since recently expressing my eagerness for fall clothing, i thought today i might share with you this beautiful pre-fall lookbook from la garçonne. in my outfit post on tuesday, i was expressing how quickly fashion moves forward, and that anxious feeling i get about incorporating new fall pieces into my wardrobe even though it’s the middle of summer. thankfully (or not so thankfully, depending on how you look at it), designers and shops have got it figured out with the release of pre-fall collections and lookbooks. what i especially appreciate about these pre-season types of looks is that they are pretty much appropriate year round for places like northern california, where “transitional” dressing and the use of layers is required most of the time.

these are my favorite outfits from the lookbook, and the styling is spot on! i love the bare legs with comfy sweaters and plenty of easy flats. this is a wonderful example of how to dress as the seasons change from summer to fall, but really for any time when we’re experiencing fair weather. now if only i could afford all of these beautiful designer pieces! a girl can dream…

first up, pictured above is evelyn nesbit. she was an artists’ model and became famous for being the subject of illustrations by charles gibson, whom we can thank for the title “gibson girls.” i find her gaze to be so incredibly captivating and i love her outfits complete with those wild feathered hats. images from the library of congress.

there are tons of photos of miss gabrielle ray on vintage postcards as she was an english stage actress, and was apparently one of the most photographed women in the world. you can certainly see why, with her stunning beauty and perfect gibson girl hair. i just love all of her cute costumes, especially the sporty sailor looks. postcard images from performing arts.

camille clifford was pretty much the quintessential gibson girl, with her statuesque hourglass figure which was the subject of many illustrations of the era. she represented an ideal of the time with her corseted 18-inch waist. certainly not an ideal i could ever imaging wanting to live up to, but her images are stunning nonetheless. postcard image from performing arts.

now that it’s summer, i’ve been pretty much fixated on pretty dresses or simple outfits comprised of shorts and blouses. they’re easy enough to throw on in the summer heat, but the details in these looks set them apart and create plenty of interest!

kansas couture: rose-colored glasses
the combination of the perfect fit and interesting cut of katy’s dress with that amazing straw sailor hat and round sunnies is so spot on! she definitely shows us that a simple dress never has to be boring!

les mads: a day in disneyland
i love this look because the polka dots and lace collar are super cute, but the look is perfectly comfortable and casual for a day in a theme park.

pandora: madame bovary c’est moi
again, this is a very simple look to keep you comfortable in the summer, but that dress is out of this world! the modest length and open cut feels so fresh in a sea of mini dresses! and of course you know i love those jessica simpson platforms.

diary of style: hello tokyo
lately i feel very drawn to the red, white, and blue combo. it’s only cheesy on the 4th, but the rest of the year, it’s such an eye-catching look. i especially love the swallow print on her cute dress and the way that she added a splash of red with a simple ribbon around her neck.

slickwalk
i love the way that she takes these preppy pieces, but makes them super casual and cool with the wrinkled linen shorts and perfectly worn in oxford boots.

here’s lookin at me kid: wardrobe wednesday – neutrals
i just recently discovered this blog thanks to my obsessive tumblr browsing and i have to say i’m sad that she only does outfits on wednesday! her styling is so perfectly put together and i really think i need a felt fedora now!

last night i was sitting with my boyfriend having a chat and he asked me if we could go on lots of picnics over the weekend. picnics are pretty much one of my favorite things to do, so today my head has been filled with sammich and watermelon and potato salad dreams. so i thought i would post some of these beautiful vintage photos of people on picnics so you could share my mood. none of these are my own, but you can click through for the source of each one.

i’m off to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for a grilled portobello mushroom sammich. care to share any of your favorite picnic foods and/or locations? i feel like hearing picnic stories and ideas.

i recently stumbled across this editorial, she was once mine. it was inspired by pin up girls of the 1950’s and was shot in the liguria region of italy. besides the fact that i would love to go on a vacation to such a beautiful place and experience some real summer heat, i love the modern take on the classic style. and i just can’t get enough of those amazing hairstyles! i feel like this whole photo shoot would be great with some of those beautiful zelda sweetwater swimsuits. in my dreams!