Dear 2011

 Dress: Vintage, Thrifted (thanks to Caleb)

Shoes: Vintage, Thrifted

I took a few snaps before going out last night. It was almost nightfall and I'm so glad they didn't turn out too horribly. I have been so incredibly busy lately that I have been struggling to keep up with everything this blog included, I will try harder though. I haven't made any resolutions, I never do I have always had the mindset that if I don't like something I change it right away, that way an impatient person like me doesn't have to wait for results. I just hope for this coming year that I continue to live a happy life, filled with all the people and all the things I love. What more could I want than that?

Caleb was so sweet yesterday. He had a very long day and still didn't whine about me asking for this dress to be altered for me, he is much better at sewing than I am- hope he doesn't mind me saying that-. It was huge when I thrifted it, so he cut it short and took it in, in just a matter of minutes! Now I can proudly say it is one of most favourite dresses, If just for the collar alone!

I got my hair done too, It is much darker with thicker bangs, my never ending quest for Zooey Deschanel's hair is finally getting closer to what I want. Now if only I could magically make it grow long and elegantly tangled. Does anyone know how to make a blunt cut fringe not so blocky (bangs for the Americans reading) I often worry mine has a sort of lego hair quality about it.

Hope everyone enjoyed their New Years! Mine was quite short lived and I got to bed pretty early for me, like the wee nana I am sometimes. Happy 2011!!

P.S I would just like to introduce you all to my friends the hose and the potted plant (pictured) I hope they don't make regular appearances in the blog. I am a little confused as to why we have a hose anyway, our little courtyard is all concrete...

Forgotten Treasures

 Headband: Vintage, Thrifted

Dress: Vintage 1950s, Thrifted 

Shoes: Vintage, Thrifted

I can get a bit lazy sometimes with my sewing pile. Some dresses, like this one can sit there for about a year before I even decide to do anything with them. I had always adored the print, but the colour ended up not suiting me when I was blonde so it stayed at the bottom of my sewing basket for far too long. I am so glad I rediscovered it. As it turns out I somehow managed to not realise the fact it is actually a 1950's dress, the first one I have ever thrifted in New Zealand! 

I adore 50's dresses, they also happen to be the best on my body shape, that is at times a very unforgiving pear. This dress has such a wee upper half that I have to shallow breathe a little when I wear it, but for the life of me I just can't part with it! I discovered another hidden 50's dress this week from about a year ago too and managed to thrift two in America so I am currently in heaven!

I found the shoes on one of my many thrifting trips I go on during the week. I had been looking for a pair just like this as my twin pair got worn to death last year when the sole came off. I am so excited that they are black and not brown like my old lovelies too, something about black pointed toe shoes get me every time!

Thank you so much for all the comments, sorry I have been terrible at replying this week I had a crazy amount of work to get through. Every single one of them makes me smile and I really appreciate it!

My Royal Grandma Coat

Top & Belt: Vintage, Thrifted- New Zealand

Shorts & Jazz Flats:Vintage, Thrifted -Oklahoma

Coat- Vintage, Thrifted, New Zealand 

Headband: Random scrap of fabric

In some sort of cruel twist of fate I have been coming across my dream coats one after the other as we in New Zealand are heading into hot summer heat. I am such a big fan of fitting coats that look like the queen or a lovely old lady would wear. This is my blush coloured princess coat. It is my favourite so far.

I have not only thrifted this lovely masterpiece but also three perfect camel pea coats (one is a 60s juniors coat and has short arms, the sort that Alexa Chung wears), a perfect 60's look leopard fur number,  a 70's plaid burnt orange and brown coat with a huge hood and Orla Kiely/ Dear Creatures style shoulders, a tan and cream cape and about a billion more!

I am dreaming about fall weather as the outerwear I'm finding stacks up. I can't wait to be able to wear a new coat each day and be able to layer. I have had to put half of them in storage as my coat closet is overflowing. I know as soon as I get colder weather though I will dream about lazy summer days and those beautiful warm breezes. I'm fickle like that.

I love hazy under lit photos this is my attempt. I want the type that blur when you move. I know I haven't mastered it, but I think the colours always look so lovely like this. This lace slip top has been my everyday piece the last week it is so light and floaty. I am so drawn to romantic looks lately I kind of like how messy my hair is in these too, makes me think I should lay off the straightener for awhile and just let it go wild.

Christmas In Summer

 Hat: Vintage, Thrifted

Dress: Vintage, Thrifted

Shoes: Vintage, Thrifted (free)

Yesterday my boyfriend Caleb surprised me by asking if I want my Christmas present now or later. Of course I picked now and lucky I did as I don't know how he planned to hide a beautiful vintage bike from me for more than 2 hours. It is the best present I have ever received and I am sure it stems from me going on and on about how much I adore vintage bikes.

Everything about it is perfect, not only is it the prettiest green colour, but it has the sweetest little bell. I wish I could record the sound it makes because it makes me smile every time. I always wanted a bike with a little wire carrier on the back too. I am hoping to thrift some saddle bags for it, or I may cave in and look online.

It was also such a thoughtful present as I am 21 and I am still to nervous and scared to drive. The one time I attempted ended in a battle between me and a fence and I can assure you the fence won. I freak out in the car often even though I am just the passenger, so being stuck between cars on the motorway in rush hour even in tiny little New Zealand is my worst nightmare. Oh goodness I have issues don't I?

We took the bike for a wee spin before we had to go out for the evening. I wish I could have found a prettier location, but we were in a hurry and I wanted photos! The shoes I am wearing I got for free from 'The Free Shop' (strangely enough). They are made of black suede, have a lace up front, winkle picker toe and a size too small, but I love them.  My dress is one of my all time favourite thrift finds (from New Zealand of course). It used to be two layers and down to the ground in scalloped netting, so I hacked the bottom off and it was the perfect length. I promise I will try an outfit post next time that isn't a dress, they are just so perfect.

p.s Hello to my new followers! Thank you so much for all the lovely comments you are all too kind. To answer many of you yes I do get the Zooey Deschanel comparison a lot, even random strangers down the street. I'd never complain, I love her dearly!

p.p.s I started a tumblr and would love some friends! http://alittlebrighter.tumblr.com/

Crown Of Flowers

 Floral Crown: Made by me

Singlet: Vintage, Thrifted.

Today has been one of those lovely lazy days that I adore. Caleb and I packed a picnic lunch and drove up the hills to relax and enjoy the sun, then I spent the afternoon making this flower crown that has been on my mind for longer than I can remember. Hopefully next time I will be able to make a more delicate piece with little blossom flowers.  I have special a surprise brewing for my Trade Me  followers that I have been working on for weeks. All will be revealed in my next shop update. Oooo!

Tweed Coats and a Hair Cut

 Coat: Vintage 1960s, Thrifted

Blouse + Bow: Thrfited

Culottes: Glassons (on sale)

Shoes: Thrifted

I wasn't going to share these pictures at first. I thought they took away from the summer feel of my previous
pictures. Spring also has drizzly overcast days though and I have acquired an insane amount of beautiful coats these past few months. I thought I may as well take the opportunity to show you one before the heat kills me.
I have been dressing so simply lately- hair down with dresses and boots - that I found myself a bit overwhelmed with all this layering,  fuss and having my hair up that I went home a bit early on date night to change.

This coat was one of those finds at a thrift store that you protect like it is your child. I don't know about you, but I often worry when I find something really beautiful that it will be the one day someone steals it out of my cart while I'm in the changing rooms. That didn't happen of course and I can now add it to about 15 wonderful coats (and one cape) I have found in the thrift stores since America. It makes me even more excited for fall than I already am knowing that I have stock waiting to be sold that I am in love with. The Alexa Chung look of it is an extra plus too!

The shoes were a recent find too at a church thrift store that not too many people know about. I have been so drawn towards things that look almost royal lately. These along with a fur collar coat I found remind me also of 'A Little Princess' and so although they are a little small for me I will suffer for them!

I forgot to mention in my last post that I got a hair cut. Not that a fringe and dye job is drastic, but I thought I would show you all a quick shot of it anyway! (sorry for the weird facial expression I'm no good at this mirror photo buisiness)

Beaches, Fields and Sunlight

 Dress: Vintage, Thrifted

Bag: Vintage, Thrifted (Gift from Caleb)

Bow: Vintage, Thrifted

Boots: Vintage, Trade Me

 I'm so very sorry for my absence lately. My cherished laptop was not only falling to bits, but having trouble connecting to the Internet, full of cracks including both hinges snapped off and cellotape held the screen on. I finally have a shiny new desktop with a big ol' monitor and I'm pretty sure this is the end of laptops for me all together. The colours on the screen alone are just incredible!

Yesterday, after a lazy day of ice cream eating and movie watching, Caleb and I took advantage of the sunset and drove up to Sumner (about 5 minutes away) to take some photos at the beach. We had taken a midnight stroll along it the night before and I thought it was such a pretty place! I especially wanted to come back for the sunset. I adore taking pictures as the sun is going down. It casts the most perfect light over everything and it seems for a brief time that everything is just a little bit magical. 

We had to go to a nearby field after the beach to get a picture of the outfit without my hair in my face or me awkwardly trying to hold my skirt down. I swear I have never been in a place that has been so windy in my life. With the unfortunate exception of a few years ago in my hometown when I was wearing a below the knee 1950s day dress. I stepped out of a store only to find myself with my whole skirt above my head revealing my undergarments for all the world to see for a good 10 seconds. Needless to say I wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

The dress I'm wearing in the photos is one of my favourite finds ever. I sold it on Trade Me only to discover a horrible stain on the back. I almost threw it out until I took it to the dry cleaners and now it is perfect! It reminds me so much of the lovely dresses in the Twelve by twentysevennames summer collection. My mind is always far to guilty to shell out so much money for one dress, so I was amazed when I found it. The boots were another random find, but on bought on trade me and at first I didn't like them. I intended to resell them, but something about the creepy Edward Scissorhands vibe means they go with all of my dresses and I can't argue with that!

Beneath The Secret Trees

Vintage Dress, Belt, Bag: Thrifted, Christchurch, New Zealand

Vintage Bow: Thrifted, Rangiora, New Zealand

Vintage Boots: Minx, Athens, GA

I'm so excited that I have finished telling you all about the wonderful road trip I had in America.  Now I can start blogging in real time back here in New Zealand. I have been hard at work getting back into the business and relearning all the things I had forgot. I can't wait to tell you about the changes I am going to make after I get settled in again. It is nice having my own space back with all my clothes hanging up, my own bed and not living out of a suitcase!

Lately the sky has been filled with delicious smells of freshly mown grass, barbeques and left over fireworks. All signs that summer is on its way for me again! Today was the loveliest day it was just the right temperature to get ice creams and go for adventures to find pretty places. I have always wanted to take pictures here. I was a little late for the blossoming trees, but the daises and dandylions were scattered elegantly through the grass and the sunlight was filtering through the trees perfectly! 

I adore this dress I picked up at a thrift store a few weeks ago. Caleb thinks it looks like a sack. If so I think it is the prettiest sack I have ever laid eyes on. It reminds me of the depression era where ladies would make clothing out of any sort of fabric they could get there hands on! The bow I dug up again in my box of no return and it has been some what permanently attached to my head ever since.

Thank you to everyone for all the comments and for following my blog! It has been such a surprise to get to 50 so fast and it is all so very kind of you to care about my little blog enough to that! You are all so supportive and amazing and it keeps me updating even when I don't think I have the time!