Bringing sexy (lingerie) back

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Crashing Nightingale

Recently I watched an episode of Showtime’s series, Masters of Sex. The show is set in the 1950s. During the episode, one of the characters is getting ready for work and you see her sitting at her vanity in her undergarments. It dawned on me how the undergarments she was wearing, bullet bra, waist cincher, garter belt and stockings, were such the normal thing to wear under daily attire. Of course I’ve known this for a long time and I have these items myself but it just hit me that wearing these daily have gone by the way side. I am certain there are women in the world that do, but it’s certainly not in every women’s wardrobe. So I thought, why don’t we?

Sure, your comfortability-level may get thrown out the window wearing tight, constricting fabric. But just like putting on a pair of heels for the first time, you’ll get use to the feeling eventually. You didn’t do sprints the first time after putting on a pair of six-inch heels. So it’ll take a few times to get use to wearing these items underneath your clothing. It’s all about taking baby steps before taking the big dive. To me, I love the feeling of sophistication these undergarments give. It makes any skirt or dress slip right on when you have the silky material on. I enjoy wearing dresses and skirts more often than jeans or pants so maybe it’s just more of my preference to include putting on a good fitting waist cincher to smooth out the body.

I feel undergarments have gotten a bad rap over the decades because some may associate it with their “grandmother’s girdle.” I’ll admit, growing up I heard my grandmother on many occasions reference her “girdle.” But whatever you want to call it, our grandmothers knew what was up. Like any kind of accessory you pair with your outfit, these classic pieces of underwear should go wherever you go. Whether it’s the office or date night, sophistication is what these pieces bring.

So I declare we bring these beautiful and sexy garments back. (Queue the Justin Timberlake song).

Wear fabulous underwear even if you are the only person that is going to see it.

Fashion is architecture: it is a matter of proportions. – Coco Chanel

Some companies I recommend if you’re looking for yourself or another:
Secrets in Lace
What Katie Did
Dollhouse Bettie
Agent Provocateur

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DIY December

Posted on December 7, 2013 by Crashing Nightingale

It’s hard to believe it’s already December. This year has just flown by. I remember when I was about a teenager/young adult my mom saying, “when you hit 25, the years just fly by after that.” I’m in my thirties now and definitely feel that time slips by much more quickly than it did years before the quarter of a century age. I enjoy this time of the year because it’s wrapping up and giving you time to reflect. I do wish I lived somewhere that had a more predictable winter. Earlier this week it was comfortable high 60s degree weather and as of this morning it’s dropped so low there are icicles outside. Another thing I look forward to during the month of December is New Year’s Eve. It’s one of my favorite holidays-Halloween and 4th of July are the other two. I love to celebrate ringing in the New Year!

I’ve been feeling very creatively inspired lately. Part of it is that I’m trying to spend less time on social media and more time exploring the world. I try to keep in the forefront of my mind what we all did before iPhones and Facebook. Instead of mindlessly checking Facebook for [insert no. of hours here] as precious time slips away, I’m trying to pick back up the things that bring me joy in life. One of the things are writing, which is why I started this site. I’ve allowed myself to keep up with Pinterest though. I love Pinterest! I get so many ideas about style, cooking and diy projects from that site. Plus, I see it as my inspiration machine. I’m planning to get my sewing machine out and play with making a few easy things to ease back into it. I’ve picked up my digital camera again and said I would take more pictures using it than on my phone. Which in turn, would allow me to get back in photography and Photoshop.

With the holiday season upon us, I’ve been compiling my Christmas gift list and organizing what gifts I want to give loved ones. I’m determined to do A LOT of diy gifts and shop locally. I struggle with Christmas because part of me loves the whimsical feel of the holiday season and I do enjoy gift-giving but a bigger part of me loathes the consumerism and the fact that people spend so much money (that they really don’t have to spend) on buying things nobody really wants or needs. That’s the one thing about diy I like is that it’s handmade and more thought is spent in the gift because you’re thinking of the person you’re giving it to while you’re making it. I’ve found some great diy ideas (thanks to Pinterest, of course!) and plan to share them throughout the month. I also want to support local shops and if I do purchase anything from a store, to only purchase from small businesses.

So keep a look out for my DIY December! Feel free to share your holiday gift list or diy projects 🙂

Phillips General Store and Antiques: An antique lover’s playground

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Crashing Nightingale

photography by Crashing Nightingale

Phillips General Store & Antiques Vintage catalogue that was showcased in the store’s earlier years.

One of the things I love is anything unique. What I love even more is if those things that are unique carry history behind it as well. This is what one can find at Phillips General Store & Antiques. The store carries an array of vintage items and rare antiques.

Nestled in the cozy town of Bell Buckle, Tenn, the Phillips General Store & Antiques building comes with it’s own history. The business is owned by Billy Phillips who purchased it from his antique dealer mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Phillips after he graduated high school. The store began its career as a dry goods business in the 1890s. The store operated until the mid-1950s and was closed up until Mr. and Mrs. Albert Phillips purchased it in 1971.

“We bought the building and it’s contents for $750 in 1971. When we opened it back up, it had all the clothing from the original stock. The showcases, rolling ladders and counters are all original to the building,” explains Mr. A. Phillips as he points out the antique clothing displayed around the store.

The “apothecary corner”

As a shopper makes their way around the store, one can tell a lot of thought and work is put in displaying all the antiques. Different sections of the store are decorated with similar items or colors. For example, many sections are dedicated to the various holidays. It is easy to find exactly what a buyer would need for any holiday setting or special occasion. Some areas are decorated according to the color of the item. As you maneuver in and out of the different settings you can find yourself admiring antiques that are dedicated to individual colors such as green, red, black or white.

“Billy decorates, no one else is involved. He has travelled around the country working on set designs for gift shows,” states Mr. A. Phillips.

Vintage photos and that have found a new home in the store.

Currently the store is showcasing many items celebrating Halloween. Antique witches, devils, pumpkins, black cats and goblins are the main attraction upon entering the building. It is a Halloween lover’s dream as there are so many vintage and rare items for the spooky holiday. 19th century photographs are mischievously adorned with construction paper cut-out witches hats. Vintage Halloween costumes hang above the displays and show a time when yellow and black were the traditional Halloween colors.

Spooky décor for that perfect Halloween party.

Phillips General Store & Antiques is the kind of place you could lose time in while exploring all the rarities and oddities. Every inch of the store showcases another very cool item that you suddenly find hard to live without. It’s the place where items from long ago have found a new resting place and are waiting to be discovered by you.

http://www.tnvacation.com/vendors/phillips_general_store_antiques/
http://bellbucklechamber.com/