Mod About You

Okay so apparently I am about all things retro these days based on this and this. And lately, I cannot get enough of  vintage fashion.  (Nor can my sassy friend Christen over at Fashionplate Cheapskate. She has some rocking threads.)  I own 3 real vintage dresses and every spring they go into heavy rotation.

The one on your left is from eBay, the one in the middle was a garage sale find and the one on the right is from my crazy Great Aunt.  It was a Christmas gift but I'm pretty sure it was from her closet and she wrapped it up and mailed it to me.  Either way it's a win-win.

I think I just love the simplicity of the Mod style.  All you need is a basic shift dress in a solid color or fun pattern. Timeless.  I mean case in point, please look at this little collage of past and present Mod fashion.

Top Row: Sienna Miller in a super short mini, Twiggy, the Queen of Mod, in an adorable blousy number, Duffy in a simple sweater rocking the 1960 pigtails and smokey eye, and this fashion spread that was in Lucky 2009.

Bottom Row: A Simplicity Pattern from the 1960s, The insanely talented Adele who can do no wrong, and of course our favorite office secretary, Joan Holloway, from Mad Men.

Let's look a little more closely at that fashion spread from the pages of Lucky magazine.  I'm not sure what issue it was from but I do know it was back in 2009 because I ripped this page out strictly for the hairstyle.

photo via Lucky

Hey maybe I could redesign that Lucky, Mod inspired outfit into an engagement party invitation.  I love the bold orange and blue background against the purple and olive in her outfit. I am also loving the checkered floor but let's add a little twist to our pattern.  

Hmmm I may have to make a thrift store trip sooner than later. Anyone want to join me?

Vintage Type

I learned to type on my Mom's 1970's electric Samsonite typewriter. I still remember the hum of that machine when you plugged it in, the heavy case it was stored in and changing out the black type cartridge for the white correct cartridge.  Definitely a far cry from today's iPad!

But there is something to be said for remembering the past and all its glory.  Which is why I searched high and low for a typewriter to display at our wedding last July.  I found this at a garage sale for $25 including the Gregg Typing Manual 2nd edition!

 
I had the clever idea like others before me to use the typewriter as my guest book.  However, the ribbon was a bit dried out and even after I found a replacement online it still just didn't work quite right.  But that's okay because my amazing florist, Alison Kynerd Thomas, was still able to style my guest book area and incorporate the typerwriter.  We put a single white sheet into the type writer and simply typed:

emily and blake perry

july 25, 2010

Here are a few pics of the guest book and guest favor area from our wedding day.

photos via Rob Ingram

Now the typewriter hangs out in our dining room on our antique buffet table or as I call it-the wedding shrine.  It houses the typewriter, two of my favorite pictures from our wedding day, the caricature we used as our save the dates (details here) framed with our guest's signatures and the goblet and plate that we took The Lord's Supper from during the ceremony.

I plan to eventually use the typewriter in either our foyer or entry way to greet guests like these peeps have:

traditional entry design by media and blogs Whimages

eclectic living room design by philadelphia media and blogs Mustard Seed Interiors

Or maybe when I finally get a big girl home office, I'll find a special place for it there.  Heck let's dream big, maybe someday in the store front of my stationary/invitation biz!

eclectic home office design by media and blogs Susie Harris

eclectic home office design by media and blogs Susie Harris

How great is the typewriter letter wall art in the photo above. It makes me think of the adorable necklaces, rings and cuff links from etsy seller Gwen Delicious.

cuff links only $21 great gift for your gent!

necklace only $31 available in all 26 letters!

 
Lucky for me, I can still practice my typing skills using my handy Gregg Typing Manual 2nd edition.

 

I mean each lesson is complete with speed drills and assignments so you can practice up on how to type that perfect interoffice memorandum or even that memo to the other girls in your Business Club!

Hey, maybe I could redesign that vintage typewriter and typing lesson into an adorable kitschy Save the Date. Obviously, I would use the classic typewriter font and the fab couple from the cover of my typing textbook for a little nostalgic romance.

I better go, I have a few more typing drills to do and I don't want to get carpel tunnel.