Party 'Til You Polka

I'm ixnay-ing today's usual Aqua Blue Heaven Friday theme for something slightly different but very much worth it!


I give you ... Green & Polka Dot Heaven Friday ...









Sweet jumping Moses on a pogo stick, kill me now. Are they not so fabulous it hurts?! Bows and platforms and peep toes, oy vey! Of course they're way too small for my size 8.5 tuna boats, so you gals with tiny feets, not only do I envy your petiteness, but I demand you get down like James Brown and snatch these suckers and do us vintage gals proud!

Vintage 40's Polka Dot Slingback Platform Heels in a wee size 6.5 (no fair!) currently available from Etsy seller Fraulein Marlene.

Way-Out Wednesday: Going To The Chapel...Then Straight Into Time-Out

To quote the Princess Bride: "Mawwiage. Mawwiage is what bwings us togethaw today. Mawwiage, that bwessed awwangement, that dweam within a dweam. And wove, twue wove, wiww fowwow you fowevah and evah…"

Now, you all know I appreciate kitsch as much as anyone can. And while I tend to mock the 70's mercilessly, I will admit I do have a certain appreciation, even an affinity, for the era. I "get" that a lot of the era was all about grooving on child-like wonder and youth and innocence and all that happy horseshit. For example: Do you remember those godawful drinking glasses popular at the time that had a picture of a naked boy & girl on them, just holding hands, with a "Love Is..." phrase? Yeah, those sucked. I know it was all perfectly innocent and no one even gave them a second thought back them about it being weird. Ok, I get it. No big whoop. But by today's standards, they're horribly creepy. And even though they're a thing of the past and vintage at this point, you'd think I'd appreciate their retro cheesiness by now and appreciate their camp factor. But no. I don't. And can't.

And you'd think that there couldn't be anything creepier than naked kids. But somehow, I think there is. I give you this Way-Out Wednesday vintage find...




1970's engagement wrapping paper ... of kids. Making. Out. Why are these munchkins getting engaged anyway?! Is this Kentucky? Is the dating pool that shallow that you have to drag your own brother into matrimony before he hits puberty?

Does this rate high on the skeeved out-o-meter, or am I just overreacting? Is this actually really delightful and wonderful and I can't appreciate it's splendor because I'm an over thinking, overreacting grinch?



(Aww...cute?)

Atomic Tuesday: Jumping Jack(et) Flash

Step right up to this week's Atomic Tuesday!




I was going to do an entirely different post today, but then I came across this seller and my whole thought process got derailed and headed into a different direction. Who, me? Easily distracted? Shocking. I blame the weirdly, spring-ishly warm weather we're having. It's good to blame other things than yourself, I say. But you know, ... oh look! something shiny! did somebody say Cheetos? hey, "All in the Family" is on! ... See? It's just *that* kind of day.

Anyway, check out these atomic, 50's style cropped jackets:










Cute, right? The seller is Janie's of Miami, and all of her repros are one of a kind and made from either upcycled vintage textiles or new barkcloth. And if you don't dig the atomic thang, she also has fab tropical barkcloth jackets as well. (You can click on her name link to visit her shop!)

Go Boy Go! RIP Carl Smith

Country music legend Carl Smith died Saturday at the age of 82. He was a Grand Ol' Opry favorite and finally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003. Not quite rockabilly, not quite hillbilly, Carl had a cool voice that was a little Hank-esque, a little twangy, and a little crooner-y all at the same time. RIP Carl, you will be missed.




Here's Carl performing "Are You Teasing Me" from 1955. It's not my favorite song, but this video clip makes me weak in the knees~ not only was he a fine piece back in the day (the hair! the face! the suits!), but the clothes are too dreamy!





Here's a song I am particularly crazy about, Go Boy Go! Enjoy!

Knit Wits, Part 7: Firemen Do It Standing Up.

It's a good day for a little Knit Wits! Today's inspiration is this Vintage 1963 Spinnerin Sweater Booklet.




Bouffant:

"That's the longest hose I've ever seen"

"Be careful where you aim that thing. I don't want to get wet."

"Can I slide down your pole?"


Bouffant: "Can I stop now? My jaw hurts."

Helmet: "That's what she said. And no, baby, keep going."


Bouffant: "Ho hum. Is that a fire hose in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?"...

Prints Charming Sunday: Friends, Romans, Countrymen, Lend Me Your Money

Welcome to this week's Prints Charming Sunday!




First, let me introduce my new blog look! ("Introduce"? That seems wrong. Whatever. You know what I'm shooting for here.) What do you think of the new layout and background? It's been bugging me for a long time, not having some sort of "look" around here. I know, it's hard to get used to it at first. And I'm first in line for "uptight type A's who hate change and getting used to things with new looks", but after literally (seriously, I'm literal here) weeks of searching for a new template that jives with me, I can say I really adore this one. I didn't want anything too girlie, pink or flowery that would make me puke, but something simple, a little mid-century modern but not overdone or cliche and in one of my current favorite color schemes and whammo! Aqua, orange and lime (sometimes olive) green. Hopefully it doesn't make any of you want to puke either (but if it does, grab the Pepto because it's staying.) So there we have it. One more project that was annoying me, done and done.

Onward and upward, compadres!

This week's vintage novelty print pick is one I'm especially loving on- it's this Vintage 50's Roman Coin Novelty Print Dress, currently available for a very decent 68 clams- not a lot of coin at all! (Get it? See the joke in there? Yeah whatever.) Dress is from Etsy seller Fabs Gabs.