peppermint pretty!
Posted by Mackenzie on Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Pretty! These custom vintage-style dresses would go perfectly with yesterday's vintage hair-do tutorials! By Peppermint Pretty.

Pretty! These custom vintage-style dresses would go perfectly with yesterday's vintage hair-do tutorials! By Peppermint Pretty.

Still no baby! Now, please excuse me while I try and go about my day as if I weren't 6 days past due.
These beautiful antique monograms caught my eye, and I thought they'd make a really nice addition to a bouquet or a bridal hanky. If you were feeling crafty, that is...

Love the ethereal beauty of these headbands from White Dresser. So sweet!

I love coming across new vintage sources. The best and worst thing about vintage boutiques is that while they might have a ton of great stuff one day, but it's all gone the next and new stuff is in it's place. There's no time to hem and haw, if you like something, you must pounce! This is why it's nice to have a line up of great sources, so that if you miss the boat on something great, you have other hunting grounds to explore. Found a new stop! Posh Girl Vintage.

Love Etsy! I found these while searching for vintage-y wedding stuff for inspiration for the new Kenzie Kate stuff (having so much fun designing new stuff this year!). Amanda from Design Whimsy is making one-off boutonnieres, using recycled and reclaimed vintage bits and pieces to create these beautiful boots. I love the idea of all your special guys getting their own unique creation. Shop here for more options!

Nothing like a trip to the antique market to find exciting "new" shapes for jewelry. I love the navy and white enamel ring in the corner. All from The Three Graces, all as dainty and delicate as can be.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day weekend as much as I did! As much as I'm loving the PERFECT weather here, it's back to my computer for me.
If you're looking for a nice distraction to ease you back into work mode, check out these kitschy little baubles, each with it's own sense of charm. Perfect for a little "thank you" gift, or a meaningful (yet inexpensive) "thinking of you" gift. I love the dove hair pins, they'd look so pretty against dark hair! All at Eclectic Eccentricity.

I'm not sure when lockets went out of style... I know I used to be fascinated with them when I was little. I always thought they had a really mysterious, romantic quality that was very appealing to me. When I stumbled across the vintage locket collection over at vintage rehab, I couldn't help but try and resurrect this old tradition. I thought they could be wonderfully re-purposed wrapped around your bridal bouquet with pictures of you and your fiance, or an image of someone special who you'd like close to your heart on your wedding day.

Don't miss the beautiful vintage inspired blusher veils and headpieces over at Castle Bride Couture. Designer Kirsten Fox's stylish interpretations on the short veil are some of the nicest I've ever seen, and would make an amazing statement piece with any dress.

The nice folks over at Poppytalk Handmade inform me that this month's theme is "Love Transforms", a market for all things handmade and geared toward the romantic. Some of my favorite pieces are the print above from elegantmusings, and the ceramics below by dolamakes, but there are many, many more things to see. Check it out for something one-of-a-kind for your sweetie on Valentine's day, something sweet for the bridesmaids, something fun just for you. Don't pass up the opportunity to support independent artisans in their creative pursuits.

I came across Blue Velvet Vintage a few nights ago and bookmarked them for a future blog post. They have vintage designer finds and a lot of glamorous party dresses, many of which I totally coveted. One of my favorites was the dress above. I even thought it might work well as wedding dress for the right affair. Point being: I loved this dress even before I saw something very similar on Debra Messing at the Emmy's on Sunday night. From that point on, I no longer had any doubts. This little number has potential, as do many of their other little numbers.

The vintage over at Hemlock Vintage Clothing is making me very happy. LOVE the white Sak's Fifth Avenue dress on the left, and the gold heels from yesterday would be perfect with the one on the right. They really are perfect for each other. It just goes to show that when it comes to love, age really is irrelevant.

These gorgeous handmade enamel tiaras remind me of my grandmother's jewelry box. My sisters and I used to love sorting through that big box. We loaded on the beaded necklaces "Mardi Gras" style and attached the clip-on earrings to everything, ears, shoes, hair, clothing... You name it, we made it "fancier" with clip-on earrings.
While these do remind me of my childhood dress-up extravaganzas, I find these particular pieces very grown up and graceful. A more delicate and feminine way to add some color to your bridal ensemble or to compliment a retro garden theme, I can't imagine.

Adorable, affordable, and (as of 11:38 EST) unclaimed vintage over at Vintageous. All the good dresses fly out of this place like Barbies at a yard sale, so if you see something you like, act fast. If you dawdle, you might find yourself lying awake at night thinking about the vintage that could have been...
The second dress? Sexy is in the building. Someone with curves, pick that one up and stop some traffic. Please.

Check out Kakkoii Mono for great vintage dresses. Someone please (I'm begging) beat me to the red and white patterned one. I don't think my wallet can handle it.
So, I trolled. I found some lovely vintage wedding dresses on eBay, and I hope you'll give them a look.
1. I love this gown. It reminds me of a cross between last season's Reem Acra and Claire Pettibone. Imagine it without the sleeves.
2. I love the pleating in the bodice of this dress, and am convinced that with a liner in the bodice (please not black), a petticoat, and maybe a light blue ribbon around the hips, it could be really stunning for an informal affair.
3. Are you tall? Are you slender? Whyyyy aren't you wearing this RIGHT NOW?
4. I want to rip the sleeves off this one so that it can realize it's full drop dead fabulous potential.
5. This is vintage Henry Bendel. Hello Henry! It is also gorgeously embroidered all over the place and could be so very NOW.
6. This one could take the cake. It could be my very favorite of the whole lot. All you have to do is dry clean it. It's perfect.
7. This is a long satin and lace "topcoat" to wear over your dress. The pictures are crap, but it's got potential.
8. Again, the drama in this dress whifs of Reem Acra. I must ask that you mentally rip the sleeves off this one to sense it's full potential.
9. Did I say number 6 was my favorite? I meant number 9. I still like number six, but ooooo, number 9. I love the pleats!
10. This one is all set to go. Never been worn. Which makes me a little sad for it. It needs a happy home.
11. This one is so sweet. I can picture this with a stylish little blusher and some peep toe pumps on the pages of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Since I usually "troll ebay" for pretty, special, or generally useful items, I thought today I'd share a few examples of what might not make the cuts during my usually rigorous selection process. For whatever reason, I tend not to post any of the hilarious crap I stumble across, but today, there was just too way too much to pass it up.
First, this product is described as a "Globe de Mariee" and I have absolutely no idea what it's for. It is shaped like a chair, it's covered with birds and mirrors, there's a wax crown (?) involved... I just don't understand what anyone would do with this. If you know, you must share.
Next, a hilarious juice glass that depicts an innocent 1930's bride in various states of undress.
Then, the world's most unflattering cake topper. The bride looks like a dejected Pillsbury Dough Boy in drag. The groom has to pee real bad, and isn't quite sure how he's going to remove his skin tight one piece jumpsuit before there's trouble. All that, PLUS they both have the same haircut. And it's not a very good one.
Last, if this veil could talk, it would say "phooooooof"

We haven't done this in a while. Let's troll!
First- we have a really unique wedding gown. Yes it's from the 70's. Sure you could say it's a little "hippy-ish". But I just can't get over the embroidery. The colors! I think it would be really perfect at a beach wedding in a tropical local. I suppose I might alter the sleeves slightly, but that would be pretty easy. I'd say definitely give it a look if you're looking for a really unique summery wedding dress.
Next- we have what I think would be a fun gag gift for a bride-to-be. A book, published in the 30's for the engaged woman, filled with recipies, advertisements, tips on how to dress for your man...
Then- we have a set of pretty pretty toasting glasses. Something Blue!
Last- very pretty mantilla hair comb.

Mmmmm. Shopping.
Fantastic fall colors in this cover by the way. Perfect for my mood today.
Vogue Cover by George Plank, November 1914.

This is my new favorite idea for a bridal shower, inspired by an email from Orchid. A green tea party! You could get some green tea cups on eBay, (aim for the ones under $10), one for each guest. Serve green tea from the tea cups and and accompany that with other goodies. I'm thinking the whole thing could have a 'Asia meets England' feel to it. Imagine if the couple was ACTUALLY Asian and English? THAT would be cool. You could serve sushi and cucumber sandwiches, and sip green tea from green tea cups. At the end of the party each guest goes home with their cup. If I ever have another shower, this is what I'm doing. Except I'm not serving tea, I'm serving green tea martinis. Should I start collecting green tea cups now? Or should I wait? I found the above cups by searching for "green cup saucer" on eBay.

