Custard Heart Vintage

Lady Criminals

2012-02-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

if you're like me, you love looking at old vintage snapshots of everyday ladies in all their sartorial glory. but what's better than looking at vintage photographs of everyday ladies? looking at vintage mugshots of everyday ladies. knowing how much i love prison stuff and history, damien just sent me a link to these photos taken from Australia's Justice and Police Museum. they've just released over 2,500 photographs of female criminals from the 1920s. if i was in australia this is something i would totally check out. in the meantime watching episodes of prison wives will have to do.

"Dorothy Mort, criminal record number 773LB, 16 October 1929. Mrs Dorothy Mort was having an affair with dashing young doctor Claude Tozer. On 21 December 1920 Tozer visited Mort's home intending to break off the relationship. Mort shot him dead and then attempted to commit suicide. She was released from gaol shortly after this photograph was taken and disappeared from the public eye. "

"Annie Gunderson, criminal record number 551LB, 20 September 1922. Charged with stealing a fur coat. Teenager Annie Gunderson, 19, was charged with stealing a fur coat from a Sydney department store called Winn's Limited, in 1922. Police records do not indicate whether the fur she is wearing is the stolen item."

"Alice Adeline Cooke, criminal record number 565LB, 30 December 1922. Convicted of bigamy and theft. By the age of 24 Alice Cooke had amassed an impressive number of aliases and at least two husbands. Described by police as 'rather good looking', Cooke was a habitual thief and a convicted bigamist. Aged 24"

"Emily Gertrude Hemsworth, criminal record number 657LB, 14 May 1925. Emily Hemsworth killed her three-week-old son but could not remember any details of the murder. She was found not guilty due to insanity. Hemsworth was to be detained in custody until judged fit to return to society - it is unknown if she was ever released. Aged 24"

♥ New in the Boutique! ♥

2012-02-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

the shop is having a love affair with primary colors at the moment. go on, have a little peek...just click on a photo to see all the intimate details. you'll thank me in the morning. ;)

Just Around the Corner

2012-02-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

jacket- Mademoiselle Tara

dress- 1960s vintage

shirt- vintage Burberry

bag- Bryna Nicole via T.J. Maxx

shoes- Bandolino

cherry blossoms seem like such a spring flower, but they actually bloom around here in late winter when there's still a little nip in the air. apparently the date they bloom all depends on climate and location-- the milder the climate, the earlier the bloom. so we get our cherry blossom season when it's still tights and wool weather. though they make me wish it was warm enough for bare legs and spring clothes...it won't be long now...

♥ President's Day Sale! ♥

2012-02-18T07:50:00.000-08:00

it's that time again! shop 20% off storewide*

*exclusions apply to shipping and items already in SALE section. click here to shop now

♥ New in the Boutique ♥

2012-02-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

just some of what's new at the moment with more being added everyday! all the photos are linked so just click to see all the details.

Around the House

2012-02-12T13:39:00.000-08:00

as much as i try not to become overly attached to material things and "stuff", new additions to my personal menagerie never fail to make me happy, however fleetingly. here are a few things i've added to my space as of late that are still managing to put a smile on my face:

1 lemon verbena cupcakes and yellow tulips: not sure which will be gone faster
2 new sofa: (the one on the left) believe me, long long overdue
3,4 1930s hand-carved wooden box: planning on using it to stash our wedding cards, which shamefully still don't have a proper home 3 years later (until now!)
5 vintage daisy glasses: to add to my all things daisy collection

6 ship in a bottle print: from this little shop

7,8,9 celia birtwell book: the most beautiful textile designs, an xmas gift from damien

10 tigerlillies: my favorite flower --that is until i see rununculus return to the shops

♥ New in the Boutique ♥

2012-02-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

i haven't heard if the groundhog saw his shadow or not last week, but in any case, spring is definitely starting to bloom around these parts. take a gander at the shop for lots of new candy colors for spring. just click on a photo to see all the details.

Basic Red Pants

2012-02-06T06:44:00.000-08:00

camel cardigan- J.Crew

horse head blouse- 1980s vintage Ralph Lauren

red pants- 1960s vintage

shoes- vintage Salvatore Ferragamo

bag- Dooney and Bourke

photos by Tim

who knew that a pair of red wool pants would turn out to be my favorite pair? they feel seasonless and seem to go with a ton of things in my wardrobe. i already thinking of a replacement pair as i've been wearing these ones way too much and the thought of not having a standby pair makes me a little nervous.

this vintage fashion dictionary just came in the mail last week and it hasn't left my side ever since. its got everything i ever wanted to know about vintage clothing under one cover, and a lot i probably don't really need to know like the fact that a paludamentum is a loose mantle worn by roman emperors and generals... (don't you feel like a better person now that you know that?) at any rate, the shop descriptions just may get a wee bit little bit fancier from now on. i promise no paludementums though. ;)

♥ Be Mine, Valentine ♥

2012-02-01T16:32:00.000-08:00

we all know valentines day was probably invented by hallmark, but any excuse to wear something pretty and eat chocolate is fine by me! :) tons of dresses in the shop right now, just perfect for v-day and beyond.

♥ remember, custard heart vintage ships priority mail within the usa (2-3 days delivery), so you'll have plenty of time to prance around at home in front of the mirror before you take your new beauty out on the town.

♥ What's New ♥

2012-01-23T13:30:00.000-08:00

added to the shop in the last week--a great new round of basics. because every girl needs a bit of preppy and nautical in their life, right? click on each photo to see the listing details.

Lost and Found

2012-01-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

jacket- vintage Christian Lacroix

jumpsuit- DVF via Loehmann's

boots- Fiorentini and Baker

dogs- Peninsula Humane Society

these were taken a couple weeks ago and i while i don't normally get dressed up for the dog park, we had a birthday party to go to right after so dressed up it had to be. we just started taking the dogs to this little playground up the street from my parents house that's all fenced in, so its perfect for them to run around in without the possibility of them running off, which they would totally do because they're both ADD. the only problem with this park is that you have to hop a fence to get in because they keep it locked up on the weekends. i've been awfully accident prone lately, so i should have known better, but anyway, i managed to knock the stone off my cocktail ring as i was fumbling my way over the fence on the way out. i heard it bounce off the fence and into the tanbark somewhere, impossible to find. oh well, the upshot is that i still have the gold setting so it'll be fun choosing a new stone to set one of these days.

p.s. i love that last pciture of roscoe. it sums up his personality perfectly. he looks like a wolverine cub in attack mode, don't you think?

The Sweetest Dress

2012-01-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

if someone asked me to design the perfect 60s sailor dress this would be it. simple, sweet and in the perfect fabric, color and cut. i hope it sells before i get a chance to change my mind!

you can see all the details right here.

A Lesson Learned

2012-01-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

wool trench- Laundry by Shelli Segal

sheath dress- 1960s Lanz Original

turtleneck- Autumn Cashmere, via Loehmann's

tights- Hue

shoes- vintage Ferrragamo
bag- Bryna Nicole, via T.J. Maxx

bird pin- vintage

i learned a painful lesson this weekend--always back up your photos! yesterday after taking these pics i inadvertently ended up erasing all the photos on my 8 gb sd card by pressing the 'format card' button on my camera. doh! all my photos from the last 9 months, gone with the click of a button. luckily a kind stranger overheard me re-hashing the story and she gave me the tip that most anything could be recoverd with the downloading of a simple online program. who knew?

at any rate, $40 later i got most of them back, with the exception of the best ones from this photo session (of course!) but i'm sure i'll be doing this jumper dress over sweater/tights combo again very soon-- it's been seriously cold lately. anyway, here's here's to the kindness of eavesdropping strangers! :)

♥ What's New! ♥

2012-01-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

all available in the shop right now. the exception is the second dress-- the ivory lace, which just sold to a girl in england. it's such a beautiful dress i still had to show it to you. :)

♥ want to find out about new listings in real time? then follow CHV on twitter or become a facebook fan.

https://twitter.com/#!/custardheart

http://www.facebook.com/CustardHeartVintage

Bonnie and Clyde

2012-01-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

sweater coat- 1970s vintage

dress- next

belt- vintage

beret- topshop

boots- jeffery campbell, many years ago

bag- loehmann's

you know how the 1970s sometimes gets a bad rap, fashion-wise? all that hideous polyester aside, there was so much good going on in fashion at that time as well. i know i've mentioned this before but as someone who was born in the 70s (the mid to later part, mind you!), i feel sort of like a defender of the decade. after all, the 70s brought us none other than faye dunaway in all her glory. who can forget her outfits in network, chinatown or bonnie and clyde, my personal favorite. technically it was a late 60s movie, but whoever did the wardrobe was ahead of their time in their interpretation of the 1930s.
p.s. one legend has it that bonnie met clyde purely by accident as she was chasing her little white dog snowball. lo and behold during this photo session, out came a white dog peeking over the roof of the house we were using as a backdrop. he seemed more than willing to jump down and make a quick getaway so i made sure not to give him any encouragement.

♥ Shop Update: Lime Sherbert ♥

2012-01-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

this week's shop update consists of a tangy citrus palette; the perfect remedy to the post-holiday blues, or as holly g. would put it, the "mean reds". all available in the shop as we speak! just click on the photo to see all the details.

♥ Girls in Custard Heart Vintage ♥

2012-01-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

one of the most satisfying parts of selling vintage is when i actually get to see who winds up buying the pieces i choose for the shop. so i couldn't tell you how pleased i was to find out this divine cobalt blue dress was sold to none other than "ms. tallulah porkchop"; vintage connosseiur, animal lover and australian fashion blogger to boot!

what's your name and where do you live? My name is Lou, aka Miss Tallulah Porkchop, and I live in Melbourne, Australia.

what’s your favourite decade for vintage and why? I’m deeply in love with the ‘50s due to the high glamour, the femininity and the way it celebrates the hourglass figure.

if you could raid anyone’s closet, dead or alive who would it be and why? Can I say Joan Holloway? Or maybe Dita Von Teese.

do you have a very favourite item of clothing in your closet? My lace ‘50s black lace cocktail dress - it clings and flatters like nothing else.

what vintage pieces are you scouring etsy for this winter? Hmmm… well it’s approaching summer in Australia, but I spent my winter in vintage plaid wool skirts, velvet skirts and velvet dresses.

what four people would you invite to your imaginary dinner party (dead or alive) and why? Isabella Blow - I love, love, love an eccentricGrace Coddington - Not your average cat lady Leith Clark – Coolest girl on the planet, and Snickers (my late cat) – I would do anything to spend some more time with him

check out tallulah's enchanting blog here.

if you have a photo of yourself in something you've bought from the shop, send it over to custardheartvintage@gmail.com and you'll receive not only my undying affection, but a 15% off coupon for your next purchase as well. ♥

Crosswalk

2012-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

sweater dress- 1960s St. John

coat- Asos

shoes- vintage Ferragamo

for somone who regularly encounters such a wide variety of vintage, it's surpsrising that there are only a few things that i actually collect for myself. one of them being knitwear by st. john. in these pics i'm wearing a 60s sweater dress by the label that i've had it for at least six years now. every single time i wear it i marvel at its quality and contrsuction and i say a little prayer that it always remains in my life. a knit that holds up perfectly 40 years later is pretty incredible if you ask me.

newest news of the year: custard heart vintage is now on facebook.
"like" the shop on facebook, leave a comment here letting me know, and receive a 15% off coupon.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Winter Wool

2011-12-29T06:52:00.000-08:00

wool jacket- Mayle, thrifted

sweater- Autumn Cashmere via Loehmann's

pants- vintage, thrifted

boots- Aldo (from a few years back)

these pics were taken a couple weeks ago on the coast in pacifica, and actually on the other side of the fence is where i worked at my very first job the summer i was 13. i was a dog walker/care taker for six dogs that belonged to a rich widow that lived on the property (which you can't see, but it's nestled in those pine trees). she's got this awesome house built in the 1920s, with a private staircase leading down to the beach (and a tacky dollar sign mosaic on the chimney believe it or not). twice a day i would walk the six dogs down to the beach and come back to the house and brush them, clean their sleeping quarters and then cook them lunch and dinner (nothing fancy, just brown rice and chicken, you know). my employer also conveniently added to my list of duties: laundry, vacuuming and dusting in her part of the house as well. i was essentialy her little 13 year old cleaning lady. i'm sure there were probably some child labor laws that were being violated, but i was just happy to be making money and working around animals.

p.s. a sure sign the 2012 apocolypse is near: Custard Heart Vintage is now on Facebook!
♥ "like" the shop on facebook, leave a comment here letting me know, and receive a 15% off coupon. ♥

Fake Fur in Real Time

2011-12-19T13:55:00.000-08:00

coat- vintage and thrifted

sweater- J. Crew outlet
turtleneck- Loehmann's

skirt- vintage

tights- probably Hue

flats- J. Crew outlet

bag- Enzo Angiolini via Loehmann's
butterfly pin- thrifted

this coat i'm wearing today is the newest addition to my closet that i thrifted it a couple weeks ago. it's fast becoming my favorite coat this year. i love the bow in the back-- that really makes it for me. i'm still a bit conflicted about wearing vintage fur so i'd like to think the collar is fake (even though i'm pretty sure it's real unfortunately). i used to rationalize that the fact the animal was killed way before my time absolved me of any responsibility, but lately i feel like i'm consenting to the whole fur industry even if it is vintage. how do you feel about the whole vinatage fur thing? do you only wear vintage fur, or do you shun the whole concept, vintage or new?

forgive all the gratuitous nail shots. i just really love this nail polish color and i'm still kind of new to the shellac manicure thing. it's one of the best beauty inventions of the 21st century "hands down" in my opinion (corny pun intended : ).

and don't forget, FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING in the shop all week long!

Free Shipping Sale!

2011-12-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

10 whole days of free shipping, anywhere in the world. click here to shop now.

For the Love of Fuschia

2011-12-14T14:52:00.000-08:00

tweed jacket- 1970s vintage

sweater- J. Crew outlet

denim shirt- Levi's

jeans- J.Brand

boots- Rachel Comey

cameo pin- vintage and gifted

fuschia, magenta, whatever you want to call it, it's definitely one of my very favorite colors. surprising versatile, it goes with everything from mustard to cognac, to navy to red. i may take a break from it every once in a while, but it always seems to return to having a prominent place in my wardrobe and makeup (mainly the lips & nails). plus, there's just something about a crisp fall day and a crisp bright color that seem to go hand in hand.

Free Shipping!

2011-12-09T14:03:00.000-08:00

♥ as an early christmas gift from custard heart to you ♥

free shipping on all domestic orders through sunday, december 11th.

♥

♥ Shop Update: Holiday Greens ♥

2011-12-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

...and black and whites, I might add! whether you're having a low-key/casual kind of holiday or a fancy/dressy kind of holiday, there's something for every occasion, all available in the shop right now!

p.s. i had lost the remote for my camera so i had to set the timer (two seconds!) and run back into the frame for some of these photos-- thus the"windblown" look. ;)

What Fresh Hell is This?

2011-12-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

“I wish I could drink like a lady.

I can take one or two at the most.

Three and I'm under the table.

Four and I'm under the host.
- Dorothy Parker

not sure if you know, but the writer dorothy parker is the lady responsible for the shop's namesake. "the custard heart" is the title of one of her short stories. when i was told that a dorothy parker biography existed, written by one of my favorite biographers, of course i had to pick up a copy.

with her infamous "round tablers" / via

it was a great read especially if you're a fan of her writings, and/or history in general. it starts out with young, dorothy gracing her presence at the infamous "round table" of the algonquin hotel in new york. this was the place to be back in the 20s and 30s where america's famous wits would come to eat, drink and verbally spar. she was known for her one-liners and was "what fresh hell is this ?" was what she could often be overhead muttering right before she would answer her telephone. she was friends with all the great writers of her day from ernest hemingway to scott fitzgerald and throughout her life suffered from bouts of depression leading to several failed suicide attempts. she even had a collection of stories called "enough rope," the title a typical example of her dry wit.

to sum it up, it was well worth the read and if you decide to give it a go, you'll find out not only about dorothy p. but also about the seemingly magical world of new york in the early 20th century.

psst... if you don't feel like reading, this movie starring jennifer jason lee, was made based on the book.

a couple of my other favorite quotes from ms. parker:

♥ “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

♥ "Brevity is the soul of lingerie."

dorothy later in life with her beloved poodle / via

Plaid Attitude

2011-12-01T16:25:00.000-08:00

coat- marc new york

sweater- loehmann's
shirt- thrifted

skirt- j.crew outlet

boots- rachel comey
vintage cameo pin- gifted

it's hard to believe it's december 1st-- today was 70 degrees in the city! if not for the changing leaves and the extra bright morning light, you would have thought it was a summer today. we've got it rough out here in the west, i don't know how we manage...

today at work me and my ever-willing photographer buddy walked right across the street to a litle patch of grass surrounded by a hedges. it felt really private even though we were right next to a busy intersection. "if i can't see them, they can't see me" has always been one of my favorite (if a little illogical) sayings and i think because of that i may have got just a bit too comfortable. it was really hard to go back into the office to say the least.

♥ Girls in Custard Heart Vintage ♥

2011-11-30T06:11:00.000-08:00

time for another edition of "girls in custard heart vintage" where i find out a little bit more about who exactly is keeping me in business. this time i'm chatting with striking redhead, rebecca crowther, a classic girl with a classic name, who resides in sacramento, california. she's a lady with some serious style who knows exactly what she likes and exactly what works for her. case in point: check her out in the navy silk number she bought from the shop. she's also got an amazing selection of vintage in her adorably entitled etsy shop, "have love will travel."

who are you with in the photos? That’s Liv and Alex, two of my closest companions. Liv is brilliant and goofy and directs a successful arts center in Sacramento, CA. Alex is brilliant and goofy, too, and has helped a lot with my Etsy shop. He’s taught me a great deal about men’s attire and sewing. The photos, I should mention, were taken at a beautiful cruise boat wedding on the San Francisco bay.

what’s your favorite decade for vintage and why? I have a tough time selecting one decade only, so I’m going to bend the rules a bit here. My personal taste runs from about 1930 to 1964! For myself, I like a wardrobe that is classically tailored and colored, nothing fussy or terribly severe.

least favorite decade? I have friends that successfully work a late 60s/early 70s look and look gorgeous doing so. For me though, the bright colors and synthetic fibers of those eras just don’t work. With my mounds of red hair, I feel like I already come in a stand-out package. I try and cut that distinction some by wearing clothing that doesn’t scream at the onlooker.

if you could raid anyone’s closet, dead or alive who would it be and why? All the Hitchcock girls from all the Hitchcock movies. Some of the frocks are dream frocks and in reality, are probably a little fancy for my taste. I adore the structured bodice of Grace Kelly’s red lace dress in ‘Dial M for Murder’ and everything worn by Ingrid Bergman in ‘Notorious’. I’d raid the closets of the Hitchcock boys, too. Cary Grant’s red neckerchief and striped shirt in ‘To Catch A Thief’ is just superb.

do you have a very favorite item of clothing in your closet? I really do LOVE my blue silk Custard Heart dress that I'm wearing in these photos. I also purchased a mid-century Lanz dress from Oma Vintage that adds a special bit of beauty to my closet. Last year, I came across an immaculate early 60s Lilli Ann coat that’s my exact fit. I also own a really charming creamy white coat by Roos Atkins that gets plenty of wear and compliments.

describe your daily uniform. Here I am talking about all this dressy attire, when my daily uniform is not always so dressy. Professionally, I work in the archives/museum field and may be required to do things like move an antique automobile or forklift a large painting (seriously, I’m a trained forklift operator!) I have to dress for the job, which sometimes consists of a simple tee, jeans, and sneakers. On days that I work directly with the public, the prettier clothing comes out.

what vintage pieces will you be scouring etsy for this fall/winter? I’d be thrilled if I could find a smaller-sized men’s wool sweater from the 1930s. Boys in those days were wearing nice cropped sweaters with oversized high waist trousers, a thick leather belt, and work boots. I like that utilitarian look and wouldn’t mind creating a more feminine version of it.

Cambria, CA

2011-11-27T19:04:00.000-08:00

gray coat- vintage 1960s jonathan logan

sweater-j.crew

dress- topshop

tights- topshop

boots- rachel comey

"bemused" expression- 5 hours spent in the car with my mom

these were taken on a little overnight trip with my mom this past weekend. we drove about 4 hours south to a pretty little town called cambria that's full of antique shops and right on the ocean. i had been there with damien over fourth of july and wanted to go back with my mom as she's a vintage/thrift huntress just like me. despite the fact that i was just getting over being a little under the weather, we had a fab time eating and shopping, with just a minimal amount of bickering. mainly it was totally fun and we both came home with quite a few treasures and lots of new information we can blackmail each other with in the future (should it ever come down to that). some people call it bonding i guess.

you may recognize the coat i've got on-- it was in the shop, but i made the fatal mistake of trying it on (oops!) with navy blue and marigold and discovered my new favorite color combo. so now it lives with me permanently. it's suprisingly rare that i do that: once i commit something to the shop it usually stays there, but this one was just calling too loudly. don't worry there's lots of other coats that i promise not to try on right here.

and don't forget, the thanksgiving sale continues through monday night: 20% off the entire shop with the coupon code, WISHBONE.

♥ Thanksgiving Sale ♥

2011-11-24T07:36:00.000-08:00

on now through Monday...

♥ Shop Update: Holiday Brights! ♥

2011-11-23T09:02:00.000-08:00

Sure, black is always chic, but it's these days it's more fun to go bright for the holidays, don't you think? All these pieces are in the shop right now. Just click on the photo to see all the details. ♥

In Technicolor

2011-11-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

jumper- 1960s vintage

shirt- 1960s vintage Burberry

tights- Hue

shoes- Ferragamo

bag- Chloe

i found this little checked shirt at the mother of all flea markets last weekend and i instantly fell in love with the collar and french cuffs. it turned out to be just the right piece to pair with this little mod jumper dress i've had for ages but never found the right thing to wear underneath it. in this particular getup i felt very "1960s british schoolgirl in a musical" and like i was about to hop on the back of a vespa at any second (instead of the back of a muni bus).

p.s. has anyone else tried a "gel manicure?" i got my first one a few months ago and now i'm just an addict. it lasts forever with no chips whatsoever. i don't think i'll ever pay for a regular manicure again!

♥ Shop Update: Fall Glory ♥

2011-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

before the "winter brights extravaganza" hits the shop, here's the last group (at least for the moment anyway) of the essential fall palette. each piece is linked up so click on the photo to see the listing. as always, this is only a smattering of what's new so be sure to head over to the shop to see the full collection.

The Sweetest Dress

2011-11-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

just had to dedicate an entire post to the most darling Lanz Original dress that i picked up on last week's epic buying trip. i've always been partial to the charm of the Lanz label but they really outdid themselves on this one. i love it's color palette and simple silhouette, not to mention probably the most adorable folk print i've ever seen. i can see it layered over a turtleneck with colored tights for fall and in the spring it's a no-brainer. to see all the details click here.

Nature's Palette

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

coat- Asos

sweater- J.Crew

shirt- Levi's

wool shorts- vintage

tights- Topshop

boots- Rachel Comey

bag- Mulberry Alexa knockoff

fall is finally here and so i'm getting a chance to wear these boots i bought back during the summer sales. i was in a kind of ankle boot buying frenzy at the time and was feeling a bit guilty but they've turned out to be the most comfortable pair of boots i own so the guilt went out the window. if i could find them in black as well that would make me a very happy lady. i need to turn into one of those people that finds something they like and they buys it in two colors -- it would save me a lot of hassle in the long run.

in exciting shop news, i just procured a ton of beautiful holiday dresses that will start making their appearance next week, so stay tuned.

p.s. i can't believe its thanksgiving in two weeks, can you?

Dressing in the Dark...

2011-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

pea coat- Martin and Ossa

sweater- French Connection via Loehmann's

shirt- French Connection via Loehmann's

pants- vintage

loafers- Office

sunglasses- Topshop

... or, "When Plaid Things Happen to Good People." yeah, that's what happened today I'm afraid. i just had to wear these 60s plaid pants I picked up a couple months ago at a thrift shop. they needed a new zipper put in and i finally got around to picking them up from the tailor's last weekend. funny, they looked so much more subtle in my dark bedroom this morning that i thought they'd pair well with this deep purple-sweater. i love the pants, they're boiled wool and so warm and comfortable but i think next time i'll go a bit more muted/plain on top. or at least try and match my bag to my shoes. i've found that seems to do the trick for tying it all in sometimes.

speaking of which: on my shopping list for this winter: a black bag big enough to hold my camera and all my other junk. i hope santa is taking notes.

Holiday Gift Cards

2011-11-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

In time for your holiday shopping season, Custard Heart Vintage gift cards have arrived! They come in denomintaions of $25.00, $50.00, $75.00 and for you big spenders out there, $100.00. And let's face it, if the one you're shopping for is anything like me then she's the only one that knows exactly what she wants. Gift cards elimintae the guesswork and are the only foolproof way to shop. Each card comes in a personalized envelope and wrapped in a beautiful red ribbon. And even better--- they never expire and they ship for free.

"Take the risk out of the gift" and place your order for a gift card today!!

♥ New in the Shop ♥

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

all new in the shop now. it's taking all my willpower to not try on the last dress. its got the sweetest details you can imagine. take a closer look here. ♥

Two for One

2011-11-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

jacket- thrifted

blouse- vintage

pants- vintage

shoes- Salvatore Ferragamo via Ebay

bag- Makowsky via Ebay

early morning shots, maybe taken a little too early. oh well, it cast a golden light across everything which is kind of nice. since you couldn't really see any details i took a few more a couple hours later. so you kind of get two for one today! i also have a new pose if you haven't noticed, i call it: "hand moodily placed near head". you like?

in other breaking news, i finally watched the bill cunnigham movie last night. what a truly beautiful person he is, i highly, highly recommend it!

p.s. i snuck in a photo of my bleary eyed photographer who gets extra points for not only getting up extra early, but for dropping me off at work this morning too. ♥

♥ a worthwhile thing to do this week: http://www.moveyourmoneyproject.org/
it'll be nice to finally place my money where my mouth is.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T12:05:00.000-07:00

on the inside she's just loving it.

Home...

2011-10-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

... is where the Ferragamos are (or something like that).

as promised, some pics of the apartment in all it's october glory. if it's not too obvious, most of our belongings have been aquired from the flea markets, local vintage shops, ebay and etsy (with the exception of the dark couch and the bookshelf from (cough, cough) ikea). the couch has always been an eyesore to me, but for-god-only-knows what reason, damien really wanted leather so i compromised and have taken to covering it with pillows and a big blanket, haha! and as you can see from my coffee table reading, my favorite magazine is sunset, surely a sign i have reached full-fledged adulthood (or middle age). anyway, i guess you could say i'm big on color, natural materials like wood and ceramic, and prints of all kinds. and i'm a big believer that you can never have too many plants. anyway, hope you've enjoyed this home invasion as much as i've enjoyed enabling it!

♥ Girls in Custard Heart Vintage ♥

2011-10-26T01:00:00.000-07:00

introducing a new little feature on the blog: "girls in custard heart vintage," a spotlight on happy customers sporting their new pieces from the shop. this lovely lady is tiombe wiley, a local girl who's wearing a little striped sweater she bought a few weeks back. isn't she adorable? she's also as sweet as she is cute, and agreed to let me ask her a couple nosy questions.

how old are you? 32
what's your zodiac sign? Cancer
occupation: technical support specialist
where are you from and where do you presently live? I grew up in Daly City, CA and now I live in the San Francisco Portola district.
what's your favorite decade for vintage fashion? Hard choice but it would have to be the 70's decade. There's just something about those leisure suits that compliments the female form while adding some edge.
if you could raid anyone's closet who would it be? Pam Greer-- Circa 1974
do you collect anything? Yes, I collect Bakelite jewelry, mainly bracelets and own about every color in the rainbow. I'm constantly searching Ebay and Etsy for new pieces.
If you could invite any three people alive or dead over for dinner (or a light lunch), who would they be? William Randolph Hearst, Olivia Boudreaux (my great grandmother) and Che Guevara

a revolutionary-lovin' girl who's big into the 70s? now that's my kind of girl!

If you have a photo of yourself in something you've bought from the shop, send it over to custardheartvintage@gmail.com and not only will I post your pretty mug, but I'll send you a coupon code for 15% off your next order.

Brick and Mortar

2011-10-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

dress- no label

tights- Hue

shoes- Ferragamo

cardigan- J. Crew

just wanted to share these quick snaps that were taken just about an hour ago. it's so rare that i actually post pictures from the same day, let alone the same morning so here you go-- a blog post in almost real time.

this last weekend we had our last bit of bay area indian summer. yesterday was in the high 80s and today it's back to normal in the 60s. i spent saturday afternoon at the beach with the dogs of and all evening saturday prepping a slap-up meal for my family who were coming over on sunday afternoon. it turned out so delicious ( yeah, i'm modest too :) and i managed to snap a few pics of our apartment too since it was nearly spotless with all my rolling racks out of sight for once. when your house is your shop, it's hard to keep the vintage from overtaking the place on the day to day. will make sure to give you a peek later in the week.

♥ Shop Update: Winter Pastels ♥

2011-10-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

1970s puffy pink cropped jacket

1960s white brocade wiggle dress

Fair Isle wool vest

Scottish wool snowflake cardigan

1960s cocktail dress

1950s lavender lace party dress

1960s brocade party dress

1960s wigggle dress

1960s cotton lace dress

1970s high waisted jeans

1960s seersucker striped day dress

floral beaded purse

1980s santana knit dress

1970s ditzy floral day dress

white maribou sweater

1980s angora beret

1980s floral canvas sneakers

1970s lavender faux fur coat

1960s Betty Rose faux fur cropped coat

To me there's something so comforting and extra soft about pastel colored wooly things. Who says your winter coat can't be pink? All this prettiness is in the shop right now.

p.s. As always I made sure to include some spring dresses for my ladies on the other side of the hemisphere too. -xo

Stripes & Suede

2011-10-14T07:05:00.000-07:00

coat- thrifted

striped top- thrifted

suede skirt- Topshop

tights- Hue

bow flats- vintage Ferragamo

bag- Chloe

watch- Fossil via T.J. Maxx

with the sun going down sooner and sooner everyday it leaves me with less and less time for photos, but i managed to snap these the other evening as the last bit of sun was setting. i'm wearing my striped top that definitely gets the most play out of every other top in my wardrobe and a little suede topshop skirt that i got on sale a couple months ago. the navy blue coat i thrifted it for mere dollars last weekend--definitely one of my best scores so far this fall. i've become so picky when i thrift that i almost didn't get it thinking that maybe i have enough coats. but luckily i came to my senses and ended up taking it home with me.

i don't know if i've mentioned this before but i'm now working at a part-time office job a few days a week and so i get to dress up a little more than i did when it was just the vintage shop full-time. actually part of what makes me happy and grateful i took it (aside from the obvious things like medical benefits), is that now i have an excuse to get dressed up during the week. i know you don't really have to have a reason, but i just didn't feel motivated to put together outfits everyday just to visit my friends at the post office, if you know what i mean. plus, no matter how much i fancy myself someone who works best alone, i gotta admit that it's really nice having coworkers to mutter things to throughout the day (instead of just the computer screen). overall, it's a win-win situation.

♥ Shop Update: My Fall Palette ♥

2011-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

1960s vintage wool trapeze jacket

1960s vintage aran sweater

vintage bowler hat

1960s vintage pure Scottish cashmere v-neck

1950s vintage fitted cashmere keyhole sweater

1960s vintage checkered wool coat

1950s vintage fur-collar coat

1970s vintage wool skirt

1960s vintage aran knit sweater

1960s vintage wool capelet

1960s vintage wool shift

1970s vintage wool cardigan

1960s vintage tea dress

1960s vintage fur collar wool coat

1970s vintage folk sweater

1990s vintage equestrian sweater

1970s vintage Furla leather bag

it's been a bit quiet on the blog as of late, but with good reason i promise! i've been working like crazy lady stocking the shop with tons of great fall vintage. and as usual it's all the things i love for myself and i think you'll love too. this fall i seem to be gravitating toward olive green, camel brown and red. so i'm sure you'll see a lot more of this palette in the months to come.

above is just a small sampling of what's new, so check out the shop to see all the newness for yourself.

xo.

Bits and Bobs

2011-10-03T13:15:00.000-07:00

A few more photos from Ireland that I like a lot but didn't seem to fit into another post. Most of these were taken in Northern Ireland. Although the cease fire has been on for fourteen years now, reminders of the Troubles were everywhere, most notably in the murals that are painted all over the walls in the segregated neighborhoods that still exist today. In the Catholic neighborhoods you would see pro-IRA murals and tributes to famous revolutionaries. In the Protestant neighborhoods, you'd see paintings of the Queen and union jacks everywhere. All politics aside, it was refreshing to see splashes of color in a place that can be so gray much of the time.

lace blouse- 60s vintage

locket pendant- family heirloom

jeans- Topshop

boots- Topshop

bag- B. Makowsky

Going Dutch

2011-09-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

cape- Leohmann's

lace shell- 1960s vintage

skirt- 1970s vintage (and altered)

tights- Hue

shoes- Salvatore Ferragamo

bag- Francsco Biasia

ever bought an item of clothing that ends up sitting in your closet, barely worn for a year or two, but then all of sudden one day you notice it and start wearing the hell out of it? that's the story with me and this little cape. for some reason i just can't get enough of it these days. it may have something to do with the warmish fall weather we're having and the fact that it's got some of the warmth of a sweater but more "aerated," if you will. that's part of the irony about the bay area-- as soon as you're ready to start wearing your fall tights and sweaters, it starts getting warm--it's such a cruel joke!

took these photos last saturday in golden gate park after lunch at the beach chalet (the food was meh, but the view of the ocean and the cocktails were fantastic, which more than made up for it). afterwards we walked over to the dutch garden in the park, one of my favorite spots in the city where the flowers are always in bloom and you can pretend you're in the netherlands for the afternoon.

♥ Autumnal Hues ♥

2011-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

All new in the shop. Just click on the text below to shop now!

1)1970s hooded wool cloak 2) 1960s orange gloves 3) 1950s Irish Aran cardigan 4) 1960s folk print dress 5) 1990s little black dress 6) 1960s italian wool popcorn knit cardigan 7) 1960s faux Persian Lamb coat 8) 1950s gold thread cocktail dress 9) 1960s wool maxi skirt 10) 1960s novelty print cotton blouse 11) 1980s leather mini skirt 12) Fair Isle cardigan 13) 1960s striped a-line shift dress 14) 1970s felted wool ladies fedora

From a Fairytale

2011-09-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

dress- Topshop

tights- Hue

boots- Topshop

bag- B. Makosky

trench- Zara

A few more pics from magical Ireland. I intentionally packed light this time as I'm someone that notoriously overpacks so I thought I'd bring the minimal pairs of shoes for a change. Believe it or not, for three weeks I just brought these boots, a pair of ballet flats and a pair of black Ferragamos (oh, and a pair of Converse, but those don't really count!)... These Topshop boots served me well-- I ended up wearing them almost everyday and was hoping I wouldn't wear them out and/or get sick of them. At any rate, I'm sure you'll be seing a lot more of them, they go with pretty much everything in my closet.

Isn't Ireland just gorgeous?

1) Co. Donegal 2) near St Columcille inDerry 3 & 4) beginning of a night out 5) a pretty window in Letterkenny 6) wishing well in Rathmullan 7) Ramelton 8) pasture in the ocean 9) waterfall in Ardara 10) in Glenveigh Garden 11) Poisoned Glen 12) The Singing Pub, Downings

Soft Rain

2011-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

coat- 1970s vintage

jeans- Topshop

boots- Topshop

bag- B. Makowsky

watch- Fossil

You know how the Eskimos have over 100 different names for snow? Well the Irish have almost as many descriptive words for "rain" (including lots of expletives I won't bother mentioning). My favorite is "soft" rain which is just a bit of drizzle, nothing serious, which usually has some sun in between the showers. This is the kind of rain we experienced mainly at the beginning of our trip for a few days in Dublin. Though I had passed through the city before, I hadn't done the tourist thing until this time. I totally fell in love with the Georgian architecture, the hanging planter boxes that seemed to be everywhere and the little shops off Grafton Street. Oh, and of course there was Topshop. What more could a girl ask for? A prison tour you say? Well yes, I even got to indulge my prison fascination when we went took a tour of Kilmainham Jail. Not only does it have a ton of historical significance, but it's also been used in lots of movies like, In the Name of the Father, and The Italian Job, just to name a few. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better start to the next three weeks.

California Love

2011-09-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

polka dot tee- Topshop

denim jumper- vintage c. 1970s

wedges- Swedish Hasbeens

it feels so good to be back in California and sleeping in our own bed again. Ireland is wonderful and will always be our second home, but there's nothing like going back to your daily routines and more importantly, seeing the SUNSHINE again. it seriously rained every single day on our trip and everyone said it was the rainiest summer in 30 years! everytime someone asked if i could see myself living there permanently i had to reluctantly say no. of course, my feelings can always change, but for the moment i'm a creature that needs vitamin D at least a few times a week. that being said, there are so many things about Ireland that I do love and that i'll be sharing with you over the next week or so.

Emerald Isle

2011-08-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

via

The photo above is of my dream cottage located in the beautiful northwest of Ireland, County Donegal where my husband is from, and his family still lives-- also our destination for the next three weeks. I plan on taking lots of beautful walks, exploring lots of old castles, and enjoying many a glass of wine (or champagne, I'm not picky :), with family and friends. We'll also be meeting our baby niece, Darcey Rose for the first time which I am very much looking forward to. Who knows I may even be able to squeeze in a little visit to Topshop, (just maybe...).

The shop will be on vacation starting Friday August 26th to Thursday, September 15th but will remain open. All orders placed at this time will ship on September 16th. And as a special thank you to my blog readers, please enjoy 20% for during my absence. Just use the coupon code 'DONEGAL' when you check out.

p.s. if you get your order in today by noon, it will ship this afternoon!

town of Ballyshannon, County Donegal c. 1920s

Belfast, County Antrim c. 1910

Mill Valley, CA

2011-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

leather jacket- LF

dress- J.Crew via thrift store

sandals- BCBG

Found this silk georgette butterfly print dress at a thrift shop a few weeks ago and wore it to lunch in Mill Valley on Sunday. It's for sure of my best finds of the summer by far. For those of you not familiar with the area, Mill Valley is in Marin County, right over the Golden Gate Bridge. It's known for it's houseboats, its left-wing politics, and its L.A.-shunning celebrities. Plus it's sunny 90% of the time, regardless of how overcast it is in the City. Everytime I go over there I think ,"why don't we come out here more often?" I guess the fact that it's a bridge toll away, makes it mentally seem further than it is? Whatever the reason, I definitely plan on spending more time on this side of the bay in months to come-- Indian Summer is just around the corner!

♥ New Fall Stock ♥

2011-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

Tons of new Fall separates in the shop right now -- all classic pieces largely inspired by this movie. I think the Ferragamo boots have to be my absolute favorite of the bunch and it took ALL my willpower not to try them on because they are my size unfortunately. Have a look at the shop right here. And please watch that movie if you haven't already seen it!

Haunted

2011-08-14T08:41:00.000-07:00

Remember I mentioned the town my cousin lives in is haunted? Well, I went back up to see her on Saturday and we stopped by one of the most notoriously haunted houses in her neighborhood. It's called "the Gomez House" named after a family who was massacred there in the late 1800s. The house itself is pretty creepy and as I was editing these photos I could have sworn I saw something peeking out of the blinds in the third photo. You might also notice there's a cable satellite dish attached to the roof, which sort of takes away from the ghostly appeal if you ask me. Apparently this place has been made into a landmark and has a caretaker that tends to the roses and makes sure no vagrants move in. I guess they apparently also like to watch cable when they come by. (?!) Go figure. I guess I'd probably want some noise in the background too if I was taking care of this place. Anyway, all this ghost-hunting didn't stop me from being really thrilled about my new watch though-- it's huge and oversized and has the perfect rose gold finish. Just the perfect accessory to scare the ghosts away (not so much).

So what do you think, can you see something in that third photo or am I just imagining things?

dress- 1960s vintage

watch- Fossil

flats-thrifted

A Midsummer Night's Sale

2011-08-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

Happening right now, the Midsummer Night's Dream Sale at Custard Heart Vintage! Everything in the shop is 20% off and in the interest of keeping things simple (and saving you the math), prices are as marked.

Now through ~~Sunday night~~ Wednesday night!

Weather Report

2011-07-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Let's see... well, the summer weather in the Bay Area can best be decsribed as...How do I say this politely? ... complete shit (or "shite" if you're from the UK :). It starts out all drizzly and misty in the morning and then in the afternoon we get a bit of sun in certain neighborhoods, then inevitably the fog rolls in. These were taken in the Noe Valley area, at the tail end of a fleeting hour of sun just as the fog was rolling in and the wind was picking up. It's nearly impossible to have neat bangs with the wind constantly blowing in your face, but I know, I know, it could be a lot worse (I would trade our fog and wind for a July heatwave though, just to see for myself if in fact it really is worse). Anyway, one thing that is consistent is how inconsistent our summers are. I'll probably be talking about how great the weather is in a couple days just you wait and see.

trench coat- Zara

dress- thrifted & hemmed

tights- Hue

wedges- Urban Outfitters

tote- L.L. Bean via Ebay

♥ Shop Update: Strawberry Rhubarb ♥

2011-07-27T16:22:00.000-07:00

It's probably because I'm trying to stay away from sweets at the moment, but as I was updating the shop this morning, all I could think about was how these dresses reminded me of strawberry rhubarb pie. I think I may just have to forget about my dessert ban and whip one up sometime soon. As far as pies go, it looks pretty healthy all things considering, don't you think? Anyway, all these pieces are available now in the shop, and most of them are in the $30-$50 range so go have a (guiltless) look!

Summer Poison

2011-07-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

The weather has been just glorious in the last week, but unfortunately I couldn't fully sartorially partake in it due to a case of poison oak. Hopefully you're not familiar with it's effects on the skin, it's not very pretty to say the least. I'm one of those highly allergic people who can't even look at it without coming away with a few patches of it. It grows wild all over California, particularly near sandy beach dune areas which was where I must have picked it up. I somehow managed to get it on my left wrist and right ankle-- I suspect Misty brushed against it and she gave it to me when I picked her up. So relieved she didn't get any! So it's been mainly pants and long sleeves for me this past week, kind of boring. Anyway, happy to report it's on it's way out and can't be gone soon enough for me.

These Madewell pants were just long enough to cover up any undesirable parts and luckily it was cool enough for a long sweater yesterday. Spent the day out in Glen Canyon Park and then to Indian food and a movie. All in all a pretty good Sunday (minus the poison oak part that is).

cardigan- Zara

pants- Madewell

shoes- Hasbeens for H&M

mini tote bag- L.L. Bean via ebay

The 'Burbs

2011-07-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

As much as I love living in the City, I must sheepishly admit that sometimes the suburbs are right up my alley--with the unobstructed sunshine, the sweeping lawns, the quiet streets, the massive SUVS parked everywhere (not so much), it's easy to see why people choose to live in these enclaves. When I'm in the mood for a little suburban sprawl I drive east about 35 minutes to visit my cousins who live in the most picturesque little town of Clayton, California. Incidentally, it's also noteworthy as the town with the most paranormal activity in California, but that's a whole other blog post entirely (let's just say I won't be spending the night over there anytime soon).

Anyway, this past Saturday we had a yard sale in which I attempted to unload some household paraphenalia that had been lingering in my storage facility for a while. Though I ended up driving home with most of it back in the trunk (suburbanites just don't know good junk when they see it apparently), it was still fun to hang out in the sun and pretend I was in an epsiode of Desperate Housewives for the afternoon.

jean jeacket- thrifted

tank- Rebecca Beeson

skirt- thrifted

wedges- Hasbeens

purse- Cole Haan

p.s. I finally gave in and got a bang trim. So much for having the discipline to grow them out!

San Simeon, 1975

2011-07-14T08:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a child of the 1970s and so I guess that's why I have a special place in my heart for clothing from that decade. That sweater I'm wearing is possibly my favorite little cardigan in my closet. Living in the Bay Area, you can never have enough cardigans--it's sweater weather year around. "Never leave home witout a layer" is my motto, even if it's super hot, because you never know when the fog will roll in.

These pictures are from our last day on our little weekend away, taken near San Simeon, California, famous for not only it's Mission, but also for its expansive beaches that serve as a spot for elephant seals to come and take a snooze & sunbathe themselves. They were actually endangered until about 6 years ago when the community started making a concerted effort to provide a protected area for them to breed, off limits to humans. Now just a few years later, their population is almost back to their orginal numbers. I like hearing information like this as it assures me there is still some good we're doing in the world in the world, when we're constantly hearing in the news how badly we treat the planet. The elephant seals would give us their "seal" of approval at any rate (sorry, I couldn't resist that one).

sweater- vintage
tee- Zara
jeans- Acne via Loehmann's
sandals- BC

♥ New in the Shop ♥

2011-07-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

1960s vintage Marie Phillips striped day dress

vintage Dooney and Bourke all-weather leather bag

vintage Rattan and Leather case

1950s vintage Iceburg Blue party dress

1950s vintage Herbert Levine alligator stilettos 8

1950s vintage Sky Blue Moygashel linen wiggle dress

1940s vintage Sunday Brunch two piece dress

1970s vintage Yard Bird denim skirt

1970s vintage Silver leaf knit day dress

1970s vintage Lanz Originals pocketed day dress

Some of the newness you'll find in the shop this week! I am thanking my lucky stars that those Herbert Levine alligator heels are about two sizes too small for me or else they would have never made it into the shop. I made a point not to try on the denim skirt either... way too dangerous.

House Guest

2011-07-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

Just because.

Nepenthe

2011-07-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Nepenthe is a local restauran in Big Sur that's been around since the late 1940s, built by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. It was originally a home owned by Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, who bought it with a down payment of $167.00 and then sold it to the Fasset family who converted it to a restaurant and still run it to this day. Back in the 1950s Henry Miller had a cabin nearby and was a frequent guest. You can read more of the interesting history of Nepenthe here.

So of course it was this history that drew us to the place, but it was the laid back vibe and breathtaking views that made us stay all day Saturday, drinking mojitos and hanging out on the deck. I wore my most comfortable jeans and sandals, anything more and I definitely would have been out of place without a doubt. As much as I do enjoy dressing up, once in a while it's nice to completely dress down as well. Anyway, I wish I had pictures of the building itself, but it was really hard to do since it's on a hillside. You'll just have to take my word for it that it's a must-visit place if you're ever in the area. I hope you get a chance to go there yourself one of these days.

p.s. That menu is the original menu from the 1950s. They've got a stack of free keepsake copies at the host stand. If drinks were only 50 cents we would have probably never left the place. :)

Over the Rainbow in Big Sur, California

2011-07-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Big Sur is a place nothing short of magical. Since I had only been there passing through as a kid, I had no real expectations of the place, just what I've seen in movies and read in books. I knew it would be beautiful and rugged but I figured that over the years tourism would have ruined things, but I was very much mistaken.

We drove down on Saturday, bypassing all the holiday traffic by avoiding the Monterey area and taking the 101 as far as we could. On the way down we stopped in the little little coastal town of Cambria for snacks and drinks. The main street is full of antique shops and thrift stores and though we looked around, I managed to get out of town empty handed for once.

The cottage where we were staying was on the Southern end of Big Sur in a town called Gorda Creek. The fog was rolling in as we were checking in, so please excuse the fuzziness of some of these photos (haven't quite mastered the camera settings just yet). However, I can say that the heavy fog added a mystical feel to everything. Anyway, we were right across the street from the beach on Highway 1 and about a mile down the road from Treebones Resort where the accomodations consist of Mongolian style yurts. We ended up having a beautiful dinner in the hill top restaurant there and decided we definitely want to stay in a yurt next time. My favorite day of our little vacation was on Sunday where we spent practically the whole afternoon at Nepenthe, but I'll save that for another post.

romper- Zara

sandals- thrifted

necklace- vintage

Wildflower

2011-07-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

My no-so-secret spot to take outfit pictures, Twin Peaks. More specifically, the foothills-- there are always at least a few tourists up at the top, so I avoid that area naturally. These are my newest pair of jeans I go them a couple months back at Loehmann's pretty much the place where I get all my jeans if they aren't thrifted. The irony is I fell in love with these because they're very similar to a pair I thrifted years ago and wore to death and ended up cutting into shorts. I'm a sucker for a lightwashed jeans in the summer that's for sure.

This is the first time I've ever tried blue nailpolish, can you believe it? I've come close with lavender, but never ventured into true blue territory. I tried it on my fingernails a couple weeks ago and it was just too much for me. It also prompted my husband to ask me, "Are you into Siouxsie and the Banshees now?" (I think that was some sort of a goth joke or something). Anyway I do like it on my toes however, all goth jokes aside.

Hope you are having a perfectly summery 4th of July weekend. I've got lots of pics from Big Sur to share very soon.♥

tiny floral print shirt-thrifted

jeans- - Acne via Loehmann's

belt- Linea Pilea

sandals- Hasbeens for H&M

purse- vintage

sunglasses- got them ages ago at the shop I used to work for (that will remain nameless!)

nail polish- Coat Azure by Essie

The Sandpiper, 1965

2011-07-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

In preparation for a trip to Big Sur this weekend I just watched The Sandpiper (1965) which was shot entirely on location in and around the Central Coast. Elizabeth Taylor and her real life love, Richard Burton star in the film with supporting roles by the gorgeous Eva-Marie Saint and a really young Charles Bronson. I just love everything about the mid-1960s california bohemian style of Elizabeth Taylor in this movie. Not only does she look stunning, but the whole film has that 60s California craft aesthetic that's heavy on the wood and ceramics. Just perfect in my book.

I definitely feel it enhances my experience of a place when I've seen a movie or read a book about it beforehand. It also gets me excited about going. I think I do this almost everytime I go somewhere. Before going to Spain it was every book I could find on the Spanish Civil War, including I'll Dress you In Mourning (turned out to be one of my favorite books ever); before Paris I read lots of Hemingway including A Moveable Feast; before Ireland it was Trinity, before Baja it was The Sea of Cortez and before Maui I had to get South Pacific of course. When you're about to go on a trip do you like

reading books or seeing movies shot in the location you're about to visit?

♥ Thank you, Thank you ♥

2011-06-29T07:45:00.000-07:00

I started Custard Heart Vintage in November of 2009, having been recently laid off and in need of some sort of income. I was originally planning to sell some pieces out of my own closet on eBay but my friend Tiff highly recommended Etsy as she she was having a great time selling her handcrafted necklaces on the site. So I opened my little Etsy shop, a little skeptical at first that it could possibly be any better than Ebay. Things started out painstakingly slow and I never dreamed I would even see 100 sales, never mind 1000 sales, but lo and behold, the time has arrived! So, in celebration of this momentous occassion, the shop is having a an unprecedented 25% Customer Appreciation Sale. Just enter the code 'ONETHOUSAND' when you checkout to receive 25% off your order. Thanks so much for your support, whether you're a customer or blog reader or both. I'm going to go wipe away my tears and blow my nose now. ;)

Enter coupon code ONETHOUSAND to receive 25% off.
*ends Friday 9 p.m. PST

Pacifica Pier

2011-06-27T06:24:00.000-07:00

A sunny Sunday in Pacifica, California.

jacket- thrifted

pullover- thrifted

floral shorts-Etsy via Greatest Friend

shoes- Etsy (seller unknown)

watch necklace-Etsy via Freshy Fig

Yellow & Red

2011-06-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Yellow and red are possibly one of my favorite color combinations of all time. Lucky for me it was warm enough on Summer Solstice to break out this sundress I bought a few months back but still had not had a chance to wear. I wore it to work at the office with this bright yellow cardigan that I thrifted a couple years back. Sometimes I'm not quite sure what is exactly "office appropriate" (i.e., bearing your shoulders in a sundress?) so I ended up erring on the side of caution and threw on the cardigan before I left the house. This is about as "business casual" as I can get on a hot day in San Francsico.

p.s. These are the first photos I've taken with my new camera and I'm really stoked with the results. After using my crapadelic point and shoot for so long I was starting to wonder if it was really the camera's fault or if I was just a shitty photographer (or maybe a combo of the two)?-- anyway, a camera upgrade makes such a huge difference. Hooray!

cardigan- thrifted

dress- Marc Jacobs via Loehmann's

shoes- Hasbeens via H&M

sunglasses- Wayfarer knock-offs via Globba

sailboat pendant- thrifted