Resolution #12:
Vamp up your accessorizing.
Guest Blog post by Erin

I asked Erin, of Calivintage, to share some of her favorite ways to accessorize. She is pretty much a champ at mixing it up with simple accessories that really change the mood of an outfit. I hope you all will be inspired by her wearable fashions!

From Erin: “I actually don’t think of myself as being very good at wearing accessories, but I pulled together several shots of me wearing them from the past couple of months. Usually my accessories are silly little things I’ve picked up at thrift shops, like brooches and silk scarves that I tie as headbands to compliment colors of my outfit or to add a bit of interest.”

“My current favorite piece is the green fern headband that my mom made for me using glittery millinery leaves and a vintage ribbon. I added it to a basic earthy green outfit to elevate the whole look and was quite pleased with the result. It’s amazing what a simple little piece can do to really transform a look.”

Resolution #5:
Explore your town.
Guest Blog post by Jennifer
Photos by: Tom B. 

Hi y?all!  It?s Jennifer from Sally Jane Vintage here, pitching in for Mandi while she?s taking a break.  When Mandi asked me to do a little guest blog here, I was tickled pink to help out.  And when she suggested an ?around town? post, I knew just what I wanted to do? a vintage shopping guide of Lancaster!  So, one day last week Tom and I headed out for a day of walking around town and stopping in all the vintage shops along the way.

I always joke that vintage shopping is my therapy, but really I?m only half-kidding.  Searching for hidden treasures in vintage stores and flea markets always takes my mind off anything that?s ailing me.  When we made the move from Los Angeles to Lancaster nearly three years ago (I can?t believe it?s been that long!) I was so sad to leave behind all of my beloved vintage stores.  Los Angeles has such a wealth of vintage shops and I was quite spoiled by it all.

Luckily, Lancaster?s vintage shopping scene is nothing to scoff at!  There are some real treasures here and if you?re ever visiting the area you shouldn?t miss them.  We started out the morning with a stop at Mammalicious.  This was the first store in Lancaster I discovered, and as soon as I walked in the very first time, I knew my worries were over.  It?s stocked from floor to ceiling with quirky home accents, vintage clothes, accessories and at this time of year, vintage Christmas ornaments.  A little piece of heaven!

Right across the street is Zap & Co, a Lancaster landmark.  Zap was found in 1973 and is one of the nation?s oldest vintage stores.  As soon as you walk through the doors, you?re overwhelmed with the sheer amount of vintage stuffed into one small space.  There are cabinets full of deco and Bakelite jewelry, racks upon racks of clothes and an amazing selection of hard to find books.

Next we wandered down the block to Building Character.  This isn?t strictly a vintage shop, although it does house Smilin? Gal Vintage, which you may recognize as my Etsy selling partner.  Kris always has a great selection of dresses, shoes and hats to pillage through.  Once I had sufficiently rummaged through all the vintage, we wandered back to the warehouse portion of the store that serves as an architectural salvage yard.  There are piles upon piles of old doors, windows, school chairs and desks.  Every time Tom and I walk through there, we want to start redecorating our house.

Last, we stopped into the newest vintage shop in town, Hinesite.  This place has quickly become a favorite of mine.  The owner, over the last 30 years, has curated one of the most amazing collections of vintage I?ve ever seen!  It?s quite a magical space, filled with everything from 40s rayon dresses to vintage wool Pendleton blankets.  Tom tried on a 30s wool blazer and looked like he stepped right off the set of Boardwalk Empire.  I tried on several 40s wool ski sweaters but none of them were quite right.  Then I was heartbroken over a 1910s striped wool jacket that was wonderful in every way except that it was a wee child?s size.  In the end, I didn?t leave empty handed.  Tom was sweet enough to surprise me by buying a lovely Jonathan Logan dress I?d been eying in the shop for a while.

We finished up the day with lunch at a new Thai restaurant? coconut soup and fried tofu wedges for both of us, then Pad See Ew for me and Thai Basil tofu for Tom.  Yum!  It was pretty much a perfect day.

Resolution #2:
Make the most of your wardrobe.
Guest Blog post by Rebecca 

Hi there! I?m Rebecca from The Clothes Horse blog and one of my favorite things to do with my wardrobe is to wear the same piece again and again. I mean, I love new clothes as much as the next girl, but when I fall in love with a certain dress or accessory I really don?t want to take it off. However, I like to challenge myself to be creative by never wearing the same head-to-toe outfit twice. It?s really not so much of a challenge because doing something as small as changing my shoes will keep me from breaking my self-imposed rule. The best outfits though are when I?m able to transform one piece to look completely different every time I wear it.

I just got this new dress from Trashy Diva and it was love at first sight. This summer I?m excited to wear this dress simply with some easy flats and my hair in braids, but for now I decided to be a little creative and build 7 different looks around the dress.