Summer of Love

Seems like months ago.  It was months ago - where does the time go?  It was a beautiful wedding, and I'm so glad that the photographer got such a good picture of all the ladies.  All my best friends!  We just got back from a weekend of cabin-on-the-beach fun, all seven of us plus a baby and two buns in ovens.  It was fantastic, and although the weather was pretty much the opposite of what you see above, that never seems to dampen spirits; it's just a good reason to stay inside and gossip over plates of cheese and bowls of soup!

Couture and Romance in Elle Ukraine

From sexy secretaries to romantic gowns and drama - these are my two fashion alter egos I think.  Love the styling and make-up and the deep purples, and the model kind of reminds me of 1990's super model Nadja Auermann.

Sexy Secretaries in Self Service Magazine

Speaking of bras....  I know we can't have a secretary editorial spread without some lingerie, but it wasn't the undies that caught my eye here.  I love the blouses and skirts, and every once and I while see styling like this and it reminds me that this is what I want to wear every day in my dream life.  I like to imagine that if I had a job that didn't require me to be on my feet most of the day, I could totally pull this off.  Right?

1970's Lingerie

Retro-undie time!  In the last couple of years I have just decided that I'm over new-school bras with the underwires and padding and formed-foam cups.  I would come home from work and the first thing I did was take off my bra!  It felt like everything rubbed and dug in and the shape looked fake.  I guess that the totally round shape is supposed to look like the shape of a fake boob, not a real one.  

So I started buying bras from the thrift store.  Ones that are in good shape, not ratty or anything, but old-school cotton bras and thin lace bras and ones that are kind of a sports-bra-hybrid.  I've bought some amazing ones, and now I'm scared that my favorite-ever bra from Value Village will wear out and I'll never be able to find another one!  Though recently a friend gave me a new lace bra from Aritzia for my birthday and it's lovely and along the lines of the less structured bras, so maybe that will come back into style.

It's kind of a 1970's shape that I like.  I think that the silhouette looks good and the bras are pretty and they are so much more comfortable than the pokey ones I used to wear.  I'll just keep scouring the thrift stores until what I like comes back into style.  Actually, seeing as the ones at the thrift store cost around three dollars, never mind!

This does make me think that I'll pick up an old lingerie pattern next time I see one at the thrift store!  I wonder if I could make something comfortable...  Maybe when my favorite one falls apart I'll try to make a pattern from it.

 I just had to include this photo!  How cool are these girls, hanging out at the Daytona 500 in their swimsuits?
And carrying their leather clutches?!?!

No Common Thread

Video Star

I don't usually even watch fashion videos, though they are obviously quickly becoming a popular vehicle for advertising.  The ones that I have seen are often cheesy, but count on Inez and Vinoodh to bring something originally spooky and beautiful to the genre.  It doesn't feel like an ad at all, though it is, for Nina Ricci.

Purple and Turquoise

Oh, I'm a bad blogger.  I know, it's been a week, but what can I say?  I had a birthday, had a party, had a reunion, got a new car, made a dozen bow ties...  and just kept on not being excited about the internet.  I'm sure the mood will pass, and until it does:  new ring and nail polish.  Karl gave me the ring for my birthday - it's from the 1920's, New Mexico turquoise.  And a friend gave me the nail polish because she knew I wanted a cool shade of purple.  This is cool.  It's OPI Ink Suede.  The Suede-ness means that it's kind of matte and metallic, and also that it doesn't last too long, but it looks great while it does!