Everyone's A Critic

Hello again everyone! I know I've posted a lot today, but being a graphic designer, I do spend a lot of my time on the computer 0:) I have been improving on the website I created for my fiance, who is venturing into the field of film. I would love it if anyone reading this post could visit the site and tell me if they run into any problems. I only have a mac, and am unsure how it will appear on different browsers and systems, so I would really appreciate the help. Any comments about the overall design are welcome too! Thank you!

Thrift Store Finds

So today I stopped by some thrift stores and found a bunch of things I thought I would share. I'm really excited about putting together outfits from some of the clothes I found.

One thing I always look for is wooden hangers—I hope to eventually convert my whole closet and not have to use ugly plastic ones anymore :P I thought the Santa pin was adorable—I'm only sad I have to wait to Christmas to wear it. The earrings are pretty clever, since it seems as though they were handmade by attaching an earring piece to a sofa button! (plus, I really like the pattern). And finally, I had been on the lookout for some plastic bracelets; I was inspired by Solanah on her Vixen Vintage blog. They add some color and a playful modern flair to a vintage look.

Penny Loafing Around

Here is my outfit today! Very casual and vintage inspired, though not quite authentic. Besides those LOFT skinny jeans I'm wearing, pretty much everything about this outfit has been thrifted from the red polka-dot shirt down to the penny-loafer-esque shoes (the best part is that they have Dr. Scholls built in!). My earrings are from a wonderful woman I met on ebay who sells vintage jewelry with the username "windsinger." And the ring was a gift from my Granny several years ago.

 

 

Message In A Bottle

I came across this article just now—what an amazing story!

Stumbled Upon

Back when I was in web design class, I stumbled upon (and no, I don't mean that random search engine) this one particular website that really stood out to me. Long afterward, I went to find that website and realized that I hadn't saved it anywhere and had nothing more to type into Google than "retro TV website." Still, I searched insatiably.

Amazingly, yesterday I was reading an article about how graphic designers have been incorporating 'vintage' into their designs and...there it was!

I recommend visiting this website because it is the most amazing site I've ever seen. The company was established by the collaboration of a graphic and product designer, which from what I can see, must be a match made in heaven.

Also, I thought I would share my outfit today. I was so excited this morning when I took out my curls because yesterday I went and got a hair cut! Well, all of them actually. (lol) The dress and shoes are from The Attic Door (a consignment store in Tinley Park) and the sweater is from Forever21. 

Kitschens

Since I mentioned how I love to plan for my future kitchen, I decided to show some photos of my inspirations. I love bright colors, Fiestaware, and checkerboard floors. I also am hoping one day to have one of those old fashioned Frigidaire or Smeg refrigerators. So far, I am planning the wall color to be either a soft yellow-green or aqua and having the cabinets white, with chrome and red accents. Anyway, you'll get an idea once you see my inspiration!

Horse of a Different Curler

Last night I bought a curling iron just to test it out. It took much longer than I anticipated and the curls are not nearly as robust or permanent. The ringlets are very elegant though--much more smooth than I have been able to achieve with bobby pins. I think it would look better with shorter hair since mine is so straight, especially at the top half. I love the way the bangs curled though, and will probably keep using it for that. Below is a picture of how it turned out.

My makeup is not too complicated here, but I thought I would like to share a really great 1950s tutorial for anyone interested. Anyway, here's my best silly pose :)

A Silk Dress and Some Super Bowls

 Here is what I'm wearing to church today. I love this dress because it is so elegant. I can wear it with a sweater or simply with gloves--depending on the weather (which means today it will definitely be the sweater...and a coat!) Looking at this, I'm realizing that one thing I'm missing is some nice hats. That's on my list. ;)

Oh and I love this necklace; it's made from a typewriter key! I got mine at a local shop called "Etc." but you can find them on etsy too at places like this. 

Also, the other day, I was at a thrift store and I saw this lovely set of bowls. I had seen it there a few times before and it caught my eye, but this time I finally bought it. And it was most definitely worth it--I ended up getting a set of 5 for only a dollar! For some reason, I find that I enjoy decorating my future kitchen the most. I am planning on it being very colorful to say the least. :) 

Plaid Skirt & Pincurls

Here is an outfit that I would typically wear. I bought the skirt at a vintage store in Auburn, Alabama, and the rest was found at thrift stores (except the purse which I found yesterday and the headband which is from Forever21) 

For my hair, I've been following the pin-curling technique from this video, just without the styling. It's much easier to do than I thought and the more I do it, the more I get the hang of it. The only downside is having to sleep on all those bobby pins! 

Also, I'm really excited because I ordered a new pair of glasses, so not only will I soon be able to see again (!) but I think they compliment my face well and go up a bit on the edges, which gives them a vintage look. I can't wait! 

The Intergalactic Diner

Today I thought I would post an example of how the 1950s era has influenced my design. For my senior project, I created a restaurant called The Intergalactic Diner and had to design the overall identity. I was inspired by children's books and space-related illustrations from the time, which was a very common theme due to the space race. Here are some photos of things included in my design:

 

 

 

In Estate of Mind

I've been a frequent thrift store shopper for awhile now, but it wasn't until last weekend that I went to my first estate sale. I since have been going a bit estate sale crazy, once I realized all the treasures you can find and at amazing prices. I live near the Chicago area, and have found that the ones closer to the city are usually filled with some amazing pieces. Today I stopped by two, one which was very pricey but the other was a little too good! I probably bought too much! 0:) Anyway, I thought I would share a few pictures of some of the things I found. 

And to explain a few--I was excited about the strainer because that's the color I'm planning my future kitchen to be. :) The gavel is definitely to silence my future children when they are disturbing the peace! (lol) As far as the apron goes, it has two large pockets, each with a drawing like the one shown above. I loved the illustrations, especially the grumpy farmer which made me laugh. Also, I bought that box below the lamp because I loved the design on it, but does anyone know what it was made for? It doesn't seem large enough to be a hat box, but I wasn't sure. It was the perfect size in my opinion, but I am still curious to know. 

And finally, as a side note, I apologize for the horrible quality of the photos--as of now, I have nothing better to take them with than my 1.3 megapixel phone. Hopefully I will get something a little better soon!  

"What! You too?"

Let me start by saying that I am not an expert in vintage by any means. I have always had a taste for old-fashioned styles (particularly the 1950s) whether it be decor, clothing, or advertising. I know what I like and that is usually the extent of my knowledge. But I thought I would share my ideas and finds with others perhaps to learn more about those things or even to be able to share similar tastes. It was C.S. Lewis who said "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one." Perhaps we can inspire and encourage each other to continue to seek out those vintage treasures and have fun while we're at it! :)