After-Christmas Update


This Christmas has been a really great one!  I've had a lot of fun with family and friends and made a lot of memories.  Here are some of the highlights via photo:

I was a bridesmaid in my best friend Noor's wedding!  I'm so happy for her and Brandon!!!  (And that's me, fourth from the left!)
photo from awesome photographer Sein, check out her page here!
At that wedding, I got to see some friends, including my old roommate from last year that moved out of town!  My boyfriend also wore, for the first time, a pullover sweater I got him for Christmas.... Mwahahahahaha!  He looked GREAT.
Left to right: Jacob, Aria, Alyssa, Sarah, Laura
My grandmother got me a box of old hats and accessories!!!  You'll DEFINITELY be seeing those popping up soon in my posts!
Going snowmobiling with the cousins!  We like tying up saucer sleds behind them and trying to throw each other off.  I face-planted and rolled today and looked like the kid off of the movie "A Christmas Story".... which I've included below, for full effect:


The only not-so-great part of this year was that my parents have gone back to Africa where they work, and they'll be there for the next four years if all goes as planned (but they'll be able to come back to visit for my college graduation and important things around that time).  It's been WONDERFUL to have them here this year, and I'll miss them a lot!  However, some things are more important than being comfortable, and even more important than family.  I'm really proud of my parents and what incredible people they are!

Casablanca Week: Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

This hat is what started the whole "Casablanca Week" idea!  I saw it in a flea market and snatched it up (after realizing my sister wasn't going to buy it) for a measly three bucks!  It's a more feminine type of fedora with a wider brim, and it flatters my round face better than normal fedoras tend to.

I decided to pair it with a suit (not matching pieces, but close!) and white shirt to mimic Ingrid's simple street-spy style in "Casablanca."  I also like to incorporate some of my jewelry and accessories I've picked up in other countries, and a pendant made in Afghanistan that my mother just got me matched the green of the hat perfectly!  It was a perfect little addition to the outfit, and I felt its international, "exotic" origins lent to the spy and intrigue feel pretty well!

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

shirt: Salvation Army Thrift Store
blazer: department store?
skirt: made by me
gloves: gifted
hat: Relics Antique Mall
shoes: Payless
necklace: from Afghanistan (made of a coin)

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

Casablanca Week- Get the Look: Humphrey Bogart

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Humphrey Bogart

There are few things as wonderful as a well-dressed, confident man.  
In "Casablanca", Humphrey Bogart epitomizes this kind of look with his timeless 1930s-meets-international-spy style.  It's ridiculously classic menswear, and it works for any guy.

So there probably aren't a whole lot of guys that would go for this look nowadays.... but I know I'd sure be alright with my man trying it out!  

What do you guys think?  Do you know any men that would be up for this look?


Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Humphrey Bogart
jacket | shirt | bowtie | handkerchief | trousers | black and white shoe | black shoe


Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Humphrey Bogart
shirt | sport coat | shoe | trousers | trench coat | tie | fedora 

Casablanca Week- Get the Look: Ingrid Bergman

Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Ingrid Bergman

Since looking at "Casablanca" again for this theme week, I've considered how to get Ingrid Bergman's classic, simple look from this film.  Since so many of the pieces of her costumes are ridiculously classic (like plain skirts and blazers), there are plenty of options around today to help put her different movie looks into your closet!


Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Ingrid Bergman
earrings | blazer | shoes | skirt | brooch


Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Ingrid Bergman
wide-brim fedora | khaki skirt suit | blouse | gloves | clutch | shoes


Flashback Summer:  Casablanca Week- Get the Look- Ingrid Bergman
'80s dress pattern | belt | hat | t-shirt | gloves | clutch | shoes

movie images from imdb.com

Casablanca Week- Movie Scenes

For those of you who haven't seen "Casablanca"..... you should.  But until then, here are some of the most famous scenes with quotes you may have heard before!

For those of you who have seen it, like me, here are some scenes to enjoy once again!  So great.  Ingrid is just dazzling, and Humphrey is so confident and assured and timelessly cool.

As you're watching, check out their fabulous clothes!  I'll be posting some "Get the Look" stuff soon!

"Play It, Sam"

"We'll Always Have Paris"
and 
"Here's Looking at You, Kid"

"I love you so much... and I hate this war so much.  It's a crazy world; anything can happen."

Casablanca Week Kickoff

Flashback Summer: Casablanca Week

This week I've got something special for you guys!  I'm kicking off my first theme week, starting out with inspiration from the 1942 movie "Casablanca."  I'll be busy relaxing (ha) and having fun with my family for Christmas break, so I got this all put together ahead of time!

This movie is a classic.  Starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, it's one of the most well-known older movies of all time.  Intrigue and spying in unoccupied Africa before America's involvement in World War II, the movie has suspense, drama, love, and sacrifice, all the good stuff!
Flashback Summer: Casablanca Week

Throughout the week I'll be posting tutorials, "get the look" stuff, outfits, etc. all centered around "Casablanca" and its awesomeness!  
I hope you guys enjoy it!

December 24: Movie Scenes
December 25: Get the Look- Ingrid Bergman
December 26: Get the Look- Humphrey Bogart
December 27: Ingrid-Inspired Outfit

P.S.  Congratulations, Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage!  Just email me with a mailing address, and I'll send you your prize from this giveaway!

Class Christmas Party Outfit

Yesterday we had a feast/Christmas party in my Sunday school class at church.  I love going to this class because it's comprised of mostly retirees, and there are only 3-4 people under 50 years old!  I get tired of being around college students all the time.  I want to spend time with people who know what they're doing in life and have been around the block!

We gathered all the desserts and food and sat around chatting.  I learned about Fern who had done church work with her husband for 18 years in Chicago, and Dr. David who teaches down at College of the Ozarks, and talked to my friends Gordon and Lola (who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year!). 

They're so sweet.  They told me my outfit looked "chic" and "chipper", highest praise!  It was a lot of fun!

Who are some older people you love to spend time with?  How do they impact your life?

Also, when do you think this hat is from?  '40s?  '50s?  I'm not quite sure.  It's the other one I got from Relics that I talked about in this post.

P.S.  Don't forget to enter this giveaway, going on now!
Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage hat

hat: Relics Antique Mall
bracelet: Kenya
rest of the outfit: I've all these pieces for a long time, and I don't even remember!  Department stores, gifts, um......

Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage hat
Yeah, should've put my hair over the string....... I get that now, but I didn't have time to fix it this morning after I realized it.
Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, vintage style 1950s

Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage style
I was messing around the other day and came up with this hairstyle.  I REALLY like it. The sides are twisted down into an inverted ponytail-bun thing.
Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage style, red heels

Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage style, red heels, vintage hat
I love how you can see Aria's epic photography pose in the door.
Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage style, Kenya bracelet

Flashback Summer- Class Christmas Party outfit, 1950s vintage style

Hospitality: 5 Double-Use Tricks in a Dorm

Flashback Summer- Hospitality: 5 Double-Use Tricks in a Dorm
from here

Oh dorms. 

They're places of fun, learning, friendship, and yet still have a prison-y atmosphere to them if left "unhomified".  

All my college peeps, I'm right there with you.  Here are 5 handy (inexpensive, easy!) ways to make your dorm room (or even your house!) feel more like home using things you may already have more efficiently for double purposes.  It really goes along with the Depression-era mantra, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without!"

1.  Use all those free t-shirts/ donated/ found clothing items you get to make rugs, place mats, or bath mats from your room based on this tutorial.
These would also make great gifts for people!

2.  Turn a picture frame with glass in it into a dry erase board.
Or to draw mustaches on your favorite people.

3.  Save school newspapers/ old papers/ real newspapers.
Use them for drafting pattern pieces for your sewing projects by taping the sheets together into sheets big enough for your pattern pieces and trace!  (This works best with newspaper, big sheets to begin with.)  Or, use them to get smells out, put your muddy shoes on, art projects, pranks, etc.

4.  Use shower caddies like this one next to your sink/mirror to give yourself (and your roommate) more room.
Dorm sinks get used for everything, and there's nothing more annoying than brushing your teeth at 2 am after a long day of studying and realizing there's nowhere to spit 'cuz all your dishes are in there.  Utilize that vertical space as much as possible.

5.  Use your candle warmer as a coffee cup heater.
I have many a long study night, and there's nothing worse than pausing for a sip and getting icky, cold coffee.  Set a non-plastic coffee cup on a candle warmer to keep it hot!

What tricks like these have you guys discovered (even if you aren't in a dorm)?

P.S. Don't forget to enter this giveaway I have going!  It closes December 19th!

Flashback Summer- Hospitality: 5 Double-Use Tricks in a Dorm
Don't smoke, but do try to find such fabulous graduation accessories!  from here.

2000 Pageview Giveaway!

This giveaway is currently closed.  Winner announced here.

Flashback Summer has officially reached 2000 pageviews!

To celebrate, I've got a giveaway for you guys!

I've created an accessorizing-inspiration kit.  It includes a vintage lace collar and cuff set, lots of vintage buttons, six straight/hat pins shaped like feathers, hand-made beads I bought in Sudan, wool leaves, and odds and ends that can be used to trim hats, necklines, anything you want!

Flasback Summer: 2000 Page Giveaway!



Flasback Summer: 2000 Page Giveaway!

Flasback Summer: 2000 Page Giveaway!

To enter the contest, pin your favorite Flashback Summer post to one of your Pinterest boards and put the link in your comment on here, or post it on Facebook (and still put the link here)!  

The giveaway will close on Tuesday, Dec. 19th, and the winner will be chosen a couple days after!

Good luck everyone!

New Dress Debut!

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Today I debuted the dress I made from McCall's 5517 and a hat I bought at a flea market recently (that I talk about here).  It was my first time trying out this pattern (besides the muslin I made), and though it didn't turn out exactly how I want and I had to do some quick troubleshooting in the process... I do like it!  It's a very plain, simple dress that I will be able to style in lots of different ways.

My university is a bit small, so I'm kind of that vintage girl on campus.... (Though there is another girl that has a fun vintage twinge some days.  I knew we'd get along when she asked how I did my victory rolls while we were at the bathroom mirror one day.  I was happy that someone actually knew what "victory rolls" were!) There isn't much of a vintage-loving community here (that I've encountered, anyway.  If there is, find me!)... so I get a lot of comments.  But they've all been positive, so that's very sweet.  Many have asked why I'm so dressed up, and I'm saying it's in celebration of the last official day of classes!!!  HUZZAH!

I find that when I dress in a way that looks more modest, put-together, and ladylike, I get treated differently.  People think I look professional, men tend to open doors more or offer to carry things for me, women that I've never talked to before will come up and chat with me about my outfit and I get to meet them.  It's kind of an automatic conversation-starter! 

Do any of you notice a difference in how people respond to you when you dress in vintage clothing?  Do people in your area tend to react positively?  (I sure hope so.)  Do you feel any different when you go vintage?

(My sister and I did a mini photo shoot to document the look.  However, my dress is made of cotton and was kind of a wrinkled mess by the time I got to this afternoon shoot.  Live and learn.)

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517
This is me putting the wiggle in "wiggle dress", haha.
Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517
It's even fully lined!!!  It's my first time fully lining a dress, so please be a little impressed!
Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

dress: made by me
hat: Relics Antique Mall
necklace: from my mother's 1980s wardrobe, "1928" jewelry
lipstick: Estee Lauder

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517
I revamped the kick pleat and added a cute tab, as inspired by this post (style 2)
Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517

Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut- McCall's 5517
My hair was somewhat inspired by this post, though I changed it quite a bit to fit with my hat!
Flashback Summer: New Dress Debut
At the end of it all, I paid Aria with tea and a berry scone from a favorite coffee shop nearby.  She was happy.