vintage street style

life magazine sponsored by time.com is running a collection of photos featuring high schoolers' fashion choices in the year 1969.  it's pretty awesome and worth checking out.  view the slideshow here.

'vintage' is not the same as 'twee'

the internet, much like william shakespeare, has a remarkable way of transforming the english language.  take the adjective 'pretentious.'  until recently, the word was used to describe excessively unjustified statements, but after enough angry internetters (pretentiously) misused the term to mean "rude in a smart-sounding way," the online dictionaries have added a second definition to mean something along the lines of "showy and ostentatious."

nowadays, etsy, pinterest, bhldn, and modcloth have taken the internet by storm to gradually change the word "vintage."  now, i am far from a thrifting queen.  i no longer scour the hip second-hand stores for chic vintage finds the way some other amazing bloggers do.  but i've noticed over time, and when searching for a "something old" to wear at my wedding, the term "vintage" no longer means, well, "vintage."  nowadays it seems to exist as a synonym for "stylish, sentimental somewhat distressed, rustic, anthropologie-approved cute."  once upon a time, it was oxymoronic to say "make this DIY vintage brooch."  nowadays it is simply an extra word to reassure you your lacy burlap something or other is adequately precious.

alas, this post isn't so much a critique as an observation.  it's not really that hard to change my search keywords from 'vintage' to 'antique.'  still, much like one's inner child, i possess an inner senior citizen who sighs in vague disappointment when i see that we're even co-opting everyday language to better suit our throwaway culture.  want a vintage band tee shirt?  don't worry, we've got forever 21 sweat shops who can make you one for $15.80.  now get your adorable, brand new vintage chelsea crew oxfords off my lawn.

hair! (not the nudist musical)

now that we're actually planning a real live wedding, i feel like anybody who follows me on pinterest knows exactly where my head is at every step of the process.  speaking of where my head is going to be (hopefully on top of my neck) the latest decision making process has involved selecting a hairdo.

i've been growing out my hair ever since getting a pixie cut in february of 2010.  i'll admit i miss short hair (my favorite style to wear is a layered bob) but since committing to growing a long mane for maximum updo options it's finally coming down to the moment of truth.

you can probably tell that there's something of a pattern among the options i like the most.  since our wedding is a bit of a mad men / rat pack era vintage night club theme i like the modified victory roll combined with the embellished pin curls.  i've never had my hair done professionally in my entire life (i was always the one doing my own and friends' hair for high school prom and such) so i'm awfully excited to play pretty princess dress up!

which is your favorite?

wedding inspiration collage

cool alert: david parise's vintage barbie and ken photography

now that steve and i are officially going to be moving in together, it is difficult for me to describe the immensity of my decorating urges.  for now i have been able to resist buying every jamie young lamp and caitlin wilson throw pillow, but once we actually get used to the space all bets are off.

a few of my more loyal readers might remember when i walked you through my little baby collection of fine art.  well yesterday i found an artist whose work i cannot wait to add to my collection.  david parise is a photographer whose vintage barbie and ken prints are adorably humorous and wonderfully creative.

i think i'll have the willpower to wait until we actually move (we will definitely have less wall space than my current place, which means i may not have the room for additional wall art) but if we have the room for barbie and ken i am going to have some tough decision making to do. look at how many amazing shots he has:

check out david parise's portfolio and shop here!

have a lovely hump day!

we are what we walk between

happy hump day!  it feels very good to be halfway through this week!

things are still hectic as expected around here, but i'm excited to tell you all about it once everything gets into  place. a few fun things that we've been smiling about lately:

1.  my little etsy vintage shop had it's first sale... and then it had another one!  i'm currently on the look-out for more vintage pieces to put in the store!

2.  pedestrians have abandoned ann arbor (aka all the students went home for the summer) which means i can actually drive from point a to point b again!  (on the minus side, this means the shady people who flock to ann arbor in the summer are starting to come out of their open sewer pipes...boo).

3.  bert, the weirdest cat in the world who prefers to eat popcorn over chicken, has finally found a toy he likes!  peacock feathers forever!

4.  sun sun and more sun!  i cannot get enough of this lovely weather!

hope everyone makes it through the second half of the week!
<3<3<3

new items in the vintage shop

i have some great new finds listed in the vintage shop!  check these out!

antique 1920's working typewriter

antique solid silver alloy teapot

vintage 1970's enamel soap dish

vintage 1970's wooden bar sign

head over here to my shop on etsy or just click the "shop" tab at the top of this page!

i'm opening a vintage store!

i am a bit of a hoarder at heart.  i have always loved collecting things ever since i was a little kid.  my brother used to religiously collect licence plates and i remember wanting to buy literally everything i could see at the flea markets we would stop at on the hunt for licence plates.  when it came time for me to furnish my first apartment, steve and i went antiquing and i just loved looking through all the junk and the treasures.

i have been getting such good feedback on the vintage finds i track down on etsy i recently made a decision.  i love decorating interiors and finding steals on incredible antiques.  remember when i said i had a little announcement yesterday?  well i have officially opened up a vintage shop on etsy!  merchandise will be added as i find great vintage pieces that i know would look great in someone's home.

to visit the shop visit this link or just click on the "shop" tab at the top of this page.  so what do you think?  this is a big project i'm really looking forward to, but i need your help!  what's your favorite item in the shop?  what kind of vintage items would you like to see me sell in the future?  below are some of the deals i have listed already.  stop by and let me know what you think!

1950's recipe tin $14

1920's wood cigar box $25

1970's milk glass vase $7

1970's stoneware sugar bowl and creamer $15

vintage etsy style finds

antique moroccan brass camel // antique french copper cookware // 

antique brass mirror with accordian arm // antique silver teapot necklace// 1920's starlight floor globe 

etsy style finds

  

tear drop statement ring // antique tibetan tiger rug // antique phrenology bust sculpture // 

handmade wooden sunglasses // 1896 original lithograph - celestial bodies