obsessed I am with hats…

So when my friend Tanith of Tanith Rowan Designs, a fabulous lady with a gift for the art of millinery, concocted the idea of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Hat, I didn’t think twice ~ I was there!

Last year I participated in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Dress by taking the sister frock for a twirl at an old stonework church, and that was so much fun that I couldn’t wait for the chance to take out ‘Adelaide’ for a spin.

This stunning confection of a chapeau is a tilt style of felt and white winter-ish berries, and with the architectural design of the hat, I knew a structured suit would really compliment this piece. I had grand plans to sew up a navy 1940’s ensemble, but then I thought perhaps I would do something different.

I decided to go out of my comfort zone and try ~ *gasp* a pencil skirt. (ᵒ̤̑ ◁ ᵒ̤̑)৹ᵍᵎᵎ  This skirt is often known as a “wiggle” style as apposed to a “swing” or full circle skirt cut. As you might guess from the nickname, pencil skirts can often end up on the more “sexy” side of styles.

I will say that a sexy look not really something I really like to go for ~ I personally much prefer a modest style of dress and will tend to stay far away from anything that ventures too close to a sexy pinup style. But in saying that, I think the looser fit of this suit helped to keep it more vintage and less pinup for me, so I quite enjoyed wearing it in the end!

Despite the fact that I am definitely still a firm full circle skirt fan, I was really happy with how this ensemble came together. Particularly when pairing the suit with a vintage 50’s blouse that has this really cute bow belt detail at the waist.

And while I know that a red, white and blue often comes across as a patriotic “themed” outfit, I honestly didn’t think of that at all when I was composing the look. What can I say, I really love navy and red and white, and sometimes you just have to throw it altogether! (*• ᴗ ᵕ*)

I guess accidentally coming across as dressing to a theme really isn’t out of my comfort zone at all these days. It’s a bit hard to be worried about a colour scheme when my whole entire ensemble has a vintage theme!  Haha.

Have you tried going out of your comfort zone with your style recently? Was your experiment a success? I think mine was! Even though I can’t see pencil skirts becoming a huge part of my wardrobe, I am interested to try other wiggle styles in the future ~ so here’s to trying new things!
╭( ･ㅂ･)و ̑̑ ˂ᵒ͜͡ᵏᵎ⁾✩ 

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

‘Adelaide’ 1940’s Inspired Tilt Hat | by Tanith Rowan Designs
Vintage 1950s Bow & Poppy Blouse | Vintage Pop Up Fair
Red Stone Beads | Lady’s Market, Hong Kong ‘08
Vintage 1940’s Ruched Rust Gloves | eBay
Vintage 60s Navy Suit {altered by me to look 50s} | eBay
Cherry Pop Box Bag | Lola Von Rose
Red Alert Heels | Old

༺ ♡ ༻

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༺ When Starlight and Midnight Collide ༻

Ooof! I hope this post isn’t too much of a photo overload… I know there’s a lot here, but I really found it difficult to narrow them down, especially with so many more pictures left on the cutting room floor ~ metaphorically speaking of course.

I had such fun taking this series of photographs. As silly as it might sound, I have been eagerly waiting for the wattle to bloom this year. I have worn this outfit, or variations of it, all through winter, but I knew that the best backdrop to showcase it would be my favourite golden yellow puffballs.

So I waited through the wintertime months, and here we are finally. Yay!

But while I snapped lots of pretty pictures, and have loads of inspiration for future ensembles, photo shoots, makeup tutorials, YouTube videos, and more ~ I really am feeling the writer’s block side of blogging at the moment.

I can’t quite tell if it’s because life is chugging along too quietly, and so I have no stories to tell, or if it’s because my usual round of winter colds and flues have drowned my brain with all the world’s supply of unwanted liquids… It’s really snot fun..…  ₍₍ ₍₍ ｡｡｡(๑•    •๑)   *snufflesoff*

Lol. My Mister’s dad jokes have finally infected me for good. No wonder I succumbed to that cold.

One thing I do have to say though ~ how hard it is to find navy shoes?!

Even our wonderful vintage reproduction shoe brands don’t really seem to do blue shoes, so I’m on an everlasting hunt to add a pair{actually ~ let’s face it, two or three pairs in different era and season styles, as well as hues!} to my wardrobe.

Because, as you might be able to tell, my navy obsession is going strong ~ I am just as infatuated with the shade as I was last summer. Around about the end of last year, I decided to start collecting all the midnight blue items I could find that fit my aesthetic sensibilities, and I don’t think I shall be stopping anytime soon.

It’s such a classic hue. One I really love to wear, partly because it’s also a bit rare these days and you don’t find much of it around {unless it’s little girls clothing… Because only toddlers and babies can wear navy??}.

Haha, but you know I love anything a little bit {or a lot! ✧٩(•́⌄ - ́๑) } different.

Now I’m going to put to the hive mind ~ anyone know of a good 40s or 50s reproduction, or even vintage-looking, navy shoes{vintage isn’t as helpful with this quest because high chances are they won’t fit my feet. Just so you know, having babies really changes ALLLL of your body!}?? Have you found any of these rare treasures? If so, please spill!

Also, what’s your most-sort-after-hard-to-find shoe colour? I’m sure I can’t be the only vintage gal out there with the agonising problem of trying to match her shoe colour to her gloves, hat or purse…

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

Navy “Robin” Knit Top | Collectif
Vintage Hounds tooth Pleated Skirt | Thrifted
Erstwilder ‘Woven Wattle’ Brooch | Rocklily Wombats
Navy Gingham “Mia” Skirt | Collectif
Vintage Navy Wrist Gloves | eBay
Navy Satchel Bag | eBay
Grey Tights | Kmart
Black Oxford Heels | New Look, Old

༺ ♡ ༻

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༺ Lady by the Lake ༻

I wore this lovely 1940’s inspired, sepia Hell Bunny frock to the cinema two weekends ago when the Mister and I went to see the new Bourne movie. We are both fans of the franchise, but spoiler alert: it wasn’t worth bringing Bourne back for this flick…. (๑-﹏-๑)

And while I think this dress gives off a lovely 40’s impression, I suspect I might have made a minor mistake with my styling ~  I picked my harvest brown gloves to go with my ensemble as I thought “Ooo, matchy-matchy! Yay!!” but then in the photographs I realised that my arms pretty much disappear into my dress and I look like I don’t have any hands… Hehee… Oops! (๑´ㅂ`; ๑)

What I did like was how this hand-beaded vintage purse coordinated so beautifully with the outfit. I can hardly believe how excellent the condition of the beading is! I’m not sure which era it’s from ~ it practically feels like new, which is so cool because I wonder what special occasions this delicate, sparkling evening bag was saved for. A date night is a perfect outing in my mind, and a fun photoshoot to boot!

The winter twilight besides the lake was a symphony of pale, luminous colour, and beams of golden sun ~ but, let’s be real here ~ gales of icy winds too. I was so cold taking these pictures!

I had bought a cardigan to wear {not that that would have saved me much as it was 4:00pm in the afternoon, so it was still freezing}, but I clean forgot about it as I was so eager to capture the gorgeous button detail on the sleeves, and the gathering on the bust.

And then I was so inspired by the light gleaming on the columns and steps, the strong angles of the architecture, and the stunning vista of green foliage and blue water, I couldn’t stop playing with my camera! *sigh* It’s that moment when you are swept away in the flow of creativity, j'adore!

Of course, the glowing light fades all too quickly, and that’s when you start shivering and sniffing and realising just how cold you are and isn’t it great that the car is just around the corner with nice seat warmers waiting to be switched on… No? Just me?  Haha, okay then. 

Can we quickly take a moment to appreciate the reproduction quality on this Hell Bunny dress though? I have been really impressed with their 1940s styled offerings I’ve picked up recently. First there was my aubergine dress, and now this one. Yes, the cut of the décolletage is too low, so I slipped in a modesty panel at the front {I tucked a cream silk handkerchief over the front of my slip} and it worked out nicely I think.  (⁎＾ᴗ＾⁎)

Overall, I do like the cut, I think it has that authentic feeling. {With the glaring exception of the middle zip up the back ~ ugh, why?! The middle zip was around in the 40s, but rarely was a dress finished that way back then, and you know what ~ I can see why. Isn’t the whole line of the back of the dress just ruined by the bunching of that by that zipper! *sad*} The best part is however ~ the fabric! 

I am super impressed with the fabric of both my Hell Bunny dresses. For me, the fabric has been a major component of the authentic effect that both these dresses have achieved. How it swirls and glides with your movement makes a such a difference to how the cut appears, and I think that it is a strong marker of the reproduction quality of the vintage look. Modern fabrics interact with the finished design, and the body wearing it, in a radically distinct manner to vintage clothing.

It has a lot to do with the rise of man-made fabrics, with design methods, and also the use of household appliances such as washing machines and tumble dryers, instead of wringers and clotheslines. It is interesting to ponder how these evolutions came to be ~ fashion is shaped by economic climates, war, politics… It’s all an endlessly fascinating rabbit hole, but I shan't dive down it right now.

What do you think? Do you agree with fabric being a crucial component of good vintage reproduction? And even more importantly ~ back zip…Yay or nay? I’m firmly in the nay camp. I like the zip to be in the side seam. I think it’s more subtle hidden under your arm, and best of all, you can do your dress up by yourself! 
( •̀ᄇ• ́)ﻭ✧

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

Vintage Two-Tone Felt Saucer Hat | eBay
June Dress by Hell Bunny | eBay
Vintage Marcasite & Pearl Leaf Earrings | Round She Goes Market, 2015
Gold Poodle Brooch | Round She Goes Market, 2015
Harvest Brown Gauntlet Gloves | Etsy
Vintage Floral Swirl Beaded Evening Purse | eBay
Tan Heda Mary Jane by B.A.I.T. | Zulily

༺ ♡ ༻

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༺ Stitching Stories: Looking for Land Girls ༻

Yay!! I made pants! I actually did it!! 

Last year I participated in the Vintage Pattern Pledge and managed to get all my makes completed by the skin of my teeth. And while I’ve been super slow starting with my sewing this year, I did sign up to do it all again.

I, Bonita Vear of Lavender & Twill, pledge to sew at least five vintage or vintage reproduction patterns in 2016 ~ these must include one pair of pants! I also pledge to finish one knitted garment from a vintage or vintage reproduction pattern.

This time, I was also invited to share my make as part of the Vintage Pattern Pledge roundup on Kestrel Makes {and you can check out my guest post interview over here}. It’s taken me a whole six months to get cracking, I think I’ve been dragging my heels after all the sewing disasters I had faced last year. But I finally sat down at my machine and I’m really happy that the first pattern I sewed up this year was my first pair of long anticipated trousers!

I’ve seen Simplicity’s Retro re-release of a 1940’s four-piece suit pattern floating around on sewing blogs/vintage blogs for a good several years now. It’s a great pattern, everyone seems to like sewing it up. Every time I saw the pants I was like: “They look great! I should make those!…But pants are so hard… Eh, I’ll just sew a dress instead.”. This year, however, I put on my brave face, made my pledge to actually give it a go, and whadda you know… It wasn’t that scary at all! (•̀o•́)ง✧

Okay, so they are not exactly the most challenging kind of pants to sew {I’m looking at you jeans…} but any kind of pants have been on my “OhboyIcan’tsewthattooscary” list ever since I started sewing. So I didn’t have to face a fly, any sort of thigh/hip/butt/crotch adjustments ~ thank goodness! ~ or twin top stitching, but I’m taking baby steps towards it, and that’s enough for me at the moment.

The ease of construction and the loose, vintage style of these pants means that this pattern is a fantastic beginner’s introduction to sewing trousers. It went together really smoothly {I only had to unpick a couple of seams when I got the front and back pieces confused, but when I figured out that I’d sewn it front-front and back-back instead of front-back, front-back it was a very easy fix}, and there aren’t any difficult techniques you need to know to make them up.

I did switch out the standard waistband interfacing for Grosgrain ribbon to create the waistband. I like using this couture technique for building the waistband because I feel like the finished result is far more sturdier, actually stands up better instead of folding over or creasing down {like a lot of my skirt waistbands used to do before I started doing this}, and doesn’t stretch out of shape. Plus, I think it makes button holes easier as well! But on that note, yes, my button tab is too long… Whoops!

I also added a pocket into the side seam opposite the zipper, because who likes pants without pockets?? I mean, really…. But I do that with all my skirts and dresses too. I find if it doesn’t have pockets, I’m much less likely to wear it!

I handpicked the zipper and the hem for the pants ~ and while I adore hemming by hand, zippers still elude me when it comes to a perfectly neat finish, so I think I need to keep practising my zipper insertion for sure.

I am so happy with the finished trousers though; I can’t even say. This winter I’ve really been into swing pants ~ I kind of feel like they are the vintage girl’s version of trakkie-daks…. Or pyjamas… Have I mentioned that these things are darn comfortable? (~￣▽￣)~

I’m definitely leaning towards 1940’s land girl inspiration for styling options rather than glamourous Hollywood slacks ~ those ladies had to work hard, and had to have outfits that were not only durable, but also easy to move in. These pants definitely fit that bill, and are a wardrobe staple for me right now. I’m just wondering how many more pairs I should make! I definitely need a navy pair in twill or gabardine, and possibly a pair in chocolate Ponte knit??!

Or maybe I should try my hand at a pair of jeans? If anyone has any recommendations for an easy 1940’s -1950’s vintage or vintage reproduction pattern for jeans; I’m all ears! ( ^ _ ^)∠☆

~ Project Details ~

• Year: Retro re-release of a Simplicity 1940’s suit pattern  
• Pattern: Simplicity 3688
• Fabric: Unknown length of undetermined stretch hounds tooth knit fabric. This fabric came from my Grandmother’s stash. It was passed on from her to my Mom, and then to me before it was finally made up!  
• Notions: Two buttons, Grosgrain ribbon for the waistband, and one metal zipper 
• Time to complete: Two weeks
• Make again? Yes. No doubt. I’m already trying to figure out which fabric I should use next…
• Wear again? Considering that I’ve worn them every day since I finished them up, and I’m wearing them right now as I write this post ~ I’d say so! Haha!!
• Total Cost:  $2.60 for the zipper, the fabric was from the stash, as were the buttons. Not bad, but then I have to count $16.50 for repurchasing the pattern after Miss Three decided to jump on the lounge chair where I had put the pattern tissue and tore it to shreds... So, $19.10 in total.

xox,

bonita

༺ ♡ ༻

DIY Vintage Hair Tie | Me Made, 2015
Cherry Pointe Knit Top {old} | Collectif
Land Girl Slacks | Me Made, 2016
Tan Prairie Style Boots {old} | Cotton On

༺ ♡ ༻

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