Fun with Black and White

As an artist, I enjoy experimenting with various mediums of art, especially photography. With today's technology, the possibilities are endless! We can take color photos and make them black and white, manipulate light sources, increase contrast, and even create canvas effects.

Here are a few photos made into black and whites. I increased the contrast and even use a canvas feature on one of them.

What do you all think? What art forms interest you?

15 Year Wedding Anniversary Celebration Dinner at L'Auberge Chez Francois!

Yesterday the man and I celebrated 15 years of marriage! I cannot believe time has gone by so fast! I feel fortunate to say "it feels like yesterday!" I love that man so much and I am very lucky to have him in my life!

Ok, ok! Enough with the "schmaltz fest!" (lol!) I would like to share some photos from last night's amazing dinner with the man!

Every year on our anniversary (since 2004), the man and I always go to L'Auberge Chez Francois in Great Falls, Virginia. L'Auberge is a wonderful, quaint, intimate, and delicious French restaurant located in the countryside of Fairfax County. Their cuisine is top-notch, their wines are out of this world, and the service is impeccable!

http://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/

We had reservations for 8:00 pm. I made sure to eat very light all day so I could truly enjoy the feast about to commence!

This is the man, as we got out of the car:

Here is me, with the restaurant in the background:

I am wearing a navy blue, crepe 1940s dress adored with two rhinestone pins and a self-belt. I wore vintage navy blue gloves and carried a modern beaded cocktail purse covered in silvery-white beading. I am also wearing an amazing pair of Betsey Johnson beaded platforms. Even the heels are beaded! I bought these in late 2006 from Zappos.

Here is me, in the ladies bathroom (goofy, I know!) trying to capture the detail on my shoes:

Now, to the important part! The meal! After being seated, the man and I started with the house appertif; a lovely blend of Chambord and Champagne. The was even a whole raspberry in the glass! (I wanted to take pictures but the flash on my camera is bright and I did not want to ruin the dining experience of our fellow guests).

As we browsed the menu, the staff brought us herbed ricotta and garlic toast points. The ricotta was amazing and it paired well with the sharpness of the garlic.

For my dinner, I started with the tuna tartar with sour cream sauce and salmon roe, then a gorgeous house salad prepared with endive and fresh roquefort cheese,  and then for my main course I had shelled maine lobster accompanied with fresh lump crab covered in a butter sauce that was served with fresh grilled asparagus and citrus.

The man and I both had the marvelous chocolate souffle paired with chocolate cream sauce. I wanted to die! Talk about dessert heaven! Despite my initial hesitation to take pictures, I managed to sneak a quick photo of my souffle, just after it arrived:

After our dessert and coffee were finished, I felt full but not stuffed. I managed to pace myself (even though I wanted to eat everything in its entirety) and in the end, I was satisfied and happy! I cannot wait to go back!

As we left the restaurant and made our way home, the man and I encountered some late night traffic (road construction). So typical of the DC area!

The man and I finally got home around 11:00 pm and he gave me these lovely flowers! I love the colors! So pink!!

Thank you so much, honey!

And here is the cat, wondering where we went!

I am very happy with the way our anniversary turned out! Despite the fact we had to work all day, our 15th was truly a special day! Again, I am so happy with amazing man of mine! Here is to the next 15 years and beyond!

Outfit Post-Off to Work!

Me early this morning, leaving the house to go to work at the office. It has been on the chilly side lately here in the DC area (50s and low 60s) but today  the high temperature is going to be around 73 degrees. That is still a bit cool for me! I cannot wait until the average daily highs are in the 80s!

Nevertheless, just for fun, I wanted to share today's outfit with you all!

-Black and white print, cotton-blend, 1950s deadstock, button-down dress (bought last year).
-Black merino wool Gap cardigan (bought in 2005) adorned with a 1950s rhinestone brooch.
-Red suede wedges made by Natural Comfort (bought from Zappos in 2007)
-A mix of carved and spacer bakelite bangles
-Modern pearl necklace
-Vintage 50s red, pink, and orange bead clip-on earrings
-1950s Black wicker handbag
-1950s American Optical sunglasses 

I was too lazy to re-roll my hair today (I did not wash it but it was washed yesterday) so I applied a bit of Suave Dry Shampoo Spray and put it in a ponytail after my morning shower.

On my face, I am wearing Too Faced Cosmetic nude shadows from their Naked Eye Kit, MAC mascara, foundation, MAC brow pen on brows, MAC Mineralize blush in Dainty, and Besame lipstick in Carmine.

So, on this Friday spring day, what are you wearing?

Who Says "You Cannot Wear Vintage From Head to Toe?" My Thoughts

This is me from earlier today. I am wearing vintage clothing at work and my hair is in rolls. This is me everyday without fail. Whether I am at the office, hanging out at home, out for cocktails, or going to bed. I wear vintage. Period.

The other day, the lovely Laura of Betty2ToneVintage blog asked me about thrift and vintage shops here in the DC area. I did some research and found a few websites detailing shops' locations, shop reviews, and an article listing five shops along with a vintage clothing "do and don't" list. Here is a link to the article:

http://galtime.com/article/fun-stuff/40206/6562/five-great-vintage-stores-washington-dc

Here is a 'copy and paste' of said list:

Vintage Shopping Do’s and Don’ts
DO check the stitching of a top, dress, pant, etc. before purchasing if it looks cheap-y, do not purchase it (unless it is ridiculously cheap and you plan on wearing it twice).
DO expect that some pieces will need to be tailored. Find a tailor you trust ASAP. (Trust us, all clothes look better after they’ve been fitted to you).
DO take a risk on buying vintage pieces; you are not looking for what everyone is buying at J Crew.
DON’T, and this is a big don’t, wear vintage from head to toe. Best rule to live by when debating on adding vintage to your outfit, no more then two pieces (pants and top do not count).

Overall, this is a good list with good advice. However, I admit that the last "don't" is a bit bothersome. What is wrong with wearing vintage "from head to toe?" 

I agree that not all vintage clothing looks good. Some examples of 'bad' vintage are certain polyester fabrics, 70s butterfly collars,  80s shoulder pads, corduroy bell bottoms, late 60s styles, and cat suits. Vintage or contemporary, there will always be a difference between flattering and stylish and ill-fitting and down right ugly.

Nevertheless, I know that many of us vintage bloggers wear vintage "from head to toe" while many wear vintage mixed with modern pieces. There really is no wrong answer when it comes to personal style. If a look suits you, wear it. Who  cares if it's all vintage or not?

I have never been one to worship fashion and/or follow the trends. Sometimes when I am in my salon getting my hair done, I will flip through Vogue, Glamour, InStyle, Harper's, or Allure. These publications will often feature their "Must Have" list, a "Do Don't" article, or a "What's In and What's Out" piece. Do I really care of if the editors of InStyle say gladiator sandals out and jeweled flat sandals are in? No. Therefore, I am not concerned if a "DC fashionista" deems my pure vintage look as a 'fashion faux pas.'

The main reason for "do don't" lists is marketing. If editors and fashion houses decide what's in, what's out, or what's a 'no no,' they make money. The fashion house creates the must-have style, they pay the magazine for advertising, and the editors and the fashion house make money. Create a false demand for a trend, lay back, and let the fashion-obsessed masses run to their local mall or Neiman or Saks to buy the latest thing so they can be an "in."

As for the 'no all vintage rule,' I am not sure why some think wearing all vintage is a bad idea.  Who decided this? Now, like I said, I totally understand the classic rules regarding fit, tailoring, dressing for your figure, matching colors, complimentary colors, accessorizing, not mixing stripes and plaids, and making sure your clothes are in good condition. But when it comes to applying the whole "do and don't" mantra to style, that is where I refuse to yield.

Vintage clothing flatters my figure best. Modern skirts, jeans, and pants have waist-lines that are too low. Due to my small waist and round hips, lower waist anything makes me look dumpy and bottom-heavy. In addition, contemporary cardigans are cut longer to match lower waist lines. Whenever I pair a modern-made cardigan with a 50s shirtwaist dress, the bottom edge of the cardigan hits the top of my bum and as a result, it covers my waist like a tent! Moreover, the cardigan makes me look shapeless and lumpy from behind. So, I wear vintage-made cardigans that are shorter in length that slim my waist and complement my shape.

I could give several examples why I prefer vintage over contemporary fashion I do not want to bore you! l also do not want to distract myself from my argument! Nevertheless, I wear vintage simply because I like it and because it looks good on my body. If a gal wants to wear something she likes that looks good on her, then why not wear it?

So, ladies, what do you think? I would love, I mean really love to hear your thoughts on this one!

Review of Illamasqua Lipstick in Box

I have fallen in love again, with Illamasqua! Illamasqua is a UK cosmetics brand that is bursting with color and quality! Their nail polish, pigments, shadow, foundation primer and lipstick shades are amazing!

http://www.illamasqua.com/

If you are based in the US, you can find Illamasqua at select Sephora stores (NYC and Vegas stores to name a couple) and you can also find the line online:

http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P241717&categoryId=B70

I am always on the hunt for the "holy grail" of red lipstick and I have found it once more in Illamasqua's lipstick in 'Box.' Shrinky Inky of Inkyknits Blog suggested Box to me a while back and I am so glad she did!

While I was in Las Vegas for VLV, I stayed at the Palazzo/Venetian and since their is a huge, huge Sephora attached to the casino/hotel, I was not going to pass up the opportunity to browse this amazing store!

The Venetian Sephora has a great selection of Illamasqua products. I wanted *all* of their pigments and red lipsticks (especially Maneater and Sangers) but due to the fact I have so many reds already, I was 'good' and just got Box ($22.00 USD) and Ruthless nail varnish (a bright, warm vintage red creme) for $14.00 USD.

Box is a bright, vintage red that leans cool. Imagine if Russian Red and Ruby Woo had a baby...the result would be Box. Box has a neutral tinge with a touch of blue-based pink mixed in. In certain lights, the color looks warm and in others, the pink tones can really be seen. Hence, the 'neutral' classification fits aptly.

The Illamasqua lipstick pigmentation is intense. We are talking totally opaque, in-your-face color, gals! The texture is on the heavier side and the finish is matte! I love matte lipstick finishes because they always make my lips look fuller. Now, unlike some mattes, I find that Illamasqua lipstick is not drying. Yes, it is on the dry side formula-wise but it does not chap my lips. I always wear MAC Lip Prep and Prime as a lipstick base. Not only does it make lipsticks last longer, it helps shield lips from dryness.

Here is Box in a vintage tube (I like to re-case my lipsticks in vintage tubes!):

Here is a swatch on my right hand:

Notice the pink-blue tones? Yet, the tube photo above it, the color looks warm-based!

Here I am, wearing Box matched with Make Up For Ever's Aqua Lip pencil in 8C (I typically wear Box with MAC pencil in Cherry but thanks again to Inky, I tried the 8C and it really pairs well!)

I am wearing a faux fur wrap and a 1940s pale blue beaded hat. I felt like "playing dress up" for a bit! (lol!)

So, if you are looking for a true matte, deeply pigmented lipstick that pulls out all the stops, then give Illamasqua Box a try!

Giving A "Shout Out" to My Fellow Vintage Bloggers!

I cannot believe it has been nearly a year since I started blogging!  During this time, I have met so many wonderful gals who live and breathe the vintage life like I do! The fact that I am not alone in my vintage pursuits makes me feel very good! I have learned so much from you gals and I am truly grateful! 

So, with that said, I would like to thank ALL of you who have made this past year so amazing! I also would like to feature some of the wonderful vintage blogs that I enjoy following and if you are not following them yet, then you are missing out!

http://temperamentalbroad.blogspot.com/

http://havinsomerockinfun.blogspot.com/

http://doradadama.blogspot.com/

http://moxietonic.blogspot.com/

http://dollycoolclare.blogspot.com/

http://www.andibgoode.com/

http://missdolliedeville.blogspot.com/

http://sailingoveracardboardsea.blogspot.com/

http://vavoomvintage.blogspot.com/

http://livingvintage.blogspot.com/

http://everybranch.blogspot.com/

http://melzaelf.blogspot.com/

http://pennydreadfulvintage.blogspot.com/

http://blog.bygumbygolly.com/

http://straighttalkingmama.blogspot.com/

http://niftythriftyretromama.blogspot.com/

http://betty2tone.blogspot.com/

http://highway101today.blogspot.com/

http://jitterbugdoll.blogspot.com/

http://sip-of-sarsaparilla.blogspot.com/

Lipstick Review: Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Intense #9

This is me wearing Rouge Artist Intense Lipstick #9 by Make Up For Ever. I am outside in my yard, fresh from a great workout at the gym (hence the reason I am wearing a t-shirt!) 

Typically, I wear just reds but lately I have been seeking out other shades like orange, coral, and pinks. I think my recent desire to 'change things up a bit' is due on part to the fast-approaching summer season. I have a few 50s playsuits and sundresses that will look great paired with different colors.

While I was in Las Vegas for VLV 14, I stayed at the Palazzo/Venetian. Inside this huge facility is a monstrous-sized Sephora! I often refer to Sephora as my "mothership!" Anyway, not only is this particular location big, it features an entire section featuring Make Up For Ever products. I have visited several Sephora stores that offer Make Up For Ever but never have I seen anything on this scale!

Nevertheless, I purchased the #9 Rouge Artist Intense lipstick ($19.00 USD) and a Smoky Lash Aqua (waterproof) Mascara  for $22.00 USD. (I will do a review on that next).

http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P268702&categoryId=B70

The #9 lipstick is a hot pink with a opalescent pearly sheen. In certain lighting, the #9 appears pink and in others, it takes on a lilac cast. In the above photo, I paired MAC's lip pencil in Magenta with this lipstick. However, Make Up For Ever's Aqua Lip Liner in 16C ($17 USD) is a perfect match for the #9.

This lipstick is very pigmented and feels comfortable on the lips. It is not drying nor is it too creamy. Moreover, the Rouge Artist Intense line of lipsticks (50 total colors in three finishes: matte, pearl, and satin) are very long-lasting. I can wear most colors 4 hours before needing to touch up.

Here is here #9 in the tube (albeit a vintage one I transferred it to):

(Sorry for the bare nails! Blech! I need to remedy that quick!)

Here is a swatch on my right hand:

And here is an up-close view of my lips:

As I stated before, in certain lighting, this lipstick takes on a lilac cast due to the opalescent pearly finish. In person, #9 looks fuchsia pink. I prefer my reds but when my outfit calls for blue-toned pink, #9 fits the bill beautifully.

So, vintage gals, do you ever wear shades other than reds? If so, which ones are in your collection?