Fashion Friday Featuring Unique Vintage and Serious Body Confidence.

Hello my darlings, I am so sorry its been absolute ages since I’ve posted anything, life just doesn’t seem to want to calm down for me. However I now have a post to share with you all.

While on vacation in MD I was finally able to bust out my gorgeous UV swimsuit and thanks to my beautiful photographer friend Amanda we were able to capture some really great pics to share with all of you.

Now I have never done a post like this before, and by like this I mean one where I am seriously “exposed”. More often than not my fashion posts are of me wearing retro styled super modest dresses, not necessarily because I’m self conscious but because thats what I feel most comfortable in. But I loved this suit so much I had to share. I was not always the confident girl I have trained myself to be, hell I used to not dress pinup for fear of people staring, so the idea of posting pictures of myself in a swimsuit on the web is currently baffling shy Sarah. But like I said I love this suit…and amazingly I love me and my body. Ya there are bits I am working on to change but even now I totally dig myself. My stomach is not flat at all, my arms could stand some toning up, and yes my legs have cellulite and I jiggle but my body is beautiful all the same. Also this suit is just another example of how amazing Unique Vintage is, this company really caters to women of all sizes. Real women have curves, no curves, and everything in between. But the one thing we all have in common is the desire to feel beautiful and have clothes fit us well, so props to you UV for once again getting it right.

and because no post is complete without totally dorky pictures.

Hair Flower: Gift from MissAmyMay

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Swim Top: Unique Vintage So turns out you can actually get swim tops that support, cover, and looks super cute…well at least you can when you buy one from UV that is. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize myself as busty but for some reason I always had trouble finding a top to actually fit,that was until I experienced the beauty that is the Casablanca swim top. When it came to sizing I went by cup size rather than band width because that can always be altered, but cups not so much. As a 36 D the large top fit beautifully without any need of alterations and I couldn’t be happier.

Swim Bottoms: Unique Vintage These bottoms are life, they are fierceness, they are the best swim bottoms in existence and anyone who says differently is a dirty liar 😉 I have long adored the high waisted swimsuits but I could never find one that didn’t cut me weird due to my long torso, honestly most “high waisted” bottoms looked more like granny panties as they came up to just under my belly button, ew just ew. But these UV bottoms are long enough for my torso, have a decent amount of support for a smoother look, and *hallelujah chorus* they cover ones backside. Seriously man sand gets everywhere I don’t want to be cheeky at the beach thanks. So if you’re anything like me you’ll take comfort in knowing Unique Vintage has your back…side haha.

Portraits: The marvelous Amanda of Gilded Isle Photography Honestly this lady’s talent speaks for itself, her work impeccable, and she is so brilliant at putting one at ease and making a shoot a fun experience. Seriously you should hire her for all your portrait needs!

So there you have it guys, Unique Vintage is perfect yet again and you should really check em out, and Gilded Isle is the best photography business that ever existed so hire them. Hope you all enjoyed this post and that you have a happy Friday my loves.

Fashion Friday Featuring Kenley Collins

Hello my darlings. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are slowly but surely coming out of your turkey induced coma’s. Or if you’re one of those people who go Black Friday shopping I hope you got away without being trampled or having a panic attack. But I have to inform you there is one more thing that needs to be put on your Christmas list. You need to get yourself some Kenley Collins goodness.  Kenley is a prime example of why buying from a designer is such an excellent idea. All the cuts, lines, and silhouettes are carefully and artfully executed, because true designers understand that a fun print isn’t enough to carry a dress. But Kenley definitely likes her fun prints too, so if you like classic and flattering silhouettes but still want fun and unique prints and patterns look no further than Mrs Collins. Her new line an American Geisha is especially fun and unique, but is still classic enough to not look kooky. So do yourself a favor and check it out, odds are you need a new holiday party dress and while everyone else is wearing the bland LBD’s you can be rocking a colorful and lovely Kenley Collins original. Having a light snack of foliage…as one does.

and because there’s no such thing as too many silly photos.

Pearls: Gift/Similar

Dress: Kenley Collins Oh this dress though! As any woman knows getting a strapless dress that stays put and looks good is damn near impossible. But this dress flies in the face of reason and says ‘no I will stay put, I wont look like a towel wrapped around you post shower, I will be elegant and lovely, because I have wonderfully supportive boning in the bodice’. I could not be more in love with this dress, the construction is nothing short of miraculous, the print is BEAUTIFUL, size chart is totally on the money accurate, and the material 100% cotton so its machine washable!!! I know that may not seem like a big deal to some people but since I’m still a child I hate having to go to the drycleaners 😉 Thank you Kenley. I love you and your gorgeous (yet practical) designs!

Shoes: Miz Mooz

I hope you all enjoyed this post, and that you check out Kenley’s beautiful new line. Happy Friday my loves!

Fashion Friday Featuring Restricted Shoes Pt 2.

Well a very happy November to you all! Oh gosh I just love that, wishing you a happy November!  Since we’re finally moving into “winter” Texas is getting the rain it so desperately needs and clearly I could not be more thrilled. I was ever so slightly concerned that it might dampen (haha see what I did there?) our photoshoot, but I think it just highlighted my gorgeous flats from Restricted Shoes all the more. Don’t you?

Hysterically happy about the rain! This is the face of a pluviophile.Earrings: Cracker Barrel/Similar

Shirt: Old Navy/Similar

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Restricted Shoes What a fun spin on the classic oxford!!! The cutout detailing brings a breath of fresh air and a touch of edge to an old favorite, the pointed toe for me is synonymous with high fashion, and the color combo of white and mint keep these bad boys perfectly playful and oh so 50’s! I’m really enjoying these flats a great deal. I’ve had some really bad experiences with ballet flats causing gnarly blisters but the Gimmie is made from really soft faux leather so no blisters for me! Thank God! So I guess what I am saying is these are an all around great pair of flats ❤

I hope you all enjoyed this Pt 2 piece on Restricted Shoes and that you have a very Happy Friday!

Oh and if you’re thinking of getting a pair of shoes, starting December 1st- the 31st use the discount code SARAHFORSHAW30 for 30% off of your purchase.

Fashion Friday Featuring Daddy-O’s

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring Daddy O’s  a company I came across when I first started my journey into pinup, so you can imagine my excitement when I finally got to feature them here on my blog.

Unlike many of the companies and stores that I feature Daddy O’s caters to gentlemen as well. Yes so that means the fella in your life can be sporting some equally stylish duds, from Bowling shirts to belts they’ve got it all, in fact they even carry bowling shirts for little boys, which I have got to say is one of the cutest things ever…and I’m already planning outfits for my little nephew 😉

Since Daddy O’s carries a number of brands such as Stop Staring, Steady Clothing, and Lucky 13 just to name a few, you are guaranteed to find something suited just for you.  I ended up falling in love with this little number from Stop Staring and I’m sure you can understand why.

Dress: Daddy O’s Where do I begin with this dress? The fabulous lapels? The fact that the halter is gorgeous but can also be removed if you’re feeling like being sassy and strapless? Or should I just talk about what jumped out at me most? THE PEPLUM DETAILING! Is there anything more classically feminine and wondrously flattering as peplum? I ordered a medium and I’d say it fits quite well, as a reference for you my measurements are 36″ 27.5″ 36″. Now I have a few wiggle dresses but most of them have been made from a thicker material so I might recommend wearing shapewear with this particular dress, I should have honestly, but most of my clothes are still in boxes, oh the joys of moving house 😉 But anyway back to the dress, its a stunner of a piece and I can see it easily being a pinup staple that gets worn all year round! In conclusion I am thrilled with my choice.

Shoes: Payless/Similar 

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Daddy O’s out. Happy Friday my loves!

Fashion Friday Queen of Heartz Summer Line Pt 1.

You guys never have I had such a hard time narrowing down shots for a blog post, if that isn’t a testament to how beautiful this Queen of Heartz dress is I don’t know what is. Last Sunday I decided it’d be fun to brave the heat (107 degrees) and stroll the Ft Worth botanical gardens to do a shoot for this divinely feminine number. Well despite the brutal heat I had a marvelous time, there were so many gorgeous photo ops, and this dress is just wow from every angle. This is why Letty Tennant has got to be one of my all time favorite designers, everything she creates is gloriously feminine on every figure, the finishing touches put her clothes above any one else’s, and the historical accuracy of her pieces is so spot on!
its all about the details.some of the great wildlife at the gardensHow’s my butterfly impression?

I thought these climbing flowers were beautiful and would make for a great back drop…and as you can see from the photos below these flowers were also popular with a rather large bumble bee that wanted to take part of the shoot. Clearly I wanted none of it haha.

Dress: Queen of Heartz my measurements are 36″ 27.5″ 36″ and the medium fits like a glove, which felt nothing short of a miracle, not because of the previously mentioned measurements, but because I have rather broad shoulders. I kind of panic when I see sleeves (I’ve done my fair share of busting the shoulders on some of my favorite blouses gosh that sucks) but this dress fit wonderfully, I didn’t feel the least bit constricted. Because of the 40’s styled structure of this dress there is ample bust and shoulder room, but if you’re on the smaller side it will still look good on you too. I tell you if designers would just go back to the golden years of fashion shopping would be a lot less stressful. Clothes were meant to flatter every shape and that is something Queen of Heartz not only understands but absolutely delivers! This peachy chiffon checkered dress is so perfect for summer its light weight, super feminine, can easily transition from casual to formal, and is surprisingly comfortable…don’t be surprised to see me wearing it quite often.

Vintage Purse: Gift from a friend, but you can find purses just like it on ebay and etsy

Shoes: Payless these I bought years back but I think this dress would look even better with a pair of oxfords (more historically accurate too) here’s a pair from payless that would work beautifully or even these from mod cloth 

I hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I did, and I hope you all check out Queen of Heartz also be on the look out for Pt 2 as I have another stellar piece to show you all. Have a wonderful Friday and look out for those photobombing bumble bees 😉

 

Fashion Friday Featuring Piyuspret

Hooray we made it to the weekend! Happy Fashion Friday everyone. This week I am featuring the etsy site Piyuspret. Piyuspret is based out of India, ships worldwide, and is made up of a mother daughter team and a tailor assistant, gotta love the personal touch that brings.

Piyuspret sells ultra light weight cotton vintage style dresses, so they’re perfect for those hot summer days, plus these dresses are quite the bargain!

Look 1.

Hair Flower: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret I couldn’t find this exact dress on their site but should you decide you want it, I’m sure you could let the ladies know and they could whip one up for you. I loved how light this dress was, and that it was quite roomy in the waist but ties in the back so you don’t look like you’re wearing a bag, plus it has pockets!!! I did run into one issue in the dresses with 3/4 length sleeves I have really wide shoulders and a rather broad back so when I would raise my arms the back zipper would unzip a little. So if you have a similar build to me keep that in mind, other than the zipper I had no issues with this dress in a size large.

Shoes: DSW

Look 2.

Hair Flower: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret You guys know how much I love polka dots so you can only imagine my delight in this little number, unfortunately I ran into the same zipper issue with this dress, but I think I might look into altering them to prevent any zipper slippage, cause seriously how cute is this print?

Shoes: Payless

Look 3.

Dress: Piyuspret Coraly/red, boatneck, and pockets these are the things dresses should consist of. This dress is perfect for spring/summer cause its super lightweight and could easily be accessorized to fit whatever occasion whether it be casual or a little bit dressy, and since this dress is sleeveless I had no issues with the zipper HOORAY!

Shoes: Payless bought them years ago but they have some lovely alternatives

Look 4. My absolute favorite!

Hair clip: Claires

Dress: Piyuspret All of the dresses I got are pretty, but this little yellow ray of sunshine is my all time favorite! the fit is superb and it is the prettiest shade of yellow I have ever seen, normally I avoid yellow cause I find it doesn’t look good on my skin tone but this dress compliments me so well. I have found my official summer dress guys!

Shoes: DSW

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you have a very happy Friday! Love you all!

Fashion Friday Featuring Kenley Collins

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring the incredible Kenley Collins.

Kenley Collins love of fashion started at the young age of 16 when she would reconstruct vintage pieces for herself and her friends to wear. Then after graduating from Florida State University with a marketing degree, Kenley moved on to New York and started working in a sales position at a clothing company. Well less than a year later Kenley was promoted to a position in design where she continued her craft and developed her own fashion niche.

It wasn’t long before the rest of the world to take notice of Kenley’s distinctive vintage inspired pieces and fall in love with her talent. Ms Collins has appeared on Bravo’s Project Runway, Lifetime’s Project Runway Allstars,  Live with Regis and Kelly, The Biography Channel, and E’s Oscar 2011 pre-show. Kenley’s pieces are sold throughout various boutiques, available on her site kenleycollins.com, and can quite often be seen on pop music sensation Ariana Grande. If that isn’t enough to entice you to check her clothes out let the following masses of pictures do so. I was having way too much fun during this shoot 😉

You didn’t very well expect me not to play on the merry-go-round did you?

Flower Clip: Claires

Gentlemen Prefer Dress: Kenley Collins This piece is literally everything I look for in a dress. Beautiful print, versatility of wear, and incredible construction! The royal blue stenciling is absolutely out of this world, believe it or not its even more beautiful in person!The fact that this dress is made out of a slight stretch cotton means its casual enough for everyday wear, but the obvious beauty of it means you won’t have to try hard to dress it up for an elegant evening out, and the construction is positively flawless, there is a bit of boning in the bodice that keep’s the lines of this dress very clean, and the size chart is so spot on! All of the attention to detail make this dress feel custom-made, which is what every woman wants, right? If you’re currently looking for the perfect spring/summer dress I cannot recommend The Gentlemen Prefer Dress highly enough.

Shoes: DSW I wear these shoes so much I think I should invest in different colors 😉

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Kenley Collins out! She is such a true talent, her eye for detail makes her pieces timeless but her playful sense of style makes all of her designs seem new and fresh! Oh and speaking of new be sure to keep tabs on this lady cause her new line drops May 1st, so exciting! I love you guys Happy Friday!

Fashion Friday Featuring Sculpture Pin Curler

This week’s Fashion Friday is featuring the Sculpture Pin Curler from http://www.vintagehair.com/ I absolutely love how this site and pincurler were created. In the “about” section of this site I read the exact sentiments I feel about modern day hair styles and standards of beauty. So much of today’s fashion is about convenience and less is more, don’t get me wrong rocking the natural look is totally great too, but somewhere along the way we lost the knowledge and tools to create the glamorous and feminine looks from the 20’s-60’s. That is where the Sculpture Pin Curler comes in, this tool is absolutely brilliant! I’ve used similar products but they were too large and tore my hair up. This tool however is perfect for creating the most authentically beautiful hairstyles.

This blog feature is based on my very first impression, usually I’ll give a hair tool a few go’s before I give up on it (like most curling irons I’ve ever used) but I can honestly say I immediately fell in love with this product, and cannot ever see myself giving it up, it keeps your hair in place while you’re rolling it up, but when it comes time to slip your curl off of it and pin it, its a breeze!

 How great is this? Not only do you get two fantastic curlers, but they come in the cutest box, plus there is a booklet of several different setting patterns!

Dual sides so you can choose looser or tighter curls.

Motions is probably my favorite setting lotion, it has a decent amount of hold but is never crunchy!I always do my wetsets the same way, starting from the front, I section my hair off into approximately 1inch pieces, add my motions foaming wrap lotions, and roll my hair under.The sculpture pincurler makes the “rolling process” such a breeze!Oh so many bobbypins!Closer shot of my stand up pincurls.This is what it looks like when I finally get all my hair up into my pincurl set. I usually do my sets in the evening so by the time I wake up theyre dry and ready to be brushed out!Forever taking the bobby pins out of my hair.This is where a lot people panic and wash the curls right out. Yes your hair looks slightly clownish, but it get so much better trust me!All you need is a smoothing paddle like brush. I  really love my Denman for this! Just keep brushing as gently as you can, and brush the hair against your hand to avoid the afro frizz look.and voila! Are pincurls a lot of work? Yes. But I think theyre definitely worth it, the curls can last for days, and honestly I find them easier than curling tongs or anything of that sort, and now that I have my sculpture pin curler pin curl sets are worlds easier!Dancing to entertain my nephew staring at me through the window 😉 

I tried my best to make the directions for doing pincurls as clear as possible, but I understand type and pictures isn’t always enough, so I’d recommend you check out Ashley Westmoreland’s tutorials on youtube they are absolutely genius! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PBwSXHWvA8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byJAWLlkTr0

Scultpure Pin Curler Box Set: Vintage Hair My hair and I are in love. If you’re looking to do a historically accurate hair do this is the greatest hair tool you could ever purchase!

Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion: Sallys

Denman Brush: Sallys

Top: Charlotte Russe bout it years ago but they have a similar top that works.

Jeans: Old Navy

I hope you all enjoyed this post, and that you get yourself a sculpture pincurler and start trying out some vintage hair styles! Happy Friday.

Fashion Friday Featuring Queen of Heartz Pt 2

Hooray finally time for Pt 2 of my Queen of Heartz feature! If you missed Pt 1 here’s the link to it https://sarahforshaw.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/fashion-friday-featuring-queen-of-heartz-pt-1/  I had been sick with bronchitis since New Years, and I am just now starting to feel human again, all that to say sorry it took a while to get around to shooting this magnificent dress.

I am madly in love with the New Brenda dress from http://www.queenofheartz.com/ From the scalloped edging to the peplum detailing this dress exudes glamour, making it perfect for any special event. Valentines is right around the corner guys 😉 and it’s about to be Wedding season, so whether you’re a bride looking for the perfect bridesmaid dress, or you’re going to be a guest at a wedding the New Brenda is the best choice you could possibly make!

Ignore my ugly yogi feet 😉

I feel like this shot showcases just how beautiful a shade of purple this dress is.

Earrings: Sam Moons a forever ago purchase so of course I cannot find them but Icing has a lovely alternative http://www.icing.com/icing/us/goods/icing+commerce+root/cat1800040/earrings/p82423/crystal+and+rhinestone+chandelier+drop+earrings/

Dress: Queen of Heartz http://www.queenofheartz.com/dresses/brenda-new-look.html  This dress is a spotlight on your figure, it emphasizes your beautiful feminine curves but hides those er um “curves” we as women are not thrilled about. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and the size medium fits wonderfully! You can really tell Letty Tennant is a woman who understands quality, from fabric to construction this dress knocks it out of the park. If you’re searching for the perfect dress look no further than the New Brenda from Queen of Heartz.

Shoes: Payless I bought them years ago but target has a similar pair http://www.target.com/p/women-s-de-blossom-nissa-heeled-slide-sandal-assorted-colors/-/A-14702127#prodSlot=medium_1_3

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check http://www.queenofheartz.com/ out. You guys are the greatest have a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Friday Featuring Queen Of Heartz Pt. 1

This week’s Fashion Friday will be featuring Queen of Heartz, an amazing clothing company specializing in 1940’s and 1950’s styled pieces. Queen of Heartz was created by the incredibly talented Letty Tennant. Originally Letty was making her gorgeous pieces out of her garage for friends in the Los Angeles pinup scene. Well inevitably word got out and everyone wanted one of Mrs Tennant’s designs. Local boutiques started carrying her stock and her popularity grew even more. So being armed with an eye for detail, and the education of a design graduate from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in LA Letty Tennant set out on her next adventure and established Queen of Heartz in 2001.

All of Queen of Heartz products are made locally in Los Angeles and Orange County with the greatest care and finest textiles, plus on top of all that should you have a special occasion or just the desire to, you can commission a custom piece! Just consider Letty and her team your own personal pinup Fairy Godmother 😉

http://www.queenofheartz.com/

Being as it is the new year I say we all resolve to be a little more glamorous everyday, buy quality, and start putting together the wardrobe we’ve always wanted, and I can think of no better place to make that happen than Queen of Heartz.

 This dress is gorgeous with or without a petticoat!

Hair Flower: Claires http://www.claires.com/store/us/goods/hair/cat1260200/barrettes+%26+clips/p75182/rose+barrette+hair+clip+with+feathers/

Pearls: Macy’s http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/sterling-silver-freshwater-pearl-necklace-bracelet-and-earring-set?ID=324942&cm_mmc=Google_Jewelry_PLA-_-Jewelry+PLA+FS_Ad+Group+%232-_-21231719103_-_-_mkwid_IBGtfBhs|d{device}_21231719103%7C-%7CIBGtfBhs

Dress: Queen of Heartz. This dress is no longer offered on their site but it is offered on their ebay site http://www.ebay.com/itm/Queen-of-Heartz-PINUP-VINTAGE-RETRO-Swing-Skirt-Sateen-Dress-BLACK-Various-sizes-/171204658260 If your size doesn’t seem to be available in this dress, there are similar dresses that are just as incredible on their official site. The Priscilla http://www.queenofheartz.com/priscilla.html the Brenda http://www.queenofheartz.com/brenda-175.html and the Celeste http://www.queenofheartz.com/celeste.html are my favorite alternatives. Honestly whatever your choice you cannot go wrong, every single thing offered by Queen of Heartz is enough to make any vintage lover swoon, and I’m not just talking for us ladies, they carry things for you gentlemen too, how great is that? The historically accurate details are like nothing I’ve ever seen, all the beauty of vintage but without the mysterious stains and the smell of mothballs 😉 Also I found the size chart to be very accurate, my measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and the medium size dress fits like a dream. Hooray for accurate size charts! This company is simply perfect end of story.

Petticoat: Malco Modes http://www.malcomodes.biz/petticoats-petticoats-Jennifer-p/582.htm

Panytyhose: Nordstrom http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/nordstrom-back-seam-pantyhose-3-for-30/3490453?origin=related-3490453-null-1-1-FTR-RR&BaseUrl=Sheers&PageCategoryId=BR

Heels: DSW http://www.dsw.com/shoe/kelly+.and.+katie+caris+pump?prodId=272553&activeCats=cat10006,cat20006

I hope all enjoyed this post and that you check out Queen of Heartz http://www.queenofheartz.com/ . Love you guys Happy Friday!