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Google Reader is meeting an untimely death soon. So if that's how you feed your blog addiction, here's a friendly reminder of all the other nifty social media networks with which you can follow along.

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Let's be Twitter pals too!

The 1940's and Our Late 20's

I'm glad my husband tells me I look like a 40's movie star when I wear my $5 dress found at a pile sale. I'm also glad that 1940's silhouettes are having a fashion moment right now. The 40's shape is friendly to a woman in her late 20's. It's sexy but modest. Chic...but basic enough to make one's own; which I attempted to do here with purple sunglasses, bright lips and a gold collar necklace.

In 1939 the war changed everything including fashion. Designers stopped designing. There were restrictions on amounts of fabric women could buy. Adornments were frowned upon. Because of the war, fashion became all about DIY. Improvising. Reworking what you had in your closet to create something fresh and new.

Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure my entire LIFE is having a 40's moment right now.
Aside from the whole frowning on adornments thing.

As I get closer to my 30's the blue prints of my future are becoming more visible. Tell me I'm not the only one who is just now starting to sort things out. (And by sort things out, I mean start to freak out I'm not where I thought I'd be at this point in my life). I find myself taking pieces (skills) in my closet (skill set?) and figuring out how to utilize them to build towards my goals. You're welcome, world, for that genius metaphor! Since moving to LA, J and I have certainly had to learn to improvise. And the expense of living out here has forced us to flex our DIY muscles more than once or twice.

A real wartime effort, y'all. 

But women in the 40's ended up doing some pretty rad stuff: headscarves, military style, wearing mens suits aaaaaaaand a little thing called THE ALL AMERICAN GIRLS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE, bitch! A sports entity which was the inspiration for the best chick flick/best sports movie of all time: A League of Their Own. So I guess the moral of the story is these wartime gals, out of their scrapping and improvising, created a beautiful movement in history. One worth replicating.

With that in mind, at this some what uncomfortable transitional period in life called "my late 20's" I have to keep telling myself two things:

1. Ya' gotta have faith that everything you have to do for yourself...all of your improvising, will pay off and the end and one day, you will look back on this time endearingly.

2. There's no crying in baseball.

{Dress: Pile Sale. ModCloth has some awesome 40s style dresses: Here, here and here}

{Shoes: Old (similar)}

{Glasses: Venice boardwalk (similar)}

{Neck: F21 (similar)}

Stuart Weitzman Sandals · Topshop Cocktail Dresses · Urban Decay Lip Gloss

Vinyl Veekend: Bob Dylan's Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid

When Jonathan and I first met he gifted me 4 albums on vinyl. Among them was the Bob Dylan soundtrack to Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid. I never knew Bob Dylan composed a soundtrack, but this album quickly topped my lists of both favorite soundtracks AND favorite Bob Dylan albums.

Because it's full of folky lullabies like Billy 1 and Knockin' On Heaven's Door and gorgeous guitar instrumentals like Bunkhouse Theme, me and J used to fall asleep together listening to this soundtrack. Eventually I walked down the aisle at our wedding to the first song on the album, which you can listen to below.

If you have any affinity for folk music, the wild west, Bob Dylan or really just a soul in general.... you are gonna wanna pick up this album. And then listen to it. Over and over.

Homegirl Heroes: Emma

I bonded with Emma over cigarettes and the topic of vintage clothing on one of my first nights living in LA. I remember thinking how pretty she was when an Australian accent came spilling out of her mouth as she spoke. It took strength not to roll my eyes. Psssh. Gorgeous AND she has an accent.

She's more than easy on the eyes, though. Emma recently wrapped shooting her first short film, Grace, which she just so happened to write, direct and produce (I helped her out with photos and wardrobe as you may remember from this post). Homegirl's got a keen eye for antiques, and she is ballsy when it comes to rockin' her super rad thrift store finds.

Emma's fuckin' fierce, and I don't mean that in a "Top Model" type of way (although she could be a top model). I more mean it in a "screw with me or my friends and I'll slice you" type of way. Her no-nonsense attitude makes her playful side even more endearing though. She's genuine... and it shines through in her artistic endeavors.

I spent an afternoon closet-digging, shooting, and lounging with Em not too long ago, and decided she would be the perfect guinea pig for this new monthly segment on ol' blog.

Read Emma's interview below.

How did you end up in Los Angeles?

Whilst studying Production Design at film school in Sydney, I found out that upon graduating, I would be eligible for a 12 month student work/travel visa. I was on the plane to LA 3 months after graduation day. That was 2.5 years ago I haven't looked back since.

Of all creative outlets why did you choose film?

I think film chose me really, sounds wanky, but it's true. I was studying Interior Decoration at the time and the head of Design at AFTRS (The Australian Film Television and Radio School) came to lecture us. She spoke about Production Design for film and TV and how it incorporated interiors and furniture and decoration. It wasn't until after her talk that the lightbulb turned on and I realized that was what I was supposed to be doing.

What was the most intimidating part of making your short film, Grace?

Fearing that it would be shit. I feel like I knew I could do it, but I went through ups and downs of self doubt. Apparently that's normal and a sign of wanting to be great, but at the time it's hard to tell those thoughts to shut up. I also feared that I would find out that my film was actually crap and not festival worthy at all, and all this time I thought my idea was good. I guess those feelings faded away gradually throughout the whole filmmaking process. The more it came together.

You obviously have a passion for antique furniture. When did this love affair start? Do you have a early memory with any specific piece?

Good question, I actually have no idea when or how it came about. I don't remember either of my parents having a love affair with furniture or antiques. I do remember always re arranging my room. I loved moving it around to see what it looked like from different angles.    

Vintage furniture and vintage clothing....what do you look for when you're collecting?

Vintage furniture that I love is mainly Mid Century Modern and Victorian. They really go well together. I also love velveteen sofas and chairs. I have found that I have a love of vintage print too, rugs and throws. I love a good bargain. Most of my home is off craigslist or from a thrift store.

Vintage clothing never ceases to amaze me. I couple years ago I was obsessed with vests and leotards. I had over 14 of each at one point. I still have most of them in a box in my Mum's garage in Australia. They will make it over to LA one day. Whilst shopping for thrift vintage now I usually just buy what is practical for me. A little 80's/90's silk top I wear tucked into high waist skirt or pants on a night out, is usually easy to find. My favorite always being an oversized wool cardi, I almost have one in every color :)

With both vintage furniture and clothes I feel like they speak to me, like they need me to love and appreciate them.  I get sad when I see once beautiful pieces broken and damaged on the side of the road or alley. 

Choose a super power. 

If I could have a super power it would be to move things with my mind. I love it in movies when people have this power and they get into a fight with their enemy and they just throw them up against the wall with their mind. Badass. I could think of a few people I would've done that too ;)

What's inspiring you currently?

I think what's inspiring me at the moment is the thought of what the future has in store for me. I have only just began to scrape the surface of what I'm capable of and that's kind of an awesome feeling. 

www.emmalesliefilms.com

Mom Pants that Make You Dance

As I approach my thirties I find myself wondering when I will reach the age at which my affinity for looking like a grandma will no longer be "cute" but more just me....looking out of date. When I'm forty and the vertical nature of my footwear begins to take its toll, how will I modernize my sartorially senior sensibilities?! 

These cobalt pantaloons, made out of what seems to be canvas (?) are not chic and are not really that flattering. I was drawn to them at the thrift store because of some humorous quality they seemed to emit. I do this with many clothing selections. Sporting what is otherwise unflattering 'cause I'm young and my body is presently some-what bangin' (according to my husband, anyway). It amuses me, and it works...for now. 

(Right guys? Nervous laughter. Riiiiiighhhht?). 

When pontificating the future I try to visualize myself as the type of woman that can defeat the tinge of vanity that urges one to wear only what makes her look most attractive. I don't want to be a fupa shaming, all black wearing, sensible shoe-sporting dresser at 50. I want to wear pieces that are unique and beautiful. A chartreuse crushed velvet kimono and giant cat glasses. Not with the intention to draw attention to my crazy, saggy self, but certainly not with the intention to NOT draw attention to my crazy, saggy self. In short: I want to not give a shit in the most stylish way. 

This is why I look at Advanced Style on the daily.

At this point, I will admit that vanity does still get in the way. Every now and then I want to wear something "outlandish" but this silly feeling that the piece is too weird or doesn't make me look feminine enough will deter me from rockin' it. I also think it takes a lot of style sense to make extremely unique pieces work. (Man Repeller is the perfect example of this). I have confidence that as I age I will become better and better at pulling off what ever I want to. For now, these pants make me wanna dance, so I wear them...and I do.

Wearing kimonos and turbans and huge jewelry. Life goals, NBD. 

{Pants and Belt

: Thrifted}

{Shoes: Violet and Red}

{Shirt: NY&Co (15 years old, crazy right?}

{Pelican Earrings: Found at a shell shack in St. Augustine. These are also rad.}

Ladakh Pants · Betsey Johnson Pumps · Asos Belts

Sweltering Style: How to Pack for Hot Climates

Sincere apologies for the lack of updates this past week. Jonathan and I made our way to Texas for work and some and family time. Thankfully I had several photography gigs, and Jonathan had some cartoon voice-over work the same week! 

The Texas thrifting scene is PRIMO, and I miss it now that I'm amongst subpar Cali thrift shops (no offense, surfer dudes). With a copious selections and insane prices like vintage secretary dresses for $2.99, there is plenty in TX to choose from. I knew I was going to need room in my suitcase for the trip home, so I tried to be super thoughtful in packing. Luckily, when traveling to Texas, you don't need many layers! 

Here's how my packing gears grind: 

1. A transitional (day to night) maxi dress READ: ESSENTIAL. I wear maxi dresses on planes for the comfort factor. (However, if you opt out of the death-laser-naked-picture-airport-scanner, the TSA agent gets annoyed with how much fabric she has to finagle). This time I had to go to a party directly from the airport, and with a little freshening up (see lavender oil), and a change from boots to sparkly sandals, BOOM, I was ready to double fist cocktails (it was my mother's work party) and miiiiiiingle, y'all. The next night I wore the same dress to the theater. 

2. Four blouses that match every bottom I pack. Typically I stick to solid colors or simple patterns for my tops, because it's easier to mix and match that way. These blouses can also be used to layer over the maxi dress, and belted at the waist. How's THAT for versatility?! 

3. Printed, high waisted maxi skirts: The BEST for hot weather. Easy, breezy, and day to night transitional. Dress em up, dress em down, hike em up and show some leg while you're enjoying chips, queso and margaritas. God bless Texas. 

4. Because this was mostly a work trip (and when this girl works, this girl squats) I needed cute and appropriate shorts. A textured black short goes with every blouse I brought. I am of the opinion that shorts of an appropriate length are TOTALLY doable for work. Particularly in hotter climates. 

5. Footwear! This is where I stare blankly at the suitcase every time I'm packing. It's hard to choose what footwear to pack because, well, shoes make or break you (maybe that's a little harsh..............actually, it's not. It's the cold hard truth). I always wear boots on the plane because they take up the most space in luggage. A sandal with a pop of color is necessary. I find cobalt blue, red and emerald the most versatile. Finally, a more modern/professional slip-on is ideal for work. You might notice I don't have any heels, but honestly, when trying to save space, an embellished sandal can cut it for dressier occasions. 

6. As far as accessories. I try to stick to the same flavor of metal (gold this time). A delicate necklace, a statement necklace and a small pair gold earrings (with some attitude) is my traveling jewelry trinity. And when making your way to a sweltering spot, a panama hat is prime headgear. Put it over your eyes to sleep on the plane, and protect your peepers from the sun's rays. Plus panama hats go with EVERYTHING. 

7. A swimsuit for swimmin' ! I'm investing in a vintage inspired suit this season fo' sho. 

8. A medium sized brown tote. I avoid packing extra handbags. Every lady should have at least one handbag that goes with nearly everything in her closet. This is important: That handbag should be large enough to pack snacks for the plane. :) A lot of people forget you can bring food from home on the flight! I surprised Jonny with some homemade vegan cookies (my friend made) half way through the flight there and a piece of red velvet cake on the flight back. The man has a sweet tooth. 

More pro-packing tips: Roll your clothes instead of folding, and DON'T skimp on the underpants.  

Alexander Wang Tees · farfetch.com Sleeveless Tops · Dorothy Perkins Long Skirts

How to Wear Tropical Print

{Shirt: Vintage, pile sale find (similar)} {Skirt: thrifted vintage} {Glasses: Similar} {Necklace: F21} 

{Shoes: c/o Charlotte Russe} {Clutch: Abas, old(similar)}

Homer Simpson once famously said, "There are only 2 types of people who wear Hawaiian shirts: gay guys and big fat party animals" Although that may have been the case in the 90's, it is no longer. Although I do kinda consider myself a big fat party animal, it can't be said for the masses sporting the tropical trend now-a-days. 

I have this theory that the "Aloha" trend reared it's ironic little head recently due to economic stress. Who has time to drink Mai Tai's while lounging on a yacht listening to Hall & Oats (traditionally what one is supposed to do when wearing a hawaiian shirt, right?) when there's WORK to do? Most Americans can't afford a tropical vacation, so maybe that lack of ability to put ourselves in a sandy paradise is what led us to dress like we are in one (fashion as escapism, yet again). 

"I'll take my tropical vacation in a size Medium for $15.99, please."

Wanna get a piece of this paradise, but unsure what to pair your tropical prints with? I put together a few ideas at the bottom of this post!

When wearing a bold print it's always safe to go all black with the other pieces in your look:

Karmaloop Sunglasses · ModCloth Sandals · Topshop Dress Pants

Matching your shoes or accessories with a bright floral in your print can easily brighten your day:

Forever 21 Day Dresses · Need Supply Co. Sneakers · Nasty Gal Platforms

Pattern mixing with tropical prints is bold, but with traditional patterns like dots and stripes you can pull off something a little more fashion forward:

Juicy Couture Shortsleeve Tops · Stella Jean Button Front Tops · Delia's Skirts

Whether your print is on top or bottom there's one fabric that makes sporting patterns a breeze: denim/chambray(period)

jcpenney Skirts · Madewell Button Front Tops · J.Crew Factory Skinny Denim

Fashion as Escapism: The Floral Dress

Sometimes we have to deal with grown up stuff. Being a person who talks about/laughs at doo doo on the regular, I'd be lying if I said the grown up stuff didn't have the propensity to really, severely, cry-on-my-bed-and-pout bum me out. It's times like these when utilizing fashion as a form of escapism comes in handy.

Perhaps as a knee jerk reaction to the sussing out of grown up stuff in my life recently, I turned to this playfully youthful floral dress. It's one of those modernized, hemmed and trimmed vintage secretary dresses. I'm actually surprised there aren't photos of me twirling in this bad boy, because that's all I want to do when I sport it. The gal in this dress doesn't care about bills or resumes. She just wants to TWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRLLLL!

I suppose that's the lesson for today. When life hands you grown up bullshit, sometimes you just have to put on a girly dress and twirl like a damn 6 year old. 

Do you ever use your closet to escape? 

{Dress: Vintage, available at Westminster and Fifth} 

{Clutch: Thrifted Vintage (similar)}

{Boots: Vintage, Dolly Python (similar)}

{Glasses: Borrowed from my friend, Rynn (these are rad too)}

Straw Studios Clutches · Nasty Gal Sunglasses · ModCloth Day Dresses

Link Love

Gotta love IFB (Independent Fashion Bloggers for those out of the loop). I always shocked at the amount of useful content they churn out DAILY. On top of that they give of weekly lists of other badass bloggers! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flattered to be featured in

May 30th's Links a la Mode! And in the photo collage, no less! Check out these other 

bloggers' posts!

xo

Always Be Prepared
It may well be the Scout Motto, but any good fashionista knows that preparation is the key to impeccable style. Whether it be DIYing the latest fashion trends, beautifying yourself, finding the best deals, studying up on classic prints, or getting everything ready for the oncoming season, for most of us it actually takes a lot of effort to carry of that effortless chic. This week's roundup has almost everything you need to get your summer preparation going so you can have a wonderfully chic season!

Links à la Mode: May 30th

    
A Pair of High Heels: The elegance of a white t-shirt
    
Arteresa Lynn: How I Maintain My Curls
    
Carlytati: Best Kept French Beauty Secret
    
Cella Jane: DIY Cute Jean Cutoff Shorts
    
Dress Up On A Cloudy Day: 8 Ways to Mix Prints
    
For Sure J'Adore: Sun Kissed: 3 Bronzers under $35
    
Flash [Frame]: Protect Your iPad in Style
    
Happy Friends Shoppe: DIY 2 Minute No Sew Bunny Necktie and Quirky Outfit Of The Day
    
Hip Shapes and Bristol Fashion: Is It Time To Change Your Shopping Habits?
    
I Can Style U: How to Wear Stripes
    
Kittenhood: 3 DIY jewelry ideas using pistachio shells & nail polish
    
Moi Contre Le Vie: ShoeMint, JustFab & JewelMint
    
Sarah's Real Life: 7 Ways to Wear a Button-Up/Oxford Shirt
    
Street Fashion Paris: Is Paris life really a dream?
    
Style Me Thrifty: Where to Shop When You're In Your 30's
    
Styles by Ola: Points of Interest: Is your look classy or cluttered?
    
The Photogramps: A Breif History of the Polka Dot
    
The Flight of Fancy: How To Care For Your Clear PVC Bag
    
Wild Beauty: Why Perfection is Overrated (Even in Hollywood!)
    
Wishing for Chanel: Less Is More | The Minimalism Trend

 
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