Friday Favorite: Vintage Children's Clothing

Last year I took Liam vintage clothes shopping for the first time. What I realized is, that its not easy to find vintage clothes for kids. (I also realize it isn't easy to preserve clothes worn by little munchkins) So, I was so excited to find these fab pieces on Bluebird Vintage. The site has great clothing for everyone, but I love picturing my little guy in a vintage Member's Only jacket:)

When Trends Collide

Listen, I love scarves and polaroids as much as the next hipster...but come on! This is taking it too far:(

Winter Wear?

So the oddest thing has happened here in Houston, Tx...its been like winter time around here! Last week we had actual snow! Yeah, SNOW!!! Supposedly, today is going to get cold again. The funny thing about living on the Gulf Coast is that when cold weather appears, everyone is scrambling to find something to wear! We don't exactly keep winter coats and gloves on hand. So, I'm taking this opportunity to share an online store I'm loving right now called Old Town Clothing. I find it satisfies two of my deepest (usually unmentioned) desires. 1. To dress like I came out of an old movie 2. To wear men's clothing (yes, I have confessed to this before).

Honestly, I would have liked to post every photo on their website...I love everything! Sometimes I try to talk Mark into wearing these type of clothes, but he won't ever go there. Oh well.
Thanks to Ancient Industries for introducing me to this site:)

I Need New Jewelry!

Because I don't have anything that looks like this! Found these at Tinctory.

(Via Pia Jane Bijkerk)

Happy, Happy Birthday!

(lamps via: Decor 8 and chandelier via 1st dibs)

To me!! Yay!
I am one of those obnoxious persons who likes to tell everyone about my birthday! You know I want to wear a big button on my shirt that talks about it, or a birthday tiara. When I was a kid I never understood why I didn't get an automatic day off from school on my special day!
So, I am going to tell all of you about it today. Ha, ha! I am turning the big 34! It freaks me out a bit, because I've always imagined the threshold for being a "mature adult" as turning 35. Now I only have one year to really get my act together. Aahhh, I don't know if I'm ready!
To celebrate, I put together a wish list of gifts, for myself. I thought some of you might enjoy it also:)

(Top left: Billy Reid Bottom left: Nivaldo de Lima Right:Shrimpton Couture )

Terry Graziano

I would take anything and everything from this shop. It was a struggle to keep it down to only three!
Funny enough, this month also marks the second anniversary of my blog. I am reminded how much I have loved getting to know so many wonderful people via this site. I appreciate all of you who stop in to check on me everyday:) I hope to keep writing this for a long time and I hope to get to know all of you more and more.
So thanks everyone!

Pump It Up

I was a just a babe when this song was released. To be honest, I only heard it for the first time a couple of months ago; but I'm obsessed with it now. Of course, I have to mention how much I love Elvis' style...very cool.

Delicious Pattern.

Pattern on pattern and texture upon texture! Wow!!!!
(From The Sartorialist, of course)

Les Ronds' Chapo

Although a tad late for Easter, these modern day bonnets are inspiring me today.
Wouldn't you be intrigued by any woman sporting one of these?

Air Kisses

Do y'all love Ms. Johannson, as much as I do?
What a question!
found here

Simple Silhouettes

Eatable of Many Orders, is a Japanese company that stresses the importance of the "ingredients" of fashion.
I love the the beautiful materials and shapes of their clothing.
Found via 2 or 3 Things I Know.

A Slight Change Of Scenery

Happy Friday!

I know some of you have had trouble finding my blog the last couple of days. I tried to switch my domain to dot com site, but it hasn't been a smooth transition. Last night, even I couldn't find it! Until I figure out what I'm doing wrong, I switched back. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know.

Also, this week I decided to shut down my booth @ Heights Antiques. In recent months its been very difficult to make any money, so I decided to move out. I want to thank all of you who stopped by. It was nice hearing from those of you who did. My long time plan has been to begin an online store and I have been hard at work trying to make it happen. I hope to have it up very soon. I can't wait! So I'm hoping to have several fun changes soon.

(I realize these photos have nothing to do what I'm writing about, but I think they're so pretty. I would like to be this girl)

This Is Just Like A Dream I Had Once...

Shoes, shoes everywhere! Fantastic:)
Also, props for an amazing display.
(I think I've been watching Randy Jackson too much)

Florence, Take Me Away!!

I never knew how much I would love to travel to Florence,
until I saw these photos from The Sartorialist.

I also never knew how much I would love to have frizzy blond hair.
Would this look work for me? Not very sure.

Sunday Abstraction: Flamenco

Photography: Amanda Pratt
Via Maris NYC

Photography: Eugenio Recuenco

I've always had a thing for
a man in a bullfighter's uniform
I'm sure none of you
wanted to know that about me.

Going Country.

I'm ready to pile into an old pick up truck and head to the country, after seeing these photos! Refueled's 2nd issue is all about alternative country style...love it.

Can Someone Explain This To Me?

When I was a kid growing up in a small town, I was often the target of mean kids because of things about me that they found to be "too different". I remember taking pan dulce in my lunch box and kids literally gathering around me to make gagging sounds and to tell me how "gross" my food looked. Or listening to Spanish music and getting strange looks. Okay, so take the same exact music and have it recorded by an American artist, and all-of-a-sudden its genius! Have someone change the shape of the pan dulce, and give it a French name or something...now its a delicacy. I have often found this baffling. When you grow up as part of a minority, you learn to hide a lot of your cultural traditions while in the "Anglo" world, because otherwise you often run into discrimination. But if a well known artist or whatever, blatantly copies those same cultural references they are hailed as original and truly creative. If you are wondering why I'm on such a soap box, its because I was scrolling through the web, when I ran across this article about the latest Hermes collection. I admit that I chuckled at the details of the collection, because it all looked and felt suspiciously familiar to me.

Hmm, I wonder what in the world could have inspired such a collection? Maybe all the folks who actually sew the clothes, clean up the main offices, and build the massive sky-scrapers? I don't know...maybe. When I was younger I used to think that this sort of thing was a sort of acceptance of cultural differences...but now I'm not so sure. I can imagine the reaction I would get if I walked around wearing these clothes. Hermes or not, I probably wouldn't get the nicest treatment if I walked in to a high end department store.
My intention is not to be divisive because I love where I live and my parents had to sacrifice a lot for us to be here...and I am very grateful. I guess I just wanted to point one of those curiosities of life. My point of view is of growing up Mexican-American, but I know anyone who grew up here with a family from somewhere else has experienced the same thing.
So there is yet another of my random thoughts that has nothing to do with interior design...I know, I have a lot of them.

P.S. I posted this photo with only the utmost respect, because I think Los Tigres Del Norte is one of the best bands ever! (Even if I don't agree w/ the outfits)
P.P.S. Anyone reading this who isn't from the U.S. probably doesn't know what I am talking about. These clothes are a reference to a part of Mexican culture known as Tejano or Norteño. It is basically a fusion of Northern Mexican and Southwest American traditions.

Things Found Along The Way.

While on my long journey, I found lots of inspiring ideas that I want to share. The last leg of the trip was spent in Austin. (Thanks to one of my lovely cousins, who found us a wonderful hotel). Anyway, anytime I'm in Austin I try to stop by Homegirls. I can never resist their cool vintage furniture. This visit, the were displaying art by the amazing Alyson Fox. BTW, if any of you have been to Homegirls, many of the cool displays were done by Alyson. I've been a long time fan of Alyson's work, and really loved the prints that were shown.

If you can't get enough Alyson, she now has her own clothing line called A Small Collection. The clothes are wonderful, and the website presents them in the most charming way I have ever seen! I could look at the site all day.

(This is one of my favorite pieces).

Up until now, I haven't been to keen on the whole wall stickers thing; but I found some that are really tempting me. They are from Ferm Living. My two favorites are the Love Birds and the Power Pole. Perfect for a contemporary home. Maybe just like this one that I just happened to be driving by. I don't know anything about it, I just had to take a picture. It appears that this house is in fact a duplex that is joined by the unusual metal pieces "weaving" the two parts together. Very cool.

BACK to BLACK

"Every room can use a touch of black" is so true and is something to remember when it comes to interiors.

Bright colors are taking a back seat to black.

Back to Black, the name of Songstress Amy Winehouse's soulful vocal, is enough to inspire the return to

classic, forever black.  Amy's song (listen to it here) is my inspiration for The Return to Black, in fashion as well as in Interiors.

Think style, think sophistication, think timeless.

  

The little black dress,or LBD as it is known in fashion shorthand, is an timeless classic. 
Tory Burch left   Philip Lim center   Vince right

Amy Winehouse 

A room needn't have a total makeover to make a statement with black - punctuate a neutral interior with a sleek black table lamp.

A TOUCH OF BLACK in a room can act like a punctuation mark!

This gourd lamp with black silk oval shade is from the stylish Porta Romana lamp company in the UK and is a timeless classic. 

 

The Night Hotel (pictures above and below) in New York is a study in black and is decorated in "Modern Gothic Gotham"

 
A bold black stripe down the back and seat of these mid-century chairs creates added interest. Popham Design 

 
Black & White photos line the walls of this stairwell, and the black geometric "David Hicks" inspired carpet
adds drama and lots of glamour.  Eric Cohler 

 

Hollywood Glam - black patent headboard & bench - InStyle 

 

The black marble floor is another timeless classic (left) Jamie Haydon / Kitchen with black slate floor (right)

 
Black & white dishes (left) / an iconic Chanel tray (right). 
When I think of Chanel, I think Black, I think timeless, I think classic, I think unforgettable!

    

Timeless black sofas add drama and are a grounding element in the above rooms.
(left) Mary McGee / (right) Suzanne Kasler 

Want to add drama to a room quickly and inexpensively, try painting or wallpapering a feature wall black.

 

 

Paint your house black.  My favourite black paint is Benjamin Moore Black Beauty - photo NY Times

Black can act as a neutral because there is no color it doesn't go with.

Accessorize with these buffalo horns from Z Gallerie 

To see more posts on colour trends click here

 

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009