after recently celebrating father’s day over the weekend and mother’s day last month, i decided that perhaps it was time to do another mi familia post today. i’ve done a few installations in the past including images of my mother’s side of the family from as long ago as the 1910’s seen here, here, and here. i was really delighted by the positive reception i received from them, particularly because i recognized that there isn’t a lot of representation of people of color in historical images of the united states unless it’s in the context of migrant farm workers or the civil rights movement. we don’t often get to see the more typical images like family portraits or snap shots at the park or on the beach. so i’m glad to be able to contribute my little collection to the public archive by posting them on my blog occasionally.and while we’re on the subject, i want to let you know that threadbared is calling for submissions for images of women of color in fashionable looks! they’re also looking for garments and accessories, newspaper articles, or other ephemera relating to women of color for a special fashion exhibition. click through for details on how to submit!i definitely intend to continue sharing more vintage images of my family on my blog as i unearth them, but in honor of my parents, today i thought it would be fitting to show you a few more recent images of my family. above from left: my mom, my dad, my dad’s sister/my godmother, and my mom’s brother/my nino. oh yes, and the little baby is me back in 1983, a few months after i was born. hehe, my mom is especially tiny at 4’11”. note the super tall wedges.

with my older sister, erica. i would just like to note that she is now 5’9″. apparently she got tall of the tall genes…

from left: erica (my older sister), devin (my younger brother), and me!

that’s right, folks! i’m running with a theme here. remember when i said i wanted to go a bit more edwardian with my teddy girl look? like yesterday? well, after posting those inspiration pictures today, i went to my closet and managed to find just what i needed was already hanging on the racks. the only thing is that this version is a bit more grown up and ladylike, so it was harder for me to try and look like a tough kid while wearing these stiletto heels! but i actually really like the effect. it suddenly makes me miss the days when i had really long hair, so i could twist my hair into some sort of fancy edwardian up-do.

anyway, i thought it was kinda silly that while taking style tips from days gone by, i’m actually quite on trend with the scalloped edge of my blazer and my little straw hat. though i suppose that’s half of the fun in dressing vintage and vintage-inspired. even trends from as far back as a hundred years can still make their way back into our modern wardrobes.

jacket: vintage scalloped sassoon jacket from pretty penny
blouse: pleated sleeve ruffle neck blouse courtesy of loft
jeans: j brand 210 the oslo in indigo
shoes: nine west suede platforms
bag: caning woven leather clutch courtesy of loft
hat: vintage straw boater hat

and just a quick note to remind you that i’ll be guest editing at live.love.LOFT. for the month of june!

since i’ve been having so much fun tying my hair up in vintage scarves with my little pompadour poof these past couple of days, i starting thinking of different ways to play it up. instead of just being all rosy-the-riveter with it (which is awesome, don’t get me wrong), today i decided to take some inspiration from the teddy girls of london in the 1950s. it’s just a touch of inspiration here since i’m definitely rocking a much more modern and refined version, so you can probably expect to see me trying this again with a bit more of a rough edge and edwardian twist. (i think i need some cameos, perhaps.) anyway, i went with my chambray and skinny jeans rolled up at the cuffs since the teddy girls were predominantly working class, and i know you’ve heard me mention my recent taste for everything work wear inspired. the blazer and heels dress it up a bit, and the scarf completes the look.

but i suppose more than anything, the idea of these rough and tumble kids on the streets of london in the 50s had me feeling a bit like a delinquent walking around the neighborhood for my photo shoot today. it was kinda fun to move out of cute territory and into something a bit more tough than my typical looks.

jacket: boyfriend blazer courtesy of LOFT
shirt: j.crew selvedge chambray shirt
jeans: j brand 910 the oslo jeans in indigo
shoes: wedge sandals courtesy of LOFT
scarf: vintage silk scarf