The Roaring Twenties

 

So, here it is.  The big day is finally here.  Yes, I'm talking about Halloween!  And my costume this year is a flapper girl from that wild carefree era known as the Roaring Twenties.  It was a time when a war weary world decided to cut loose.  Styles morphed from stuffy Edwardian long skirts and corsets to loose fitting dresses with short hems influenced by the discoveries being made of Ancient Egyptian life and culture.  The short straight or wavy bob hairstyles were also influenced by Egyptian relics and were all the rage, but I am not that committed to the look, so I've tucked my hair into a loose roll.

At my youngest daughter's brilliant suggestion, I decided to go with a flapper girl costume since it's 2020 and the days of the flapper girls dancing the Charleston in their tasseled dresses are 100 years ago.  It was the time of prohibition, gangsters, Hollywood glam, the American nouveau riche being able to travel the world for the first time and the calm before the storm of the Great Depression and World War II.  It was a strange and remarkable epoch in American History and one that has always fascinated me. 

When I was a teenager I didn't know much about the history of this era, but Swing Dance parties were all the rage.  The artsy college kids would throw them year round, everyone had to come in costume.  My friends and I, being small town high school kids weren't on the invite list.  The way to find them was to just drive around with the windows down on a Saturday night listening for the sounds of swing music.

I scoured all the thrift shops to find a dress, but the only ones that turned up were authentic, fragile, and hopelessly expensive.  So, I broke code and went to those parties in my standard 90s alternative clothes--you know the wide leg trousers, a fitted tee with some sort of print like a can of Spam on it, Chuck Taylors, a chain wallet, etc.  We carried on that way until people started asking who these costume-less party crashers were. 

I stuck out like a sore thumb, but I just couldn't swing a swing dress.  This was all back before the internet was really in use.  Now there are tons of inexpensive options.  This dress came with a basic headband and gloves for only $28, but I opted to buy my own accessories set to go with it so I could get something a little more opulent.

Full disclosure: the pearl necklace immediately broke when I took it out of the package and tried it on.  It is made of glass pearls, not plastic, and although I appreciate the weight and quality of glass pearls over plastic, it made the strand quite heavy which is why it broke.  Fortunately there is a knot in between each pearl so only one pearl fell off and it wasn't a total disaster.  I still have all my old tools and parts for jewelry making, so I just attached a clasp to the broken ends.  It wasn't easy, but I was able to salvage the necklace, and I think the necklace really helps to sell the look.

Everything else in this kit has been lovely and very nice quality.  The dress also seems to be quite nice and a very good quality.  I think I'll have this costume for many years.  And, who knows, maybe swing dance parties will make another comeback and I can send my teenage daughters to the party in style--even if they have to crash them.  

Shopping Info:  Flapper Dress and Accessories Set from Amazon.com, Ivanka Trump Heels from ThredUp

All Hallows Eve Eve

 When black cats are seen

It's almost Halloween🦇

Yes, today is the day before the big day!  Things look a little different this year, but I said we would be celebrating and there would be costumes and that is definitely happening.  We volunteered to hand out candy at a drive through trick-or-treat event and after that we'll be fanning out all over town to do a little trick or treating of our own.

Obviously this dress is not my costume although I suppose it could be in a pinch.  Instead it was my wear to work dress today--minus the ears of course. I had to wear it at least once before October is over.  I don't know...I suppose I could get away with wearing at other times of the year--minus the ears of course. 

Oh, NO!  So Many Pumpkins!!! They're attacking meeeeee!!!!!!...........Ok, funny photo's over.  Moving on.

I won't tell you what I'll be wearing for Halloween this year.  It's only one more day to wait, so why not prolong the suspense a little.  A couple of weeks ago I posted asking for suggestions, but as it turns out my youngest daughter came up with the idea and it was a great one!  

It's something I've always wanted to do, but before you think she was merely being altruistic, you should know that she has dibs on wearing it next year.  I can't blame her for seizing an opportunity, but I think instead of that, we'll get her one of her own and then we'll go dressed alike!  That's a win for both of us.

I can't seem to get my family on board with group costumes anymore, but I have so many ideas for them!  Maybe I should just pick one, like the Avengers, dive in, start working on our costumes this winter when I'm all cooped up and then when Halloween rolls around, metaphorically and pun intended bring the (Thor's) hammer down and require at least one costume contest as a group.

If that doesn't work, maybe I'll just take a solo group photo.  Yeah, I said it.  If I put in all that work and can't get anyone to participate, I'm not above wearing all the costumes and make a photo collage of myself as a team of crime fighting, justice seeking heroes.  I'd rather not, but I will.

Sounds over the top?  I guess the pendulum has really swung from one extreme to the other with me, given that I only started celebrating Halloween about five or six years ago.  But now I'm all in on the costumes and candy--hold the gore.

What are you Halloween Costumes and plans this year?  Sound off in the comments section below and tell me who you're going to be and how you're going to celebrate!

Shopping Info:  ModCloth Cats dress from ThredUp, Heart Print Sheer Mesh Stockings - $2.00from: SHEIN

Goddess of August

I begin to sing of lovely-haired Demeter, the goddess of august,of her slender-ankled daughter, Persephone, whom Zeus, far seeing and loud thundering gave to Hades to abduct.

Against her will he seized Persephone and on his golden chariot he carried her away.  The Lord of Many whose kingdom welcomes all in time, seized her with his immortal winged horses and carried her crying loud down into misty darkness.

A sharp pain gripped Demeter's heart.  Through the barren ether she heard the shrieking voice of her beautiful daughter.  From both shoulders she cast down her dark veil and rushed like a bird over the nourishing land and sea, searching; but none of the gods or mortal men wanted to tell her the truth and none of the birds of omen came to her as a truthful messenger.

For nine days then all over the earth mighty Demeter roamed about with bright torches in her hands and in her sorrow never tasted ambrosia.  But when the tenth light-bringing Dawn came to her, Hekate carrying a light in her hands, met her.

With a loud voice Hekate spoke to her and told her the news: "Mighty Demeter, bringer of seasons and splendid gifts, I know which of the heavenly gods seized Persephone and pierced with sorrow your dear heart."

Then Demeter swore she would never set foot on fragrant Olympos and never allow the grain in the earth to sprout forth before seeing with her eyes her fair faced daughter.  

Sitting apart from all the blessed ones, she kept on wasting with longing for her daughter.  Onto the much nourishing earth she brought a year most dreadful and harsh for men; no seed in the earth sprouted for fair wreathed Demeter kept it hidden.  

So when loud-thundering, far-seeing Zeus heard this he sent Hermes to win over Hades, the dark-haired lord of those who have perished, with gentle words and bring Persephone out of the misty darkness to light and among the gods so that her mother might see her and desist from her dreadful wrath against the gods  and her great scheme to destroy the feeble races of earth-born men.

Literature info:  Excerpted and reworded at times from the Homeric Hymns.  Translated by Apostolos N. Athanassakis.

Shopping Info: Dress from ChicWish, floral headband from: SHEIN

Thriftfully Yours

I love thrifting.  I have for as long as I can remember.  It just makes so much sense to me that if you're tired of something pass it on to someone else.  You make a little money back, they spend a little less.  Everyone wins!

So, today's post is 60% thrifted from ThredUp, which has become my absolute favorite thrift shop!  Everything but my Charter School Cardi from ModCloth and my Bag from Unique Vintage, came from a single visit to thredUp.  

My Top, skirt, and flats came to a whopping total of $23.66!  How else can you get a great outfit like this for so cheap?  You can't.  You have to thrift it.

Plus, I've been in the mood for something not so autumn.  A few bright and colorful outfits that are well away from the rust and gold so prevalent right now.  Not that I don't love them, I do.  It's just nice to do something unexpected now and then.  And, it's even nicer when it doesn't break the bank to do it.

There's nothing wrong with buying retail, sometimes it's the only way to get those really gorgeous and unique things, but if you've never done much thrifting you have to give it a try!  It's such a great way to find rare gems at a bargain price.  I think I'll do another thrift shop post in November just to keep the momentum going on saving  money before the holidays.

Shopping Info:  Skirt, Top, Flats from ThredUp.  Use my link to sign up and save $20 off your first order.  Charter School Cardi from ModCloth, Purse from Unique Vintage.  Use my link to sign up for UV and save 10% off your first purchase.

Costume Ideas

Is it too soon to talk about Halloween costumes? I vote No and it's my blog, sooooooo......... I had big Halloween costume plans this year. Big! I was going to make the costumes for the Sanderson Sisters for myself and my daughters and Mr. Bleu was going to go as Billy Butcherson from Hocus Pocus. 

Now, I thought this would be the perfect group costume for my family and not just because Mr. Bleu is a master of sculpting and molding Halloween masks out of silicone and I have improved on my sewing skills, but also because we all love to watch Hocus Pocus every year.

Well, sad to say it isn't going to happen this year. It seems my daughters have entered a very individualistic phase and our days of doing group costumes may be over. I asked Mr. Bleu if he would consider a couples costume, but it appears he has caught the individualist bug too. So, I'm going solo this year and I'm clueless for a costume.

I know I wear a lot of novelty prints and maybe it seems like I'm always dressing whimsically, so I shouldn't get so excited about Halloween, but I do, particularly as my girls have developed their costume making skills.

 *Sigh* It looks as though they have outgrown me already. So, I'm taking suggestions for a solo costume. Just comment below.

Shopping Info:  Clowning Around Circus Print Dress by Rock Steady, Heels from ThredUp, Lipstick Shaped Clutch Bag - $17.95 from: ROMWE

I'll Hang the Moon For You

As you can see the colors have arrived and fall is here.  It's everywhere now, not just on my mountaintop farm.  It is a marvel, every single year.  This time of year means something else to me and maybe to a few of you too.  It means family gatherings.  My mum hosts a particular dinner each year for family that live close, but somehow we never see.  I enjoy catching up with them each year.  Our childhood was hard and it's good to see that we've all survived and some of us are even thriving.

This year as a special gift, mum spent hours, days, copying all the family photos that she has so that everyone could have a copy.  Funny how as you get older those keys to the past become so much more valuable to you.

So, while I was collecting my children from their weekly work day at the grandparents' house, I started leafing through the small piles of copied photos.  There were some that I had never seen.  They showed my dear little grandmother when she was young.  Her hair was still jet black and her eyes still had a sparkle when she smiled.  She wasn't yet worn down by hardships.  She didn't smile easily when I knew her, and she never talked about the past. 

I sat admiring her face for a long while, her hair, her clothes in those old photos.  The way she smiled with her sister and mother and seemed more at ease, more herself.  Her mother was an amazing seamstress and kept my grandmother and her children in decent clothes with the most detailed designs.  

I imagine that when she couldn't count on anything else in the world, she could count on her family, and wearing the clothes her mother created for her made her feel wrapped in her arms.  I imagine she learned to care for her children by her mother's example.  She made each of her children and grandchildren feel like we were her favorites.  I know I thought I was her favorite and I though she hung the moon.

If I could do one thing as a mother, if I could take just one lesson away from my time with my grandmother, it would be that.  I would keep my family together no matter what happens or how large it grows, or how much I dislike my new in-laws (and she did secretly dislike them!).  And no matter what choices they make or where life takes them, they would feel loved by me.  They would know that I was always there, willing to help however I could, and they would always be welcomed in my home.

I decided to dedicate this post to her--my grandmother when she still smiled.  I tried my best to copy her hairstyle from the 1940s, but I'm afraid I didn't do it justice.  She didn't really wear much make-up; she didn't need to.  And, when it came to dresses, my grandmother kept her colors natural and low key and her styles detailed and lovely, so I chose this Caterina dress and I think she would approve.  And if she didn't I would never know it.  I'd just go on feeling loved by her, like she thought I hung the moon.

Shopping Info:  COLLECTIF MAINLINE CATERINA MOSSHILL CHECK PENCIL DRESS--Free shipping on all International orders over £75 until November 1st.

Bitten by the Houndstooth Hound's Tooth

Looking for some bright colors to ring in the autumn season?  Me too!  I did a little thrifting and a little closet scouring to find some fresh prints to mix and brilliant colors for this time of year that are slightly outside the typical palette of pumpkin spice and gourd colors.  I hope you love the results as much as I do!

This is my little inspiration board that I created before I went shopping.  I do this because there are so many options out there I get distracted and wind up with three of this, none of that, and a couple of something I wasn't even looking for.  Creating a board like this not only helps me visualize what kind of look I want to create before I even leave the house or hop on the internet, it also helps to keep me focused on exactly what I was looking for.  (Don't worry, if you don't have time to do tons of thrifting, I have links for everything below so you can find exactly what is pictured on my inspiration board.)  

As you can see, we're starting with Golden Rod Yellow, Black & White, and Teal Blue.  After I have my colors picked out, I look for interesting prints.  I found the bulldog top with all the colors I was looking for at Unique Vintage!  And it is such a cute top!  

Then I went looking for a skirt to compliment it and decided to mix prints with a houndstooth print pencil skirt.  I decided that a black cardigan or blazer would be best and even though I chose yellow heels for the board, black heels would look just as nice. 

Then, for the that extra splash of color I chose a teal envelope bag.  Now, this bag is cheap.  I mean, really cheap, but I was really looking for the right color, size, and style over quality.

I don't really use a purse for carrying much beyond my wallet and keys, and I don't intend to keep this as an heirloom to hand down to my grandchildren.  It's just cute for a couple of years and then it will likely be spent.  No biggie.

On the plus side, this bag has held up well so far, and it came with a removable chain.  You really can't beat that when it comes to the world of fast fashion.

Also, it just occurred to me that I've paired houndstooth with a dog print and there MUST be an adorable pun in there somewhere even if a bulldog isn't technically a hound.  I may not think of it in time before I post this though.  So, those of you who hate all my puns can just consider this a freebie.

If you've loved this houndstooth trend we've been exploring together here on the blog, you should know that more great houndstooth styles are on the way this autumn!---Wait!  Just came up with the title pun!  Too bad, pun haters!  Better luck next time!

Shopping Info:  The Dream of the Crop Cotton Cardigan Scholastic, Mustard and French Bulldog Print Tamara Blouse from Unique Vintage, Jacquard Pencil Skirt from Talbots, Spring to Mind Ankle Strap Heel - Short Length, Teal bag from Amazon