70s Inspired - Part 2

The topic has faded away a bit (and my interest in it), but since I did the post "70s Inspired Part 1", I complete it with part #2.

This time, just a few pieces of clothing that could be worn both on a regular summer day and a dance night (depending on what shoes and a head cover you choose). All the items which I have chosen are currently available at amazon.com.

Dress/ Top

I like this floral dress. Do not get discouraged with the word "Halloween" in its description. I guess it was probably added to increase the sale around the end of October. Who says it can't be worn in the summer? Perhaps the ones with little imagination? All the dresses on offer are pretty colorful, my choice is the last one in the second row. 

If you decide the dress is too short, you can wear it with the white denim shorts (Angerella Denim Shorts for Women/ Folded Hem Hot Short Jeans). The torn shorts version which they have on offer is not of my liking + it would not match the 70s style look.

Another match for the shorts would be R.Vivimos Floral Embroidered Off Shoulder Long Sleeve Short  (Yellow) Dress. The shoulders up/on would be my option, though.

Boots 

The ones similar to the picture included below were my first choice, but I waited too long with making this post and they are no longer available at the Amazon store.

 

Nevertheless, I have found a pair of similarly-looking boots with fringes. Maybe they are even better regarding the set of clothing presented above as they have a higher heel. 

For a more disco/evening look - white knee-high boots.

Head Cover 

A cute WETOO beige cap matches it all. FaLasoso leather cap would be more suitable for an evening look.

 A Simplicity Panama style straw hat (color A-natural) can be an option to wear on a sunny day as well.

 Other accessories

Bracelets

Beaded Pearl Bangle Wrap Bracelet - the beads are available in different colors and pattern options. The all-grey one seems to go well with silver-tone necklaces.

Riah Fashion Multicolor Bracelet  is a more colorful option.

Handwoven, quite an original bracelet with beads - here.

 

Necklaces

The one I like best is this sterling silver flower pendant.

Then goes this simple, but interesting silver-tone long necklace.

Another sterling silver one - Celtic Knot (triquetra) and Moon pendant.

If you like crosses, here is an elegant Miabella 925 sterling silver Italian cross + 18-inch chain.

The last one is a set of 4 cute and rather modest Heishi Surfer Choker 12 Pcs Beaded Layered Necklaces. They could look good as an everyday type of accessory. However, I would rather give the one with the smileys to someone else. 

Well, that's all for now regarding the 70s style.

To see all the items mentioned above, that I have found at amazon.com - have a look at my Pinterest board (below).

70s Inspired - Part 1

A friend reminded me of the "Fashion" section on this blog. Well. being involved in other projects, I had completely forgotten about that.

So, here it is. A totally different post to previous ones, inspired by the fashion trends of the 70s.

Among others, the 70s was the time of rock music and the bands which were later labeled as "classic". It was also the time of disco music and discos.

Below, is the set of clothing influenced by the 7th decade of the 20th century. It is my personal choice of course, items that I would wear. I found them on the amazon.com shelves. The prices of those pieces are rather moderate and affordable which, besides the design and look, has its meaning as well.
 

Part 1 - today's post is about an everyday and toned-down look.

Tops

The T-shirt and the sleeveless match both the jeans and a denim skirt. Both tops have graphic motifs related to the 70s.

• Black "Love & Peace" T-shirt - here. I most like the flowery pattern on the black shirt.
  
• Sleeveless "Dancing Queen" black top - here. Well, maybe it is not a spectacularly impressive piece, but I find it a good match to the rest of the chosen outfit. If one does not like to uncover their arms and expose them to the sun in the summer, the top has its T-shirt version as well find it here.

 A more interesting alternative to the plain tops is a colorful shirt.

• 3/4 sleeve shirt - my choice is D multi-color (the 1st one) - here. However, with the flowery jeans (see below), I would wear a one-color top - pink, white or black option on that page.
  

 

Vest - to go with jeans only.

 

• Faux Suede khaki vest with fringes - here.
  

Jeans

 

• Blue jeans (only non torn ones!) - here. My shade choice #1 is Blue 2402 (the third picture), then, Light Blue 2402.
  
• Light blue, embroidered jeans - here. All the three ones are cute - I prefer no.1 (Blue), though.
  

Skirts

Among the amazon.com offer, I have not found the type of skirt that was very trendy in the 70s. The akirt was most often two-toned and had wide stripes going across and down the piece. Well, it was commonly known as a "banana" skirt in Poland.

A regular denim skirt will certainly do instead. It is also more neutral regarding the style.
 

• (Dark) Blue denim buttoned skirt - here.

 

Shoes

Platform shoes were in then however, they would not be suitable these days considering my height. Well, it does not mean I did not have a pair of those years ago. Another type of shoe-ware that was popular in Europe in the 70s was the clogs. I quite like them. I did leave behind in Poland two pairs of those (with wooden bottom part) - black and white ones. Nowadays, I would still wear the clogs, if I had them here.

Clogs

•  A lighter option with a rubber sole - here,
•  A bit more expensive - genuine Swedish leather and wooden clogs here.

 

 

My other pick as an everyday style item are the sandals. In the 70s, their sole was made of wood. The modern version has it made of rubber.

• Brown sandals - here

 

Headcover

is a must. I might have lived in the times where all the adults wore hats, well, my head likes to be covered. Although it is a matter of style as well.

• Floppy hat - red or camel - here.

 

Accessories  

To complete the look.

• Flower Heart necklace - metal, glass, and plastic - here.  
  
• Metal, gold chain belt - here. To be worn on the hips (on the T-shirt for example).
  
• Hand-made bracelet, leather, and beads - here. I like the colors, not sure about the healing part, though.
• Optional - a set of metal bangles (worn instead of the bracelet of course) here. 
• Or plastic ones, if you do not like the metallic sound of the bangles here.

 

To see all the items, mentioned above, that I have found at amazon.com - have a look at my Pinterest board (below).

 

How To Make Clothes Last Longer & Save On Electricity

Some pieces of clothing should not be dried in the dryer because of obvious reasons: fabrics/designs are too delicate, high temperatures weaken the thread and, in the result of it, destroy our socks, blouses and other wardrobe items (including jeans). Recently, I have read a piece of advice shared by a famous denim clothes manufacturer - informing that jeans will last longer, if they are not dried in the dryer.
Anyway, it is all not new to me. That is why when I moved to the US, I was trying to find a solution to it. I neither could use a washing line, nor set it anywhere. That was why I frequently 'decorated' the bathroom with wet clothes. It was very inconvenient though. Especially on the days of 'bigger' washing. I did not like it also because some pieces (such as T-shirts) were not supposed to be stretched on hangers. They were simply losing their quality/nice look and shape then.
Finally, I decided to look for something which I could find useful - I meant a drying rack I had known from Europe. First I checked the nearby stores - big and small ones - drying racks seemed to be an unknown invention here. I was surprised and disappointed as I did not mean anything unusual (well, the thing is something very usual in Europe). Then I searched the net and I was really happy when I found it at amazon.com: the drying rack which has been part of almost each and every household in other part of the world. The metal rack has a very practical and quite a solid design, and the four plastic cups on its legs protect the floor. However, the clothes or other items, need to be drained well before they are placed on the metal lines. In other case, you can destroy the rack structure when the washing (eg. towels) is too heavy. Not to mention flooding the floor.
Although the rack itself does not take much space, a lot of washing can be hung on its lines. When not used, you can fold it and hide it somewhere in a closet. What is more, the design of the rack is very stable too. The one I used previously lasted many years.
I am very glad I have something like that here! Thanks to it, I can not only protect our clothes but also save on electricity as I do not have to run the dryer again and again.
The drying rack - a simple thing but so very convenient and useful!

Picture from: amazon.com

DIY: Joy of Sewing And Clothes Making

My mum used to make clothes for us. She was not a tailor and she had not taken any tailoring courses. She just learned everything on her own. She had an old Singer's sewing machine which she had received from her mother. Grandma was not a tailor either but she was also a very creative and resourceful lady: during WWII, when shoes were not available in stores, she learned how to make shoes and made them for her children. She could make clothes too.

Mum with her mum

 Anyway, the machine was very good - you could sew anything and everything with it - from a leather school bag and shoes to a thin silky blouse. And mum made us wonderful clothes - all kinds: trousers and jackets, dresses and vests. In the evenings and late in the night she sewed, no matter how tired she was after a work day in the office and doing all the home chores after work. I loved the pieces of clothing she created for me!

When sewing and tailoring magazines appeared in the newspaper kiosks, she also used some of the patterns included in those magazines, to make all kind of fashionable pieces of clothing for us and herself. I especially liked Burda magazine trends, and later, I was also buying it myself.
At some point, I thought that making my own clothes could be fun. After all the years of watching mum while she was sewing, I decided I was ready - bought myself a sewing machine and started my home sewing 'career'. Mum helped me of course, especially at the beginning: I always had problems with fitting the sleeves in a blouse or a jacket, so she sometimes did that for me. Dealing with a lining was not my favorite part either. I simply found finishing the inner, lining part boring. Maybe because the lining is something which is usually not really seen when you wear eg. a jacket.

My sewing was not that kind of masterpiece work which mum did but I enjoyed it although it was a very time-consuming activity. Yes, making a piece of clothing takes rather a lot of time. But I did manage to create quite a few things including shirts, jackets, hats, skirts and dresses. I also learned that little details, for example, buttons, make a difference. It is enough to sew on new, colorful or nicely shaped buttons or a more interesting zipper to change the look of a boring dress or shirt.

The hat made by myself

These days I do not make my own clothes anymore but, thanks to my past sewing experiences, I know what to do with a needle and threads when something needs fixing. From time to time I improve a dress or some other items: shorten or narrow something. However, with no sewing machine and doing everything by hand (when I was moving I had to leave the machine at mum's), completing a simple project lasts ages. That is why I hardly ever sew nowadays.

Some of the clothes I have made.