A Rare Occasion in Non-Vintage

I get a lot of questions from readers- something often to the effect of "Do you wear vintage every day, even just to run to the store for milk?" Usually, I do wear vintage, even to run to the store or clean the house. It happens every once in a while, I step out into the world not dressed in vintage. I feel (and I may be wrong here) that you have to really go for it with the hair, makeup and outfit to get a complete, put-together look.

We had to run to Wal-Mart for a few things for our fishing trip tomorrow and since we were in a hurry and I wasn't feeling the hair and makeup thing, I put myself together in my occasional "mom clothes" I'm still wearing my Heyday Trousers and a vintage scarf because they're comfy and easy but the rest is a zip up hoodie and t shirt, hipster glasses in place of my cat eyes and some moisturizer.

 I also carried my new, enormous Transversion travel bag. See my whole collection here.

Living in Missouri, where people don't really dress up, sometimes it feels nice to go out and be unnoticed, just hurry up and get your shopping done and run home so you can sew.

Vintage Dancer Style Guides

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Vintage Dancer is a blog and shopping portal written and curated by Debbie Sessions. I first heard of Vintage Dancer when I reviewed her 1940s Style Guide ebook, now in print as well. I am such a fashion history nerd, I was in love with her ebook. She teaches the style of the decade by explaining the social and political reasons behind fashion changes of the time. She covers the details used in garment construction from fabrics to cut and embellishment, making it easy to learn about these styles and replicate them.

 Check out my review here. Since I read the 1940s Style Guide, she has also written the 1940s Fashion Guide for Your Body Type, which I've been enjoying this afternoon.



Debbie started writing her ebooks and blog to help other vintage enthusiasts to find information and proper costuming sources for events and clothing for daily wear. Today, along with being a stay at home mom, Vintage Dancer is her full time job!
 Vintage Dancer is an aggregate site, curating all of the best vintage inspired clothing from major retailers and small businesses in one amazing shopping portal.  Debbie sources collections from the the Victorian era to the 1960s.


I have never seen an aggregate site quite like Debbie's before. It's such a blessing when you're looking for something specific for a special event or for building your vintage wardrobe for a certain era- everything you need in one place! She offers loads of research and information on fashion history in her blog posts and ebooks so you can apply what you learn from her articles to find the perfect era specific garment from her shopping pages.

With all of the 1920s revival going on this spring, she has been working on some really exciting Gatsby themed ebooks, articles and clothing collections.

Sign up for Debbie's free,12 part 1920s Style Guide Series  

Read her fantastic ebook, 1920s Fashion for Your Body Type

Check out her amazing huge list of 1920s reproduction patterns

 Debbie sent me a copy of one of her newest ebooks, The Great Gatsby in Fashion. I read the Great Gatsby in high school and re-read it again a few months ago, before beginning work on the Gatsby Issue of Hey Doll. Since reading it without a test looming over me, I enjoyed it much more this time and it has become one of those books that I run around telling everyone that I know to sit down and read it. It's so beautifully descriptive of the time and tragically romantic- all the things I love in a book. So, if you haven't read it yet, sit down and read it!!

The Great Gatsby in Fashion is the full original novel by F Scott Fitzgerald with annotation by Debbie Sessions. It includes 33 additional pages of fashion history insights complete with original color illustrations and photographs throughout.

"Two years ago when I heard about all the upcoming movies, TV shows, and mini series set in the 1920′s, I started to dig into researching the twenties. Previously I researched the 1940′s, but this time the 1920′s started calling my name when I bought a house built in 1920. I thought that annotating the Great Gatsby was a good starting point to share some of what I learned about REAL not Hollywood 1920′s fashion. I hope through the book, readers will once again (or for the first time) enjoy the classic novel while learning something new. This is just one more way to share my passion for 20′s fashion."

The Great Gatsby in Fashion is available for a limited time for 99 cents. I'm curling up with my Nook and this book this afternoon. Stay tuned next week for my review!

Vintage Dancer is a sponsor of Va Voom Vintage. Please read my Disclosure Policy images and sample pages used with permission from Debbie Sessions

Top 10 Picks and Passes from E.L.F.

After mentioning ELF makeup in yesterday's vintage eyebrow post, I wanted to share some of my favorites from their line and some of the ones that missed the mark for me.

I've always been a drugstore makeup girl. Most stay at home moms don't have the funds to buy a $20 eyeshadow and when we do, we'd rather buy a new pair of shoes or have a thrift store shopping spree.
E.L.F. has a huge line of super cheap makeup and is sold at Target, Walmart and online. At prices ranging from $1-5 for a single product, why not try a few? I think a lot of people think that "you get what you pay for" when it comes to makeup but I have found a lot of really amazing makeup products that do the job just as well, if not better than higher end brands. Right now, E.L.F. is having a Memorial Day sale on their website so you can really snag a steal

Get 33% off products $3.00 and up with a minimum $25 purchase now through the 27th


 
Pick the e.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit -Again, as I mentioned yesterday, I love this kit! Such a fab little compact with two shades of brown- one in a creamy pigmented wax, the other in a setting powder. I've been using the darker wax of the medium palette for over a year and love it to pieces. I use a small angled brush to apply and it fills in like a charm and looks very natural. The compact has a small mirror inside so you can get up close. It comes with a small angled brush but I pitched it and use my own. It's not waterproof but I've never had it run down my face in the rain or heat either.

Pass on e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick
So far, I am not at all a fan of ELF mineral lipsticks. Ones I've tried have been super greasy and heavy, sometimes lumpy in application and just blah. I tried a red that was so dry I had to use olive oil to get it off, followed by loads of chapstick. A pink that actually went on kind of chunky and looked like Pepto Bismol. If you want a really good cheapy lipstick, try Wet N' Wild's Mega Last Matte range. I wear them almost daily and love 'em.

 
 Pick the e.l.f. Essential Waterproof Eyeliner Pen
 I am head-over-heels for my NYX The Curve Liner but Rhys busted into my makeup one day and came running into the living room stark naked, covered in black eye liner. So, I had to order a new one. While I was waiting for my NYX to arrive, I ran to Walmart for a new liner to use in the mean time. I picked up the ELF waterproof eye liner pen for $2 or $3 and it's a great little product! It has a felt tip applicator, which makes application a breeze. This liner doesn't allow for a super thin line like my NYX but for the price, it's a pretty good liner to play with. The formula is smooth, jet black and stays put. This pen is a 2010 Siempre Mujer Makeup Award winner 

Pass on e.l.f. Studio 100-Piece Eyeshadow Palette
I used to think "eyeshadow is eyeshadow" until I tried E.L.F palettes and what a bummer. There's like...no color in them and they don't blend if my life depended on it. I guess it's okay for a quick slap of color before going to the grocery store but for the price, you might as well get some really kick ass NYX shadows.Can you tell I'm a NYX fan?

 
 Pick the e.l.f. Studio High Definition Undereye Setting Powder
I have always had under eye circles, even as a teenager but being 27 with two toddlers, I can use all of the help I can get. I picked up this under eye setting powder, a little skeptic about it. They claim that it's a light defelecting      It's a super fine powder in a very pale pink hue with tiny glitter added. "Glitter under the eye? Yeah... bad idea." I thought but I gave it a shot and wow, it really does work and the glitter isn't noticable! It's not a miracle powder, erasing 10 years from your under eye area but if you do a before and after look, you'll notice the difference!
  
Pass on These Brushes
e.l.f. Studio Fan Brush
Okay, not a "fan" of this one at all. The bristles are cheap and plastic feeling. I know, they -are- plastic but it feels like a little girl's play makeup brush.
e.l.f. Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush
Again, I'm not crazy about the fibers on this brush either. It's a very strange brush to use. Seems like the fibers are too long and sparse for the task and it creates a really thick, chunky messed up line.

Pick These Brushes

 
 e.l.f. Studio Small Angled Brush-this is the one I use for my brows and I really love it. It's $3 and does a beautiful job of creating a sharp line and keeping a thin line when I need it. It's so perfect, I've even started using it to do that Marilyn style lower lash wing- and it's vegan friendly

e.l.f. Essential Foundation Brush I've tried higher end brushes for foundation but this little gem works a charm, applies smooth and has lasted forever!

Have you tried e.l.f. products? What are your picks and passes? 


Please view my disclosure policy

A Vintage Guide to Eyebrows- 1950

I thought you might enjoy these pages on how to shape your eyebrows, use eyebrow pencil and get the right brow shape for your face. This is from The Standard Textbook of Cosmetology from 1950. Although it has a lot of textbooky stuff in it, it has some really good information on beauty basics that you can do at home. I'll be posting more from this book soon! 

 I've been using the ELF brow kit for ages and really like how natural it looks. It's a combination of creamy pigmented wax on one side and powder on the other. The wax keeps hairs in place and fills everything in but doesn't look so penciled in and sharp. I usually use only the wax but sometimes I do use the powder which gives a lighter, more softened look.

 What kind of brow filler do you use?

For more on brows, see my post on How to Achieve Vintage Eyebrows

Click here to read larger pages

Lewis and Clark Heritage Days

What a gorgeous day to get out and play! This morning, we took the kids down to Historic Main Street for the annual Lewis and Clark Heritage Days, which is something Pj looks forward to every year. St Charles is the site of the beginning of the Lewis and Clark expedition to explore the west. They set out from this river front area and headed all the way to the Pacific. Clark wrote in his journal of St Charles, “...at 12oClock a number Spectators french & Indians flocked to the bank to See the party.  This village is about one mile in length…and about 450 inhabitents chiefly French, those people appear pore, polite & harmonious.”



The weekend includes fife and drum corps, canon demonstrations, military camps and food, music and games from the period.




 

In May, this tree produces puffs of seed pods that float through the park and cover the ground in snowy cotton. The kids and I had fun catching them.



It was a warm day but nice and breezy by the river, as always so I decided to wear my tiki dress that I made last summer (which I haven't worn since!) I used Mrs Depew's beach bustier pattern for the top, a pencil skirt that I had in my stash for the skirt and a long rectangular sash attached only to one side of the skirt that I can drape across and pin at the hip. I also made a matching bolero since I'm not much of a halter top girl. I found this rayon tiki print fabric at Hancock Fabrics on mega sale last summer.  I had great plans to wear my carved fish shoes but since we planned to walk all day, I opted for the crocs flats instead.

Hello, May Sponsors {with coupons for you!}

 Whoopsie! I usually post the sponsor roundup on the 15th but one of the side effects of being a housewife is that you have absolutely no idea what day of the month it is. I also got distracted by the possibilities of sewing, which for me, often gets me so excited that I forget to eat! So, today's the 16th and here we are with our monthly sponsor spotlight and some coupons and sales for you guys
Hello, May Sponsors!

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Lady Eve Millinery carries handmade vintage inspired hats, made using authentic millinery techniques. Here's a sampling of some of Aimee's beautiful 1920s head wear and do check out our interview for a peek at her process.

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 Mrs Depew Vintage specializes in rare print-at-home sewing patterns. She has the most amazing collection of 1920s dresses, vintage lingerie, swimwear and more. Anna also stocks pdf vintage fashion catalogs, crochet patterns and sewing booklets. Anna is moving from Norway to California so use code PACKITUP for $5 off your purchase of $20 now through June 1st

See my tiki dress and swimsuit using Mrs. Depew patterns.

                                                          Etsy  Blog  Facebook
 
Fellow blogger, Emily stocks her shop with the best finds from Michigan and beyond. From dresses to swimwear to separates, she carries a lot of wearable sizes too! Check out the new Sale Section and snag a steal!

 etsy

Urban Vintage Flaire is an eclectic selection of vintage home decor, clothing and accessories. She currently has some really cute midcentury home decor treasures, which has been my recent topic of obsession.
Save 10% off your entire purchase with code UVF10B

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Hex Potions is my newest sponsor this month, cooking up spell-binding selections in gloss, lip color and bewitching eye shadows. All natural, handmade and not tested on animals. Pop over to Hex Potions and sit a spell.

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Trunk of Dresses never fails to make us swoon with her bedazzling array of vintage dresses, which seem to be straight out of those dreamy fashion catalogs. Hurry! Save 15% at Trunk of Dresses with code VACASALE until May 19th!

1940s Cold Weather Wardrobe Sewing

For Mother's Day, Pj ordered a copy of the new Wearing History trouser and overall pattern, which will arrive this afternoon or tomorrow. I desperately need to sew some pants for this fall and winter. I really wanted some more swing trousers and I needed the durability of jeans too so this pattern has everything a girl needs, all wrapped up in one!

 I wore my Heyday trousers constantly this winter and am really surprised at how well they are still holding up after all of the washing and wearing. They still look brand new! However, a girl really needs more than one pair of pants and since I'm such a funny shape, I decided to sew my own stock pile of jeans and trousers this summer so I'd have plenty of options when the weather gets colder. 

To go along with my trousers and jeans, I want to sew a fabulous 1940's jacket. I already have a couple of originals that I am madly in love with but most of them are lighter fabrics. After seeing Tasha's stunning Sew for Victory jacket, I decided to finally take on the project and sew my own jacket too!

I ordered this pattern from lisaanne1960  this morning. Sewing wintery things in the summer is a great idea because fabric stores have all of those beautiful (and expensive) woolly fabrics on sale when it's 90 something degrees out.

Here are a few more gorgeous jacket patterns currently available on etsy

here

here

here

Do you like to sew your own hard-to-find wardrobe staples? What projects are you working on this summer?

Shop Art Deco Dame

I've been loving Art Deco Dame's Shop since I found her blog ages ago. Desiree stocks everything a vintage girl could dream of-- home decor, accessories, clothes and jewelry- even dressings for the fella, all very reasonably priced as well.

I really had fun writing this post, picking my favorites but it wasn't easy narrowing it down to four from each category because there's so many pretty things to see! Check out Art Deco Dame on etsy for all of the lovely things. For the latest updates and Desiree's adventures in vintage, see her elsewhere. Also, readers save 15% this month with code "vavoom"

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Art Deco Dame is a sponsor of Va-Voom Vintage