Outfit of the Day: 08 February

So yesterday I had an early day – I had a 9:30 appointment for my orthopaedic surgeon. We had quite the snow storm/blizzard here from yesterday afternoon into today, and the rain and sleet BS had already started even by the morning. So I was just super excited to go out in all of that crap. I also had a lab class from 3 to 6, but the forecast said the real crap would flow between that exact time span, so there was no way in hell I was going.

So what was a girl to do? Hit the streets still looking vintage fabulous, of course! I recently bought an absolutely stunning 1940s WWII suit that – get this – was made in Great Britain during the war. To me that just upped the fabulousness factour to an 11!

And since it was still colder outside than Dick Cheney’s heart, I decided to wear some black thermal leggings/stockings to aid in keeping me toasty. I’m still not sure if they looked alright with the suit, but I’m sure all of you can help me decide 🙂

Isn’t the suit just to die for?! And I’m sure you haven’t noticed all of the little details such as the interweaved colours, pocket bling, and cuff fold details. But here are some extra pictures so you can further inspect 😉

And here is a more scrutinizing picture of the pocket bling/intricacies and ornate yet glamourous weaves of colour detail for all y’all to oogle over:

And guess how much this beauty cost me? Only $45! I saw it on eBay about a month ago from the seller VogueVintageVixen and the start bid was at $40 with the Buy It Now at $45. Now I am not that stupid to just disregard the BIN option and just fight with people until the bitter end and watch the price just climb to nearly $150 or $200 easily. This is a perfect example of when having saved searches is the most genius idea – Diane had just listed this beauty not even a half an hour prior to my discovering it. Imagine if I hadn’t? I would have missed out on a huge opportunity to own one of the items from my Christmas Vintage Wish List – and it was number two on my list, so it was pretty important for me 🙂

In addition to the amazing suit, I had busted out my new brown loafers, which is one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own now. I know the brown wasn’t an exact match, but I felt it offered a decent contrast to the black leggings and the colour was represented in a small amount within the suit. One of my own personal “fashion rules” is to wear accessories that go with the minor/accent colours, such as with my loafers here and the yellow dahlia and blue rose earrings I had on, as well as my bakelite bangles. I feel following this rule really makes an outfit comes together in a much more natural, subdued, and amazing way.

As some of you may have noticed if you have been following my blog for a bit now, is that I usually am not a wearer of hats. At first I figured, “I would rather have more dresses, tops, skirts…” meaning more actual clothing in and of itself, rather than hats. Then I figured, “Meh, I don’t really look so hot in hats.” I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of my maternal grandmother from around this era of dressing, and she really knocked wearing hats way out of the ballpark. Then I decided, “Hats are really a necessary staple for most vintage wardrobes”, and I started hunting. I’ve gotten just four hats in the past month alone, all for first cheap on eBay. eBay has really become my main source for vintage clothing, because if you save searches and play your cards right, you can save some major money on these things! Most of the vintage items I have bought on eBay have been at least half or even a fifth of what it “should”/”would” be on Etsy. Just remember – perseverance and saved searches! To figure out my bidding strategy that has worked so well for me (for the most part! LOL) you can click here to read my previous post.

I did, however, have one ’40s hat. I bought it back in December 2011, soon after I had my shoulder surgery. It screamed at me constantly to buy it, and plus it was only $10 due to the netting being all torn n’ worn. I’m not a big fan of having a net over my face anyway, so when I received it, it was promptly removed. But have I worn it since I bought it over a year ago? Nope. Not even once. I was even thinking about selling it. But as soon as I saw that suit, the whole status of the hat changed as well. It now has a life! And it was given many compliments during its outing today. I am sure all of my other hats (I keep wanting to say “covers” instead of “hats” – old military habits die hard LOL) are quite jealous. I will get to the rest of you my lovelies, no worries, as I now have a newfound love of hats thanks to this spectacular little brown number that took me 14 months to wear:

Isn’t it beautiful? I have no idea why I never wore it before other than my firm belief I had nothing to wear with it, which was an invalid idea even before getting this suit – I had a few dresses with some brown in them prior, so I don’t know where my mind was for 14 months in regards to this hat!

The seller of this suit also had several other items she needed/wanted to unload, as she really isn’t going to sell anymore because she just said being a seller, especially on eBay, is just too much BS anymore (to which I agreed, as I’ve had my own issues). Then she went on to say she would send me a few other vintage goodies for me, since we seemed to have the same measurements. She sent me a 60’s black sheath dress with incredible beading and jeweled detail at the neckline, a 50’s nude lace skirt and top set, again with great neckline detail also. And last but not least, she sent me a tea length black 50’s fully lined coat with mink fur at the collar and around the a cuffs, made in the USA by the union(s). Isn’t all of that amazing?! I must take pictures for all of you to see, because it is just breathtaking, all of what she sent me. I thought about selling the 60’s dress and 50’s shirt/skirt set, but I just can’t because they have sentimental value now – it reestablished my faith in humanity and the kindness of strangers in a way; it made me smile to know that there are still some decent people out there that you are fortunate to come in contact with once in a while 🙂

So despite this heinous weather we are having now, I still made an effort. Like I said in my first outfit post – I try to look the best I can to look presentable and dress the way that I always feel best in – true vintage or rockabilly style 🙂

DON’T FORGET! The VALENTINES DAY GIVEAWAY is still available to enter until the 12th! Click HERE to enter for your chance to win!

The Campus Katy Perry

So apparently in every single class at my school, I have become known as the class “Katy Perry”. Do I mind it? Hell no. To be compared to someone as beautiful as her is always flattering. But there is one thing that bothers me – the lack of depth in some people.

I know I look different. I march into class with my pink Bettie bangs and my vintage dresses, all done up in cat eyes and red lipstick. I get it. But Katy Perry is not the whole representative of the rockabilly movement. Hell, she’s not even that rockabilly to begin with. The vast majority of clothes she wears are more modern with an “old school” flair; now correct me if I am wrong kids, but I would put money down that most of the items she wears are brand new and fresh off the designer presses – not vintage with all of its history. Now granted, she may wear a vintage piece now and then, but that has to be minimal.

Just because I have an unnatural colour in my hair does not make me Katy Perry either. I have been told I look like her ever since I started dyeing my hair the reds, the teals, the pinks, and so on that I have. How does that make me Katy Perry? If you look at her “look” over time, you can tell that she has run quite the gamut of looks in these past years. Have they been rockabilly or vintage? Yeah, sure, some have. But mind you, that is all a part of her persona – just like Lady Gaga has her own look. And so that means I myself have my own look – there is no need to compare me to anyone else but myself.

I take pride in being unique, and I love being the “odd one out” on campus because I show up to class with my pink Bettie bangs perfectly curled, my hair coiffed, my makeup perfect, and my outfit dressed up and decked out in vintage. As for everyone else – they all wear jeans and a tee shirt, and that’s on the days that they’re feeling like getting dressed. A lot wear pajamas to class, which I feel should be banned on campus. To me, as a professor, I would be very angry and upset if someone showed up to my class in pajamas. To me, that shows NO respect towards me, the class, or the fact that you are receiving an education. You are not showing respect for you. This is your life here, kids – treat it with the respect it deserves. You amp up your game, and will earn those things you now think that you are automatically “entitled” to. That’s what life is – get used to it.

Last night, for my one night class, I was feeling lazy. But did I just go in my pajamas? Aww hell no – I wore a pleated full circle skirt, black stockings (it is cold!), a PUG top, and I just threw a wig on and added some liquid eyeliner and lip gloss. Good to go. Even then I still felt naked. But I still made some sense of an effort.

The rockabilly and vintage scene is almost nowhere to be seen, which is rather sad and shocking considering it is NYC. I’ve been considering moving to California (near LA), England (London), or back to Las Vegas. I love NYC, but all of these other places have more of my vibe and style – especially London. Just England in general, with it’s style, it’s politics, universal healthcare, and…well, let’s just say my mind is more in sync with England than here’s and let’s leave it at that, shall we? 🙂

I have people telling me every semester that I look like Katy Perry – and then the name sticks. I’m not Katy Perry – I’m Holly. Don’t get the two confused, mmkay?