Peggy Sue

Usually my posts focus on life-size fashion but today's edition is on a much smaller scale! My grandmother passed down her treasured childhood doll to me a few years ago and I decided that it was time to share this darling with you all. Here is her story, told in my grandmother's own words.

I think I was around 7 years old and we lived at 2535  Warren St. Covington, Ky.  She was a Christmas gift.  My parents and grandparents always opened their gifts on Christmas Eve when I was SUPPOSE TO BE sleeping but it was hard to sleep so often I crept down the stairs part way to take a peak. They were always around the dining room table opening gifts and the gifts under the tree were all mine as I was an only child for 10 years.They told me Santa brought them and I always left hot chocolate and cookies on the breakfast nook table for Santa. Of course he always ate them.

Well she was a treasured doll for me.  I may have gotten the doll bunk beds that year also. Anyway, she has her original dress and apron on. We had to replace the shoes and she had pig tails  but her hair got so bad over the years we had to get her a new wig.l  I always tried to take good  care of her.  I had the doll clothes wardrobe which  you or your mom must have. It came with only 3 wooden hangers built in and over time I had more clothes which I had made and some were bought, but no way to hang them  up.

My Grandpa Gordan Wesley Setty ran a bicycle store  (Wesley Supply Store) at 1730 E. 5th St. Dayton, Ohio and I often watched him put wire through the hole in long rubber tubing for tricycle, wagon and baby buggy tires.  He  cut  the ends and pressed  them together on a machine which he had invented and made up for that use. He kept big rolls of wire hanging in his shop so one day when I was visiting my grandparents I asked Grandpa if he could make me some clothes hangers for my doll clothes. He looked at a full size hanger and then at the wooden ones  and the clothes and came up with doll size clothes hangers for me.

Then Grandma said  "You know those might just sell in the store"  so he made up several more and painted a sign which said "Shirley Ann Doll  Clothes Hangers." It was red and blue.  I can't remember the price but it was something like 3 for 5 cents I think. He put them in the front window of his store and sure enough they went over very well. I still have the original sign at home in Ohio and copies of the hangers in my genealogy book.

   Grandpa was very inventive and made several tools like spoke tighteners (for bicycle wheels) and hand tools needed in his business.

I guess that is the story of Peggy.  I named her that because I just thought with her pig tails she looked like her name should be Peggy.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas weekend!

Sarah

Collaboration with Aerial Jay Photography

Several months ago a barista (who also happens to be a photographer) at my local Starbucks mentioned that he would love to capture my personal style on film. Anyone who knows me knows that I would never turn down an opportunity to get dressed up and immortalize my vintage dresses on film! We created a collaborative photo shoot and it was such a fun experience! Paul is not only a great photographer but also a very kind person with a passion for people and their stories. Special thanks to Hannah for helping me pose my best!

Here is a sneak preview but please go to Aerial Jay Photography to see the entire shoot!

Photographer: Paul Jacala Aerial Jay Photography

Posing: Hannah Lyn Roe

Film Noir Look

1940s Dress: Wayward Collection

1940s Hat: Ivy Mae Vintage

Vintage gloves: Kate DiNatale Vintage

Summer Citrus Look

1950s Catalina Dress: Simplicity is Bliss

1970s shoes: Capsule Vintage

1950s needlepoint box purse: thrifted

Folk Style

For today's post I'm wearing a German Trachten dress that I found at a thrift store a while ago. I don't think it's vintage but I fell in love with the 50s silhouette and detailing on this dress as well as the print. Trachten dresses are used traditionally for equestrian events and worn sometimes at Oktoberfest, probably with a blouse underneath but I love it as a sleeveless dress! This dress was made in Italy- I've found a few other modern made in Italy dresses in thrift stores too and I have to say that they are always very well made! 

In other news, we just adopted another puppy! She is a sweet black lab mix named Luna and we adopted her from our animal hospital. It's a little (ok a LOT) crazy having two dogs! Hopefully things will calm down soon. 

Let me know what you think of my German folk dress! I also finally found the perfect fringy bag(way to go Target!). 

Summer Solstice

Wheewh! It's been hot this weekend. Nevertheless Nate and I went to Sunrift Adventures and bought some bikes so we can do some trail riding! My sweetie was nice enough to snap some outfit pics of me while we were out. This dress was for sale in CarlaSue Vintage for several months but I thought it was such a shame that it was just sitting on a rack collecting dust all summer so I decided to keep it...ooooops. I mixed navy and black accessories (I love breaking fashion "rules") for this outfit. I have another black and navy outfit I'm dying to share! Hopefully soon. Hope everyone stays cool!

1950s Dress: CarlaSue Vintage

60s raffia clutch: Hey Roxanne Vintage

Hat and shoes from Target.

Photos by my sweet husband.

This dress is a fantastic number made by Loomtogs- something about it is so timeless and I love it! Loomtogs specialized in women's sportswear; this dress definitely has an easy quality about it. The fabric is glazed cotton- glazing was a popular technique in the 1950s-60s and makes the fabric wrinkle resistant (and yes, it really is practically wrinkle free!)

Biltmore Estate

I went up to the Biltmore Estate with my friend Emily of Great Glen Vintage today to see a period movie costume display! It was gorgeous. My favorite pieces were definitely the gowns Keira Knightley wore in The Duchess. We both wore pieces from Kate Dinatale Vintage that we bought last weekend at Native Clique, a new fun vintage festival in downtown Greenville.

Emily's outfit:

50s Swirl Dress: Kate Dinatale Vintage

80s Clutch: CarlaSue Vintage

Sarah's outfit:

60s Top: Kate Dinatale Vintage

Skirt: self-made

Box Purse: Kate Dinatale Vintage

A Match Made in Heaven

 It's such a beautiful day today! Perfect weather for debuting this outfit. I found this 50s teal knit sportswear top at the thrift store a few weeks ago and started searching for the perfect skirt to go with it. I couldn't believe it when I found this amazing 1950s skirt from Two Old Beans! It is the PERFECT match! Seriously, it was just too easy.

This outfit is pretty comfortable but still stylish. I've come up with a very simple recipe for summertime outfit success: take a cotton dress or skirt and top, add wedges or leather flats, finish off with a hat and bam! This is the perfect vintage modern balance for me in everyday life. Also THIS BAG goes with everything. A bit of a splurge(graduation gift from my parents years ago!) but worth every penny.

Top: vintage 50s

 50s Skirt: Two Old Beans

Bag: Kenneth Cole

Sharing the Love

This is my first ever guest post on my blog, and I would like to introduce you to Selena of Blu Butterfly Vintage! I met Selena at a vintage trunk show a few months ago and since then she has been organizing monthly vintage pop up shops at her store in the Village on Pendleton St. Her store is a wonderful blend of bohemian and classic vintage styles so there is something for just about everyone! She has such a sweet spirit (and such a sweet little boy named Aaron, as you can see!)

I interviewed Selena and she was kind enough to let me take some photos at her store as well. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and love of vintage with my readers and I!

All photos taken at Blu Butterfly Vintage.

Why do you love vintage? 

My love for vintage started as a little girl in front of my grandmothers vanity set and all her 1950's dresses, hats,  purses, gloves, pearls... and shoes!  I was in the drama department in high school in the mid 90's and that's when the collection began. My friend Rosita and I would go thrifting (we were supposed to be picking up props for the next play) but instead we would find ourselves spending countless hours buying vintage pieces lol!  By our senior year in 1995 we had our closets filled with some amazing pieces from the 60s and 70s lol!

Do you have a favorite vintage decade?

I'm very partial to the 40s 50s because of the pride and quality of the clothing during those eras but I also absolutely love the 60s!

Besides vintage, do you have any hobbies/past times?

 My favorite past time is journaling about what God is doing in my life. I hope to write a book one day about my life in hopes it would encourage other women entrepreneurs. My hobbies are painting with acrylics and making hemp jewelry.

Who is/are your style icons?

I'm a huge 80s music fan so when I think of my absolute favorite style icons,  I think of the B-52s! Kate and Cindy have amazing style and not to mention the music is fun.  As a kid,  I always loved watching them perform just to see their outfits.  love love love them.

How long have you lived in Greenville?

I was born in Easley/Greenville area,  raised in Orlando and moved back to the upstate in the late 90's. I love it here!

When did you start selling vintage?

 I started selling vintage on Etsy in March of 2012. Then I opened my first brick and mortar shop in Downtown Easley on June 1st 2013. I left my corporate career in Human Resources to pursue what I love... and that's vintage fashion.

When/why did you choose The Village in Greenville for your shop? 

I was magnetized to the village area a few years ago when there was a huge write up in the Greenville News about the natives making it an arts district.  I could foresee it being a little Asheville with neat shops,  arts and dining.

Do you have any advice on styling vintage in a modern way for girls who are looking to add some vintage pieces  to their wardrobe?

 I always have clients who come in the shop and they are unsure of how to mix vintage with modern.  This is why I started styling all of my clients who come into the shop. My advice that I always give is be true to who you are first.  Nothing is out of style and it's all about how you carry yourself.  And secondary,  mixing some fun tops and scarves with what you already have in your closet is easy to do. Thirdly,  all of the pieces at Blu Butterfly Vintage are curated,  prayed over,  repaired,  handpicked and are ready to wear when they walk out the door.

Do you have any long term goals/visions for Blu Butterfly Vintage?

Right now I'm getting ready to launch my sustainable clothing line in the fall of 2016. I've been working on it for three  years and have finally gotten it all in order to do.  We are also getting involved in the community and starting some outreach programs for the kids and the homeless in Greenville.

Greenville seems to have a growing market for vintage lovers/selling vintage. What are your thoughts/opinions on this? 

I think it's great that it's finally catching up here in the upstate! We need that here because it's a big city idea.  I've lived in the city (Orlando ) before and  there is always a central hub by or in the downtown area where like minded individuals come together and congregate.  I foresee the village having more vintage shops, a record shop....a great taco shop.  I'm a visionary so I what I foresee happening I'm sure will happen in Greenville.  We have already had comments about it being a little Asheville and that's exciting!

Any other comments you would like to add? 

I've  been a vintage curator for over 20 years and love what I do.  I love the fact that I can help women everyday find their true unique self, to be different and set apart.  I thank God for opening the doors of opportunities to be all he's called me to be.  Romans 12:2.

 I'm participating in a pop up shop THIS FRIDAY from 6-9 pm 

Blu Butterfly Vintage 1279 Pendleton St. Greenville, SC.

Please stop by and check out local food vendors, music, and vintage sellers!!

Art Deco

Miami is such a paradise for art deco and mid-century modern lovers! Pastel colored hotels line Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, each with its own little personality. I happened to buy the perfect dress from Cheshire Vintage months ago for our Miami trip and recently picked up an amazing hand-painted signed box purse from Kate DiNatale Vintage. Kate is a local seller in the Greenville area and opening a new shop in The Village later this summer!

50s Dress: Cheshire Vintage

50s/60s box purse: Kate Dinatale Vintage

Sunglasses: Amazon

Photos by my husband and I