From the Amazon Files...

Howdy all! Our Etsy Files for the month should be up sometime this week, and there are still a couple of other posts I want to squeeze in before month's end so let's see if that works out for me. lol Now that St. Paddy's is over, I'm sort of over my green craze--for now, green is my favorite color though so we'll see how long that lasts lol--so I didn't have a set theme for this collection of photos. It's gotten a little bit harder to embed photos since Amazon got rid of their Collections feature, so I don't know if it's time to look for another Files source or not. We'll see. Let's get started!

Maggie Tang Rockabilly Dress in White Cherry, $39.99

I love the silhouette of this dress. I like that there are cherries on the dress but the print isn't overwhelming. It's not just, bam! cherry dress. I really adore this kind of dress, I think it's good for spring, and I need one in my life. I love how the bottom flares out like that, but I don't think a crinoline slip is absolutely necessary as it would probably look fine without it. It's warm enough here most days to wear this alone, but a light cardigan would still look fine. I want it.  

Pyle Retro Home Telephone with Dock Charger for iPhone or iPod, $75.99

Plotzing! I adore this phone so stinking much it is unreal. I'm not an iPhone user and haven't used my iPod in I don't even know how long (Seriously, my iPod is so outdated there's no more support for it and I can't download anything on it anymore. I think it's a 1st gen.). But I don't care. This would be such a great addition to an office or library. I'm loving the finish of the wood & the detached keypad. The only thing I would change is I would have a rotary dial rather than a touch dial system.

Deco Style Metal 18" and 22" Birdcages, $40.20

I'm aware that what I'm about to say is probably really corny, but I don't care. One of my favorite hobbies and relaxation methods is feeding birds. In the mornings and evenings during every season except for winter, one of my guilty pleasures is sitting outside, with nothing to keep me company except for a chorus of chattering wild pigeons and a bunch of bread. I know that bread probably isn't the best nutritional option for them, but its either that or cookies, the latter of which I'm not open to share. lol I would love to have these birdcages hanging in my backyard, but not so I can keep a bird. As much as I love the design of birdcages, I feel like I'd be trapping a bird by placing them in one and I don't like that very much so I'd put these up in the yard but remove the door. lol A repurpose tip I've seen with these that I really like is to hang these in the backyard, but have shrubs and flowers in it rather than a bird. I like that concept a lot. 

Quickway Imports Old World Map 2pc. Suitcase Set, $102.99

If you've been here for awhile then you already know how I feel about Old-World styled maps. There was actually a 3pc. suitcase that I was going to put on here first, but then I saw this one and duh...why wouldn't I have chosen this one instead? The way this set was designed made it look lived in, like it had stories to tell, and that is one of my favorite parts of anything vintage or old. It'd be a quirky addition to the living room, office or even bedroom, if it suits the design. I really like the contrast of the light map design with the darker leather accents. 

$9.99 for Kindle, $20.00 for Paperback

The title of this book cracks me up. I really want it because old school dishes like spotted dick have always been a mystery to me. Who came up with the name 'spotted dick,' first of all? Secondly, why??? lol If you've had spotted dick, how was it? This book touches on some of those older dishes with strange names and hopefully provides a bit of backstory on their creators and when the dishes were created. 

Kayamiya 1920s Flapper Inspired Ombre Tassel Dress, $35.99

Apparently, I'm still on a '20s/'30s kick and I think this dress is the bee's knees. Loving the ombre effect and the sparkly tassels at the bottom, I'm loving the braided neckline, and I like that the dress underneath is a solid black. I don't feel the need to pair a necklace with this dress, but a sparkly, feathered hairpiece would look sweet. I'm glad the fringe goes around the back as well. That's one complaint that I did have with a lot of fringed or beaded flapper dresses; they're often really busy in the front but rather plain in the back so hopefully this repro looks the same in the back. The top half of the ombre comes in different colors but I prefer this one.   

Camellia's Steel Boned Steampunk Underbust Corset
Waist Cincher, $32.99

I saw a steampunk-inspired corset first, but then I came across this underbust corset and fell in love. This particular underbust corset is very simple in design, not as complicated as many of the other steampunk-inspired corsets I've seen, but still has many of the design elements I like. I'd feel like a Victorian, swashbuckling pirate wench with a badass waist in this corset. LOL You can wear a number of different colored shirts with this corset, and same for the types of bottoms. This would make for an awesome steampunk cosplay costume. 

Steampunk & Lolita Inspired Birdcage Skirt, $76.90

While we're on the topic of steampunk, here is a steampunk/Lolita-inspired birdcage skirt. It's a bit more gothic than my normal choices, but I think the fact that it's not something I would normally choose is exactly why I was drawn to it. This has a metal, sort of machinery-inspired birdcage on the front, with a couple of birds around it and the steampunk staple of gears. It gives me such a Hitchcock, "The Birds" vibe...and I kinda like it. It's dark, it's moody, and seems to be in need of leggings, booties and a dark lip. I would love to be the Wednesday Addams of my family for a day and wear this right in the middle of a bright, clear Texas spring. lol 

1920s Inspired Crocheted Sheer
Romantic Slip Dress in Dusty Rose, $30.98

What drew me to this dress was the obvious Art Deco, sort of flapper inspired design. I love that it's in a light, spring-friendly color like dusty rose rather than the darker colors that have become the trademark of that time period. I also like that its crocheted. I believe I mentioned this in a previous Files post a long time ago, but I'm sort of new to the crochet fashion thing. I hated it as a kid with the exclusion of one item of clothing. lol Over the past couple of years though, I've started to like it more and I think it was executed really well in this dress. 

Vintage State Fair Bingo Game, $42.99

I've said it before and I'll say it again. There are few games I enjoy more than bingo. I think it's a great family game and it's not half as long as Monopoly (I swear, there are children conceived and born faster than it takes to complete a game of Monopoly). This old school version has the wood boards rather than the bingo chips, so if you've got a rowdy family like mine prone to throw these at each other, be careful. lol  I love having a game night with the family with some snacks and a game. My siblings are pretty competitive though, so we should probably stick with something safe like bingo. lol 

And that wraps things up for me today. This was such a random list. It was pretty difficult to compile this list, and I think it's time for me to switch out this set of Files for another. I kept stumbling on images I'd used in other posts, the search for certain items produces nothing, and I had to pin all of my entries onto Pinterest first so that an image link could be generated, then take that link and embed it here. Meh. I don't love Amazon enough to do all that work. lol Thankfully, I have a month to figure out what's going to replace the Amazon Files, but this will probably be the last month that you'll see this set. Anywho, don't forget our final TNT for the month is tomorrow evening; if you decide to share your thoughts on the movie on Twitter don't forget to tag your tweets with #atvtnt so I can see them. Happy Hump Day and I'll see you tomorrow!

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From the Amazon Files...

I still haven't decided whether or not to keep Amazon as part of our monthly Files series; I'm completely addicted to the site when it comes to smaller stuff and books but it's getting on my nerves in terms of clothing lines and which stores are legit. But I digress. I haven't found a site to replace it yet, so for the time being I guess I'll keep it. Anywho, we're just about finished with outdoor parties and I've been enjoying this so much, I haven't even considered what I'm going to do for August yet. lol And on the note of themes and the like, come check out what I rounded up on Amazon this week!

The Vintage Tea Party Book, $19.96

I'm not big on tea parties myself, but I think spring and summer are the perfect seasons to have one. The weather is accommodating, light meals (such as those served during tea parties and the like) are more favorable on the gut during the summer--well, my gut anyway LOL--and afternoon tea parties are still the perfect excuse to get fancy for a little while. This book is all about how to throw the perfect tea party, vintage style. This book covers how tea parties were held, what was served, how to style your hair and makeup, and an array of other things that will be sure to make your next tea party a hit. 

Vintage '20s Inspired Flapper Bodycon
Dress, $29.99

If you're going to a '20s themed party and want an affordable option that's both era and summer appropriate, I'd go with this dress. This is a flapper-inspired dress with what I believe are ombre yarn strings, which I think really helps to give the dress that shimmery, two-toned appearance that many flapper dresses have. You could pair this with a cute t-strap heel, sparkly flats, or even a pair of black studded flap combat boots. There are some where the top of the boot is folded down and the flaps are studded, and there are other zip-up pairs that you can unzip, then fold the flaps down. Pair this with a Charleston feather headpiece, pearls (or bling) and black lipstick, and dance the night away!

Vintage 1978 Norelco Lickety Split Ice Cream Machine, $99.99

I mentioned that I'd found this to my mom and uncle last night and the first thing they both said was, "Wow....I haven't heard of one of those machines in a long time. How much is it?" I love showing or telling them about the nostalgia products I've found because in many cases, they remember what I'm talking about. That's why it'd be cool to have this machine at a party; the parents will probably remember exactly what the machine is and the kids (and the parents, who am I kidding?) get to reap the benefits of what the machine produces. LOL It's also kind of funny arguing with the kiddos who feel that older products are no longer relevant then you show them a machine like this, make them something from it and completely shut them up. 

Paperproducts Anne Taintor Beverage/Cocktail Napkin, $10.99

These vintage-styled napkins have both an old school and a modern appeal to them that I really like. The image is clearly a vintage one, but the quote is more modern.....and sort of vintage as well, since folks loved their daily cocktails back in the day. I think these are funny and will give your partygoers a bit of a chuckle once they see these underneath their drinks. I don't know how many of these are in one package, but I still think they're pretty well-priced. 

Talking Tables 12-pk Party Paper Porcelain Plates, $11.01

Having a party but don't feel like busting out the nice porcelain and having all those dishes to worry about washing later? Well look no more; porcelain paper plates are here! I think I mentioned something about my serveware preferences last week; I'm cheap, I hate doing dishes and unless it's something extra fancy I am completely okay with using paper plates for small get-togethers. But I do like using plates that don't look quite so plain and when I think about garden parties or tea parties, porcelain plates come to mind. I don't own porcelain plates though and as referenced above, I hate washing dishes. So this was a perfect compromise. They're fancier than regular paper plates but cleanup is still a snap. I didn't even know they were paper plates at first; I thought they were actual porcelain plates because that was initially what I was looking for. When I realized they were paper, I was sold. I don't know if they're heavy-duty, but for get-togethers that aren't heavy on food, like the tea parties, garden parties or even baby showers, these are good.

Vintage Cakes: Timeless Recipes for Today's Sweet Tooth, $10.99

I chose this book because I think it would be a solid reference point for many desserts. They combine recipes for dishes that were popular long ago but puts a modern spin on them in order to make them current for today's sweet toothed gal or guy. I also think that this is a great cookbook to have for potlucks or when you want a dessert for your own party that's going to knock it out of the park. If you want to make a dessert that most people don't see all the time anymore, this is the book to get. 

'50s Rockabilly Floral Wiggle Cocktail Dress, $47

Black Feather Fascinator Hair Clip & Cocktail Hat, $14.99

I saw this and immediately thought it would make such an adorable outfit for a number of summer parties. It actually works for both spring and fall, but the amount of exposed skin puts this at the back of the closet during winter for me. I saw the dress and fell in love with it, but something was missing. A few minutes later, I stumbled across this fascinator. I think it's simple enough for an outdoor party, and the fascinator gives it an extra bit of flair. Despite the fact that it's black and white, two colors that I hear are forbidden at weddings, I think this would make a smashing outfit for a wedding. It would also work for outdoor festivals as well as tea and garden parties. 

Electrohome Nostalgia-Inspired Turntable Wood Stereo System with Record
Player, USB Recording, MP3, CD & AM/FM Radio, $139.99

I had to put this on there so that you'd have something to play your tunes on that has both vintage and modern connected to it. This is more simple than the old school gramophones with the huge horn on top, but it's also more accommodating because this has a USB attachment so that you can listen to songs from your computer if you so choose. I wasn't too crazy about this one at first because I was looking for a particular gramophone model, but this one is much smaller and has more to offer. So you can keep it all the way vintage and listen to vinyl during your party, or you can mix it up and play some oldies from your computer through here. I really like it. 

Polaroid Sun 600 LMS Instant Film Camera, $109.93

While I love current photography equipment, I still find myself trying to get that old school feel into my photos now. I have always loved the instant Polaroids; as a matter of fact I still own one today. I bought it a few years ago at my local Goodwill, so if you want one as well I'd try thrifting for it first to see if you can get one for a lower price than this one. I think these are great for parties and awesome conversation starters for people who haven't seen one of these in awhile. These are the good ol' instant film Polaroids, where you take the picture, it slides out of the front, then you wave it until the picture has developed (which I heard isn't quite as effective as we were raised to believe lol). No filters, no retakes, no tagging people, no immediate upload. Just a regular old school picture that you don't have to have digitally printed to take around with you. I think it'll be fun to have at a party and give people something they probably haven't seen in a really long time.

Entertaining Is Fun!, $10.39

And finally, another book but this one is all about how to be the perfect hostess at any soiree you choose to throw. This book was originally published back in 1941 by one of the most famous interior designers of her time. Even though this was published so long ago that some of the suggestions in the book are now considered outdated, you can still implement some of them (like the snail mail delivered invitations, for example) because they're a bit more personal than most forms of communication today. I really like this concept as many of my friends still send out regular invites to their party guests. I think this is an in-depth guide at how to be a good hostess at different kinds of parties and I wouldn't mind taking a peek at it. 

I realize this post is late....that seems to be a staple of this blog, huh....but I'm working on it. That too has become a staple, me working on something that's not right with ATV. lmao Anyway, I hope you liked this collection of party items. I'm pretty happy with the items that I found; I thought they were different from the other things I've featured throughout the month and were still true to July's theme. I don't have too much to say other than that I still haven't figured out what to do for our Extra File next week, but you can trust that it'll be on time. For once. LOL See you back here on Monday!

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From the Amazon Files....

We're already at the last set of Files for the month and I hope that the bridal theme has been as much fun for you to explore this month as it has been for me. I know a few of the posts this month have been late but I hope that there were still some things in the Files series that you enjoyed. I didn't think it would get more fun than it was last month but this month's theme has resulted in some awesome finds. Now you know usually Amazon gives me the hardest time when it comes to finding the good stuff, but bear with me and I'm gonna try. Speaking of which, should I keep Amazon as a permanent File in the series, or should I switch it up? Talk to me, let me know in the comments!

White Rhinestone & Pearl Fascinator with Crystal
Birdcage Veil, $26.95

I've learned the more that I explore vintage bridal fashion that I actually prefer smaller, birdcage style veils and vintage Spanish-style veils to the scratchy modern veils that I see on a lot of wedding dresses today. This piece combines two of my favorite things--huge flower fascinator pieces and short birdcage veils. I can't clearly tell if this is a headband or a piece with a pin in the back but either way I think it's gorgeous and classy. 

Lace Garter with Heart Accent and Throw Away Piece in Cream, $12.41

I like this garter because it looks a bit more classic than other garters I see, and I've also never seen a throwaway piece before so that's pretty cool. So I'm guessing one of these is for keeps and the other is for the reception festivities? I also like the little heart accent; it's a subtle touch of bling to what otherwise looks like a delicate accessory. 

Wedding Parasol and Matching Lace Fan, $46.99

I know I featured a parasol a couple of weeks ago....I think for Pinterest....but I featured this one because it comes with a matching fan that I think is adorable. An outdoor ceremony would be accommodating of a fan like that, while the parasol would be good for photos and before/after the ceremony. I think it's a great pairing, and I like the bamboo type wood that's at the base of the fan. I've actually never seen a lace fan before; all the fans I've seen were made of paper. What's the upkeep like for these things, I wonder?

Victorian Cap Sleeve Gown with Halter Strap, $129.99

This isn't really a wedding dress, but I thought it would fit because of the styling of the dress and the petticoat layers going down the front. It's a simple take on the Victorian theme, and I think it would both work well as a themed wedding dress and match quite nicely with the parasol/fan set I featured above. I love the front, but I hate the back. It's completely plain, no detailing, no bustle, nothing. But I'm in love with the front of it. I love the petticoat layers going down the front, and I like the cap sleeves and halter strap. It's the back that's killing me. lol 

Medieval Style Wedding Dress, $450.90

I kinda love this dress. Yes, I'm aware that it has several of the things that I normally don't like on wedding dresses, but it works for the time period it was created for. I also like that it's not completely white. It looks  more like a cream shade to me. Again, the coloring works well for the dress and the time period. I was reading the product description and this dress also has a built-in bra and uses an underwear type safety buckle---what is that? lol When I read that part, I pictured that Everlast chastity belt Marian had to wear in Robin Hood: Men in Tights. LOL Regardless of what that means, I still really like this dress. You know I'm a sucker for medieval stuff. I think it looks elegant without being costume-ish or too medieval, if that makes sense. 

Handmade Princess Lace Wrap Headband, $11.99

This is described as a Gothic headband, and I guess I can see how it would be considered that way, but I also get a medieval or even bohemian theme from it. A couple of the bohemian themed dresses that I've come across this month would look nice with this headband. It has that boho look to it without being the usual flowery headband. I think the gold accenting is a nice touch and I also like the hanging pearls going around it, although I wonder if they'd start to get on my nerves after awhile. lol 

Lindy Bop Ophelia Vintage 1950s Swing Dress, $76.99

I'm still struggling with how to integrate these types of dresses in a wedding for the bridesmaids without seeing a '50s doo wop group LOL, but I think this one is rather simple and you could wear it as either a bridesmaid or guest. I like that there's not much detailing on it, although it does toe the line of perhaps being a bit too plain. I more so like the color of the dress and the fun cut that it has. I don't think a subtle print would have hurt, though. I also like the bustline of the dress; I'm all for differing textures and it does make it a bit more interesting. You can use accents and jewelry to dress it up I suppose, a belt and jewelry can do a lot for an otherwise boring ensemble. 

Handmade Pearl and Lace Wristband Bracelet with Ring, $6.61

Maybe I'm the only one who would wear this on my wedding day, but I'd wear the hell out of it. lol The cameo type of ring and the wristpiece that it attached to gives me a Victorian? sort of vibe that I really like. I'm not a gloves gal, so I'd probably be more prone to wear this if I went vintage with my gown rather than the gloves. This particular product didn't get stellar reviews because it apparently wasn't made very well, but you can always get something similar custom made so that's no biggie. There's a version in black which gives it a Gothic appearance, but I personally favor the lighter version. I think it's gorgeous. 

Repro Ivory and Pearl Rhinestone Russian Bridal Cap Headband, $88.95

I've never seen headbands this large before, but this one is stunning. To me, anyway. I don't care for the full bridal caps because I think they emphasize the size of one's head, and mine is pretty small so I really don't want that on display. I think the design that a lot of them have is pretty but I don't want a full cap hugging my head. I like that this is both a headband and not a full bridal cap and I also like the sprinkling of rhinestones among the pearl and floral design. The photo of this band with the white background does it more justice than the white one but if you look closely you can see the different trails of stones throughout the headband. I am curious as to how a veil will fit with this, though. 











Instead of doing another accessory, I decided to make the last link a search result. This search result was done on 'vintage weddings' in Books, and a few good results came up so instead of trying to include them all, I just linked the search instead so you can peruse and find something that suits you best. The entire first page is full of books that I'd love to read if I were to ever get married and needed help. 

And that brings this week's Files to a close. Like I said at the top of the post, I always seem to have the hardest time with Amazon now when it comes to finding vintage pieces which is why there are more accessories than dresses, but I liked what I was able to find. I'm still debating whether or not to continue on with Amazon as part of the Files series or to switch it out for something else. No idea what I'd replace it with, though. By the by, I was able to get my stumpy little fingers on TCM's super secret schedule for SUTS this year and from what I've already seen, we're going to have some great days of movies ahead of us! (Provided that I've switched tv service providers by then, of course. lol) But anywho, I hope you enjoyed this month's theme; I've been waiting to do it for the longest time and now that I've done it, I kinda want to do it all over again for July. lol Hope you have a great remainder of the week and I'll see you back here on Monday!

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From the Amazon Files....

As the month of Swimwear draws to a close, I sincerely hope that at least one of these posts has helped one of you, whether it be with finding inspiration for your next suit, showing you different places you can buy your desired suit from, or just giving you a history lesson on what ladies wore to the beach/pool back in the day. These next two months to come will have completely different themes, so this will probably be the last time I go all out for the swimwear portion of summer. I hope that I was thorough enough to teach you a little something, show you something new, because after all, that is the point of this here blog. I said all that to say that I hope you've enjoyed these last few posts; exploring vintage swimwear has been loads of fun for me and it is my wish that it was fun for you as well. 

Vintage Bandeau Skirted Swimsuit, $31.56

I love this skirted swimsuit for multiple reasons. Firstly, I think the ombre print is interesting. Instead of it being the normal two color ombre as is the current trend, this is actually three different shades of blue. I love that it's a skirted suit rather than a suit with a separate swim skirt. I'm really digging the silhouette that the suit creates and I think the darker upper half along with the gathered material would help to disguise if the problem area is in the midsection, and I like that it could also pass for a cover-up dress. 

Vintage Poster of South Beach, 20"x 16", $9.99

A concept I've been digging lately is seasonal artwork. I'm a big fan of landscapes and season-oriented backgrounds, but I always wondered how they would look in my house. I'm also new to the concept of 'accent walls/spaces' in the home, and I just put the two together. A few things came together for me and the idea of using seasonally-based artwork in an accent space was born. Since I live in a desert, the beach artwork would answer a lot of decor things for me. Firstly, it would give me a perfect reason to put a piece up and having an accent space would give me the location to do so. Secondly, I can bring some vintage artwork into my home, which I've been looking to do for a long time. Third, a photo like this one would epitomize summer and having an accent space that speaks to the seasons and my love of vintage sounds like a lot of fun to decorate. This poster of South Beach in Miami is so well-done, it feels like you're there. Would be perfect on the wall. The price is fabtacular too. 

Women's Polka Dot Rockabilly Swimsuit,
$40

I have to admit that I fail to see how this suit is rockabilly, unless the polka dots and style of the neckline are what the shop owners consider the rockabilly style. To me, it seems like a mesh between '50s fashion and early to mid-century suits. I still like the suit; but I do have the worry of wedgies since this looks like cotton. lol It looks like a comfortable suit, love the polka dots, and I like the skinnier straps for this suit rather than the the thicker halter straps or the tube top style, which causes fear in me for exposure reasons. LOL

Retro Polka Dot Bathing Suit with Black Trim,
$20

I'm sort of surprised that I like this as a bathing suit. I love it as an everyday summer outfit, but normally I wouldn't wear this for a day in the water. I think it's cute and playful for regular wear, but it's almost too cute for me to get it wet. lol I also think those shorts would end up being a little longer than I'd prefer on me (I have stumps for legs) and I don't do long shorts for water time. Now if the shorts were shorter like the length on the suit above, then I'd probably be fine. Some cute Keds and a casual updo would make this a super fun (and sun-friendly) summer ensemble. 

Vintage Inspired High-Pointed Cat Eye Sunglasses, $5.61

You can never go wrong with a good pair of cat-eye sunglasses I say, but I think they create an even larger sense of glamour when wearing a pair while lounging by the pool or beach. I happen to think cat eyes are year-round essentials when it comes to accessories, but they're at their peak during the summertime. They're glam, these are super affordable, and I love the ombre tint to the bottom of the frames. Another thing I love about cat eyes is that because of the larger spaces in the frames, they're easily customizable. You can do gems, rhinestones, little flowers, whatever your heart desires, because there's enough space and if you buy them for cheap they won't be hard to replace if you make any mistakes. Which brings me to my next point, if you want a pair of cat eye sun shielders but you're on a severe budget like yours truly, I found my pair at my local Dollar Tree for--you got it--one buckaroo. $1.07 with tax. lol

Esther Williams Solid Vintage
Sheath Swimsuit, $76

It's pretty cool that the name of this shop was named after such a graceful swimmer. I feel like Esther Williams wore a similar suit in Bathing Beauty but even if she hadn't, I love this suit. It's sultry, silky, and I'm in love with this shade of red. The thicker halter straps go nicely with both the neckline and the style of the suit. I didn't get a look at the back, but I doubt its low. The more glamorous hairstyle also seems to agree with this suit. A pair of cat eye glasses with this would be so fab. 

Lindy Bop 1950s Miami Floral
Sarong Style Wiggle Dress, $55

This wiggle dress is so bootiful to me. It's funny, I'm not crazy about floral prints like this on a lot of clothing items. They remind me of sofas or shower curtains. But somehow, it really works on this dress. I think you could wear this to an outdoor summer event without it being too uncomfortable and I love the sarong style of the dress as well. This would be fantastico for a vintage festival. It's sexy without being stuffy, bright without being overwhelmingly busy, it has the added bonus of the ruffles on the side and hello--it's a wiggle dress! What's not to like?

Vintage Bandeau High Waisted Bikini, $15.75

I couldn't do a vintage swimwear post this month without featuring anything with a nautical/sailor theme, which brings me to this high waisted two piece suit. I would normally be a little self-conscious with such a small top, but I love that the bottoms are as large as they are. I also love the cut of the bottoms; they're not the typical high-waisted bikini bottom. They have this little skirt cut going on in the front that I really like as well. I'm not sure if the shop selling these is one of those where you get what's advertised or you'll end up with something different (it's sort of touch and go with some of the Amazon shops, a lot of trickery going on), but I still wanted to show off this bathing suit because I really liked it. Very simple but still cute. 

Sourpuss Berry Cute Gingham Top,
$30

I'm sure you're becoming acquainted with my love for gingham prints. Something cute about this little gingham shirt is the strawberry accenting and the tie on the back of the shirt. The buttons are described as a strawberry red and as you can see, there's a tiny little strawberry embroidered on the left side. You can go rockabilly or professional with the bottoms you choose to wear, and the lighter material is still appropriate for the warmer weather. 

$13.85 Paperback

Finally, I wanted to end the post on an educational note so I included this copy of Vintage Swimwear by Jill Salen. Unfortunately, I didn't see a digital copy of the book for those of you who prefer e-books, but the good thing is that with the physical copy, it'll be easier to make copies of certain patterns and you can make different notations in the book if necessary. This book covers swimwear patterns and techniques, so it's a bit of a history lesson in swimwear as it will not only show you these different patterns but it will also give you the tools necessary to make these things yourself. Sounds like an awesome book to me. 

And with that, our final Files for May has come to a close. This edition was sort of difficult as first because it is amazing how many imposters there are with their own Amazon shops and I had to be really careful not to accidentally feature one. I'm not 100% sure I was successful, but I'm quite sure of it. Fortunately, the Photoshop job on one shop in particular was so bad (and I recognized a few of the suits from the last couple of weeks) that they were either resellers or Internet shysters attempting to dupe the hell out of consumers. Watch out for that when shopping on these sites. Anyway, hope you're having a great Hump Day and I'll see you on Twitter tomorrow if you're watching Citizen Kane for TNT!

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