On a Hippie Day

Some days you wake up, stare at your petticoat, and decide it’s be easier to be a hippie. Or at least that’s what I did Saturday. 

In a quest for vintage sweaters last year, I came across this great 60’s/70’s style one on Etsy. While the sizing was a larger than my measurements and the price was a little high, I took a risk in getting it because I loved the bird design (chicken or turkey?) and figured I’d be wearing it over something anyways. I’d have to say it was worth it, since I tend to wear it quite a bit!

Surprisingly, I realized as I was editing the photos for this post that this is really my first post with an outfit from a decade later than the 50’s (this dress, which still has a 50’s look, excluded). Most of my true vintage clothes are 60’s or 70’s pieces, primarily from relatives, but I don’t wear them as much since they tend to lack a more practical aspect (a bright, rainbow paisley with orange lining kaftan? — Great if I want to feel like a butterfly, not so good for work). Simpler looks like this, though, by and far, are much easier for me to pull off with very little effort.

While I’m not giving up my petticoat by any means, sometimes it’s nice to take a day to dress outside of your favorite decades!

Outfit Details 

Vintage acrylic sweater- Etsy

T-shirt- Old Navy

Jeans- thrifted

Shoes- thrifted

Head band- me-made (for a themed dress up day ages ago)

 ♥ ♥ ♥

On "Let Me Tell You": A Book Review

Title: Let Me Tell You: New Stories, Essays, and Other Writings

Author: Shirley Jackson (edited by Laurence Jackson Hyman and Sarah Hyman DeWitt)

Genre: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Short Story, Essay

About the book…

A collection of Shirley Jackson’s, primarily, unpublished and uncollected works put together by two of her children. This book is divided into five sections: Unpublished and uncollected short fiction, essays and reviews, early short stories, humor and family, and lectures on writing.

What I think…

This is probably one my favorite books I’ve read within the past year. Jackson over the past few years has wormed her way on to my list of favorite short story writers and this collection did not disappoint me in the least!

I really liked that this collection includes not only short stories, but essays and lectures, as well. These were broken up so that you don't spend half the book reading just essays and then the other half just short stories, which sometimes annoys me.

Jackson's style is one that is often funny, dark, and fantastical all at the same time. I love how she seamlessly weaves fantasy into her works, such as in an essay called “Good Old House” where she talks about her house’s need to adjust to her family or in “Here I Am, Washing Dishes Again,” about the way her kitchen appliances feel about one another. Many of the works in this collection also have the psychological twists and unease that is so prominent in her other works.  

The stories frequently don't have conclusive endings, which doesn't bother me a bit because I like being able to have that range of speculation as a reader. 

My favorite story of the bunch was “Mrs. Spencer and the Oberons,” which is about a mysterious family called the Oberons who “intrude” upon Mrs. Spencer’s perfect world offering some rather interesting and revealing commentary on the search for perfection. 

 

One other delightful thing about this book is that there are a smattering of Jackson's sketches throughout.  

To sum it all up… 

As I said, one of my favorite books from last year and definitely one I’ll be revisiting on a regular basis. If you are already a fan of Shirley Jackson, like imaginative and weird stories, or funny lectures on books and writing then give this book a try! ♥

On Antique Store Finds

Okay, playing catch up here since this post was originally meant for the last week of December.

For the past few years I had been trying to make it to my favorite antique store around Christmas and this year it finally happened. They had a really nice assortment of vintage ornaments, but I only ended up getting two.

I looked at a glitter bird, forgot to get it, and then ended up receiving another one they had that I didn't see (and liked considerably better) as a Christmas present and which I'm including here just because I like it so much. 

I also came home with not one, but two hats. 

The red one, which at first appeared to be part of another hat, I bought specifically to go with my favorite dress. It's my sole hat that is not a full hat and I'm pretty excited about that for no particular reason other than it's red and has a bow. 

The floppy one I debated on, but loved the velvet trim. I do think at one point it had a bow or some other small object on the front since the velvet does have a square impression on it. 

Last, found this beautiful scarf with stars, which unfortunately does not photograph well due to being so sheer, and this gloved hand brooch.

♥ ♥ ♥

On "A Happy New Year" from 1911: A Photo Post

"A Happy New Year" from 1911 to all my lovely readers! 

This postcard was purchased back in September along with the other two I mentioned here. In my eyes, everything from the artwork to the coloring makes this a perfect postcard!

The lady in brown must be learning to skate, she does not look enthusiastic at all!

 Wishing you all a happy start to the new year!

 ♥  ♥  ♥