No Marilyn, be Funny!

By Brian Karpas

When you look up the word “icon” in the dictionary, most likely there will or there should be a picture of Marilyn Monroe. Not even a worded description, just her image alone should tell you what an icon is. From her breakout year in 1953 till her untimely death in 1962 at the age of thirty six, Marilyn was the musical comedy queen. With her smart dumb blonde persona, sultry singing voice, beauty, and gorgeous outfits that showed off her astounding hour glass shape, Marilyn Monroe became arguably the most indelible movie star of all time. When you watch a film like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes or  How to Marry a Millionaire, you can see how suited Monroe was to the genre. However, this wasn’t always what Marilyn’s image was. Yes, she was sexy, but she wasn’t always funny. When you watch her in her films pre Gentlemen, you can see the makings of a sultry dramatic lead. Someone who had noirish undertones to her style that was breezy and natural. I look at some of her early work and can’t help but think how vastly different her image would have been if the musical comedies 20th Century Fox found for her, never happened. 

Marilyn Monroe was always going to be a star. Her early career is the story of a woman who worked her ass off before becoming the international star she did. She was a model, posing for countless magazines pre and post World War Two, did commercial work, jumped from studio to studio, and appeared in countless small parts in films before finally resigning to 20th Century Fox in the late 1940s. In this period between being resigned and 1953, Monroe starred in films that were darker and showed a completely different side to her. 

The first of these was 1951s The Asphalt Jungle, where Marilyn plays Angela, the mistress to Louis Calhern’s Alonzo Emmerich.  The next year was even bigger for Monroe. She had  a small but important role in the adaption of Clifford Odets’s Clash by Night. However her bigger role that year was Don’t Bother to Knock. In this film, Monroe plays a disturbed Babysitter who recently was released from a Sanitarium. I want to spend a little time on this film, because this is the film that really makes my case. In this movie, Marilyn gives a deeply rich performance that is incredibly vulnerable, horrifying, sultry, and alluring. This was her first opportunity to be a real femme fatale and she really does nails the genre. Monroe earned praise for her role and was cast the next year in another femme fatale role in Niagra. Fox seemed to be starting to chart Monroe’s career as not a comedic beauty, but a sultry dramatic lead. However, as I pointed out earlier, Niagara wasn’t the only film of her’s released in 1953, she also had Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire released that year as well. So why didn’t Fox keep her career as a sultry ingenue going?

As we all know, Hollywood is first and foremost a business. Studio execs have always looked at who and what is bringing big bucks and even though Marilyn’s latest noir, Niagara, was a hit, the film was not the same kind of smash that Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire, the two comedies that had her play dumb, were and although her other noirs such as  Asphalt, was enormously successful, she was not the lead and therefore she wasn’t seen as responsible for the films grosses. So Fox, being a business, and also being in control of Monroe’s image, decided that the musical comedy route was where she should go. They chose to focus on one thing and make Monroe into a 1 dimensional character that will bring in big bucks, instead of seeing they had someone who was versatile and able to play vastly different genres.

I’ll often watch one of Monroe’s early film performances and start to think of what else she should have done if she was able to go down a career path that honestly seemed more like what she wanted to do. I’ll watch a performance of Kim Novak’s and think “wow Marilyn could’ve done that.” I love Kim, and think she is fabulous, but sometimes I think Monroe would have slayed us all if she were the lead in The Man with the Golden Arm or Pal Joey, instead. I even think she would’ve been an excellent candidate for Mrs Robinson in The Graduate. Monroe tried to take control of her career and tried to get herself back on the track of sultry and dramatic roles in the peak of her career with films like Bus Stop or The Misfits, however audiences only saw one persona and wanted only one persona from Marilyn, because that is what we were conditioned to want from her. Marilyn Monroe to me is one of the most gifted and fascinating actresses, because I don’t think she understood how talented she was and is truly a shame we did not get to see all of her talents be nourished properly. We never got to see how far her talents actually went, but I am thankful we at least have some of her early work to show her abilities as not just a movie star, but as an actress.

Fuck Vintage Hair: Tips and Tricks When You're Thicc and Untamable

Let me preface this title by saying that I do not fucking hate vintage hair. It is quite the contrary for me. I am in LOVE with vintage hair. I am enamored with the smooth aesthetic of the curls, waves and rolls so much that placing any vintage glamour shot of your grandmother in front of me will have me chatting in awe for hours! I may then preceded to rummage through your mother’s closet in search of any vintage psychedelic mini dresses or novelty print circle skirts in hopes of having a vintage fashion show but that’s best saved for another blog post. At the end of the day, vintage hair is the cherry on top for many retro and vintage looks but I have found myself feeling that these beautiful works of noggin art are simply not for my hair type. My hair long, thicc and untamable !!! It waves and sticks out where it should be smooth and It frizzes horribly even with all the bougie ass hair product my hair girl sells me. Because I’m a mom and must tend to my crotch goblin constantly, I find even trying new vintage hair styles is daunting. I honestly feel like I’m going to put what little time I have for myself into something that’s going to look even more terrible than if I had even tried. HOWEVER, I also know that you lose 100 percent of the shots you don’t take or some shit like that. So, I’m going to give y’all a very lazy guide for what’s worked for me in the past when you’re short on time AND you have crazy ass hair. The first thing on the list issss…….

WET SETS

Wet sets are a common method used by a lot of girls as a basis for many pinup hairstyles. When I first started I had rather short hair so I was able to use actual Bobby pins to curl my hair and the pin it down. Now, that shit just isn’t going to fly. My hair is INCREDIBLY thick and this method just wouldn’t allow my hair to dry properly causing a frizzy mess. So what I suggest is investing in a ridiculous amount of foam rollers from the dollar tree or from Sally’s. If you’re hair is like mine it’s better to buy more than not enough. You’re going to take those little devils and remove the plastic parts that never work very well. You’re going to take strips of fabric ( maybe like 6 or 7 inches ) and push them through the hole of the foam roller. That way when you roll your hair in them you can just tie them up! Easy peasy! If you want to see how to make these in depth, click here to see Andy’s Eye Candy’s video. I’d suggest rolling your hair once it’s dried a little but still has some moisture so it will hold the curl of your set. If you’re hair doesn’t hold curl very well I’d suggest getting some Lottabody Setting Lotion to spray in while your hair is still wet. It’s amazing and works like a charm! The next step is to section your hair! Feel free to section it to the desired thickness that works for your hair type. I do mine thicker so they frizz less. I always do a square section at the top of my head first and then section the rest of my head appropriately. Below is a cute little guide to help you visualize the way that I kind of do my hair! It’s handy to have a reference especially if you haven’t really done this style before.

Lastly, you can finish off the look with a head scarf to hold everything in place. In the morning or after several hours, you can take a paddle brush, a little bit of pomade and brush away until you get the desired look for your curls. If you want more of a wavy look in front, align your wave and secure it into place with alligator clips.

The Classic Rockabilly Pouf and Pony Tail

This look by far is the quickest and easiest for me to do when I’m running out of time and I don’t want to look like shit. First thing your gonna do is get those baby hairs in check if you have them! Gel, pomade or spray those fuckers down. Hell, cut em if you’re brave enough. Section a couple of inches of hair in the front and pull those bad girls as high as the heavens. Take a rubber band or clip and save those babies for later. Attempt to neatly pull the rest of your hair back into a pony tail. Then take some hair spray and a teasing comb and tease to your hearts desire. Smooth out the front with some pomade and while keeping your pouf upright, twist your section hair at the base. This helps to keep it upright a little better so your pouf doesn’t go poof. Pin that sucker with as many pins as necessary! I take two inch bobby pins and cross them and then stick smaller bobby pins in between vertically to lock in the twist. The next part is to spray the bejesus out of it so it doesn’t go anywhere. You can then integrate the tail of the pouf into the pony but be very gentle because you do not want any pulled hairs in your pouf. If you pin the pouf well enough you should be able to take a teasing brush and gentle brush it into the rest of your ponytail hair. You can add a cute scarf to help with baby hairs and add some flair!

The Lazy Curly UpDo

This one is an oldie but goodie from when I use to dress pinup almost every day at work! Not sure how I discovered it but it worked like a charm and I just stuck with it. First thing you’re gonna do is gather your hair into a high pony. Make the gathered pony hair and drape it towards the front of our head to make sure its close enough to cover the top of your head in curls. You’re gonna take your hot curlers curl the parts of your hair in the pony. Let those girlies sit until cooled and then take them all out. Take a stand closest to your hair tie and wrap it around and pin it to conceal your tie. Then arrange the curls in whatever way you want. I like to layer mine with the longest strands pinned to the front and the mid-length to short ones to fill in the spaces so it looks fuller. Spray and you have a look that will last you all day! Here’s a picture of me with the lazy curly updo on Halloween when I worked at Pinup Girl Clothing:

Bumper Bangs and RATS

Bumper bangs are a favorite in the Pinup Community and let’s be real, they be lookin’ hella cute. Some girls have issues with them because it requires you to roll your hair smoothly which doesn’t always help. When I first started doing vintage hair I would get so frustrated because I had so much hair and it would come out so floppy and lump! Over time I realized that using LESS hair definitively helps and using some Argan oil helps with the fly-aways. You can purchase rats on Amazon or at any beauty place but I find that if you’re trying to save money or you can’t find a rat that matches your hair color, using your own hair works perfect. What I mean by that is taking your old hair from your brush after a while makes for an amazing rat that blends in perfectly. It does look a little weird in your hair drawer but it does the trick. The best way to learn how to roll hair is to play around with it yourself. I would watch videos and would try to mimic what I saw but it didn’t work for me so I’d suggest just going at it. Just be sure to tease the hair you are rolling a little as it helps to stiffen and keep hair together as well as give it a nice full look. If you do it enough, you will get the hang of it and you’re bumper bangs will look smoooooooootth!!!!!

WIGS

Some days, I legit just wear wigs because they honestly look better and you don’t have to worry about overthinking how you style your hair and it’s going to hell in a hand basket. Because my hair is long, I just french braid my hair back as tight as I can and then pin the ends up between them to give a smoother look with the wig cap. I pop that wig cap on and then my wig and VOILA! Ready to hit the town! I really LOVE De Oro Wigs and hope to buy a few really soon!!! I’ll probably do another blog entirely on wigs because I’m that bitch but you know, that's me. Here’s a pictures of me being a wig slut:

Before: Natural Hair After: Fabulous Wig Slut

One of many goddess wigs from De Oro Wigs

So, it’s super apparent that I haven’t been on this blog for quite some time but I appreciate you taking the time to read or skim through the majority of this. Take some time to comment below and tell me how you liked it! What do you wish could have been different or what did you like about it? Share with us some of your super hand tips and tricks while your at it! VKV is a super supportive community and wants to hear your voice! Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram @vixenkittyvintage to be alerted of new arrivals to our shop and new blog postings!

“Vintage in a Modern World”

Hi! My name is Samantha and if you’d like to follow me on Instagram my handle is @sammiepeep. You’ll find me posting all kinds of things, especially related to this awesome company! Speaking of which, I’m glad Instagram took me to this awesome place, because VKV is the first place I have ever purchased any vintage items from. I was always looking for vintage, and always trying to figure out my style. I often dressed not of the period of time, but with no set time period. If my t-shirt was from the 70s my jeans were from the 90s and my shoes were current. But, clearly, without trying or even knowing I was making an attempt, I was finding my way in fashion. Vintage inspired clothing and vintage clothing communities were not a “thing” in my high school and middle school days, and if they were I was late to the party. After discovering some really neat vintage clothes making a comeback (polka dotted sweaters and blouses anyone?) I searched for a long time to find a place where I could start my own style, my very first vintage piece of clothing. Most online places I had a hard time connecting to the clothing, I had to find an era to start in. Then my question was, will I be gawked at? After a lot of research on the best research platform ever (YouTube of course lmao) I discovered that there were indeed people who were interested in dressing vintage and also mixing styles and eras.

So what’s my point? Well, I find it easier now to discover a community of wonderful and genuine people who really appreciate gals (and guys!) trying new and different styles; attempting to discover their looks in the 1950s, 40s, or whatever the era and posting pics and tutorials and tips that are helpful to others. Being a vintage heart in a modern world can be daunting at first, when you’re sporting Cigarette pants while others are donning a pair of Adidas track pants. It can feel like you stick out…But perhaps that’s what we’re all about, sticking out in the best way. With the technology of photo enhancing those great old pics of your grandparents or great grandparents when they trekked through high school in the 30s or they had their wild flapper days in the 1920s, it’s given us some material to go off of, as well as some history to share. When we wear vintage, whether it be inspired or a true piece, we call back to those days, and for some of us those felt like simpler times when the highlight of the evening was swinging by the malt shop or dancing to the jukebox or record player.

Sex Appeal Essentials

Ladies! It’s feels so good to be back at it again with The Kitten Corral! For those of you that don’t follow me on Instagram ( totally worth it BTW) or know me personally, I gave birth to a healthy 7 lb 8 oz healthy baby boy on April 23rd via C-section and boy did it kick my ass to the moon and back. Being cut open really slows you all the way down to a screeching halt! Oh but rest assured that your hormones don’t. Those suckers are raging like a cat in heat! Some parts of hormone flare ups are rough but sometimes it can be quite enjoyable. Yeah… technically you’re suppose to be out of commission for 6 weeks but I caved at my amorous cravings at 3 weeks. With that being said, I figured I would write a post on some awesome items I’ve been using over the past couple months that have worked in tandem with my crazy sex goddess hormones in taking the sex appeal to a new level! If you like what you see, click the link below the picture as it’s linked through my Amazon Influencer account! Your support of The Kitten Corral would be massively appreciated! Without further ado, here are my top 10 pics for Sex Appeal Essentials:

#10 Sex Dust- Moon Juice

Moon Juice - Organic Edible Attraction (1.5 oz) Buy on Amazon

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this stuff but I didn’t at first. Let me explain why! Upon opening this little jar of happiness the smell can be pungent AF. You think “hmm… sex dust. Must smell like strawberries and champagne!.” Totally not the case. It smells as if the scent of swiss miss and valerian root had a love child. However, and it’s a huge HOWEVER, it’s actually not terrible tasting once you mix it into your coffee or in a shake plus it makes your coffee kinda cream which I love! The best part of it is when it really kicks in there will be plenty of water at the falls if you catch my drift and you’ll feel like a cat on cat nip! It’s a good good goddess essential even if you’re lighting your own fire or just wanting to feel more in tune with your body! The jar reads “ an adaptogenic blend of lusty superherbs that help combat the effects of stress to ignite your creative energy, in and out of the bedroom.” and boy does it deliver.

#9 Velvet Two piece Pajama Set

TOP-MAX Sexy Velvet 2 Pieces Romper Outfit - Spaghetti Strap Crop Top Camisole and Shorts Pajama Active Bottom Set Buy on Amazon

This two piece crushed velvet pajama set is divine and super affordable! The biggest factor in choosing this beautiful set was the perfect balance between comfort and sexy. Just because you’re recovering from being sliced open doesn’t mean you have to look frumpy when those hormones are aflowin’. It was really important to still try to look and feel attractive even though I was dog tired and sooooo sooo sore. This set was a good choice because now that I’m healed I can still wear it and feel confident when doing work around the house in a messy bun or letting my hair down while frolicking around in my sheets. Either way, it’s a good solid sexy and stretchy staple item that I highly suggest. It also comes in different colors as well but the rose gold color is definitely my favorite.

#8 Ultra Violet Ombre Wig

aSulis Ombre Wigs Short Bob Wigs Purple Colorful Party Wig Synthetic Daily Wig for Women 13" ¡­ Buy on Amazon

Okay, colored wigs are the shit especially ombre ultraviolet ones. I don’t know about you but wigs make me feel heckin’ attractive! When you haven’t had a chance to wash your hair for a week because your newborns feeding schedule blends all of your days together, wigs come through.. There is nothing better than the feeling of looking in the mirror and seeing nicely styled hair without having to put the work into it.

#7 CHANEL Gabrielle Perfume

Gabrielle Eau De Parfum Spray For Women 3.4 Oz / 100 ml Brand New Item Sealed in Box Buy on Amazon

Okay, ladies! Anything Chanel is expensive as shit. Let’s be real here! I’m a cheap ho that doesn’t unnecessarily overpaying for things so, I get it. BUT Gabrielle by Chanel smell divine!!!! IF I buy Chanel its usually only Chance as I am hella picky with my scents but this perfume is worth shelling out the clams. Gabrielle has a very light and playful smell to it which makes it perfect for wanting to be a little more comfortable in your own skin or for a night on the town with that special someone. I’ll sometimes wear it just to smell pretty and will get mundo compliments from others and my fiance. Random people love it, your partner will love it and you will ADORE it! Pinky Promise!

#6
ORIBE Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil

ORIBE Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil, 1.7 Fl Oz Buy on Amazon

So, this product is also hella expensive for only being 1.7 fl oz but it works wonders on damaged hair and a little dab will do you! When I used to get my hair done, my hair girl would always use this amazing voo doo oil in my hair and it would come out so perfect that my jaw would drop ( My hair has a history of being bleached and utterly trashed)! This stuff is pure MAGIC! It leaves even the most damaged hair silk, smooth, and sleek! There is no better feeling than having soft lush locks atop your noggin!

#5 Soap and Glory Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator

Soap & Glory Hocus Focus Instant Visual Flaw-Softening Illuminator 30Ml Buy on Amazon

This stuff brightens and softens your face instantly! After I had my baby my hormones made me break out so much but this really helped to make my skin look flawless! I literally used it all the time and ran out within my first couple months of purchasing! It obviously isn’t a cure all cream but it sure does help you to feel a little less self-conscious and a little more flirtatious.

#4 Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream

Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream, 0.5 oz. Buy on Amazon

I have bags for days and not the good kind. My grandmother bought me a Mario Badescu kit a couple Christmas ago and it has done wonders for me! This eye cream removes bags and smooths the skin underneath your eyes for a rejuvenated and fresh look. A little bit will go a long way and it’s not super glossy which is great if you don’t wear a lot of makeup like I do. Another plus is that this cream is super cheap for it’s amazing eye rejuvenating qualities! I’ve had this cream for I’d say about 2 years and I have not yet run out of it. It will probably go bad before I run out!

#3 Backless Black Tie Midi Dress

Yidarton Womens Dresses-Summer Spaghetti Strap Tie Front Button Down Sexy Backless Midi Dress (Large, Wine) Buy on Amazon

Every girl needs a simple but sultry little number! This cute little dress is perfect especially if you’re breast feeding as you can just pull down the top with ease as needed!

#2 Cuban Nude Stockings

Leg Avenue Womens Plus Size Sheer Cuban Heel Backseam Pantyhose Buy on Amazon

Cuban nude stockings are such a staple for seduction! I love wearing these for ANY occasion!! I am a thic girl and find that leg avenue can sometimes run a little small for me so I always get the plus size pantyhouse as I find they fit better. They aren’t very common so when I wear mine out they really turn heads!

#1 Jeff Goldblum Tapestry

Jacoci Kind Men Oil Painting Design Wall Tapestry Hanging Cool Design for Bedroom Living Room Dorm Handicrafts Curtain Home Decor Size 50x60 Inches Buy on Amazon

There is ;nothing like a little daddy Goldblum to make yourself feel sexy.

Welp! I hope you’ve enjoyed this sex appeal essentials list! Leave me a comment in the box below to share what you liked (or didn’t) and what you would like to see in future posts as well! Until next time my kitten corrallers!

On being vegan, vintage, and pregnant all at the same damn time...

Let me start this by saying that neither of the things listed in this title have been going exactly as expected for me over the last 9 months. I suppose I’ll start with pregnancy first since it seems to really change everything your world. Things you use to do, outfits you use to wear, your sleep and daily diet to name just a few. Like, think you can still squeeze into that adorable 1960’s dress suit you bought two sizes bigger on purpose last month? Wrong. Think you can fight through cravings every time your friends talk about bomb cheesy dishes? Also wrong. I got really tired of fighting what my body was craving and consumed what I can only estimate to be about 4 pounds of cheese within a 3 months span. If there is anything I could say to newly pregnant women, it would be to prepare yourself as pregnancy is a fucking trip. It will do things to your body that you could never even fathom and all you can do is sit back and mouth “what the fuck? Was my pussy that long before?” It probably wasn’t but hey what can you do about it now? It’s not all stretched vags and buckets of discharge though! It’s kind of interesting to feel your kid get bigger and stronger. It’s exciting to see them bounce around on the ultrasound screen and feel their little hands and feet move against the inside of your belly. It does take some getting use to though as I felt really strange about a person I don’t even know inhabiting my body. People would and still try to lovingly ignore that fact that this little alien is taking over your insides. They try to lovingly distract you with “ Oh it’s a miracle. Oh you should be happy, it’s a blessing.” Don’t get me wrong, this I’m sure is true for all mothers but it disregards the fact that it takes some women a really really really long time to adapt to your every changing body. It has been a total mind fuck for me and it’s still something I’m getting on board with even though I have 3 weeks to go until the arrival of Maxwell. I wish that it was more socially acceptable to talk about the discomforts of pregnancy without feeling like we might be judged or called ungrateful for this gift of motherhood. I am blessed that I have had that opportunity with some of my mother friends but still find it to be something people try to silence. Also, not a lot of people are really empathetic to the fact that your body sometimes feels god awful (or all the time depending on your pregnancy). Even if you’re blessed not to be sick every second of the day, you often feel bad about the way your body looks or at least this has been the case for myself. No judgement if you have had amazing pregnancies and have felt like the glowing goddess you are!

I have just found that I have struggled with going from a size 2 to a size 12. Nothing that makes me feel confident and cute fits. It’s an awful feeling especially if you’ve struggled with body issues when you weren’t pregnant. All of my vintage clothing doesn’t fit. When I say ALL, I mean ALL! There is not one god damn thing in my 4+ year collection of vintage that I can get over my head. With that being said, I did what any normal vintage girl would do and just went shopping for new shit (XD). I do want to say that even though I’m not able to fit into my favorites now, I have enjoyed doing maternity outfits of the day post on the IG and have gotten a lot of love from my followers which has been really nice. I think if anything, it has taught me that we are in a marvelous time where many different styles, body types, and people can be celebrated and appreciated! It has also helped to find other vintage pregnant ladies and find what styles work for their bodies and beautiful bumps! It really helps to be able to see that just because you’re pregnant you don’t have to give up being fashionable. Life doesn’t have to be all sweat pants and messy buns although I will admit that you definitely will have those days. Below are some adorable vintage mamas (and myself) still rocking their vintage fashion:

@amywadeartistry looking like a total goodness in this blue and green vintage floral maxi dress!

@tinaimel rocking an amazing vintage coat and a comfy $7 nursing bra she found on ebay! Heck yeah!

@allyvintage wearing simple but chic separates with a gorgeous navy blue fur lined coat!

@thevixenkittyvintage Me in a 1970’s Chas L. Lewis maxi dress and Sweedish Hasbeens.

The last thing I would say I really struggle with is getting back to my vegan roots. Like I said before, sometimes your body just craves certain things and there’s no shame in that! I’m no doctor but I’m pretty sure I had at least a calcium or iron deficiency with this pregnancy. I went from not eating cheese or dairy to eating a whole lot of it. It would make my stomach hurt because It had been so long since I had eaten anything with milk. It was rough to say the least. In addition to that, I tend to struggle with depression a lot more when I’m not eating plant based meals. That paired with my hormones literally made spiral down and I literally have no idea how I survived the early months. I think my saving grace was probably my support system. I am unsure if I would be in better spirits today without them. I’m 36 weeks currently and still struggle with intense feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, general weepiness but I don’t get consumed by it as much. I think that a lot of this has to do with me integrating more plant based things in my diet. I cannot get enough of tofu, avocado, blue berries, strawberries, and vegan pizza bites! I am so looking forward to finding more fast and easy vegan receipts for my new journey to mom hood and bouncing back to my best state of mind with time! I think it’s easy to be so hard on yourself when you’re use to living a strict regimented lifestyle in the beginning but the more I grow to love my alien (Maxwell), the more I recognize that my body was doing it’s job of collecting what it needs to make a healthy new human. Women are amazing creatures and thinking about just that blows my freaking mind!

Although this pregnancy has been a life changing experience, I have decided that this baby will be my only.I’m not sure that I could or would want to do this again but I want to end this post by admiring all you ladies that have many babies! I’m in awe of your ability to be strong dedicated mothers and I truly think ya’ll are the bad asses of the world. I look up to you and everything you do to keep your families happy, healthy and safe! Comment below and tell me what your pregnancy or motherhood journey been like for you. How was it the same or different than you thought it would be? What do you wish you could go back and tell yourself? I can’t wait to hear your experiences! <3

Notes on having a vintage shop and trying to start a blog: the ADD edition.

Greetings and welcome to my first posting on this new blog  that I've just decided to call the Kitten Corral!What am I  I hoping for in the blog? Not a damn thing. Just a place to talk about things that I like such as textiles, social influence on fashion eras, and other things that I can't think of in the current moment.  Do you want to write some interesting things on this blog to? If yes, let me know. I love chatting with other people and creating a place for people to talk about vintage and vintage accessories. Disclaimer: I have ADD and sometimes my writing is all over the place.  Just take it for what it is and enjoy the obscure things that I conjure up in my brain. Lastly, comment away! I do a happy dance ever time someone talks with me or gives me their feedback! With that being said, let's begin!

My name is Sage and I've been into old timey things since I was knee high to a pig's eye. The older I got the more I started to really become obsessed with vintage and fashion. Initially, I was just into anything that I thought was freaky and weird ( I'm a weird person. Surprise surprise). I loved thrifiting to find the strangest outfit I could find. I went through some interesting life changes (I'm sure I'll make this an entry at some point) and got really into 1950's style fashion when I was in my mid 20's due to the fact I got a job doing customer service at a Pinup reproduction company. I was drawn in by how glamorous and different was from something you'd find at H&M or Forever 21. I stuck with the company I was at for a couple of years and then eventually went on to get a job within my profession. I more or less grew out of the 1950's style although I still pay homage to it for helping me find beautiful ways to express myself through my appearances. In honesty, I can only wear so many cookie cutter circle skirts and A line dresses before I loose my fucking mind.  I would like to state that for some girls, they're all about that life. Kudos to them as they have found something they love that makes them feel like the fierce ladies they are! I, on the other hand, am stubborn and lack the concentration or impulse control to wear the same  style all the time.  I need something that screams eccentricity but is still appropriate for work. The last thing you want is your therapist asking you how you feel today while wearing David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust Kansai Yamamoto jumpsuit (see image below).

At the present moment, I've settled with the 1960's/1970's era. For me, I find it's kind of the best both both worlds. You have some remnants of 1950's style but it's evolved into this esoteric expressionism that still influences a lot of the fashion we have present day.I love the style of the clothing and the vivid colors/patterns of the 1960's because it commands the attention of the world! People automatically look at you when you enter a room and they know that you're a sparkler among a sea of tealights. That's the kind of shit I live for and I'm sure you do to. When I think of my own fashion journey, I recall times where I felt I wasn't confident enough to pull off what I truly wanted to wear. I never really had anyone who encouraged me to use fashion as an outlet of who I was.  I've always dated ass hole guys that would always critique what I wore. Either it was boy's clothes or it was too dressy. I never had someone that was like, "wear whatever the fuck you feel boo boo." It was always terms for potential embarrassment for them. I am defiant by nature got to a point where I was done. I was done with all the bull shit that comes from pleasing others and focused more on pleasing myself ( that's what she said HEY OOOOO). At some point you have to tell the critics (inside and outsisde of your mind) to go fuck themselves and dress like there's no tomorrow because there isn't one.

" Hello and welcome to your first therapy session. I want this to be a safe and comfortable experience for you to talk about important emotional issues you're having. Now let's start by talking about your relationship with your mother" -me being too extra in a fancy vintage jumpsuit at work.