Summer Style

I've recently noticed that my wardrobe changes drastically from season to season. Where my Winter clothes are sophisticated and 90% black, my Summer outfits are brighter in color and more bohemian in spirit— colorful dresses, airy white blouses, strappy sandals.

I also find myself wearing a lot of Vintage in the Summer. There's something about teal Lacoste polo from the 80s or a simple printed dress that just brings me back to the firefly-catching, sprinkler-jumping Summers of my childhood. I can picture my mom making pasta salad in a terry cloth top with Dr Scholl's sandals on her feet.

This dress is one of my favorite Summer pieces. I picked a few years ago at a great Vintage store in Astoria called Loveday 21. It's from a Hawaiian label called Tori Richard, and judging from the label, is probably from the 1970s. I can totally picture my mom wearing a dress like this at a family picnic, so of course I had to pull out my Dr. Scholl's sandals to complete the outfit.

My mom's original Dr. Scholl's are long gone— borrowed to death by yours truly in the few short years we wore the same shoe size— but happily the company is still going strong. I love how my sandals are a higher heeled version of the original style my mom wore (which are still available for an affordable $49).

Sitting in a metal-framed lawn chair on my roof in an outfit like this makes me feel about as Summery as it gets. All I need is a homemade popsicle and a bowl of pasta salad.

(Summer Style photos © Littlehouse of Style)

A Vintage Treat

I was fighting a cold over Halloween, so instead of a weekend full of costumes and candy, it was hooded sweatshirts and tea. I was pretty bummed out since I love Halloween, so on Sunday, when I was feeling a little better and passed this cute vintage store in Astoria, I decided a little browsing might cheer me up.

Loveday 31 isn't very big, but every time I go there I find something great. Unlike many of the vintage stores in New York, the prices are reasonable and the selection is well-edited. The owner really knows her stuff and will often suggest ways to wear a piece— "try it with a wide belt," etc.

One of the things I've learned about vintage shopping is that you should never pay attention to the sizes. A 10 from several decades ago could be today's 4. So when I saw this strapless dress with a dramatic neckline, I immediately tried it on, even though the size on the tag was not what I normally wear.

The fit was ALMOST perfect, but the bodice was a little large. I voiced my concerns to the owner and after looking at the seams she told me it would be easy to alter. I asked her if she could recommend someone for alterations and she said, "My mother. She's a great seamstress, but just moved back to Croatia. I don't know what I'm going to do now!"

I ended up buying the dress— even with the cost of alterations it will still be a bargain. It has a great shape and is really well-made with boning in the bodice and a nice lining. When I got home, I looked up the name on the label, Murray Arbeid, and was surprised when Google started filling in the search for me.

Apparently, Arbeid is a London designer who was very popular in the 1980s. He designed several gowns for Princess Diana— a few of which Christie's sold in a 1997 charity auction for $25K and $48K! The dress in itself was a great find, but I was excited to discover the history of its designer as well. All in all, the perfect vintage shopping experience.

(all photos © Littlehouse of Style)

ps. If anyone has a good tailor in New York who they can recommend, let me know!