You know that I am surely not a country club kinda gal, but I do like the idea of rockin’ some traditionally preppy attire. Although, this is probably a little more 80′s yuppy, huh? Leather and canvas–the perfect combination of form meets comfort.
p.s. the shoes were part of a Lucky Break from Lucky Magazine, so they are insanely affordable!
Say what you will about rompers, but I still love them. I just think they are dainty and cute and oh so feminine. This one also has my favorite element of polka dots added for good measure. I would like to pair this with a cute pair of wedges, black sunglasses and a french twist in my hair. I love SUMMMER!
Okay, Okay…so I do have some overall aversions to Los Angeles (the smog, the traffic, the weird name-dropping/self promoting people), but these things are only a small portion of the city. (they just happen to be what I used to have to deal with when traveling there professionally.) When it comes to shopping, vintage shopping specifically, California really is a gold mine. Los Angeles and San Francisco seem to have a limitless supply when it comes to (mint condition) vintage clothing. Is it the lack of weather fluctuation that allows them such bounty? Is it the access to film studios or the fact that wealthy, well-dressed people have flocked to these cities for decades? I can’t really say for sure, but I can address my want to have such access, so for all of you fortunate enough to have regular access to this splendor, I admit my jealousy.
If you are lucky enough to call the LA area home, then I will say that you have to attend an event being pulled together by Clever Vintage Clothing in Culver City. The vintage extravaganza brings together over 10 vintage clothing designers/dealers and sounds like the perfect place to finish off your summer picnic dress purchases.
If you happen to be a midwestern dweller (like myself) or an east coast crooner (which is probably 50% of my readership), I ask that you do not fret. The affordable finds of Clever Vintage are also available on Etsy! You heard me, a California vintage boutique, filled with carefully curated pieces and amazing prices is right at your fingertips. I have my eye on this little number.
So my lovely friends over at 24 Savvy know just how to make a gal on bedrest super happy–give her chocolate and fuzzy, comfy slippers!
The picture above is the position I assume for the greater part of each day to keep my little piggies from swelling into little piggy sausages! But when I do have to walk around the inside of these darn slippers are amazing. They are Dearfoams and they have this cushy, lovely sole that feels like you are walking on a tempur pedic mattress all day. I am in love.
And the chocolate…well, what can I say…my sweet tooth has not subsided. I alternate between chocolate (Dove and the new M&M Pretzel flavors are the current favorites) and then Nerds and Sweetarts. It’s a sad affair really, but at least I am off the cotton candy for a bit. The chocolate that the 24 Savvy gals sent, just happened to be Dove, but it was the new Peanut Butter flavor (well, new to me, anyway). The peanut butter has the perfect texture and the right salt ratio, too! I may or may not have finished it all on my own.
My goal is to get back in action this week and post a bit more, but I thought you would like to see that I am doing a bit better.
*Please note that the lovely items I received were a gift from the 24 Savvy team.
Well hello, my lovely readers. I bet you have been wondering where the heck I have been? I will say it has been a crazy couple of months recently with traveling for work and this growing belly. Sadly, little Budget Retro has taken the hit when it comes to attention. She doesn’t need to be fed or clothed and she doesn’t pay my bills so she is the first to get ignored. I am so sorry!!
But to give you a quick update, I have few back-logged posts from a trip to NYC and a lovely little shop in Brooklyn, not to mention a ton of shoes I have been dying to post. (my personal wardrobe has turned into very large cotton t-shirts and weird maternity capri pants!?!) I am just itching to cover some of Mod Cloth’s new stuff too!
I also just had a little run-in with the hospital, it seems little Madeline is trying to make her debut a little early. I got released yesterday and now I am trying to focus, slow down and take it easy. I am trying to prioritize our over-booked summer and and just relax (not an easy thing for me.) Hopefully this weekend I can get cuaght up on all that content that I think you will excited about.
In the meantime, please feel free to send me any super-cute stuff that you noticing for summer!
The final days before summer are upon us and I am just so excited! Warm weather, fair food, camping, swimming, farmers’ markets and bike rides. Yay! It just seems like this cold season has lasted so long and I just can’t wait for sun on my skin.
So this week’s dress is just screaming summer. And unfortunately I can’t articulate it any better than the lovely sales description offered up on the Shabby Apple site:
Leave a trail of admirers basking in your glow as you stroll through manicured gardens or down main street in this sunny, breezy frock. Made for a chic fashionista, this frock is all scallop and show, with a row of flouncy ruffles descending from the left shoulder across the chest, flutter sleeves, and a cinched waist. Pair it with dark heels and an antique hat for the classic Lulu look, or sweet flats and a silk shawl for a sunny, relaxed look. The light and airy cotton blend is the perfect answer to getting dressed up in the summer’s heat, and the length keeps things ladylike when you take a seat on the grass to people watch.
It’s a fairly basic question with a seemingly complex answer. I mean, I just don’t get how a country, as a whole, can exude such effortless savvy? I mean from food, to design to vintage fashion those people just have it together! *sigh* How can I ever be content with my mid-west American roots knowing that a country like that exists and functions (more efficiently) on a daily basis? I think maybe I should just think of the whole country as like that one artsy guy that you liked in college, though he wouldn’t give you the time of day and then 5 years later you found out that your friend hooked up with him and he had horrible hygiene and bad breath. Yup, France maybe you just look and seem cool but on the inside you are slowly rotting? Eh…it’s worth a try.
But back to why they are so cool, again. I have been torturing myself in the world of baby registries and stroller shopping. It is so sad that most of the mainstream products are mass produced garbage. I mean how much plastic is really safe? The only place you can find the really good stuff are boutiques and the prices usually match the quality. Who knew a jumper for a 12 month old could cost $109!?!
In my constant search for stuff that is more me and will hopefully be more Madeline (did I tell you we chose the name?) I look at every magazine, blog or book I can. Yesterday we were at the bookstore and I found the mother load of eye candy and her name was Milk Magazine. Unfortunately, the whole magazine was in french, so I just looked at the pictures. It appeared to be a cross between Elle Decor, Nylon and Parenting magazines. Every page was voyeuristic delight for me–cool homes, cool clothes and oh yeah…some kids thrown in there too! I mean, even if you don’t have kids, but you love style…this pub is worth checking out. I could so rock a few of the outfits those 8 year olds were wearing!
If you google the site you can also translate the content, which is helpful. My favorite part was The Sartoralist style photos of kids on the street like this one:
The wedding I have been talking about is tomorrow in Cleveland and my final dress choice is a little less than desired. It’s basically a black moo-moo with some frilly sleeves. I am hoping that I can pull off the cute yellow espadrilles in my closet, but if my little piggies start to swell that will be a no-go. ha! I am so pathetic!! But we made a quick run to Target last night to get the little dude some new clothes for the reception and I saw the Zac Posen for Target line. Oh wow–is it stellar! The pieces appear to be well-made and ready to wear. I stood there just touching everything while my husband asked why I was torturing myself . I just kept mouthing that I won’t be fat forever! ha!!
I don’t think this image is doing it justice, but this was my favorite.
I have been wanting to post about the new She & Him album for well….at least a month, but lately I am nothing more than a completely exhausted, hormonally unstable pregnant women. I really thought I would rise above all those stereotypes and be the normal one! No such luck, but wow I do have quite a few funny tales to tell. Not sure Budget Retro is the right forum for such frivolous babble, but…the stories may eventually surface somewhere.
Let’s get back to the post at hand and a little Zooey. I took all of your advice last fall and I have been diligently trying to grow my hair out (it’s almost there) to get her look in lieu of the Amelie bob. And how cute is she in this stinkin’ video? I love the vibe of this album, perfect for driving around with the windows down on a sunny day. Summer is almost here! Bicycles, farmers markets, and ice cream, yay!
p.s. This video really makes me miss my cute little blouses. I am really over stretchy material and elastic waistbands!!! ha.
Please enjoy this moment of Zooey Zen.
I swear I have already written this post! I thought I even remembered the copy, but when I looked through my archives last night I realized I was just crazy. This is a reoccurring theme the past few weeks, so bare with me if I don’t seem myself.
The larger question here is if I should fake it? I have had my eye on the Eamer RAR Rocker for months now and I really need to make a purchase before this baby comes. But you also know that I am a bit frugal. The real deal is just shy of the $500 mark, which for a piece of designer furniture that will last for decades to come does not seem unreasonable, but the knock-offs are not only more affordable ( I saw one for $100!) they are also made out of a more eco-friendly fiberglass. Eeck! I feel like this is a moral decision, I genuinely feel torn. I mean, no one likes a poser! What do you think? And do you love it, too?
