Move Over June Cleaver: Retro-Stage Collaboration

Back with another collaboration with Retro-Stage and wowza! is it ever fabulous!  I love that Retro-Stage sells sets and also separates like this blouse and top that I put together. They really have a very streamlined way of presenting their products.  Not only do I love the blue on blue, but this top and skirt are made of the same material and totally meant to be together but work just as well as separates.  

Take a look at this style and tell me that every woman on the planet wouldn't look amazing in this style!  When you have a certain silhouette like this one that flatters every body type, I have a hard time wrapping my head around the reasons why we aren't wearing this on a daily basis.  I truly do not understand why vintage has to live in the past when this style looks just as amazing today as it did 60 years ago.

As soon as I saw these two pieces they were a must-have for me.  I love the colors and the style, it's all just so lovely.  Everything fits true to size and I want to mention that the belt is included.  This fabric is very soft and a little shimmery.  I ran the steamer over it with a washcloth rubberbanded to the end to protect the fabric.  The packaging wrinkles steamed out very easily and this skirt and top set were ready to wear.

Gosh, I've said it before but I think it's time to say it again, with an outfit like this, Move over, June Cleaver.  There are more great pieces in my collaboration with Retro-Stage on the way, so join me right back here for the next post.  You do not want to miss the gorgeous dresses on the way.

Outfit Info:  Blue 1950s Solid Lapel Blouse-$20.99, Dark Blue 1950s Solid High Waist Pleated Skirt-$21.99 from Retro-Stage.

Strawberry Winter with Retro-Stage

Not to sound like the opening lines of The Goldbergs, but back in the 80s I was a Strawberry Shortcake girl.  I loved the original American Greetings version by Mercedes Llimona and all the colorful follow-ups.  I loved the new characters and the pets and lost myself in hours and hours of play with all my dolls until it was time to pack them away in a giant strawberry carrying case.

They say that all we are is adult versions of our childhood tastes and dreams and in this aspect I can certainly relate as I am still a Strawberry Shortcake fan and I still love all things strawberry, which is why I was so excited to collaborate with Retro-Stage on their 1950s Mesh Swing Strawberry Dress.  

What a darling this dress is!  It combines my two greatest loves of vintage dresses and strawberries into one pretty piece at a very affordable price.  I added a red petticoat underneath to make the skirt nice and full and to just add a little red ruffle at the bottom, but it's just as cute as-is.

I don't know what it is about strawberry prints, but anytime I see them it is instantly love and looking  back over the past few years, I seem to find a way to sneak in a strawberry dress in the dead of winter every single year.  Well, if it's becoming a tradition, may as well embrace it and keep things going.

Things to note about this particular strawberry dress: There is the pink underlayer and a strawberry mesh top layer.  And, it has a zipper down the back and the ties at the shoulders are completely adjustable!  

So, here's to strawberry dresses in winter and another wonderful collaboration with Retro-Stage.

 Outfit Info:  Pink 1950s Strawberry Mesh Swing Dress-$26.99 from Retro-Stage

 

Year Round Glamor with Retro-Stage

Collaborating with Retro-Stage always means something glamorous, but this glittery red 1920s geometric dress from Retro-Stage's 1920's collection is definitely at the top of the list!  The perfect style for making a statement on NYE and all year round.

There are dresses in this world that just do all the right things to make you look amazing and this is one of those dresses.  Seriously, looking at myself in this dress, even I had to take a second glance and go, "Wow!  Is that really me?!"  

Since I never really know what I'll be doing for NYE until the day arrives, it's become a personal policy of mine to have a few options just in case we decide to go out at the last minute and I have to say that this dress is not only the perfect New Year's dress, but my, oh, my it's perfect for any special occasion.

If you've been reading the blog for any significant amount of time then you already know that not only am I a firm believer in having that perfect special occasion dress on hand for whenever and whatever comes your way, but I also believe in creating the special events instead of passively waiting for them to happen.  This dress is definitely making me want to throw my own NYE bash next year, or better yet, throw a 1920s themed party anytime in between, so I don't have to wait a whole year to wear this dress again. 

Let's face it, a dress this gorgeous is just too perfect to sit and wait when I could put together a little something between now and then, and if I do, I'll definitely recommend my guests check out Retro-Stage's 1920s collection.  Soooo many gorgeous dresses at very reasonable prices.

I don't know what this new year will hold, but I am extremely hopeful that there will be more time for friends, family, parties, and making memories in 2024, but no matter what may come, I definitely have the right dress for it thanks to Retro-Stage.

Outfit Info: 1920s Sequined Sleeveless Geometric Dress-$55.99, View the entire 1920s collection here

Making Christmas Memories

The holidays are usually so full that for most of the past twenty or so years, I've done all the Christmas shopping solo.  I always thought we would go out as a family and look around together, experiencing all the excitement of the season, you know that sweet spot in the shopping calendar when Black Friday is over but well before the last-minute-before-Christmas-frenzy has begun.  

I always loved that time when I was a child and have some very fond memories of walking around the brightly decorated mall with cousins and aunts and siblings and my mom.  It was magical in its way and I always wanted that for my children as well, but the Christmas stars just never aligned to make that happen.  We moved away from family for a number of years, so that wasn't an option.  In addition, Mr. Bleu was frequently away on business and back in the days before smart phones and Google Maps, I never really adapted to driving around major cities with two small children no clue where I was going.  

It's not really the way I envisioned it, but in the end it has usually been easier to browse on my computer than to try to figure out a time to load up everyone and haul them all around to half a dozen different places while trying to hide everything we bought from each other.  Still, I have never given up the hope that we could eventually make a big family shopping trip work and this year was finally our year.

The stars did in fact align this year and we all found ourselves with a Sunday afternoon free after Black Friday and before the last minute, so we decided to make a go of it.  All bundled up in warm clothes and loaded up into a single car, I really can't remember the last time we did anything as a group like this and a little part of me wonders if this will be the last time, the last Christmas we all spend under the same roof.

Good or bad, all things end, which is why it is so important to never give up on trying to make those magical moments and treasured Christmas memories.  It doesn't always work out every year, and yeah, sometimes it's ok to take a break from stressing so much about everything being perfect, but keep trying at the important stuff.  It really does make a difference in the end.

Outfit Info:  WINE RED 1930S V-NECK SOLID WRAP JUMPSUIT-$69.99  FROM RETRO-STAGE.COM  

USE MY CODE LEANDRA TO SAVE 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE

Retro-Stage Red Jumpsuit for Autumn

One of the very best things about Red is that it's an all year round kind of color.  Personally, I need my warm red things in the coldest of seasons and we are definitely heading that way, so this collab with Retro-Stage could not have come along at a better time.

I remember a few years ago thinking I did not have the kind of figure for jumpsuits, but after a collab let me try one, I realized they're pretty great and this Wine Red 1930s V Neck Solid Jumpsuit is the most flattering jumpsuit silhouette in existence.  And you can save 15% off your order with Retro-Stage by using my code Leandra.

I have loved this style for so very long, everything about it seems so feminine and romantic.  Roomy in the legs--fellow curvy girls, rejoice!!-- ruching at the sleeves with just the right amount of coverage and super comfy fabric, this jumpsuit has it all.

The best part of this jumpsuit is that it has the shape built into it so your body doesn't have to do all the work.  It's got those hourglass curves right there and waiting to make you look amazing.

While it's perfect with all the fall colors, I think this is going to make the perfect outfit to wear to Thanksgiving and especially to Christmas parties.  Eesh!  The holidays are already almost here, can you believe it!  Better get this ruby gem in your closet before the invitations start rolling in and you need it.

I have done a few collabs with Retro-Stage and truly I have loved everything from them, but this is my absolute favorite so far.

Outfit Info:  WINE RED 1930S V-NECK SOLID WRAP JUMPSUIT-$69.99  from Retro-Stage.com  

use my code leandra to save 15% off your purchase