Sponsored: Nataya Emerald Dress

This post is sponsored and contains affiliate links. Collaborating with brands helps me continue creating content, and I'll always continue to be up front and honest with you guys! You can read more about my collaboration policies here. 

I had some fun with this antique hat and gifted dress from Nataya this weekend!

More and more I’m appreciating newly-made, retro-styled clothing. This dress has pretty embroidered details and a flowy overlaid skirt—yet it’s also hardy enough for my life with toddlers. 😆

Guest Post: The Amelia Earhart Lookbook

In honor of November being Aviation History Month, I put out a call for collaborations and guest posts on Instagram and Facebook, and @the_pinup_pilot answered!  She made this *amazing* lookbook inspired by styles from Amelia Earhart's original 1930s line of clothing as well as photographs of Amelia. 

Sponsored: Nataya Lemon Dress

Disclaimer: I was gifted this dress by Nataya in return for posted content, and this post contains affiliate links.  (Commissions from these links help fund my caffeine and crafting!)

If you're a fan of vintage fashion with a modern twist, the Alexa 1920s Flapper Dress in Lemon from Nataya is a must-have for your wardrobe. Nataya pieces have a romantic 1910s-1930s kind of vibe about them with more modern wearability, so they can be accessorized to lean into several different eras. I went with a summery 1920s look for this dress!

Eielson Jet Sweater

 

I’m very proud of this particular project representing my current home in Alaska! Alaskan-dyed wool, fighter jets, and snowflakes--what more could I need?!

Nursing-Friendly Vintage Thrift Haul

New Youtube video! 

I needed some nursing-friendly garments for this phase of life, but I needed a way to get them that is more budget conscious. Enter thrifting!

What's your favorite look from the haul?

1940s Woman's Day Purse

 While I've still got some fluctuating postpartum measurements, I'm taking the time to make things like accessory sets that will fit any time. As part of a set, I decided to break out this 1940s pattern and make the "small rucksack" purse!

Wearing History Victory Hat Pattern

Not gonna lie to you guys, this hat almost did me in.

I wanted a small project to get my sewing mojo back, and this Wearing History Victory Hat pattern seemed to fit the bill. I had some scrap denim left over, so I decided to make a hat, purse, and belt set out of it.  

I got the denim cut out, and the hat is only three pattern pieces. The pattern also called for interfacing or hymo for the cap brim and top, but I thought it would be better to recycle an old plastic dog cone to prevent future creasing if the hat got bent and such. FIRST MISTAKE.

1934 Curtain Tie-Backs

I decided it was finally time to make something to hold back my curtains, and I remembered a booklet I have from 1934 with just that type of info in it!

1930s Black & White Ensemble

I'm excited to show you guys my finished 1930s ensemble! It's one of the rare times that I got to use a true vintage pattern, and it turned out just as I wanted. (Also a rare thing, ha!)

Joanie Boatneck Sweater - Poison Grrls

I'm always looking for projects to use up the yarns in my stash, and when I saw Poison Grrls release their new pattern, the Joanie Boatneck Sweater, I knew it would be perfect! There are five colors on the garment, so it was perfect to use the odd fingering-weight yarn balls I had left over from other projects.

Vintage Crochet Gladiola Crown

I didn't have *any* matching accessories for a playsuit I just got, so clearly I had to remedy that! In the spirit of make do and mend during a pandemic, I checked my stash to see what I had in coordinating colors. No extra cost, no extra trips out!

Munro Sweater - Vintage Shetland Project

Say hello to my FIRST. FAIR ISLE. SWEATER!

This has been one of the most enjoyable, learning-filled knitting projects that I've ever done! I loved watching the design grow row by row, and I tried out new techniques that I'd never used before, mainly steeks.

(TLDR details at the bottom!)

Tongue-Tied Blouse Resources

I've finished my Tongue Tied Blouse by the Poison Grrls! I absolutely *love* it and will definitely be making it again... a few dozen more times!

One of the things that I've really enjoyed about this pattern is that it has stretched me as a knitter. I don't use modern patterns a lot, and--believe it or not--some new developments have happened in knitting over the last 80 years, ha! I was able to learn several new-to-me techniques throughout this project. 

Controversial Post: Wearing Military Garments?

Military uniforms have influenced civilian fashion since uniforms have existed! There's something about the design and meaning of military uniforms that continues to inspire people all over the world. But who can wear them, and when is it appropriate?

Supporting Small/Independent Business When You Can't Afford the Products

Most of us in the vintage community are big believers in buying quality, sustainable items. Although all of us are in this hobby for the fantastic vintage fashion aesthetics, a lot of us also love vintage for its quality. We love it for its uniqueness. We love it for the environmentally-friendly impact of secondhand shopping. We love the small, niche businesses that recreate vintage aesthetics and/or preserve the tradition of craftsmanship in our modern day.

You guys are probably like me in that there are SO MANY small and independent companies that I fangirl over. They create such beautiful garments, shoes, accessories, hats, jewelry, etc., and they're owned by amazing people that take pride in their craft and lift communities with them. I'm all about supporting them, but sometimes my budget is not so on board. So how can we support these small businesses with the budget constraints that many of us have?

Women's Equality Day & The Skirted Soldier

In the U.S., today is Women's Equality Day! I'm celebrating by looking back at women who paved the way and trying out some new tea flavors from The Skirted Soldier, a female veteran-owned business named for women of the past that stood up and proved themselves when their country needed them.

1940s Scrap Yarn Sweater

I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy packing up a house to move. I enjoy unpacking a house after moving... but not the "before" phase of purging and packing!

In anticipation of moving this spring, I've been working largely from my stash for projects, especially knitting projects. (If I use my stash, I'm not acquiring more... and I have less to pack later!) I've got lots of leftover yarn balls from other projects, but they're all different colors and weights, and I don't know the amounts of a lot of them since they're partial-skeins or I ripped the labels off. I wanted to make a project using them, but it's harder to fit scrap yarns to a project rather than just buying a bunch of new yarn!

Influence of the Korean War on Fashion

Street scene in Seoul, September 1953

The Korean War is sometimes referred to as "The Forgotten War" in the U.S. It wasn't highly publicized like World War II and Vietnam, and it was relatively short, lasting from 1950-1953.  However, it was one of the more impactful conflicts that still affects international relations today. The rate of civilian casualties in the war was higher than during World War II and Vietnam as well, and another generation of American GIs experienced war in a place they likely never would have ventured to otherwise.

(Read a summarized timeline of the war here.)

The conflict also affected the people back home. When troops went to war, many of them were traveling overseas for the first time in their lives. They stopped in various countries along the way to the front, oftentimes buying souvenirs and garments for loved ones back home. These little pieces from their travels made their way into the wardrobes of mothers, wives, girlfriends, and sisters all across America. 

Vintage Maternity Series - The 1960s

Ah, the 1960s! Finally, stretch fabrics started to make their way into maternity fashions, and pregnancy style has never really looked back. Just like the rest of the 60s, maternity fashion was fun and whimsical! Common embellishments included big buttons, bows, rhinestones, bright fabrics, and the like.

Vintage Maternity Series - The 1950s

Now for the era that defines “vintage maternity style” in the minds of many: the 1950s! Unlike during the 1930s and 1940s, fabric conservation and rationing was no longer a big design consideration and, like the other styles of the 1950s, maternity wear became more voluminous and feminine.