Mad Men

Ok, so I had to do it just like everyone else. I'm super excited that Mad Men is coming back on AMC, and what better way to celebrate than Mad Men-ing yourself?



I think it's actually pretty good likeness for me, despite the fact that I don't own plaid pedal pushers (though I would!) or a leopard hat...

You can play around with it here: Mad Men Yourself

Atlas Obscura

For people who truly know me - they know I'm a total weirdo deep down. My fiance (add the accent mark with your mind) and I have bones and taxidermy all over our house, and we travel the world together, hunting out the neatest, most non-touristy things we can find in different countries. So to say I was excited when I found this website was an understatement.

It all began when we were hunting for interesting places to get married. The old abandoned small pox hospital on Governor's Island is closed to the public. Cloisters is out. It's actually pretty hard to find castles that haven't been redone and made cheesy as places to get married! So I stumble across the Atlas Obscura...

I got completely sucked in, scrolling through all the different types of locations "curious places of worship", "disaster areas", "electrical oddities", etc. It's not just man made places, but spiritual places, and locations of great natural occurances.

Anyways I could go on and on, so it's worth taking a look through. My favorites thusfar:


The Gates of Hell


Sedlec Ossuary


Cano Cristales

For more great oddies and curiosities head over to Atlas Obscura

4th of July

So today is America's birthday. Time to celebrate by drinking too much, BBQ-ing, eating pie and watching things explode. I sound cynical but I'm totally not. I really will take any excuse to watch fireworks, as I'm a complete sucker for them. New York's also happen to be the greatest around. Normally we have barges set up on the east river and down by the Brooklyn Bridge, but I guess to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson sailing past New York, all barges will be set up in a line on the Hudson River. I'm heading to my in-laws roof and am hoping there are no taller buildings to our west so I can get a prime view.

In honor of this holiday, I figured I'd show some good old fashioned July 4th imagery. All courtesy of Flickr!


Nothing like celebrating a country's birth by showing a picture of the people who stole the country away from in the first place


A card with a baby bringing you a firework. It's so inappropriate I love it!


I love this lady also! Sitting around in her sailor outfit in the 1940s (?) surrounded by tons of fireworks. I envy her life!


Have and happy and safe 4th of July everyone!

Modcloth.com

Has everyone been to Modcloth.com recently? As with most stores in my good graces, I have periods where I will see nothing I like, and then suddenly everything that pops up seems amazing to me. If I wasn't trying to save money to pay for my (insanely expensive) wedding dress and upcoming nuptials I would be buying up all sorts of clothes from them. It also doesn't hurt that they have great customer service aside from all the fantastic clothes!

My current favorites are below. I will take any of them right now please and thank you. My measurements are 34-26-35...

Louisa May Blouse $34.99


Wesleyen Blouse $79.99



Gondolier Dress $49.99


Skipper shorts $64.99


Golden Days of Glamour Dress $174.99


Sidecar Tour Dress $42.99


I could go on forever as there seems to be even tons more on their site I want. I'm on their mailing list and check the site almost daily, yet somehow I always miss the great one of a kind vintage pieces they feature here and there. Oh well!

As always all pieces above link to their pages. Stop by modcloth.com soon. Trust me, you won't be sorry!

The passing...

SO I went to Pittsburgh last week to visit some long lost eldery family members in their tiny country town. I'm sure I'll post pictures of the place, and the great vintage items I found in Pittsburgh, but that's not what this is really about. This is about the news I got on Thursday night in my hotel room - that Michael Jackson had passed away.

I am an immense Michael Jackson fan. The minute he announced his concerts in London I was begging friends to agree to see him with me when I knew he would inevitably come to New York. I don't know why, but this loss is really taking it's toll on me. It's nearly a week later and I still feel on the verge of tears thinking about it. Bettie Page's passing brought me down, but this one is keeping me down. I think that's why I haven't been able to post anything since, and though this is hard to write, I feel like I need to get it out.

When I was growing up in Florida, racism was a huge part of my community. There were certain neighborhoods you didn't drive through, places where you knew to lock your doors, and very little segregation in my schools (at least until high school). Thriller came out the year I was born, and as such I was brought up listening to it. Same goes for Bad, Off the Wall, even to Michael's History album. In my house we understood that people weren't seperated by color and we were all the same. The only thing that defined us as good people, and people able to make it out of that state, was how good we were to our friends and neighbors, and how talented you proved yourself to be. Color played no part in that. For me, and most people I knew, Michael blew every stereotype out of the water, and joined together those people who tried so hard to keep themselves seperate. No matter who you spoke to, Michael was a unifier. He was common ground.

Seeing all the people coming out in favor of him lately, all I can help but think is did you support him during the changing of his face, through the plastic surgery, through the molestation trials? I know I did. Michael was strange, but like everyone else he was human. It breaks my heart to think the people who judged him possibly drove him to this place, and left us where we are now - missing a hero, a man so talented he crossed racial divides.

I know I will always have his music, but the idea that the world is now missing such an amazing person just breaks my heart. To all those who didn't believe in him - shame on you. I hope now you realize what we've lost, and in the future you will think to embrace and help those who require it, and not push them away.

For Michael Jackson- as some have said, I'm sure you moonwalked your way through those Pearly Gates and are now bringing many people an eternity of joy.

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland

I LOVE Tim Burton. Love more than most things in this world. I was discussing with some people the other day how excited I am for the Tim Burton exhibit at The Museum of Modern Art in NY (opening this Nov 22nd) and they tried to act like Tim Burton wasn't the greatest thing since sliced bread. I know I can be a bit much in my adoration, but sometimes it just takes some reminders for people to understand his greatness. Sure, maybe you hated the new Willy Wonka (it wasn't his finest hour) or you can't stand how he always uses Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter lately, but seriously - check the list and try and tell me you don't love at least some of his movies? I bet you even forgot he made a bunch.

Some of my favorites:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ed Wood
Batman and Batman Returns
Mars Attacks!
Beetlejuice
Edward Scissorhands
Big Fish
Sleepy Hollow
James and the Giant Peach
The Nighmare Before Christmas
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure


ANYWAYS - this post isn't about my love, but my excitement. I've been hearing about Alice in Wonderland for months, and now I just finally saw some pictures online. I might have nightmares, but here we go!


Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter




Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts


Tweedledee and Tweedledum



Our gal Alice




Alice in Wonderland sneak peak provided by ABC News. To see more go here

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!

There is an amazing give away going on right now over at The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife! I've been pining over this Vintage Hairstyling book for weeks now thanks to constanting posting over at The Bobby Pin Blog. Plus she's giving away wave clips, a hair flower, and other goodies. I'm pretty good at doing my hair since it's been undergoing years of daily abuse on my behalf, but man what this book could teach me! I don't ever have good luck, so maybe I'll just have to keep fingers and toes crossed for this one!



You can get to the give away posting above, or by clicking here

Governor's Island Jazz Age Lawn Party

I've been super swamped lately with work - sorry about that! - but I'm back to my usual self. I mentioned before the Jazz Age Lawn Party presented by Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra that happens twice a year on Governor's Island in NY. Well the pictures have been pouring in, so here's a little handful of them:


I had total clothing crushes on all these people:

With my lovely lady friends.... I am of course second from the right in my grey and white shorts that my mom sewed for me based on ones Drew Barrymore wore in the recent Grey Gardens movie.


With my lovely red-headed friend Jeanie:



I was also interviewed by Time Out New York regarding my hair

If you go here:
Time Out New York Hair Special
I am on pages 154, 155, and 156. If you click the picture it leads to my interview, where I'm happy I got to give a shout out to one of my favorite NYC vintage shops - The Family Jewels. I also love they asked me if I dress like that everyday. I guess we looked odd?...

What I Wore today

Technically what I wore Friday, but who's counting?


In this one you can see my shoes. I LOVE them and will I'm sure do an entry about them soon. They're Worishofer and SOOOOO comfy!


Better view of the faux bangs with scarf. Vintage sweater and black jodphurs


Close up detail of the sweater and my little bow/milk stone brooch.

Jazz Age Picnic at Governor's Island

My lady friends and I brought out our dingiest sheets and best picnic recipes for this last year and had a wonderful afternoon surrounded by amazing clothes worn by true vintage enthusiasts and some of the best music to be found in New York.  If you're in the area (I'm aware it's already Saturday) then bring out your dancing shoes for the Jazz-Age Lawn Party on Governor's Island!

Full description courtesy of Dreamlandorchestra.com:

Under a shady grove of centuries-old trees, caressed by fresh sea air, a sprawling green surrounded by historic officers’ quarters and 18th century naval ramparts becomes the setting for a true Gatsby affair.

Widely anticipated by flappers, sporting gents and tiny tots alike, this event has been featured annually by The New York Times and the Sartorialist.

A wide array of music, food & drink, activities, games and contests are open for all ages to enjoy:

* A delightful variety of refreshing summer cocktails, wine, prosecco and beer are available and will be served by expert mixologists.
* Picnickers are welcome. There will also be gourmet coffee and a yummy assortment of sandwiches, salads and other treats available.
* Vintage ’78 records spun on 1920s Victor Credenza phonograph machine by Matthew Hinson
* 1920s Motorcar Exhibition - take a spin around the island in a genuine rumbleseat; hold on to your hat!
* Vintage clothing dealers and boutique milliners including Ellen Christine, Cassie McGregor and Leigh Magar of Magar Hatworks. They will all be peddling wares, so be sure to tuck some cash into your garter.
* Special literature/ephemera booths and readings by the Dorothy Parker Society & F. Scott Fitzgerald Society
* Horseshoe Toss
* Tug O’ War
* Parade Of Hats (Sunday Only)