Daily Outfit

So, I haven't been around blog land much in August. I accidentally agreed to too many shifts at work last month, not because I wanted to neglect my blog. I was motivated by the rising cost of proper vintage (the Nineties are not vintage people) and because I live in the second most expensive city in North America. Also I needed a new iron. But now I can hardly believe it's September and I have classes starting next week. And I'm back to working part time and I'm feeling very inspired and I have a number of planned posts to write.

I bought this 70's does 40's skirt back in April and promptly forgot about it. And then I found it again and wore it twice last week because it's so easy to shop for clothes it. And after months of scouring thrift stores throughout the city, I finally found the perfect red cardigan and who cares if it was too hot, I'm going to wear it! I haven't really bought any new winter clothes yet, but I bought a number of cute things that I can wear in the autumn because all of the vintage stores I went to were having summer clear out sales. Yay!!! The draw back is that now I have created a huge pile of mending and altering sitting next to my pile of embroidery projects.

For this faux-necklace scarf, I just took a medium sized square and folded it into a triangle and then in half until it was thin enough, twisted it real tight and tied it into a double knot, which I stuck under my collar. It's perfect if you want to wear a necklace of a certain colour, but don't have one.

For September's Cinema Tuesdays theme, I'm just going to do four Technicolor Musicals, but not necessarily four with colour by Technicolor. Guess which one's I've picked.

Cardigan: thrifted

Shirt: thrifted

Skirt: vintage

Belt: vintage

Scarf: vintage

Sweater Guard: vintage

Sandals: thrifted SAS

Earrings: vintage

This is from Everyone Says I Love You, which is my second favourite Woody Allen movie and hey, who doesn't love watching a group of people dressed up as Groucho singing "Hooray For Captain Spaulding" in French?

How to Tie a Scarf #6

I call this one "The Audrey". It's very elegant and so easy to do, you can do it while standing on the bus. It's also great for preserving your hair style in a sudden wind or rain storm or covering up your curlers.

1. Take a medium or large square scarf. Fold into a triangle and place on head. Take the ends and cross them under your chin.
2. Bring the ends around and tie a double know at the base of the back of the neck.
3. Adjust the front of the scarf so that it is covering your hair, but not your bangs and/or top of the forehead. Put on a pair of large sunglasses and stalk anyone who looks like Cary Grant, Gregory Peck or William Holden.

How to Tie a Scarf #5

What's the girl's equivalent of the matching tie and handkerchief?

Why the matching scarf and tights, of course!

1. Select a long, skinny silk scarf in a solid colour that matches your favourite pair of brightly coloured opaque tights -not black, since the effect will be lost.

2. Wear a button down shirt (or blouse) with a collar in a shade of white or cream. This is best since a plain shirt will further draw attention to the scarf.

3. For the girly Marlene Dietrich look: do up the top button, turn up the collar, fold the scarf in half, place around the neck and thread the ends through the scarf and centre it. Tie into a small, fluffy bow tie and turn the collar down. Adjust as necessary.

or
For the more arty/Girl Guide look: unbutton the first two or three buttons, place scarf under the collar, tie into a large bow just under the first done-up button.

4. Accept compliments on your original awesomeness.

How to Tie a Scarf #4

1. Place a patterned oblong scarf around your neck, it's best to use one on the narrower side. Keeping one side long enough to tuck under your cardigan, tie a square knot (not too tightly) and push the longer side up through the neck and spread it evenly over the knot.

2. With your right hand, pick up the panel an inch or two in from the edge of the scarf and wrap it around the first button. It's best to work from the top down and the wear a medium-weight cardigan, (a light wool is best) with slightly large button holes.
3. Carefully send the button-scarf combo through the button hole. Repeat. If you have a scarf tail at the end, try to tuck it into your half slip, if you're wearing one.
4. Adjust the scarf so that the knot is covered up and the scarf isn't too tight around your neck. Done.

I got this idea from one of my vintage book of various scarf knots. I've never seen anyone else wear a scarf like this, so if you do try this out please send me the link!

How to Tie a Scarf #2

This is an easy style to wear and if you carefully pin the safety pin wear you want it on your sweater and make sure that the pin is dead straight, then the scarf will stay put (even under your coat) and you wont have to adjust it all day!

My Grandmother gave me this book, it's fantastic and explains what I did so much better then I could. The Knaughty Look by Lorraine Hammett (who, according to the introduction, introduced the scarf clip to southern Ontario)

How To Tie a Scarf #1

In case you hadn't noticed by now, I love scarves! At the moment I have 46 vintage ones. I started collecting scarves because one of my favourite vintage stores has a gigantic bin of 2 for $4.99 scarves, which is the only thing I can afford to buy every time that I go in to look around and don't want to leave without buying anything.

I'm starting a campaign to bring scarves back- they're pretty, practical and cheap. A scarf can add pizazz to any outfit, whether it be carefully selected and ironed the night before, or whatever one grabs off the floor in the morning while running late. Scarves are also the most versatile of accessories due to various ways you can tie them. Which is why I'm introducing a new blog series which will run every fortnight.

The above picture is how I tie my scarf the vast majority of the days when I wear a scarf.

1. Lay a medium-sized square scarf out flat.
2. Loosely gather and pick up the scarf lengthways.
3. Hold one end of the scarf securely while taking the other end of the scarf and giving it a couple of loose twists.
4. Holding the ends carefully, place the scarf around your neck and off to one side.
5. Secure with scarf clip and fluff the ends of the scarf.

I find that scarf clips are far superior then tying the scarf with a knot, as knots produce crinkly fabric after the knot has been untied and they produce unwanted strain upon the delicate fabric. Scarf clips tend to be hard to find in brick and mortar stores, (I bought mine from the lovely penorus) so here are three of my favourites currently available from Etsy:

Beaded Filigree Clip $5.50 from ForeverClassique
If I had money right now, then I would buy this one (who doesn't love a cute bow?) $5.00 from KellysVintageGoods
Gold Crown clip $8.00 from VermontJewelry