The ConstantlyAlice Manifesto Revisted

Today, it struck me that it has been some time since I've done a Pin up Plan post.  I sort of left it off somewhere in the middle of the "Art of Seduction" series and haven't been able to motivate myself to finish the series.

This led me to think about the ConstantlyAlice Manifesto I wrote in January and all the plans I had for this year.  I decided to take another peek at it and track what I had accomplished thus far, and then tweak or revise the things that weren't working for me.

 

1.  30 Day Make Over challenge - I haven't started this just yet..I think because the fall is my favorite time of year, perhaps Sept. or Oct. will be a good month to tackle this project.

2.  Vision Boards and The Signature Style Project - The vision boards are ongoing!  You can check them out here on Pinterest. (The trick, however, is to DO something with them..more on that in future posts..I think I need to do something with them here for accountability ;)  The Signature Style Project is all wrapped up.  You can check out the series, if you haven't already, here.

3.  Home Ec Posts - These have slowed down a little..the most recent one being a paper necklace tutorial done over on the French Press Vintage blog.  I'm trying out a few new projects and plan to start adding a few more of these posts.

4.  Modeling/Pin up Plan - I have added an outfit post series and gotten in front of the camera a LOT more..however, I have revised my intentions for this particular goal.  Modelling for the shop itself seems a bit more than I can handle (especially since I'll require a photographer!)  I also prefer to be the "creative force" behind the camera.  SOO, I will continue to be the "head model" for the hats, etc., but the clothing will either be modeled on "Esmerelda" my dress form, OR, on my oldest daughter and her friends (depending on the outfit and the size.)  We'll see how that works out ;)  In regards to the Pin up Plan..I don't think my heart is in it right now.  I have so many other things to focus on (including my goals for the "Slim Down, Pin Up", project), that I don't feel I have the time to dedicate to really fleshing out this series..it's going on hold for a bit and I may revisit it later.

5.  Disney! - I went, I saw, I conquered ;-)  Here are some of the photos from our trip (and a lovely video of the "Bug Butts" song and dance).  I did not, however, manage to get around to making my wardrobe...I think this goal may shift to the fall.  I would like to make up a few new items for the cooler weather..more to come on this.

6.  Go Ask Alice - Finally, the "Go Ask Alice" feature, where I post responses to questions regarding, vintage, styling, sewing, and misc. "ConstantlyAlice" related features.  I'm working on the logistics of this and hope to launch it before the winter ;-)

Phew!  Not too shabby, considering that we still have another 5 months in the year!

Is there anything special YOU would like to see here on the blog?  Let me know by leaving your suggestions in the comments!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

60's Makeup Tutorial - Break out your GoGo Boots!

A little while ago, I posted this picture on my facebook page with the intent of recreating it:

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Here are the steps I took:

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• To begin, I used a small eyeshadow brush and the black shade from this Chanel eyeshadow quad in "Smoky Eyes" to draw an outline of the shape on my lid, lining across the crease, winging up on the corners to almost the corner of my brows and then back down to the outer corner of my eye.
• After I had the outline perfect, I used the same brush to fill in the outline and cover the top lid.  I used the remaining shadow on the brush to gently underline the bottom lid as well.
• Using the lightest shade, I then chose a slightly larger shadow brush and dusted it on my brow bone and in the inner corners of my eyes.
• Next, I used my new Maybelline Eyeliner in black and drew a fine line close to my eyelashes on the top lid.

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• I followed this step with two coats of Maybelline Lash Extension Mascara and my eyes were done!

 The remaining steps were pretty minimal.  A little Nars Blush in Desire on the apples of my cheeks and some sheer pink Clinique gloss in Clearly Pink and VOILA!  Here is the before and after!

This was a fun discovery process for me (as I mentioned before, I typically do red lips and mascara).  I would probably try it again for an evening out with The Man, but I don't see making this my standard signature look.  I wear contacts and at any given point during the day, you can find me rubbing my eyes like a sleepy toddler, which I would imagine would take this look from 60's kitten to football player pretty quickly ;)

If you try it out for yourself, I'd love to see your end results!  Head on over to my facebook page and share your pics on my wall!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

The ConstantlyAlice Manifesto

"Marilla, isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?"
- Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables 

This is one of my all time favorite quotes and I think of it every time I'm looking at a brand new year stretching out in front of me.  Isn't it wonderful to think that we have a whole new year to expand our knowledge, push our boundaries and live to our fullest potential?  (Or, you know, even just another year we get to snuggle in on the couch with a good book and a cup of Chocolate Dream tea??)

I think it tends to have even more significance for me because I'm a January 1 baby.  That means when y'all are celebrating a new year, I get to celebrate another year of my life ;)  Pretty heady stuff, right?

With that in mind, I'd like to share with you some of the things I've been cooking up for the coming year!

1.  Who doesn't love a make over?  Or a whole LOT of make overs!  I'm planning for a 30 day challenge this year for both hair and make up.  I will test out a new hair style or make up look each day for a month and share the photos with you all as a part of my Signature Style Challenge (more on this to follow). {Picture Source}

2.  I will incorporate more vision boards and pinterest posts in an attempt to determine what styles I gravitate towards the most.  Some will be all about a specific decade, some will feature a particular shop or website, but hopefully all will help me to nail down the details that will help me to build my Signature Style. {Picture Source}

3.  The Home Ec posts will continue!  Some topics for this year;  Hat making, Repurposing worn or poorly constructed items to create new looks, Style on a budget (This will involve putting together an entire outfit at a local thrift store for $15 or under), Sew and Knit Alongs, Etiquette, Planning a Party and a few more I have to iron out the details on! {Picture by Gil Elvgren}

4.  *Gulp* Modelling.  That's right, I said it.  I am working on adding some more exercise to my routine so I can tone up a bit and maybe work up the gumption to model for the shop and for the "Style It" posts here on the site.  I'd like to have the shop pictures reminiscent of the pin up gals of the 40's.  I'll be sure to keep you in on the adventure as I dive into posing, photography and styling! {Picture by Vaughan Bass}

5.  My folks gifted us with a trip to Disney for Christmas this year (Thanks Mum and Dad!)  We're heading down for April vacation and I have plans to pick out several vintage dress/play suit and maybe even a bathing suit pattern to sew up and take along with me.  I will share the patterns with you, the progress and the end results.  (And of course, the pictures of Disney!)

6.  I also plan to add a "Go Ask Alice" feature.  This will be to cover any questions you all may have for me regarding vintage (how to date vintage items, what basics are needed for a wardrobe from each decade, etc.)  Feel free to start emailing me your ideas now! {Picture Source}

I can't wait to dive in and get started on these projects!  I'm so looking forward to a wonderfully productive 2012 :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Mutton Dressed as Lamb..

Next month (on New Years Day, to be precise) I will turn 37, placing me solidly in my "late 30s".  This has gotten me thinking about my style and if I should be making some changes.

Now, as a general rule, I do not think much about my age.  This could be due in part to the fact that I identify more closely with my personality than with my age, and partly because, courtesy of genetics (thanks Mum and Dad!) and copious application of sunscreen, I have a baby face that never really changes that dramtically.

Case in point..  Here is a picture of me 11 years ago with my eldest child.

..and here I am earlier this year with same child (on the left) AND my youngest child.

Kind of creepy in a "Picture of Dorian Gray" sort of way, right?

However, because my face never really got in my way, I've always dressed to suit my whims.  Part of what I love best about dressing vintage is that I have a veritable buffet of style to choose from.  Some days I wake up and feel inspired by the 20's, and other days I'm all about the 50's.  I like the casual looks of the 90's on occasion and sometimes I'm moved by the 60's.  Headbands, bows, Mary Jane shoes, it's all good.  I wear what feels right, with no consideration for age at all.

Which brings me to my point (and what has been weighing on my mind of late).  Should I change my style to suit my actual age?  Or should I dress to suit the age I appear to be?  Or, should I simply be brave enough to dress to suit my personality and to heck with propriety?

Some of the style icons I am fondest of have thrown propriety to the wind and chosen to stick to their "look".  Betsey Johnson, for example, looks just as spectacular and flamboyant at 70 as she did in her 20's:

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Or, another one of my favorite style mavens, Iris Apfel (90!), distinctly her own person with her fondness for bright colors, her signature glasses and no consideration for "age appropriate-ness", only for what suits her:

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Or even someone closer to my own age, Milla Jovovich (36), who has stayed true to her fun, vintage/indie style and even designs her own line:

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These women have all built a "look" that was uniquely them and then stuck with it over the years.  They paid no attention to their age or the trends, they were simply themselves...and maybe this is where the lesson I need is hiding.  Perhaps I don't need to concern myself so much with what is right for my age as I do with discovering my "signature" and incorporating it into what I wear.  My current style can be frenetic and all over the place and perhaps what would make me more comfortable as I get older is to refine, to clean out the things in my closet that don't really "match" my aesthetic, to get rid of the items I purchased because I thought they were fun at the time, but that never seem quite right when I wear them.

With that in mind, I plan to dedicate the coming year to discovering and defining my own style.  I will shop, sew, research and track down inspiration to help me become even more "Me".  I'll share each step with you all!  Lessons learned, techniques discovered and tips and tricks that help me along the way.  I hope you're as excited as I am :)

Hugs and Smooches,
D