I'm so excited, I just found the limited edition (spring?) 2011 Maybelline Eyestudio quad eyeshadows at CVS! Ive been to every Rite Aid, Walgreens and grocery store looking for these. And to top it off they were buy one get one half off. I got Mythical Mermaid (sparkle teals and greens) and Alluring Almond (shimmery nudes and beige) I'll have swatches soon!

ANA

SHOES 2

Earlier I talked about muted, neutral colored shoes and now I want to show you some way beyond awesome bright, vibrant, exciting shoes!

     Peony by Sofft- $107.95

     Joan by Seychelles- $95

Itsy Bitsy Betsy from Irregular Choice- $110

Kim Oh No from Irregular Choice- $120

Sunday Afternoon from Irregular Choice- $105

Poetic Licence One fine day from Irregular Choice- $89

Picnic Pinup wedge by Wild Diva from Modcloth- $34.99

Second that notion by Miss L Fire from Modcloth- $159.99

Conga Line by Miss L Fire from Modcloth- $149.99

I currently want everyone of these shoes! Hahahahaha


                            -Ana

Well then

     There are lots of personal sale shopper websites out there, but I really like Ideeli. I don't have the budget for expensive designer things so this site is perfect for me. everything is authentic and brand spankin new but at a sliver of a fraction of the cost. I get email updates for when brands I'm on the look out for go on sale, I'm the first to know and jump on it! If you're on a tight budget and don't have time for eBay, but want designer or name brand things for cheap cheap cheap this is definitely a website you should check out. (This is my HONEST opinion, not paid opinion.)


                              -Ana

Oops!

I was so excited about my new lipsticks I completely forgot to talk about the new fabric I bought!

 These three were on clearance at Joanns and will all end up being pretty, fluffy full skirts! My favorite is the purple flowers, I was thinking of making a yellow sleeveless blouse to go with it. I'm already working on a white shirt sleeve button up blouse for the other two skirts.

The aqua gingham and cherry print were so pretty I had to buy them, and they will be dresses. Gingham has become my new favorite fabric. If it is in the wrong color it can look kinda picnic tablecloth-ish though. I think the aqua is subtle and delicate and will be pretty as a dress. I was thinking something along the lines of Vivien of Holloway's 1950's halterneck gingham dress. I first saw it on The Freelancer's Fashion Blog in yellow and loved it. I'm not about to pay a crap load of money for a dress though. Especially not the same one another blogger has. So I figured I would make my own! And not in yellow since I already made a yellow gingham skirt. (I'll do a post on that later.)

The retro cherry dress is very common and kinda stereotypical. I really like it though, lol but I want to do something more unique than a halter or wiggle dress. The will be a red midriff and the bodice, short sleeves and circle skirt will be the cherry print.

                               -Ana

Backkk

After spending three weeks in Los Angeles with my family I'm feeling a bit blog deprived! I have TONS of new things to post, and I'm hoping I'll get alot of it done tonight. I'll start by talking about what I bought (cuz we all know I cant go anywhere or do anything without buying something haha!). I found some really wonderful lipsticks on clearance at Albertson's grocery store for 99 cents!

Both are Revlon, the red one on the right is Revlon ColorStay Sheer 125 Sheer Coral. It is fabulous if you want a sheer, bright pop of color but don't want a thick, obvious lipstick look. Sheer Coral has a very light chapstick feel and smells like vanilla extract! How awesome is that??

The second lipstick is Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme 616 Wink for Pink. I had my eye on dusty rose and peach color lipstick, but I wasn't sure how well I could pull it off. For 99 cents though I decided to try it anyway. Let me tell you, I love this color. It's a dusty rose but has a slight peachy-pink undertone and it also has a gold shimmer. Wink for Pink is very silky and lustrous. And surprisingly it doesn't smell at all!

I like that Wink for Pink isn't real noticeable but makes my blush stand out. I definitely want to get my hands on more colors in these lines!


                               -Ana

Something of Interest

I came across this website, Heaven's To Betsy Vintage, and good gracious! all the beautiful patterns!!! I was itching to get my wallet! There are over THREE HUNDRED patterns from the 1950's, and many more from various decades! They're a bit pricier than what I'm used to spending on a single pattern, but I do love to help out independent companies.

 "  Heavens To Betsy Vintage sells a full range of vintage, retro and out-of-print sewing patterns from 1930's to 1980's and select newer patterns. We also offer vintage jewelry, vintage handkerchiefs, children's books,  fashion related ephemera and an eclectic variety of collectible smaller items. We have over 8,000 items listed online with over 6,000 sewing patterns. All of our sewing pattern pieces are counted and guaranteed complete. All vintage patterns are stored in acid-free polypropylene sleeve protectors and cardboard backings in a temperature controlled environment."

 These are the beauties that caught my eye!

(Lovin the pink polka dot with the bow)

Vintage Scalloped Neckline Dress Pattern Bust 36                           $48.00

Vintage Simplicity Slenderette sewing pattern 3045.  Dress with scalloped, V shaped neckline and short kimono sleeves. Flared skirt with soft pleats or slim skirt with back kick pleat. Self fabric or purchased belt.
Size 16; Bust 36; Waist 28; Hip 38.
Pattern is uncut, complete and in original folds.
Copyright 1959.

Vertical gathers on the neckline...DARLING

Wide Neckline Gathered Bodice Dress Pattern Bust 32                  $38.00
Vintage Simplicity sewing pattern 3920.
Dress with wide neckline and bodice softly gathered at upper edge. Small buttons close the dress front. Sleeves are cut in one with bodice. Full skirt is gathered at waistline. Size 14; Bust 32; Waist 26.5; Hip 35. Pattern is uncut and complete and in original folds. Envelope is aged; old store markdown sale price in red pencil on front. Copyright 1952.

Marilyn Monroe's cherry dress in The Misfits??

Parade Dress Pattern, Deep V Neckline Bust 34              $26.00

 One piece, sleeveless dress has a full circle skirt from a fitted waistline. Bodice is gathered from the Deep V-neckline which is finished in bias trim. Optional bows accent the shoulders. Size 16; Bust 34; Waist 28; Hip 37.Pattern is unused and the pieces are in original factory folds. Pieces are factory pre-cut to exact size and have no printing. All directions are on the enclosed instruction sheet. Envelope is in exceptional condition. Not dated; circa late 50s' to early 60's..

 You should go over and take a sneaky peek! Ya never know what perfect pattern you'll fall in love with!

                     -Ana

shoesss

Angie at youlookfab wrote a post on two new shoe companies that caught her attention, and naturally, they've caught my attention too. Now I feel the urge to obsessively troll Ebay looking for them! I've also added some other summer shoes that I adore. And best of all, they all have a vintage flare!

 Born "Jocelyn"

Clarks "Diamond Heart" pump

Seychelles "Eyeliner" pumps

Clarks "Revel Hop" sandal

Seychelles "Thank You Note"

 Sorry for the random placement of the photos. I couldn't for the life of me get them to cooperate!


                         -Ana

Retro Swimsuits!

Today was cold, dreary and rainy. Oh how I cannot wait for summer to be here! I love the warm sun and the lazy clouds by the pool... the hot sand and cool waves at the beach... Sandals, sundresses, floppy hats... Most of all though, SWIMSUITS! For vintage gals there are quite a few places to choose from. Yet, it seems as though the options are all rather similar. Or is that just me? Although I find the silhouettes to be flattering and pretty, the pattern choices are about the same everywhere I've looked! Red and black polka dots, cherry print or solid colors.

While Modcloth has some attractive colors, half the swimsuits look as if they are made of tacky, shiny, cheap material. Maybe that's just the lighting in the photos??? Modcloth also has really ugly swimsuits like the cheetah one to the right. (On another note, I don't understand monokinis. I personally don't find them attractive or flattering. Kinda makes me think your dog or hamster chewed a giant hole in your swimsuit.) From what I have seen online there are three major brands that have the cutest retro swimsuits available: Jantzen, Pinup Couture, and Esther Williams.

 Jantzen recently celebrated it's 100th birthday!!! (January 27, 1910 to January 27, 2010! Talk about standing the test of time!) On the Jantzen website they have a time line of Jantzen's history:

"In 1910, Portland Knitting Company began in downtown Portland, Oregon, with a few hand-knitting machines above a tiny retail store. Little did founders Carl Jantzen, Roy and John Zehntbauer know that they would achieve both fame and controversy as swimwear pioneers. Producing a wool suit for a rowing team they began offering “bathing suits” in their catalog. Early advertisements guaranteed the famous rib-stitch “gives that wonderful fit”."

 Jantzen's 2010 swimsuit collection is inspired by the "bathing beauties" of the 1950's. Here is a link to see the new collection. The average price range for a Jantzen swimsuit online is between 80 and 150 dollars. A bit pricey if you ask me, but very well made, comfortable and long lasting swimsuits.


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This is where I would write about Pinup Couture, but their website is down for maintenance... So I'll have to leave that for another time.


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Esther Williams Collection of swimsuits was started by Esther Williams herself, along with an above ground pool business after her "swimming movies" career was over.

"Esther Williams set multiple national and regional swimming records in her late teens as part of the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Olympics because of the outbreak of WWII, Williams joined Billy Rose's Aquacade. It was at the Aquacade that Williams caught the attention of MGM scouts. After appearing in several small roles, Williams made a series of films in the 1940s and early 1950s known as "aqua-musicals", which featured elaborate performances with synchronized swimming and diving."

 Esther Williams Swimsuits are classy and authentic looking, while their prints give you the option to stay authentic looking or venture into more modern prints. 
The prices are much more affordable than Jantzen, ranging from 60 to 90 dollars. Now I can't attest for the quality or durability of their swimsuits, but the styles are VERY similar to Jantzen. So I would recommend it as an alternative if you can't afford a Jantzen swimsuit or can't get your hands on one!


                     -Ana

Lipstick Review

I'm sorry that it took this long to get the lipstick review posted. Between waiting for the lipstick to arrive in the mail and running errands, it got put off for a bit! The first lipstick is Avon Ultra Color Rich Mega Impact lipstick in "Charged Cherry" (Bear with me while I get the hang of taking my own pictures!) The main areas I want to focus on in this review are: color, texture,  how well it wears, and smell (cuz who likes there lips smelling like old lady?).

Avon's "Charged Cherry" (pictured above) has a really pretty, bright, pink-ish, red color with dark pink flecks of sparkles in it. The sparkles are hardly noticeable, they barely add a bit of shimmer. (It also has a very neat geometric shape!) "Charged Cherry" was just slick enough that it had shine to it, yet not overly glossy. I was disappointed though, the pigments are not very saturated, and the lipstick goes on as somewhat sheer dark pink. But, along with that sheerness, is a smooth, light, non-cakey lipstick. It is one of the nicer lipstick I have tried in that respect. The smell was not bad, a slightly sweet floral scent, not overwhelming like some lipstick can be. I'm afraid I was very let down with the lack of lasting wear. After only a couple of hours there was hardly anything left.

Next is Arbonne "Flame-on". The picture doesn't do the lipstick justice. It's a vibrant, classic, red with orange hues in it. "Flame-on" is the thickest and heaviest of the three lipstick, and has the worst smell (reminds me of old lady lipstick in that regard). However, "Flame-on" wears exceptionally well! I can wear it all day long and even after eating and drinking the color is still bright and vibrant! The old down side that might keep me from buying Arbonne                                                                     next time is the texture.

And lastly is Rimmel London "Red Hot".  The color is more subdued than the rest while still having major impact in that its a dark, sultry red. "Red Hot" applies light and smooth, unfortunately it doesn't last all day like Arbonne lipstick (but much longer than Avon's "Charged Cherry". The smell was very light though, after the initial application the smell is undetectable the rest of the day.

Over all the three of them are very chic lipstick. I will definitely be using them again and again! If I had to choose a favorite though, Arbonne "Flame-on"  would definitely be it. It certainly is the one I've used the most!

Yet again, I apologize for how long this took to get posted!


             -Ana

The 7 step eBay addicts guide

Hi, my name is Ana, and I am an eBay addict...

Or so says my fiance! But I am constantly trolling around eBay for things I can't live without. Many of those things are (but not limited to): shoes, make-up, blouses, shoes, sewing pattens, shoes, vintage accessories, shoes and shoes. (Hahaha! Can you tell I really like shoes a lot?) Most of the time I'm just browsing through my "coveted" item searches seeing if that special pair of shoes or the perfect blouse pattern have finally shown up. With all that time spent on eBay I have learned a few tricks that every good bidder should know.

1. First and foremost, never EVER bid early on the auction! Save it to your watched items. Someone will always bid on it later, unless it's a very bizarre or unique item. Then all you will have accomplished is raising the price, especially if you bid much higher than the starting amount. That leads me to number two...

2. Bid as low as you can. For instance, if the starting price is 0.99 cents don't bid ten dollars for it. The lower you start your bids at, the smaller the minimum biding amount will go up.

3. Try different names and terms. Example: Sometimes I look for "sailor pants", since this is the most common term for this item, it is the most looked at and most bid on. Therefore, I will change it up and also search "nautical pants" - thus getting more results for essentially the same type of pants. You might want to look up different terms online. There are many names for the same thing depending on where you live and what culture you're influenced by.

4. Being very specific about what you are searching for can have it's advantages, but only if the person listing the item knows it by that name or even know that's what it's called! (A lot of sellers have found the item they have listed, or inherited it. Don't assume they have much knowledge on the item.) So, it's a good idea to be somewhat vague. Instead of searching "1940's simplicity collared blouse pattern size 18", try "vintage blouse pattern." As I mentioned, most sellers won't know much about the item, such as the time period its from, the brand, the size, etc.

5. Be patient! In relation to my last post, I was searching "red lipstick" (which I thought was pretty darn vague). Then, I realized lipstick have all kinds of crazy names. In order to have access to all of those crazy named lipstick shades, I would have to be even more vague, changing my search to "lipstick". Naturally, my search contained 1,239 pages of lipstick. Don't be discouraged - this is where the patience comes in! Yes, I will have to look through each page to find the perfect shade. But since I'm not going to pay more than 3 dollars on eBay for lipstick, that narrows it down to 17 pages. That's much easier!

6. A simple way to make the browsing go by faster, is to set search results to show in list format. That way they are all in a line going down the left hand side. You can give each one a quick glance and move on.

7. If you have the time to wait and watch your item in the last minutes, odds are you have a good chance of sneaking up and snatching it away from previous bidders. Make sure you give yourself enough time to bid, just in case the bidder before you has a maximum bid set. (A maximum bid means eBay will bid on behalf of you if you are unable.) I recently found out about "sniping" from another blog. A snipe is basically the same thing as a maximum bid, except the computer doesn't bid until the last few seconds of the auction, making it nearly impossible for someone to out bid you before the auction ends! In order to snipe you have to join a site outside of eBay. I currently use Bidnapper, I'm trying out their 15 day trial and am very satisfied with the simplicity of it. Keep in mind if the price goes beyond the highest amount you set the program to bid, then there's nothing you can do unless you're on the computer and manually raise the bid amount.

Well, there you have it! An eBay addict's 7 step guide to winning (almost) every auction for less. I hope my neurotic and compulsive fixation will help you find your perfect pair of shoes (or whatever you're looking for! Haha)


-Ana