What's On My Radar: Current Loves

Is it just me or are there way too many pretty things holding your attention (and your wallet)?  From clothing to artwork, jewelry, and shoes, I'm desperately trying to adhere to a sensible budget!  For the first time in a very long time, I had to cut this month's picks short.  Here's what made the cut:

Trashy Diva

1. Alexa Tie Top
2. Lounge Pants
3. Hollywood Dress
4. June Blouse
5. 40's Skirt
6. Norma Jean Dress

Trashy Diva released their new Pirate Treasure collection and I am obsessed.  I love the print and the addition of the June blouse and the Hollywood dress.  I had to scale down my picks quite a bit, but I could seriously take this whole collection.  It's been selling like hotcakes (some sizes sold out within the hour) so act fact if you'd like to add some pirate goodness to your closet!

Tiny Snails

1. Polar Bears
2. Bernard and Bianca
3. Shark Knight
4. The Three Caballeros

I first came in contact with Chie's artwork at Wondercon this year.  I love her take on Disney-inspired pieces and everything she creates is just so pretty.  I've been adding Disney-inspired artwork to Bianca's room and I can't wait to put The Three Caballeros on her wall!

Hearts and Found

1. Francesca Dress Off Shoulder with Pom Pom Trim in Navy Blue Daisy Floral Print
2. Grace Dress in Hawaiian Tiki Print with Hibiscus Islands Sailboats and Tropical Fish
3. Grace Dress in Sunset Hawaiian Palm Leaves Print in shades of Orange and Pink
4. Lola Skirt in Tropical Hawaiian Tiki Fish Print

I literally cannot say enough good things about Hearts and Found.  Every time I visit Marjorie's site there are tons of fun new fabric to chose from!  She's also added this gorgeous Francesca dress, which is the perfect off the shoulder summer staple.  You best believe that's going into my cart right now!

Bettie Page Shoes

1. Heather Heel
2. Eris T-Strap Heel
3. Willow Peep Toe Pump
4. Taylor T-Strap Pumps
5. Abela Peep Toe Heels

Bettie Page Shoes has been my footwear of choice for years.  They're cute, comfortable, and they last for years!  I'm always looking to add more pretties to my shoe closet and, as you can tell, I've been looking for the perfect pink heels.  I love the Abela because it incorporates all the prettiest pastel colors.  I have a feeling they're the winners!

Sweet Life Vintage

1. 50s Swirl Rose Novelty Sundress
2. 50s Tribal Print Cotton Sundress
3. 50s Black and White Floral Leaf Print Cotton Sundress
4. 50s Cole of California Cotton Floral Dress

I'm forever searching for fun vintage shops on Etsy.  Sweet Life Vintage has a seemingly endless supply of beautiful dresses.  They also carry a range of sizes (I promise they all aren't 23" waists) and interesting novelty prints.  Every time I visit I find myself wishing I had some kind of trust fund to dip into...

Unicorn Crafts

1. 22K Gold Narwhal Earrings
2. Pretty Unicorn Enamel Pin
3. Rhinestone Earrings in a Bottle
4. Mermaid Scale Ring
5. Glitter Bow Enamel Pin

In need of cute kitschy accessories?  Well, look no further!  Unicorn Crafts is known for their attention to cuteness and I find myself adding more goodies to my collection on the regular.  I love their enamel pins, but they also have a generous offering of cute Star Wars-inspired jewelry as well.  I mean, who doesn't need a majestic unicorn pin on their jacket?!  The answer is nobody.


What's on your list this month?  If you want to share some of your favorite shops, make sure to comment below!

xoxo

Ashley

Square Garden

I can't help but love a fun floral print!  Emily & Fin has the cutest spring collection and this Pippa skirt was at the top of my list.  Made from 100% cotton and easy to dress up or down, this is an essential piece to your warm-weather wardrobe.  You can read more about this skirt and Emily & Fin's knitwear below!











Top- c/o Emily & Fin
Skirt- c/o Emily & Fin
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes (similar)

The Pippa skirt features a thin waistband with belt loops (it does not include a belt), figure flattering box pleats, exposed side pockets with a button detail, and a side zippered closure.  I took my usual size XS in Emily & Fin skirts and I found this one to be true to size.  I'm becoming quite smitten with a-line skirts (no petticoats needed!) and the Pippa is the perfect "everyday" skirt.  I paired it with the new Nina cardigan in mustard.  I love the little collar and the stretch knit is super stretchy and very soft.  I can't wait to pair it with my new favorite jeans!  That's right: I wear jeans now.

This weekend is going to be quite interesting.  We are throwing away all of Bianca's "pull-ups" and night time reinforcements and we're not looking back.  She hasn't been the most interested in potty training, which has been incredibly frustrating.  But she's going to a summer program with other kids next month, which has motivated her to give it another try.  I'm crossing my fingers this transition will be a smooth as possible.  Wish us all luck!

xoxo

Ashley

Femme Fatale

Everyone needs at least one "little black dress" and this Fatale dress from Unique Vintage is my number one go-to.  It's sexy, super comfortable, and has a touch of pink with the floral applique on the neckline.  I love that it has the wiggle shape, but thanks to the fishtail skirt, you can move around with ease.  If you're as crazy about range of motion as I am, this is definitely the wiggle dress for you!











Dress- The Pretty Dress Company c/o Unique Vintage
Shoes- Chelsea Crew
Hair- Styling by Melissa
Lipstick- Sephora Collection in Sweet Raspberry

I'm no stranger to The Pretty Dress Company (they're one of my favorite brands) and the Fatale is one of my favorite styles that they offer.  This particular dress is different because it's made of a soft and stretchy black crepe material.  It provides the perfect amount of stretch and drapes beautifully.  If you're not familiar with the Fatale wiggle, it features an off the shoulder neckline that holds in place thanks to the elasticized sleeve, a faux crossover bodice with boning for support, princess seams, a flowing fishtail skirt, and a full back zippered closure.  I went with my usual UK8 and this dress feels a bit roomier than my other Fatale dresses.  Due to the fabric, there is a bit of give.  If you're between sizes, I'd suggest sizing down.  I can't wait to wear this one to a very fancy wedding this summer!

Dapper Day was last weekend and I attended the expo on Saturday.  I love meeting up with friends and visiting all the vendors I normally purchase from online.  I had a ridiculous amount of fun, but I also felt a huge sigh of relief because it marked the end of the spring events this year.  I'm not going to lie: I'm so tired!  I'm looking forward to getting back to normal life and having all my weekends with my family again.  I will make the most of them because we all know those fall events sneak up on us faster than we realize!

xoxo

Ashley

Belinda

I'm forever looking for fun, comfy dresses for the warmer weather ahead.  This floral frock from Top Vintage gives you an effortless look that takes you from everyday errands to afternoon tea with ease.  Because it's made from a light stretch cotton, it feels just as good as it looks!  I couldn't wait to take this dress to one of my favorite local parks.  Now that everything here in California has fully bloomed, my outfit was the perfect companion to the beautiful surroundings.









Dress- c/o Top Vintage
Shoes- c/o Bettie Page Shoes
Belt- From another dress
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Bracelet- c/o Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski

The Belinda dress features a flattering boat neck with a "v" detail in the center, cap sleeves, a full circle skirt, and a back zippered closure.  I decided to add my favorite Malco Modes petticoat underneath to give the dress some extra volume, but it looks great without one as well.  I went with a size XS and it was a great fit.  I would say this dress runs slightly larger, so if you're between sizes I'd recommend sizing down.

Today I get to spend time with some of my favorite ladies.  I feel like I don't get to see my friends as often as I'd like (we're all busy adulting) so I treasure every moment I have with them!  Bianca is also quite smitten with my friends, which she claims are now hers.  I guess we can share for the time being.  I'm not looking forward to the day where she's too cool to hang out with me.  I'll be holding onto these moments forever!

xoxo

Ashley

Viva Las Vegas 20

Every year (around Easter weekend), vintage enthusiasts scramble from all over the world to The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas for one thing: Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend.  2017 was Viva's twentieth year and they definitely went big!  Because we couldn't pass up such a wonderful event; Kevin, Bianca, and I packed up our best outfits and spent our Saturday at the Car Show.  Thanks to Trashy Diva, we were perfectly dressed for the show and ready to hand out discounts to the many Divas who attended!  It was so much fun running into friends, making new ones, dancing to live music, and taking in the endless rows of classic cars.  I'm already itching to go back!

 Car Show Outfits:

Dress- c/o Trashy Diva

Shoes- Restricted Shoes

Hat- Vintage (similar)

Belt- From another dress

Sunglasses- c/o Retro Sunnies

Bianca's dress- c/o Trashy Diva

Bianca's shoes- Payless Shoes

Vegas Strip Outfit:

Top- c/o Trashy Diva

Skirt- c/o Trashy Diva

Shoes- Remix Vintage Shoes

Although it was quite hot, the three of us had such a wonderful time.  Bianca enjoyed meeting all of "mommy's friends" and making a friend of her own, Wynter.  There were so many vendors with both vintage and reproduction goodies, but I was good and stuck to window shopping and socializing.  There was a Trashy Diva meet up in the middle of the day and it was so great to meet all the gorgeous Divas in person!  The ladies of the Trashy Diva Facebook groups are so positive and inspiring, you almost feel like family.  Needless to say, it definitely was the best part of my day.

I wore the new Annette dress in Carnival print from Trashy Diva and it was the perfect choice for the outdoor event.  Because it's made in a cotton voile, it was light and breathable.  The Annette is fully lined and features adjustable straps, a gathered circle skirt, massive hidden side pockets, and a back zippered closure.  The Carnival print was a total eye-catcher and I had people stopping me constantly to ask if it was vintage.  The Annette is in my top three favorite cuts from Trashy Diva and I hope there are many more on the horizon (I must have them all)!

Since it was Bianca's first trip to Las Vegas (and first trip outside of California), we decided to have some family time on the strip.  She loved the Excalibur castle, I'm sure you can imagine why.  She was also intrigued by the slot machines at the casinos.  She didn't really grasp why she couldn't play with them, so I just looked like a mean mommy as I carried her away, haha!

I can't wait to go back Vegas, and more specifically, look forward to Viva Las Vegas 21!

xoxo

Ashley

Lemonade Stand

Is there anything more "spring" than a pastel gingham print?!  My love affair with Hearts and Found continues, this time in the Grace dress in Lemonade Stand print.  The Grace dress is definitely my favorite cut from Marjorie's shop and I've collected quite a few over the years.  As always, it fits like a dream and the quality is top-notch.  And let's be honest: who doesn't want to support a woman-owned small business?











Dress- c/o Hearts and Found
Shoes- Remix Vintage Shoes
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Hat- Jeanne Simmons (similar)

The Grace dress is fully lined and features a delicately gathered bust, adjustable straps, a full gathered skirt, and large hidden side pockets.  All my dresses from Hearts and Found are custom made to my measurements and they're always spot-on.  The bodice of this dress is supportive enough to go braless, which is a total selling point for me!  And at $80USD, the price is fantastic for what you're getting.  I can't give enough praise to Marjorie and her business, she truly has me as a customer for life!

Well, I'm currently getting ready for Viva Las Vegas and I'm trying not to get too stressed out.  Packing for both Bianca and myself is a process and I always happen to forget something important.  This time I have a list and I'm checking it about a thousand times!  If you happen to be at the Viva car show tomorrow, make sure you come find me.  I'll be posting my whereabouts on my Instagram and I'll have some awesome Trashy Diva discounts for you!

xoxo

Ashley

Carnival Trixie

Can we just talk about Trashy Diva's new Carnival print?  I'm so excited that they decided to release another novelty print in a cotton fabric.  Much like the now elusive French Quarter print (I reviewed that skirt HERE); Carnival depicts the whimsical streets of the French Quarter, this time with vibrant colors in a parade motif.  I actually picked up all three pieces of this collection, but today I'm going to review a classic Trashy Diva style: the Trixie dress.











Dress- Trashy Diva
Shoes- Bettie Page Shoes
Belt- From another dress
Lipstick- Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Tango

While I own lots of Trixie tops, this is my very first Trixie dress.  I kind of have a love/hate relationship with the top version.  Because of my long torso, the Trixie top is too short to tuck into a skirt (even with adjustable straps) and too long to look like a true crop top.  The Trixie dress is the perfect match for me because I get the look I want without worrying about the length of the bodice.  This dress features a contrasting black bodice that boasts a supportive structure (real talk: I'm not wearing a bra or any shapewear here), elastic shirring on the sides for the perfect fit, and adjustable straps.  The skirt is ridiculously full, fully lined, and has massive hidden side pockets.  The long, back zippered closure allows you to step in and out of this dress with ease.  This Trixie comes in sizes XS-3X, and the XS was the perfect fit for my frame.  I literally have no idea why it took me so long to add a Trixie dress to my closet, but I feel like many more are coming my way!

Rosko, our one-eyed blind rescue chihuahua, has another eye appointment today.  While we've accepted that he won't regain his sight ever again, I've been trying really hard to save the eye he has.  His progress has been great, but only the doctor knows for sure.  Keep Rosko in your thoughts and cross your fingers that he finally gets to take his "cone of shame" off today!

xoxo

Ashley

Belle

I know everyone is all about Belle from Beauty and the Beast these days, but Belle has been my princess since 1991.  As a quiet, isolated, bookworm myself, Belle was the first princess that I really identified with.  I loved her independent spirit and her ability to look past hard surfaces to see the beauty within.  As I'm sure you can imagine, I literally freaked out when Vintage Inspired by Jackie teamed up with Dapper Dino to create this Belle-inspired skirt.  The enchanted rose border is the perfect novelty print for everyday wear or my favorite: Disneybounding!











Top- Vixen by Micheline Pitt
Skirt- c/o Vintage Inspired by Jackie
Shoes- Target
Petticoat- Malco Modes
Necklace- Forever 21
Clutch- Unique Vintage

As always, each of Jackie's designs are carefully perfected by hand.  This particular skirt is made from light, 100% cotton and features a side zip and top button closure (although I like to wear mine in the back).  I chose to customize my skirt to my waist size and it was a perfect fit.  Jackie is wonderful when it comes to custom work, if you ever have any questions she's more than happy to answer them/accommodate your needs.  Bianca and I have been waiting to do an epic Belle Disneybound this spring and this skirt is definitely going to be a part of it!

It's officially the week of Viva Las Vegas and it's hard not to be stressed about it.  The packing, the events, the outfits!  Bianca, Kevin, and I will be at the car show on Saturday and I'll be representing Trashy Diva and giving out some sweet discounts.  If you're going to be there too, make sure to follow me on Instagram to find my location and say hello/receive a Trashy Diva coupon!

xoxo

Ashley