Shop the Past--Part 1

 

You wanna know the cheapest way to shop: THE PAST!!! Go back through your hidden clothes and realize that they came back in style...or that you can remix them. Yet, best of all, I went through my parents closet and found some goodies. So here is my outfit...shopped directly from the past (except the Zara skirt):

1) My Abercrombie and Fitch Button-Up. Bought way before the awful techno-music filled those stores.

2) Dooney & Burke vintage purse...was my big sisters when she was a youngin'

3) Vintage Lacoste belt! Definitely one of my favorite finds. It was my father's probably 30 years ago.

4) Doc Martin Hicking Boots: these were from my beloved Aunt. She loved her Docs!

5) My mother's sunglasses. How cute!?!?!

6) And my favorite find...the 24 karet-gold heart necklace of my mothers. I love things with hearts on them, because my middle name is "Hart," a family name.

 

And!! For those readers who don't have the very expensive Photoshop, I found a great online photo editor: Foto Flexer. That's how I achieved these "old photo" looks. Yet, here are some original photos to show the colors of the outift and these badass sunglasses:

 

And, before we go...I realized that I have NEVER posted my art. Yes, I paint (not much in the recent past). Her is one entitled by others the "yellow girl." She is my favorite. Truth be told, she isn't finished, but my family hung her up on the walls anyway! I painted her when I was 20. I will eventually share more art in other posts, yet this is all for now.

Le Petit Echo Malade

I LuRV to laugh...and I LURV creativity.  Well, this is about two dudes who combine both of those loves in their blog, Le Petit Echo Malade.

Based out of Paris, Lorenzo Papace and Vincent Pianina (P&P) playfully recreate photos with outfits of well-known, heavily followed fashion bloggers. I can't wait to see what P & P do next, and how 2 guys recreate these intricate, feminine scenes. I love how detailed they get and wonder how in the world they find the proper setting and tools to recreate these outfits and photos. Their posts always starts with a politely put "Aujourd'hui, nous adorons trop..." (today we adore too much...so and so.)  Therefore, they begin with more of an "homage to" sentiment instead of a "you are absolutely ridiculous for taking so many photos of yourself" motive. Either one I guess is an honor. Any press is good press, right? Anyway, they always include the original photo so you know what they are mocking.

For instance, Cocorosa...

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...and Pandora...

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... and Tavi...

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...and Eleonore Bridge, la blog de la mechante...

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Well, now it appears that the mockers have earned the respect and friendship of the mocked as this most recent post shows the two guys with Pandora in a lovely editorial:

 

...which combines my third love: decapitation...  Just kidding!

My New Etsy Shop!

So, I combined my love for fashion, vintage, and treasure hunting to open "Passport Smiles Vintage" on Etsy. And in honor of store traditions, I am having a "Petite Grand" Opening Sale!! Until July 14th, I will be giving 20% off of all clothing items (sorry, accessories and shoes excluded). The discount will be refunded through Paypal after the transaction.

Here are some of my items:

Happy shopping!! I also will be adding many other bathing suits later this week...so come check it out.

Photography Spotlight: Andrew B. Myers

 

For some reason, I want to eat his photography??

Visit his site for more.

"Bluegrass waves like it's goin' outta style"

So I voyaged yet again to the beautiful bluegrass state of Kentucky to visit Gary, a dear person in my life, and to go to Cincinatti for KING'S ISLAND THEME PARK. Yes, "The Beast" was the best roller coaster. Whelp, here I am at Gary's house. I always love being there, because it's so peaceful, and I am so at ease that I usually end up parallel taking numerous naps. 

 

But naps aren't interesting to document on camera, so instead, here I am gallivanting around Gary's barn in my new summer dress. Let's face it, in this heat, dresses ARE the best thing for summer. I stumbled upon this one in Anthropologie (don't you love that store?). On the hanger it wasn't my fav, but my mind changed in the dressing room, as it fit like a glove. Plus, it was the only one left, and on the sale rack.

 

This picture above is reminiscent of another one 3 summers ago:

 

ok, back to the present...hanging the Louis on a fence. Doesn't everyone do that?

 I had an audience, you see:  

There were also delicious bbq chickens involved...

 

and beautiful sunsets...

 

...and a super cool cat named Gary....

 

Like most posts, I have to include an apropos song. So here it goes, from a bluegrass lady herself and one of my favorite albums of all time:  

Loretta Lynn with Jack White, "High on a Mountain Top" from Van Lear Rose.

High on a mountain top
We live, we love, and we laugh a lot
Folks up here know what they got
High on a mountain top
High on a mountain top


Where the rest of the world's
Like a little bitty spot
I ain't comin down no never I'm not
High on a mountain top
High on a mountain top


Where I come from the mountain flowers grow wild
The blue grass sways like it's goin out of style
God fearin' people simple and real
'Cause up on the ridge folks that's the deal....

Well we lay on our backs and we count the stars
'cause up here folks heaven's not that far...