my friend tatyana gershkovich always looks stunning & so authentic at the lawn party!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

For the first day of the two day weekend event, gal pal Tatyana was good enough to lend me this incredible late 30s/early 40s vintage novelty print dress.  I love it so much I’m having it made for me in more prints!

posing for dave on the outskirts of the event on governor’s island

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS, HANDBAG & GLOVES: Vintage | SHOES: Poetic License | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

greeting partygoers at gretchen fenston’s millinery booth

HATS: Gretchen Fenston | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

sitting pretty

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

my accessories are ready for their close-up

HANDBAG & GLOVES: Vintage from Pin Up Queens | SHOES: Poetic License | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

For day two, I wore my beloved gramophone print dress from Charlotte Taylor.  It was such a big hit even Elle Magazine took notice!

wistful in wonderland

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Charlotte Taylor | GLOVES, HANDBAG & NECKLACE: Vintage | SHOES: Pink Studio | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

sharing the spotlight by the st. germain truck

PHOTO CREDIT: Mikaila Brown

the fenston models: sarah, gretchen & patricia

HATS: Gretchen Fenston | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

wait! that’s not dave! it’s gramophone aficionado & retro hair stylist to the stars michael haar

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

Gretchen’s booth made a big splash at the event again!  These are just a few of our clients sporting their new Fenstons…

burlesque darling grace gotham loves her gretchen fenston!

HEADPIECE: Gretchen Fenston | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

rebecca kleinberg took home my personal favorite piece of the day! i’m a sucker for cherries…

 HAT: Gretchen Fenston | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

With every exhausted step back to the ferry at the end of the day, Dave and I said our taciturn goodbyes to the summer.  It was a magical whirlwind and all that jazz.

POLAROID CREDITS: David DeNee

While we didn’t have as much play time as usual to pose for the cameras, we not only got some flattering media attention, but we got a few photos in for the blog.  Check it out!

our stylish friends voon and evan picnicking at the lawn party

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i felt pretty in pink in my first ensemble of the 2-day event

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Vintage from Pin Up Queens | SHOES: Seychelles | GLOVES, HANDBAG, PEARLS: Vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

some of our first happy, dapper customers! isn’t her gretchen fenston headpiece to die for!?

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

i went fruity on day two!

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Vintage from Pin Up Queens | SHOES: Remix | GLOVES & HANDBAG: Vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

gretchen looks striking in this black and white striped frock she fashioned herself!

PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

let’s hear it for my dashing dave!

HAT: Goorin Brothers | PHOTO CREDIT: Voon Wai

DRESS: Vintage via Fab.com | SHOES: Pink Studio | BRACELET: Vintage | EYEWEAR: SEE | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

You will forget to feed your cats.

(Only for a negligible amount of time, thank goodness.)

At times you will feel so downright narcissistic, the guilt will make you consider chucking it all (for like a second) to dive headfirst into a pint of this. You’ll soon realize you can have both a blog and Ben & Jerry’s; thus the cycle of self-indulgence will be complete.

And you’ll start thinking of yourself as a brand.  This is where the real danger lives. You will question your distinctiveness, especially if you live in this ocean of marvelous style called New York City….

falling in love with the camera(man) at michael arenella’s bi-annual jazz age lawn party on governor’s island

DRESS: H&M | PEARLS: Overstock | HEADBAND: a Garment District find | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

desperately seeking a great pair of wedges at dsw in union square

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | COAT, GLOVES & BROOCH: vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

languidly awaiting a screening of e.t. in brooklyn bridge park

DRESS: Emily & Fin on ModCloth | SUNGLASSES: a gift from Heather Flock | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

reading the greatest speech in history (a lesson on the impact of brevity)

DRESS: Anthropologie | SHOES: Dansko | HANDBAG: vintage | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

twirling my heart out at the easter parade on fifth avenue in nyc

HAT: Gretchen Fenston | DRESS: Trashy Diva | SHOES: Seychelles | PARASOL: LuggagePoint via Amazon | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

waiting for a sign in halifax, nova scotia

DRESS: Soho Mode via Buffalo Exchange | SHOES: Born | HANDBAG: Kate Spade | PHOTO CREDIT: David DeNee

I’ve wanted to start a blog for a while now.

A blog to revel in my passion for vintage style. I love old things and how fashion is somehow constantly making them new again. I love to see history owned and embraced, even if merely via the clothes on our backs.

A blog to return the inspiration others have given me. Like I said in my ModCloth video mission statement, I believe great style is contagious and I want to give it to everyone!

A blog my mom will be proud of. (Hi, mom!)

I wasn’t sure it was ever going to happen, but somewhere in the middle of the night last night in the midst of our apartment-turned-upside-down, I gained some clarity. My boyfriend, Dave, and I started choosing the final images for this our very first post. After staring at shot after shot of myself (which is akin to trying on bathing suits, ladies) and seeing most of them hit the cutting room floor, I started to see a pattern. Maybe it’s just me, but I see something special in the pictures Dave takes of me, especially the ones where I’m not letting my insecurities get in the way of his lens. This special quality I’m talking about can be described pretty simply.

Love.

I looked at all these places we’ve been together and this little digital oasis we’ve created and I thought: Hey, we make a pretty great team.

There are countless reasons not to start a blog, but as long as the cats are fed, none of them matter.

Stay tuned. Adventures in vintage are just around the corner!