It takes two to tango...
A lesson on having fun with your style and a vintage edit of over 130 pieces that make you feel something.
We’ve already covered I’m not cool- never been cool, never will be cool. Fun is the antithesis of cool and I’ve always been fun.
A cool person, doesn’t start a dance floor. They’re standing on the sidelines embarrassed for the girl who goes out in the middle of the floor with not a soul in striking distance wailing her arms around to “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” hopelessly waiting for someone to join her.
It only takes one brave soul to start a dance floor. And one more to make it a party. If I’m not the first, I’m always the latter.
Just like you wouldn’t leave your friend hanging on the dance floor. You can’t let a “fun piece” in your wardrobe stand alone. It has to have a partner. It needs something that compliments it’s energy. Something that meets it halfway. The shimmy to it’s shake.
It’s taken me a very long time to figure this out. In the past I’ve attempted to tone down the “fun pieces” in my wardrobe with more serious styling- the dance floor equivalent to watching your friend head out onto the floor and instead of joining her, you try to pull you back. We don’t need that energy.
Instead, the answer to styling any fun piece in your closet is to match it’s energy, give it a partner. Fun needs fun.
Let’s take for instance my most recent flea market score- these featherweight shibori dyed suede pants. You might think the styling answer is to tone it down with a white tee or white shirt something with no personality to balance the boldness of the pant. But really the answer is to meet it half way by partnering the print with a bold stripe blue shirt and a washed blue pocket tee.
It’s a “yes and…” approach to styling. Instead of a serious belt you throw on a beat up vintage studded belt. Now it’s a party.
Take this tropical green vintage raglan sleeve shirt I picked up on the same trip to the flea. You might think just wear it back to something simple like blue jeans when really the answer is to meet it halfway with the perfect pair of sage green army pants and a french blue shirt around the waist for another layer of color.
Instead of a simple brown bag you invite another fun friend to the dance floor- a gorgeous leopard print pony hair clutch. Now we have a party.
Recently I’ve done a serious injustice to these insane red linen pants by styling them back to boring neutrals. When really she just needed a partner to tango with- like this red rash guard (that I’m fully wearing as a top all summer long and flirting with getting the black version) and my tonal red western shirt I’m still obsessed with a whole year later. It’s a party of three now.
Finally, let’s take this wild 1940s cotton dress I haven’t figured out how to wear since I bought it last year on eBay. The neckline was too cutesy but I found this print with the bold mix of colors to be pretty radical. So I turned her into a skirt and found her a partner-this ridiculously cool vintage Porche tee and the same red western shirt tied around the waist. Somehow it all makes sense- another very good party.
This summer, more than anything, I want to have FUN. I’m the biggest believer in your clothes holding the power to move your mood. By having fun in your wardrobe you’re literally inviting more fun to join you.
This vintage edit today is all about fun- a category in my own closet that is deeply under represented but am actively working on.
The complete edit of over 130 pieces includes dresses from the 1930s, brightly colored track shorts from the 50s, gorgeous beaded necklaces from the 20s, vintage 1970s lightweight westerns in every shade imaginable for only $30, and a color palette that is going to inspire you to have a little more fun this summer getting dressed.
As a thank you and celebration of my one year anniversary I’m reducing the paid subscription to $5 (normally $8) and yearly to $50 (normally $60) for the month of June. Upgrade here. I’m forever grateful for you guys. Thank you for being here.
Let’s get into it.
