Fashion Inspiration from the Movie Australia.

The other day I saw the movie Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. I really enjoyed watching this movie it was set in Australia in between 1939 and 1943. I especially loved the costuming. Here are some pictures from the movie for you to appreciate:

I love everything about this amazing outfit!

This I believe is my favorite costume of them all, I love that top hat.

I love this stunning picture with all of the Asian lanterns.

Such a breath taking dress and photo!

I love the jodhpurs!

Nice summer dress.

Another wonderful riding outfit with a great hat!

I love the high boots and Jodhpur combo.

More great details such as an ascot. 

Another pretty combination. 

Wow look at those goggles and safari outfit!

Yet another terrific outfit.

Take a look at those long wonderful leather gloves!

Well my friends, thank you for stopping by and visiting!

Until next time.

Brooksie

Speakeasy Themed Video!

Not too long ago I was invited to be an extra in a 1920's/1930's speakeasy themed video. My friend Ashly came along and joined me. The video was filmed at Kelly's Olympian in Portland Oregon. My friends Russell, Susan and Lindsey are the main dancers in this video (I did a post about them a few weeks back for Susan's birthday) they put this video together for the 4th annual (2012) Jazz Dance Film Festival music video contest.

The music is Smokey Joe's Holiday and is by the Stolen Sweets, a 1930's style jazz band. Ashly and I are in the back, I am short the short one with a long black silk 1930's dress on with a 1930's yellow rayon short sleeve bolero jacket, Ashly is next to me in all black. Being a part of the making of this video was tons of fun, I was so glad and honored to be apart of it!

xo

Brooksie

How to Look Steampunk: For Everyday Wear.

My pocket watch pendant necklace (photo from google).

Hello gang, how is it going? Today I was in a steam punk kind of mood and it shows up a little bit in today's clothing selection. I love the look of steam punk, for some reason it speaks to the 16 year old me that still lives inside. I guess it speaks to that part of me because when I was a teenager I was really into new wave music and new wave clothing. When I was about 16, I still liked new wave but I was just starting to get into punk. Then in my early 20's I had almost a kind of goth thing going on so it seams that this is just the next natural evolution in clothing for me. (It was my teen years when I started to express my creativity through my clothing and I still do it to this day). I have a lot of fun with clothing.

With my jacket on.

With my jacket off.

When I first became aware of steam punk, I thought to myself all of those things are so pretty but they are all so expensive! After time went on and my wardrobe (mostly vintage) started expanding, I very recently thought to myself why don't I go shopping in my own closet and see what I can come up with for a steampunk look. What I wanted was an everyday steampunk look not something too over the top that would be worn to a costume party, steampunk convention or photo shoot. I like the idea of having a steampunk look just for the fun of it every now and then. The key to dressing up in this manner (I feel kind of like a female dandy!) is the little details such as my pocket watch (which does not work and is just for looks) it is a 1970's does Victorian and was super cheap $2.99 from a thrift store. I wore this outfit while out and about doing everyday errands. It was raining so it actually proved to be pretty practical with my bowler hat and spats to keep my head and feet - dry and warm throughout the day.

Here is a close up of my spats & Dansko heels, I had a pic of them from a previous outfit post.

Here are the specs on the outfit:

Vintage bowler hat - Magpie Vintage
Earings - Handmade by me
Black long sleeve top - Goodwill Bins
Vintage 40's or 50's ladies suit jacket - Portland Antique Show
Very dark denim (almost black) waistcoat/vest - Goodwill
Pocket watch pendant necklace (worn in the pocket of the waistcoat) - Thrift store in Tillamook Oregon
Wool skirt - Thrift store (do not remember which one because it was so long ago)
Black tights - Macy's
Dankso heels - Clog's N More store
Vintage wool spats - Boutique down the street from where I live
Purse - From mom many moons ago
Victorian garnet ring - Also from mom, many years ago

xo

Brooksie

Navy Retirement.

My sweetheart retired from the Navy last weekend - after 22 years of service to our country - his retirement was held in Eugene Oregon which is where he is from originally. It ended up being a very nice service, here are some pictures that I would like to share with you:

Tim's retirement.

Here he comes!

Color guard.

Giving his speech. 

Pretty flag cake.

Love a man in uniform!

Outfit Post

The other night I went out with friends again and this is what I wore:

Check out the adorable lining of this skirt, it has little chickens and tulips also look at that orange petticoat!

1950's faux fur bolero jacket - Goodwill many years ago for $5.00
Lenox china bow lapel pin - Thrifted just last week while I was visiting mom
Short sleeve polka dot blouse - Thrifted
Belt - Target also many years ago
Vintage velvet circle skirt - Twilight rummage sale at the Elk's Lodge $5.00
Vintage orange petticoat with gold sequined trim - Bombshell Vintage
Nude seamed stockings with black seams - online from Leg Avenue several years ago
Shoes black with white polka dots - Pin Up Couture (originally came with red ribbon however I swapped out red for orange - getting in the mood for all Hallow's Eve)
Vintage  long gloves - Inherited from great aunt
Bakelight bangles (orange marbled and black carved) - Orange one for .30 cents from thrift and black one from antique/thrift store.
Mini purse, black with white polka dots - Gifted from my sweetheart Tim!

Cheers!

Brooksie

Dia De Los Muertos or Mexican Day of the Dead: What it means to me with photo shoot!

Every year I celebrate the Mexican day of the dead, this will be my fifth year celebrating it. However this year I did something a little different, I decided to have a photo shoot at the Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery on September 28th, it was a beautiful warm night and the moon was full.

For those of you that do not know about the Mexican day of the dead, it is a celebration that has taken place for many, many years in Mexico and is starting to catch on in different parts of the US. It takes place on November 1st every year. In Mexico they go to the grave site of their loved ones and build an alter in honor of them, they bring pictures, perhaps a cherished item and treats and/or drinks the loved ones liked during their life. Some places will even have parades. The belief is that on November 1st the souls pass into the afterlife on this day (I personally do not know when souls pass to the afterlife however I do celebrate this holiday because I like the things that it stands for). This day is a day to honor your loved ones who have passed and to celebrate their lives every year on one special day.

I built my altar in honor of my grandma who passed away when I was nine years old and my dad who passed away on September 29th 2009 (I chose Sept. 28th for my photo shoot instead of Nov.1st because I wanted the photos to be ready in time for the day of the dead and because it was right around the date of my dads passing also when Nov.1st rolls around I can actually celebrate the day of the dead at the Someday Lounge like I do every year). Someday Lounge in Portland has a big celebration where we make sugar skulls, build altars, sometimes there is music or movies and some years they even have a parade!

For my photo shoot there was some advance preparation involved: Getting the photographers (Jack and Jason of Hotshot Imagery) on board with my idea which was not difficult they were pretty excited from the get go, getting another model to be the tall slim skeleton with me, thanks to the ever so exquisite Alice, Lynn who helped me out with her amazing, impressive creative skills to create wonderful things for my altar, I had a fun time making the sugar skulls from scratch and decorating them, then having my lovely friend Sera do the sugar skull face painting (she does it every year at the big celebration at Someday Lounge) and my sweetheart Tim who helped me transport, lift and carry my things for the photo shoot.

Here are the photos:

Me making the sugar skulls, so much fun!

One large sugar skull coming up!

Baby sized sugar skulls!

Next we decorate the sugar skulls which is even more fun than making them!

Here are all of the sugar skulls smiling faces!

Here is my day of the dead altar with my collage that I made back in 2008.

Me getting sugar skull face painting done by my beautiful and talented friend Sera plus she made this very lovely head piece! 

Sera painting Alice's face.

Alice was the most perfect person I could possibly find to be my skeleton other half for this photo shoot! 

 Alice and I make a great pair of skeleton's don't we!

This is Esperanza my paper mache' skeleton that I have had for about 5 years now.

This is Juan my paper mache' devil skeleton that I got at the same time as Esperanza.

Here is Alice and I again, I love the painfully sad expression that I have on my face.

Here is a picture of my beautiful grandma, this picture was when she was about 19-she was born in 1905-so she was in her 20's in the 1920's.

Sugar skull and candle light!

Alice and I with the full moon and candle light!

Ciao bella's!

Brooksie

A visit to mom's and save vintage from Halloween continues!

Here I am wearing a vintage cardi and high waist jeans at mom's house

This is mom looking casual in crisp denim standing by our lunch basket

Mom's new canary

Mom's tiny Manx cat "Stubs"

The backyard with the Nestucca River running through it

Another shot of the backyard and Nestucca River

Mom's house 

The dogs Dolly & Elsa 

I saved this cute vintage Asian jacket from becoming a Halloween costume (from thrift store on Oregon Coast)

I saved this super cute vintage fur collar and cuffs from becoming a part of a Halloween costume (thrifted from store on coast)

My vintage haul from thrifting on the Oregon Coast with my mom. Items include (from left to right): 1920's chiffon and lace dress, white satin 1930's slip, vintage blue peasant blouse, brown and white polka dot zip front 1940's sheer cotton blouse/jacket, midnight purply blue 1940's taffeta acetate snippet slip on the very end, 1940's silk light blue, light yellow and red silk hand rolled hand sewed 1940's neck scarf, vintage beaded collar handmade in Japan. 

Vintage Lenox China bow lapel pin

I spent the past few days on the Oregon Coast visiting my mom. She lives in a very small town called Beaver Oregon, population is about 500 people. Beaver is in between Tillamook and Lincoln City. My mom and I decided to spend our time thrift store shopping all the way from Warrenton Oregon and down to Lincoln City.

A fun vintage map I found on Google of the Pacific NW, the coastline and HWY 101

On this trip I was able to save some vintage from Halloween, pick up many vintage treasures, I also got many vintage inspired items (which I did not take pictures of) and I picked up a couple of items from a free box too (a multi color & tan leather belt from South America and a very pretty 1970's does the 1940's short & cropped with long sleeves dusty rose sweater).

I hope you enjoy the pictures of my mom and I, her pets, the property and all of my pretty vintage things! 

Ciao! 

Brooksie