HAPPY 34 TO ME!

I swear guys i can not believe i am 34 today. i really truly still feel like i'm in my 20's except my mindset is different. and time really is fleeting and life is really short; i now understand those older then me who would quote this. i do feel like i just went through my teens, Zoe was just a baby and and i hit the big 30 yesterday. and as simple as the cliche is "make the most of your life because it's short" i get it! 

I am thankful to Jesus who gave me a clear head early on to understand this in my own life. although their are and will be countless bumps on the road, i am learning to be content with what i have,  learning from past mistakes, being open to serve others / give back, enjoy time with friends and family and savour every moment with my daughter!

This year i kept it simple, enjoyed my first birthday with Zoe in 4 years and celebrated by going to one of my favorite bakeries Sweet & Savory in San Marino. Zoe and i shared a breakfast burrito with there amazing homemade salsa and their scrumptious red velvet cupcake.

We attacked the cupcake before the burrito came it was to hard to resist just seeing it sit there in front of us! they have an herb garden growing right on there patio area, i love that they use fresh ingredients  you can taste it. 

It was a perfect morning with the best girl in the world! I am so thankful for another year of life!

I took the bottom picture yesterday i had to throw it in! Cody was making the best face. I love our little family!

I hope you all had a great 4th of July!

gisela

HAPPY 4TH!

Happy 4th to you all! i broke out my vintage scarfs and found a perfect red, white & blue one. actually one of my favorites. it's a 1960's Mod one with whales as a print. i definitely fit the occasion in this outfit. 

Zoe and i started the day with a picnic breakfast in our front lawn. every year our little town has a 4ht of July parade and every year i sit in our lawn sipping coffee to watch it. but this year was a little different being able to do this picnic with Zoe. since moving to California in fall 07 she has never spend a summer with me, she always goes to spend her whole summer in Miami with her dad. this year because of special circumstances she's spending it with me. we are definitely making the most of it!

I made chocolate chip pancakes for her (her absolute favorite) and regular for me accompanied with kiwi; very refreshing on a very hot morning. our little Cody also joined in on the party, it was truly a very Americana morning! 

Even Mama Pete (top right picture) was still wheeling in the parade, she is all of 95 years old! I hope to be as active as her if i get the pleasure of turning 95. 

We are off to Long Beach to celebrate with friends and watch some fire works over the ocean. Wishing you all a safe one!

gisela

PRETTY IN PEPLUM

Woah baby, it's getting hot outside! these days i'm rummaging my closet trying to build together summer outfits. now that i'm at my home studio full time i don't want to get into the rut of not getting dressed up. i actually find myself feeling less productive when in pajamas and/or house clothes. when i get into routine in the morning as if i'm still going to outside work, it motivates me to keep a level of business professionalism going while in the home studio. like a frame of mind. it's way to easy to lose the day while working at home.

Polyester pants are probably not the best idea on the hot summer days but i so love the high waist fit on these navy wide leg Levi's pants. i wear them often despite the heat. they are not as terrible as some other polyester fabrics can be, their tolerable. some don't give your skin room to breath! this pretty creme number came with a matching skirt, but i have never worn the skirt because the length is not the greatest; and i actually prefer the top with pants. the detail's are the best! crochet trim on the shoulder, rounded loop buttons and peplum waist make this top look so darling. 

TOP: 1970's vintage peasant blouse

BOTTOM: 1970's highwaisted Levis

SHOES: Mia Clogs

HAIR ACCESSORIES: over-sized creme clips, F21

Thanks to my pretty photographer Zoe, she also spotted this pretty birds nest. On another nature note, i went foraging yesterday and found mint which i will be using to make virgin mojitos during my work hours. now that will definitely help me stay cool and motivated. 

My foraging adventure post will follow tomorrow. amazing all the things that can be growing all around you and you don't even realize it!

gisela

INSPIRATION FILES: NEW / VINTAGE

How amazing are those polka dotted pants from Miu Miu resort collection?! they reminded me of the vintage 70's polka dotted pants from my previous outfit post. down to the wide leg, hip huggers and hem cuff. now i have to be on the hunt for a tossed print fruit pants but in vintage! there's plenty of vintage dresses out there with fruit prints hopefully i'll run into pants soon!

gisela

source: Miu Miu resort picture google images

SHOP UPDATE: JUMPSUITS & ROMPERS

Hi Guys! i am very behind on shop updates on the blog. i was actually contemplating on whether or not i should keep posting them, but my page stats prove other wise so i will continue to post them. this was an update from last week. lots of pantsuits and rompers perfect for summers weather conditions. i personally have not found one that fits my body as i would like it with my curvy hips; if not that polka dotted tuxedo number would be mine, wahaha. 

I simply love the comfort rompers and pant suits give. so easy and breezy and able to dress them for both day and night!

You can shop them HERE.

1. vintage 80's tuxedo pantsuit    2. vintage 80's bold new wave jumpsuit

3. vintage 90's floral teddy romper    4. vintage 70's slinky disco pantsuit

5. vintage 90's floral laced romper    6. vintage 80's polka squared boxy romper

gisela&zoe the vintage shop

gisela

YOUTH QUAKER

After a very rough and joyous week (yes i know ironic), i want to get back into the swing of things this week with a little inspiration. i realized i loved sewing in junior high in home economics class in 7th grade. we had to sew a stuffed animal for one of our class projects and i immediately was hooked from that point on. i ended up buying another stuffed animal pattern from my teacher just to do for fun over the summer. that was the crack in the door towards my love for sewing.

When i hit high-school i discovered my love for vintage seeing all the cool baby doll dresses and polyester pants in those days (early 90's) roaming the halls. i hit my first thrift store in 9th grade and that was the crack in the door towards wanting a career in fashion design. then i started learning and researching about past designers and fell in love with the youth quakers of the 1960's. Mary Quant, Pierre Cardin, Biba, Andre Courreges and Ossie Clark. their are others from that period that i love but these are my ultimate favorites!

This week i'm admiring Mary Quant, the queen of the mini skirt. the other design element i liked  was the use of the peter pan collar in her work, can i say swoon...

Like Anna Wintour's known for her perfectly impeccable bob cut, Mary was known to sport the famous Vidal Sassoon coif. i belief she still styles it pretty much the same today, that's almost 40 years sporting a bob..she wears it well.

I love all the small details, buttons, yokes, stitches, collars, so great. that's what catches my eyes first are all the details. saw this pattern for sale on Etsy. the picture alone is great.

pattern found HERE.

If only their was a time machine to transport back to the days of the swinging sixty's and go shopping in London's Kings Road!

A better look at Mary Quants designs from 1969.

gisela



video: you tube. pictures: google various sources

POLKA DOTTED BOBO JEANS

Pajama pants, bobo pants, etc..these jeans have gotten several comments every time i wear them. at first glance they were a very weird length when i first pulled them out up from a mountain of vintage clothing, on one of my vintage warehouse buys. i initially was going to turn them into shorts for the summer but i'm glad i did not. after further inspection i noticed they were hemmed by the previous owner! 

It's funny because the bottom hem that i pulled out is the original blue color and the top part is now a faded blue. i love the polka dots and the front pocket detail and wanted to keep them for myself since i've never come across a pair like these ever on countless vintage scavenger hunts. i hope to come across another pair this time for le vintage shop!

• jeans, 70's vintage
• top, scoop neck tee 70's vintage
• belt, nautical leather 70's vintage
• shoes, new Mia clogs

My beautiful photographer Zoe got very creative with these shots. i loved them!

wishing you a wonderful weekend,

gisela