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 Atomic Swag

Oh my goodness guys I’m so stoked for this week’s feature. As you all know I really enjoy rocking the pinup/rockabilly look, but unfortunately that style can be a bit too dressy. Now I’ve actually come to the point where I no longer care about people thinking I’m too dressy, but some day’s I’d prefer to be a little more chill, and what is more chill than a t-shirt? Well I’ll tell you, a t-shirt from Atomic Swag Apparel. I’m not sure I’ve ever worn a more delightfully soft shirt, seriously it’s like wrapping yourself in your favorite cozy blanket…except these bad boys are way more stylish than walking around wearing a blanket.

Atomic swag’s shirt designs are just fabulous and could fit anyone’s taste, men included, this post isn’t just for the ladies. The different styles offered range from rockabilly, motorcycle, state, to hotrod racing t-shirts and all these designs are printed on 100% cotton t-shirts using waterbased inks so they won’t chip, peel, or fade. Huzzah for excellent quality! Looking good isn’t enough, I need style and quality and Atomic Swag certainly delivers on both accounts.

Shirt 1.

Shirt: Atomic Swag Apparel I just love how delightfully cheeky the design on this shirt is don’t you? I’m just so pleased with this soon to be “overworn” piece. Since I’m a pinup and a Texan I’ve always had a bit of a softspot for pinup cowgirls and this shirt could not combine those two styles more perfectly.

Shorts: Target

Boots: Atwoods/Similar

Shirt 2.

and of course I had to do the pistol hands dance

Seemed like an appropriate sign to stand under 😉

Shirt: Atomic Swag Apparel Oh my word, I didn’t even know it was possible to love a shirt this much you guys. I have a ridiculous amount of state pride and if you’re a fellow Texan you know what I’m talking about, this shirt could not be more perfect! The cream colored background, the vintage soft feel, and the Texas design just combine so beautifully and I am not even a little sorry about how much I am going to wear this shirt. It’s a Texas thing Ya’ll 😉

Shorts: Target

Boots: Atwoods/Similar

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you get yourself some Atomic Swag gear…In fact both the lovely people at Atomic Swag and myself so badly want you to experience their brilliant combo of style and comfort that we have a 20% off discount code for you to use, its sarahforshaw20. So what are you waiting for? You’ve got a discount code and everything, this could be the smartest decision you make all weekend.

Happy Friday my loves!

Keith Harkin at Poor Davids

Hello all! Today’s post is all about my fabulous Saturday night. I was fortunate to attend/handle merch at Poor Davids Pub for the Keith Harkin gig, and man it just never gets old…I look forward to every gig of Keith’s like its the first time, and when its all over I leave even happier than the last.

Fortunately this go around I was actually able to step away from the merch table for a bit and snap a couple of pics of the opening act, Phoebe Hunt and Connor Forsyth. All I can say is wow! The amount of style and artistry they brought to each song was astounding. Both are phenomenal writers Connor is master of the keys and Phoebe’s voice is the kind of voice that you would want to have singing the soundtrack of your life. The depth, soul, and incredible variety this lady displays is absolutely mind blowing, not only does she have the voice of an Americana bluesy gypsy angel she can tear it up on the fiddle as well as the guitar. Can you tell I have a bit of a girl crush working? This duo is musical perfection and I implore you to see them live. Keep up to date with Phoebe and Connor through http://phoebehuntmusic.com/home 

Odds are if you’re a regular here on my blog you know my love for Keith Harkin’s music. If this guy is in town I go to his show, simple as that. Keith is not to be missed. I am constantly in awe of this gentleman, his vocals are so strong and invoke so much emotion, his skills as a song writer are incomparable, and his ability to merely play the guitar in such a way you’d swear he was playing with a full band is just outstanding.  I’ve been pretty blessed in my concert outings and have see many a highly skilled artists, but I can truly say Keith still stands out as one of the most talented acts I’ve ever seen. The man doesn’t hold back, he pours his heart and soul into everything he does and it so evident in his music. The crowd, setting, and how tired this weary traveler is have no bearing on his performance he truly lays it all out there and its pretty magical to experience firsthand. If you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere Keith has a gig you really HAVE TO GO! Keep up to date with this phenomenal guy through his website and his various social media platforms (facebook, twitter, and instagram )

As always Keith absolutely killed it, and was kind enough to play several of his new songs. Just when I think this guy cannot get any better he does, the new songs are just out of this world amazing and have me chomping at the bit for his next album…which according to Keith shouldn’t be too far off now. YAY! So now more than ever is the time to hop onto the Harkin bandwagon because I know he’s only going to continue to grow stronger and stronger as an artist, which is really saying something because this guy has Herculean musical strengths 😉
describing his parents’ “domestic bliss” 😉
Everytime this guy plays he shares his soul and its just beautiful.

This guy is the best and that’s all there is to it.

Now here are some pics my sister snapped of me working the merch table…and amazingly I don’t look as lazy as last time 😉
See I’m even grabbing shirts here!Of course it wasn’t all hard work though haha 😉

I had such a wonderful time and want to thank everyone of you who came out to show your support, and an extra thank you to those of you who had to put up with me selling merch again. I really hope you all enjoyed this post and that you show these multi-talented musicians your love because they really deserve it. Happy Wednesday.

Fashion Friday From Day To Night

Hello and a very Happy Friday to you all. I thought I might switch things up a little bit this Friday and give you two different looks from the same outfit. Isn’t it amazing the power accessories have? With just a few swaps you can make your outfit go seamlessly from daytime casual to elegant evening.

Look 1. Day time casual. I wore precisely this outfit to have a lunch date with a dear friend, and afterwards I did a little walking around and even a little shopping. This outfit is everything I like for a chill day out: Stylish but not terribly overdressed (at least by my standards), and it’s completely functional, the large purse means I can carry all of the junk I think I need 😉 and the sneakers mean I wont complain about every step I take the way I do in most heels.

Blouse: Vintage. Alternative at Forever 21 

Belt: Vintage. Alternative at Pinup Girl Clothing 

Bag: Vintage. Alternative at H&M

Skirt: Cotton On 

Shoes: H&M 

 

Look 2. Pinup inspired glamour. Now admittedly after my day out I got ” all dolled up” for this alternative look but didn’t actually go anywhere haha. I do think this outfit would work beautifully for a fancier night out though, don’t you?

 

Hair Flower: From my beautiful friend Amy who happens to sell these babies on her Etsy site

Blouse: Vintage. Alternative at Forever 21

Bag: Vintage. Alternative at DSW

Skirt: Cotton On 

Belt: Vintage. Alternative at Pinup Girl Clothing 

Heels: DSW these are not quite the exact shoe I’m wearing but they’re pretty close.

 

So there you have it, two very different looks from one outfit. I hope you enjoyed this post and be sure to let me know if you would like to see more outfit transitions. I do have one in the works after this post. But if you guys like em enough I might just make a series out of it. Have a great weekend!

Kenley Collins’ Pop Art Line Launch Party

Hello my lovelies! This week’s Fashion Friday is a bit different than most, but I’m sure you will all enjoy it, I know I did!

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending Kenley Collins‘ Pop Art Line Launch party at the fantastic Slapback Boutique in Brooklyn New York. I had previously done a feature of one of Kenley’s pieces a few week’s ago (Fashion Friday Featuring Kenley Collins) so I knew this launch party was not to be missed. I booked a flight to Maryland, stayed with my dear friend Amanda, and when the date of the launch party rolled around we made a little roadtrip so we could attend.

Kenley’s new line is inspired by 1960’s pop art and is almost too fabulous for words, that’s why there are so many photos 😉 A picture is worth a thousand words afterall

The beautiful shop and my gorgeous friend Amanda before the crowds started showing up.

Some treats to fuel the busy shoppers

I swear slapback is one of the coolest shops I’ve ever been in!So many beautiful outfits it was hard to know where to begin!Kenley’s new line even has great pieces for guys…but I gotta admit I’d wear one of these bad boys.
A whole lot of photographing going on 😉She’s such a doll!After I stopped creeping on all the beautiful people I decided to try some clothes on.The Chain of Hounds Romper where do I begin? The print is a gorgeous teal and cream houndstooth which is perfect for summer, it has pockets! Which are the holy grail of fashion as far as I’m concerned, and the opening in the back adds the just right amount of playfulness and sex appeal.
Quite literally the most flattering swimsuit I’ve ever worn, I mean I even walked out of the changing room into a crowded shop that’s how confident I felt in this swimsuit! I grabbed the top from the Be My Baby Pink Swimsuit and the bottoms from the Tiffany’s Swimsuit and fell madly in love. This swimsuit covers “trouble areas” but accentuates one’s assets. In a day and age where swimsuits are tend to look more like eyepatches than actual articles of clothing its nice to know there are designers who understand that women like to be a little more covered and a lot more stylish!
The Lucy Chevron Dress  I feel a bit like a broken record when I talk about Kenley’s pieces because when I go to describe them I always come back to the same adjectives: flattering, beautiful, unique, and perfectly constructed! Its amazing how an article of clothing can shoot your confidence through the roof and every piece that Kenley designs does just that. In fact the fit of this dress was so perfect I couldve sworn it was custom made!The face of a girl who wants everything she tries on! The struggle is real.

The ever so lovely Amanda rockin the Ronette Rose Dress 

This lovely lady looked so fab in the romper Kenley had to snap a pic!

Happy customers and then some Karaoke fun

My props to everyone who got up and sang, they all had great voices and way more nerve than I did. There wasn’t enough champagne in the world to get me up there 😉 I particularly enjoyed this gentleman’s performance of Grease Lightning. 

All in all I had a fabulous time and could not encourage you enough to check out Kenley’s new line. Its fun, flirty, colorful, and stylish which is just like Ms Collins. Also if you’re lucky enough to live near Brooklyn be sure to stop in to Slapbacks and shop in what is clearly the greatest store around run by the sweetest people I’ve ever had to good fortune to meet. Happy Friday everyone!

 

Fashion Friday Featuring Desi Roo Clothing

Hey guys I am rather excited to share a fabulous find with you all this week. Whilst surfing through etsy (like one does) I came across the fabulous Desi Roo Clothing, not only are there beautiful accessories to choose from, but all of the blouses offered are so incredibly lovely!

What I especially loved is that a lot of the tops are made from vintage fabric but the blouse itself is new, so there won’t be the hassles that come along with pure vintage pieces like rips, fragility, and mysterious smells/stains. There are a few variations of blouse structure offered: cotton tie shoulder top,  flirty puff sleeve wrap back blouse, and the 1940’s puff sleeve wrap back, plus all the prints and fabrics offered are too numerous and outrageously beautiful to name, if there is a particular color or print you happen to be fond of I bet you can find it. I could honestly buy one in every print and have the most perfect wardrobe that ever was. Oh and another great thing about Desi Roo is that if there is a top you like that just happens to be too large it can be altered for a better fit for only $15!

Basically its impossible for me to remain serious 😉

Earrings: Desi Roo Clothing  all the beauty of actual Bakelite but none of the potential lead poisoning. I mean who wouldn’t want to don a pair of pastel chrysanthemum earrings?

Blouse: Desi Roo Clothing  I love love LOOOVE this blouse! Its just as comfortable as a T-shirt but worlds more stylish. Whether your personal style is that of a vintage inspiration or you’re simply a woman who appreciate a well made spectacular fitting top that can be worn from errands, to the office, and then to a night on the town, then this little number is for you! The fabric is sturdy, doesn’t wrinkle easily, and the fit is superb! Just follow the size chart and you’re good as gold. My measurments are 36″ 27.5″ 36″ and the medium is a perfect fit yay! It can be difficult to look stylish during the warmer months but this blouse was made for spring and summer! The sleeves sit just off the shoulders for a feminine and stylish look that will keep you cool but won’t sacrifice on style!

Pencil Skirt: H&M

Flats: Payless 

I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Desi Roo Clothing out! 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 Corset Story

Hooray it’s Friday and boy do I have a great feature for you all, this week I am featuring Corset Story.

Corset Story is an online store, that works along side of thousands of international retailers, making them the largest distributers of corsets worldwide. Now before you wrinkle your nose at a “big business” I must let you know when I had questions about sizing I had someone helping me every step of the way with the kind of personal attention you would get from a boutique, but will all of the expertise of a large corporation. Not only is Corset Story an authority on the construction of their garments but they also have an extensive variety of styles, which means whether you prefer the rockabilly look (like I do) or are one of the few people cool enough to pull off the steampunk look (I applaud you) I can guarantee you will find something you want.

Its all about the details

 

Earrings: Stole em from my mom but you can get a similar pair from claires

Corset: Corset Story Can I just say how much I love this beauty? The ruffle edging, the incredible constructions (You can really cinch that waist in let me tell ya),  the ability to wear it dressed up or down, and my all time favorite print makes this the perfect corset in my eyes. My measurements are 36″ 27 1/2″ 36″ and with the expert advice I received I ended up getting a size 24 which fits beautifully thanks to the lace up back. If you have any size questions the team at Corset Story are more than happy to help, but I’d say their size charts are pretty accurate so you may not even need help 😉

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: DSW

I really hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Corset Story out! Happy Friday my loves!

Fashion Friday

I decided to have some fun with this week’s Fashion Friday, and do a bit of a 50’s rebel inspired look, while wearing just about the best band shirt there is! If you’re not familiar with JD McPherson please for the love of all that is good familiarize yourself with this incredible band!

There are few things in life I enjoy more than a great concert, and I can honestly say no one puts on a greater show than JD! The amount of artistry and attack that comes to every song will blow your mind. No matter your age and no matter your taste in music I can guarantee you will enjoy the mix of R&B and Old school Rock N Roll the McPherson band dishes out. I’ve have the pleasure of seeing them live a few times and I’m never disappointed, I walk away feeling like it was the first time all over again. So if this sounds like something you’d like to experience be sure to check out their tour dates and see if they’re playing near you this spring/summer tour.

My best attempt at looking rebellious 😉

The water was pretty darn cold

However I got over that 😉

Clearly the seriousness doesn’t last long

Flower Clip: Claires

Jacket: It’s my stepdad’s old highschool letterman. However Forever 21 has a great letterman styled jacket available

Shirt: JD McPherson concert. Now if JD isn’t coming through your town on this upcoming tour fret not, you can still snag this shirt along with other fantastic merchandise from their online store

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: Payless

Well I hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check JD out, you will not be sorry! Love you all. Happy Friday.

Fashion Friday featuring Heart of Haute pt 2

Hooray we’re finally getting around to part 2 of the Heart of Haute feature. The model for this week is my beautiful younger sister.

Heart of Haute was founded in the home of the mother daughter team Teresa and Amanda Becker in 2005, eventually the business grew to more employees and made its way into an office/warehouse in San Dimas California in 2008, then the very next year the demand grew so much the ladies had to double their warehouse space. The fact that this business started by supplying two local Los Angeles boutiques to over 300 businesses both local and international has got to say something…and it says that their clothing and customer service are positively fantastic. Find out more about this incredible company at http://heartofhaute.com/

Flower Clip: Claires

Dress: Heart of Haute Can we all talk about how adorable this swing dress is? The sweetheart neckline, belted waist, and the precious polka dot print make it the perfect pinup piece. My sister’s measurements are 30″ 25″ and hips don’t matter in a swing dress 😉 my sister should technically be wearing an extra small but she’s very tall (6ft) and has extremely broad shoulders, so the medium fits her everywhere but the bust, its a little too loose in that area. So keep height and broad shoulder in mind when it comes to sizing and if you have any question on sizing you can always ask the incredibly helpful ladies of Heart of Haute.

 

Hope you all enjoyed this post and that you check Heart of Haute out, their products are so beautiful and very affordably priced for the high quality you’re getting. Happy Friday guys I love you!