Sartorialist Shout-Out

Have you seen the vintage photo feature on the Sartorialist? Well, guess whose photo is up right now? Mine! Ok, so technically I inherited the photo but I submitted it a few weeks ago and was delighted to see it show up in my feed today.

It's a photo of my pop-pop, John, on the beach in Sea Isle City, NJ in 1930. Everyone called him "Chick" because of his chicken legs. He played basketball at Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia and must have been at the beach for some type of camp (per a note on the back of the photo). I just love his varsity jacket.

Speaking of varsity jackets, them seem to be everywhere these days:

v. Tumblr

v. Tumblr

v. Style Scrapbook

v. Etsy

v. Urban Gent

v. Fashion Chalet

I wish I knew what happened to my pop-pop's jacket, but this photo is a treasure. I warmed the JV bench through high school, so it's nice to know that athletics didn't avoid my family altogether. 

Now if I could just have inherited his legs...

Something to Cook In

One of the greatest gifts of blogging is when someone comments on one of my posts or stops by my desk at work to show me something they've borrowed. It makes me feel like I've touched a part of their day and in turn, it totally brightens mine. 

A little while ago, my friend Courtney told me about an apron that once belonged to her grandmother, Anna Mallowe. I knew I had to write about it. 

Anna lived in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia for most of her life. In those days, family stayed pretty close (literally) and both her family and her husband's family lived on the same block or even on the same street. My mom, who also grew up in Philadelphia, talks about this type of family proximity all the time - how aunts and uncles and dozens of cousins all lived within spitting distance of each other.  

Anna was a housewife, but that never stopped her from being fashionable. She had two boys to raise with little money, but she was savvy and always found a way to keep up with the latest styles.  

To the nines, complete with two-tone pumps

Trend-setting in trousers

Anna loved to cook and her kitchen was never at rest, especially since sometimes her husband didn't get home from work until 2am. She would make dinner at 6pm for the children, clean up and make a full second meal for her husband. Sometimes Anna would finish making his dinner when it was time for the kids to get up for school and then she'd start right in on breakfast. Fitting that she should own such a fashionable apron.  

Courtney tells me her grandmother was the matriarch of the family and her kitchen must have been home base. I can picture her there whipping up something delicious, hair set just right, apron on, waiting for her husband or family to walk in.  Kinda makes you want to throw a dinner party, doesn't it?

This is why I love to blog.  I am humbled that Courtney chose to share her grandmother's story with me and humbled that you continue to read.  I hope you find inspiration in my posts the way your stories continue to inspire me. Thank you for being such wonderful friends and readers!

 

p.s. I'll keep an eye out for that dinner party invitation. In the meantime, here's a little apron love: 

Red & White Organza on Flickr

Gingham on Etsy

All Pinned Up on Country Living

Chicken in a Cup

Scenes from the Weekend

I love visiting Hershey and spending time with Will's family.  Here are a few pictures from our trip last weekend.  Good food, great company and new thrift stores for me to explore!  

How did you spend your weekend?

Yellow dress from Good Will, hecho en Mexico, with the most amazing cutouts

Vintage fish mold, one of many

Yummy strawberries, freshly washed in a handmade ceramic berry bowl

A tree too pretty to put away for the summer

Winky

Vintage folk art sculpture, wine cooler and a quick game of Mancala

Charmed, I'm Sure

Want to hear a story about a magic charm bracelet that appeared out of nowhere? Ok, here's how it goes: 

On a recent trip to Hershey to visit my boyfriend's family, I was talking with his mom about my love of vintage items (I talk a lot about my love of vintage items).  We jumped in the car and spent the afternoon "thrift-store-hopping." I didn't find any jewelry, but did score a 1960's Coach bag, Totes scarf and crystal ring holder.  

On the way home,  I mentioned that one thing I was really looking for was a vintage charm bracelet.  When we got inside the house, she disappeared upstairs and emerged a few minutes later with the most amazing sterling silver nautical bracelet.  *Poof!*

Turns out, she used to sell antiques and pulled this bracelet from some of her old inventory.  And, she wanted me to have it! I was blown away by her generosity.  

Ok, so it's not really magic, and it didn't appear out of nowhere, but let's not be a spoil sport. I can assure you that the bracelet is magical, right down to the jingle it makes when I wear it.  

You can find vintage charm bracelets at estate sales and, if you're lucky, occasionally at thrift stores.  Otherwise the internet is your friend and can offer you a plethora of choices:

From Charm Chatter

from Vintage Retrievers

From Fine Estate Liquidation

from ReRuns

from shoprhubard

from LilahBelleVintage

p.s. I just finished reading a copy of The 19th Wife (you can see the cover in the background of one of the photos at the top). I highly recommend it for your summer reading list. Especially if you are like me and love Big Love and Sister Wives. Yep, I said it.  Sister Wives.

Hats Off

On a day like today you need a good straw hat. Well, I do at least. When did it get so hot?!

Straw hats are the best because 1) they go with everything, 2) they have little tiny holes that let the breeze in, and 3) you can find them just about everywhere. I found mine at a thrift store by my parents' house and paid $3.50.

Turns out, I'm not alone in my love for straw hats.  The blogosphere is brimming with fashionable ladies topping off their looks with these classic accessories. (Get it, brimming? Topping off?). C'mon, I worked hard to fit them both into the same sentence. But I digress...

Here are just a few of my recent favorites:

via Like Fresh Laundry

via Blooming Leopold

via A Distinct Style

via On the Racks

via Sterling Style

via Chictopia

via Fiction Living

via Brooklyn Blonde

via Her Waise Choice

Hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Knock Knock

Who's there? It's me, your delinquent blogger.  

I know I have been less than exciting over the last few weeks but I have been studying hard for the GMAT, which I took yesterday and now never have to think about ever again!  Whoo hoo!

Okay, enough about me.  How have you been?  Rummaging through someone's closet or your favorite thrift store, I hope.  Find anything good?  I'd love to hear about it!  Send me a photo of something you've borrowed and tell me its story, and I'll feature it here!  

Now on to the earrings...

I titled this post "Knock Knock" because these earrings remind me of mini door knockers.  They belonged to my great aunt and when I found them I feel in love immediately. Only they were clip-ons. Ugh. My earlobes turn bright red and cringe at the thought.  

I can't tell you how many pairs of clip-on earrings I have stumbled upon over the years looking so cute and retro and taunting me from behind the jewelry counter. Until now.  

I took these earrings to a local jeweler and had the clips replaced with posts.  $10 and I had myself a new favorite pair of earrings!  This may seem obvious to some of you, but I had honestly never even considered the possibility.  Just like the first time I went to a cobbler (please tell me you use a cobbler) and felt like I had finally been let in on the biggest secret.  

Now, I don't suggest you turn every pair of clip-on earrings into posts, but if you just have to have them or find some that have sentimental value like I did, it's totally worth the investment. I'm also sure you can shop around and find a better price, or try bundling a few repairs together and ask for a multiple-piece discount.  

Don't you just love a good secret? It's okay, you can pass this one on. Earlobes everywhere will thank you.