Wardrobe Wednesday: My trip to the Mother Ship -- The Pinup Girl Boutique

I am writing this blog post from sunny, Southern California today.  I am having a grand time on vacation with my family. One of the perks of being married to a Californian is visiting the in-laws usually means a trip to the golden coast!

One of the things that I just absolutely had to do while we were here in So-Cal was to visit the Pinup Girl Boutique in Burbank, CA.  This boutique houses all of the brands that I love that are created for and by Pinup Girl Clothing (check their website--you'll die of the fabulousness.)   The store I work in, Retro Vixen, also tries to stock these brands whenever possible.  The clothes are super high quality, and designed and constructed in the USA.   I was super excited for a chance to see the clothes in person, rather than from my computer screen--to feel them, and to try them on!   Of course, another thing I was excited for was my chance to meet my girl-crush ( a lady I look up to a whole bunch) Miss Doris Mayday!

First, The store itself is beautiful. There are beautiful touches everywhere, from the chandeliers to the subtle glittery flecks in the floor, to the vintage lady head vases sitting on shelves.  My favorite decorations were the enormous framed prints of some of the beautiful photography by Pinup Girl Clothing's founder, Laura Byrnes.

Second, The Staff was amazing.  Doris greeted me when I walked in, like I was an old friend! The lovely, Margarita, was super friendly and answered any question I had and helped me find everything I was looking for.

The whole experience was beyond amazing.  I felt like I was welcomed back to the Mother Ship of the pin-up/retro-loving planet that I hail from. If you are a lover of pinup, rockabilly, and vintage-inspired fashions you need to make it to this store some day--no matter how far away you live.  It is the "Mecca" for us retrocentric ladies and we all need to make the pilgrimage home! 
 

After a great time at the Pinup Girl Boutique, I ventured out to more of the fine stores on Magnolia Blvd.  (AKA Retro Row)  The whole street was filled with amazing vintage shops and wonderful restaurants.  On the last Friday of each month all of the stores are open late and food trucks line the street for the area's monthly "Ladies Night Out."  I hope the next time I return I can bring my girls with me and we can experience a ladies night together!

Now On to what I wore to the shop:

 

I wanted to wear my favorite Pinup Girl Clothing skirt to the boutique, so I opted for my "Doris Skirt" in atomic print, a black tee by Sourpuss Clothing and my pink wedges by B.A.I.T. footwear.

 

 

 

I accessorized with this fun, personalized necklace by I Sew Cute, given to me by my best friend, Katty Delux.

 

 

This is what I tried on  (I wanted to buy them all, but I had to be budget minded)

 

 

The Harley Dress!  Loved!!!  Its so twirly, and I loved how it made my shoulders look! The fabric was amazing, beautiful print, slightly textured, and a perfect weight. I didn't buy this as the shop, but a day later I regretted not buying it so much, I went ahead and ordered it online.

 

 

Next, the Sailor dress!   The famous, Dita Von Tease, has been seen wearing this same dress--it's that fabulous! The dress is adorable and one of the company's best sellers.  I had to have it, bought it on the spot!

 

 

The Pinup Couture Luscious Dress in mint with Mira the mermaid.  I adore this dress!  I didn't buy it only because I already own a Luscious in a different color and I wanted two other dresses more.  I will have this dress someday though.. I will.. its too adorable not to be mine!

 

 

Finally,   Courtesan Dress in fetish print!  I loved this dress so much! It came home with me! The print has high heels, corsets, masks, gloves, and pinup girls but its small enough that you see the dress, not the print.  The black parts are a velvety texture! This dress is a fun sexy option for a night out! I cannot wait to take it for a spin!

 

I left the store with some fabulous dresses, a Pinup Girl Clothing "Made in the USA" t-shirt and the ladies at the shop were sweet enough to give me a "I Love P.U.G." tee as a gift.  With one more photo with Doris, and my bag of goodies, I was on my way. I had an absolutely amazing time! One of my most favorite of days!

 

 

 

If you haven't checked out PinupGirlClothing.com yet.. do it now!  Go grab one of these amazing dresses, or some other lovely thing from their site.  If you're in Kansas City keep an eye out for more official Pin Up Girl Clothing to hit our racks at Retro Vixen in the future!

 

Wardrobe Wednesday: My Summer Wardrobe Wish List

Now that Memorial day has passed and school is out of session the start of Summer vacation has begun.  Whenever the seasons change I always feel like my wardrobe needs a few new key pieces, here are a few things I hope to acquire in my closet for the summer of 2013!

 First is a great graphic tee,  on hot days throwing on something light and loose always feels good, but you don't have to trade style for comfort, you can have both!  I love  this union jack tank from Forever 21, ever since I fell in love with the Spice Girls in the nineties the British flag has had a special place in my heart.



Graphic tee



Next, is a great tote bag.  This bag would be perfect for bringing your necessities to the pool or beach, or just using as an over sized purse.  I am a lover of a big purse, especially in the summer, I like to have room in my bag for a bottle of water and a pair of flip flops in case my shoes get too uncomfortable.

Sailor girl Tote Bag


An absolute must have for the summer months in a great looking maxi dress.  Such a versatile piece to any wardrobe, you can dress them way up for a nice evening out, or go casual and boho chic.  I love this one from JC Penney.  


Maxi Dress


I would also love a maxi skirt this summer.   A skirt like this could function so many ways-- swim suit cover up, or paired with that graphic tee,  I bet it could even be worn as a strapless dress if you add a belt... this would be a great piece to through in your suitcase when going on vacation.



Maxi Skirt

 

 What is on your Summer wardrobe wish list this year?

Wardrobe Wednesday: All American 4th

I love dressing in red, white, and blue.   I feel like I am a quintessential All-American girl, and I am always drawn towards red and navy when it comes to clothing.   So, last week on 4th of July, of course I brought out the patriotic pallet from my closet.

A classic, light-weight, red cardi from Old Navy,  A fun pin-up style navy dress from Break-Down Bettie, navy  leggings from Charlotte Russe, thrifted necklace, home-made hair clip, and red Converse  complete my Americana-inspired look.

My whole family dressed for Independence day,  all of them are wearing clothes from JCPenney, we support Ellen :)!

Geoff and I have been married for almost 12 years now, and we are still pretty crazy about eachother!

Stripes, plaid, and gingham in red, white, and blue make for an all-American family.

Budget Breakdown for my outfit:

Old Navy Cardigan  $16 after 20% off Coupon

Breakdown Betty Dress $16  *to get one of your own click HERE

Charlotte Russe Leggings $5

Thrifted Necklace $2

Home-Made hair flower:  $0

Converse Chuck's : $40 from the Converse Factory Store

Grand Total of $79,  $39 without the shoes, not too shabby.

Wardrobe Wednesday-- Let's Go Shopping!!

This week I'd thought I would take you shopping with me.  I visited the Urban Outfitters in Milwaukee this week, while on a trip visiting family in Wisconsin.  I went with my 20 year old cousin, Lisa, and her two 18 and 19 year old friends.  I was the odd 30 something gal out.. but I had a great time, and I think the girls may have mistaken me for 25 :)  I had a great time and the store was so fun.  Its nice to visit a store other than Marshall's, Burlington Coat Factory, Target, or Savers every once in a while.  I am still a thrifty shopper to the core and usually Urban Outfitters is above what I like to pay (I have this pact with myself to try not to ever spend over 30bucks on any one piece of clothing)  but it being a holiday week they were having a "Big Ass Summer Sale."   Sale is one of my favorite words (ass is another!)

fun stuff to try!

I easily found many things that  swayed toward my vintage/quirky/retro aesthetic and had an armful of things to try on (nothing costing over $30)

First, I tried this over sized scoop neck yellow top with a large yellow rose print.  It was marked down to $9.99  I am in desperate need of every day tops to wear to normal places like the grocery store.  I tend to buy stuff for fun parties, and evenings at the theater, and other things that I usually don't even do.   This shirt went home with me.

I loved this pineapple print dress for only $29. The print was so fun and I loved the longer length fuller cut skirt, it has that late 50's early 60's vibe that is sooo my ideal style.  Sadly they didn't have my size, I could have squeezed the zipper all the way up on this size 6,  but it would not have been flattering, I really needed an 8.  Just because it zips, don't mean it fits.. memorize that phrase, its true, and sometimes overlooked--think about all the ill-fitting jeans out there with camel toe and muffin top.

Next I found this fun cut away sweatshirt!  I really liked the idea of the cut out shoulders. I like my shoulders but hate my underarms, this is a way to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. The price tag was $24.99, which I thought was a little too high for a sweatshirt (I like my prices extra low)  However, I have plans in the future to try to recreate this look for less at home, I think it will make a great DIY project for the blog, and I actually really like the look.

I liked this dress/tunic  on the hanger, and it looked okay on, but the straps were just too dang long.  What is up with people making tank top straps, dress straps whatever sooo dang long who has that much space between  their shoulders and their girls?  You can't tell from the pic but if I hadn't bunched up the straps in the back the neck line would have been at my waist line!!

Lastly, I tried this.  I LOVE this dress!  It has a 40's style double breasted shirt top, it hits right around my knee and it has FLAMINGOS on it!!  This is a perfect dress for me, cute and quirky.  I love things that ultra serious types would find annoying.   It was marked down to $29, it fit great, and  now it's mine!!!   I also found a cute little summer shrug for $9.99 that matched.. it came home too.

Shopping is one of my favorite things to do, but shopping on vacation is even more fun.  On vacation I get the sense that it's okay to splurge a little and to treat myself.   What kinds of things do you look for when you're shopping?

Wardrobe Wednesday "The Good Wife"

This week a memory card from a photo shoot by Paper Moon Photography that once was lost became found.. amazing grace! I am so excited to finally have these photographs!  The adorable set was the real life kitchen of Vixen Pin-Up Photography owner, Nikki Moreno-Whipple.  This might be the cutest kitchen in America.  The stuff it's made of is cotton candy, fairy dust, dream clouds, and cheesecake, I think.  The whole mid-century home is done to the authentic vintage nines, if Nikki ever looses interest in photography she definitely could have a career in interior design.

I wanted to use the photo shoot to get some pics for promotional materials for my up and coming accessory line Mavyn Made.  I wore my favorite yellow gingham and eyelet dress, I found the dress last year on eBay and jumped on the bidding train. I won it for about $26 after shipping. I made the matching bow, a perfect example of a Mavyn Made product. I found the fun apron at Marshalls for $12. The shoes I bought a few years ago on eBay for dirt cheap, like $8 after shipping;  this was the first time I wore them, but I KNEW that someday they would come in handy,(you don't pass up adorable $8 shoes!)

These are unedited photos by Paper Moon Photography by Charlie Girl.
Hair by Nikki Moreno-Whipple, Makeup by Charlie Girl

So here is the Budget Break Down of this Photo Shoot appropriate look:

Vintage Dress via EBay $26

Apron  from Marshall's $12

Shoes via EBay $8

Hair bow by Mavyn Made free for me $8 for you :)

The total cost of this look is about  $54 bucks! Not too Shabby!

I realize I was also wearing pearls, those were a precious gift from my husband's grandmother, I have no idea how much they cost and where she got them.

Memorial Day Thrifting

It's no secret that Saver's, a thrift store benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters, is pretty much my favorite place to shop.  On random days throughout the year, usually holidays or around holidays, they have a big 50% off clothing, housewares, and accessories sale.  Memorial day is my favorite, because it is the perfect time to stock up on summertime goodies.   This year I spent a meager $35 bucks and some change and got all of this:

1. Beautiful high waisted full-swing style skirt by Odille.  This brand is usually sold at Anthropologie for anywhere from $68 to $120 or  more... but I got it second hand for a measly 5 bucks, it looks brand new, there is one spot where the hem needs mending but that is an easy peasy fix.

2. Adorable little sundress by Love 21 (forever 21's line for more mature ladies, like not teenagers)  this dress probably cost about $25 or so brand new. I paid $5.  Its super cute and soft, and is going to be one of my favorite things to wear this summer. I love the rope detail.

3. For only $3.50 I got this fun lime green and white number.  I love its sweetheart neck, and full skirt, it has a longer length and falls below my knee.  It has a total pin-up vibe which I love. Oh, and it was insanely cheap.

4.  Next, I got this old red dress.  I am guessing its from the 80's, judging by the huge shoulder pads that I will be cutting out.  This dress is kind of ugly, but it has a lot of potential and it was only 2 bucks.   I love the quirky label "KC Petites."  This will be a fall/winter dress since it is made of heavy fabric, and I am very lacking in  colder weather dresses.  I have plans to give this dress a face lift and a new fabulous life.

5.  I also got this cute little vintage top. I am not sue what decade its from, but I can tell its pretty old.  Love the label, "You Babes." I took this home for $1.50

6. Work Out Top, it still had tags on it.. originally $7... I paid $1.50. The front is plain and the back has a floral design.

7.  My husband might be one of the few guys out there that really enjoys wearing a tie.  Whenever I am out thrifting I am on the look out for a cool tie. Today I found two, one is vintage and I love its pink and gray color scheme.  The other one is fun too.  They were each $1.50

8.  While I was in the accessory area looking at ties, I also found myself a belt, its real leather and it was only a single buck.

9. Can't forget the kids.  The girl's clothes were kind of picked over by the time I got there, but I did manage to find this lovely little Old Navy top for Shay.  $2.00

10.   I found a couple cute T-shirts for my little man, Will.   I only have one pictured, its from Gap Kids by the way.  The other one has a monster truck on it, he is currently obsessed with monster trucks so he quickly demanded to wear it to the pool with his Monster Jam swim trunks, so I don't have a picture.  Each shirt was only  $1.00

 11.  Lastly, I found some super cool vintage fabric.  I can't say for sure that they are real vintage, but judging by the color, texture, and cedar chest smell.. I am guessing that it is.  It's very heavy and will make the perfect curtains for my bedroom.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  There is a ton of yardage, more than enough to dress both of my boudoir windows.  All that fabric for only $2.50

I also found a little scrap fabric for making bows!  It was only $1 and I can make at least 8 adorable bows out of it!

 So there you go, my Memorial Day haul!!

Wardrobe Wednesday #3 "Jress"

I got this little "Jress" (jeans + dress) from one of my favorite online stores, Le Bomb Shop.  Its one of my favorite things to wear.  It's light weight, easy, comfy and super cute.  I pair it with leggings, because I hate having to worry about not showing my booty if I need to bend over!  Short dress + Leggings = My lazy every day outfit.  This combo is just as comfy as sweats but everyone else thinks you look put together! 

The fun aqua blue sunglasses I got from The Clothes Mentor, ( a super cute re-sale shop) and I love them. Big sunnies make it possible to go without makeup and no one finding out!  I wore a yellow hair flower that I made myself, you can purchase one of your own here from my etsy shop, Mavyn Made.  The necklace is two birds purchased on a twig and its all yellow, I got it years ago during one of those amazing 10 thing for 5 bucks sales that Claire's used to do. 

Oh, and I wore my strappy red go-to sandal/wedges... I wear them with everything, they are falling apart... I like pairing yellow and red it reminds me of ketchup and mustard, which reminds me of hot dogs, which reminds me of SUMMERTIME!!!

And PS.. My Hair was fabulous that day because it was the day after taking the Pin Up 101 class at Vixen Pin-up Photography. The Hair was "did" by the always amazing Nikki Moreno-Whipple and I was very careful when I slept not to mess it up  so I could get 2 days out of its cuteness.

This is a better picture.................................................But this one has my feet in it!

Budget Break Down
Hair Flower---Free for me
Sun glasses--- $5.00 from Clothes Mentor
Necklace--  Claire's  $0.50
Leggings--  Charlotte Russe $5.00
Dress--- Le Bomb Shop, purchased during after Christmas sale for $26.00
Shoes--  Target bought way back in 2007 for $12


Total outfit =  $48.50  Not too Shabby!!!

Wardrobe Wednesday #2 "Let's set Sail"

"Let's set Sail  Ensemble"

I LOVE this outfit!!! I actually found the amazing vintage skirt last year  and never had the right top to go with it, I was drawn to it because I loved the chino-type fabric and it's slight nautical feel . I finally found something that looks cute with it and it's becoming one of my favorite things to wear!!  This is one of my most original, unique outfits, and one of my most budget friendly, since most of it was thrifted.  I love clothes that some people might adore and others might find slightly strange or obnoxious.  I am guessing the skirt is from the late 70's or early 80's, it came with a strippy-ropey belt thing that I chucked to the side and exchanged for a little red skinny belt, because I was going for a more 50's era look. 

I found the light weight navy cardigan* at Old Navy, it was a super find, because I have been looking for an inexpensive classic shaped. light weight,  NAVY cardigan for a looooong time.  I picked up a red one too, because a red cardigan is a staple in my wardrobe and my other two are starting to fade.  The striped  tee was also found at Old Navy for a clearance sale steal of a price!!  I love Old Navy for basic layering pieces!

*To snag your own cardigan, click here.

For accessories,  I paired my very own Mavyn Made hair flower, with a gold necklace with a bow shaped pendant, and of coarse the red belt! Finally, I slipped on some tan, peep-toe, sling backs*  and I was good to set sail, or go to lunch and shopping with a friend. 

*Click here for more detail about the shoes

Here's the Budget Breakdown for this outfit... its one of the cheapest, since most of it was thrifted!

Old Navy Cardigan- $19.99 , but used a 20% off coupon so only $16.01

 Old Navy T-Shirt- $5.98, plus 20% coupon so  $4.79

 Thrifted Skirt- $3.99

Thrifted Necklace $4.99

Thrifted Belt $2.99

Thrifted Shoes $8.00

Mavyn Made hair flower- Free for me, since I made it, ha!

Grand Head to Toe Outfit Total: Only $40.77!!!

It's almost May...

... and that means it is almost swimsuit season. I know that most of us ladies dread wearing a getup made of  poly/spandex/lycra  something fierce. Finding a swimsuit that hides the right things, flatters the right the things, keeps the right things in their place and actually looks cute and chic,  can be a daunting task.

Have no fear, I have found the PERFECT swimsuit, that I believe will look good on every "body".  Let me introduce you to my friend Esther Williams.

Ms. Williams was an iconic swimmer, movie star, and pinup in the 1940s and 50s.  She was known for her amazing aquatic dancing, and her hot little bikini bod. 

So, what does this have to do with your bathing suit woes?  There is a line of  vintage style swimsuits named after the lovely lady that will make you feel like a purrdy little pinup the moment you slip one on.  The "Esther Williams Classic Sheath," this suit will be the only suit you will ever want to wear.  It's ultra flattering, modest, and at the same time sexy!  I have two of them and I love them!

Notice how the suit looks good on BOTH models, who have completely different body types! These suits come in sizes 4 through 26, one for everyone!

Here I am in an UNEDITED photo from Vixen Pin Up Photography

 wearing my Esther Williams Classic Sheath

This swimsuit is lined with almost a spanx like material on the inside and the front of the swimsuit has an extra layer of fabric for ruching. I feel completely firm and confident when I am wearing it, the only down side is it can get a little toasty, thats when I take a dip in the pool to cool off.

The sizing runs pretty true on the solid color suits, the printed suits run a little smaller.  My navy suit is an 8, and I also have a red one with white polka dots thats a 10, but it actually fits a bit more snug than the Navy 8.. they have slightly different fabric content so the fit is a little different.

If you would like to get your own suit I recommend going to www.leisureforwomen.com, they have many different colors and prints to choose from, the lowest price I have found on the web and excellent customer service.  Be aware of their sizing chart, its a little strange according to it I should have ordered a size 14.

If you're a local Kansas City gal and you prefer trying things on Donna's Dress Shop and Retro Vixen have both carried the swimsuits, but the sizes and varieties can be limited and they tend to get snatched up right away. Go ahead and check out the stores though because they are filled with cute one of kind goodies.

Happy Shopping Ladies!

-Devyn Beth