Folk Tale

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This Free People black dress that I purchased last summer continues to be one of my favorite pieces in my closet. I previously wore it with sandals, but I wanted to try belting it with tights and boots for this season. The dress I am wearing is sold out, but I adore the look of this dress in white. It has a similar easy vibe.

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I love the longer back. I sometimes hate the new high-low trend, but it works with my lifestyle.

My lifestyle being that of a klutz. I am always dropping things and having to bend over and get them.

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Case in point, the other day I was wearing my denim shirt “dress.” Thankfully with tights. I was in the grocery store. I had gone inside for two things and as I was walking to the register, I somehow managed to pick up ten items. I had them precariously balanced in my arms.

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I probably would have made it to the register without a mishap, had I not at that moment noticed my children’s kindergarten teacher with her husband in another aisle.

We locked eyes and as I went to wave, I proceeded to drop all of my items on the floor. Three times! Over and over, I bent over and picked up cans and packages of cheese and chips.

It was mortifying.

I am sure the people behind me probably thought it was even more so.

I really could have used a high-low dress that day. Who am I kidding? I could use a high-low dress everyday.

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Let’s move along from my mortification. I purchased this vintage folk belt from Modcloth last year (previously worn here). I love it so much. I keep it on my dresser instead of with my other belts because I am scared of it breaking.

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I took these pictures on my dad’s property. I think I only explored this road once as a child. I was not very adventurous. Besides, the possibility of rattlesnakes curbed my desire to walk around.

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Did you explore your neighborhood growing up? Or were you exploring worlds in books like I was? And when am I going to learn that I always need a grocery cart, even when I am “just running in”?

Patches Of Vintage Fun Skirt

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I knew.

I knew the moment I saw a preview of this skirt that it would be mine. Except. There was only one of it. And I thought it had all ready sold out.

It was sold through Modcloth. And miracle of miracles (although, I hope it truly was not a miracle for as much as I love my skirt, I do not want to waste miracles on clothing), the skirt became available.

I bought it.

Without checking the size.

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Thankfully it fit. I also purchased a Vintage Folk Belt that day.

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So far, I have paired it twice with my black t-shirt. And I want to pair it with my Lunation Tee next.

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I know I promised different outfit pictures of settings other than my fireplace, but sometimes that is not possible. On Sunday, I have an outfit post going up where I ventured to a rose garden.

Tomorrow, I will have a post dedicated to vintage skirts that I have stalked on Etsy to show pretty pieces currently for sale in a variety of sizes. If you don’t do vintage, Modcloth has the most amazing skirt on their site right now. It is called Bright as can Beat Skirt.

Do you shop vintage? What is your favorite vintage item to shop for? I love finding vintage dresses and skirts.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. Clicking on the links will result in a small commission for this blog.

It’s The Little Things: Vintage Folk Belt

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When I saw that Modcloth’s next vintage line was going to consist of bohemian pieces, my heart sang. And my stomach sank. Because I was all ready over my monthly clothing budget. Besides, I thought, what are the odds I will get the one piece I want in the collection?

I had wanted a beautiful black maxi skirt with rainbow patches on the bottom.

Their vintage pieces generally sell out lightning fast. They price them very affordably.

And so I stalked the website. Maybe hoping that my odds would be slightly higher than I had thought they would be.

Then I moved on, because I thought my piece had sold out.

One morning last week, just as I was about to go get ready, a banner slid across the screen of my iPad. It said something like, “Earlier access to our vintage bohemian line.”

I jumped over to the Modcloth App. And there was my skirt. Not sold out. I added it to my cart as quickly as I could, not noting measurements or sizing. I just wanted to realize the dream. Being vintage, there was only one of each item being sold.

But there was something else, too. Something I hadn’t counted on.

A vintage belt.

But not just any vintage belt.

A vintage folk belt.

And anything with the word folk in it is automatically better. Isn’t that right folks?

I added it to my cart. Placed my order. And tried not to feel guilty.

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It came. And I love it. As my daughter said when she finally saw what I was wearing, “Gurl. That. Is. The. Best. Belt. Ever.”

When I told her it ties in the back and therefore will fit her, too, the grin increased.

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I wore it on Saint Patrick’s Day. It arrived right before my husband and I were going out for lunch.

And I love it.

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And I love making funny faces whilst wearing it.

I think I am confusing the word folk with dork.

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Because it is a fun belt and I like to be a fun gal.

It’s the little things: little accessories that make the whole day better.

Do you have an accessory like that? Any vintage pieces that make your heart sing?

It’s quite all right if you don’t.

Different strokes for different folks.

And all that jazz.

P.S. I shared this on Savvy Southern Style.

And on The Pleated Poppy!

Christmas in Clothes

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So, The Nutcracker? Yeah. Call me an uneducated ditzy fool, but ??? I guess I was completely oblivious to the fact that ballets have NO TALKING in them!!!

“Hi. I’m Jenni. I can’t sit through two hours of nobody talking.”

I am a three year old.

This is payback for all of those times my children would not stop talking and we would play the “silent game.”

Those ballerinas were all, “Silent game this!”

Only without actually saying that.

Okay. Okay. It wasn’t completely silent. There was a live orchestra which was fabulous. I love an orchestra. I took my son down to the pit to watch them set up. That was my favorite part. And his, too.

I have taken my children to musicals all of their lives. I guess I just was not prepared for the ballet. This is odd, because my mother has been dancing since she was a child. Pointe and everything. Heck, I even took consistent classes for eight years (don’t look so shocked). My mother has since moved on to hip hop, but ballet has always been a part of my life. Of course, I had not gone to see it since I was a little girl.

There were parts of it that were incredible. So gorgeous and pretty. Truly breathtaking. It is amazing what some talented people can do with their bodies.

But in the future I will know.

I am too immature to go.

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And yes, I am a total fraud in my ballerina dress (also worn here).

Silently sobbing.

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This was what I was going to wear to the ballet.

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I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that almost every single person was dressed up for the ballet. This is such a big difference from going to a play on Broadway, where only half of the people are in evening attire. This was my other favorite thing about the ballet. The ambience and the outfits.

Only I did not wear this to the ballet.

I wore this on Christmas Eve to host my family. Except, I was cooking all day, and I forgot to take my apron off until after dinner! So, apron + boots = disheveled crazy. Kind of like this post.

The skirt is my Emeline Skirt formerly worn here. And the top is my Peony Applique Pullover, previously worn here.

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Let’s sidestep chasse’ away from the hot topic of ballet and move into a topic I am much more comfortable with.

Gnomes.

And dressing like them.

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I do not know why, but this outfit does remind me a bit of the little fellows. Perhaps it is the cheerful colors. Perhaps it is because I am surrounded by gnomes. Perhaps it is because I had just seen The Nutcracker the night before and I was delirious.

I paired my Anthropologie Threaded Tides Dress (purchased for $10) with my red cardigan from many years ago. I remember I first bought this cardigan, because it was called Guinevere and that is one of my favorite names in the world. It is like “Jennifer” (derived from Guinevere) only more pleasant to say in a lilting way.

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The belt is a recent clearance purchase from Anthropologie called Layered Corset Belt. The boots are vintage from the flea market. The white sweater tights are from Nordstrom Rack. The earrings are from Modcloth.

What did you wear this week? Have you ever played the silent game? Are you “winning?”*

* Winning this game does not result from one being silent. Winning this game occurs the moment you convince someone else to actually play the game.

Tip: Don’t ever play against a ballerina.

* I shared this on The Pleated Poppy!