Summer Daydreamin'

Here I am being super unproductive on polyvore.com instead of measuring some new items for the shop. Big surprise! Anyway, here are some styles I've been daydreaming about lately. I can't wait for summer!

A Daily Outfit, 4/27/11.

Today I took a trip with my boyfriend to his hometown of Monmouth, Maine, to visit with his family and friends. Even though it was a gray day, it was quite warm, and the grass was green. It was a glimpse of summer, and I was psyched!

 

We passed a huge barn that had a goofy cow painted on it, and when we went searching for thrift stores, we found this incredible woman selling clothing (unfortunately not vintage) right on the sidewalk! A great day for sure!

OUTFIT DETAILS:

CARDIGAN: Thrifted (vintage, 1970s) and temporarily stolen (Thanks Panda!)

RUFFLED TURTLENECK: Target

JEANS: Thrifted (but not vintage)

WOVEN LEATHER BOOTS: Thrifted (vintage, 1970s)

Shop Update and More, 4/25/11.

Not sure if I mentioned it on here or not, but Foam Castles played a show this past Saturday in celebration of Metal Feathers (my favorite local band) releasing their new INCREDIBLE record, Contrast Eats the Slimey Green. You can download/listen to this record FOR FREE here! (What are you waiting for?) Anyway, here's a video from the show. (I normally play the bass, but just so happen to be playing the keyboard/jingle bells on these songs.)

It's hard to see my outfit, but I took some fashion inspiration from the lovely and hilarious Kate Sullivan Jones and wore a slip as a skirt. The blouse I'm wearing is pale pink, silk, and made by Avon in the 80s. It has shoulder pads, and we are in love. My shoes awesome, and are cut-out wedges from Forever 21.

And speaking of AWESOME, I just listed four new items in my shop tonight that I want to keep for myself. Unfortunately, the love of my life, my 1985 Volkswagen Jetta is making a scary rattling noise, and I need to take her to the mechanic... This is going to be my new catch phrase:

My Lack of Money = Your Vintage Score

NEW ITEMS:

90s floral grunge maxi dress

snakeskin patterned designer bathing suit

1970s strappy sandals

high-waisted equestrian jeans (the top I'm wearing in this photo is the one I wore at the Foam Castles show!)

You can buy any of those items shown above HERE.

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And here's my car, her name is Peacock.

OH YEAH! And one more thing, how could I forget?! The wonderful Jessica over at Lola Vintage interviewed me, and posted our chat on her blog. Check it out HERE!

xo, mandy

A Casual Easter Outfit

I've decided that when I'm not in my underwear at home (which is an embarrassingly significant amount of my day, but in my defense, I get a lot of work done that way!), I'm going to post my out-and-about ensembles. Today I went up north with my boyfriend to visit our families for Easter and I didn't want to get too dressed up, but was really excited to wear one of my grandmother's hats.

DETAILS:

HAT: Grandma June's (vintage, 1950s)

BROWN & CREAM  STRIPED BLOUSE: Grandma June's (vintage, 1970s)

CREAM KNIT RUFFLED CARDIGAN: Thrifted (vintage, 1960s)

SHOULDER BAG: Grandma June's (vintage, 1970s)

JEANS: Forever 21

WOODEN/LEATHER HEELS: Grandma June's (vintage 1970s)

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Hope everyone got to see their families and wear great hats! Happy Easter! xo, mandy

Oscars 2010!

Not sure if anyone paid attention, but I live-tweeted throughout the Oscars (probably lost some followers because I was so chatty, and at times, rude!) and talked about the highs and the lows of the night. Here, in my personal opinion, are the BEST and WORST dressed of the evening.

TOP 5 BEST DRESSED!

1. My favorite. Absolutely STUNNING. Vera Farmiga, you killed it. This dress is all of those words you wish to hear- stunning, chic, elegant, sophisticated, sexy, classy, unique. The second I saw this piece on the red carpet, I knew I wouldn't see anything else that could top it. I would like to own one of these in every color under the sun. And I'd like to have just as many important events to attend so I could wear them all. Unbelievable. Congratulations, Vera, you nailed it.

2. Wow, Rachel McAdams, you're a babe. The silhouette of this piece is PERFECT, and I saw many dresses that tried to achieve this, but didn't quite make it there. So flowy, so graceful, SO LOVELY. And not to mention, the colors of this dress are phenomenal. This is a very close race for me between this piece, and Vera Farmiga's. Both so sexy and chic in very different ways. I would like to ballroom dance in this gown, or maybe have a photoshoot in it with those crazy Alexander McQueen shoes. Actually, I want both. Right now. Rachel Adams, you inspired me with this. Thank you.

3. Zoe Kravitz, daughter of Lenny Kravitz. Wow, hello, you are unbelievably pretty. I saw you on the red carpet, but didn't get a chance to see your dress in its entirety because your goofy, lamer-and-lamer-every-year, I'm-going-on-tour-with-U2, check-out-my-cool-sunglasses father was standing in the way. Really though, you should have given those interviews for him. You're a showstopper! This dress is simple, and effective. Pretty, pretty cream silhouette with a beautiful maroon velour bodice. Combine that with a pretty face and a slammin' body, and you've hit the nail on the hammer for me.

4. I'm not sure what I think of Demi Moore as a person (she's always seemed a little "off" to me?), and I'm actually not sure how I feel about her fashion style in general, but I love this dress. I love the color, I love the way the ruffles fall down her unbelievably (dare I say almost freakishly?) toned body, and I love the criss-cross of fabric over the bodice (similar to Rachel McAdams dress, see #2). Not crazy about her clutch or her hair, and I really dislike her shoes (hard to see them in this photo) but the dress itself works, and looks really elegant and classically pretty on her. I would like to have this piece and style it in a way to really show it off. Pshh, oh well, I don't have $12547679312 dollars so for now I'll just have to imagine.

5. Sarah Jessica Parker, my love, my girl-crush, my "teacher" regarding sex, men, and Manhattans. SJP wearing Chanel to the Oscars is an AUTOMATIC win for me. I love SJP, I love Chanel, I love this dress. This dull blonde yellow works for me in ways I never thought it could, and THE NECKLINE?! Can we just talk about the neckline for a second? Holy crap. Not only does it accentuate her super sexy collarbone and neck, but it is also just SO interesting, and so unique. I'm in love, help me. Must. Stop. Looking.

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Alright, I hate to do it (well, no, of course I don't), buuuuut:


TOP 5 WORST DRESSED!

1. Jennifer Lopez. Obviously. This is a no-brainer. Hey J. Lo, you are CRAZY and you clearly have NO CLUE about fashion whatsoever. Sad, really. It's not fair that she gets to walk down the red carpet and wear, excuse my language, BULLSHIT like this. I would give my right arm to walk down the red carpet, but no, it is not in the cards for me, yet nutjob Jennifer Lopez gets to, and she chooses to wear THIS. Hey J. Lo, can I borrow that dress, cut it up, and use it for packing material for my Etsy orders? Thanks.

2. Oh, Charlize. You are a total babe, and a really great actress, but this dress is, well, MOSTLY bad. I actually really love the color, and the drapes of fabric down the back, but C'MON NOW, you OBVIOUSLY knew this was a mistake, but wore it anyway. Maybe to make some sort of "statement" (although all that comes to mind here is "LOOK AT MY BREASTS!!!")? Honestly, I think this dress would be absolutely perfect (and would be in my top 5 BEST dressed list) if the "flowers" or "boob-cuppers" or "whatever-the-heck-those-things-are", were closer together. If they came around the side and touched in the middle, it would be GREAT. But because of the space in-between the breasts, it turns into two great big lavender boobies. Oh well, better luck next year, Charlize. I still like you.

3. Carey Mulligan. Carey, I think your hair and your clutch are so cute, but that dress is terrible. I'm sorry, I was really rooting for you, but you just didn't pull through for me. The fit of this dress bugs me (it bunches out in the most unflattering way at the hips), the length of this bugs me (I'll never be into that short-up-front, long-in-the-back style. Hello, mullet.), and the jewels on this bug me (cheeeesy, gaudy). Sorry, but it's a no-go. Try again.

4. Zoe Saldana, gimme a break. I mean, I don't hate it from the top down to the waist (it's actual pretty interesting and I'm a sucker for anything asymmetrical), but GIMME A BREAK! Too many shades of purple, too much fluff, horrible center slit up the front. Did Barney puke up all over you? (Sorry, had to go there.)

5. Alright, you should probably stop reading now because you, like many other of my Twitter friends, probably love Sandra "Sandy" (gag) Bullock. And you probably loved her outfit. You most likely thought to yourself, "Wow, look at her hair, that bright red lipstick, that sexy and chic gold gown, she's so 1950s! I love it!" I'm sorry (no I'm not), but I disagree. She looks like she's wearing an ice skating costume, except in gown form. SO CHEESY. And CHEAP. Baaaaaad. Cheesy, cheap, baaaad, also appropriate when describing her character in that new movie she's in. ZING! Sorry Sandy, maybe you should give it a break. Or learn how to ice skate.

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all photos came from JUST JARED.
check out my ETSY site here.


Disagree? Offended? Love it? Wanna duke it out? Email me at shopgrandmajune@gmail.com
-mandy

Great Changes!

So, here's some life changes... I kicked my boyfriend out of my apartment, and turned his old room into my OFFICIAL GRANDMA JUNE SHOP! Very exciting! I am so happy to finally have some real organization.


Here's a sneak peek, taken with my iPhone:


Thanks to Susan from Northstar Vintage for two of the three clothing racks in my new room! You're the best.

xoxo, mandy

The new finds that I just couldn't part with.

I had a great day thrifting, and among the amazing finds I got, I found two dresses I was planning on listing on my etsy page, but after I put them on, I knew I couldn't let them leave my apartment. They're just too much. Too phenomenal, too much my style. Check it.

Accordion pleated from the chest down? Yes please!


And here it is without the belt on. I just love the flowy tent style. And see the way the sleeves gather at the cuffs? Very Victorian. I think I'm in love.

Here's the other one. Holy crap, right?

SLEEVES!

Sorry, ladies. Let me love these for a little while, and then maybe they'll make it to etsy. I did, however, list this STUNNING winter jacket, which was very hard to do (I want to keep this, too!)


You can find it here.

Happy fall! It sure does feel like winter here in Maine.

The Girl From Sufjan Stevens' Band Wore My Vintage!

I'm a huge fan of Sufjan Stevens, and really, who isn't? His record, Illinois, blew me away when I first heard it, and it still ranks high as one of the best albums I've heard in the past 5 years. So when I heard he was coming to my town, I got really excited... and when I went online to get tickets, my heart sank because I found out it had sold out in a hot second. Luckily, thanks to my dear friends, I was able to get in last minute, and caught his last three songs. Phenomenal. After the show, I was hanging out with my friends Hannah and Sophie, and we were talking about how it would be really cool if the band wanted to come back to Sophie's gallery, RISE, have some wine, and look through our huge vintage sale that we had earlier that day. Sophie went up to the merch guy, mentioned we had a ton of sweet vintage right down the road, and he immediately called over the girl in Sufjan's band, Nedelle, to tell her all about it. She was very excited, and we took off in my little 1985 jetta with her, her drummer, and Sophie & Hannah. Nedelle got a lot of great vintage, as well as some AMAZING jewelry that Hannah made, and the next night in New York City, she wore an item from the Grandma June collection- a beautiful pale pink shirt with strips of lace down the front, and buttons up the back. Here are some pictures!

Photo by tammylo


Photo by tammylo

Photo by e d d d d d d d i e

Very cool!

grandma june

also, while i was up at camp, i got some old pictures of grandma june. thought i'd share.


grandma with my mother's great dane, brandy. this must have been early '80's.




here's grandma with her dog, ellie-mae. early '80's.




this is how i remember grandma the most. this picture has to be late 90's.


LOVE YOU GRANDMA!