pincurls

we're moving

2009-07-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

pincurls is retiring. please come with me in my next venture: http://esmeandkate.blogspot.com.
thank you for your love,
Michelle

I know it's simple

2009-07-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

1 cup pineapple chunks

1/2 cup lime juice

1 cup lemon juice

mix ingredients in 9 cups of water

so good.

Ashley G

2009-07-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

Ashley G

the fourth

2009-07-04T08:08:00.001-07:00

1) button pathway skirt at anthropologie
2) soiree clutch at jcrew
3) suede red maryjanes at geekshoes
4) blotting rice paper at palladio
5) 50's readers at forever 21
6) strawberries at the local farmers market
7) bed and breakfast tunic at mod cloth
8) minted rose lip balm by the original smith's
9) red, the boston terrier up for adoption at in chandler, AZ
10) linked leather belt at forever 21
11) Wuthering Heights, 1st Edition books

looking forward to the fireworks and fresh fruits. happy fourth co-patriots!

humanoid

2009-07-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

humanoid

lulufinder

2009-06-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

houdini romper by lulufinder

animalette

2009-06-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

I've had the most terrible migraine the last 2 days. I'm feeling much, much better today but still not quite up to speed. I've been playing around on photoshop all morning working on my 'animalette' series. So darling. A lot is happening today, I'll update more later.

twenty things

2009-06-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

Twenty things i'd like to do in the near future...

1. Digital illustrations on my Wacom Tablet

2. Go to a drive-in movie

3. Re-decorate our kitchen

4. Update my iPod

5. Take a bubble bath

6. Have a picnic on our front lawn

7. Explore the tide pools

8. Run around Disneyland for a day

9. Organize my fabric collection

10. Take a vacation to New Orleans or Nashville or both

11. Build a fort in my living room with pillows and sheets and a sign that says "no boys"

12. Have a Bella Lugosi movie night

13. Sew up some aprons

14. Detox- no drinking, smoking for a long time

15. Make homemade bread

16. Have a slumber party with an Ouija board and pillow fights

17. Have whole wheat pancakes for dinner

18. Finish my 'animalette' painting series

19. Take photos at the botanical gardens.

20. Design new business cards.

not far from the tree

2009-06-29T15:26:00.000-07:00

notfarfromthetree.org

Biala 'Tenere' Pump

2009-06-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

Biala 'Tenere' Pump
If bought these I'd never need another pair of shoes again. (for a while)

girl of my dreams

2009-06-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Do you have issue #8 yet? Hurry, go. MAGAZINE*CAFE

Legitamacy

2009-06-28T10:54:00.000-07:00

So, we're going legit. I'm giving my months notice for my studio in the Life Arts building. So sad, I know. I'm closing up shop there BUT I will continue to collect vintage and will soon be revealing www.douxvintage.com like you've never seen it before. I'll be leaving etsy and selling on my very own, fully interactive website for shopping whimsical, feminine, wearable vintage. Our web design business, Rivera Design and Marketing, is taking off. And I'll be putting a lot more of my time into that side of things. Like I said though, I will continue to sell vintage, blog and find the cutest stuff in the world for you.

More on the doux website later. For now, Jeremy and I are looking to get our business license for Rivera Design and Marketing and my re-seller's license for Doux Vintage. Time to join the human race I suppose.

Okay, in other amazing news. Plus size girls have the most ridiculous time trying to shop for anything but polyester paper sacks. I am not a fan of torrid, the clothing is overpriced and very low quality. I can find things from Lane Bryant once in a while- but nothing stunning or unforgettable. This morning I stumbled across B and Lu, and fell in love. I ordered the Callie dress and some sultry skinny jeans. I cannot wait until they get here. I am totally impressed by this site, if you're a curvy femme, go check it out.

Happy Sunday, friends!

the fourth

2009-06-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

On the fourth of July, Jeremy and I are having a 'super-soaker' party. Food, drinks, water guns and the grand finale. Every year on the fourth of July, the fire department blows up mount Rubidoux with a fire works show and eventually they just made it a training exercise. So around 7pm- we have front row seats. Come to our party.

garfunkel and oates

2009-06-26T08:27:00.000-07:00

went out to the 'upright citizens brigade theater' last night. finally saw Garfunkel and Oates in person. whoah man, they're in even more rad than I thought they would be. We went out there with the stunning Cathryn of Whales and Dan from Silverlake. I met up with my fellow former beachwood princess, Marisa. Whom I was simply delighted to catch up with a bit.

Today I'm finally going shopping for the store. Doux vintage will have some new items up soon. Get excited, get, get excited.

emma england

2009-06-25T10:18:00.000-07:00

emma england

watermelon wonder

2009-06-24T20:07:00.001-07:00

sweet! ella scott jewels chose my 'vintage WATERMELON chiffon scarf'for her etsy 'watermelon' treasury. My items have been chosen a couple of times now and I think I should start documenting. sweet.

lost and fawned

2009-06-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

Lost and Fawned

i knit

2009-06-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

guess who learned how to knit? oh yeah, that's me. now taking scarf requests for christmas 2009.

claire coles

2009-06-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Claire Coles

she makes wallpaper, illustration, tea cups, accessories, personalized cards and takes commissions. I think people think she's considered 'shabby chic' but I don't see that.

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland

2009-06-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

hmmm... so, I'm sure you've probably heard it from a little bird. Tim Burton will be contributing his own, unique version of Lewis Carrol's metaphorically charged "Alice In Wonderland". Either because of his "gothy" whimsical art direction or because satire and as examples of verbal wit is so cool. I am sure the people who ate up The Nightmare Before Christmas will be sure to hand over another 80 million dollars.

I am somewhat excited. Disney printed out the concept art and character portraits for the new issue of their pricy 'disney twenty-three' magazine. I am happy to see that Burton is finally developing his style. I am especially enamored of the portrait of the White Queen that will be portrayed by Anne Hathaway.

bamboo

2009-06-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

bamboo wacom tablet
Look what my husband got me. I'm so terribly excited about this.

Dahlias

2009-06-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

made by moe
coral stone and adventurine. so delightful.

shop update june 22, 2009

2009-06-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

doux vintage has been updated with some lovely new items. more tommorow! i'll be shooting some outfits with the lovely cathryn for the rest of the day. Go see my shop- it's coming together really nicely.

soft graffiti

2009-06-21T18:18:00.000-07:00

soft graffiti

the life hysteric

2009-06-21T18:03:00.000-07:00

Having a mini Wes Anderson film festival at home today. My partner in crime is off to Irvine to discuss SEO tactics with a gentleman we met lastnight at Memphis Cafe. My dear, dear friend Cathryn turned 27 yesterday and she decided to be awesome and lovely and invite us to Indian food and drinks. I'll be doing a photo shoot with her tomorrow morning, and I'm terribly excited to use the power shot on her. Jeremy changed his hair- it looks so handsome- it's dark brown and comes down into his face a bit. It's not sticking up straight which is a HUGE change for him. Have lovely weeks, oui?

carrie m becker

2009-06-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

carrie m becker

plans

2009-06-19T14:29:00.001-07:00

Hello. Jeremy and I have decided to save up money and move to Charles Village, Baltimore, MD. Jeremy wants to eventually start an SEO consulting firm on the east coast and I hope to continue to sell vintage and take photos. We're hoping to move in with our dear friends in January of 2010 so we can really put things back together financially and then head out in Spring of 2013. I thought i'd put that idea out into the universe and see what comes back.

dream kitchen

2009-06-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

nicolette owen of nicolette camille

shop update

2009-06-17T00:37:00.000-07:00

doux vintage has been updated with some new items. i hope you love them. more on it's way...

jumpers

2009-06-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

so, once in a while, a trend comes around that I can really enjoy. jumpers and rompers are so lovely and feminine and there is nothing sexier than comfortable. this cuffed romper is from anthropologie and worth every pretty penny. outfits like this make me miss the lake.

cocoachuchu

2009-06-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

cocoachuchu

brianne willis

2009-06-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

Brianne Willis

I'm thoroughly enjoying her sets on flickr. got my new camera today. can't wait to show you something lovely soon.

doux makeover

2009-06-12T12:09:00.001-07:00

doux vintage is getting a makeover. it'll be back prettier than ever. with clothing, shoes, bags and accessories and even some art prints of my work. I'm getting a new camera this weekend and I'll be shooting with some of my favorite girls in the world this Monday, miss Melissa and Lisa of Orange Grove Avenue. Posts will be limited until then. Have the most wonderful weekend.

Allen Company Inc.

2009-06-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

Allen Company Inc.
Really great new vintage finds over at Allen Company Inc. - silk and dresses for summer. go see.

canon g10

2009-06-11T18:52:00.000-07:00

canon-g10
I'll be making this purchase this weekend and I feel very good about it. For the advanced amateur photographer.

milk glass

2009-06-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

current obsession: milk glass.

Milk glass is an opaque, milky white or colored glass, blown or pressed into a wide variety of shapes. Milk glass is a popular collectible. First made in Venice in the 16th century, colors include blue, pink, yellow, brown, black, and the white that leads to its popular name.

Some milk glass glows under ultraviolet (UV) light, leading to a popular misconception that it contains uranium, like uranium glass. The glow of milk glass, however, is due to the fluorescence of the fluorite used in producing the white pigments.

gay purr-ee

2009-06-08T23:00:00.001-07:00

VESELIA DIN ALTE VREMURI - "GAY PURREE" :D
Vezi mai multe video din Animatie »

4 friends

2009-06-08T14:55:00.001-07:00

thug life

2009-06-05T23:24:00.000-07:00

veronikavsyou

late night vacuuming. our neighbors must hate us. although we still think that they are running a seniors luche libre fighting ring in their living room. we've never heard so many banging noises come from the home of a little old couple.

g'night friends.

myself

2009-06-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

i'm growing my hair out again. don't laugh.
i re-did my myspace- go look and add me. let's be friends.

doux boutique

2009-06-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

doux vintage

new pictures over at my flickr. doux vintage boutique, my business, my life. enjoy.

be - se

2009-06-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Be - Se from Dario Caamaño on Vimeo.

orla kiely

2009-06-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

orla kiely for target

crochetet nicknacks

2009-06-03T14:11:00.000-07:00

ATSWIM-TWO-BIRDS

oilily

2009-06-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

oilily

taffy

2009-06-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

1} taffy stripe maillout
2} salt water taffy heels

saturday night dim lights

2009-06-02T11:36:00.001-07:00

new photoshoot in my flickr. saturday night we found a laundromat.

english dept.

2009-06-01T21:59:00.000-07:00

english dept.

anniversary plans

2009-06-01T12:41:00.000-07:00

for our one year anniversary we're going to vegas to renew our vows {with elvis}. don't be jealous. we'll be gone september 11-14.

in the works

2009-05-31T22:49:00.001-07:00

a little bird told me...

scoot

2009-05-31T08:32:00.000-07:00

so. more on this later. but what do you think of her? smart looking, eh?
Vespa GTV 250

star pedro thrifting

2009-05-31T00:28:00.000-07:00

So what a delightful day. Found some wonderful vintage goodies for the shop! i heart downtown san pedro? what? got to hang out with my dearest friend, miss caitlin marcus and her darling husband {jeremy's husband}, david. we finally saw star trek and i have to admit i was blown away. i'm thorougly impressed with the vintage series turned blockbuster hit. not easily done. and right now david and jeremy are playing metal slug and we'll be staying the evening in san pedro. goodnight all you lovely people out there in cyber space. live long and prosper.

xtabay

2009-05-29T22:50:00.000-07:00

xtabay vintage clothing
now that's how you get married

bow sweaters

2009-05-28T22:16:00.000-07:00

forever 21 bow cardigans
1} pleated bow sweater cardigan
2} satin bow cardigan

dear creatures

2009-05-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

dear creatures

magical magic

2009-05-27T14:11:00.001-07:00

plans for today include un packing certain brown boxes, making pretty and strolling around at Disneyland.
photo credit: melancholywings

artichoke dip

2009-05-26T14:50:00.001-07:00

1} kenley dress
2} kensington gardens dress

ukulele

2009-05-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

yeah. you know what's on my mind.

credit: dashka

paul & joe

2009-05-25T21:59:00.000-07:00

pearly paul & joe face powder

mint condition

2009-05-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

1} baskin robbins daiquiri ice ice cream
2} minty green pastel boonton melmac cups and saucers
3} tangerine babies breath on mint green notecards
4} cucumber mint salt bar

pregnant women are smug

2009-05-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Pregnant Women are Smug from Erika Lindhome on Vimeo.

garfunkel & oates

powder snow

2009-05-25T16:36:00.000-07:00

powder snow

searching desperately for things to lounge around in this summer. I'm hoping there will be a lot of home brewed ice tea, boy shorts, cold showers and Nintendo.

lanvin

2009-05-25T16:27:00.000-07:00

lanvin

if you love vintage couture. i would suggest the purchase and reading of this book. lanvin vintage design is an important inspiration for me and my vintage buying, paintings, illustrations and daydreams.

strawberry tart

2009-05-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

strawberry tart

spoon necklace

2009-05-24T11:29:00.000-07:00

vanilla bug

frankly my dear

2009-05-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

frankly my dear

persephone vintage

2009-05-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

persephone vintage

saturday mornings

2009-05-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

yoshiko314

on saturday's we have pudding and watch cartoons. i just realized it's not the morning anymore.

fuzzy butt

2009-05-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

he's truly exquisite.

bezel set opal cabachon ring

2009-05-23T12:09:00.000-07:00

this is one of the prettiest pieces of jewelry I've ever seen. i'd like it for my wedding anniversary- and I'm hoping that my husband might accidentally yet strategically stumble across it on {shop} bird. we've been married 1 year as of september 13th. i know it's a ways off but i think it's important to be prepared. it's so lovely.

bezel set opal cabachon ring

revival house

2009-05-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

revival house

nice on etsy

2009-05-22T13:25:00.001-07:00

{nice} on etsy.

palm springs vampire

2009-05-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

sweet summer. last year i earned the title of 'palm springs vampire' because to me, lounging by the water should include an excellent book, a black bathing suit and huge {light proof} sunglasses. a newly discovered online store called {bird} has some of the cutest bathing suits for the season. they also have some head turning jumpers- i need to get more of those into my shop before the heat is over this year.

shop update 5/21

2009-05-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

updated all week, doux has added some lovely new pieces to the collection. Go take a look. more daily.
www.douxvintage.com

summer sweets

2009-05-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

There is nothing sweeter to me than lounging around in my lingerie during the summer. It's so hot- and the only thing redeeming about the desert that is our little candy cane cottage right now- is the incredibly cool air coming from our wall unit conditioner. I've been going through etsy and and there is so much cute stuff available for my lounging pleasures right now. Plus, if you're like me- sleeping in the heat is next to impossible. A skimpy slip that just came out of the freezer is one of my favorite things on summer nights. ooh la la!

sweet dreams by a touch of vintage on etsy

peach pink nightgown by Its Bella on etsy

cream cami and panty set by vintage bette on etsy

starters for beginners

2009-05-20T10:12:00.000-07:00

Now, I've been a makeup artist for some time now. I'd like to think of myself as retired, per say, but not completely out of the loop. Turns out I am! I was recently given a bare minerals [starter kit] for "pale-light-ghost-skin" and I must say. Good gosh! I'm glad I got out of the makeup industry when I did- it turns out something would come along that would revolutionize makeup as we know it. Just kidding, I know makeup artistry is an important skill that will never actually become obsolete- but everyday makeup has definitely changed for the better. Experiences, anyone? Who uses this Bare Minerals stuff and who is as happy with it as I have been these last 48 hours?

On another weird note, I have a consultation with a plastic surgeon today. More later, but I promise, it's not what you think.

loose teeth

2009-05-18T11:53:00.000-07:00

It's summer! and to me that means festivals in the park, icy drinks and swimming beauties! of course, etsy plays a huge roll in summer blossoming fun. the greatest thing I've dug up by far is loose teeth. The name is perfectly trashy and the items are perfectly delicious. Most of the items are custom made and at a very reasonably priced. Miss heather uses pre-made patterns and designs her own items. Remember, she loves a challenge- so throw a costume idea her way.

omg

2009-05-18T08:47:00.001-07:00

I present to you the tackiest, most wonderful, stupidest purchase of the week. I love ebay so much it hurts.

cute as a button

2009-05-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Wow. So odd how these little series of events lead to bigger things. I spent three hours today with three of the loveliest femme's in Riverside. We're trying to put together a plan to promote the artists/crafters/sellers in the Life Arts Building in Riverside. Me with my vintage and art, Kim with her vintage and art and all around cleverness, Panda with her crafty cute stuff and Kendra who does furniture restoration with a crafty flair!

We came up with plenty of ideas and now I have plenty of research to do. I'm really looking forward to an event we have in the works. I can't talk about too much. I can only say that I haven't felt this inspired or motivated in such a long time. My schedule this week includes lots of the time at the studio, vintage shopping and some decoration. Also, Kim gave me an excellent selection of clothing this afternoon. I went through it and some of it is perfect for the shop, some stuff needs some personal touches and some of it is going to make for beautiful pillows.

I also wanted to mention miss Amanda's etsy shop, Pandaloo. So effin' cute my darlings! Today she gave me a wonderful sample of her button earrings- which are exactly what they sound like. She'll be putting up much, much more items soon. Add her to your faves on etsy.

Happy Week Dears!

Pigs are the new black

2009-05-16T11:32:00.001-07:00

Swine flu is super trendy right now. So I have to be prepared.

Piggly Wiggly Pig Necklace Gold Plated from Vintage Tooling

{ $11 } by chinacherie on etsy

yet another reason

2009-05-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

I love vintage. Since I was 11 years old, I've been scouring thrift stores and flea markets all for that two minute rush of finding that classic cardigan or that one-of-a-kind polyester sun dress. Favouring vintage over high street brands has been a part of me since I was old enough to dress myself. Honestly though, I have never given thorough consideration of my daily consumer habits or the idea that wearing vintage can be seen as a part of my view of life and ethics.

Nowadays we can read from so many magazines about all those "eco-friendly" fashion choices made available for consumers. If we want to get on the earth friendly bandwagon and still remain chic we have several options to choose from. We can favor organic cottons and other organic fabrics or we can purchase now so hip reusable fabric bag. And of course we can choose our clothes with natural dyes in fabrics and so on.

In my sincere opinion the only truly eco-friendly fashion choice is to wear vintage. Why you ask? Because it is not only the most creative and individual choice around, it is now the most sensible way to reduce extreme consumption. Recycling your old clothes and wearing vintage clothes and accessories is not only a refreshing fashion statement, it is an ecological and philosophical statement as well. By wearing vintage you can help to save the planet! Buying vintage is recycling in it's truest form.

I also like the idea that wearing vintage links me to those myriad of women who have been swapping clothing, crafting, reworking garments and buying at charity shops for decades before me. All these things are not against consumption per se. They’re against throwing things away.

Local vintage shopping is not difficult at all- Yelp.com gives you a directory with reviews on your local vintage clothing stores. My personal favourite, of course, is shopping vintage on etsy. There are several etsy shops with a wide variety of beautiful, classic collections available for purchase 24/7. I've given a brief list, but keep on browsing through the etsy data bank. So remember, vintage clothing is like puppy adoption. Why continue to make new ones, when there are so many out there in desperate need of good homes?

doux vintage
dear golden vintage
thrush vintage
jess james jake

[photo credit-thrush vintage on etsy]

dictaphony

2009-05-15T14:44:00.001-07:00

a couple of weeks ago, my partner in crime and i did a photo shoot over at the studio. it's about time i took photos of my gloriously nerdy husband. see the whole set at my flickr account.

enjoy.

piper lime

2009-05-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

So I know I'm supposed to be getting ready. Heading out to Redlands to meet with a new web client, doing videos for doux etc. etc. But instead I am on Piper Lime, falling in love. The theme of the week: procrastination. I'm not sure if it's because we're out of espresso beans or something else but I have not been able to wake up this week. Anyways, here are my pretty, pretty picks over at piper lime right now.

Amalia by Pink Studio
Scroll by Wanted

mabel by mia

never enough

2009-05-13T17:04:00.001-07:00

So today I finally had the chance to go into the studio and clean. clean and organize and set up a shipping area for myself. I hung some butcher paper rolls, organized all of my ribbon and packing materials and basically did all of the things I've been putting off for the last 2 weeks. Tomorrow I'll be back in the studio taking pictures and putting in all of the new items. I think you'll love the new stuff.

I talked to my sister who came out of surgery yesterday and finally came home today. She's all drugged up but happy to be home.

Tomorrow I will also be making the first of many videos for doux vintage. Tomorrow's filming will include a look at the boutique, a look at the life arts building [where the studio is located] and a short interview with the owner/operator [that's me]. I'm very excited and my husband is simply thrilled that I'll have a video submission. Apparently, it's excellent for google rankings. *sigh* who knew.

Video tomorrow. Until then, au revoir lovelies.

the only time I love tacky

2009-05-12T21:58:00.000-07:00

Last minute trip planned to Vegas, 05-22-09
{for business of course}

ladies and gentlemen

2009-05-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

Alright, so two things are exciting me right now. First off, the Disneyland Electrical Main Street Parade is coming back this summer! Hooray. I have a serious thing for synthesizers, voice box and lit up dragons. The Parade's underlying theme song is entitled "Baroque Hoedown." The original version was created in 1967 by early synthesizer pioneers Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley. Originally, the parade's soundtrack had the same themes as the current recording, but was a different arrangement by Jim Christensen and Paul Beaver. In 1977, it was updated and arranged by electronic music artist Don Dorsey and Jack Wagner at Jack Wagner Studio, which was used until 2008 on Disney's Electrical Parade. The parade returns June 12th and I'm thrilled as can be!
Secondly, We Love Colors. No seriously, we do. We Love Colors is where you will find the perfect colored tights, fishnets, or other hosiery items, to match any outfit or occasion here at We Love Colors. Also, leotards, unitards, and other dancewear. Kids to plus sizes. Now offering 45 Solid Colors and over 13 Unique Splash Colors. The colors are brilliant, opaque and this site is pretty much the coolest thing to happen to my wardrobe. I hope to collect all 45.

I re-vamped the Doux Vintage myspace so go on over and take a look- remember to add me to your friends. It's both the doux myspace and my personal myspace. Also, it'll tell you the studio schedule for the next month. I'll be in an out and I want to see your pretty faces visiting me.

no, you're amazing

2009-05-08T14:12:00.000-07:00

The opening went so well last night. It was very interesting and I think we've definitely found our niche in downtown Riverside. The people were incredible and the energy was amazing. Anyways, more on that later. This morning I woke up and treated myself to a red manicure & pedicure. Tonight is Erin's birthday party and I cannot wait to see my girls and buddies tonight. I had El Pollo Loco for lunch ( you so wanted to know that ) and I bought myself a bottle of Harajuku Lovers [music] at a certain department store that is closing down. Next I want a bottle of Princess by Vera Wang that I fell in love with this afternoon.

I have taken the day off from the studio and I am hopefully going to get some work done. Doux vintage will be updated here in a couple of days - thank you to everyone who came out to support the store and the boutique online.

elegantly amused

2009-05-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

bonjour friends! right now i'm waiting around for my darling friend crystal to come over so we can start the cupcake process for the opening tonight. but before the madness begins i wanted to share this lovely girl's youtube account... her name is Casey and she is the cutest darn thing ever. simply lovely... not only is she adorable but she's got video's on youtube where she shares her love of past style with tutorials and general musings on fashion, beauty and the like. elegantly amused is excellent at explaining vintage eye makeup, brow care and shaping (which is constantly overlooked) and 1940s and 1950s hair styles. absolutely darling! go look!

minna parikka

2009-05-06T22:23:00.000-07:00

oh, i wish! I've always said that I have a very vintage style but i'm defenitely not above modern designers who capture the elegance of my favourite eras. Minna Parikka is one of these designers. Yes, they're new... but just feast your eyes.

Minna Parikka started designing shoes at age 15 in Helsinki, Finland. Which just so happens to be the location of one of my favourite inspirational street fashion websites, Hel Looks. Incredible quality (from what I've heard) and she has a large following, in fact, you’ve probably seen them on bloggers already - Piksi is practically a walking Minna Parikka advert!

Unfortunately I have rent to pay because if I could skip that it would be for a pair of these beauties. I think I should buy a piggy bank and start socking away for the "Michelle's Minna Parikka fund", yes?

You can purchase them in her online boutique, but only for now. Hopefully she'll head into the US asap.

red lips tips

2009-05-05T00:50:00.000-07:00

Easy Tips for Wearing Red Lipstick
[ article from "real simple" magazine, photo from sweet sassafras ]

Consider the lighting. "If you're going to be outdoors, pick a softer or sheerer shade," says Rachel Lockhart, owner of Rachel's Makeup Studio, in Boston. "For evening, go bolder, so your features stand out."

Avoid deep reds if you have thin lips. They tend to make lips look smaller.

Experiment with intense shades if you have strong coloring. "Natural contrast gives you more options," says Jill Morton, head of ColorCom, a consultation agency in Honolulu, says of those with exaggerated natural coloring (for example, paper-white skin, black hair, and blue eyes).

Don't play up your eyes. "Pair red lipstick with the lightest possible eye makeup," says lipstick designer Poppy King. A little mascara and beige shadow will do.

Don't toss a red lipstick in a shade that doesn't work. "Top it with a gold gloss to warm and soften it, or add a pink gloss to take it to the bluer side," says makeup artist Maria Verel.

Coordinate your look. Dot a little smudge of the lipstick on the apples of your cheeks, then blend it with your fingers.

Be precise. That means whether you're using a brush or applying lipstick straight from the tube. "Red lipstick should never be applied casually in the back of a taxi," says Verel.

Don't use red lip liner. If it doesn't match your lipstick perfectly (and odds are it won't), you'll end up with a two-tone effect. If you like using liner, find a shade that's close to your natural lip color and use it to outline your lips.

Prevent "bleeding." Apply a little concealer around the border of your mouth.

Avoid getting lipstick on your teeth. After applying, put your finger in your mouth, purse your lips around it, then slowly pull it out to remove excess color.

any girl can do it.

steam clean

2009-05-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

lastnight i stumbled upon one of my favourite fashion sites on the inter web. HEL LOOKS is selected street fashion from Helsinki, the capital of Finland. The pictures are taken in the streets and clubs of Helsinki from July 2005 onwards. the site is a hobby project of Liisa Jokinen and Sampo Karjalainen. the project is a tribute to Fruits and Street magazines, the pioneers of street fashion photography.the photographers collect simple pictures and quotes from the subjects. including fashion inspiration and where each of the items they're wearing came from. HEL LOOKS went straight back into my bookmarks. go now.

Business Patterns

2009-04-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Bonjour Readers!

I am so sorry I have been MIA- Doux vintage is killing me. Business plans, inventory, marketing... yeah, I'm tired. Tired, but really excited. All is well and on schedule. I'm really looking forward to working with my new model this Wednesday.

I want to say that I'll have more time but I'm really looking forward to being busy for a long time. With 20 hours of shopping last week I put together a collection of vintage patterned pieces I'm loving right now... enjoy!

Spot Corset Dress at Top Shop

Amid-The-Dunes Dress at Anthropologie

Good Ship Lollipop Dress at Mod Cloth

Pictures of the new boutique will be up very, very soon. I promise.

drew

2009-04-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

The last week has just been a constant string of vintage clothing, paint by number, Waldorf salads and (as embarrassing as this is) the E! channel. When it rains, it really pours. My car went into the shop last Friday and then when we went in to pick it up Wednesday evening, in Jeremy's Honda, his car started overheating. Thank god the Honda dealership was right next to the VW dealer. Car repairs have been killer on top of the shop expenses and yeah.

Good news! All is well. We will survive. I've been spending a lot of time at the library lately, going through vintage vogues. The shop is painted and ready and I'm so terribly excited. My darling friend, Crystal (also my magic hair stylist) and I went out to North San Diego county and Anaheim and found some excellent additions to the boutique!

Everything is on schedule- my vintage boutique will be up and running Thursday, May 7th! I seriously cannot wait. You'll just love it! Pictures soon.

By the way, I've been obsessing about Drew's ensemble at the Grey Gardens premiere. I just love a girl dressed in nude vintage.

Be Green, Save Green, Look Good

2009-04-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

While skimming google, etsy and ebay this morning, I came across an article that just tickled my heart! About.com is an online neighborhood of hundreds of helpful experts, eager to share their wealth of knowledge with visitors. About has given me insight on everything from personal finance to art collecting to alternate household cleaners!

Most vintage clothing lovers have a certain something in their personality that draws them to wearing it. There are lots of reasons why vintage is such a great choice, but the most fulfilling reason is that wearing vintage clothing is the most environmentally friendly way of dressing.

Read the entire article here.

I have a theory that we're often given exactly what we need, even if it doesn't feel like it at first. Like reading a book for enjoyment and getting an important message out of it. Sometimes, when you least expect it, inspiration comes out of nowhere and takes you down the path less traveled.

Channeling Zooey

2009-04-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

She's had my heart since Almost Famous. I too, grew up in a house of lies (jk). Zooey Deschanel, what? You've never heard of her? Hmm... perhaps it's because she doesn't flash her personal life all over the E! network. She's musically talented, my fashion muse and my heart just skips a beat whenever I see her. *sigh* This is much less stalker-ish than it sounds, I promise. Zooey is my breath of fresh air in a self-obsessed world.

The truth is, she's a huge inspiration in my plans to own/operate a vintage boutique that offers truly feminine, whimsical, unique clothing. This post is for Zooey in all of her lovableness. Check out her new campaign at The Fabric of Our Lives and look for her commercial- she's simply lovely. Until then, feast on these Zooey inspired vintageous dresses.

Cutie Dynamite

2009-04-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

So it's been a long, long time since I was that cute little punk rock girl but, oh lordy! Cutie Dynamite combines classic hair accessories from the fifties, Victorian jewelry and Japanese kawai {cute in Japanese}. I didn't expect to fall in love today but so is life I suppose. The designer, Andrea, also Tweets! Follow her via http://twitter.com/CutieDynamite.

So Right Now

2009-04-15T20:50:00.001-07:00

Forever 21 is not necessarily known for the quality of it's clothing. My husband and I call it disposable wardrobe. I'll wear if 4-10 times all of a sudden it'll start to look shabby. Eh. Maybe it's the items I choose...

Anyways, there is nothing wrong with a little indulgence. Especially at that price. To be totally honest though, I don't think I'd ever want to be 21 forever. Now 23 on the other hand...

Rose Garden Cardigan {$24.80}

Lace Yoke Tunic {$22.80}

Rose Garden Dress {$24.80}

Painted Flower Earrings {$2.80}

Vintage Rose Frame Necklace {$5.80}

Enchanted Gardens

2009-03-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Spring,

I think it's simple delightful that you are here. I look forward to the flowers and fruits you will bring. In return, I will tell the tale of your beauty and flourish.

Sam Baker Dress {$79.99} at ModCloth

Sea Anemone Cuff {$118} at Anthropologie

Vintage Cameo Floral Bobby Pins {$9} on Etsy by Sproutstudio

Vintage White Woven Purse {$13.50} on Etsy by UnDestination

Hey Sailor!

2009-03-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

This spring, a large inspiration for me has been nautical goodies. Nautical used to mean "preppy"- kids only dressed in navy stripes if they had a yacht to play on all summer. But I think that these seaman inspired pieces should be anchors in every girls closet.

Brass Octopus Pendant Charm {$4} on Etsy by Charms Galore

Callie DB Peacoat {$49.80} at Forever 21

Vintage Sailor Girl Shirt {$24.95} on Etsy by The Vintage Closet

Chie Mihara Jane Heel {$348} at Ped Shoes

Straight Pencil Skirt {€35} at Swing Outfits

Sails to the wind!

pincurls

we're moving

I know it's simple

Ashley G

the fourth

humanoid

lulufinder

animalette

twenty things

not far from the tree

Biala 'Tenere' Pump

girl of my dreams

Legitamacy

the fourth

garfunkel and oates

emma england

watermelon wonder

lost and fawned

i knit

claire coles

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland

bamboo

Dahlias

shop update june 22, 2009

soft graffiti

the life hysteric

carrie m becker

plans

dream kitchen

shop update

jumpers

cocoachuchu

brianne willis

doux makeover

Allen Company Inc.

canon g10

milk glass

gay purr-ee

4 friends

thug life

myself

doux boutique

be - se

orla kiely

crochetet nicknacks

oilily

taffy

saturday night dim lights

english dept.

anniversary plans

in the works

scoot

star pedro thrifting

xtabay

bow sweaters

dear creatures

magical magic

artichoke dip

ukulele

archive

paul & joe

mint condition

pregnant women are smug

powder snow

lanvin

strawberry tart

spoon necklace

frankly my dear

persephone vintage

saturday mornings

fuzzy butt

bezel set opal cabachon ring

revival house

nice on etsy

palm springs vampire

shop update 5/21

summer sweets

starters for beginners

loose teeth

omg