photos by me: Alex Falgiano 50s Floral Cotton Dress/Coat & 60s Black Verdi Bag Vintage Black French Cuff Dress 40s Cotton Tan & Red Day Dress
Lucky enough to steal my cousin Alex for a couple of hours, I asked her to be the first guest model for Little Peach Vintage. She is such a classic beauty. Something about her reminds me of Sophia Loren. Absolutely gorgeous! Alex always manages to achieve a polished effortlessness in her style. I knew she'd be the perfect model for 50s silhouettes. Right now she's making me want to grow my hair long to be able to do a french twist or loose curls. She sure is stunning. Enjoy your Friday!
photos by Dan: Vintage straw hat from Ecuador Vintage polka dot blouse Vintage red patent leather belt Metal clamdiggers Black Peep Toe Slingbacks
Time flies when your having fun. That always seems to be the case, right? Looks like my list of places to venture into over the weekend only ended up with a few check marks by the time Sunday night rolled around. I'll have to make another trip down to Baltimore to see more of the sights & neighborhoods soon.
I did manage to visit an interesting vintage store full of beautiful clothes from the 60s & 70s. I found some fantastic dresses there that will be perfect for the transition into fall. I love versatile pieces that take you through the seasons. It's great when they are able to earn their keep in the closet.
Wearing a wispy vintage silk blouse & pop color red belt, I walked from town over to Fort McHenry. The first thing I noticed was how well the area has been preserved. It was easy to imagine what it must have been like in the War of 1812 since the historical integrity is still intact on the grounds. This fort was used to protect the city during the Battle of Baltimore. After the battle ended, the very young America celebrated a victory having avoided handing the land over to the British. It was pretty spectacular to be near the spot where Francis Scott Key sat in a boat & penned the words to the Star Spangled Banner. The replica flag in the photos above is similar to the one that inspired him to jot down the National Anthem.
Tomorrow we're drivin' down to Maryland. It will be a treat to visit all the historic parts of Baltimore & brush up on my U.S. History! I already have a long list of spots to see.
I'm baking up a peach cobbler & supernatural brownies for the trip. The peach cobbler is my Momma's recipe. It's so good! She calls it cupa, cupa, cupa, cupa. The translation to that is 1 cup milk, 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup peaches, & throw in a stick of butter. Yummmmy! That one's straight from Georgia. The supernatural brownies are a secret recipe of my sister who is a pastry chef. Those are pretty much awesome! Now, that the goodies are in the oven I better start packing.
It's going to be a pretty laid back, fun getaway. We're going to be spending time with some wonderful friends barbequing and catching up. In between that I'm going to sneak away for some vintage hunting at the local shops. I've heard Baltimore has some unbelievable vintage stores in a neat area called Fell's Point. A few people told me it's a part of the city that is up and coming with a nice creative energy to it. I'll let you know what I find in my exploration.
In my suitcase I'm packing all the necessities....shorts, striped tees, bensimon sneakers, & a couple of light sweaters. For fun I'm tossing in a wide brim straw hat & a couple of easy traveling, no brainer sundresses. It's best just to keep it simple & enjoy the weekend without having to fuss over outfits.
photos by Dan & me! wearing: vintage floral mini dress & camel wedges
It seems there comes a point after living in New York City for a certain amount of time that you become jaded. Or, at least that's what I've been feeling like lately. However, just when the hard living starts to wear you down, something pretty neat happens. That's what the High Line seems to be right about now. I finally made it up there & was quite impressed. It's a whole new perspective on things. You have to admit, it's pretty cool to be in a park up in the sky! Thirty feet above the hustle & bustle of the city streets, the vibe and flow on the High Line is calm & smooth. I think this is just what New York needed. The way it was designed is smart, modern, & beautiful all at the same time! Check the history at thehighline.org.
photos by Dan: tiny pictures are of Ringwood Botanical Garden Ringwood Manor - Vintage Crochet Vest, 50s Blue Shorts, 70s Blue Dress Hiking on trails in 50s Yellow Eyelet Dress
On Sunday, photos by Dan & I put the pups & some vintage clothing in the car & off we went into the mountains. We drove up to Ringwood State Park in New Jersey. It really is a neat place to see. Winding trails to hike or bike are plenty and peaceful throughout the park. There's even a lake to do a little swim or sunbathing after you've walked through the botanical gardens. It was a fun adventure. Now, I'm even more intrigued after doing a little research on the rich history & past inhabitants of the land. I want to go back & view the park with educated eyes so I can fully appreciate what those mountains & streams have seen over hundreds, even thousands of years.
It was originally inhabited by Native Americans, in which supernatural occurances are credited to the grounds. Ringwood was then known for it's ore & became known as an iron making empire. General Washington's map maker during the American Revolution had his headquarter's at Ringwood, where he drew up hundreds of them to keep the General safe. The area & manor were later sold to an affluent family, the Hewitts & used as a summer escape. No longer needing the home, it was given to the state of New Jersey. I read that the Hewitt family handed over the house full of all their furniture, supplies, & even clothing....boy, would I love to go through those garments! Do any of y'all know more history on the area? I'm certainly curious now.
photos: top two, film captures by me - Bonjour Tristesse (1958) bottom three, photos by Dan shorts: 1950s high waisted - vintage shop Jersey City
Just wanted to announce the winner of the vintage rose ring............Coco Cherie! Thanks for all the sweet comments!
Look at these adorable 50s high waisted shorts I found at my favorite vintage shop in Jersey City. They are a close relative to my white ones that I have been living in for the month of July. They zip up the back & are just the right length. I love the idea of wearing starched blouses with these during the day. It kind of reminds me of Jean Seberg, in Bonjour Tristesse (one of my favorite movies!) on the French Riviera.
Photos by Dan & I are off to explore the mountains & lakes of Ramapo Valley today. Have a lovely Sunday!
photos by Dan Dress: 1950s Navy Sailor Dress - ebay Shoes: Nine West Peeps Earrings: White Pearl Drop - flea market Georgia
Hi y'all,
my etsy shop is officially open for business! Check it out & let me know what you think! littlepeachvintage.etsy.com. I'm going to do a friendly contest for those of you that visit the shop & leave me a comment on the blog about anything you like. I will draw from a hat to see who wins on Saturday! The prize is a pretty vintage costume ring in the shape of a rose with a little crystal in the center. I found it in Vermont on Sunday at a local flea market & thought you might like it! Have a great day!
photos by Dan top collage: 60s Purple French Sunglasses-Jersey City Vintage Shop 60s Ivory Knit Sweater Top-UES Thrift Shop Earnest Sewn Jeans- straight leg
bottom collage: 70s Ivory Day Dress- UES Thrift Shop
This past weekend I was lucky enough to escape to Vermont. I could talk about the fresh air alone in an entire posting....it's unbelievable! You really smell the trees & the earth. There isn't even the slightest hint of humidity, either. It's quite a new feeling for me after growing up in Georgia where you melt in July, & your only chance at survival is to stay in the water all day long. Something about the sunshine, clean air, and emerald green scenery made me want to loaf around & eat. That's exactly what I did..........the Vermonster got me! With each year that passes living in the city, I long for the country a little more. These little weekend escapes are crucial to survival in the urban jungle that is New York.
I ended up wearing jeans & light sweaters in the evening & breezy dresses during the day. Vermont is so easy & casual. It felt great to be outside two days in a row!
Farewell Annelore, Hello Little Peach! Before I began this blog I began my career in fashion working for an independent designer at a tiny shop in the West Village called Annelore. I was there for almost three years & worked on every single facet of the line. I was fortunate enough to have a hand in production, designing, sketching, fitting, editing, buying, selling, merchandising, shop keeping, lookbooking, shipping.......you name it, I did it. Wow, was it an education! It was like a three year boot camp to prepare me for my very own thing, Little Peach. After I decided to leave Annelore, I decided to slowly begin this blog to talk about my passions, vintage clothing & style. I knew I wanted to stay in fashion but wanted to incorporate my love for vintage clothing somehow. So, My little etsy shop will be opening soon & I couldn't be more excited! It will house my very favorite finds from all over New York & New Jersey with the occasional finds from road trips to Georgia, Vermont, & every place in between. Be on the lookout. It's coming soon!
photos by Dan vintage Hawaiian sun dress- UES thrift shop vintage French lilac sunglasses (check out the criss cross back in the top left photo)
I did an earlier post last month when it felt like I was drowning in the rain & so desperately aching to have just one summer day. I mean a really hot, sunny, 90 degree day......there's now been like four in a row!!!! It's so funny how the mood of the entire city changes once the sun comes out. People start boppin' around & actually show a smile every now & then. Well, from that earlier post I mentioned a vibrant, classic Hawaiian sun dress. I felt like the day would never come that I could pull it out of the closet, let alone be able to wear it outside. Here it is!
photos by Dan black cotton racerback tank - (one I've had for years) black & silver pleated skirt - ues thrift shop purple sash belt - american apparel (pictured in the last frame is my dog Jubilee)
Don't you just love being able to walk around without any shoes, sometimes? I really do love a cute pair of shoes any day of the week, but every now and then I feel a hint of nostalgia when I'm able to run around barefoot. It must be from growing up in the country....or not having that luxury now in the city. Saturday, I wore a pair of sandals for about 5 minutes & decided to give my feet some time in the sand. The ground was the perfect balance of toasty & soft. It felt so good I didn't put my shoes back on until Sunday a.m. I wore this wispy pleated skirt with a racerback tank & felt surprisingly cool all day, especially when a breeze would go by.
photo by Dan French Gelot hat Striped LinenTop 50s White Cotton Shorts (Charlie & me!)
Finally, a day at the beach! There are very few places that I feel more relaxed & at ease than the ocean. I mean, what's not to love? My little secret escape is just 1 & 1/2 hrs. outside of NYC is one of the most gorgeous & virtually untouched beaches I've seen. It's called Island Beach State Park & is tucked away on the other side of Long Beach Island on the Jersey Shore. It is about as secluded & quiet as you can get. Miles & miles of sugary sand dunes are almost completely hidden from the road. Just pick an entrance to the beach & walk about 100 yards through the sandy pathway and you will find trees & vines framing the trail. The first time I walked through the path I knew there must be something pretty special on the other side. Once you make it to the end of the trail it's hard not to stop & stare at how amazing nature can be. Every time I go there I am always so impressed with the cleanliness & natural state of this beach. My favorite part of this place is that it is animal friendly. I usually bring my two pups, Charlie & Jubilee who seem to have a new lease on life after a day at the beach as well!
I threw on a vintage striped light weight top I picked up at a shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with my favorite pair of 50s white shorts & was set! Don't you love the feeling of linen when the summery wind makes it billow? I can't seem to get enough of linen in the summertime, it just feels so good.
This morning I was cutting it really close on time. I spent the first part of my day running all around the garment district. For some reason it's so hard for me not to go into m & j trimmings on 6th avenue if I'm ever in a 10 block radius. I ended up staying a little too long staring at ribbon & buttons with my mouth wide open like a deer in the headlights. I glanced at the time and realized I had to get from 42nd Street to the West Village in 7 minutes. So, I pretended like I was in a little road race as I flew down the sidewalk running. I ran through all the new, small parks set up right in the middle of the road. Passed all the tourists near Macy's & the rest of the circus around 34th street. Then, sprinted all the way to 8th Ave. I ran down to the subway, jumped on the A train, & I was determined to be the first person up the stairs at 14th Street. To my surprise I was winning! Then, before I even knew what hit me, I slipped & went flying! It felt like I hit a wall....but it was just the top step. All I could do was get up, wipe the black dust off my hands, & be glad I was at least wearing a pretty cute dress. That made me stop for a second I tell myself to quit rushing around like a crazy person.
I shifted gears and started day dreaming about being a beach bum. I found this beautiful 1940s postcard on etsy from a really wonderful shop called bananastrudel. They sell all types of vintage postcards, maps, & prints. It gave me instant beach inspiration! I couldn't pass it up & ordered it right away. I just love the shoes the lady is wearing. Why not lay in the sand in a pair of red polk a dot wedges. Looks good to me.
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