From the Pinterest Files...

Hi! This week I wanted to go through some individual elements of rockabilly fashion for both women and men, so I had to do some research to find out what those elements were. I was surprised to discover that I actually feature rockabilly-style fashion on here quite often, but classified it under pinup fashion instead. The two are quite similar, I've found, but after doing some research on the different types of vintage fashion I've also found that I'm a bit too thickheaded to understand the more subtle differences between them all. I decided to make this week's Pinterest Files a piece-by-piece breakdown of rockabilly fashion for both men and women. Enjoy!

The funny part about this Pin is that even though the descriptors are correct, this photo is actually from a site mocking various styles, including rockabilly. So some elements that are mentioned are highlighted for comedic purposes to highlight the style's stereotypes. With the rockabilly photo, those stereotypes would be the 'caked on makeup' and tattoos. Moving on, despite the fact that the photo was made to mock the style, the other descriptors are pretty accurate. This is an overall view of the rockabilly style. I see a lot of greaser fashion in rockabilly wear for males, and the females are this really cool mash-up of greaser, pinup and vintage. Alternatives of the rockabilly style are a bit darker and integrate more of a rock feel into the clothing.  This would be a modern look at a 'rockabilly couple' as well as a visual on the combination of pinup and greaser in rockabilly fashion for women that I mentioned above. This is another take on rockabilly fashion, with this particular photo being more of a Rosie the Riveter/greaser mix. 

Worn-in leather boots are a big part of greaser/rockabilly fashion for males, but women can wear them as well. I chose this pair because even though they're not as beat up as many of the pairs I saw in photos, they have the look that I was going for. I've seen more black boots than brown, but these have that slightly worn but freshly shined look to them that, along with the smaller cuffed pant leg, put a modern spin on the trend. These boots are more beat-up than the brown ones in this photo and they're black, so those would probably be a bit more accurate. 

A scarf/bandana is a common part of rockabilly fashion for women, and this Pin shows various ways that it can be styled. I'm more partial to hair flowers myself, but that's partially because unless I'm trying to cover my entire head with the bandana, I can't style one properly on myself to save my life. 

I don't know that this is necessarily rockabilly, but when I saw this Pin of various specs I had to slip it in here somewhere. I've had the typical 'sophistinerd' (a word I came up with to combine 'sophisticated' and 'nerd' LOL) small, rectangular glasses for yeeears and I'm really jonesing for something new. I keep coming across specs like these and I love them. I don't know if they'd be a good fit for my face, but I'd really like to try a pair out. I was going to point out a favorite then realized I love all 5 pairs. I want 'em!

This is a diagram of typical greaser/rockabilly hairstyles for men, although I typically see more pompadour and slicked back styles than any of the others in the photo. Whenever I think of the greased-up hairstyles though, this always comes to mind. LOL Personally, I'm more partial to pompadours and, dare I say it, hipster hairstyles for dudes. They really gel (see what I did there) with the rockabilly style for me, but in a way, hipster fashion is a more modern take on different elements of rockabilly for me. Please don't throw tomatoes at me. 

This pin combines two facets of rockabilly fashion for women. Wiggle dresses for me are more pinup than rockabilly, but rockabilly and its alternatives (which we'll be discussing in the next couple of weeks) have helped popularize them as well. Rockabilly prints more commonly include birds, atomic prints, bows and cherries. Cherries are another element that pinup and rockabilly clothing share, and I really like that this dress was a classy combination of both of those things.

This is another photo I chose because it combines two elements of rockabilly fashion for both men and women. The main reason why I chose the photo was because of the cuffed jeans. I usually saw men wearing the jeans with the cuffed hem, but I've been seeing more photos of women wearing them as well which I liked. I'm not entirely sure if its intentional or not, but I've seen dark denim being worn more often than lighter washes of denim in rockabilly fashion. I've also been seeing photos of the cuffed jeans and biker jackets with Converses rather than boots, and I think if I were to wear this outfit, I'd go with the Converses as well. Biker jackets are another element of rockabilly/greaser fashion that I typically see on men but I'm starting to find more photos with women wearing them as well. As with the boots, the biker/motorcycle jackets typically have a 'worn' look to them. 

Victory rolls are another part of rockabilly fashion that blend into other retro styles. A rockabilly take on victory rolls might include a bandana but quite often, it involves a badass cat-eye and a cherry red lip. I'm in love with victory rolls regardless, but I love the fun variations on the style that I see on alternative pinups and rockabilly models. I like that this pin is a simple walkthrough with a few tips at the end on how to really nail the style. 

The last major detail that I wanted to cover was the style of shirt that many greasers/rockabilly men like to wear. While I was looking for photos of what I wanted, I'd initially found this one but kept looking to see if I could find something I liked more. I kept coming back to this one so it would appear that Pinterest made up my mind for me. LOL Even though the guys in this photo are wearing button-downs, the sleeves are rolled up. If they were just wearing white t's, another rockabilly trend, those sleeves would be rolled up as well. Again, this is another element that I see on women as well, but from what I've seen it appears to be a signature greaser/rockabilly fashion element for men.  

This week's post, unlike last week's eBay Files (which went up suuuper late and I am so sorry! If I told you everything that was going on in my life right now, including the reason why this post is late, I promise you wouldn't believe me) post was a lot of fun to do. Turns out, I didn't need to do quite as much research as I thought but it was still helpful to have a better understanding of the individual elements that comprise rockabilly fashion. To me, vintage encompasses all of the elements I enjoy, from pinup to rockabilly, time-accurate to a modern/retro mix, so I don't usually bother with trying to differentiate too much. Despite that, it was still so much fun to find out individual parts of the overall style and I can't wait to jump into the alternatives next week. As always, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you soon!

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From the Pinterest Files...

Hi! As I mentioned during the eBay Files last week, I wanted to focus on a few recipes and food-related items that made me think of spring. It's no secret around here that I think spring is picnic season, I talked about it for months last year. I'm probably going to do it again this year. lol For me, spring is a beautiful time of year. Because of my immune system, I don't go outside too often once fall is over and flu season hits. I usually stay inside until it's warm enough again, and by then it's been months that I've had to hole up in the house. I do leave the house, but it's nowhere near as often as I do during the warmer months because I catch colds and chest infections so easily. So watching the atmosphere come alive again and being able to feel the sun without having to wear several layers of clothes and a scarf over my face sounds like a dream. 

Picnics combine several of my favorite things-being outdoors, enjoying the grass & sun, getting some alone time and food (both cooking and consuming lol). So I'm sorry ahead of time if you get tired of me talking about picnics. haha Let's get to what I found this week!

One of the reasons why I love looking at vintage spring recipe sheets is for the cute little captions and accompanying paragraph. It's all so festive and I appreciate the effort to sell the product being promoted in the recipe. This type of advertising was way before my time but I still miss it lol; I think it'd be great if a current company brought something like this back for a retro promotion campaign. Now I'd probably do 1/4c butter and 1/4c shortening rather than the original recipe, but this still looks like an easy cake recipe for spring.










I usually find myself gravitating toward more complicated recipes for spring, but I included this one because it's a great reminder for me that keeping it simple is delicious too. I love a good sandwich, always have, and rather than bringing a basket full of food that took hours to make, there's nothing wrong with packing up a basket full of basic sandwiches. The soda is optional, of course, but a ham and cheese sandwich with a Dr. Pepper sounds like a great lunch for me.









I think this table is so adorable. What I like the most about it is how easy it looks to DIY if you have the time and money for materials. I also think this would be really cute to have in the yard for summer. If there was a way to make something like this collapsible, I’d lug this with me to the park for a family picnic.









Lemonade, for me, is one of the staple drinks of warmer months and one of my all-time favorite beverages. I wasn’t sure how many different ways you could make lemonade because it sounds quite simple lol, but I liked this recipe the most. In addition to it being an older recipe, it also utilizes the lemon rinds and I don’t think I’ve had lemonade like that before. Lemonade is tart anyway, so I wonder about what adding the flavor of the rinds would do to the final result. I’m here for it.









My ultimate spring bucket list recipe is a loaf of homemade bread. I am determined to make some, whether it be for a sandwich like above, or just to eat with some jam. I say it every spring, I dream about it every time I think about what I’d like to try my hand at next, but I never end up doing it. This year I’m finally going to make that bread, and I like this recipe because unlike many bread recipes today, this one is completely from scratch. Most bread recipes that I look up today involve a bread machine, which I don’t own, so I’ve found that if I want to bake something it’s much easier to use an older recipe for it and alter it if necessary.









I chose this basket because I loved the finish of the wood on it. I know it’s probably going to sound weird, but does anyone remember the wood finish of the old stationwagons back in the ‘70s and ‘80s? We used to have a used one when I was younger, and the finish on the car was very similar to the wood used for this picnic basket. Many baskets look rather plain, so learning how to improve the inside or hide interior signs of age/damage has been something I wanted to do for awhile. This tutorial isn’t very difficult either, especially if you know how to sew well. That isn’t one of my strengths, but that’s one reason why I’d like to improve my sewing, so that tutorials like this would be easier for me to execute.









I used to think scones were a fancy schmancy treat for one to have, but now it’s another thing I’d like to learn to make. This, like the bread and cake recipes above, seems fairly easy to make and I also really enjoy the different variations on the basic recipe. I don’t know about eating celery scones, but I applaud the adventurousness. LOL This is another good recipe for the season that you can eat outdoors and I can’t wait until I finally get around to making some of my own.

And finally, I wanted to include this cookbook that focuses on picnic and potluck recipes. I don’t attend many potlucks, but I’m always interested in picnic recipes. That's another reason why I focus on picnic food every year; it's increasingly difficult for me to find retro recipes that would be good for picnics and outdoor events. It is, however, becoming increasingly easy to find retro recipes that sound absolutely awful. lol I'm trying to find more recipes that would be good for picnics and aren't always cakes or pastries. This book is from the early '90s, so the recipes are a bit more current and the chances I'll end up with fish Jell-o are much lower. Hopefully. ha

That wraps things up for me on Pinterest this week. Per usual, I hope you enjoyed this post. Are there certain foods you gravitate to for spring, seasonal activities that you enjoy during this time of year?OAN, please come keep me company tomorrow for our TNT; I have no idea if I'm going to be able to finish this movie. lol I hope you're having a wonderful Wednesday and I'll see you soon!

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From the Pinterest Files....

'Ello there! The birthday wishlist train rides on. This week I'm taking a trip over to the promised land of Pinterest, where I hope there are tons of dream birthday gifts to guide my way. lol The problem that I still have, three years after starting Files posts, is that Pinterest tends to keep me distracted for way too long. Since this month's theme is all about my birthday and what I'd like to receive, I expect it to take a little longer than usual to put a list together. Anyway, let's get to pinning all the things!

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From the Pinterest Files...

Howdy! I'm sorry this is going up a couple of days late; my laptop hasn't called it quits on me yet (knock wood) but with the issues going on in my life right now, it's just been a bad week. Last month sometime I found this Pin on Pinterest about a look from Dior's fall show back in 1958. Normally I don't think I would have paid that any mind, but as I was looking for potential topics for this month's selection of things, it made me realize that I'd never thought to look for that kind of stuff before. ATV probably does show more fashion than any other kind of vintage item, but I'd never thought about isolating it by seasons or individual designers before. I've never been a designer type of gal myself, so I've never paid attention to whether something I liked was designer or not. The extent of my scrutiny was finding out the name of said label so that I can see more of their stuff. The more that I get into companies from back in the day, the more I find myself intrigued by the designers and wanting to find out more about them. If I can find what I'm looking for, I might make it the topic of a future post. On to Pinterest!

I love coats like this for fall. It's not often cold enough for one here until right around Halloween or so, but I think the brown one would be pretty for Thanksgiving. I'm late to the party when it comes to belted overcoats, but I love these. I'm also more partial to the brown one because of the puffy sleeves and the collar, two more elements that I'm surprised that I like together. This has such a form-fitting but complementary silhouette, and check that price! I wish these overcoats were still being made for this price today. 






Speaking of items with awesome prices, here is a collection of various fall booties from around the '30s or '40s. $2.95 though? Really? I can barely find a solid pair of flip-flops for those prices today! I know the value of a dollar has changed substantially from those times, but man I wish clothes and shoes like this were still as low-priced but for current times. I like higher length boots for fall myself, but over the past couple of years I've been coming around to booties. I also think these would pair very nicely with the overcoats above. They're classy and simple, and don't have crazy heel heights like many of today's heeled boots and booties. My personal favorites are the dark brown ones with the tie-up laces. 







I believe I've mentioned this before, but it was watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries last fall that got me hooked on cloches. Tweed is one of those materials that I immediately associate with cold weather, and when's it not a good time to wear olive? lol This hat would be something to wear when fall starts transitioning to winter, we get those first winter gusts, and you need something to keep your head and ears warm. I wanted to pick a cloche that reminds me a bit more of the upcoming season, which is why I didn't go for my fallback color of black. 







When I see deep, darker shades of colors like the ones in this picture, that makes me think of fall. This is a photo of some fall fashion back in the '30s, and I'd have to say my favorite of the three ensembles is probably the green one on the left, save for the collar. I love the length of all the dresses, I am in love with the shades used for the dresses (I don't know if they were that vivid in real life as well, but one can hope) and I am always down to wear a beret that matches my dress. They're form-fitting without looking too uncomfortable and the collar on the green jacket is all the business for me. I think a cloche could work with any of these outfits as well. 







I know for most people, gray is a rather drab color and during warmer weather, it usually is for me too. But for colder weather, I always seem to gravitate towards it. That brings me to this Dior dress for autumn/winter '55. The dress, according to the Pin's description, is called "Virevolte," which means 'to twirl around.' Very accurate name, because if I had something similar that's probably exactly what I'd do with it. I love that it has a little matching coat which gives the dress a different look when it's on, but the dress has enough structure and personality in the top half that the coat isn't absolutely necessary to the ensemble, if that makes any sense. There are some dresses that don't look right without the matching coat, but this isn't one of them. On one hand, it does give me slight schoolmarm vibes. On the other, it feels very professional....and looks warm. lol Check out this Pin to see the dress without the coat...I think the knotting at the collar is by far my favorite piece of this outfit. 







I came across this a couple of times while looking for other photos, and since I loved it more every time I saw it, I had to include it. Hunter green is one of my absolute favorite shades in general, but it really seems to pop the most during the colder seasons. I don't know if that makes sense or I just sound like a weirdoball, but certain colors just seem to come to life for me during different seasons. I love how it pairs with this sweater; both materials (and colors) used complement each other well and create a look that is both classy and fashionable. Extra points for the beret addition. It's probably just me, but I'm also getting early '90s vibes from this photo. Either way though, it's something I'd wear. 







I'm really surprised that I love this one as much as I do, but I adore it to death. A plaid cape that cuts this kind of silhouette could be a totally different outfit if done incorrectly but this one gets it completely right. It's everything! This would be unbelievably chic to wear with some brown boots and a beret. It deserves three snaps in a Z formation for me. Seasonal colors, acceptable length, and the combination of the buttons and the belted waist are killing me with a quickness. I love this. 







This is a pretty close to what I think of in terms of a fall color palette. My lighter green choice would probably be olive rather than avocado, but close enough. lol I think my fall palette is more inspired by nature than anything else, because while I like variations of these shades for other seasons, I go for the deeper colors more during this time of year. Do you have a fall palette or seasonal inspiration? If so, what is it?







One thing that I have a definite love-hate relationship with in '60s fashion is the makeup. While I enjoyed the basic elements of the makeup, I didn't care for the "high-fashion" makeup art or the more overdone versions of regular mod makeup at all. This is one of the more subtle looks, and I thought it would look good on both blue and brown eyes so I included it. Of course, you could put a more modern spin on the look, but this is one of those that I think is fine as is. The lashes and eyeliner were always by far my favorite elements of mod makeup, and it's done in a subtle but still wearable way here. 







I know this has absolutely nothing to do with the other fall-themed fashions I put up in this post, but it's Fredrick's of Hollywood and I loved most of the dresses I saw in this photo. These are some of the dresses from the fall 1963 line and while you can see bits of the '50s silhouette, I think there's also a hint at the more vivacious side of clothing to come in the prints used for the dresses. I'm more partial to the 2nd one on the top row and the 3rd on the bottom row. I've seen the latter in motion in a few '60s and '70s movies, and I love that the scarf can either drape behind the dress or be tied in the front of it. I wonder what colors these were.  

Mandy's Note: It's Friday when I'm posting this, so ignore the original timestamp. That does it for me today; I'm sorry again that this is going up a couple of days late. Next week's edition will be on time. How'd you enjoy our TNT last night? I have to admit that I haven't seen many of Susan Hayward's movies so I don't have much basis for comparison. But even though I found Harriet to be an opportunistic, disloyal brat who definitely didn't deserve the guy in the end, I thought Susan Hayward did a great job with the character, especially for a character who was initially male. To take that and put a spin on it for a female that was done in an equally unscrupulous but believable sort of way was a great job on all parts. I was just confused that even though most movies clearly describe Harriet as being unscrupulous, she was also still labeled as the protagonist/heroine of the film. I didn't get that at all. But anywho, I hope (if you were watching) that you enjoyed the film and you enjoyed this collection of fall-inspired colors and fashions. See you soon!

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From the Pinterest Files....

So obviously, Catch Up July is still in full swing, which means that you're going to be bombarded with this month's posts as well as any I may have missed this year. Next week is Vintage Spotlight Catch-Up, so along with the other couple of months I missed, I'm going to post the Etsy File for this month next week in a double posting alongside this month's Spotlight (since it was Etsy that prompted my idea for the Spotlight, I wanted to publish both posts around the same time so that you'd understand a bit more about where I was coming from). The Random File will be pushed to the week after next, so I won't do an extra Files post this month. I'm actually going to stick to my word this time! You might even get a couple of extras thrown in there--operative word being might; I won't promise a three-tier cake when I only have enough ingredients for one. LOL Anywho, let's get on to our second week of Americana and what I found on Pinterest!

Even though this is a repro collection of images, I think it's a good representation of American-based snacks. This Pin links to ideas for a good 4th of July party, and caramel corn is a popular carnival/event food for people to have. American snacks and food, obviously, were a large part of the Americana state of mind, so the vintage-looking decor for the food items made this something I wanted to include. I also just liked the ideas that I saw, even if I wasn't making them for a 4th-related event.

Speaking of American snack foods, another big American treat, especially for festivals and fairs, is cotton candy. This Pin links to a list of today's favorite carnival foods, but this is a longtime member of the list since it was around during the Americana mentality. I'm not a large cotton candy fan anymore, but I still remember how much I used to love the texture of the candy as well as the overwhelming sugary taste after biting into it. What's your favorite American carnival food?

Part of the Americana design when it comes to integrating decor is having an older, more worn look, as if an original piece from the 1700s, which brings me to this blanket. I think the way that it's styled for this Pin is suitable enough, but I also think it would be fine draped over a sofa or used for sitting on outdoors. I really like the worn look; to me this is more the definition of 'rustic' than other products I've seen with that label.

I didn't put this on here for the cigarettes lol, I included this because of the pin-up photographs on each pack. Pinups are a large part of the Americana mentality, and society jumped on that during the World Wars. I believe I touched on this last week during the eBay Files, but pinups were a symbol of motivation and boosted morale for the troops stationed overseas. I think the mentality behind this age of pinups is what maybe inspired the boudoir photos and military costumes for women that are still quite common today. I'm probably wrong, but that's what I think. LOL

This Pin is for a site that sells a lot of retro-themed American memorabilia, which I think is perfect since the design of those images falls in with the Americana culture. Vintage Vending is a company after my own heart, I tell ya. Different pieces of Americana culture from vending machines, gas pumps to posters and other promo materials are sold here. Original pieces from the '50s and '60s are some of my favorite things, more so from the latter decade, and they all seem to have that vintage vibe about them that I love. A lot of the design elements are classified as Americana, since American designs were distinctive, even then. 

I put this on here for two reasons. Firstly, this cover image was made during the time that Americana was popular, and secondly because diners were popular around the same time. Diners were and still are seen as an American staple, so including this recipe book seemed like a good idea in case you've a-never had diner food and want to try it, or 2-don't have a diner in your local area and miss the food. I don't see too many diners nowadays, but cooking up some diner favorites brings back flavors we don't get too much anymore and if cooking for older people, will certainly bring back some good memories for them. 

Drive-in theaters were another popular pasttime for Americans back in the day, but unfortunately they're a dying, if not already dead, breed of entertainment. Most of the drive-ins we had in my hometown were closed when I was a kid due to graffiti, fighting, or lack of funds. I think the only legit drive-in theater we have now is an adult-themed one, if you catch my drift. LOL Going to a drive-in is on both my summer and main bucket lists because it looks like it'd be a lot of fun and probably a lot more comfortable than sitting in a cold theater in one of those stiff chairs. This Pin is a link to 10 of the best drive-ins still in operation across the country. I'm so jealous. 

I think this is probably the most 'signature American' thing on the list. The Hollywood sign, which up until 1949 actually said 'Hollywoodland', is something I had to put up here. Many people migrating to Los Angeles, whether it was from across the country or another country altogether, usually had this picture in mind as motivation to chase their dreams. Over a century after its creation, the Hollywood sign is still that visual representation of America and the city of dreams. It's still on countless bucket lists for all kinds of people today to just get to the sign and be able to see it in person. 

This wouldn't be a list of beloved American things and places without including apple pie, and I had to go with Martha Stewart for it. I'm not a big fan of apple pie or any kind of pie for that matter that isn't pumpkin or sweet potato, but weirdly enough I love pie crust. Now that I can eat all day. I can also bake pies all day. I just won't eat them. LOL Strange confessions aside, however, apple pie has long been considered the quintessential American dessert, especially when alongside ice cream. I love Martha Stewart's recipes so this one was a no-brainer for me. 

I had to end this with a personal favorite of mine. I'm not a roller blading kind of gal; I'm way too clumsy for all that and expectations of me are way too high if I am ever expected to maintain my balance on a single line of wheels. I like my wheels to be on both sides of my feet, preferably with a brake at the front. lol Roller skating was another favorite pasttime for Americans, but this is another one that, at least in my local area, doesn't have the following it once did. This Pin is an ad for some roller skates, and the writing that accompanies the photo cracks me up. I'm glad that they didn't take the shaming mentality when it came to describing different body types. Do you still have a roller rink in your local area?

It was actually really hard for me to find Pins that fit the look of Americana that I was trying to find, mainly because so much of the images were repeats of other Pins I'd already seen. I had to start searching specifically for Americana elements to find what I was looking for, but either way, I got it done. lol Can I confess something? Even though I'm liking that I've forced myself to get these posts up and stay caught up, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed again when I think about SUTS coming up and the craziness that usually accompanies that. It's hard when I start feeling overwhelmed not to just call it a day and run, especially because I still have the review blog, which I usually end up neglecting in favor of this one, but I'm going to stick to my word. It's just difficult as all hell. If you have multiple areas that you blog about, how do you achieve a balance and avoid getting things stacked on top of each other? It's not about having a schedule for me; I've had one for awhile, but when health issues or other unexpected personal things kick in, that's when I have issues. Sticking to my schedule is the issue for me. Any suggestions? Anywho, that does it for me for today; I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you soon!

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From the Pinterest Files....

I know this post is going up super late (the timestamp may say Wednesday but it's actually Sunday the 14th that I'm posting this lol), and I'm sorry again. It's been a bad week. Some lingering health issues had a flare-up and other personal things have been interfering over the past few days, but since it's the weekend I'm trying really hard to get everything back on track. Can you believe the month is nearly halfway over already? I don't know where it's going, but I'd really like to have some of it back. lol Let's get started!

I wanted to start things off with a Pin showing off '50s-inspired wedding ideas, and I really like it. It's done in a way that could be a little kitsch if you go overboard, but I like the modernized take on the diner theme. These would be good ideas if you'd like a rockabilly or sock hop styled wedding. I hadn't thought of it until I saw this Pin, but for couples who don't want alcohol at the reception or just don't drink alcohol, a signature milkshake or malt would be a unique touch to a wedding done this way. 





Follow Jennifer DeLonge's board Sock hop theme wedding on Pinterest.
Speaking of sock hop weddings, here is a board specifically for that theme. It has some pretty good inspiration if you'd like something different for your wedding. One thing I like about sock hop and retro-inspired decor is how easy it would be to DIY them for a bit cheaper. It's probably a good idea I don't want to get married; from the wedding shows I watch it's usually the DIY brides who are the most stressed. Knowing that, I'd probably still do it LOL and because I'm aware of that, I think I'm on the right track. lol There's a bit of everything on this board, from decor ideas to bridesmaids dresses and bridal gowns, invitations and cake ideas, so this is a good board to check out. 






Of course, it wouldn't be wedding season without a look at horrible bridesmaids dresses of old, the majority of which came from decades that I love. Well, you take the bad with the good, I guess. lol Anyway, if you're still with giving your bridesmaids ugly dresses in an effort to make sure that you stand out, this Pin will take you to a page where you can get all the inspiration you'll ever need. These dresses have the potential to ruin friendships and ensure you'll get shitty gifts for your wedding, so use at your own risk. lol





Follow Shanai Scott Weddings's board The Great Gatsby Wedding on Pinterest.
I read The Great Gatsby when I was back in high school and that was my first real introduction to the Roaring Twenties. I loved it then and that has only grown in the 11 years since I read the novel. I loved the glamour, I especially loved the fashion and I thought the parties far exceeded anything that I'd see in modern times. I obviously wasn't the only one with this thought because now that Great Gatsby weddings are a thing, it's really fun to see all of the creative ways that people are integrating the '20s into their wedding festivities. This is an awesome board to check out if you'd like a '20s theme for your wedding. 






These days, 'vintage' and 'rustic' seem to be synonymous when it comes to weddings, but I like it. That brings me to this wedding favor that technically fits in with both themes, which I thought was adorable. I saw a record-styled invitation for a '50s-inspired wedding during wedding season last June, but I've never seen this before. These are wedding favors and I love everything about it, from the old suitcase that they're placed in to the labels, twine and sleeves that the records are wrapped in. If you had access to a vinyl recorder, how cool would it be to put the playlist on the record?





Follow The Gypsy Junkie's board White/Boho/Wedding on Pinterest.
When I think of '70s-inspired weddings, I usually think of something outdoors, something bohemian and nature inspired. I'm probably wrong, but there's a hippie inside of me to contend with, so said opinion is likely biased based on what I would like the '70s to be about. That brings me to this board, which is straight of bohemian paradise. Examples of outdoor venues, wedding photography that plays on the nature theme, fashion and decor options, there's a bit of everything. If it's bohemian and about weddings, it's likely on this board. 






I challenged myself to find something from the '80s that I liked other than the music and movies, and that brings me to this neon concept I ran across. This Pin is for an '80s-inspired bridal shower, and I love that the neon is only in accents rather than overwhelming the entire thing. It's done in a classy way that still integrates the theme, and that's probably one of my favorite things about mixing modern and vintage. 





Follow sharon Youruniquescrapbook's board Edwardian weddings - Downton Abbey inspired on Pinterest.
If you like Edwardian-inspired weddings or Downton Abbey, this board is a good place to start if you'd like to brainstorm ways to integrate the theme into your festivities. I really like how feminine and frilly everything is, from the decorations to the wedding fashion. Some of the pins are really creative in terms of how to bring the theme into the item, and I like that. I've always wondered how to integrate Victorian or Edwardian elements into an event; this board has some helpful examples, especially if you'd like to DIY any of them. 






I've never really focused exclusively on the '40s when it comes to weddings. I think I get so drawn in by the decades before and after it in terms of wedding fashion that I end up skipping right over the '40s. Considering that this decade is actually one of my favorites when it comes to fashion, this makes no sense, but that's me. lol Anyway, this is a very ambitious pattern (to me) for some '40s bridal wear or bridesmaids dress options. I am in love with the shape and silhouette that these dresses create, I love the streamlined, simple style that both dresses have, and I love the undeniably elegant look that both of them possess. I'm not one for long-sleeved wedding dresses, but if done this way, I could probably be persuaded to at least try one on. LOL




Follow Cathy Byars's board medieval wedding shower on Pinterest.
I didn't have the idea initially to put anything medieval on here, but I couldn't resist. lol This is a board full of options you could use if you wanted a medieval-themed menu at your reception, and I think it's a really creative concept for a time period that didn't have the same traditions and customs present for weddings that we have today. There isn't a lot of base material to go on, so it really depends on the couple and how they choose to implement medieval elements into their reception. I think with many vintage themes, they are susceptible with coming off as kitschy or tacky if done wrong, but when done well it infuses personality into the event and makes things fun. That's why I like this board and its ideas so much; you can take something simple from a time period and the possibilities for what you can do with it or how you can use it are endless. 

That brings this ultra-late Files post to a close. I'm not sure if I should focus on a particular decade for the Spotlight or not; I don't want to overdo a decade and end up recycling ideas. I'll figure it out sometime this week. lol Posts should be back to normal this week; the three late posts (including this one) will be up throughout the week, as will the two (or three, haven't decided yet) posts already scheduled to go up. I got my mitts on this year's SUTS schedule and so far it looks to be a month of interesting (and some oft-seen) movies; I'm so excited that I get to partake again this year! But I'm getting ahead of myself; that post will be up in a couple of weeks. On time, too, watch. lol Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post, I hope you had a wonderful weekend and I will see you tomorrow!


Making a valiant attempt to keep my word,

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From the Pinterest Files...

'Ello! I decided to make picnics and garden parties the theme for this month now that it's finally warm enough during the day. I was going to do it back in March but between the wind, sporadic rain showers and the slightly colder than normal temperatures, I wasn't about to sit and have a picnic nor was I going to suggest it. LOL It's still a little gusty, but for the most part it's been beautiful lately. So for my Pinterest Files this month, I thought I'd focus on outfits that would be good to spend an afternoon picnicking in or that would be suitable for a garden party.

I know that the Pin says its for summer but since spring is usually rather warm in my neck of the woods, it still fits. I think both of these outfits are good options for either a garden party or a picnic if you know your way around patterns and a sewing machine. I really like the versatility involved in making two dresses with complimentary patterns and being able to create four looks rather than two. As much as I love the color black in fashion, I also try to stay away from it during the summer, so I like that there are light and playful colors in these looks.










I think these outfits are more suited for picnics, but again, I'm loving the light colors and playful feel that both ensembles give out. If you'd like a more modern take on both looks, you can go here for the gingham and white outfit, and this outfit I found on Unique Vintage seems to be a pretty accurate update to the white and blue. I'm not so crazy about the pants, but it does seem to fit the second look in the Pin pretty well.










I think this dress would be lovely for a garden party; I'm still a sucker for polka dots and I love the sky blue and white in this dress. The material doesn't look super heavy which I appreciate. Spring can easily climb to the '90s here, and summer is even worse so the last thing I want to do is have on a dress that's made of a thick material. This has a fun look to it, a spring-appropriate feel, and I like it.










I didn't learn until a few days ago that this style of decor and print was called 'atomic;' when I would Google it I always typed in "Jetsons decor." LOL It reminds me of the Jetsons. I've always liked this type of print, I just wasn't sure what it was called. Anyway, I think this is fun but suitable enough for both a picnic or a garden party. I love the lighter colors and how they mesh together, I dig the breezy feel of the skirt, and I like that it still has a classy sort of look to it.










This is a Pin for a pattern rather than an outfit, but I love the outfits that are displayed. Again, appropriate for either occasion and I think they're a classy throwback to today's denim overalls. I like the idea of classing up pant overalls, and all of these outfits are casual enough to be comfortable, but chic enough to not give off an underdressed vibe. At least not to me. lol I really wish I knew how to work a sewing machine. Who am I kidding. I wish I owned a sewing machine. LOL










I'm not bold enough to wear a top like this out and about anymore. Now if I was 17 again, I'd wear it with no hesitation. But I'm 28 now and my thighs smile at people even when I ask them not to. Sometimes, my stomach likes to make cameos as well and tops like these are best suited for those with completely flat stomachs. I'm petite but not as toned as I'd like to be, so I don't typically wear outfits like this anymore. But it would be so cute for a picnic, wouldn't it? The colors and the print are festive for the season, I like the contrast of the small top and the larger, high-waisted shorts, and even though I actually think it's better for summer, it's quite cute for spring too.










Another dress that is supposed to be suited for summer, but I think would look good during spring as well. I love pinafores, and it actually took me a minute to find a suitable, flowy pinafore on Pinterest because most of the ones I came across first were fitted. I don't know why, but for some reason when I think of spring I think of free, flowy material rather than fitted or body-hugging. Is that weird? lol Anyway, this coral pinafore looks comfortable, is versatile in the style of shirt or shoes you can pair with it, and I love the white accent buttons and the large pockets.










I love high-waisted shorts. I mentioned a pair up above with the gingham print halter but they were in white. These black ones are more picnic-friendly because if you're a Messy Mandy like myself, then condiments, grass and other colored items of life magically find their way onto your white clothes and ruin them completely. It's just not practical for me to wear anything white. lol So these black high-waisted shorts seem like a suitable compromise. Shorts in this style with the button detail remind me a lot of nautical styled bottoms, which are another warm weather favorite of mine. 










Much like the pinafore I put a couple of entries above, I think suspender pants like these are versatile and suitable for either a garden party or picnic. The loose leg of the pants is good for lounging in on a blanket and you can wear either a full shirt or a tank with it, or you can dress them up with your shirt and shoe choices for a garden party. They're a bit more dressy than wearing jeans, but still fit the bill for a warm-weather soiree.










For me this is more of a garden party outfit rather than a picnicking one, but the colors and the pattern on the skirt are a nod to both the season and the scenery. I really like the cross halter front on the top, but the floral pencil skirt is my favorite part of the outfit. I'd probably wear a different colored belt, but overall I love this. It's chic and sexy, and even though for me most floral prints are either pretty or '70s sofa realness, I love this skirt and the dark green on top. 

Well that wraps things up for me this week. I apologize for it being a day late; yesterday I got started later than I intended to and it ended up dragging on through until the evening, when I finally said bump it and went to sleep. lol I wanted to include a lot of other spring-related skirts and dresses, but I wasn't able to find the ones I wanted on Pinterest. I won't be on Twitter for our TNT; my sister is being inducted in her high school's NHS tonight so I'll be at the ceremony, but I hope you enjoy the movie and I'll see you soon!

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From the Pinterest Files...

Howdy again! Three posts from me in about as many days, that's quite the rarity, right? Unfortunately, as with most good things, that too has come to an end. LOL I think eventually the goal is to have about three posts a week, but that's still a work in progress. Anywho, when I went to go look up stuff for this post, I ended up pinning more stuff from the homepage rather than actually doing what I was supposed to be doing, so if there was ever any doubt of my addiction (there really wasn't LOL) before then it has just been removed. It's a disease. But that's my problem. Moving on! I'm still stuck on emerald green, which is probably going to be the case all month, but I've also been stuck on '20s/'30s fashion for awhile now, especially after that Harlem Renaissance post (which I really hope you liked) so that's probably what I'll be on this week. Let's talk about what I dug up! Classy segue, right? LOL 

This was one of the photos I was pinning instead of finding things for the post, but since it fits in with what I've been looking at lately anyway, let's just kick things off with it. This beautiful French-made gown is from 1938 and is currently on display at the Met Museum, which is the external link that this Pin is connected to. I love this dress. I think it's elegant, I'm loving the fringe, loving the color, and I think it all comes together so beautifully. If you read the Met's post up about the origination of the dress, Vogue's opinion from that time is in that very snarky, sort of condescending tone if your body type didn't fit what was considered acceptable (curvaceous was supposedly back in, but only if you contained said curves within a corset to create a more aesthetically pleasing silhouette...not wearing the corset and having any rolls was considered 'vulgar' ::eyeroll::) and I hate that, but I'm in love with the dress. I wish I could see the front of it.  I'm almost positive I said this last spring, but it's practically spring here now, so I'm saying it again. I love mint for this time of year. I don't mind the color at any time of the year, really, but for some reason my pastel love explodes during the first half of the year. I blame YouTube and (insert obnoxious tone here) 'my personal evolution and new perspectives on colors as I grow as an individual' (/insert and lol) life for that because I was never really into them before. Color stuff aside, how cute is this phone? I've posted older model phones before but I don't remember posting or even seeing one exactly like this one. I don't want it there as a prop, I want it to actually use it. I miss the old #firstworldproblem of trying to walk around while on the phone and being yanked back in a very unclassy way because I ran out of cord. LOL I know I'm not the only one that's happened to.  I'm not much of a doll enthusiast, but this St. Paddy's themed Barbie is amazeballs. I like that it's one of the vintage Barbies, and I am in love with the hat. It's adorable. And that cat eye is everything, isn't it? The outfit is one I'd probably wear if it was tailored to size, which surprises me a little bit, but I think it's the way that the outfit was done. From what I can tell on the external link, the person who designed this outfit creates them as one-offs and compiles them in a private collection. She does amazing work and I much prefer the display of the outfits on the vintage model Barbies.  This is a guide to the typical women's hat styles from around the late '20s on through the '60s and I really liked this Pin because there were a number of hats I'd never seen before. When I look at guides like this, they show me just how much women's fashion has evolved from the time period that the lists were written for, and they never cease to amaze me. At one time, women wore hats all the time. Now, if a chick is wearing a hat with modern themed clothes it's probably a trucker hat or a beanie, the operative word being 'if.'  I like the drawings for a few reasons, because they're simple, they're accurate, and they unintentionally gave the ladies alien eyes. Bawdy and rather immature. Why aren't the beaus lining up outside my bedroom window, right? LOL Ahh, the internal plotzing that took place over this headpiece. The large jewel as the focal point, the big fuzzy feathers, the tiny bands going around the front and sides, the cream color, it's everything I need in my life whether I'll ever have any reason to wear it or not. lol And another thing I love about it, it's easy to replicate. Flapper headbands have always been something I'd like to try as a DIY project but it didn't cross my mind with this one until I read the comments. It wouldn't be hard at all to buy any of the individual items, and probably wouldn't be hard to do if you have a glue gun and a steady hand. Judging by my ongoing relationship with the floor, I'm not quite sure about the second half of that but I'd still like to give it a go. lol  If you've been with me for some time then you already know my obsession with old keys. This particular one is part of a Celtic wedding boutonniere but I'd wear it as a bow if that ribbon had a little clip in the back. I guess the key has a Celtic design? Either way, I really like that concept for a Celtic-themed wedding; it gives the boutonnieres a bit more personality and weaves some culture in there at the same time; usually all I hear about that accessory is that someone forgot theirs or isn't wearing theirs for a wedding. lol I never would have thought to attach a key to the ribbon but I like it a lot.  I think this St. Patrick's Day greeting is too cute. It's something I'd say to confuse the hell out of someone on purpose but still mean every word of it. LOL I've really come to love Irish quotes, blessings and things of that nature, the more of them I read the more I like them. The ones I've read always have good intent and simple wishes, rather than something long, vague or complicated. I also like that not every blessing or well wish is rooted in religion, not because I don't like those, but because these are universal. Not all of my friends share the same religion, while some have no religious affiliation at all, and it's nice to see a simple, well-meaning gift that all of them would like without being offended.  I'm always down to learn new slang, especially if I don't hear anyone else using it. Whenever I become interested in a new language (which is often), the first things I go to are the common slang phrases, the cuss words and the sexual ones. So I'm bawdy, in case you hadn't already noticed. lol But if nobody is saying it anymore, for me it becomes a bit of a quirk. I like the 'random trivia' bit that using such a word or phrase would prompt if someone is unfamiliar with the term, and also because I just like slang that not everyone else is currently using. Apparently, this is a 'hipster' trait but for me I just like sounding a bit different so if I pick up a word that is out of fashion but I like it, I'll use it. This here is a list of '20s slang, some of which is still being used today, like 'slay' or 'boob' (a personal favorite that I use a bit too much lol), but includes others that have since been phased out and replaced with more common words/phrases, like 'cabbage' or 'behind the 8-ball.' My personal favorite from the list--other than 'boob'--the 'Chicago overcoat.' LOL  This pin is a bunch of '20s-inspired hairstyles for weddings. Even though wedding season isn't upon us again just yet, I still love looking at the hairstyles on this Pin. One thing I've always loved about the '20s is the glam aspect of it, even in casual wear. The headbands and hairpins always had some hint of glam or sparkle on them even if the outfit was casual, and while I guess that is considered to be a bit overdressed for today's casual wear, I still really like the look. I wish there was a style in the Pin that showed the finger waves or the short flapper curls, but they can easily be substituted for one of the shown hairstyles.  The love that I have for a good wide-leg trouser nearly rivals that of my love for flapper dresses. It's pretty bad. I like that they are a bit more practical for everyday wear than a dress (for me, anyway), I really like how they elongate the legs, and they just have this classy feel to them. I especially like the wide leg trousers with the sailor-style buttons and pleating, preferably in navy blue or black. This Pin shows how effortlessly casual these trousers can be styled to look, but you can easily take the look to a more business look or modernize it just by changing the shirt. I like the versatility of it, and I've learned that I quite enjoy mixing vintage and modern touches in fashion. It wouldn't be hard to do with these trousers.  When I was a kid, I really liked the black and white oxford shoes and always wanted a pair. They reminded me of bowling shoes, which I also wanted a pair of. lol Never got the oxfords (or the bowling shoes, thank goodness) and as a teen, I wondered wth I was thinking. I guess like many teens, I suddenly had this distaste for anything that looked even remotely old or out of current style. They always say that things come full circle in adulthood, which turned out to be true in some cases because here I am, wanting oxfords now more than I did when I was 8. I didn't even know there were oxford heels when I first got into vintage fashion, but I'm so glad I know now. How cute are these?? I prefer my heels to have a smaller heel (you know, ongoing relationship with the floor and all that jazz, less of a distance to fall from) without looking stumpy and oxford/kitten-ish style heels accomplish that for me. These repros look true to the oxford style of shoe, they're still very feminine and they're adorable. I need them in my life.  These earrings are so exquisite. My favorite kind of earring is a dangly one, and these are especially long. This particular pair is from the Victorian era and there aren't enough words to properly describe the plotzing taking place in my soul. The price tag is enough to make me plotz too, but in a bad way. LOL If they are a genuine pair from the era and they were kept in such good condition, however, then the price tag is completely worth it. This is the stuff that family heirlooms are made of to me. 

I proofed the post one last time and realized that I unintentionally put a couple of extras on the list, but eh. It's just two. You all already knew I had this disease. LOL Anyway, I'm so excited to get to Etsy next week, hell some of this week's Pins were from Etsy so I already have my foot in the door. lol I hope you liked this little collection of goodies, they were fun to find and eyegasm over. I'll be on Twitter for our TNT so on the off chance you're on there, shoot me a tweet! I'll see you all back here on Monday; have a wonderful weekend!

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