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!

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.

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.

Remember back in January when I highlighted the site Conversation Pieces?  The one with all the cute dresses and amazing prices?  Well as a thank you, the gal behind the site sent me the Ahoy, Sailor shirt.  How nice was that?  I know I am terribly delyaed in giving her an additional shout-out, but I thought seeing me trying to squeeze into the cute little top with my round belly might provide a bit of humor for you.

*p.s. The site has some super cute spring/summer dresses up!

I had the chance to spend some quality time with one of my oldest and loveliest friends over the weekend and it was divine!  It is just so fun to have a few people who really know you and still manage to like you.  And it isn’t so bad when they happen to use that insightful knowledge to buy you amazing gifts just because.

So it looks like I have a new commuting bag after all, thanks to Mandy!  I couldn’t find the exact graphic that she got me, but the company is called Envirosax.  They make these adorable, eco-friendly bags that are spacious yet completely light-weight!  Do you love them too?

I have been having the most bizarre craving as of late.  I have always liked sweet things, particularly along the lines of suckers, sweetarts and nerds, but lately in my fog of pregnancy, I have been craving cotton candy.  Hmmm… could there be a reason for this?  Am I destined to birth a sugar-addicted child?  And more importantly, where does one find a stash of cotton candy all year round?  Well, as any addict could tell you with the right amount of determination, any fix can be found.  The mall back in Ohio (we’ve been going back a lot lately for the little man) seems to be the best source of the good, fresh stuff and the Easter season has brought an additional stash to my local CVS and Walgreens. When all else fails, Blockbuster has packaged cotton candy for year round enjoyment.  Delicious!

So in honor of pretty, pink cotton candy, I thought a little taste of some lovely feminine (and pink) dresses would make you think of walking down a boardwalk in summer with a fun summer treat! As usual, click on the images to view or purchase.

It’s 5:30 a.m. was that the correct use of wares?  This whole month has completely wore me down, so the smallest details are becoming a blur.  I did make time to look at some eye candy though. We are making plans for all the weddings, showers, graduations and other warm weather celebrations and it makes me long to be sheathed in something pretty.  I figured since my body is growing into alien-like proportions and I will probably be wearing a chiffon moo-moo, that I will fantasize about a gorgeous teeny-tiny dress.  I mean if we are talking fantasy, do I need to admit that my pre-preggo size was an 8 and not a 0?  Nope, my dream…my tiny make-believe bottom.

I saw this dress in the free H&M magazine that they pass out in really random places.  The most recent edition I got from a girl handing them out when I got off the Red Line a few weeks ago. (Again, very random!)  I just love this dress, it is the perfect shade of red, has lovely texture and it costs $40.  I suppose in fantasy land it could have been $1400, but we really do have to come back to reality sometime and I am probably more likely to have a smaller bottom in the future than to be purchasing a $1400 dress to wear to someone else’s wedding!