Monday, April 14, 2014

Gearing up for Viva with some helpful advice!

I've finally decided to start a blog. I've been following so many bloggers for so many years and I think it's time to join the party. I have the unique pleasure of living in North Carolina where there are so many great vintage finds to be discovered. So many of my friends from big cites and other countries are shocked to find out how low the cost of vintage is out here. What most people don't realize is that Central NC is the 3rd largest area for Mid Century Modern homes and architecture. I thought it would be fun to include posts about our local architecture as well.

Since it's the weekend before Viva Las Vegas, I thought it would be a fun idea to post about the most important thing I learned from attending VLV as a first timer back in 2009. Any of us who are into collecting and dressing vintage know that style is an ever/changing and evolving thing. None of us showed up to our first show, event, weekender, etc. dressed perfectly to the nines. Well, not anyone I know anyway. I had heard the some murmurs about "fashion police". I was just as thrilled about going to VLV as I was nervous. Naturally, I put together a bunch of outfits just for the event. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Fast forward to 2014 and I still do that. Who doesn't want nice, new, pretty things for a big event?

In hind site, I believe part of me was putting together outfits that I though would be "acceptable". By who, you ask? Lord only knows! Haha! This lead me to my one BIG mistake as a first timer that I would love to share in hopes to save others. That secret, you ask?

Try everything on before showing up to the event.

Seems simple enough, right? I definitely tried on my dresses that I so passionately put together the weeks leading up to the event. But, I failed to try on the foundation garments, jewelry, and shoes. This lead to hilarious and stupid mishaps with every almost outfit.

Thursday night! I really wanted to do a bit of a country cutie look my first night. I still love this dress. But, you see those vintage red shoes? I had never actually worn them before. They look harmless enough. But, the patent leather was stiff and gave me HUGE blisters on both pinky toes. I had brought over a dozen shoes out of excitement and after that first night I could only wear two without being in excruciating pain. When people ask what shoes to bring, I advise them to only bring shoes they would be comfortable walking a mile in. Literally.


Friday Night! I took this Whirling Turban top and put it together with this black skirt. What I failed to try on was the bustier under it and the belt. Turns out the bustier changed my shape and the elastic belt would slide up my stomach. I didn't discover this until I was walking down to the ballroom. I had to stand in the bathroom asking girls for a safety pins until I found a charitable gal with extra to spare.


Sunday Pool Party! I took this lovely Whirling Turban hawaiian halter top and made a cotton blend skirt to match. Again, didn't try it on with my foundation garments and as I walked, the fabric of if the spanx I was wearing clung to my skirt causing my skirt to shimmy up and stick. I actually had to walk and hold my skirt down at the same time. A simple slip would have solved this and I had tons of slips........at home! Hahaha!


Lastly, Sunday night! This is the one I laugh most about to this day. I took this button up blouse and added the skirt and turned it into a dress. My big mistake was not trying it on the bra that I would be wearing with it at Viva. The only bra I brought that wasn't dark in color was a lovely push up bra. When I put it on the fabric of the tip pulled and you could see my big flesh colored brassiere. Sexy! Haha! This could have been easily and quickly solved with a needle and some thread in advance.


Viva is only a couple days away and I've tried on everything and I'm ready to go and bursting with excitement. Remember to have FUN and never take yourself too seriously. See y'all there!