The Merry Wives of Windsor // Midwest Vintage Flea

Dress: Mustard, Red, & Black Vintage Dress

Tights: Snag

Boots: Fluevog, Angels: Lucky

Earring: etXarte

All other jewelry: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

I love this stretchy vintage dress I found at Elkhorn over the summer...just the right mix of cute & casual, great fit. I rarely try vintage on & just go by measurements...you really can't go by size on vintage as today's vanity sizing makes us all seem smaller than we really are...so all those Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 mean nothing...she would be a modern size 6. 

My shiny red Docs were the wrong shade for this dress (it's a warmer red), but these higher Fluevog boots were perfect. 

And those mustard Snag tights make me happy...

All the gold chains...why not? We found that longer Miriam Haskell necklace at Elkhorn this past summer & this is my first time wearing it.

My make-up with this outfit included...NYX eyeliner in Jet Black, Clinique liquid liner in black, Carnelian & Agate eyeshadow from Natasha Denona, Urban Decay lipliner in 714, Bang & No-Tell Motel lipstick by UD, & OPI nail polish in Art Walk in Suzi's Shoes.

I first wore this dress to our last outdoor APT play of the season...it was too chilly to picnic, so I made us food at home first.

The Merry Wives of Windsor, closing night. 

Kate & Jason. Not only was it closing night for this play, but the final up the hill performance of the year. They had a little party on stage at the end. This was a fantastic play...hilarious, wonderful acting, fabulous energy, & amazing costumes. 

The second time I wore this dress was to the fall Midwest Vintage Flea...so many colors & patterns. This seller was wearing my favorite dress I saw all day...& I told her so. 

That gorgeous orange coat was $800, so it stayed there for someone else...but, orange! This show is always so much fun...one of the dealers asked me if I was a dealer...they said I was giving off that vibe...I hope that's a good thing? I was recently told that a lot of vintage vendors are former (& current) alcoholics & drug addicts. 

Sal's in Sun Prairie for a late lunch/early dinner...I ordered Amelia (vodka, elderflower, blackberry, lime) & David got a Pillar of Autumn (Tattersall sour cherry, rum, Aperol lemon, bitters)...when they came, I remarked that mine looked more autumnal. We both loved the Pillar of Autumn so much, that we each ordered it...& that's when we discovered the waitress had the drinks mixed up in the first place & we had gotten each other's...so much for only having 2 cocktails...she gave us those for free & brought us the correct ones. And then there was food...calamari to start, followed by Rigatoni Bolognese for me (Well's Farm beef ragu, house-made rigatoni pasta, whipped ricotta, parsley)...& for David...

Fat Uncle Tony (Wisconsin mozzarella, red sauce, Italian sausage, bacon, pepperoni, fresh basil) with the addition of uncured pepperoni. It was all delicious, as usual. 

Our finds from the flea...

We bought from a variety of vendors, but we found the most at Everyday Ejiji, & her stuff was incredibly reasonably priced.

As you can see, I have a rule when I buy vintage...PATTERNS!

I normally stay away from red, white, & blue...but this stretchy polyester suit was too good to pass up.

That last shirt with the grapes was a woman's shirt, but fit David...so he was able to get one thing. It seems the popular men's vintage is flannel, jeans, & t-shirt...we wish there were more fun patterned disco shirts. 

 

Midwest Vintage Flea // Iris Dement

Dress: Vintage 60s Sailor Collar Drop Waist Mushroom Print Dress by Miami Dress 

All Jewelry & Purse: Vintage

Sandals: Klub Nico via Anthropologie 

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Mushroom dress! I collect them...found on Poshmark. This was a bit loose on me when I bought it (as it's meant to be), but I was still swollen from surgery in these photos. Good fit & length...no stretch. Great shape...no flaws. 

Even after having over 15 pounds removed from my thighs...you can see I still have an abnormal fat distribution above my knees (this is what my surgeon called it)...hopefully round 2 will further address this as I'd like to be able to wear short dresses without covering my legs...I mean, obviously I still do anyway...I'd just prefer it looked better. 

I found these Anthropologie sandals on Poshmark...I adore the multicolored heels & butterfly cutouts. I bought them intending on painting/dyeing the tan bit...but I think I'll leave them as I can tell they'll go with many outfits. 

I completely forgot to wear earrings...I had a pair picked out...vintage brown & cream striped round clip-ons. 

I wore this dress to shop Midwest Vintage Flea with David...I tried not to be too sad about all the fabulousness I had to leave behind because it was too tiny. I brought along my trustee tape measure so I only tried things on that would most likely fit. 

After a few hours...we had to take a break. We went to Woodman's to stock up on sparkling water & dried chilies...then to Sal's in Sun Prairie for lunch. The incredibly kind owner, Patrick, sent over this whipped ricotta sourdough...which we had never tried before...yum! David & I ordered cocktails from Jack (the drink creator)...they are fabulous & he always has a story behind them. David had a Poblano Blackberry Marg (Lunazul Reposado tequila, Fruitful blackberry liqueur, Ancho Reyes chili liqueur, lime, Tajin rim) & I tried a Sugar, We're Goin Down(JK Williams grapefruit gin, Tattersall amaro, rosemary honey, lemon).I ordered the Silvio Sandwich (they have a different lunch menu, so I wasn't able to have my typical favorites)...which is everything you want in an Italian sub x 4...check out that mile high meat. And David had to have a pizza (Fat Uncle Tony). The chef, Brian, brought our pizza out & it was lovely to be able to tell him how happy we always are with the food (we had a few less than stellar experiences at Livingston lately). Back to the clothes...so many colors & patterns. After finishing up at the flea...I had to vroom off to Stoughton to see the final show of the season...Iris Dement with Ana Egge opening. I just love her voice & apparently so do a lot of people...it was a sold out show & I ended up in the 3rd row, off to the side...I'm nearly always in the front row center, occasionally the second...especially in the shows I go to alone. Liz on standup bass...she plays with Charlie Parr & at least one other band that I've seen here. This was a fantastic night of music. All the pretties I found at Midwest Vintage Flea...the green with pink paisley is a jumpsuit. These 2 I bought from Courtney, my lymphatic massage person, vintage 60s/70s is her other gig.I've gotta wear this green/yellow dress this summer. Things get lost in my closet as it's still full of too big clothing I can't wear. I've been putting it up on Poshmark...but I wish I could sell in bulk to people that share my style. These will be better suited for autumn...This 50s black & white frock is the only one I'm questioning...that was more my style in high school...but I'll make it work...& I've got the perfect pair of Fluevogs to wear with it. I do have certain color preferences...I came home with this 90s velvet dress because David liked how it looked on me. And look...we found a groovy shirt for him! These 3 amber colored necklaces were all from the same vendor...I couldn't decide which one I liked the best. And I adored this yellow set so much, I immediately replaced the jewelry I'd been wearing. It was an extremely successful market & I look forward to the fall show. 

 

Turn Key

Dress: Blue Velvet Dress by Ronni Nicole by Ouida (size 8), thrifted

Tights: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Fluevog, Super Fine: Honour

Earring: etXarte

Necklace, Bracelet, & Purse: Vintage

Stats: 5'7" 38-32-42

Another vintage velvet thrifting find...perfect in every way...great fit & length, body con sexiness & sophistication...I could wear this outfit to any event & look smashing. 

I am really into my butt lately...I should start focusing on that more when lifting weights.

These black lace tights seemed better than any other option I had...& Fluevogs always make me happy.

This was my first time wearing this necklace we found at Elkhorn last year...

My make-up with this outfit included...Urban Decay eyeliner in Goddess, Baltimore & Babs eyeshadow by KVD, UD eyeshadow in Dragon, 714 lip liner from UD, UD lipstick in Bang & No-Tell Motel, & OPI nail polish in Art Walk in Suzi's Shoes. 

I wore this dress to spend an evening with my lovely husband, David.

I think it's wonderfully charming that he coordinates his outfits to mine. Shoe-fie of our Fluevogs. 

We tried a new place we had high hopes for...Turn Key. They also own Settle Down Tavern & Oz by Oz. This fabulous old building was most recently occupied by Pasqual's, but I still think of it as Fyfe's...Brian & I used to hang out there & eat, have cocktails, & listen to bands back in the 90s. Adorable drink menus inside of old books. 

We were a bit early for our reservations...so we sat at the bar & ordered drinks. David had a Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Aperitifo, Genepy, strawberry, lemon, seltzer, orange bitters), while I had to have the hilariously titled, Dueling Grandma Lamps (Amaro, orange wine, seltzer, ginger bitters). We were underwhelmed. In fact, David exchanged his for a Turn Key Pepper Mary (Mezcal, tomato, red pepper, spices). At our table...David sipped on a Sure, Bert Margarita (Blanco tequila, mezcal, lime, orange bell pepper, celery). 

For my second cocktail...I chose Homesick at Space Camp (gin, sherry, rhubarb, grapefruit, lemon, ginger). Because I have to try all the cheese curds...that's what we began our meal with. They call theirs Cheese Puppies & they were some of the best curds I've ever had...all the best elements of curds & hushpuppies rolled into one...with tomato powder, served with a dill ranch dipping sauce. We also ordered the Charred Carrots (chili macadamia butter, pickled cranberry, agave-lime glaze, sunflower seed dukka)...how exciting can you make carrots? Oh, they delivered...& it's something I could share with Kate. For his entree, David had Pull Tab Steak (Char Siu glaze, celery sweet & sour, fried satsumaimo, lemongrass aioli).  

It was Friday...so being a Michigan/Wisconsin girl...I had to try their fish fry...it was second only to Mint Mark. 2 Haddock filets battered & served with their mushaboom fancy fries, house tarter, tangy slaw, & a homemade biscuit. After dinner...David tried an East Wash Banana Stand (mezcal, banana, pineapple, lime, monèy? not sure what that is?). I sampled their Birdy Squirrel Old Fashioned (rye, Korbel, orange, cherry, maple)...& for an after-dinner drink, Oshkosh B'Grandy Alexander (coconut cream, brandy, cacao, cherry, amaro). 

Did David also have another drink...or is he just holding mine...I can't recall. Shuffleboard. Our verdict...fantastic food, mediocre cocktails...& as you can see...we gave them a proper shot & we wouldn't order any of them again. The next day...we went to the last indoor market of the season. We stocked up on pork from Cliff & beef from Bull's Ranch. 

Soft boiled eggs on toast...& later, dinner...Red Chicken Curry from Rambutan: Recipes from Sri Lanka by Cynthia Shanmugalingam...delicious. An after dinner stroll around the neighborhood with Violet & Rye. And check out these amazing leopard shoes I talked David into ordering.