Today in California

It is cool and rainy (or at least overcast) and it is lovely! I get to wear pants and this cute little '60s-esque jacket that I too often forget. Today's weather also is allowing me to further appreciate the haircut I just gave myself. 

As with most of my haircuts, it started off as a trim. And then I decided to keep going, attempting to understand the techniques used by professionals to thin-out and shape my coarse locks. I also was constantly checking and re-checking my stash of hair-inspiration on Pinterest to reassure myself that shorter is better. I know that there is a lot left to be desired when it comes to my hair; the color is off and so poorly dyed (about 25% looks more grey than blonde because I have zero understanding of how bleach works,) and it really is just too thick to ever look exactly the way I want it to. But it's acceptable, by my standards, and I guess that's all the matters. 

I must admit, I was nice to wake up and NOT look like Gohan. 

Yay for ignorant hair dying/cutting and cool faux-mineral earrings (christmas gift from Emily)

Favorite non-heirloom ring  from Ann Taylor (I think)

 The jacket is from Old Navy, but I got it from Goodwill for 8 dollars about a year ago. I almost never wear it, but I think now that I don't have red hair I will be using it more often.

Pants... I love these. They are comfy and such a cute pattern. Plus I got them for like 6 or 7 bucks! (JC Penny)

Also, I find it hilarious that I actually thought I would blog over spring break.... My mom was in town the whole time and we went and saw so many places I didn't even have time to study for geology or german, let along compile pictures and thoughts for a post.

I hope you all are having a lovely final weekend of March! 

xGracie

An Update of Insignificant Proportions

Howdy Y'all,

Things on the home front have been busy and hectic and I haven't really had a chance to get my thoughts together enough to compose a good post, but alas I am going to at least say "hi" and Happy New Year! And I hope all of you have made promises you cant keep but somehow become the people you want to be anyway. Jocularities. But seriously, if you did make resolutions I hope they are positive and attainable and that your every hope and dream may come to be reality.

Here are a few of my "resolutions" (but really I am just making lists of things I can improve so that I feel a little more alive now that I'm living on a very isolated little island)
- Take more photos
- Pet the cat
- Learn to bake something new (at least) bimonthly
- Learn a shit-ton more about film and history
- Write a fan letter to Robert Osbourne
- Sew only what needs to be sewn (meaning of "needs" is flexible)
- Paint my nails more often
- Got to more museums and libraries
- Meet attractive Citadel Boys (just sayin.)
- Learn how to play the ukulele properly.
- Reread The Hobbit before the film comes out
- Read more, in general (psht as if that's going to happen)
- Floss
and most importantly (but not really, because, frankly I think flossing is probably the most important thing on that list) Do more outfit posts on le blog!

So... to attempt to begin fulfilling one resolution, I give you todays attire:

1940s black velvet hat I got in Cardiff, Wales for something like 12 pounds.
1950s (I believe) blouse I got as a gift from my sister.
Black skirt handmedown from my aunt.

And then me and my little Brownie camera which I adore. I mostly just put this one up because you can kind of see how I did my hair (as in: not down for once!)

Happy days are here again!
Cheers,
Gracie

Weekend Update

 The Wedding clothes

rehearsal dinner:
my first (and only) time wearing ALL vintage.

40s Coat from Etsy
30s shoes from Eee

40s peach dress from a shop in Savannah
early 50s bullet bra
50s girdle
50s (I think?) nylon stockings
and amazingly non-vintage hair.

Wedding:

my sister in a beautiful late 40s dress she wouldnt let me take a picture of

stupid 80s dress with alterations

Ill be back with some questions about international travel soon, so be prepared. this will be graded.
oh on that note; schooooooooooool's out for winter! oh yeah, I'm happy.
- gee

The End is Nigh!

I'm not talking about the end of the world, by the way.

My semester is almost over.

Eek/ick/crap. I have a month of classes left and sooooo much work to do, so if I go missing, as Emily has, don't be too worried. More likely than not, though,  I will be using the blog as a means of procrastination. Yep, I'm still doing that.

Anyway, because the quarter is coming to a close I am getting antsy about getting my trip to the UK worked out. I'll be there for three weeks and as excited as I am, I am also scared beyond belief. It's not like I'm going to be alone, Emily and I are rejoining to run a muck in a new country (or two!) but still, travel is nerve-racking.

Mostly I'm just worried about not being able to travel lightly enough... I am not know for my ability to simplify my wardrobe. I like options. Leave me alone.

So far my plan is to pack 4 (warm) skirts, two pairs of trousers, several blouses/unders/stockings (because they can be packed very tightly), rain boots, walking shoes (which I do not own...), maybe a dress, and MAYBE a pair of heels (because I desperately want to go to fancy things and I love heels more than the world).

An outfit I will most likely end up packing. Bad idea? The only reason I think it might be is because I could wear this fairly comfortably in Savannah's "fall" (aka warm) weather... Maybe with wool stockings/tights I'll be better suited.
Top & skirt: Goodwill (Atlanta)
Shoes: antique store (Madison)
Clip: Walmart (Charleston)

Soldier Blues - Five Days of Being Blue

Salutations,

This weekend was magnificent. I went to my moms (Again, I know. I need to stop) and did some baking and sewing and it was all grand. As a part of my weekend I went to my cousins school for a parade they held. He goes to a military college so it's mostly boys which I find sort of amazing and awesome (to a girl who goes to an art school, this is a big deal, at least) and hotdog! did they look good in their uniforms. I mean they look REALLY good. Forgive me, for sounding shallow and petty, but I am very frank about these things. Anyway, so the whole time I was just ogling the band members. I believe my favorite (a trumpet player, no less!) spotted me trying to take sneaky from-the-hip pictures...

Hunky band boys looking sharp in their wool dress coats and pants. Poor boys, it was quite toasty out that day.

I LOVE bagpipes. My cousin is going to be in the pipe band soon enough! I also really love that they wear kilts!

And Then I Fell in a Manhole...

The past 30 hours have been... rough, to say the least. I had an architecture project that required MUCH more time to do than I imagined. In constructing it I got a T-pin painfully stuck under my nail. I ended up not sleeping more than three hours last night (really this morning) and it was an uneasy rest. My critique for said project was weak. I was unprepared for the class that followed the architecture one. And to make today a little eventful I managed to fall into a manhole.
Yes, a manhole. And let me tell you, doing that is nothing like modern Alice and Wonderland stories would have you believe.

You have no idea how many runs are really in these tights. Especially on the inner leg, but that made for a very awkward picture and the internet and I are not ready for that phase of our relationship (or ever will be).

Really, only my right leg got sucked into what I am sure is secretly a vortex to an alternate universe, but phrasing it the right way makes the whole fiasco sound much more exciting.

Euphonic Earworms: Poor You AND an Outfit Post... You Lucky Dog, You

Howdy ho!

I would like to share with you a song that Emily introduced me to a while ago. From the first listen I was hooked.
I don't really know what in particular about this song and this rendition, specifically, that I love, but I think it may be one of my favorite songs. I simply love it. So, so very much. It is one of those songs that just plays over and over in my mind and I have yet to get sick of it. I love Judy Garland (not nearly as much as Emily, though. She is like the Judy Garland aficionado of the South. Or maybe just in general... I dunno) and I love how her voice sounds in this version. And the mood of it. And the composition. Just everything.

Sorry for that terrible explanation, I just cannot express my feeling well right now.
Probably be cause I'm quite hopped up on honey. "Why?" you ask. This is why:

That Fur

I love fur.

That is all I have to say, other than a quick "hello" and "goodbye", for I am a master of procrastination and need to actually get some homework done tonight....

So, HI!!!!
and here: the fur I love most right now.

A crappy attempt at coloring this photo. You can see the original version on this post.

This coat can also be seen worn by Ana here.

and worn by me...  looking suuuuuper awkward.

Have a nice day,

Gracie

The Cat and the Berry .... A Grand Reunion.

If you read the "It" post (which you probably didn't) you might know that for the past two weeks Emily and I have been together wreaking havoc on our hometown. In the case you didn't then, I feel obliged to inform you  that this has been the first time in four and a half months she and I have seen each other in person, so we have been far too busy enjoying being together to sit down and write a post about our time. Sadly our time here (in Atlanta) is coming to close. I go back to my mother's house and then school, and Emily leaves for Ol' Blighty for school.

We figured we should do at least one proper post together while we have the chance. Forgive us if you find it appallingly long and unnecessary, but honestly, this is more for us than anything else. I won't bore you with the details of our hometown adventures (especially since they were mostly mundane), but I will bombard this post with photos of  what we did. Also, as a treat for you lot, you finally get to see Emily's beautiful self! I know you're very excited to see this mystery woman, but simultaneously concerned that all of your illusions while be shattered by reality, but believe me you'll love her and wonder why she never put up any of her beautiful outfits and hair do's on the blog before. ((Emily's Edit: Ha.))

Emily wrote the photo captions:

Some of our friends (Gee in the back, me behind the camera) at a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner.  

Gee in her new (via Goodwill) purple Jean Harlow-eqsue skirt. We went to see "One Day" in theaters with a  friend, who hated it, but we liked it. 

Me in my beloved green pom-pom skirt and my new-to-me peasant blouse. We didn't get a good shot of the shoes, but they're wooden carved wedges!

Crystal Springs, Mississippi & Outfit Post

 Last weekend my dad and I went over to a town called Crystal Springs to visit the Robert Johnson Blues Museum, but as my luck would be, it was closed. So instead we walked around one of the streets with pretty old houses still around and I took some shots. I would have taken more, but I got really horrid blisters on my feet and it was like 1000 degrees out so I called it quits pretty early.

Incredibly pretty house in C.S. Probably my favorite, but not just because it's huge.

Playing Catch-Up

Hey guys, it's Gracie. I feel like such a crap blogger... because I am. And for that I'm sorry. Since I have nothing of significance to say all I have to offer this post is some of the outfit pictures I've been taking the past couple of weeks. Forgive my facial expressions and my lack of authentic vintage clothes.

Dress from Goodwill and my Steve Madden Inga shoes.

One of the dresses my gran bought for me and beautiful (but falling apart) 40s shoes.

All I Want is Loving You and Desserts, Desserts, Desserts

Howdy'do, folks!

Gracie here to talk to you about (okay, mostly to show you) my fantastic treat-filled weekend with my mommy. I am lucky enough to go to school only two hours away from her house so I go there (too) frequently.  This weekend was the first I actually did some of what I had hoped to, however, so I am really really happy. Obviously.


So, first things first: DESSERTS.

This weekend I made two batches of ice cream and, consequently, two friggin' fantastic types of frozen goodies. If you want recipes let me know!

1) Chocolate covered strawberry ice cream bites.

this picture sucks, I know, but it's the only one I took of the finished product. Dumb me.

2) Mint ice cream-chocolate chip cookie sandwiches

I know the internet really downgrades the impressiveness of baking, but trust me, these were awesome. And I am generally very critical about my work, so you can have faith that these were actually good.

Next thing: Outfit post numero dos!

Today I wore all modern clothes!!! IT WAS MADNESS. Not really....
And, okay, when I say "modern clothes" I mean that they were made in the last few years by big manufacturers that sell modern styled clothes to lots and lots of people who often over look the more classic styles being sold. And I have no problem with wearing clothes like this if they look nice (which I think they do!) so, in that regard I am not a snob, but if we start in on the topic of other modern clothes... well, that's when I'll get a little pompous and mean and angry. So, lets save that for another day, shall we?

Anyway, since I actually left the house today (I had nothing left to bake...) to go see "Water For Elephants" with my mutti, I changed out of my strawberry-and-chocolate-covered '50s dress into this outfit.

The baby in my arms is Pi. She's pleasantly plump and the source of many-a-asthma attack of mine. But I love her.

Top: Anthropologie. (Oh how I miss having gifts cards for the lovely place)
Jeans (my only pair, mind you!) are hand-me down Lucky Brand. I think they're meant for boys though, since I got them from my cousin and I don't think he cross-dresses, though I could be wrong.
Loafers: Goodwill
The weird belt (which happens to be the only one I had with me) is a hand-me-down from my aunt.

In other exciting news, I finally invested in quality lipstick and liner. I had never owned lip liner before last friday, but now I don't know that I can go on without it. I bought MAC brand because I have heard/read really good things about it, it was not super-pricey (though it did cost over twice as much as what I paid previously.... I'm just really frugal, I guess) they have a color in matte finish that I really like (Russian Red), and it doesn't have the highest lead content, so I won't die as soon. I hope. I also finally replaced the eye liner my sister stole from me. So that was fun.
I was also really happy with how my hair turned out today, despite several preliminary un-victorious victory rolls this morning.

Gardenias in my hair always smell so nice and remind me of one of the songs Keira Knightly sings in "Edge of Love"

That's enough of my uninteresting mess of a weekend. Hope you lot had a great one!!

So long for now,

Gee

Let's Get Some Balls Rolling!

- or rather, let’s get this ball (blog...) rolling. I am more than anxious to get going on posts. I thought it would be nice to start with an outfit post because I know those are always my favorite part of reading other blogs! (unless there is cooking/baking mentioned... those might be my real favorite... it’s a really hard choice.) Anyway, so yesterday I wore one of my favorite tops which happens to be a sweater-blouse, and that was... well, really dumb actually. Why? Because I live in the south. Where it is hot and humid everyday. Okay, not really everyday, but most, including yesterday. Especially at this time of year. And it will only get worse as we get into summer. Thankfully the only time I go outside is to get to classes and that usually doesn’t take that much time. But alas, I managed to get all gross-sticky feeling anyway. Regardless, I wore it and after the too hot bus trip to class I was glad to have it on, for it kept me warm in my glacial-esque class, despite it being short sleeved. 

I got it on a Goodwill trip over my spring break with Emily. She is actually the one who found it but she said her boobs were too small for it to look good, so naturally I got to try it on. And I LOOOVE it. It’s got the cutest pattern on the top and the color is so lovely. and it’s soft, which is always a good thing, right? So here it is, in all of it’s purple glory along with an A-line skirt, also picked up at goodwill (different trip, though), my new (to me) sandals from Etsy, and my not at all vintage jewelry. The thimble necklace I made a few years ago and the button charm bracelet I got for my 18th birthday.  

So yes, this is a taste of how I look/dress daily. I, like many of you, am frequently asked if I am going to be in some sort of production or doing a project. And by those who have begun to recognize me as "that weird vintage girl" I am asked about why I do it. I don’t think I need to explain myself on here right now, but I might at a later point. The questions that astound me the most are the ones that are inaccurate. Like when people see me and ask "Why 1920s?" .... I mean I get not knowing the differences between the 1820s and the 1840s if you're not an expert, but the 1900s was so recent, how could someone not know the difference between any of the decades? Plus there is so much recorded from that time and so so so much reproduced and represented in films and TV and such. I guess I forget sometimes that just because knowing stuff like that is important to me doesn't mean it is to other people. I also forget how bad most schools are about teaching kids about recent history. It's pathetic really. Blerg, sorry for the rant! It just really gets my goat. 

On another note, please forgive my crap lipstick, I didn’t have time to fix it since I didn’t know how long my roommate would be sleeping. Yes, I took these sneakily whilst she snoozed the afternoon away, to avoid awkwardness. She already thinks I photograph my drying underwear (a long, unrelated story. maybe I'll tell it someday...) I don’t need anymore reason for her to think I’m into weird picture shenanigans. 

Well, That's all for now. I'm off to finish my sculpture project... or at least attempt such.

Until next time, farewell and have a pleasant tomorrow.

- Gracie

yep, my legs really are that lovely corpse color. 

detail of my necklace and top.