Mary Van Notes

Ever since my boyfriend picked me up a bike in Sacramento, my favorite thing has been pedaling around to flea markets and thrift shops.  There was one day I did a Sacramento thrift shop bike tour.   Of course it ended up being the hottest day in Sacramento that day and I went through several bottles of water, but it was a blast.  I’m certain I’ll be doing that again and I’ll be sure to document it here.  It’s starting to get real cold in California, but that didn’t stop me and my boyfriend from biking to the 57th Street Antique Row.

red London Fog jacket: thrifted
gray dress, leggings: Ross and Macy’s
boots: ebay
vintage hat: Cordelia Junction Antique Mall

I neglected to take any photos at the antique shops.  We were too distracted by all the amazing things!  I managed to pick up a 1940s hat for $5, and Ben found something that made us both laugh.  He promptly hung it in his kitchen when we got home.

Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long.  I’ve been slacking on outfit posts, but I do have a couple posts coming  1) Nicole’s Valentine Party and 2) Nicole and I at the Legion Of Honor.  Until then, I thought I’d share a flickr collection I stumbled upon.  Epiclectic seems to have the same obsession I have with vintage vinyl.  Often I’ll buy old records just for the covers.  Epiclectic has a collection worthy of envy, and I’m glad he is sharing his collection with us.

I have a special place in my heart for records that start with “Music for….” I’ve already got a collection going with “Music for Reading” and my favorite, “Music For Listening.”  But obviously there’s some more I’m missing:

These words are being typed with great sadness. For I am grieving over the loss of this absolutely incredible 1930s blue feather capelet.

The loss being that it is not mine.  I first saw it posted on Sacramento boutique Crimson & Clover’s blog.  I immediately obsessed and rightly so.  (I was also in love with the peach 30s dress, but since I didn’t know its size, it was easy to not obsess over it.  The capelet however… that would fit!)  I called the shop daily asking how I could purchase and obtain it’s majestic beauty.  After days of not hearing anything I even went to the store to hopefully get the obsession out of my system.  Maybe if I could try it on I’d be able to see it wasn’t right for me, I could let it go!  But I couldn’t try it on.   The piece wasn’t ready to be sold, they were saving it to sell at the Vintage Expo which is this weekend in San Francisco.  The Expo whose doors opened hours ago.  I envision the capelet being picked up immediately.  Snatched by some collector who would rarely don such finery on her shoulders.  In fact, I’m avoiding the Expo all together because of this capelet.

Why?!?!?!  Why couldn’t I purchase you months ago before I had major bills to pay?  Why, Vintage Expo, must you be held moments before we have to pay taxes, car insurance payments, and rent?  WHY?!?!?!?!!!

So, yes, I am not going to the Expo because it would make me too sad to see it.  The capelet I obsessed over so completely I couldn’t even focus on my work.  The capelet I spent days envisioning in my future, feeling it on my shoulders as I performed, as I lived.

Goodbye, dear feather capelet.  I loved you so completely despite never knowing how soft you felt to my touch.

EDIT: OH MY GOD!!!!!  I’m buying the capelet tomorrow!  I can’t believe it!  Thanks to Nicole for getting it placed on hold for me AND thanks to an AMAZING fan who donated money so I could buy it.  I am just overcome with joy!  THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

I couldn’t resist getting intimate with the 1930s feather capelet I will cherish for the rest of my days.
I am so grateful.

30s feather capelet: crimson & clover via the vintage expo
vintage homemade bullet bra: dollhouse bettie
petticoat: american apparel

The Sacramento public library had a really fun 1920s fashion show event.  Unfortunately I had to leave early, because I would’ve loved to have Oohed and Aahed over the 1920s pieces up close.  The host did a great job describing each ensemble’s incredible detail.  It definitely made me put “1920s” in my current obsessive searches on ebay and etsy.

I wore the one 1920s dress I own.  I would’ve loved to have asked the host which year exactly it might be from.  Perhaps she’ll be at the next event.

Mint green silk 1920s dress with embroidery and silk ribbon flowers: ebay (also seen on Fashion Forestry)
white heels: MIA
vintage purse: found

The library had a neat display of 1920s sheet music.

And here are my mediocre shots of the amazingly beautiful fashions:

I was pretty much dying over each incredible, colorful and amazingly detailed piece.  Although the top 3 looks I posted were some of my favorites.

My apologies for the sporadic posting.  I think I’m in full Saturn Return mode right now.  Some major life changes are going on, so blogging hasn’t been a priority.  During challenging times I often reminisce about my childhood.   How nice it was to not have to stress, and money… what money???   Glorious care-free fun-filled days… ahhhh.   I think stress over the last year prematurely aged me with darker circles under my eyes and gray hairs sprouting from my head.  Maybe I need to be a little more like vintage MVN here and not stress.  Don’t worry.  And maybe dying my hair and wearing some light day makeup isn’t the end of the world.

Yosemite, Santa, a pony… I was a lucky kid.

Spent a day at the state fair yesterday.  I feel like the fair reflected the well-being of our state.  Everything cost money, and tons of it.  There were fewer attractions and exhibits, less art and entertainment and the program wasn’t well-prepared.  Ah, California… I still love you.

My simple outfit details:
Top: second-hand Gap via Buffalo Exchange
Shorts: H&M
Sandals: Payless
Hat: Ross
Safari purse: thrifted

The highlight for me was the CA State Fair exhibit that had tons of amazing vintage photographs and memorabilia from fairs of the past.

Ben and I took the obligatory silly cut-out pics:

And saw some cool stuff like a motocross guy flying upside-down in the air:

and neat quilts and crafts:

(that’s embroidered art from old sewing pattern covers)

and the Ferris wheel!

We also saw a hypnotist, but I have a hard time believing it was for real.

It’s been two years since I posted my first outfit post.  Blogging has been a fun and creative outlet for me, as well as a place to meet amazing people.  My sense of style has grown and fashion has brought joy to my life.  Thank you for being a part of my blogging experience!  To celebrate, the gracious and lovely Sheena of etsy shop No Carnations has offered a $50 Gift Certificate to one lucky Mary Van Notes reader.  I found No Carnations recently (where I bought my 60s halter) and it immediately became a favorite shop of mine.  Great items, great photos and great prices.  $50 will go a long way at her shop.  And check out some of the beauties that are there:

All you have to do to enter is comment under this post with your email.  You can get bonus entries by:

• visiting No Carnations and sharing your favorite item in a comment
• blogging and/or tweeting about this giveaway (provide a link to your post in a comment)
• adding me on Google Friend Connect, and/or liking me on Facebook (let me know in a comment if you are a google friend or a facebook fan)

This contest is open to all readers and will close in 10 days (September 2, 2011) at midnight (PST).

Thank you all for another fun year!

Nicole Eymard turned me on to the shoe brands Zalo and Margaret Jerrold.  They came out with some of the most inventive, whimsical and just down-right cool shoes in the 80s.  Here’s some Zalo for you:

size 7N available on Etsy

size 7N available on Etsy

size 7N available on Etsy

size 7N available on Etsy

size 7 available on Etsy

size 8M available on Etsy

size 6.5 available on Etsy

size 7M available on Etsy

And if you’re a size 6, please snatch up these adorable PARROT sandals!!!
Or if you’re a 7.5, please buy these amazing sailboat flats with clear sides.

Why must they be so amazing!!!????

Being thoroughly obsessed with Nicole’s amazing shoes, I almost died when I saw a pair of her dalmation shoes at a thrift store in Calaveras county.  They’re another crazy good brand; Margaret Jerrold.  Sadly they weren’t in my size, so they’re up on Etsy.

size 6M on Etsy

Here are some photos of Nicole rocking her dalmation shoes: