1940s Blue Ruffle Dress

Every once in a while, I run across a dress that is really unique. In fact, this dress is so unique that I'm pretty sure I tried it on backwards the first time because I couldn't tell which way it went.  The back is as pretty as the front!

5 Year Blogiversary

This month is an AMAZING milestone for Flashback Summer!  As of October 17, I have been blogging for five years.  FIVE YEARS!

Most blogs don't last more than a year, and I'm honored to be celebrating my five year "blogiversary."  I laugh now when I got back and look at my first post and, well, pretty much anything from that first year!  How far I've come in knowledge, skill, and relationships.

It's been an honor getting to know many of you through this blog and sharing my life with you.  While I have many changes coming up in my life, I hope that this blog will continue into this future.  You guys have made it such a wonderful adventure, and I appreciate every comment, share, and like more than you know.  

I've got some of my various "first posts" and "top posts" of all time below in case you guys would like to walk down memory road with me. :)

Love you guys!

Top blog post by comments

Top blog post by views

Top-viewed video

First outfit post

First video

First sponsored post

First tutorial

Stash-Busting Vintage Beret

I'm on a constant search for hats that flatter my round face and short hair, and I finally decided to start making my own.  I've found that a beret works well for both my hair and face shape as well as being a classic style that works for any decade.  I decided to look through my patterns and stash to see what I could come up with for a low-budget topper.

Vintage Woman in a Modern World: Vintage & Image-Building

Today I read a great post by Missi of the blog Curve Creation entitled "Retro Girl in a Modern World: Pinup & Social Anxiety."  While I don't have social anxiety myself, her post sparked some good thought for me on the reasons why I wear vintage and the downsides and benefits it presents.  Although I could wax eloquent on lots of different reasons I wear it, I thought specifically on how it helps me portray myself to others around me.  My style is a mix of expressing who I am now and a tool for growing myself into who I aspire to be.  Vintage has four characteristics that help me in this:                 {pin this}

The Wanderer

Although it's supposed to be fall, it's still quite hot here in Missouri.  I have yet to put away my summer clothes, and I was delighted to try out this new sleeveless dress I received from Happy Yellow Dress to a friend's baby shower in a park.  The weather turned out to be just perfect, and this breezy cotton dress was super comfortable.  Not to mention it accents my runner's/farmer's tan beautifully, haha!

Sunflower Abaya Refashion

Although I lived in Sudan about seven years ago, I still have a few garments from there that I've kept.  They're sentimental and remind me of one of the most adventurous, most learning-filled times in my life so far.  They're also traditional garments worn by Muslim women in Sudan.  A couple of the garments I own are tobe, and one of the others I'm sharing today is an abaya, a long robe.