Outfits of the Weekend: Dixiefried and more Heartbreaker

I’ve been feeling kinda mediocre lately, so it was nice to score two fairly successful outfits this weekend. Hell, last night I even wore makeup! That’s a big deal considering how acne and allergies have been conspiring against me over the past month.

Yesterday evening I wore my new Dixiefried “Cutiepie” dress with leopard trim. It was on sale, and the leopard print is both on-trend for this season and a fun little nod to oldschool Dior. I teamed it with my vintage carnelian jewelry, Claire’s hairflower, old Forever 21 cardigan, and nude BCBG pumps.

The dress is an “extended sizes” 3x, which means it fits like a straight-size 16-18.

Dixiefried "Cutiepie" Dress
Dixiefried "Cutiepie" Dress.

Today, I wore my new Heartbreaker gypsy skirt (1x) with a Torrid bow sweater and accessories you’ve seen before. It’s in the very same “Dandy” print fabric as the Aimee dress I posted previously, also from Heartbreaker. Oh, and something new! A Rachel Leigh bow bracelet in rose gold tone from Ann Taylor Loft. It’s cute, and a portion of the proceeds go to breast cancer research…

Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt
Heartbreaker Gypsy Skirt.
Rachel Leigh Bow Bracelet
Rachel Leigh Bow Bracelet.

Outfit of the day: Heartbreaker!

This photo’s from a couple of weeks ago, but it features the outfit I wore to work yesterday. It’s the Heartbreaker Fashion “Aimee” dress in their “Dandy” print. The fabric features a perky dandelion-gone-to-seed motif on an attractive dusty coral rose background, perfect for our warm California autumns. The dress design itself sports classic 1940s elements, including a sweetheart neckline and a retro A-line skirt. A matching slide belt, my homemade Michael’s hairflower, BCBGeneration patent and suede wedges, and antique cameo polish off the look.

Heartbreaker "Aimee" in Dandy print
Heartbreaker "Aimee" in Dandy print.

Outfit of the Day! Birthday Edition Part Two…

So I promised infos on my second birthday party outfit.  I didn’t get any great pictures from that night ( which was a fun evening on Boatel Queen Mary in Long Beach), but I can show you what I wore!

On Queen Mary, looking (ship)wrecked
On Queen Mary, looking (ship)wrecked. Yes, you can see my corset and bra and my arm looks like it's melting.
Trashy Diva 40s Dress
Trashy Diva 40s Dress - a slightly better view.
Trashy Diva 40s Dress
Trashy Diva 40s Dress - official shot.

My dress is the Trashy Diva 1940s dress in the Olivine Floral fabric.  The colors are perfect and the fit is just divine. I made a pretty purple magnolia hairflower to go with it. The white anchor necklace is also by Trashy Diva – perfect for dinner on a ship!  I didn’t wear the pictured white cardigan, though; instead, I added a light, short-sleeved, 1960s-style spencer jacket in a black jacquard fabric that I’d found at Lane Bryant ca. 2007.  A gorgeous vintage rose brooch (a gift from my friend Cynthia!) finished off the jacket perfectly.

 

Lane Bryant retro-style jacquard jacket with vintage brooch
Lane Bryant retro-style jacquard jacket with vintage brooch.

Outfit of the Day! Birthday Edition Part One…

Yesterday, I celebrated my birthday with my parents and my good friend Teri.  We went to Trader Vic’s in Emeryville, my favorite restaurant in the whole world!

I wore my Bettie Page Clothing “Surprised” dress from their Gil Elvgren pinup line, pearl necklace and screwback earrings that my mother and grandmother purchased in Japan in 1966, a hairflower I made from a Sally’s banana clip and a Michael’s silk special, my suede-and-patent Sofft bow pumps (which you can’t see here), and my beaded 1950s Saks Fifth Avenue clutch purse (which I blogged about last year).

Surprised!  Birthday dress!
Surprised! Birthday dress!

Next weekend, another party!  I’m not sure what I’ll be wearing, but I’ll definitely share here after all is said and done!  😀

Outfit of the Day!

For some time, I’ve been wanting to share “OotDs” (Outfits of the Day) on this blog.  The trouble is, it’s usually really difficult for me to get a good enough quality photo to post.  Lack of a decent full-length mirror (in a spot with enough light) is the main problem.  At any rate, today I managed to get a workable shot while out and about at Ann Taylor Loft.

I wore a 1940s-style print dress by B&Lu, a red belt by Bettie Page Clothing, vintage carnelian jewelry, Claire’s hairflower, Sofft sandals on mega clearance from ShoeStation, and shades by Juicy Couture.  It was a comfortable ensemble for shopping on a hot day, and it looked cute, too!

Outfit of the Day
Outfit of the Day

Yes, I realize that my purse – which happens to be powerfully cute and cost me only $14 at TJ Maxx – doesn’t match my oufit.  I can deal with it, and so can you.  😛

Cindy’s Birthday Tea

This past weekend, I went back down to OC for my friend Cindy’s birthday. It was a wonderful few days! For her party, a group of us went to the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano, the same place Cindy and I went back on November 1. Here are a couple of photos from the event…

Cindy and Kali at tea
Cindy and Kali in Edwardian costume at the Tea House on Los Rios in San Juan Capistrano on February 7, 2009.
Cindy, Kali, and Haydee at tea
Cindy, Kali, and Haydee at tea.

Cindy wore a mid-Edwardian dress she made herself. I wore my 1912 tea/luncheon gown (made by Tracie) and the 1911ish “Lunardi revival” hat I’d put together for the GBACG “My Fair Lady” event last August.

Fun in OC: My new 1880 gown

A new gown! Or is it? Actually, it’s a new variation on an old theme of mine: Winona Ryder’s Newport archery ensemble from Martin Scorsese’s 1993 Age of Innocence adaptation.

Ensemble from the film.
Ensemble from the film.

The ensemble is fiercely cute, with little faux pannier-looking things radiating out over the hips from a shirred panel on the skirtfront and layers of eyelet ruffles cascading down the skirt.  It’s a little reminiscent of the gown on the left in this French fashion plate from the early 1880s:

Natural Form Eyelet
Early 1880s natural form gowns.

My friend Tracie Arnold of Past & Present Creations made the fresh iteration of my original, beloved version of this gorgeous natural-form era ivy dress.  The first dress – constructed by Victoria Riddenour, hand-embroidered by me, and photographed beautifully by Lani Teshima – had become too small to even THINK about wearing.

I wore the new ensemble to San Juan Capistrano on Halloween weekend, where my pal Cindy and I had tea and generally caroused around the old town area.  Cindy wore a beautiful, embroidered black velvet ball gown that she’d made for Bat’s Day.

Kali in 1880s natural form eyelet ensemble, photographed by Cindy
Kali in 1880s natural form eyelet ensemble, photographed by Cindy.
Kali and Cindy in old San Juan Capistrano
Kali and Cindy in old San Juan Capistrano.

Outfit notes: The straw skimmer is a Victoria Riddenour original.  My corset is Denise Nadine‘s late Victorian “Nettie” style.  I made the combination undergarment (which you can’t see) from Truly Victorian’s 1876 combination pattern (TV105).  My garnet earrings are from Lacis.