D.I.Y; MORNING AFTER ROSEWATER

Here's a quick DIY project to do with all those roses you've gotten for Mother's Day.

Rose Water:

1. Gather the petals off of the roses, there's not a limit you can do this by eye. But you do need to get a good amount. ( you want petals only; no stems or leaves)
2. Gently but thoroughly wash the petals making sure you rid them of any dirt or pesticides that may be on them (the finished product will be used on your skin, face, etc...so this step is extremely important. Don't skip it)
3. Grab a large sauce pot place your rose petals inside, then pour in just enough water to cover the flower. You want to pour enough water to give yourself a good amount of rosewater however if you use too much water you'll be left with heavily diluted rosewater. (distilled water is preferred however filtered water is just as good)
4. Put a lid on the pot and place it on simmer to low heat. You don't want it to boil at all, its important for it to not overheat.  (you never want the water to reach a boil so its important to watch it)
5. Allow the water and petals to steam until the water has taken on the color of the petals and the petals are either translucent or clear. (rose oil will be floating on the surface. its great for a million uses you can scrape it off the surface bottle it future use)
6. Strain the water into a container or bottle. To make it last longer store it in the refrigerator.

Uses:

• Toner : Rosewater makes an amazing toner, it does amazing things for your skin including acting as an anti-inflammatory, a source of antioxidants, also helps increase skins elastin fibers just to name a few of its amazing qualities.
• Hair treatment: after your shampoo and conditioner regimen try adding this to your routine. Add two tbl. rosewater to a cup of water. Pour it in a spray bottle and drench your locks with the solution.
• Skin care: boost up your favorite lotions by adding a bit of your rosewater to them. You can also add your rosewater to your scrubs, and essential oils
• Food: I know that one can take you back for a sec, but stay with me. It actually really adds a great additional level of flavor to your foods, salads, and drinks.

 

OOTD: The 60's How Utterly inappropriate

   A big issue that keeps a good many of you pinups at heart from joining the club is how utterly inappropriate walking into a room dressing this way can seem (at least surface wise). However it doesn't have to be that way. Like you have outfits set aside for church, dances, special occasions, trips to the theater, etc.. its the same with your vintage wardrobe. Your not always going to go guns blazing every time you step out the house. A good way to help you feel a bit more confident in your wardrobe choices is go for classic wardrobe staples when your shopping things like your LBD, high-waisted trousers, cardigans. Except your going for the authentic pieces not modern day versions, or inspirations, when you do it this way you will always maintain your vintage look; yet always be appropriate and fashionable (if your a Doll whom that kind of thing matters).
   Todays outfit of the day is an example of this, it's actually from this past Sunday I wore it to church. Though I personally am a person that wears whatever the hell I want...this particular Sunday I wanted to go for a more traditional look. So feeling a little sixties that day I finally got to pull out this really fun vintage travel dress I'd brought some months back (it came in the original packaging and everything :) ) and a great vintage hat from Egypt. It was a great look

Maryjanes, a Crinoline and a Smile

I think it’s a pretty justifiable fear that many people have of being laughed at. If we’re honest with ourselves we’ll admit that it affects us more that we’re proud of…it’s why for some every item of clothing needs to have a luxury label on it (regardless of if they can truly afford it), or why in spite of that fact others have closets full of clothing they still complain about having nothing to wear, and God forbid the teenager next door be seen wearing the same thing twice in one week. The point I’m making is that the fear of standing out, of not fitting in holds us back from a lot of things we desire to do in life. This topic comes up in the Vintage Community all the time mostly because while many people love the fashions and styles of yesteryear, to bring them into today kind of makes you stand out like a sore thumb doesn’t it. It’s one thing to have that single unique vintage handbag, jacket or really gorgeous piece of jewelry that everyone loves, you may be stepping outside of the box but you’re still controlling it. You get to smile and enjoy the compliments when everyone asks where you got it from and how much thy love it. But when you’re dressing and acting in a manner that is blatantly from another time day in and day out, well; that’s something different. Something that people don’t understand at all. (Lol hell for all the stares you get you mine as well be a Goth) In fact in my personal opinion it takes more than just a “high opinion of yourself”.

                I know what you’re thinking “yeah, yeah, yeah all I want to know it how do I get people to not stare at me? How do I not look like a joke?”

                Well…You can google this question a million times, watch countless pinup/vintage lifestyle gurus that will all have their own formula for this very question. They’re ever a million YouTube posts on the subject but the truth is… It’s all BULL. There’s nothing you can do that will stop people from staring, let’s face it in a world where jeans, and tee-shirts are the extent of the general public’s fashion knowledge you are going to look out of place walking down the street with a pair of black Maryjanes and Cuban heel stocking under a full-skirt day dress with a crinoline slip underneath and your hair in victory rolls (as utterly fabulous as you and I both know you look). It comes with the territory, People either aren’t going to understand or will think you’re in costume, some will love it, some will stare just for the hell of it, and some will hate it. You just need to be strong in your choice because anything that’s different will always invite attention and ridicule at times. However as far as looking like a joke? Well that; I can help you with.

                I personally go by a saying ‘it only becomes a joke when it stops being you’. Like with anything else you need to keep in mind your personality, your body type and your essence per say to help you really determine what’s believable on you.  Keep this in mind when shopping, you don’t want to buy random pieces and just be all over the place. Just like with modern clothing there is a time and place for certain outfits and more importantly certain styles look better on certain people (it’s a fact of life). Also if you don’t feel comfortable in what you have in people can sense and you will invite attention. In the end finding your niche is the key to stopping yourself from looking costumed, which is what we Dolls don’t want. A good way to do this it by narrowing yourself down. Determine which era looks best on you and using your body type is the perfect way to do it. . Throughout history even though the standard of beauty has ever evolved it has consistently always been associated with the body. To help give you a frame of reference these are the classic body type classifications according to how they would have been defined during our mom’s time (or grandma whatever).

So You're Ready To Raid Are Ya...

I know that online shopping isn’t for everyone especially when you’re talking about vintage shopping the need to actually see it, touch it and be able to try it on is a compulsion that’s too strong to many. For those that haven’t before shopped for vintage shopping can be rather overwhelming and extremely close to rummaging whether you want to admit it or not. The best thing to do when going into a vintage store is to have a plan of attack same as you for

1.       Decisions, Decisions, Decisions :  Sometimes you can get a little lost just flipping through the racks and racks of clothing and when you don’t even know what you’re looking for…well that can make things ten times worse. So here’s an idea to help you feel more confident while going through the racks. It’s called the Pinterest challenge, search Pinterest for that perfect vintage outfit then save the pic to you tablet or smartphone and bring it along with you. While you’re shopping use your picture as a frame of reference to create the perfect vintage look.

 

OOTD: Feel Like Heading Out / Gab

  

   Sometimes when it's time to go on those endless errands we find ourselves running we fancy dressing up just a bit instead of looking casual day end and day out. You I think it's one of the biggest things that draws us Pinup and Rockabilly Dolls into the lifestyle. It's that you look around and you wonder what happened to those days when people actually dressed? In our modern times we're surrounded by the casual and lazy, no one wants to put in effort, make an impression, or even bother to care. Girls that should be in pigtails and overalls are wearing daisy dukes and halter tops and I've yet to see a man old or young that can seem to grasp that women don't find it sexy to look at their dirty, dingy underwear. 

    There was a time when you didn't leave the house without putting your best foot forward and started with your appearance cause lets face it Dolls you don't get to have a conversation with everyone you see, whether you like it or not your appearance is in fact your first impression. But looking nice is more than that, its showing you feel good about yourself. That you take time out for yourself and therefore will do so with others and most importantly that you set a standard for yourself that you refuse to let be diminished. But all that seems to be lost, in our world of get what you can quick, low self-esteem, and wavering lines...
Anyway on to the Outfit of The Day <insert drumroll please >