Two Vintage Dames: fashion & style

Showing posts with label fashion & style. Show all posts

5.8.15

9 Ways to Wear Birkenstocks: Birks With Balls

Birkenstocks. They be back. Back in a big way...

... And honestly? I'm feeling it.

Amy laughs at me mercilessly, but it's true. I find myself unabashedly enamoured with these so-ugly-they-intrigue-me slabs of cork and leather. Honest to God, I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but it seems the Pinterestbrainwash has taken hold of my apparently easily-influenced tiny little mind.

And what's more, back in 1992, the New York Times praised what was then the '60s revival of the Birkenstock: 'If a Ferragamo pump is a sonnet, then the Birkenstock, the humble sandal that has found new following lately, is a haiku: simple, spare, unadorned'.

Well, never let it be said that this girl doesn't love a good haiku. That and I'm going to be burning the cobbles in Italy next month and doubt the $8 leopard print foam flip-flops that dutifully served me during last year's serious pavement pounding of San Francisco will cut the mustard. I'll be sure to let you know how I get on.

The thing with Birkenstocks, though, is that every little detail hangs in the balance. Get that skirt length just an inch too long and you're way back in granola land, Dorothy. The modern revival of the Birk emphasises a certain minimalistic swagger: frankly, it's all about cojones. So, without further adieu, here are 9 of the best ways to do Birks With Balls...

>> Em

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28.4.14

vintage picking: the shoe doctor

My mother always used to tell me that appropriate footwear was important. With that in mind I had to laugh at myself over the weekend, for my shoes were entirely inappropriate for my activities...

good for picking, right? // source

Before I share with you how I'm now sporting a dozen bug bites and scraps on my ankles, you should know that I'm often harping on Em about wearing the most protective shoes for various picking situations... i.e. scrapyards, barns, attics, and garages; each often deep in debris.

now, that's what I'm talkin' about // source

The first, and probably the truest, love of my life is shoes... or I should say: SHOES!!! At last count I possessed 68 pairs of my own personal, not including the vintages beauties I sell, SHOES.

lots and lots and lots of ... complete inappropriate shoes // source

I was quite lucky to have married a husband that finds S H O E S sexy on my feet and indulges me in my shoe-dom. Often I can be heard giving words of wisdom to young twenty year old girls of my acquaintance: always marry a man that at very least appreciates sexy shoes and/or has a full on shoe fetish, because then you shall never lack for the indulgence of S H O E shopping! I mean, let's face it, the only thing better than wearing great shoes is shopping for great shoes.

French antique market browsing? Yes. Barn rummaging? Not on your life. // source

Back to my story. My love of great shoes meant that this weekend I went away on a trip and got some much needed non-munchkin time with my wonderful hubby, with only some slinky sandals in my suitcase {four pairs in-case you were wondering}.

you might break your neck, but you'll bag an antique ladder for 5 bucks in the process // source

Of course I love to pick whenever and wherever life takes me, but alas, I didn't bring any of my appropriate foot attire to climb through this dilapidated old barn, soon to be torn down, that I happened to stumble across. This of course did not stop me from delving into the heaping four foot high pile of debris on a quest for a single old metal milk crate. This brings us to Monday morning and I find my ankles are driving me wild itching, bumpy, and inflamed from whatever insects were living in that heap...

the vintage picking feet cure-all: Converse, baby! // source

The moral to my story is: always pack a pair of picking shoes for whatever kind of weekend you have planned, because let's face it, whether we are pickers by occupation or pickers for fun, we should always protect our bodies.

Confession: Did I learn my lesson? Absolutely not!! I'd dig through that old barn again in whatever footwear was available, because, let's face the facts: vintage metal milk crates are a creative, fun, and organized way to store our growing collection of... S H O E S! ▲ Amy

29.12.13

vintage makeup

Happy almost-New-Year everyone! We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas. With the 31st just two sleeps away, we've been turning our minds to party time! So, without further ado, here's some vintage makeup inspiration - with coordinating cruelty-free nail polishes - for you to rock this New Year's Eve! Enjoy!

1920's - flapper

+ elf polish in plum

1950s - pinup

+ gosh polish in tropicana

1960s - mod

+ barryM polish in lychee

1980s - bold

+ american apparel polish in neon coral

6.11.13

skater skirts + dresses

~whispers~

I have a new obsession. What goes even better with mustard than American hot dogs? Skater skirts. And dresses. Oh yes - they were made for the colour mustard. In fact, that were made for any shade imaginable. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night... • Emma

mustard + skater = perfection from the adorable girls over at elle + jess | here

have it grungey | here

I am positively infatuated with everything about this outfit | here

don't even get me started on my love of bowler hats | here

can I have all of them please? shop through polyvore

25.10.13

yoga challenge

wall decal | here

So, I'll admit it. I believe in horoscopes. Sure, I've accidentally read the wrong horoscope and nodded along with every single insightful remark before realising that I'm actually looking at Aquarius' week ahead. But still... they make total sense. And due to the new moon in Libra(or something... I don't know... ~looks left to right~) I've been informed by the powers that be (Elle horoscopes) that October is makeover month. We are talking the effervescent lure of Yoga.

This is the month I not only quit smoking (well, erm, switched to e-cigarettes), but also started a new fitness regime. Yes, friends, it's all kale, quinoa and downward facing dogs over here. Let me tell you, those months spent in the car on Californian picking trips, gaffling the only two things that will get me out of bed for 8am yard sales (read: Sausage and Egg McMuffins + Starbuck's Chai Lattes) have taken their toll.

My vintage-inspired, all-time favourite, floral denim shorts that Amy is sick of seeing are now a little more, shall we say, bodycon, than they once were. The con being that I am convinced I can still fasten them.

So! Time for action. And really? I quite enjoy having a little T + A. But it's time to shake things up. I'm talking Ten Week Yoga Challenge. If my heels can touch the ground in the downward dog pose by then, I'll be seriously happy.

So, on that note, I wanted to share an inspiration mix of yogic sentiments, exercise mantras, and of course, a splash of vintage workout gear (old school Adidas tracksuits are calling me). I'll keep you posted on my progress - let us know if you're setting a challenge for yourself this month! Namaste and all that jazz. • Emma

grey marl sweatband | here

lightweight harry potter vest | here

seriously classy, roomy, canvas and leather gym bag (comes in 7 fabulous colours) | here

uber-comfy-looking ruched leggings . available in bamboo or organic cotton | here

when things get chilly . yoga socks | here

comfy slouch tee in charcoal | here

amazingly soft-looking blanket . perfect for Savasana | here

mi bra . 90% organic cotton . i-pod pocket | here

yummy cosy funnel sweat . perfect for snuggling on the walk home from the gym | here

23.8.12

vintage for fall

Happy Thursday Vintage Dames and Dudes!

Since it's nearly officially Fall (or Autumn for our British friends!), we were inspired by some of these glorious vintage weather-changing beauties:

vintage trench coat