orange silk & cotton candy mohair

coat  vintage

blouse  vintage

skirt  vintage

tights  h&m

shoes  vintage

The last time I photographed this cotton candy hued mohair coat was back in 2011, which feels like forever ago. I wore it then with a similarly saccharine 1960's dress covered in giant bows, and in these photos I paired with my favorite brown suede skirt and an orange silk blouse I unearthed from a pile at the Alameda Flea Market. These photos were shot over a month ago (which you probably already noticed if you follow me on Instagram) but I've been a blogging snail lately. Today I'm bundled up in a winter coat, oversized scarf, and hat with ear flaps, dreaming of those recent days when many thick layers were not a requirement!

swap with me

I remember a time when swapping clothes meant digging through piles and piles of rejects on the floors of a friend's bedroom. Luckily technology makes things a bit more pleasing and widespread, and Swapdom is the new king of swapping fun! It's free to join and there are plenty of goodies from gals and guys all over the country. I just joined and made myself a little account here where you can find several vintage pieces from my own closet. Swapdom is relatively new but I have high hopes for how it will reshape the concept of swapping items with fellow fashion lovers. Take a moment to join and share a few pieces from your own wardrobe that need a new home!

dream holiday parties

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is, not surprisingly, getting all dolled up for a good holiday party. It doesn't matter if that party takes place in a beautiful converted naval warehouse with ice sculptures and a skating rink (as my work's party this year did) or in a trashy karaoke dive bar (a holiday tradition). It only matters that a pretty dress, a bunch of friends, and lot of festive fun is involved. My party dresses this year have been mainly a parade of 1960s metallic brocade wonders, but if I were to dream up my ideal sartorial situations it would be these lovely getups. If only!

the tinsel dream dress

If you follow me on Instagram then you may remember this green tinsel number from a few weeks ago. 1960's perfection. I snapped it up and and now some lucky lady can make this the holiday party dress of her dreams! Sadly it was too small on me, otherwise I would be keeping it forever and ever. Fortunately I've at least had the pleasure of admiring it on my wall for a few days, but this beauty is ready for some festivities. It's available to purchase here!

fancy friends #04: allegra juliet

It's been some time since I did a Fancy Friends feature (ahem), but now felt like the ideal time for part four featuring none other than the dreamboat Allegra. She and I met in the most modern of ways (through the internet, of course!) but there is absolutely nothing modern about her dreamy apartment, which is just around the corner from my own. It's filled to the brim with objects both beautiful and slightly spooky, a perfect mix that is imbued with personality. Allegra lives with two funny cats named Violet (who happily posed for photos) and Rupert (who hid the entire time) and works at a thrift store where she is constantly finding covetable bits and bobs for her place. She also studies fashion design and I look forward to the day when she will create all kinds of perfectly witchy and vintage-inspired costumes that will one day become vintage treasures in their own right.

Follow Allegra on Instagram and be sure to peek at her magical tumblr here!