I've been super busy for the past few weeks getting some new things made for Wacky Tuna. Last weekend, I binge-watched Netflix and crocheted snoods for two days in a row, adding lots of new spring colors.




I love snoods for fancy date nights and days around the house when I just need to pull my hair up and get some work done. Stay tuned for a tutorial on how to wear a snood. 


Yesterday, I listed my brand new watercolor brooch collection! These brooches were really fun to design. I get a lot of inspiration for quirky pins from the things around my house and in my vintage magazines. I decided to turn them into mini art prints, which are then cut out of wood in my husband's workshop, finished and sealed with a clear protective coating.


My felt brooches will be eventually phased out with more of my watercolor accessories and art prints listed so I re-designed my pretty packaging with a funny fish and beautiful hand lettering that I've been practicing this week. 

Where has February gone? I swear, it was just Valentine's Day and now it's almost March! Before we begin a new month, I wanted to share this month's projects for our 40s Fashion Calendar.

For those who are new, the 40s Fashion Calendar Challenge includes monthly projects and a very basic starter wardrobe. By the end of this year, we will put together 12 1940s outfits using staple pieces and a few special accessories that we make ourselves.

Getting started with the 40s Fashion Calendar Challenge
January- make a corsage for your winter coat and handbag




This month, we'll make a simple 40s blouse and a matching turban. You can wear this blouse with the skirt from your suit staple or if your closet is more varied, pair it with trousers. This summer, it'll be an adorable addition to shorts or overalls and you can wear your turban any time.



I used a bright cotton print from Joanne Fabrics and Simplicity blouse #1692 view D. This blouse is a simple shape with no sleeves or button holes, great for a beginner. The blouse gets its shape with pleats and tucks under the bust and at the lower back and it has a loop and button closure at the shoulder, which could be very cute and nautical in red, white and blue combinations.



The turban is made from Wearing History's turban pattern. Instead of wrapping and tying a scarf, it's all sewn in place and ready to slip on any time. I love the over-sized bow and gather details. If you prefer a more understated turban, try Wearing History's other turban pattern, in this same pack. The fedora pattern in this set would be a perfect hat for your 40s fashion calendar staple hat, which calls for a hat with a brim. I was going to use a hat in my stash but this one is so fabulous, I think I will have to get some felt and make it for myself!


Wearing History Coupon: Lauren from Wearing History is providing a coupon for Va-Voom Vintage readers- save 15 % off the 40s hat wardrobe pattern with code "40sFeb"

This post was originally a guest post that I wrote for The Vintage Post, which doesn't exist anymore but I was able to find the full tutorial to share again here!

Yesterday, I was washing lunch dishes before dinner, looking out my kitchen window at the beautiful sunny day when I noticed that I was preparing to make dinner and the sun was still out! My husband reminded me that daylight savings time is in just a few weeks and I was so relieved to know that warm weather and all of the great things that come with spring will be here before I know it.  Winter had kept me pretty cooped up but I'm day dreaming and making lists of all of the things I want to do this spring.....


1. Visit my favorite thrift shops
It's been ages since I hit the thrift stores. One of my favorite spring pleasures is to have breakfast with the family on a saturday morning before heading out by myself for some quiet thrift shopping.  I always find the most killer pieces for my home and wardrobe for very little money and I have a few local spots that I haven't visited in over a year!



2. Wear beautiful shoes
On weekdays while my husband is at work, sometimes the kids and I walk through our beautiful historic neighborhood and look at all of the old houses while I push the stroller along the cobblestone streets. We are lucky to have a couple of nice little antique shops where I find cheap novelty brooches and the kids often pick out books, video tapes and ziplock baggies full of vintage plastic zoo animals. On these walks, I love to savor the weather with strappy sandals, peep toes and any shoes I like, without having to worry about snow and cold.


3. design beautiful stationery
I've been taking some wonderful hand lettering and modern calligraphy classes on Skillshare this month and I'll be spending rainy spring afternoons in the kitchen, hand lettering everything! I'd love to design some stationery and daily organization tools. In the mean time, practice makes perfect!



4. Add plenty of full cotton skirts to my wardrobe
In my early days of building a vintage wardrobe, I bought a lot of beautiful 40s rayon dresses and fancy beaded cardigans. These days, I really want comfort, style and the ability to toss things in the washing machine with the family's laundry. I've been window shopping for cotton skirts all winter and I can't wait to add more to my wardrobe this spring. Nothing is as easy and comfortable as a cute print in a cotton skirt and a simple tee.  I'm loving the novelty print and tulle skirts from Oblong Box Shop


5. find some warm weather vintage picnic clothes for my little ones
Olivia has a few "bintage" dresses of her own and on occasion, she loves to dress up with me.  I can't get enough little nautical dresses like these from Elle Enfant


6. Sew some great basic separates
those cotton skirts need some adorable easy blouses to go with them!  Last summer, I sewed a couple wrap blouses from the Mrs Depew Vintage pattern below and they're so cute. This spring, I'd love some button-ups and beach tops.

Save 15% off at Mrs Depew Patterns with code "vavoom"







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Angeline dressing gown

Lily Pajamas

Delphine Nightgown

Kate Sleep Shirt, Pictured here with Emily tap pants

Katharine Jumpsuit

This winter, I've been practically living in my Smooth Sailing Trousers from Wearing History.  I'm so excited that they came out with a plus size range because there's such a lack of well fitting vintage style pants for curvy girls.



When they arrived, I slipped into them and it was like they were custom made for me! The fit was perfect and surprisingly, so was the length. I'm pretty tall at 5'7 so I usually find that pants could be a tiny bit longer but these were perfect.  For those that are taller, there's a very deep hem that could be easily let out to adjust for longer lengths.  Another curvy girl problem with high waisted pants is that the waist band often rolls or folds. I don't know what magic was involved in these because the waist band stays put all day, through romping with the kids, hiking around in the country or just sitting at home.



The cotton indigo denim is sturdy but soft and best of all- machine washable! They zip up the side and close with one button.  I can't rave enough about how comfortable and flattering these wonderful trousers are. The front pleats completely conceal my lower belly "mom pooch" and they're smooth over the rear. They don't ride up like some high waist pants can. Definitely a great investment piece for your vintage wardrobe.


Wearing History sizing runs different than other brands, so be sure to check their various size charts for a perfect fit. My measurements are 44-35-46 so I ordered the size 36.









Disclosure: Wearing History is a sponsor of Va-Voom Vintage.
 Smooth Sailing Trousers provided c/o Wearing History. All comments and reviews are my own.