True or false: vintage

I like Anthropologie as much as the next stylish femme, but sometimes flipping through their website I think, "I've seen that--I own that!" And mine is vintage.

Refracted ambiance jar, Anthropologie, $18

vintage make up jars, copper lids, 2 for $12. SOLD



You can own it in vintage too. :-) 

dahlila xxoo

Fall For Color

It took me many years to get over black as a daily clothing essential. When I did though, I never looked back. (Besides I have dogs. Standing in an office parking lot, sticky rolling my clothes just doesn't work for me.)

Color--BOLD color--makes such a bigger statement. Anyone can pull off black, but red? Purple? Yellow, red and purple?

A friend tells me, I'm returning to my roots. As a kid I was all about color: plaid, polka-dots--both, mixed together. My poor mother. All she wanted was a sweet little girl in patent  Mary Janes and a pastel smock dress. I wanted green rainboots, orange polyester plaid, a  pink t-shirt and my cowboy hat. Things haven't changed too much since then.

Here are a few great color spots from my shop and around Etsy.

Enjoy, dahlila xxoo

Crochet dress by Subrosa123

Mustard jersey jumper, by Idea2lifestyle 

Vintage Tangerine box heels at Dahlila Found

Ada coat, by Little Houses

Petal Flower beige crocheted tunic by Molda

Sea Foam rafia vintage purse by Joules Vintage 

Collaged marino dress at RaissaBump 

 Green plaid cotton shirt dress by Design7 

Little Red vintage handbag at Dahlila Found

VERA at the Beach House

Life is so funny. Sometimes what you want is right in front of your face and you don't even see it. Well, I don't anyway. Our family has a beach house that my grandfather built in the 50s. It's funky & fabulous, and our family rotates through it all summer long.

While I was there through the holiday I was searching through the linen's closet when I spotted a bright yellow and orange sticking out from the bottom pile. I knew at once. I just knew.

I got more excited than a minor striking gold. I pulled them out and was enveloped in bold butterflies! I fondled for a tag and there it was "Vera Collection, Burlington." I nearly shrieked.

All these years--all those eras!--there they sat, mostly unused, my mother later tells me--just waiting for me to discover Vintage and Vera.

So, of course, I had to share them with you. Do I keep them or sell them? There are two twin fitted & one flat sheet. They won't fit my bed. Decisions, decisions.

Meanwhile, I'm enjoying just having them and knowing where they were hiding out all these years, at home. :-)

d xxoo

Vintage Curios: Make Your Own Art

One of the great perks of being a vintage sleuth is finding wonderful curios for my own home. I found this darling little framed flower bouquet lithograph for 50¢. Up close--very close--you can see the daisies are hand painted white for an extra pop. Beautiful.

The frame is backed with green velvet & I didn't want to peel it open. So I added my vintage buttons--still holding onto a swatch of fabric, and a poem line, "look at the stars", I once typed and tore away for this piece--right on the glass.

Some day, someone else may want to remove my additions & clean it up, hang it on their own wall. UP-cycle. :-)

d. xxoo

Vera Neumann

Recently I asked a woman if her handmade coasters where made with vintage Vera fabric. She said, "I don't think Vera Wang makes pillow cases...." Where was I to go with that? I gasped, inside, because, really, who was I to judge her having only discovered Vera--Vera Neumann--several years before.

Trust me, this woman will never make that mistake again, as I shared what I knew with her--a pittance of what you know, perhaps. (Why is it that Vera makes us feel like we know her? Like we know her feelings when she painted such bold strokes, those delicate florals, her psychedelic swirls. A woman of many personas, she feels like us, I think, a bit of every woman.

***

Everyone's  favorite store: Anthropologie just came out with an ode to the artist: "Vera: The Art And Life Of An Icon" (but you can buy it through Amazon for nearly half the price. Shh. It's a secret.)

I just finished posting my own Vera scarves in the shop. They look so lovely, posed, draped and  well lit. I'd like to frame them up and keep them forever. Once you've found your very first Vera, there really is no going back. It's nearly an addiction, right up there with shoes and coffee.

So, to help you out with your first Vera acquisition here are some Vera finds from vintage fashionistas all over Etsy. Enjoy!

A gorgeous silk Vera scarf from The Lucky Fish (the largest collection of Vera scarves I've ever seen.)

Darling Vera in green and  lavender florals. Recycled Charm

A bold floral Vera in green and ocean blue. Vintage Society

(Obviously, I like green.) This bursting floral Vera is from Vintage Domicile

 

And from my own collection: neon green and pink Vera;  Dahlila Found

I'm certain you have your own favorites, but these caught my eye today. It must be my yearning for sunny days, spring weather and gardening. I hope you like them. Do share your own favorites. I would love to see them.

dahlila xxoo

Traveling Secrets: The Train Case

Train cases. Why are they so addicting? I think it's the idea of a secret, hidden compartments, a place for private things, perfumes, make-up, love letters. See a woman walking through a room carrying a vintage traincase and you will want to know what's inside. Isn't curiosity fabulous. ;-)

Powder blue fly away case w/lucite tray, $45, dahlilafound

The creme de la creme: *pink* Elizabeth Arden Train Case at Pinguim, $200

Olive green mystery at SweetLoveVintage, $30

White marbled beauty at LucyMaude, $36

Bright red at LittleByrdVintage, $21.50

There's nothing so wonderfully vintage as finding your very own train case. Enjoy!

dahlila xxoo

Retro Sacto

One of the oldest Sacramento hardware stores still remaining, East Sac Hardware, in the neighborhood since 1951, got a great new mural on it's neighborhood side wall. Super vintage!

Bravo to them for the great new clean up & revamp. Love it.
dahlila xxoo

Make More

I wouldn't call it a resolution so much as a coaxing towards pleasure. So busy running DahlilaFound I have left behind all my winter craftings: crocheting, sewing, making cards, creating ANYTHING, really.

I got a quick taste of this last week, when I dug out my glue gun to revamp this little curios basket. All that was on it was the green vine leafing & plastic bouquet. I clipped pieces of fabric flowers, found beads, shells & glitter and behold, made over this sweet little forgotten basket from the thrift store into something fun. And fun, really, is what crafting is all about, well, that perhaps and a tad of sanity. :-)

dahlila xxoo

Hat Whimsy!

I don't know if it was the weather or the coffee but I had a sudden attack of hat whimsy today--and it was really fun. Normally, I dread being in front of the camera, like a dog backing away from a bath. Excuses, excuses: my chin this, my nose that, freckles, wrinkles, etc, etc. but today the sky was just so--overcast and forgiving, and my hats looked lonely in the shop, sitting atop hat stands, a bit. . . bored.

So, I grabbed my camera, swapped clothes, earrings, hats and shot them before even I could protest.

The Buttery Creme Wedding Guest: paper roses, chocolate velvet ribbon, light brown tulle netting. Without season, delicate, elegant, no tag; $28.

Below, is the sophisticated felt velour turban with abalone button and trim. I got out my old glasses and trench coat. I look urban-editor ready, $28.

Below, this hat reminds me of the story book, Madeline, all grown up, having discarded her yellow ribboned hat for grown-up gray.

Bullocks Wilshire Sportswear, $38. (hardly what I think of when someone says sportswear.) 

It has a black rolled velvet button on top. It retains it whimsy.

Lastly, my favorite find: the hot pink, faux fur bucket hat. 2 1/2" wide grosgrain ribbon with enormous bow. Sparkly pink rhinetstone earrings to match. Dare I wear it in public?

Hat by Duchess, Italy; designed for Marshall Fields & Co, Chicago, $45; matching earrings, $14.

It may never happen again, so it's good I posted it now. The woman who dared to step in front of the camera on a whimsical winter day. :-)

Come by the shop: Dahlila,Found. We'll talk hats. Maybe, you'll throw conservative to the wind and dare to be the owner of a whimsical hat. ;-)

d, xxoo

PINK on Winter White

Somewhere it's snowing (although it's raining here) It's a good day to create a splashing outfit, a party frock, a look for ladies who lunch. Pink, I believe, doesn't have to be for spring only. In fact, in the midst of winter it can a refreshing change to gray and brown and black. Besides, it has all that snow as a perfectly lovely backdrop. Enjoy!

Oh so sunny, vintage WHITE woven topper at ShesFancy, $14 on sale!

Fabulous PINK mad men suit dress at ForrestinaVintage, $53.98

Perky cotton CANDY pink stilettos at Thrush, $72

Breakfast At Tiffany's double strand PEARLS, AdVintagous, $30.

Vintage CUSTARD wool coat, MariesVintage, $72

Large BUBBLE GUM pink handbag, DahlilaFound, $39.

Who could stay indoors in this ensamble? Dress it up, call a cab, meet the girls for lunch. :-)

Happy shopping, dahlila xxoo

Winter Arrivals

I've been busy buying for Fall even though, in the first week of November, I am running around in a skirt & light sweater. Tis the California season--cool, dry, windy and a few dots of rain. Still, winter coats call to me with all those lovely buttons. Boots and the smell of leather polish smell like heaven. I've bought so many I'm running out of room.

All things chocolate brown, olive green, cranberry, honey, creamy bone, caramel speak to me. Deep rich earthy colors. Maybe, it's their namesakes, but I want it all in my shop. And now it is.

Creamy bone white jewelry Mele jewelry box, red velvet lining, $18.

Oh, the boots! Cowboy, cowgirl, chunky lace-ups, wooly, leather, zipper, mod, campus. Boots!

Hats are on their way. They need a pretty face to model them. I love this one covered in paper flowers & light brown netting. Really gorgeous. I love hats. :-)

Thick cordurouy jacket in deep olive green, bucket pockets and optional buckle tie around. Gorgeous condition, $65. I love cordurouy. So cozy.

Now back to work. New shoes, designer scarves, ties, Christmas wear arriving soon.

Enjoy!

thank you, dahlila

DahlilaFound

Moo Birthday Surprise

Today is my birthday. In years past I have been known to hide, in bed, covers pulled over my head until the day passes. This year I'm getting into my own little party. Not all together certain why, but it beats the alternative, so why not celebrate.

A great birthday surprise: My Moo Cards came in the mail. I'm very excited as this is one of those items on "the list" that has been waylaid too long. I have cards. I am a business. I rock. :-)