Bluegingerdoll Patterns was founded by Abby, an Australian designer.  In her patterns, Abby has created vintage inspired designs with a touch of Hollywood glamor that can be worn all year, any time of day and sewn with any fabrics. Bluegingerdoll Patterns come in sizes 4 (34 bust) to 18 (46 bust).


The first Bluegingerdoll design, Billie Jean is a versatile 50s style dress in two styles- a full skirt dress with practical pockets or a curve-hugging wiggle dress.



Abby recently wrapped up the Billie Jean sew-along on her blog, but you can still follow along for hints on sewing your own Billie Jean dress.



This month, Abby released her second design, the Mae Blouse. This amazing blouse pattern features all of  my favorite 1940s inspired details- a scalloped neckline, shapely fitting, easy to sew kimono sleeves and buttons up the back. Wear your Mae blouse tucked in with skirt or trousers or not tucked in with a matching skirt for a peplum effect. I want to sew like a dozen of these! I'm such a sucker for a sweetheart neckline!






Recently on the Bluegingerdoll Blog, Abby shows us How to Sew With Scallops to help with that beautiful Mae neckline. Check Abby's tutorials page for tons of great sewing advice and project tutorials.

 Last night, I curled up with Olivia and read her my favorite fairytale, Snow White and Rose Red. Not the Snow White of the 7 Dwarves variety but the girl who lives with her sister and takes in an injured bear who turns out to be a prince! When I was a little girl, my mom used to read Snow White and Rose Red to my sister and she'd say that I was Snow White and my little sister, Chelsea was Rose Red.

Snow White and Rose Red illustrated by Arthur Rackham

Here's some fashion inspiration for your modern fairy tale, all from ModCloth this week

First, two dresses in royal hues with bows and delicate details, which I always associate with the day dreaminess of being a girl. One red as a poisoned apple with an equally sweet peter pan collar, the other with a sweetheart bodice and ribbons down the front. At the foot are two perfect Princess shoes. Both ideal for the modern Cinderella. The first, a flat "glass slipper"  with bow embellishment. The second,  playful in its plastic Barbie-look with an over-sized heart.

 This summer, I've been teaching Olivia how to make flower crowns- as crowns are very important for a Princess's wardrobe. Here's a delicate crown that can be worn with your princess dresses or work wear


To finish off the look, a classic bitten apple necklace,  antique book wallet and  thick red buckled belt.



The steal of the week is....the polite and day red dress at $44.95

Do you ever buy things and fall in love and wait several months to finally wear them? What's up with that? I did that to this vintage sweater, which was thrifted...oh..maybe in April? Poor thing was washed right away and sat in the closet unloved. I decided to put on my good "architectural support" as my funny hubby calls it and give it a whirl today.

I had planned on a pencil skirt but since I was just dashing to the grocery store and putting laundry away and such, I decided to try another unloved item- these high waist pants. 

I tend to stray away from short tops and high pants with the curve hugging thing going on because that lower belly of mine could use more pilates and less cheeseburgers. Some days, I feel sassy enough to go for it, though and today was such a day.



Speaking of sassy, how about my cute revolver brooch. I found this mini toy gun at an antique mall a few years ago and thought "I must make it a brooch!" A little JB Weld stick, a pin back and voila- a brooch! The little pin by the trigger can be pushed back and forth so the revolver opens!



So- archetectural support.  You think Christina Hendricks boobs are full of helium? Hell no! She wears one of these bad boys to get that great lift, shape and nipped in waist. Mine is this Exquisite Form Longline Bra Mine is white but they come in black too. I don't wear the long line bras often but when I wear a more form fitting dress or something like this knit top, they're fab!

Under the pants is my Leonisa vintage lace panty girdle , which I reviewed a few weeks ago and now you can see it in action!

via my vintage vogue

I've been working from sun up to sun down on my blog e course, which I'm hoping will be available soon! There's so much to cover and I don't want to leave anything out so it's taking much longer than I expected.

In my writing, research and brain storming sessions, I did find one big mistake that a lot of bloggers make (myself included when I was a newbie) that I wanted to share with you guys.


Misuse of Blog Post Labels


I wish I would have known when I started that those labels are not helping my blog to appear in search engines. I used every label I could think of!  If I write an outfit post, it doesn't help me in the least to label it "1940s, 1940s hat, navy skirt, polka dot skirt, 1940s jewelry, jewelry, hat, 40s, 40s fashion, 1940s shoes, peep toe shoes, coral shoes, pin up shoes"

More important than search engine optimization, a ton of labels irritates readers because it makes it impossible to find what you're looking for. If a reader just wants to see all of my outfits, they won't be able to find them in the sea of "pin up shoes" and "1940s hats" so I label outfits with "outfits" 

Did you know that every label that you use gets a unique url? So if you only have 3 posts on the topic of 1940s hats, Google will register that your site doesn't have much information on the subject and you will rank lower in search engines.

I try to limit my categories to no more than 25 or 30 at the most. Of course as your blog grows with new weekly features, you may want to add a new category every once in a while and that's fine, as long as you have more than a few posts tied to that label.  It's a good idea to go through old posts and delete unneeded tags to improve blog navigation for readers .

Learn everything I know about blogging and DIY blog design with my ecourse Bloggerific: A Guide to a Beautiful, Successful Blog

This article is from American Girl (a girl scout magazine) January 1949. Although this spread gives new uses for old girl scout uniforms of the era, we can use these ideas for thrift store dresses and worn out pieces from our own closets.

For more sewing inspiration and vintage patterns, follow my pin board, Sew Vintage

I have a guest post today on Confessions of a Vintage Hoarder. This blog is written by the sweet, beautiful and fabulous Leah Loverich who is also the editor of the popular Tumblr blog, 1940's Throwback

Leah Loverich

Leah is on a birthday vacation to London this week so she has kindly opened her blog to a a few guests.  Pop over and say happy birthday to Leah and see my guest post on How to Make a Lucite Initial Brooch.


Also check out my e-book, Pins for Pin-Ups: DIY Brooches for Retro Girls, which teaches you how to craft your own vintage novelty brooches.

 Earlier this week, I posted a really good article by Dita on Facebook about how to respond to comments from strangers about your vintage style. Here are some beautiful things that remind me of her classic glamorous daily wear.

The first is the nifty newsprint dress by Stop Staring- a curve hugging wiggle dress in black and white check with a sweet bow. For more of a grocery shopping day, Dita often wears a capri pants or a circle skirt with a simple blouse like the green B Jones Style Skirt with burlesque style fan print from Bettie Page and iconic presence blouse. Also for running errands, one of her favorite beauty tricks is a great pair of sun glasses. Slick on some red lipstick, do a quick hot roller set, put on your sunglasses and you're ready to go! I adore these cat eye sunglasses from Modcloth. With a clear frame and classic lines, you can wear them with anything.


Although Dita is known for her killer heels (watch Dita in God Save My Shoes on Netflix) she often wears flats when she's not on the red carpet or on stage. Black rounded toe ballet flats are also a staple in my wardrobe. Wear them with dresses, skirts and jeans.

The burlesque queen isn't complete without her foundations. Try the Maitresse bullet bra from What Katie Did and Berkshire ultra sheer seamed stockings from Dollhouse Bettie. Finally, one of Dita's personal favorite products for perfect winged liner- Mac Fluidline Eye Liner Gel in Blacktrack



There are quite a few steals this week- clear cat eyes at $11.99, seamed stockings at $8 and the black flats at $10.99

Stay tuned for next week's Swoon Worthy Sunday!



swoon worthy sunday posts contain affiliate and sponsored links. please read my full disclosure policy

Today we have a beautiful giveaway from one of my sponsors, Moon Walk Vintage!

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Moon Walk Vintage is owned by UK based mother and daughter team, Susie and Elaine who are obsessed with vintage fashion, especially mid-twentieth century. Moon Walk Vintage stocks a wide array of iconic garments and accessories from the 40's-80's.


                                                              


See Susie's sister shop, Susie Morrow Jewellery


Today, Susie and Elaine offer to one winner, a chic 1950s silk scarf in bold color palette and retro geometric print.

 

Scarves are such a versatile accessory. Wear it as a headband, around the neck, tie it into a turban or snood or tie it into a handbag. This scarf is 25 inches square- one size fits all! Label reads "100% pure silk, made in Italy" Giveaway is open worldwide.

To Enter:
Be a follower of this blog and Like Moon Walk Vintage on Facebook
Please leave a comment below letting me know that you've entered! 







This giveaway will run for one week and one winner will be announced on Saturday, August 10th.




Moon Walk Vintage is a Sponsor of Va-Voom Vintage.Read full disclosure policy

I am slightly obsessed with monograms on vintage items. Handbags, sweaters, jewelry- you name it. Even if it's not my monogram, I want to buy it and wear it and wonder what was the name of the person bearing those initials.

 I have a few monogram pieces of my own, which are some of my most treasured things. My great grandma's gold monogram brooch, a gift from my great grandpa. Her name was Alma Florence Leaver.
Two lucite "B" brooches. I love these because they are clear, I can wear them with anything. Since they are my absolute favorite brooch, I bought two in case tragedy struck one of them, I'd have a back up.




I have been in search of something vintage with my monogram on it for years. Wouldn't that be amazing- a lady who lived during the 40s or 50s with my exact initials and I happened to find her jewelry? I've rummaged through antique malls and online but so far, no luck so I was very excited to hear from Onecklace, specializing in name and initial necklaces.



I chose a small circle monogram necklace in silver with a dainty, short chain. It arrived in a beautiful and sturdy little gift box and is just as timelessly elegant as it can be! They had different sizes available but I love the small circle- a bit larger than a quarter and it's something I can wear with anything. For 1930s lovers out there, they also have some beautiful jewelry with bold deco style lettering.




 40's style blouse-thrifted, Goodwill
vintage wool skirt- The BaleOut (closed)
shoes- Miss Albright via ebay
vintage wicker and lucite handbag- antique mall
necklace c/o Onecklace.com



Va-Voom Vintage is an affiliate of Onecklace. Please read my full disclosure policy here