Grable is Able!

Hello, darlings!

Yesterday for a job interview, I took hair inspiration to new heights: Betty Grable's upswept curly 'do from the iconic 1943 pinup poster.

 I had to arrange the curls a little differently in my interpretation to allot for my hair length and to camouflage my bangs, but it was such an easy style to put together, especially with help from the following YouTube tutorial from The Suwannee Lady*!

As she does in the video, I used pincurls to begin. I gave my clean hair a good base with a combination of mousse and dry shampoo post shower last night, and slept in it. The set was simply a series of flat pincurls placed in no particular pattern, as it was all to be swept up.  I removed the pins in the morning and gently ran my fingers through to break up the curls a little bit, and followed her instructions for brushing, smoothing, and arranging the curls.  Any squirrely ends were tidied with a 1 1/4" barrel curling iron - the entire style finished with strong hold hairspray, and flowers were added to either side for a dressy touch.

I cannot say enough about the longevity of this style, as well! The weather called for torrential rain and strong winds, and it held up throughout!

It will definitely be a cute go-to when the hot summer weather hits!

Until next time,

* In the video, please be mindful that the sound levels are a little wonky.  The music she uses is greater in volume than that of her voice.  Adjust the slider accordingly to your tastes.  Please don't let it deter you at all from the tutorial, though!

Outfit of the Day: Love To Look Ravishing!

Hello, darlings!

The nice weather is finally here, hooray! To celebrate, I wore a warm weather version of a favorite print of mine - leopard! - taking inspiration from these pictures of the gorgeous Natalie Wood:

My dress had been living in my closet for a while-- it was always too cold to wear it, even for layering! I got it as an early birthday present while out Christmas shopping. It was seven dollars and adorable, I couldn't pass it up!

Most of the time, I find that Forever 21 makes lovely, affordable vintage-inspired pieces, but the hemlines are consistently too short for my taste (even on a petite gal such as myself!) Not so with this dress! I was pleased to find the skirt hits at just a hair above my knee.

Probably my favorite feature, though, is the neckline. When laid flat, it appears to have a basic scoop silhouette. But once on the body, it transforms into a flattering rounded boat-neck that can be worn slightly off the shoulder as well as on!

The outfit was completed with sheer stockings and black leather round toe mid-heel pumps (not shown). The hoop earrings and bow necklace are both from Express. 

What are some of your warm weather staples, darlings? 

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Until next time, 

Mode Merr - Dressing Stylish Women!

Hello, darlings!

It's been some time since last we spoke! I have been quite busy planning my November 1st wedding, but this month I hope to get back on track with blogging.

For April's inaugural post, I want to introduce to you a line of vintage repro clothing called Mode Merr. It has just recently come to my attention and I am in love!

(The "Leading Lady Blouse" - $52 {currently on sale for $48}- Available in Blood Red, Black and Jade Green.)*

(The "Proper Circle Skirt" $78 - Available in Tan Plaid, Solid Black, and Solid Navy.)

(The "Date Night Dress" $98 - Available in Black, Blood Red, and Jade Green)

(The "Perfect Skirt" $68 - Available in Red, Black, Black Satin, Ruby Brocade, Brown, Gold Leopard, Red Houndstooth, Blue Denim, Lime,  Army Green, Moss Green, and Tangerine.)

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Mode Merr was founded in May 1989 by independent Rhode Island designer Angela Zampell, and features flattering blouses, skirts, jackets, and dresses with a large variety of sizes (XXS-XXXL), colors, fabrics, and prints. Her pieces range from $50 - $100, and on her website, linked above, she also offers gift certificates in denominations from $25 - $250!

Every piece is handmade by Angela herself and her small design team, with every attention to quality and detail. 

Many beautiful ladies have modeled for her, including Cherry Dollface, and blogger vintagevandalizm, and she's attending the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender from April 17th - 21st!

Even better, for we New England gals, she's just opened a studio on Mineral Spring Avenue in Pawtucket, Rhode Island!

You can also find Mode Merr on Tumblr, Facebook, and Twitter. So hop to, darlings, and support a local designer!

Until next time, 

(*all images from the Mode Merr website.)