Three Ways To Wear It...

Before I begin I just want to say thank you to everyone who has left me such sweet comments and messages, I hope that my story is able to reach others and give them the same sense of hope that I have...

Today I wanted to mix it up a bit. I really enjoy when fashion bloggers show us how to wear one piece in different ways. It's way more practical for most of us and I know some get stuck thinking they can't break up their "outfits". I don't know about you but it's hard to imagine some of the things these other ladies are wearing in our own wardrobes because let's face it... few of us are being sent in c/o items! So everything I am wearing in these outfits are things I have already had in my closet for years. I'll let you know where they were purchased but because of their age it's not something you can go pick up. I just hope this gives you ideas for things you already love too!

The piece that I decided to wear three different ways is my favorite vintage dress that I purchased from Frecklewonder Vintage. It's one of those dresses that just makes me feel happy and pretty as soon as I put it on... I suggest you start with something that makes you feel the same!

Dress: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Skirt: Ebay (2003)
Scarf: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Shoes: MIA via Macy's (2011)

Dress: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Sweater: JCP (2006)
Scarf: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Heels: Payless Shoes (2007)
Enid Collins Purse: Gift *Thanks Andi!!*
Glasses: Gift *Thanks Michelle*

Dress: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Jacket: GAP (2003)
Brooch: Thrifted (2011)
Clutch: Thrifted (2011)
Scarf: Frecklewonder Vintage (2011)
Boots: Thrifted (2011)

For the sake of simplicity I kept my hair and jewelry the same...so mix it up ladies! One dress three very different ways for three very different looks. Now, go ahead and re-think some of your old favorites in your closet! If you do the same I'd love to see what you come up with so leave a link!

What I Wore...Fashion Freedom

I love Fridays, even though I'm at home now there is just something special about Friday, ya know? The best part about being at home is letting my vintage loving heart soar everyday. I never have to worry about being office appropriate or wonder if I'm pushing boundaries too far. So, today in honor of my fashion freedom I decided to wear this red, white and blue 70's blazer.

Scarf: Vintage/ Estate Sale
Jewelry: Vintage/ Family, Estate Sale
Poly Blazer: Vintage/ Thrifted
Tank: JCP
Skinnies: F21
Boots: Minnetonka

These moccasins have been my favorite this fall/winter season. i certainly didn't think they would get as much wear as they have. A bunch of my outfits have been planned around the boot to be honest. Just goes to show you ladies that sometimes you really just need to buy the shoes!!
I hope you are having a fabulous Friday...go treat yourself to something special today!

What I Wore... Ugly Christmas Sweater

What's better than an ugly Christmas sweater party? Nothing, that's what... I dare you to think of a more fun party theme. I KNEW you couldn't!! Since that's settled, I thought I would share with you what I wore to an ugly Christmas sweater party.

Let me give you a little back story of the sweater because truly it makes it SO much better. I found the first sweater at the Goodwill a month or so before the party and knew that if my husband was game he'd have to wear it. A few weeks later as I was asking a co-worker to borrow a pair of LED lit earrings for said party I gave her a peek at Mr. Ryan's sweater to which she exclaimed that she owned the very same one!! Now I'm no dummy and obviously TWO matching ugly sweaters are better than one so I present to you Griffith(2) Squared!!










Merry Christmas to all of my bloggy friends and a HUGE bear hug all the way from Texas!!

What I Wore...Aztec

I love this dress...even if it might be on the verge of tacky. Again this is another dress from my "Picker" adventure...see I told you there were SO many treasures! I date this dress to the mid to late 60's based on the style and materials used. I'm just glad that whoever this belonged to was just my size... not a lot of vintage around from then for girls with curves. I am really digging the tribal pattern of this dress I think it helps bring it into modern fashion. Can you see the orange horse? Yeah, I know your jealous!!

Blazer: F21
Brooch: Estate Sale
Dress: Estate Giveaway Read about the story here...
Belt: Macy's
Tights: Target
Shoes: MIA via Macy's

What I Wore... The Doctors Wife

So I'll admit, I'm a huge dork and I make myself laugh ALL of the time! When I wear vintage I sometimes (well most times) make up little stories about the clothes and who wore them. Today was no exception, you see I'm a fiercely committed person. This 1960's Nieman Marcus wiggle dress came from that crazy run down house I'm always talking about. This is one of the nicer items from that collection so I had it dry cleaned and patiently waited for the perfect fall day to wear it.

I imagine that the woman who owned this dress was someone fancy... the neighborhood I live in was full of doctors and attorneys back in it's heyday and I'm sure she was a doctors wife. She was definitely a lady who lunches and was involved in all sorts of charity work. In the evenings when dear husband came home they entertained with fancy cocktail parties!

Dress: Vintage/ Estate Giveaway
Jacket: Gifted
Purse: Vintage/ Thrifted
Tights: Target
Shoes: Nine West
Glasses: Derek Cardigan via Coastal Contacts
Onyx Necklace: Antique 1920's Art Deco
Gold Chain: Ryan's GG's

When I think of the detail I go into to create this fantasy it literally makes me laugh out loud...it's so ridiculous but FUN! Am I the only one who does this...please tell me it isn't so!

What I Wore... Hard and Soft

Yesterday was everything you'd expect from South Texas weather HOT and HUMID! Instead of complaining I decided to relish in this last bit of summer and wear something sleeveless and bare my gams. I picked up this little black dress on our staycation in Port Aransas, I couldn't resist the lace yolk and it's pretty simplicity.

Lately I have really been loving mixing black and brown and decided to start with this leopard print belt. Adding the gold jewelry felt kind of funky for me and keeping with the offbeat vibe I opted for open toe booties. I really like the way the accessories play against the sweetness of the lace.

Earrings: Old News
Necklace: Vintage/ Estate Sale
Gold Ring: Vintage/ Estate Sale
Stone Ring: Roots and Feathers via Miss Teacups giveaway
Belt: Thrifted
Dress: Vintage/ Thrifted
Boots: Target

What I Wore... Ready For Fall

As the days grow shorter and the wind picks up a little, I get excited for that first rush of fall air. The heat has subsided a little here in South Texas and we have been enjoying highs in the 80s. I decided that I had waited far too long and I busted out the tights...

Dress: 50's house dress (thrifted/vintage)
Belt: Thrifted
Tights: Target
Shoes: Target (5 years ago?)
Jewelery: Misc.

I wanted to share my little fall vignette I have set up on the fireplace, I like getting peeks into others little lives via their outfit photos so here's one of mine! I can't wait until the weather allows me to wear a little jacket with things like this...

What I Wore...Ready For Business

Sometimes I wake up feeling business-y...only sometimes. Mostly on Mondays and Tuesdays, I figure those are the most professional days of the week. The logic behind this is that I am more inclined to see clients on those days and occasionally I like to dress the part. Not often though.

So I thought I would share a what I wore post business professional edition. My life isn't all vintage goodness, at times life requires me to be a big girl and this is how I do it while staying true to me...

Blouse: Marshalls
Cardigan: Target
Skirt: Macy's
Heels: Nine West
Jewelry: James Avery

I like color, what can I say? By mixing unexpected color I feel like it keeps a youthful vibe to the look. Also, the heart detail around the neckline of this blouse sold me on it...it's my favorite! My husband was so sweet yesterday morning telling me how pretty he thought I was... it's funny because I feel least like myself in this kind of thing. It's a great reminder that how we feel on the inside isn't always how we appear on the outside, sometimes ya gotta fake it to make it!!

loves- Cookie Louise

What I Wore... Recessionista

Ladies I think I have mentioned here before I am a sale shopper. Chalk it up to a childhood of having very little and a grandmother who made most of my clothing. When she would take us to the store to {gasp} buy clothes well, they better be on sale.

Today here is a little outfit I threw together for under $25.00!




Camp Shirt: Vintage {free: my mother's when she was preggers w/me}
Chambray Dress: Loft/ Thrifted {4.80}
Belt: Thrifted {1.99}
Woven Purse: Vintage/ Estate Sale {3.00}
Clogs: Target {12.24}

Total: {22.03}


Ideally I wouldn't wear the camp shirt with the dress however I wanted to wear it to the office so I had to cover my bare shoulders. A cute story about the camp shirt is that it belonged to my mother when she was in her early 20's. When she found out she was having a girl and going to name me Christina she kept it for me... the little white tag on the left hand pocket has the brand name "Cristina's" sewn on it! Sure the spelling is one letter different but how neat is that?

Thrifting tip: Keep up on the newest trends... you can totally still find in season clothing or vintage styles that are making their way back! I saw the chambray and knew it was on trend thanks to the style blogs I follow!!

loves- Cookie Louise

What I Wore... Pretty As A Flower

Where to start with this dress? Well, I passed it up at the thrifts for at the very least a month before I gave in on half price day and decided that it might have potential. Have I told you what I do with all of my vintage finds for the shop? Call me what you will but no matter the size I try them ALL on. Sound cray cray? I do this because it helps me to better see what the dress or skirt could become with a little altering.

Once I tried on this dress that was destined for thrift store hades I realized that it really didn't need any changes at all and the poor dear just had no personality on the rack is all. So lesson learned, don't judge a book by it's cover. I really love the yellow and white...it reminds me of the fresh daises in my studio.

I made it my own with this Indian inspired beaded belt and my new favorite wedges!

Earrings: F21
Dress: Thrifted
Belt: Thrifted
Ring: F21
Wedges: Sam Edelman/ Gifted

I wonder what my future littles will think of this blog...maybe I'll be a style icon in their eyes? Hey a girl can dream right?!

loves- Cookie Louise

What I Wore... 60's Chic

Over the past week or so I have really been working on getting the vintage boutique "finished". Until Monday it was basically an empty bedroom with a rack of clothes hanging haphazardly in it. Last night that all changed when my husband and a couple of our friends came over and moved the vintage couch I scored a couple of months ago up there. Ladies need a place to sit while they shop right?

So today, I bring you an outfit post, a peek at the newly painted room, my wonderful vintage couch and a peek at the bathroom inspiration all in one!

I found this wonderful little dress at the thrifts a while back and given the style dated it to the late 50's early 60's. However, there was no maker label and the edges were not finished so the possibility that it was handmade in the 80's loomed.

That was until after a good washing I discovered the union made label...huzzah! That along with the fact there is no serging to be found verified my suspicions...triumph!!

Headband: J Crew
Earrings: ??
Necklace: Family
Dress: Vintage
Belt: Target 07'

Yes, I am barefoot....you'll deal. I hate walking upstairs in shoes and well it's my house I don't have to wear shoes to take an outfit post if I don't wanna so there's always that...

On to my wonderful couch! Doesn't it make all your little vintage lovin' hearts squeal with delight? Next to my newly painted gray walls I love it even more, and don't even get me started on those pillows...seriously! And...and the best part... it's a pull out... so underneath is a mattress all gussied up in vintage sheet wonderfulness!!!

After all that excitement I leave you with a pic of the vintage shower curtain I scored at a rummage sale for ten cents... eat your heart out ;)

loves- Cookie Louise

PS: My friend IRL is looking for testimonies of healing for a project she is doing on her blog...so if you have one and would like to share here is the link!http://carriecuriel.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-need-you.html