Some Favorites on a Friday

I don't usually do Friday favorites style posts, but I thought I'd pass on a few recommendations and share a bit of what has been making me smile this week! I assume everyone is about to check out of the internet and go barbecue all holiday weekend anyways, at least here in the US!

1) NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks

Everyone loves red lipstick right? Well I have found a new favorite product that has two of the things I find most important in a good lipstick: staying power and a clean edge. What do I mean clean edge? I mean these don't feather on the lips, and I want a lipstick that stays where I put it! Of the two reds Kitten Heels is the brighter, and Cherry Skies is the darker and both are great shades. I also picked up two of the deep purple colors for fall or just for when I'm feeling particularly bold. I really like the feel and lasting power of these so I wanted to pass on the recommendation for other lipstick lovers out there!

2) Dress Clips

This isn't a real revelation or anything, but seriously dress clips are so fun! Perhaps it's that they really are an archaic jewelry item now in 2016, I mean no one makes them anymore do they? I just have totally fallen for them and above you see my growing little collection that I have acquired recently (I also have a pair in ivory celluloid). I originally tried buying a super chic larger art deco rhinestone pair that were advertised as a duette clip style (clips that latch onto a brooch fitting so they can be worn together as a brooch as well as separately as clips) but sadly they arrived without the clip parts so I can only wear them/it as a brooch. Still pretty, just not what I was after. So after that disappointment I went a bit overboard and ordered the sets above! I am now planning some new dresses for next fall with necklines specifically designed to show off dress clips!

3) Making Travel Plans

I can't believe I am actually going to get to use my passport this year! One of my very best girlfriends is getting married this fall, and as if that wasn't exciting enough, she's getting hitched down in Mexico! So I am giddy planning and daydreaming about my future tropical travels! I may have already bought a swimsuit in my excitement (see more below). I also just booked a whirlwind 48 hour trip to California for another Disneyland day in September. I just love Disneyland you guys, it is my ultimate happy place and a day at Disney is like a full 6 months of therapy for me. I'm already dreaming of tiki cocktails at Trader Sams and finally riding my beloved Jungle Cruise again!

I am feeling so so lucky to be able to make some travel plans. I just love traveling and it's really something I wish I got to do more often. It's always nice to have fun plans to look forward to!

4) Big 50's Earrings

I never thought I would go for the large plastic disc style 50's earrings, but I have recently been converted and now I love them! Perhaps it's because they give off such a retro feel that I can wear them with some of my more modern clothes and feel more "me" somehow. The larger size provides a nice pop of color up near the face too, and color is always good right? I am slowly becoming a Bakelite person too, and luckily the earrings aren't anywhere as pricey to collect as the bangles and brooches can be. Though I really don't need another thing to collect... :)

5)  GirlBoss Radio with Sophia Amoruso

I have yet to read the popular book by Nasty Gal (the online clothing retailer) founder Sophia Amoruso called Girlboss, but it's been on my reading list for forever. Since I sew all day at work I like listening to podcasts while I work and I recently ran out of stuff to listen to and decided to tune into the Girl Boss podcast. Each episode Sophia interviews "girl bosses', badass ladies basically. I have been finding it a great listen so far, and inspiring too as I definitely aspire to be a Girlboss myself someday.

What podcasts do you all listen to? I am constantly one the hunt for more!

5) Affordable Retro Swimsuits

Since I now have beachy travels in my future, I decided it was high time I figure out my swimsuit situation. Que the classic "urg swimsuit shopping, ew" dialog, but actually, not really because I am in such a better place with my self esteem since the last time I bought I swimsuit (which was in 2012 by the way) that this time it was a breeze, perhaps because I was shopping online? I looked at a ton of pricier retro style suits on Unique Vintage and Modcloth before stumbling across these equally cute styles on Amazon.  There were a bunch of super cute retro style one piece swimsuits (and high waisted bikinis too) in various prints and colors and they were all relatively inexpensive to everything else I had seen online, so in an experiment I ordered one just to see what they were like. For a $23 total investment I could not be happier! The suit is fully lined in the front, has foam cups that are not ridiculous and actually provide some support and the cut is super flattering! I totally recomment these! Plus the bottom of the suit is more like little shorts which gives a bit more coverage which I really like.

As for the fit, don't have any hang ups about the weird sizing, there are tons of helpful reviews and you will probably end up having to order a "larger" size than you might normally. I ordered mine in a 12/XL and I would say that it is a tiny bit too large, only by the smallest fraction though (I'll take in the waist a bit on my overlock machine at work, perks of working at a swimwear company!). For reference I am a US size 10 normally, occasionally an 8, and my measurements hang around 40/30/44. If you are in the market for a new retro style swimsuit I recommend checking out the options on Amazon for sure!


That's all for now! I have to get back to my sewing, I've been hand sewing the lace onto the collar of my Edwardian shirtwaist all day and progress is much slower than I'd like! ;)