in the spirit

man o man, the christmas spirit has finally hit me today. as in, i’m seriously grumpy today. i hate to be a debbie downer, but i have to say that today is just not my day! i’m not sick, nothing bad happened, i just don’t feel 100%. one of those days, as they say. whoever they are.

so i actually wore this exact outfit last week, but i never got around to taking pictures of it. since i wasn’t in the mood to think of an outfit today, it was an easy choice. it’s just a mix of this outfit, which i wore a few weeks ago, and this outfit, which i wore last monday. and because the lovely ms. lulu letty totally rocked some red tights with a pair of salvatore ferragamo flats the other day, which is what i wish i had instead of these old flats. but more than anything, it was just an excuse to wear these 110 denier tabio tights yet again. they are my most favorite pair of tights right now. better than my merino wool wolfords. they’re just such a thick, comfy knit, a dream to wear… and i want them in every color. hm, that is actually enough to lift my spirits just a tad!

and now i am off to do video editing because i really want to be able to post the first calivintage field trip tomorrow. oh, the anticipation!



wearing:
cashmere cardigan, j.crew
vintage plaid blouse, thrifted
interlock mini skirt, american apparel
110 denier tights, courtesy of tabio
flats, juicy couture
vintage coach dr. bag, ebay

spots and stripes

i know my last post was about bike style, but i did not turn around and hop on my bike today. (though i do think this would be a nice outfit for a ride on a warmer day.) but instead, i had some super fun and super secret business to attend to. i’m back from that, and now i get to spend the rest of my afternoon getting work done so i can premiere my first calivintage field trip, complete with video. weee!

anyway, in honor of the unseasonably cold weather we’re experiencing here in california, i decided to go out and stand in front of some interesting cacti and succulents. they look so pretty, but i’m sure they’re feeling just as cold as i am out here. though i do have an extra layer of smart wool socks hidden underneath my riding boots, so i’m doing just fine. the only thing i wish i had was a nice pair of vintage gloves. maybe in a lipstick red, no?

i kinda really need to do some shopping. hopefully this weekend! besides looking for new clothes and accessories, we really need to get some heavy curtains for the apartment. like most buildings in the area, our apartment has zero insulation and the same creaky old windows that were built with the house back in the 20’s. this means that when it actually does hit freezing here like it did last night, we all get a little too chilly indoors!

oh hello, little hummingbird! so nice of you to stop by.

wearing:
vintage navy blazer, thrifted
vintage striped dress, ebay
skinny belt, urban outfitters
little heart tights, tabio
knee socks, drug store
vintage nine west riding boots, idol vintage
vintage coach purse, thrifted

a jeans and t-shirt kind of day

no, i did not take anyone’s suggestions for today’s outfit. i tried and tried and made a big ol’ mess in my bedroom, but in the end i decided to go for a plain old jeans and t-shirt look. well, now i’m wearing a t-shirt, but i did wear the lace shell for a couple of hours and will probably put it back on when i go out tonight. but really, i just couldn’t help myself. i had to wear the new custom jeans i got from indidenim! they are exactly what i asked for: high rise skinnies with a 12″ leg opening and a slightly longer length. they fit like a glove. especially since i gained a few lbs while eating constantly during my long thanksgiving weekend. seriously. but those will drop off in a few more days anyway. and i’m not complaining. the food was delicious.

anyway, i actually went on a little field trip to the indidenim offices as part of a new feature i am going to be introducing to the blog. i’ve decided to start a series in which i go on various field trips to local small and independent businesses that i love (vintage shops, boutiques, etc), take a few behind-the-scenes shots, and report back to my blog to tell you all about it. it will include video. think of it like mister rogers’ neighborhood when he went on tours of factories, except i’ll be showing you how to pick a custom pair of jeans instead of how crayons are made. more on that very soon.

but in the meantime, i will be trying some new outfits with the suggestions and ideas you gave me. i might even wear leggings. who knows? such mystery, such intrigue…

wearing:
cashmere cardigan, j.crew
vintage lace shell, estate sale
custom made high rise skinny jeans, indidenim
platform ankle boots, payless
vintage coach purse, thrifted

mi familia pt. 2


jose perez and family

thank you so much for the overwhelmingly positive response i got from my first post of old family portraits. i didn’t think a whole lot about it at first, but after posting them i felt very good about contributing my teeny tiny bit of history to the public archive. i don’t know if i’ve ever really seen such old photographs representing mexicans in america from that long ago besides the ones i’ve found in boxes in my grandmother’s closet, so i’m very glad to share them, and i do have more!

i especially appreciated hearing from threadbared and fashion for writers, who were both very happy to see representation of people of color in vintage photographs and are both going to be posting some of their own vintage family photos on their blogs soon. very cool!

anyway, for my next installation i’ve decided to post some more casual shots. the portraits i posted in my last post were very old, from as early as the 1910’s, so i imagine it was a much more eventful thing to get your picture taken. they got dressed up in their best clothes and patiently stood in front of the camera with an expressionless gaze. as time moved on, cameras became more commonplace so we start to see more relaxed shots. i particularly like these because those are just the types of dresses i love to find at estate sales!


lorenza elizondo roque (my great-grandmother) and family


mary elizondo espino


lorenza elizondo roque


lorenza elizondo roque

mi familia


jose and esther perez

phew! i just got back from my holiday weekend and i’m still recovering from three straight days of eating. when i go back home to visit, i always stay with my grandma, who has a talent for waking me up to bacon, hash-browns, eggs, and tortillas with home-made salsa every day. not to mention, the ridiculously large thanksgiving dinner which we began eating on thursday afternoon and almost finished by saturday.

so since the holidays often mean family, i decided to do a blog post about just that! i’ve been begging my aunt julie to send me family photos for months, so i was especially excited when she handed me a cd filled with old pictures that she scanned onto her computer. so thanks to julie and the wonders of modern technology, i am finally going to debut some of the perez family photo albums.

for the sake of space, i’ll probably be posting up my favorite pictures over several blog posts. it’s just so hard to pick which ones i like! for today, i am posting some of my favorite professional portraits. i love looking at these since it looks like it was such a formal affair to get all dressed up and stand rigidly in front of the camera. if you want to see all of the images i have uploaded so far, you can check them out at my flickr. i’ll probably be adding the entire collection over the next few days.


elizondo


betty garcia


angelina roque


elizondo


telesflora roque


pedro roque


maria ventura elizondo

black and blue

well, the holidays are approaching. i don’t know quite what it is, but i can certainly feel it in the air. my outfits are getting more casual, i’m losing the motivation to get work done, and today i’m blogging from my boyfriend’s parents house! we’re here to relax and hang out for the evening. my almost-day-off got me thinking: i’m going to be out of town for several days coming up, and i might have to actually pull away from the internet and leave the blog on vacation! it’s probably a good thing because now that the semester at school is over, i really do need a good break. and what better way than to enjoy a big thanksgiving dinner with family?

so in fitting with the mood, i dressed very casually today. no frills. and i was entertained by the way it came out: i’ve got black and blue, highs and lows, silver and gold. almost my entire outfit was vintage found in thrift shops for a few dollars each, except for my fancy pants j brand jeans. and i’ve had this men’s watch forever, but i hardly ever wear it! in fact, i think i’ve had these boots for 2 years and i never wore them until today. it’s kind of amazing how i still struggle to think of an outfit to wear some days when there are so many items in my closet that i haven’t even worn yet. but sometimes i’m just waiting for the right opportunity to wear it. does that ever happen to you?



wearing:
vintage navy blue puff sleeved blazer, thrifted
vintage plaid blouse, thrifted
high rise skinny jeans, j brand
vintage justin roper boots, thrifted
gold and silver timex watch, target

the interrogation

i just couldn’t help myself! i had to get a quick shot of me in the interrogation room for this post. anyway, i was going to split this up into several parts, but decided to just DO THIS THING. so grab yourself a glass of wine and get comfy, because this is going to be really, really long. in fitting with the theme, i decided to add some photos of me trying to pick something to wear. geez, it’s like erin unplugged over here today!

what was your first vintage piece of clothing that you fell in love with?
i distinctly remember a red givenchy sweater that i bought at an estate sale with my mom. i think i was in the 7th grade. one day i decided to give it away and then for weeks after, i regretted it. now, i fall in love with vintage all the time, but no longer have a hard time saying goodbye. the thing with vintage (and clothing in general) is the impermanence of it. you rip it or stain it or else it goes out of fashion or you change your taste, so you can only enjoy it while it lasts.

when did you first start taking care in what you wore?
always! when i was a little kid, my daily routine would involve 2 – 3 outfit changes per day, much to my poor mother’s consternation. i was often heard complaining that i had nothing to wear whilst sitting in a pile of clothes. um, i basically still do the same thing today…

what’s your personal style philosophy?
i dress for myself because i want to look good. i try to find silhouettes that are flattering and i tend to go for simplicity. ideally, i would love the wear a mix of vintage and designer pieces, but i’m not at a place in my life where i can afford designer clothing.

what inspired you to blog???
well, i always cared a lot about getting dressed, so when i discovered sites like chictopia and weardrobe, i just started posting my outfits. there was just this sort of natural progression where blogging just seemed like the next logical step.

who takes your pictures?
my boyfriend. his name is brendan and he does really cool art and writes fiction as well. he will be making his debut on my blog next week!

do you ever get scared when you’re posing on your rooftop because i’m terrible with heights and i can barely even go on my friend’s fire escape and so i was just wondering if that’s an issue for you, because the photos come out looking really cool but it looks nerve-wracking to be up there.
i’m not afraid of heights. in fact, i like climbing, hiking, and biking up to high places very much.

do you always feel confident in your outfit choices or do you ever worry about what others think?
in order to leave the house in what i’m wearing, i do have to feel confident. but sometimes when i go out, i get self-concious if a lot of people stare at me. i just want to look good, i don’t want to be gawked at.

there’s a lot of cute stuff out there but i don’t feel like i have the confidence to wear it. any advice on what i can tell myself so that i just go for it?
sometimes we just allow ourselves and others to define who we are and how we should be. i think it’s important to remember that you’re allowed to change and do what you want!

where do you shop on the rare occasion that you don’t go vintage?
i will shop anywhere. mostly h&m, forever 21, j.crew, urban outfitters, anthropologie, nordstrom, modcloth.com, shopbop.com, rue la la, gilt groupe.

do you have a favorite designer(s)?
chloe, built by wendy, luella, lover, charles anastase, steven alan, wren, a.p.c., rachel comey, 3.1 philip lim, band of outsiders, marc jacobs.

if you had a bunch of money given to you to expand your closet, what would be your first (expensive) purchase?
i would buy a mulberry bayswater. i’ve always wanted one.

what’s the best purchase you ever made?
i have no idea. but i am always most pleased when i buy a cashmere cardigan. i wear them until they are threadbare and get holes because they are so warm and comfy.

what is your favorite color to wear?
i don’t have a favorite. i tend to wear a lot of neutrals: black, gray, navy, cream, white, but i would love to add more red and mustard yellow into the mix. or else maybe i’m just craving a hot dog? get it? ketchup and mustard? yeah…

are there any current actors/musicians/celebs who’s style you particularly admire?
this always changes, but i am currently watching alexa chung and chloe sevigny very closely. i also like to see what michelle williams and rachel bilson are wearing.

what would be the most unlikely thing we’d ever see you wearing?
um, i probably wouldn’t wear pink velour sweatpants with juicy across the butt.

what do you do for a living?
i write my blog, sell vintage clothing on etsy, and go to school full-time.

what are you studying in school?
liberal studies with an emphasis on multiple subject teaching (elementary school) and a minor in art.

what is something that you really want to achieve in the next year?
i want my blog and etsy shop to pay my living expenses. i have a strong feeling that this will happen in the next year, if not the next few months and i am oh so excited because i put a lot of time and effort into it and i think it would only be fair to get a little bit back in return for all that work!

what do you see yourself doing in ten years time?
wow, i have absolutely no idea. i can’t answer that. i’m studying to become a teacher, but i’m also really enjoying the whole world of fashion, so i’m leaving it open.

what would be your ideal blue collar job? me, i’d like to try out being a mailperson or train conductor.
i would want to do finish carpentry, like building furniture and other fine woodwork, but that job doesn’t exist anymore because they have ikea now.

what are your tattoos of?
i actually did a blog post about my tattoos here. there are even scans of where the original images came from.

if you could get your dream tattoo, what would your design be, influenced by whom/what and who would the ultimate tattoo artist be to do it?
see above. or click here.

what’s you favorite movie?
i can never ever choose favorites! this will be a mix of actual movie titles and directors that i love in no particular order: harold and maude, jean-luc godard, mean girls, spike jonze, heathers, woody allen, the dark crystal, federico fellini, the neverending story, alexander payne, welcome to the dollhouse, hayao miyazaki, the graduate, wes anderson. there’s too many.

if you were a character in a book or a film (or both!) who would you be?
anna karina in pierrot le fou or audrey hepburn in funny face. i’m not saying i’m like them, but i wish i was! if you’re asking who i’m actually like, i don’t know. my boyfriend always says i’m like giulietta masina in the nights of cabiria, which is quite a compliment to me!

what’s your favourite book?
i’m embarrassingly not very well-read when it comes to fiction. some of my favorite authors are arthur miller, kurt vonnegut, j.d. salinger, jeffrey eugenides.

what kind of music do you listen to?
some favorites in no particular order: the pixies, of montreal, the kinks, xtc, the breeders, cat stevens, tom tom club, the blow, weezer, radiohead, beck, belle and sebastian, the beatles, joni mitchell, air, bjork, submission hold. boy, some of this stuff really dates me.

i always associate a particular piece of music/tune to an era…do you have any favorite tunes, say for 30s, 40s, 50, 60s?
sons of the pioneers, woody guthrie, django reinhardt, thelonius monk, the beatles.

what song would you choose as the soundtrack to your life?
if you want to sing out by cat stevens for the harold and maude soundtrack. that’s kind of a joke. i don’t know how to answer that one.

what makes you laugh?
the other night i caught that episode of i love lucy where she does the famous mirror routine with harpo marx and i laughed so hard! seriously, that show is funny.

what makes you cry?
i cried the other day for like 10 seconds because i was overwhelmed with holiday plans and finishing up the semester in school. i love the holidays, but it gets stressful sometimes.

why do you love california?
it’s where i was born and where 5 generations of my family were born before me. it’s absolutely beautiful, with miles and miles of coastline, hot deserts, and majestic mountain ranges, of which you can experience all in one day. and there’s really good food, beer, and wine here.

where in the world would you most like to visit?
i haven’t had the opportunity to travel yet. the only place i’ve been outside of the u.s. is belize. i would love to go back to the caribbean, but i’d also like to see mexico, france, and sweden.

if you could only order one thing from a coffee shop for life, what would it be?
i want to say coffee with steamed soy milk, but seeing as i recently quit drinking coffee (we’ll see how long that lasts), i have to say tea with steamed soy milk.

if you could go back in time..what year would it be??
i would want to go back to prehistoric times and check out some dinosaurs.

if you could meet or see again anyone past or present, who would it be and why?
like jesus? i dunno… oprah?

getting to know me

hah ha. you see what i did there? it’s like those lyrics, “getting to know you,” but then i replaced the you with me because this blog post is about getting to know me… yeah…

see, yesterday i received a blogger award from quincy of q’s daydream (thank you, dear!) and it includes a little questionnaire in which you get the opportunity to answer the questions and post them up on your blog to share a little bit more about you. i started to fill it out and i realized that it would be so much fun if i were to have you, dear readers, ask me some questions, and i’ll answer those instead. because the more i think about it, i don’t really share all that much with you besides my sartorial decisions, or else i complain about the weather or homework or some such silliness. and i think it’s because i don’t always know what people would be interested to know. so whether you’ve been reading my blog for a long time, or if this is your first time here, go ahead, ask away, and then tomorrow i will answer all your questions in another post!

but before i go, i kinda have to talk a little about my dress, too. this here is another piece in my vintage feedsack dress collection. i have absolutely no idea how to date this one because it is handmade, and because feedsack dresses were popular from the 30’s right through the 60’s, probably even later in rural areas. usually, the clue for me is the style of the dress or else some known history of the original owner, but i can’t figure this one out. when did wrap dresses get popular? that might be a clue… anyway, i love love love the print and the teeny tiny rick rack details.

now don’t forget to ask me some questions! what do you want to know about the girl behind calivintage???

wearing:
vintage feedsack dress, ebay
skinny leather belt, urban outfitters
merino wool stockings, wolford
blimey platform oxfords, seychelles

big red

oh, hm, let’s see. right on the heels of that post about red, i’ve already rediscovered a little something in my closet that just happens to fit in! definitely inspired by the spring 2009 luella collection. it was love at first sight, and i knew that i would need like a million of these for my own personal collection. good thing for me, you can find them for very good prices on ebay, and i usually see them here and in the local antique shops. the only sad part is that i often forget to add a hat, so most of mine are just collecting dust in my closet. you should have seen the little cloud of particles that went flying across my room when i picked this up today!

and can you tell? i was so cold today that i actually wore pants. in one of my recent posts, rebecca of the clothes horse asked me, “how cold could it possibly be over there?” and well, i have an answer. this is the forecast for today:

i should really never complain, right? but seriously, i don’t have a point of reference. i only visit the snow on day trips to mountainous areas. how cold does it get where you all live?

ok, enough with the small talk about weather. i’m like a little old lady over here! instead i will tell you a little something about red that i should have included in my last post. when i was a little kid, i used to tell my mom that red was my favorite color because it is the color of ketchup!

wearing:
vintage red velvet bow hat, ebay
cashmere cardigan, j.crew
lark and wolff by steven alan sailor tunic, urban outfitters
bullhead solana extreme skinny jeans, courtesy of pac sun
woven platform sandals, steve madden

do your homework

ok, today is probably not the best day for me to be focusing energy on the blog. saturday marks the end of the semester for me and i kinda have like 5 papers to write. this is all compounded by the fact that i was sick last weekend and missed a couple of classes, so i’m feeling especially lost about what all of these papers entail. i really should be a better student and start asking questions, but sometimes i get embarrassed when i fall behind and i can’t seem to speak up. so bad. in fact, this whole semester has been really bad and i can’t wait for it to be over so i can take a little break and re-evaluate my situation; get some focus and energy back before i start again in the spring.

so maybe all this thought about academia has influenced this outfit. geek chic anyone? actually, it’s probably just the latest trends taking hold of me. i just can’t help myself! i am head over heels for thigh high boots, i’ll always love a good blazer, and i’m a california girl, so cut off shorts are required. anyway, i don’t have the money to spend on thigh high boots, so i opted for socks pulled over my knees instead. it kinda works, no?

and what is this? can you believe i ventured off my roof and onto the street? i live in an urban area, but my house is in a residential neighborhood. let me just tell you, i don’t know how well this outfit will fly over here. i’m not generally shy about taking photos in public or anything, but the maintenance dudes were staring at us and some random duder just decided to stop on the sidewalk and watch us while we took photos. i felt creepy and my boyfriend agreed. we slowly walked away, and i found myself unsure of my sartorial decisions…

wearing:
vintage wool j.crew blazer, ebay
pinstripe ruffle blouse, j.crew
vintage levi’s cut off shorts, thrifted
sheer stockings & over the knee socks, drugstore
blimey oxfords, seychelles
vintage dooney & bourke purse, thrifted