Day 208

One Day at a Time

Vintage St.John sweater, Gay Boyer Belt, Frye Boots, Hermes Saddle Bag

All of the above items may have appeared in previous posts, but I felt it was ok to take liberties with this one.  Often times, I will only wear one item of my mom's combined with something contemporary that I own.  But on this (rarely) grey, chilly day in Los Angeles, all I wanted to wear was a nice sweater and boot combo.  As the outfit came together, I found that every item I reached for was vintage.  Some of the pieces are mine that I have collected, and some are my mom's, but there is nothing in this outfit made after 1983.  I have to say, I love the look.  It harkens back to all the shows I loved as a kid  (It's kind of Bonnie Franklin from one day at a time right?) And while I rarely do it, it felt kind of great to be in head to toe vintage. 

Everything old is new again.  I was thinking about that phrase, and so I googled it, and got the lyrics to a Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sanger song....

“Don’t throw the past away
you might need it some rainy day
Dreams can come true again
When everything old is new again”

— Peter Allen/ Carole Bayer Sanger

I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Day 194

White Nights

White sead bead handbag

White beaded bag tag & detail

What a sweet little bag, so delicate and perfect.  Truly I have not worn a white bag since my wedding, but there is something about this that would be so perfect with white opera gloves and a camel colored cocoon coat, right?!   The bag is unraveling a bit on the handle, but I think that is an easy fix.  I can't imagine that this was made by a machine, and yet- can't believe the skill it would take to make it by hand.  Oh and side note - the tag says it was made in Belgium, oh if only the Belgians knew a thing or two about artisanship.....

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Day 61

Put a ring on it…

Sweet vintage pearl and gold ring

My Apologies for missing yesterday's post, I was on Jury Duty all day, and solo in the evening with my girls, then asleep next to my 8 year old in her bed by 8:45…which I secretly love doing) This is a perfect, sweet little gold and pearl ring.  It is so impossibly small that it only fits on my pinkie, and I don't consider myself to have real meathooks (unless I am typing on an iPhone, then I am a ham handed luddite!)  Maybe this was a sweet sixteen gift for my mom?  I'll never know. It has a decidedly 40's or 50's flair.  Pearls have not really been in vogue as of late, but why not?  Don't we all need more things that are soft, luminous and gentle in our lives?  I know I do.  I am even ok with it being on my pinkie, it's a little flashier on that finger, a little "hey, how you doin?" But it gives it some edge.  Let's all wear more pearls!  xoxo

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Day 31….

J'adore Dior

Vintage Dior barrel bag

This is the vintage (1970's) Christian Dior Barrel bag I wore with the Halston outfit this past Saturday night.  I very clearly remember this bag on my mom, and the odd part of it is even though she had not worn it in years, I can still smell smoke in it.  There are few items like that, mostly the handbags that she carried her cigarettes in.  As they were inevitably crushed at the bottom, covering a wet breath mint.  Or she would put a half smoked cigarette back in the pack for later.  Gross, I know, but you all know what I'm talking about. 

I smoked from 15 to almost 34.  I had to go to hypnosis to quite.  And I am ashamed to admit, there are still times that I will take a drag on a cigarette, just to see where I stand with them.  I am happy to say I never want to go back.  Mom- I hated your cigarettes, that's why I am so stumped I ever started in the first place.  Really it was to look cool in front of my older friends.  Man, It's not cool.  It's the uncoolest thing in the universe.  To my friends that still smoke, please know that I don't judge you, I love you, and trust me, my glass house is three stories high. (Sauvignon blanc anyone?)  But if you can find the strength to quit, please do.  My mom gave up so many vices in her life that I believe she felt cigarettes would have been too much to lose.  Ironically, it was that poison that hit her the hardest.  They literally took her breath away.  

Let's all remember to be thankful for each breath we take.  It is a gift to be cherished.