My Lucy moment!

Well the inevitable has happened, I have a nasty case of sunburn. No matter what I do I always seem to get a sunburn, I look like a tomato person. However, the sunburn did not stop me from thrifting today.

I went to Cheapie Charlie's on Pacific ave. in Wildwood. I looked through the dress rack and quickly became discouraged, I didn't find a single vintage piece! However, I looked at a small rack by the window and thought I should sift through it, I heard that little voice in the back of my mind calling to me. Well, I'm glad I listened to that voice because that rack was loaded with vintage outfits! I purchased 4 dresses for 18 dollars! Fellow vintage lovers if you are in Wildwood you must visit Cheapie Charlies, their prices are unbeatable and they have a lot of hidden treasures.

We are staying quite a long way away from the shop and so I had to carry four wool dresses all the way back to the motel, all two miles. It was very hot today but I was so excited about my finds. Four dresses are in the bag dear readers, whatever could they be.

The happy look soon gave way to exhaustion after the heat set in.

I do want to share with you my favorite dress out of the four. I didn't dare put it on because of how scratchy it  I now know how Lucy felt in the episode where she was sunburned and she needed to put on a tweed suit! The photo doesn't do the dress justice and I can't wait to wear it in the fall and winter!

Wildwood: A blast from the past.

As I said in my last post, my family and I go to Wildwood every summer. I think our frequent visits helped to start my love for all things retro and vintage. If you've never been to Wildwood and you love 60's styles then you need to go now!

While a lot of the fantastic motels are gone now there are still some classic 60's style motels left. In the mid-2000's there was a condo boom in Wildwood and a lot of the motels, each with their own personality, were demolished to make room for cookie cutter condo buildings. A town that once had blocks of distinctive motels now has a bunch of towering beige buildings. Thankfully the "Doo Wop Preservation League" www.doowopusa.org has stepped in and continues to fight to preserve these magnificent motels. 

My family and I used to stay at the "Kona Kai" motel in Wildwood Crest. The photo below is one of the motels brochures, it's not my scan. The Kona Kai was built during the tiki craze and even the rooms were tiki themed. On the balcony there were torches that were lit at night and you really felt like you were at a Polynesian resort. Sadly the motel was demolished in 2006 and in it's place there is a boring beige block of condos.

It's sad that some people don't see the value in older things. The motels gave Wildwood personality especially when all the neon signs were lit up, it was magical as a child. So my retro fanatic readers, you should plan your trip today. 

Vintage Vacation.

Every summer my family and I take our vacation in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey and right now I am in the midst of a throughly relaxing vacation. That doesn't mean that my urge to thrift and collect vintage has subsided, just this afternoon I purchased a gorgeous yellow chiffon 60's party dress at a shop called "What Goes On" on the boardwalk. I will dedicate a future post to the dress at a later date, right now I want to promote "What Goes On"!

Last summer I noticed the store I used to purchase my posters and band tee-shirts had changed its name from "Cookies" to "What Goes On" I was upset that one of my Wildwood haunts had changed but then I saw the vintage clothing displayed in the front of the store, my wallet cried.
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During the hottest days of summer I purchased this fantastic 70's wool skirt! I was excited when I tried it on and it fit but I couldn't wait to take it off as it was at least 100 degrees that day! I planned on wearing it at Christmas time and the photo below shows me in the wool skirt with my Sister and I and the mini Christmas tree.

It doesn't get more festive then this. 

Anyway, back to the shop! If you are a vintage fanatic and you are in Wildwood you must visit "What Goes On"! (https://www.facebook.com/pages/What-Goes-On/535869616455892) They have a wide selection of authentic vintage dresses, blouses and skirts. On a boardwalk that is full of tee-shirt shops and snack stands, "What Goes On" stands out, find your one of a kind piece at the loveliest shop on the Wildwood boardwalk.

The dream dress.

Well, I haven't been neglecting this blog, I just haven't been home much to update it. I've been spending a lot of time with my Mommom, helping her recover from her fall and keeping her company since my Poppop died. Time with Grandparents is alway something to treasure and I am having fun with her. We've been having some "Golden Girls" and "I Love Lucy" marathons. Not all 20 year olds get to give back to their Grandparents and I'm lucky that I can after all my Mommom has done for me.

However, in my last post I promised to talk about the little blue mini dress I purchased at the beginning of the month. I will set the scene: It's Sunday afternoon at the Goodwill and I am sifting through the dress rack convinced I will not find a thing. Then, suddenly, I see *it* the dress. You know how people have that idea that when they buy that one item it will change their life, well mine was this dress.

The beautiful laurel is all gone now :(.

I knew when I saw it I had to have it, even if it wasn't my size I figured I could take it to the tailors, but thankfully it fit. My life has not changed since I bought my dream mini dress except for a few stares at the bank but you know, nothing happens overnight. 

Why I love to thrift.

I venture to at least one thrift store once a week and each time I go I am riddled with anticipation. The thrift store could hold a rare treasure or I could leave with nothing. It's the thrill of the hunt. When I'm sifting through the racks of clothes, records, glassware or baubles I am always sure I will find a gem. Some people gamble but I have thrift stores.

This was just a short little Friday night post. Stay tuned for my post about my new 60's mini dress(I put a preview below), my series of posts on summer fashion through the decades and most importantly fashion advice from one of the most stylish ladies I know, my Mommom!

Spring florals.

As much as I love the winter chill I enjoy being able to shed the layers of thick winter fabrics and don a simple sun dress.
Last month I went to Thrift Village in Glassboro, New Jersey. I am a frequent shopper there but last month I found my most treasured find, a floral print late 60's dress complete with pointed molded cups (something I seek out) for only 7 dollars! I do notice when I wear anything with molded cups I tend to puff my chest up a bit more, this is not a look for the meek! Does anyone else carry themselves differently when they wear something with molded cups or a built in "bullet bra"?

I could tell the dress was from the 60's based on the metal zipper and the union label. Also when I was at the register with the dress a customer walked by and remarked, "that's an old school looking dress"... Good, that's exactly the look I was going for! The dress label indicates that the dress was made in Canada and I wonder how it made the journey all the way to southern New Jersey. I have worn this dress at least once a week since I purchased it two months ago and it is such a well made piece. 

My Mom's friend Karen also gave me this fantastic handbag! She said no one in her family was using it and she said I could have it to put to use. That's what I do: Megan Steigerwalt, clothes rescuer. 

Super Seventies Sunday.

Earlier this week I bought a romper that I described as looking like something Mr. Furly would wear if he was a woman. I bought it because it was different, I can't say I've ever seen anyone wear anything like it. The past couple of days have been sweltering, so I decided to go public with my "walking couch pattern",as my sister would call it, today.

Jeremy and I went out for a nice lunch at Tomo Sushi in Glassboro. I highly recommend it as their lunch special prices are very reasonable. A waitress complimented my outfit which caught me off guard  because I was expecting to be laughed at. After lunch Jeremy went to the liquor store and I went to the Goodwill to go dress hunting. I found a fantastic blue and white 60's mini dress that I will blog about later. While I was in mid-hunt I received another outfit compliment.

I was surprised that I got two compliments today. Although I was confident with my outfit and I loved it I was still expecting negativity and laughs. My "Furly" romper is a lot of look and that's why I bought it and I'm glad it was received so well.

So, dear readers what are your thoughts? Do you like the look? Do you buy things that you like that you don't think will go over so well?

One more shot. Me and a furry friend.