Tag Archives: vintage

“New” Vintage Jewelry

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“New” Vintage Jewelry

Howdy! Yesterday you read about a fantastic weekend shopping trip Johnny and I took to one of the coolest stores I have ever been to, The Bomb Shelter. It was my first time going but certainly won’t be my last and I would LOVE to do a content shoot with all of their amazing retro kitchen settings. There were a few that really spoke to me and it would be such fun to put together a vintage chic look. Of course, I would accessorize with one of the pieces of jewelry that I just couldn’t say no to. I got both of these fab “new” necklaces for under twenty bucks which was a total score. Check it out:

After our stroll through the huge property that is The Bomb Shelter, it was time to check out the handful of records and gifts that Johnny selected. As luck would have it, the cash wrap was also where the jewelry was displayed and I obviously had to see what that was all about. As a heavily tattooed gal, I haven’t worn a lot of jewelry as of late because I like to let my ink do the talking in summer OOTDs. However, when fall rolls around is when I can break out my expansive jewelry collection again to add a pop to my looks when my tattoos are fully covered. Nothing transforms a chunky sweater or cardigan better than a statement necklace!

With fall fits on my mind, I wanted to find a little treat for myself to wear and went through the jewelry on display with a fine toothed comb. A lot of the jewelry at The Bomb Shelter was more on the costume side and that is not my style at all. However, a standing display housed more classic necklaces and that is what I gravitated to. The first thing that caught my eye was the simple wooden heart on a collar length chain. Hearts always remind me of my mom and I like to wear them as often as possible. The wood finish made me think of an acorn as well as the retro wooden paneling in my apartment and it was an instant yes. Granted, it was impossible for me to put on with my talons and kind of difficult for Johnny too but that’s show biz, baby, and he got it eventually lol. Great success!

My next purchase was a toss up as there were several necklaces that I liked but I didn’t want to go hog wild on accessories. I exercised self control, gave myself a limit of one more, and decided on the mid length necklace with chain tassels. I loved the burnt gold hue and the overall design but what really spoke to me was the chain. Yes, it was nice to be able to slip it over my head but that is beside the point. The chain of this necklace was delightfully reminiscent of that of a locket from my grandma that was home to a picture of her and my grandpa. It was perfect and I think I ended up with the two best pieces of jewelry on display. ❤

As the weather cools down, I can’t wait to begin fully accessorizing OOTDs again and I have a great place to start with my new old necklaces from The Bomb Shelter!

Do you have any vintage clothing or accessories? Where do you like to shop for retro finds? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

The Bomb Shelter Shopping Trip

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The Bomb Shelter Shopping Trip

Hello! There is a super cool vintage store in Akron called The Bomb Shelter that Johnny and I have always talked about visiting but never bothered doing so until this past weekend. We are going to see Weird Al today and wanted to find some Hawaiian shirts to wear to the show. Johnny suggested hitting up The Bomb Shelter to shop their selection and I am so glad he did so. This was my first trip there and it was absolutely amazing. If you love vintage shopping and ever find yourself in the greater Akron area, this is a total and complete must. While we didn’t have any luck finding Hawaiian shirts, we sure had a good time browsing the massive property. Check it out:

^^^ The Bomb Shelter’s mascot lol

Walking into The Bomb Shelter was like stepping into a time machine and it was as wonderful as it was overwhelming. Every single area in the expansive warehouse was covered with vintage goods from floor to ceiling and I mean that quite literally. They had chairs, doilies, and pieces of art hanging from the ceiling! Each shelf and tabletop was home to wonders of yesteryear and you honestly would need a full few hours to really look through The Bomb Shelter and see anything and everything it has to offer. Johnny and I spent at least two hours browsing easily. And also sitting because he insisted on trying out Every. Single. Piece. Of. Furniture. And there was a lot!!

For all of the millions of things in The Bomb Shelter, it was actually very well organized. Of course, I loved browsing through the clothes and jewelry as did Johnny. And don’t tempt him with a shelf full of records! As much as I enjoyed the clothing, my favorite parts were where the old appliances and kitchen sets were featured. You could literally make your home feel like the 1950s with a shopping trip to The Bomb Shelter and a lot of money! It was SO neat to see furnishings, place settings, and decor that reminded me of those that were in my grandparents’ homes. It was a beautiful touch of nostalgia to simply see a set of cups that were like ones my grandma used to have that sent so many happy memories of childhood rushing back.

From movie memorabilia and toys and games to old presidential buttons and photography equipment, there was something for every collector at The Bomb Shelter. They even had a DeLorean in the garage portion of the store as well as a Yugo which we wanted to bring home with us so badly! It would have been all too easy to spend my life savings while we went on our shopping trip but I think we exercised self control pretty well. We walked away with a couple of trinkets and gifts as well as some “new” vintage jewelry for me. Peep those later!!

We may not have found what we wanted at The Bomb Shelter but it showed us what we truly needed. I can’t wait to go back!

Do you have a store like The Bomb Shelter in your neck of the woods? What is your favorite era of home decor? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Hand Me Down OOTD

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Hand Me Down OOTD

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new OOTD here on lifewithlilred. Today, we are going to take a look at a look I put together with a Hand Me Down sweater from our best friend, Cliff. Technically, it’s a double hand me down because said featured sweater belonged to Cliff’s grandpa! Johnny came home with a ton of clothes that Cliff was clearing out the last time they were together and nothing really caught my eye except for this spiffy little number. You can read why this will be the first and last time I wear this sweater in the Blooper Reel tomorrow, but let’s get to it:

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Striped Sweater: Designed by Arnold Palmer for Robert Bruce

Skinny Jeans: 1822 Denim, TJMaxx

Snakeskin Patterned Kitten Heels: Splendid, TJMaxx

The earrings were purchased forever ago from PacSun!

I have been telling Johnny for forever that he would look So. Good. in sweaters like this Robert Bruce one. When he brought it home, I liked it for me but LOVED it for him. Unfortunately, he saw things differently than me and claimed that the sweater was “too small anyways” so never mind lol. After he discarded the notion, I tried it on for myself and, aside from one glaring issue, was all about it. And, rather than wearing it over top of something like a cardigan, I decided to button it up as a top since the V-neck wasn’t plunging. From the cut to the colors, this is truly a “grandpa chic” piece and I just know Cliff’s grandad was styling in it. ❤

Since black skinnies were the way to go, it was time for shoes and accessories. To keep with the vintage vibes, I chose one of my favorite pairs of stud earrings from PacSun. The gold frame and red roses in the center remind me of brooches and tend to be my go tos when I am building an outfit with vintage clothing. For shoes, I selected a gorgeous pair of snakeskin patterned kitten heels by Splendid. Despite the pointed toe, they made me think of loafers and that was perfect for the elderly aesthetic I was working with lol. The colors in the pattern of the shoes and the sweater blended beautifully together and I felt like all I was missing was a cup of tea to complete the look!

As cute as this sweater might be (I really do love it!), it has since been retired from my wardrobe. Whoever ends up with it will have a triple hand me down!!

Do you like to wear vintage clothing? Where do you purchase yours at? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

“New” Vintage Brooches

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“New” Vintage Brooches

Hello!!! Johnny’s mom and aunts have been in the process of sorting, organizing, and clearing out old stored away items in their respective homes. Every time we have made a visit recently, we have been gifted with vintage finds including some amazing lamps and gorgeous fashion accessories. Our Thanksgiving get together was no exception to this and I was presented with two vintage brooches from one of Johnny’s aunts. I literally clutched my pearls when I opened the box and saw them! Check it out:

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Now, I don’t wear brooches very often. However, I LOVE to collect them and have quite a few from my grandma. They are the perfect, pretty, shiny little somethings in my jewelry box and just seeing them is enough to give me all the sentimental warm fuzzies. What’s that old saying? Gemstones are a girl’s best friend?! Despite not being a brooch wearer, I am an avid brooch appreciator so I was thrilled to see the heart adorned feather and sparkly, not spooky spider!

While the feather brooch offers obvious beauty, it should not come as a shock that the spider was the piece de resistance of these hand me downs. It’s the spooky/girly aesthetic to the T and it delighted me and Johnny. As soon as we returned home from our Thanksgiving celebration, both brooches were placed in a very special spot of my jewelry box. It is so cool to have these bits and baubles that belonged to people I love so much and I can’t wait to see what Johnny’s mom and aunts dig up during their next treasure hunt. 😀

Out with the old and in with the… new to me old! These brooches are everything and I am living for the vintage collection I have been compiling!

Do you have any vintage or antique items? Where is your favorite spot for secondhand shopping? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

“New” Vintage Lamps

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“New” Vintage Lamps

Hello!!! Very much like our own personal styles, the decor in mine and Johnny’s apartment is… eclectic to say the least. We have Halloween everything up all year round and the furniture was almost all secondhand in some way shape or form. Seventy-five percent was thrifted and twenty percent was given to me by friends and neighbors. The remaining five percent? Those came from the funeral home that my grandparents so lovingly ran. As you can see, we clearly aren’t defined by one or two specific styles and the end result is what I like to call “funeral home chic” with a heavy handed pour of Halloween flare.

Obviously, Johnny and I revel in secondhand treasures and we got to add to our collection at the Labor Day cookout we enjoyed at his parents’ house. Johnny’s mom is in the process of a huge clean out, which is where I acquired my amazing stash of vintage gloves and clutches. Her latest offerings were three stunning lamps that belonged to Johnny’s grandma and I am in love:

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As you can see, these lamps definitely need a healthy dose of TLC but they sure are beautiful! I am extremely partial to the funeral home vibes of the first dusty rose lamp. However, the robin’s egg blue and gold deer adorned lamps take the cake and to make things even better – they came in a pair. I was so curious about the deer lamps and I ended up finding the exact same ones from a seller on Etsy who said they were made circa the 1950s. How cool is that?!

Unfortunately, tabletop space is something that Johnny and I don’t have a ton of at chez nous. We are both avid collectors of oddities and when our respective collections combined, all of our shelves became instantly full. That’s not to say that I don’t want to put these lamps somewhere special – but where, indeed?! For now, my plans are to get them cleaned up, acquire shades that will do them justice, and store them away safely. Inspired by his mom’s haul away mission, we will be doing some autumnal spring cleaning and I am hoping to find the perfect spot for them yet.

These lamps remind me so much of my own grandma and I just know she would have loved them too. Her funeral home is never far from my mind and I am sure she would be happy to know that that style still influences me to this day! ❤

How is your home decorated? What do you like to collect? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Accessory Story: Vintage Gloves Edition

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Accessory Story: Vintage Gloves Edition

Hello!! Johnny and I had a lovely Date Day during our Fourth of July staycation that included some vintage and antique shopping. I was enamored with one of the shops we visited and couldn’t stop thinking about all of the wonderful (and wildly expensive) treasures. Then, a few days later I forgot all about it because Johnny brought me home the most amazing surprise. He was helping his mom go through boxes and trunks of storage and I was presented with vintage treasures of my very own – five pairs of gloves and two clutch purses that belonged to Johnny’s grandma. Both himself and my mother-in-law thought I should have them and I was so incredibly touched. These beautiful accessories date back to the 1940s! Check it out:

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When I opened the box containing my “new” accessories, I was literally stunned. I am very rarely speechless and this was one of those situations that didn’t require words. All I could think was that the vintage shops we visited could eat their hearts out because in my hands was something so special that they are invaluable. While Johnny’s grandma had a fondness for gloves, my mom’s mom was all about hats. I have at least fifteen of her vintage hats and they are some of my most prized possessions. I now have something from Johnny’s grandma that I can add to that category AND wear with some of my grandma’s hats to complete the look. ❤

…. Of course, if the gloves fit that is!

Lol, after getting over my initial shock, the next thought I had was “Wouldn’t it suck if none of them fit?”. I have very small hands but these gloves looked tiny. I kid you not that I had more butterflies in my stomach than when I go swimsuit shopping and I really hate that. However, you can always get a bigger size of a bathing suit in the store. Definitely not the case with gloves that are over eighty years old! Thankfully, the fashion gods blessed me. Despite some slight difficulties, I was able to wear each pair quite comfortably. YAY! My favorite accessories from the bunch are easily the gloves and purse from the second photo. The pinwheel style rouching on the cuffs are *chef’s kiss* and can we talk about that sequined bag? Perfect for keeping your phone, credit card, and keys in during a night out!

I am so completely over the moon over these accessories and I cannot wait to incorporate them into fall and winter OOTDs. Vintage chic styles here I come!

Do you have any relics from your grandparents? How do you add vintage vibes to your outfits? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

A Signature Antiques Accessories

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A Signature Antiques Accessories

Hello! Johnny and I enjoyed some amazing time off for the Fourth of July week. It was much needed and we were able to jam pack our schedule full of outings and pencil in some time to relax too. One of my favorite things we did during our staycation was a Date Day this past Tuesday. We went shopping in Downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront and then had drinks and a snack at the Cashmere Cricket. It is our favorite bar because it’s awesome lol and it’s where we had our first date! It was a perfect day and I loved being able to check out all of the fantastic vintage and antique shops along the Riverfront. The best one was, hands down, A Signature Antiques. If I had all of the money in the world, I would have bought everything! Alas, I don’t but I couldn’t leave without the following:

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The first thing that really caught my eye in A Signature was the stunning black choker necklace with chains and dangling jewels. It was displayed on a mannequin head and I literally clutched my pearls when I saw it. I love choker necklaces but I have never found one that I fell in love with. There was a point a few years ago when they were a HUGE trend. However (And I hate to say this!), I always thought the simple style chokers looked a bit basic. I definitely needed to find one with extravagance and my “new” vintage choker checks all the boxes. It is my favorite color, has so much drama, and makes a stunning addition to my jewelry collection. I cannot wait to plan an OOTD with it as the focal point. 😀

My next purchase was a pair of adorable, blinged out butterfly sunglasses. They remind me SO much of the 90s (Aging myself here!) and the online fashion dolls that you could customize outfits for. I think these sunglasses are just the tops. The shape and decorative crystals are so bold but there is something about them that feels classic and chic. They literally make me feel like a 90s/early 2K pop star and it truly doesn’t get any better than that! I am also really looking forward to styling an OOTD with these stunner shades. I’m thinking baggy jeans and a tiny little crop top for sure!!

These new accessories totally fall under the “treat yourself” category and they are lovely staycation souvenirs from the best date day! ❤

What is your favorite era of fashion? How about your favorite era of music? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Date Day!!

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Date Day!!

Hello!! This past week has been so super nice because Johnny and I both had time off from work. We took some time to relax but we mainly jam packed each day with SO many activities. It felt really weird to be having all kinds of adventures when I should have been at work but the good kind of weird! My favorite day of my time off was definitely Tuesday because Johnny and I went on a date day in downtown Cuyahoga Falls AKA the Riverfront. It is such a quaint little area with all kinds of cute boutiques, eateries, and bars. I have wanted to do a shopping day there for so long and it was perfect!

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We began our date at the vintage shops and they are plentiful on the Riverfront. Surprisingly, I have never been to any of them before and now that I have, it is a dangerous combination lol. They were fabulous! My favorite one of all had to be A Signature Antiques and I could have literally spent all day and all my money there. A Signature had clothing, accessories, and decor fresh from the 1930s to the 1990s and it was like shopping in a time capsule. Everywhere I looked offered even more surprises with vintage ware that I have only seen in magazines and movies. It was enchanting, to say the least, and I walked away with two simply amazing accessories. I can’t wait for you to see them soon!

After spending time shopping in the past, we skyrocketed into the present. We visited a coffee shop/bar and got cocktails that we were able to sip as we strolled the Riverfront. There were a few other boutiques I wanted to check out but none of them held a candle to the vintage shops. That was okay, though, because it was just about time for our favorite bar, the Cashmere Cricket, to open. The Cricket is where we had our first date and we also went there to celebrate after getting engaged. It is a very special spot for us and we like to go as often as we can. We enjoyed sharing appetizers and the most divine cocktails. A watermelon mojito for Johnny and a pickle martini for me. It was the perfect way to conclude a perfect day. ❤

I loved my Date Day with my Johnny and being able to spend so much time together having fun this week. It will be hard to go back to work, but I will be looking back on our little staycation most fondly!

What is an ideal date day for you? Do you have any favorite vintage shops in your neck of the woods? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Scarf Series: Grandma’s Hand Me Downs Edition

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Scarf Series: Grandma’s Hand Me Downs Edition

Hellooo everyone! We all know that I love dressing for colder weather and one of my favorite things in doing so are the accessories. I love hats, scarves, fingerless gloves, and faux fur to keep myself cute and cozy all fall and winter long. I adore my knitwear and there’s no denying that but there is also something so very chic about a silk scarf tied in a knot around your neck while sporting your best peacoat. So, I was very excited when my dad bestowed some of my grandma’s (his mom’s) scarves onto me. Check them out:

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I have plenty of hats from my mom’s mom but I really have nothing like that from my dad’s mom, so I was incredibly happy to have something of hers that I can wear. These vintage scarves will be the perfect accessory with blazers and moto jackets to add a unique touch as well as making me feel like I’m getting a hug from a loved one all day.

My favorite scarf above is definitely the last one with the flowers in bright, springy colors to bring some sunshine during the grey winter months. You’re talking to the girl who wears black ninety-nine percent of the time BUT, even I’m not opposed to some pops of color every now and then! I am so thankful to have these scarves in my collection and am looking forward to wearing them all very soon. 🙂

Do you have any hand me downs from a loved one? How do you sport a silk scarf? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Creating A Signature Look For Yourself

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Creating A Signature Look For Yourself

In a world where people follow the say-so of magazines, celebrities, and other forms of media when it comes to our appearance, it’s always refreshing to see someone taking on their own approach to their style. Be this person! Stand out from the crowd and create your own signature look. Here are just a couple of areas to focus on:

Hair

Hair can create a signature look that is solely associated with you. Think of Marilyn Monroe’s blonde bob, Dita Von Teese’s jet black 40’s curls, or Miley Cyrus’s slicked back outgrown pixie cut. If you’re not quite ready to reach for the clippers or bright and bold hair dyes, you can ease yourself into more unique looks with styles like ombre. Ombre is a two or more tone look that’s achieved with balayage (which is French for “sweep”). It involves sweeping bleach through different small triangle sections of the hair and leaving the bleach to take for different amounts of time. This helps your hair to subtly alter from areas of lighter shades to areas of darker shades. The majority of people opting for ombre tend to opt for darker roots, slowly and discreetly becoming lighter towards the ends.

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Love top knots!

Clothes

With the rise of street fashion, it’s extremely difficult to curate a personal look that seemingly endless numbers of other people aren’t already wearing at the same time. Think of all of the rails of the same item piled back in big name brand chains. These are going to be bought, there are more in the stockroom, there are even more in other chains, and whole piles of the product are waiting in storehouses to be bought by people online. When you buy the piece you’re looking at, you become one of potentially thousands who are going to have the exact same item. Not only does this make you meld into the background, but it can create awkward situations like turning up at social events or parties in the exact same outfit as somebody else.

The problem with this? It conjures up comparisons between you and the other person, setting off the beginnings of endless “who wore it better?” conversations. Besides this, surely you want to be an individual! Many people think that the only way to do this is to purchase expensive custom or designer pieces that others generally can’t afford. But this isn’t necessarily true. Even just a plain T-shirt can turn into something special with a punchy pattern or a cool slogan. You can check out these Chummy Tees reviews so you can start elevating basic staples to fit your style. As you can see, there are various ways to put together an astounding and truly unique wardrobe. Here are just a few to consider:

Shop Vintage

Vintage stores and outlets are a great place to start when it comes to creating a unique style for yourself. Vintage clothes date from the 1990s and the years before. They tend to be one-off pieces, as the others produced at the same time have been disposed of, recycled, or are no longer in good enough condition to wear. This means that you are extremely unlikely to see anyone else with the same piece as you. But don’t just pick up any old item. There’s a thin line between quirky chic and items that you would likely see an elderly relative wearing.

Do a little research of the different eras and get to know desirable vintage labels to look out for. If the sixties cater well to your tastes, look out for St. Michael’s, Aquascutum, and Biba originals. If the seventies are more your thing, search for Levi bell bottoms and old-school graphic tees. Remember to check the quality of everything that you like the look of and try things on before purchasing. Vintage stores rarely offer refunds or exchanges, so you will want to be sure that they fit and have fully functioning zips and no missing buttons or moth holes before paying.

Upcycling

Upcycling is slowly but surely becoming a more common activity. It is a simple process where you transform items that you already own. You can upcycle all sorts of things: furniture, accessories, and (most exciting of all) your wardrobe. You can turn jeans into shorts for the hot summer months, pillowcases into cute beach tote bags, or perhaps just jazz up a jacket with pins and patches. Whatever you decide to do, upcycling puts your personal touch to your clothing. While someone else might have the same base item, yours will almost certainly stand apart from it.

DIY

If you find that you enjoy upcycling, you might want to try out something a little more complex, but even more rewarding: making your own clothes from scratch. This gives you a lot more freedom over your garments, as you can choose the exact design, fabric, and fit. Start out with simple patterns and follow online tutorials and advice pieces. It may take a little time before you start producing things that you want to wear, but practice makes perfect and developing this brilliant life skill is definitely worth the effort.

Altering your look may take a little time, effort, and planning. However, it’s better to get started sooner rather than later. This will allow you to see positive changes and results as soon as possible!

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