Mirror Mirror

When you put on an outfit, don't you want to just check out how all of it looks together?
Boy do I wish I had a mirror a few years back when I had gone to church with a cute suit on; white and floral pattern, skirt and jacket. A lady came up to me to tell me my skirt had a rip. The stitching pulled apart at the slit in the back and I was embarrassed for weeks. A long mirror would have been nice.
Actually, I like the one Freepeople has but I could never afford one like that.
When I was shopping for living room furniture, I saw a couple that I liked, not as big as the one at FreePeople, but large enough and they were $600.00 Not my pocketbook.
Recently, I have seen large mirrors at Marshalls for the price of $60.00. And, if you don't like the color of the massive frame, just paint it. Lean it in a hallway, your bedroom, even the living room. A mirror brings depth and light to a room.

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Check out my other blog if you want to see all sorts of things being created from
Artist Trading Cards, Collage, recipes, gardening, photography.

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Belt and carry bag

Well, I have my collection of belts and I bought a short mini jean skirt it to make the bag you see on the right hand side of my blog. I want to have a flap for the purse, so I got another pair of jeans that I got ripped on my back side, and will use that fabric for the flap.

Deciding whether I want to glue the belts or use grommets and think the fabric glue may be the best because each belt is a different thickness.

I think I orginally liked this bag so much because of it's ruggedness and it's uniqueness.

Can't wait to make it and see if I get what is in my mind. Still not sure about the handle yet.

CLUTCH

By the way, don't forget about the clutch bag; you know, that little glittery pockabook, rectangular shaped.

Being from the disco days, I absolutely love the clutch with a pair of heals, or boots with my jeans and sweater or dressy blouse. I think the clutch just gives you a chic look. I am looking for a beige/tan colored clutch, a long rectangle shaped bag. I have been looking everywhere for it. I havn't found it yet. I will. I bet I won't find it in the mall though. So my search is on.

Handbags or Pocketbooks

When I write to you all, I like to use the words that you can relate to.
Now mind you, I am from Massachusetts and have my own accent. I say Woosta for Worcester, pockabook for pocketbooks and I don't say "I am going out to buy a handbag" but I say "I have to have that pockabook ".

Square boxy pockabooks are out now. I find them all of the time in second hand shops. I was a teen in the 70's and would never have been caught dead carrying a square boxy pockabook with a chain handle and now I do and I am 50 (almost an old lady). Go figure how styles change.

Hobo pockabooks are in too and those are from the hippie days of the 60's and 70's.

Now that you have had your history lesson in "handbags":)

Fur Scarf Collar

My woolen coat came with a fur scarf. The scarf attaches to the collar with buttons. I take the fur scarf collar off and wear it with my jean jacket. You don't have to attach it if you don't want to, you just wear it on top of the collar. Little button up sweaters are very popular again, so attach the collar on top of the sweater. Attach a broche (decorative pin) on the fur, and now you have another look too.

The fur and sweater remind me of the 1950's, so a string of pearls, and you have an elegant look; fur, sweater, pearls=VINTAGE

Exchange Belt

By the way, see the belt on the coat below, I took off the woolen belt that came with the coat, picked this belt up for a Dollar $1.00 at Rainbow fashion, and wear it with this coat. Another look and it pulls the coat in closer to the waist making the coat look more tailored fit.

Black Coat, Three Looks

You can have one black woolen coat for the winter,and exchange your scarves, all colors, your gloves can match the scarf or the coat and now have so many different looks. You can wear this same winter coat with jeans, a skirt, flats or boots.

$1.00 One dollar Bling

One dollar bling ($1.00) I befriended a gal from an exclusive clothing store in Boston. Because we have talked two times about our clothing likes and dislikes and our blogs, she directed me to the little clay dish next to the register that had bling for $1.00.

I would never have known these rings were even in the store if she had not pointed them out to me. None of my friends wear bling, or they would have received one from me as a present.

Leather Belts and Jeans combo

This jean bag was just so awesome. My daughter rolled her eyes at me when I eye balled this bag and took a photo. Fourty nine cents a belt at the Sally's Army. Yes, on week'ends, you can find all sorts of belts. Mix and Match your belts, buy a canvas belt, get a metallic belt, get a man's leather belt. Cut an old pair of jeans at the crotch and stitch up on a sewing machine. Left over jean from the legs, make a strap and sew onto the bag or safety pin it if your needle won't go through. Use that handy dandy glue gun again and glue pieces of belts onto your bag. Unless you have an awesome heavy duty sewing machine; an industrial machine, don't try to sew on the belts, glue them.

Clotheshangers and crocheting

Don't crochet? That is ok. Pick up a bunch of those crochet tops that people don't wear anymore, you know, the ones you can find at the Salvation Army. Cut them in pieces, do the edges over with your sewing machine. Sew all the pieces together, lay one of your tanks on top as a pattern, cut out, sew the sides and top together and now you have your shabby chic vest.

Would you like pretty clothes hangers like Free People has. Tear up your cotton blouses that you are not wearing into strips, about 1" wide. Grab your fabric glue or glue gun, and begin to wrap the scraps on your metal coat hanger till it is all covered up. If you don't have any fabric, then make a trip to the fabric store, and cotton fabrics are extremely inexpensive. One yard should cover more than one hanger. Get a small floral printed cotton and get cutting or ripping those strips and wrap your cheap hangers. Now you can keep your clothes hanging on the door, or your bathroom hook and wow, so shabby.....chic of course.

Necklace and Scarf

At one time, wearing a scarf and necklace was too much and one took away from the look of the other. But if you compliment the metal of the necklace with the scarf like you see here with the gold, you get a really elegant look with a very plain blouse. You know, I think I have a blouse like that that I got at the Avenue for under $10.00 instead of over $100.00. I may be able to pull this off at home without having to purchase anything. Try it!

Funky bikey Chain Necklace

I so want to make one of these. As long as I have my pair of jewelry plier hanging around, and some chain (perhaps from necklaces I am not using anymore) or chain from ACMoore I can brew one up. Just make sure you close the little loops of chain so they won't fall off the main chain that goes around your neck. Funky piece isn't it?

I love cutting out pictures of jewelry out of catalogues and gluing them into a scrap book. Keep yourself your own journal, look around for pieces of chain, charms, photos, old or lost earrings and go to town. The bigger and bulkier the better; the more chains like Chico models are showing, a little gaudy, but stylish if that is your style.

This chain is bikey! I like bikey.

Shopping But Not Buying

From time to time, my family takes a ride in Boston approximately 40 minutes away and we go to the "Pru" or the Prudential Center; an awesome shopping mall and an expensive one to boot! Love looking around though and keeping up with style and color. Here is my daughter browsing in an awesome store where I am open to all sorts of ideas and inspirations for outfits.

You could make that

You could make that is offering a giveaway!
Check her out
http://youcouldmakethat.blogspot.com
and also see how she makes the things she does with linen!

Dressing Room Shoot

The Dress Code always holds something special for me to try on. Here in the dressing room, I thought I would photo a suit, sweater and two shirts for you to see that you can find other items and not just vintage.

Before I go to the Dress Code monthly, I go through my items at home and pack them into the car. My daughter and I go to the orthodontist out in Gloucester, then we make our monthly stop at the Dress Code. I bring in my items; pocket books, jewelry, clothing that I may not be using any more and see if they are interested in selling the items. Usually, 1/2 of what I bring in is taken. I am not so sure the rhyme to reason of what they select, but they take the items, price them and set them out on the floor in a decorative way to sell. So every month, I make a bit of income to either use for our hard times or if my daughter or I see something we could use, I pick it up. Grrrrrrrrrreat! isn't it? This time around, I only selected one shirt and the rest went into the bank for bills.

You can also bring in shoes, boots, pocketbooks, scarves and small household decorations.

Spotted and Velvet

I would never have thought of putting a scarf with a spotted animal print along with a velvet dress. Velvet is always Christmas to me and then the velvet dress goes away. Not here at the "Dress Code". They keep it into the winter and change it's affects on every day life. So grab that dress out of the back of the closet where you stored it till next Christmas, and throw and wrap a unique scarf around your neck or your waist and off you go. Velvet and valour keep you nice and warm.

All Types of Women

It takes all types of women to make this world and that is why shopping at vintage and second hand thrift shops is the best.

Take a peek at the poster up on the wall!

Little Lady at Dress Code in Gloucester

This little lady works at the "Dress Code". She is awesome and spunky. If you want her to find you a unique outfit, just ask her. You may have to come back when the store is quiet, but she will help. She loves her job and her clothes.

Vintage is In

Our here in New England- particularly Maine-Gloucester, there is a little shop called the "Dress Code" where there is all sorts of little finds like these dresses hanging up. Shiny, sparkly, "different", you can wear these on a special occasion.