Don't Fear the Flapper (dress)

Queen of curves Marilyn Monroe as Clara Bow

 I decided to face a bit of a vintage fashion fear and obsession head on these past few weeks. That love/fear for me has been the 1920's. I love that period for style and decorative arts. One of my all time favorite designers is Jeanne Lanvin, and even as a period of history, it's fascinating!

As a fashion though it be daunting to wear. It's so counter my usual way of thinking. These were women throwing off the corset and the tyranny of the tiny waist. hemlines rollercoastered, and it really was the decade that set the pace for modern clothing. But me, I'm not all that into modern clothing. I love my corsets because for us they are a choice not a mandate, and my waist is one of the few things about my body I actually feel comfortable with. I know how to handle it and use it to my advantage when dressing. To wear the 20's I'd have to be willing to let my waist go (become invisible not actually physically go), and that scared the heck out of me, but still I recently set said on a voyage of flapper self discovery!

20's dames weren't all ultra skinny, and not necessarily ultra tall, something I always felt a person would need to be to pull the look off. Keeping that in mind I decided to pull my first 1920's dress into my closet and challenge myself to try wearing this decade to see how it felt.

My 1st dress is this one. A dropped waist (scary!) Nile green Charmeuse straight style dress with lace and ribbon roses for accents. When worn I was kind of shocked at first to see a straight figured person looking back at me, but found that the waist kind of reveals itself in movement, and all the motion in the dress has a surprisingly playful feel as a garment in action. The freedom of movement was the nicest part of wearing the 1920's. Though I did still pull on my long girdle to keep my line as smooth as possible it was very freeing to poddle about in.

I'm a pretty full figured gal, and really very short (just 5'0") but the style was more forgiving than I had anticipated, and I'm now largely over my fear of the roaring 20's as a look!

I'm loving my first 20's style flapper dress.  I don't think I'll be hanging up my waist cinchers and petticoats for good (I learned to love my 1920's lips but can't give up on my 1950's hips!), but I do think I'll be bringing more 1920's outfits and looks into rotation from time to time. I hope this helps a few more of you feel confident to give this look we love a try too!

Soda Streamline

Yesterday was Sodastream shopping (RIP original Sodastream, you served us well over the years buddy), and after being in a bit of a fashion funk lately a perfect excuse to get all dolled up and head to the mall like all the cool kids do.

Been in the middle of a serious 1920's-1930's kick lately, I've always loved the styles, but found my equal love of all things 50's a more natural fit for my body type, which has had me shy away from earlier vintage styles. In the middle of my usually super mid century style wardrobe (which I realize I haven't been photographing much lately), this little outfit has been my main outlet for earlier decade fashion fixes! Mostly from a new collection coming out in a few weeks with other goodies it was nice to wear something new from my little studio again. Really excited to get some earlier vintage styles into my life, Not sure a lot of 20's 30's fashions are a super natural fit for what nature gave me, but I love playing out with them so who cares!

Outfit Rundown:
Blouse & Trousers: Vivcore (coming soon)
Pearls: Vivcore Society Pearl necklace in Navy with the white bracelet as an extender
Lipstick: Besame Merlot
Hair: A bit of a quick messy attempt, but curled on hot sticks and pinned under for a faux bob look (never enough commitment for the crop!)

Sunday Best: Jubilee

This weeks Sunday style post is full of jubilee flavor! Sad that I'm not able to really get in to the festivities like my friends and family back in England. But I'll be drinking tea whilst I work and keep things as fun and British as I can!

Outfit Rundown:

Trousers: Still not got these up on the site, future Vivcore swing pants.
Blouse: Sweetie Blouse
Pearls: My Society pearls in navy blue
Brooch: Vintage Birks silver locket
Belt: Up coming "Pretty You" accessory
Shoes: (can't seem em) but Jeffry Campbell sandals
Hair Clip: Pretty you bow.
Hair: Wet set in pin curls, then pinned under in a kind of faux bob style. I've been using heat sets a lot lately and forgot how much I adore a good wet set, it lasts forever!

Sunday Best: Summer Belle

Yesterday was my birthday, and what a birthday! We went out to an incredible restaurant which had the most lavish food, but a relaxed and modern environment. I went with my usual dolled up look for a sunny evening and had a wonderful time! 
Outfit Rundown:

Dress: Watercolor Whisper from Vivcore
Pearls: My lovely set of lilac freshwater pearls
Belt: Up coming "Pretty You" accessory
Shoes: Kandee
Bag: Vintage Lucite
Hair: My big bouffant hair piece with a vintage feather design pearl brooch

Sunday Best: Sewing to Victory Week

Been an action packed past few weeks, lot's of work, so again lot's of trousers! I guess this weeks work ensemble was kinda inspired by the hard working girls of the 1940's

• Outfit Rundown:
• Cardigan: EC Star
• Blouse: Riviera Blouse from Cute Salad
• Trousers: Handmade high waist swing pants
• Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
• Accessories: Vintage faux pearl beads, and Pretty You scarf
• Hair: Big bun on top, and the front was left over curls from the day before.

Sunday Best: Back from the Dead

Forgive me blogger it has been much too long since my last Sunday Style post... After a rough year that lead to lots of stress, weight gain and hair loss, I'll be honest I hadn't really been feeling the stye. I was using clothes more as a way of hiding than shining, and felt anxious at the mere though of a camera.

 I decided this week was the week to turn things around and say "welcome back" to my old self again. I am who I am, and no matter what's going on in life, I think I'm a pretty decent human being. It's time get back out of the shadows. (Managing to score a pair of Jeffrey Campbell Lindy shoes in my size was a helpful starting off point too, no matter how I feel about myself those shoes deserve some air time) So here's what I hope will be the first of many more regular style posts again!...

Outfit Rundown:
Cardigan: Target Kids
Top: David and Goliath (says Zombies need love too and glows in the dark!)
Trousers: Handmade high waist jeans with argyle denim pockets and turn-ups
Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell
Accessories: Cultured pearl and gemstone necklace, Vivienne Westwood orb earrings and silk Moschino scarf (with a cute Olive Oil from Popeye design on it)
Hair: Not much going on really, rolled under "bangs" and an puff in the pack using one of my ponytail hair pieces for volume.

Sunday Best: Bouffant Zoo

Today's Sunday best is once again brought to you by my early 60's style hair piece adventures. I think I got a little closer to that Mad Men Joan Holloway hair, but still haven't had chance to actually set my hair in curls to really do it justice.

Outfit Rundown:
Dress: Day Trip Sundress
Shoes: Miu Miu Teacup Shoes
Accessories: Society Pearls in coral and white, and my favorite handmade elastic belt!
Hair: soft wave hair piece turned under into a bouffant ponytail, and blended with curled rolls (tutorial to follow on how I get all my rolls and curls in my stick straight hair without a single hot iron or roller set!)

Sunday Best: Classic Curls

Started experimenting more with different hairstyles lately. This one was actually a rush job using my new hair piece! I'll hopefully have time to do something a bit more sleek and stylish next time, but still loving this thing!

Outfit Rundown:

point of style: Curls!
Dress: Sage Green Pinstripe shirtwaist
Jewelry: vintage pearls, vintage mink brooch
Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Hair: new hair piece and simple rolls to blend
Lipstick: Besame Coral

Sunday Best: Lavender Field

Things have stayed pretty hectic chez Quaintrelle Life, but I took a day to hang out with my fella, get some frozen custard and enjoy a break from the oppressive heat! Seemed like the perfect excuse to break out my new dress and try a cool Summer hairstyle!

Outfit Rundown:

point of style: Soft colours
Dress: Day dress in a vintage style print
Jewelry: Society pearl set (white)
Gloves: Dents
Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Purse: Vivienne Westwood
Hair: Basic pin curl set pinned into a false bob
Lipstick: Besame Dusty Rose

Sunday Best: Shirtwaister Day

Not had a great deal of time for blogging lately so mu appologize for that. But I did promise to keep up with the Sunday Best posts so here is this weeks!

The lilac is staring to fade from my hair, but I'm still kinda loving the soft lilac/blonde it's turning into now.

Outfit Rundown!

Dress: Cocktail shirtwaist dress (preview!)

Accessories: Moon Glow beads and a fab 1960's corsage I picked up from a flea market in Tennessee! The belt is from a UK trip.

Shoes: Can't see em but I swear they are cute! (See em here on my Poupee Girl)

Hair: Trying to make an effort to wet set more often, This little do was just a basic pin curl set loosely brushed out.

Sunday Best: Strawberries and Cream

This weeks outfit started out with my new favorite shoes (which are designed to look like teacups!) and some strawberries and cream themed accessories! The red was a great way to brighten up my favorite black and white gingham dress.

Outfit Rundown!

Point of Fashion: Eating strawberries on a picnic

Dress: Daisy Cutter Sundress from Cute Salad

Accessories: Ultra Lux Sunglasses in strawberries and cream from Tres Noir, Society Pearls in white from Candy Violet, Strawberry Purse also from Candy Violet

Shoes: Teacup shoes from Miu Miu (I lovelovelovelove these shoes! High heels and teacup handles!!!!!)

Hair: Basically a ponytail today, with super easy bumper bangs using the wool hair rat like in the Quaintrelle Life tutorial)!

Sunday Best: Pink and Blue

 After noticing this blog didn't have nearly enough style posts, I'm kicking off the new Sunday Best segment! I'll make a better effort to post at least one of my favorite outfits from each week and here's this weeks to get us started!

Outfit Rundown!

Dress: A lace covered cocktail dress I finished this week (started out as a personal project, but  it'll be going into the shop soon!)

Accessories: My blue Society pearl set with the white bracelet used as a necklace extender, coordinated with a vintage 60's pearl and crystal brooch.

Shoes: Forever 21, I love these shoes but honestly can hardly walk in them for some reason. I ordered some replacement blue pumps which I'll be sticking the crystal bows to in the future for better walking! (and higher heels :P)

Hair: New lavender dye job!