A "Hat-Girl"

As you have probably noticed, I am a girl who likes to wear hats! It has become a kind of obsession, an addiction... I may need help. My closet has nails driven in the walls to produce multiple hat hangers - each one holding at least two or three hats. I don't know what it is, but for me a hat adds a little zing to an outfit - it's the icing on the cake!

Now, wearing a hat is not for the weak at heart - it takes some guts, but if you can muster up the courage its worth the risk. Some would say, "You have to be a hat person", but I disagree - you just have to embrace and be confident in the fuzzy thing on top of your head.

If you are one of those who stays away from the extra accessory - my suggestion is to start with something simple. A beanie is always the easiest choice (maybe because cold weather demands it), but I would suggest something with a little more style like a beret - choose black if you want to be safe.

Don't be afraid! The moment you walk out the door you will get some looks - except all they will be thinking is , "I wish I were a 'hat-girl' like her!"

INSTANT OUTFIT: Leopard Print

Ahh... the glory days of disco when leopard print was the rage. The print was a daily dose of drama and high society spinning around the dance floor at Studio 54. This season the look is back, but with much more versatility for the uptown or dowtown-kind-of-girl.

For the uptown girl the leopard print skirt looks sophisticated and smart paired with a crisp white blouse and black mary janes and to add a distinctive touch wear this look with an interesting belt - like the satin stitched obi.

For the downtown girl the leopard print is mixed with black and white stripes and a red puffer vest. The fierce-ness of this skirt really rocks with the flat studded ankle boots.

Weekend Recap: Top it Off

The party was a huge success and the tutu is now hanging in the closet. You'd think after a grand party you would have a grand weekend to follow, but some food poisoning caught up with both my husband and I and let's just say it was not a pretty sight.

We did finally get a chance to go out later in the weekend and for me it was a chance to top off the outfit with the Laurel & Hardy hat. A fun spin on the night.


Once again it was a warm October evening, so I layered this skirt over a vintage slip and threw a vest over the two to give a fall-ish look. Then I topped it off!

Bookworms & Bohemians Slideshow

Finally got this uploaded in a better format for your viewing pleasure.



A behind the scenes video is still up and coming...

Toe Shoes and Tutus

Today is the day... today is the day we host my favorite party of the year. It is the ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY. This is the biggest party of the year and people show up looking AMAZING! Now this is no pansy Halloween Party where people are semi-dressed up, this is old school dress-up style, reminiscent of your childhood Halloweens when you would plan your costume all year.

So this year, I am acting out my own chilhood fantasy... to be a graceful ballerina in the spotlight on my toe shoes prancing across stage. Ok, so there won't be any spotlights or stages, but there will definitely be toeshoes and tutus...

SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

I find this woman captivating - on screen, on the red carpet and in magazines. She has a "real girl" quality about her that makes anyone believe they could be her best friend, but also a rawness that hits the mark in most every character she has played on the big screen.

Her sense of style is original. She stands out in a crowd (even a crowd of beautiful Hollywood celebutantes). She seems drawn to vintage pieces, and not just ones that are "in". She has been inspiring me over the last few years.

She is our SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK...

Maggie Gyllenhaal

INSTANT OUTFIT: Plaid

A plaid shirt is classic. It seems every fall season includes at least one version of a plaid shirt, and though it looks a little "hill-billy" the shirt can be worn oh-so-chic.

The instant outfit this week displays two ways to rock this look. For work or for play...



For WORK pair the plaid with a bandage skirt, and accent the look with school girl accessories to give it some juxtaposition.

For PLAY pair the plaid with all brights like a pair of colored jeans and flats.

Weekend Recap: Tying together Seasons

I know I live in California where it is expected to be warm and sunny 95% of the year, and yes I have to say I love it, but though some may not believe this - we do experience a type of fall and winter weather. It does get cold here, but more like a wonderful-type of cold. A cold that you can wear the fun layers, but not be freezing or need a heavy coat to cover them up. I love and anticipate this type of cold weather, BUT lately we have had none of that. Try wearing thick wool tights when it's is 85 degrees and dry as a bone outside - not a pretty sight (a lot of tossing off layers and wiping sweat off the brow).

For the weekend plans this is what I had to work with - tying together the fall with the "summer-like" weather.

For breakfast with the girls, running errands, and then a Fall Dinner Party this dress,(which is actually a skirt) sweater, and over the knee socks worked well. I just changed up the hat for the dinner party.


And for Sunday's brunch by the beach I made this black blouse (short-sleeved - thank goodness!) stand out with pops of green, yellow, and red.

SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

She is truly amazing, and yes she is a lucky socialite in the midst of the fashion world, and yes she has her choice of any designer clothing she chooses, and no she probably doesn't thrift shop or scour garage sales - but there is no denying she has a true sense of style.

I love that she makes every piece her own and has a signature look. She can inspire not to necessarily wear the label she dresses up in, but rather how she wears it. The way she accessorizes and ties the outfit together.

I will be taking style notes from our SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK...

Margarita Missoni

INSTANT OUTFIT: Jewel Tone

INSTANT OUTFIT is a new weekly story featured on THE VINTAGE SOCIETY. The idea is to take a trend of the season and come up with an instant idea (or two) to inspire some of your own thoughts.

Fall is the season of holidays : Parties, Family Time, Dinner Dates, and more wonderful reasons to dress up. What better way to dress up the season than highlighting your beautiful self in some JEWEL TONES. You will look like royalty when you step into the Fall Harvest Dinner Party. The glow of the fire will surely make you sparkle!

INSTANT OUTFIT: Jewel Tones - featuring two ways to glitter.

Matte is our Friend

I feel as if I am back from the dead. I have risen off my couch and away from the television, and I am in the land of the living again. Ready to focus on fashion, inspiration and getting back to the fall season!

One thing I was able to do while lying in a comotose state over the last few days was catch up on all my magazine reading, and one bit of information stuck out as important to share with all Society Girls out there.

Lucky Magazine had a great little blurb on "The Perfect Opaque Tights", and seeing that fall is kicking into gear and the cool weather seems to be sticking around, I thought this was news I had to share.

Tights are the best fall essential in my opinion. They keep you warm, hide those dry white-as-a-ghost legs, and can add a level of interest to any outfit.

The first reccomendation is a bit pricer but seem to have a fun little perk. They are the Reversible Tight Ends from SPANX and $32 will buy you a slimmer figure and two shades to choose from - black reverses to brown, navy or grey!



The other option is much more budget friendly ($10) and can be found at NORDSTROM(Opaque Control Top Tights). They swear to have a matte color with absolutely no sheen, and no sheen means better photos when the flash goes off at your holiday party.



I am out to give it a try. Wish me luck!

SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

To be honest, I spent a long time trying to pull together my traditional "Society Girl of the Week". One woman who exudes creativity and individuality, but this week I came up dry. Maybe it is because I have been sleeping away my nasty cold and have not had as much time to pinpoint one source of inspiration.

One thing I have done while curled up with my favorite blanket and tissues is catch up on all the TV shows that I don't normally get to watch.. and I found some true inspiration in the wonderful new show "PUSHING DAISIES" and in particular the character Charlotte or "Chuck". Maybe it is the fanciful cinematography or the pallette of colors, but this show has been the one thing that has stuck in my mind all week.

So, to walk away from tradition I decided to select as my SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK...

Pushing Daisies

MOOKA KINNEY Makes Everything Better

I have been a little under the weather over here and that always makes me so blue. Instead of creative juices flowing my head feel all foggy, but all seemed much brighter when I dove into the world of MOOKA KINNEY!

This design team are girls after my own heart. They love vintage, they love fashion design, they love combining the two - and along came MOOKA KINNEY.

So if you are feeling under the weather and need a little dose of color check out their designs.

The Big Thrift Adventure

It takes motivation, drive and persistance to be a thrifter. It is not something you can take lightly, you have to be committed, otherwise you may miss out on the prize. And that prize being- a fabulous find!

The challenge was taken this weekend by me and two of my closest friends. We stepped out and stormed three thrift stores in a row. One after the other we scoured the racks looking for what we thought to be a find. After three exhausting hours we emerged holding bags of goodies. We each felt satisfied with our new purchases and after some dinner for our growling stomachs we spent the evening trying on all our new (but old) clothes.



And the next morning, I took one of my favorites for a spin. (This wrap was hanging loosely off a hanger, but seemed to be intersting - turned out - it was!) Oh... the thrift adventures.... what fun!

THE SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

Ahhhhh... how I love thee! Ever since I discovered The Sartorialist last year, my love has continued to grow. His talent for capturing inspirational street style is amazing. He doesn't just capture what his subjects are wearing - he creates art through his photography.

Oh wait, I am not here to gab on and on about him.. it is actually one of his subjects that I want to gab about. If I knew her name or what she does I could elaborate on the person she is... alas, it is only her style that I can truly focus on. But, I belive that style can tell you a lot about a person.

She seems to have a great sense of adventure, humor and loads and loads of creativity. She doesn't seem to take herself to seriously, but chooses to have fun and play around with different ideas! She charms her way into your heart, and for that she is The Society Girl of the Week.

Bookworms & Bohemians Slideshow

Well, we are having some technical difficulties over here at The Vintage Society.

Until I get the video upgraded I thought you could at least look at a slideshow. View slideshow