dreams of spring and dresses

Spring is still struggling to take over winter, but warmer degrees are promised for the weekend. Meanwhile I’m bringing spring to my ears with the new Noah and the Whale album Last Night On Earth, and dreaming of new dresses that I most likely won’t buy from Sivletto. If I would splash out on myself, I definitely would start with this green beauty from Tara Starlet. It’s such a nice every day dress, and I’m very much feeling the green nowadays. Could be the whole spring thing.



This isn’t as much a spring fling dress, but when do you not need another perfect black dress? In fact I hardly have one as it is, the best one needs a visit to a tailor actually. I don’t really know where to go for that, but I guess I should just find that out before I start buying new dresses to ”replace” an almost perfect one. This cute wiggle dress is called Stella and is from Steady Clothing.



The last one I would actually prefer in red with white dots, or even more preferably in red gingham. It’s from Heartbreaker Fashion. But if someone wanted to just give it to me, I definitely wouldn’t turn down the black one either, it is rather lovely too. I happen to know there are quite a few shops in London that carries these or similar kinds of retro 50’s and 60’s clothing, and if I happen to stumble upon one of them, and if they happen to have some items on sale, and if these items happen to be my size, they might just end up in my suitcase. I’m just saying.

gorgeous gothenburg

My first day in Gothenburg I made some nice finds, but the nicest one of all was to find Gothenburg as lovely as I ever remembered it. I go there once every year for the big national book fair in September, but unfortunately never have time to really experience the city outside the fair, except for going to some really nice restaurants in the evenings. I used to go there quite a lot in the past, since one of my best friends has lived there for a long time (and she just got married, so happy happy marriage to Hanna and Malin!). Even when I was little, and we went there with my cousins who live in the same part of Sweden (the west coast), I loved it and actually thought Gothenburg was cooler than Stockholm. I'm not sure I'd like to live there full time, but I'll definitely try and visit more often, besides going to the book fair.



A for me "new" part of the city was the first place I went, cos I'd read about it and driving past it in cabs to the hotel last year I suspected it'd be just my cup of tea. It sure was! Or rather a perfect cup of coffee, that I got from Da Matteo, a coffee shop and coffee supplier I'm pretty sure have the best coffee in Gothenburg. The area is one or two blocks where Vallgatan meets Magasinsgatan, where there are lovely shops every which direction you look. Prickig Katt I've already told you briefly about, and will get back to that in another post, cos I've got a lot of awesome pics from the store. A vintage shop I really liked was Pop Boutique, where I found this pretty dress for 300 kronor. I know it's not really expensive, but I'm always a bit hesitant paying that much for vintage if isn't mint condition, and I also have to fix it. This was mint indeed though, doesn't even look worn. It looks 40's, but is more likely 80's, from Spain. It's a little bit big, but nothing I can't fix, and with a belt this shape might work anyway actually. The fabric is quite warm, not sure what it is, but it'll be a perfect autumn favorite!



Gothenburg is known for it's excellent shoe stores, at least to me. Right now all stores had sales, but seeing it's being the end of summer I thought it didn't make much sense to buy more summer shoes. Sometimes I can be sensible too. No, really, I can. Except that white shoes might not be that incredibly sensible with the kind of autumn weather we usually get here, but there were only white left in my size, and they're so incredibly adorable I couldn't leave without these Vagabond brogue-mary-jane-wedges! Especially since I've discovered this summer that my feet actually like wedges, and I've used to be a flat shoe girl for as long as I can remember. Mostly cos I've thought my feet couldn't take heels, but apparently I've been wrong all these years. All the more reason to make up for it now, and these were on sale for 420 kronor, which is an okay price for quality shoes (I keep telling myself ...). Not exactly Mr Price, but hopefully they'll last longer, if I can remember to buy white shoe polish, and use it. And hope for a lot of sunny autumn days!



The cheapest buy of the day were these little hairpin gingham flowers from Indiska, two for 25 kronor. Very cute indeed. Did you notice how well all these things will go together? I actually just realised this now, looking forward to trying it out one of these days when autumn creeps closer. Maybe I can wear it at the book fair? Go all Gothenburg when in Gothenburg. Makes sense.

Now I'm off to the archipelago for a work conference for a few days, it'll be so nice to leave the city for a bit. As of yesterday everyone's definitely back for school and work, and the streets are so incredibly crowded by people and bikes and cars and stupid skateboarders I almost had a fit walking to and from work yesterday! Not to mention how many times people bumped into me without apologising, in true Stockholm Style, and bikers refusing to consider anyone but themselves in traffic, and cars not stopping when they should ... It's exhausting I tell you! So what better to cure that than to go off into the wilderness, where things will be too quiet for sure, and I'll miss the hectic pace of the city again. I'm weird, yes I am. But what can you do?

best bargain dress of the summer

This is the amazing antique shop in Ystad I've talked about before, Hemlängtan (Homesickness). I really wanted to take some pictures inside too, but it was pretty crowded when I was there so that didn't go according to plan. I meant to go back at another time, but never got around to it. Oh, well, I'll do it next time. Since it was so busy (which is a good thing for the owners of course!), I didn't really stay that long to check things out either, hence didn't buy anything. I did also feel like I shouldn't buy anymore brooches for a while, at least not until I've used all of the ones I already have, twice. When I have done so, Hemlängtan is definitely the place to go to find some more.



I felt quite excited going down to the Saturday market on one of the town squares in Ystad. It took a bit of an effort to find any potentials, but I quite like the hunt. It's a bit more excruciating though, when it's just regular people selling their old stuff really, and some of them clearly had no idea how to price things (which meant overpricing like crazy). When I say excruciating I mean it can feel a bit embarrassing sometimes, when the things people are selling are just junk, and I just look at the table for 5 seconds. That's why I try to walk up to tables when someone else is going too ... Anyways, I spotted a corner of this lovely fabric on a clothes hanger, and as I pulled it out to find it was a lovely dress my heart started to race!



This elderly very nice lady told me it used to belong to a friend of hers, and that I could get it for 40 kronor. My heart raced even more! I didn't really want to try it on in the middle of the town square, but thought it would fit fairly well, and for that price it didn't really matter that much.



It turned out to fit me perfectly and I couldn't be happier with it, I think it's incredibly pretty! I have no idea when it's from, it's got 40's lines I think, but I doubt elastic waistbands were that common back then (which I could be wrong about too though). It's only got a little tag saying the fabric is polyester and cotton, which would be a giveaway it's maybe 70's, early 80's? Nevermind, it's gorgeous!



From a very talkative and persuasive German woman I also bought an Indian old bracelet at the market. It didn't fit me very well, and I doubt it's real silver, but the parts are really nice and I thought I might take it apart and do something else with them. Not sure what though. Any ideas? I love the elephants and little stars.



What I liked the most with the bracelet was the hamsa hand though, that hangs loose on a little chain. It's got such an intricate design for such a small piece of jewellery. I paid 25 kronor for it, and even if I only make a necklace with the hamsa hand I think it's worth it.



Just before leaving Ystad, I got this lovely piece of red and white gingham fabric from my dad's wife: perfection! Not sure what it'll be enough for, but if nothing else I'll use it as a table cloth, which is plenty. It might make a vest, or short sleeved blouse, maybe using some vintage buttons I got in Gothenburg. Oh, that would be even more perfection!



This iron cast reptile I simply could not resist when I found it, for 69 kronor. So cute! And in all honesty, I didn't get any lizards for quite a long time now, unless I'm mistaking. I've mostly been owl crazy, and I certainly don't want the lizzies to feel left out from my life. That would just be plain rude.

pimped dresses and buttons undone

I decided to make a tenee tiny puff sleeve for the cute cotton dress I got last week. And with the new slip underneath I felt quite pretty wearing it for the first time last Thursday. When it turned out to be one of the hottest days of the summer, the first of many actually, I almost regretted it though, especially the slip felt too hot. Luckily I had the day off, and could change into a somewhat cooler dress. But when it's as hot as it is now, there's no escaping, except in the supermarket's cooler room, while eating icecream.



The red dress definitely looks better with the white buttons, in my opinion. I also added a little black and white ribbon on the pockets, to make them stand out just a little bit more. I really like this dress too, it feels very casual while being pretty and special at the same time. The only flaw is that it gets so wrinkly, as you can see. And I really hate ironing!



When it comes to the black and white gingham dress I'm having a hard time deciding on which buttons to choose. The plain red ones, that I like cos they look modest in a way, make the dress look more everyday-like, which is good cos I've got a lot of dressy-dresses already. On the other hand the pink rose buttons are so incredibly cute, and make the dress look completely different, which is just as appealing. What to do, what to do? Maybe choose the pink ones for a month, and then change for the reds?

cute as a button

Fabric stores are so much fun! Especially looking at buttons and ribbons. I was basically just gonna look for some cute red buttons for the black and white dress that lost it's white buttons to the new red dress (a very good decision, proof to follow). Didn't find any red ones that I fell in love with, but how about these dark pink rose ones? I couldn't resist. Not sure I'll use them for the dress though, cos they might be too fancy, but one way or the other I'll find good use for them. They cost 6 kronor each, and there weren't that many left so I got them all. Greedy me.



The magnificent big butterfly button was pretty much the first thing I saw when I walked in, and even though it was quite expensive (24 kronor for ONE) I just had to have one. They came in other colours too, but I went with the turquoise, maybe not surprisingly by now. The black ones I'm not sure what I'm gonna use for, but they were so nice I still got two, and they only cost 6 kronor each. I do have a lot of vintage coats and jackets that could really need some new buttons, I think these would actually go with a few of them. So maybe I have to go back for more.



Got some ribbons too, two different ones of my beloved gingham, and a shiny teal coloured. I'm thinking of doing some more little brooches, but I might just use them in my hair as well. I've been sewing for two nights now, not the whole time, but doing this and that on the three dresses that needed some pimping and minor alterations. And once again I've realised I really should get a sewing machine now. Also after spending a little bit of time in the fabric store and seeing all the amazing stuff just sitting on the shelves waiting to be created with, well it stirred something up in me. It's a huge step though, and I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it. But sometimes it's better to just jump in I guess.



I also got two vintage white slips that I can wear underneath my seethrough dresses. Popped back into Humana after work, cos I'd seen a good selection of them before, to very good prices. This one is more cream coloured, and full length (that I will shorten) for 79 kronor.



And this one, for 69 kronor, is more crispy white, shorter, with some pretty lace around the neck and by the lower hemline. I'm very happy with these slips, and as usual I now want to buy more of them in all the colours they've got. But I won't. Maybe just a black one, cos obviously that would be very useful with all my dark dresses ...

tuesday treats

I decided to give myself a few treats for returning to the cold north, for the time being alone as it is, but just until August. When we went to Exclusive Books a while back I found two amazing books that I just fell immediately in love with, but they were way too expensive for my bargain taste. I checked my usual internet book store, and they had them for half the price, so last week I ordered them and today they arrived. Just look at this cover!




Every spread in the book is as beautiful as the cover, I might show it off some more in a later post. I just love that the book is mine now, it's probably one of the most beautiful books I own, and I own a lot of pretty books. I can't help but collect them, they make me happy. Graphic design and typography history doesn't get more gorgeous than this, for sure.



This one is equally wonderful, I can't look at it enough. I'd like to eat it in fact. Lettering and fonts are definitely two of my favorite things in the world, it's just something that speaks to me in an immediate way and sort of fills in some gaps. That might sound weird, but I don't care. Maybe a better way of describing it would be that it's like music to my eyes. Yes, that feels very accurate.



What music does to my ears, all the way to my heart and my brain, is what letters do to my eyes. Of course the combination of letters into words and sentences and books usually follows, and has the same effect. As corny as it may sound it completes me.



Then there's Edward Gorey! My hero! And now I'm gonna read everything about him and his amazing amazing AMAZING work! Sorry for all the exclamation marks, but I'm pretty stoked about getting this book and diving into it as soon as possible. I've been meaning to post about Mr Gorey before, but never gotten around to it for some reason. After reading this book, I'll hopefully be able to post something more profound than "amazing amazing AMAZING".



But if you don't know anything about Edward Gorey, I think it should be enough to look at these two pictures to understand what a complete genius he is. And these are just his illustrations, mind you, and as incredible they are on their own, his texts bring it to a whole different dimension, out of this world, if you ask me. Or as I tell you, rather. Just hear me one more time, then I'll move on for now: Edward Gorey is amazing!




As another treat, although I sort of decided that I shouldn't even think about shopping until I've unpacked everything that sits in the basement right now, I couldn't help but check out my closest Salvation Army store on my way home from work. And there a perfect dress was waiting for me, who knew? Black and white gingham, very simple cut, looks a little 60's but doesn't have a tag and I suspect it might be homemade, and it fit me just perfectly. 85 kronor sealed the deal. Although the small white buttons are very cute, I'm thinking of exchanging them for red or pink ones, if I can find some nice that would fit.



Finally I couldn't walk away from a polyester blouse for 65 kronor, even though the style of it is a bit too frumpy for my taste. I just adore the flowers, and I'm sure I'll figure out a way to use the fabric for something else. Maybe I'll turn it into another top, or incorporate parts of it with something else, or make an apron, or bag, or pillow case, or head bands. I'll keep you posted.

an obsession confession

Yes, I confess I'm obsessed with something called gingham, which I only learnt was the English name for it a few years ago. In Sweden we call it pepita or Brigitte Bardot-checked. I don't really care what it's called, I'm still very much drawn to it for some reason. Just can't enough of it to be honest! For now I've only got things in black-and-white and red-and-white, which are the three main colours in my wardrobe in general, so that's maybe not a surprise.

The spread above is a short-puffy-sleeved blouse in the bottom, bought second hand at Myrorna for 40 kronor last fall, and quickly became a favorite. On top of that is a dress I've showed in a previous post, also bought second hand for 6o kronor. The small tote bag is bought from a somewhat surprising store: a skateboard store at Skrapan, Götgatan in Stockholm. It's definitely the only time I've ever been in that store, but I saw it in the window on sale for 150 kronor and just had to have it. The purse is from Lindex, also on sale for 40 kronor.



My husband usually thinks I look like I'm about to go strawberry picking when I wear one of these things, which I wouldn't mind doing one bit. Or maybe go to a diner and drink milkshake with him, sharing one with two straws, and picking "our song" on the jukebox and spontaneously start dancing with everyone. I don't really like milkshakes that much though, I prefer smoothies.

The red spread is made with a blouse from MQ in the left upper corner, bought about 2 years ago, for 249 kronor I think. It's got perfect little cowboy shirt ivory buttons. The blouse in the right upper corner has been well worn since the day I got it from H&M for 149 kronor two summers ago. I still regret not getting the same one in black, how could I have been so stupid? Down in the left corner are a pair of capri pants, from a store where I've only ever bought this, Flash. It was even the first time I ever went there, cos I saw them in the window. Next to the pants is a fave skirt, that's also served me well, more on that underneath. On top of everything is a hairband I got from Myrorna for 5 kronor.



There used to be a small shop called Sprinkler on Södermannagatan in Stockholm, about 6-7 years ago, and it was really nice, but a bit expensive. This superfriendly girl owned it and sewed all the clothes herself, and one of the best things she did was this skirt in many different fabrics. The model is just perfect and I got one in black, one in denim and the last one I got was this. I was completely broke at the time, but it was on half price for only a week and I couldn't risk not getting it, so I borrowed 400 kronor from my mum to pay my phone bill, and got the skirt instead. I'm sorry mum, I never confessed to that before. I borrowed money from a friend to pay the phone bill instead, and I do believe everyone was paid back in the end too. And the skirt has served me really well, I still love it and don't regret for a second I almost got my phone cut off for it. The store girl got a baby shortly after this, started to make only children's clothes and moved the store somewhere else. I never found out if it's still around or not.



These cutie shoes are from Indiska, 99 kronor, but I got them for half price. A bit on the small side though, as is quite often the case with shoes made in China, you need to get a size bigger than you usually take. I just forgot at that time.



These adorable shoes I bought in January, after looking at them online for maybe 4-5 months before finally deciding to go for it. The thing is that my feet are ridiculously sensitive and will bleed for nothing at all, which means I can't wear a lot of shoes cos it hurts too bad. And buying a pair of shoes online is of course risky, but this store had a free return policy, so I took my chances. Since it was still winter when I left for Durban I didn't get a chance to wear them though, so I still have to find out if they're comfortable or not. They were just too cute to send back, so if nothing else I'll keep them where I can look at them a lot.



And as of this week I've got a new online obsession, this apple gingham 50's swing dress from Vivien of Holloway. Well, honestly there's loads of stuff to obsess about from this place, but for now this is the dress I might consider getting my hands on eventually. I guess I need to think about it for 4-5 months first. It's a bit on the expensive side, to say the least, compared to what I usually pay for dresses (it's about 3 times more), but it's soooooo gorgeous my knees go weak when I look at it! If I got it I'd have to have picknicks the whole time, spread the skirt out on a blanket, and eat those strawberries I'd just picked and sip some champagne. Indeed I'd have to.