Miss Mickey does LA - Pinup Girl Clothing Boutique

It's been quiet here for the last few weeks, but with good reason! I've been off in the US visiting friends in Boston and going to a super fun wedding, then visiting princesses and regressing back to my childhood at Disneyland for a few days and then, finishing my trip with a whirlwind LA shopping adventure!

I want to talk all about my trip, but I'm going to work out of order because I'm still waiting for my professional Disneyland photos to arrive from the park. I'll start with my visit to the Pinup Girl Mothership, the Pinup Girl Boutique in Burbank. 

We had a big morning getting over to Burbank, with us having to check out of our Anaheim hotel, catch a shuttle bus back to LAX and then Uber to our new hotel in Santa Monica. Once we'd checked in and dropped off our luggage, we jumped in another Uber and headed over to Burbank. Even with all our faffing (and running an hour behind my self-appointed schedule) we still arrived in Magnolia Drive half an hour before the Boutique opened. So we grabbed a coffee and a croissant at the bakery next door and then loitered out the front until they opened (me all the way barely stopping myself from jumping up and down). 

I was trying so hard to just 'be cool' that I made us sit out the front for a few minutes after the store opened, but I was so excited when I got inside that cool was immediately forgotten. The gorgeous Ashley, who you might know from her blog Southern (California) Belle was in store and helped me with my massive try on list. 

Unicorn acquired!

The entire almost two weeks I'd been in the US I'd been guarded with my shopping, so I let loose in PUG. Well, my letting loose was restrained; I picked out two dresses and a skirt and put a third dress on hold.

Magnolia Boulevard is basically a whole street of vintage and boutiques and PUG was my first stop. So we put everything behind the counter and made our way up the street, with Unique Vintage the final destination we had in mind. 

It was sad that Besame Cosmetics was closed on a Sunday (the only day we had free for shopping), so I missed out on Peggy Carter's lipstick (not to worry, I can get that here), but I did get into visit Audrey K Boutique. I've been following Audrey on Instagram for a long time so I was just as excited to visit in person as I was to go to PUG. The boutique is lovely; it smelled of cherries when we walked in the door and I wanted to buy pretty much everything. But then I spotted this Pan Am bag and I was 100% sold. My friend wanted to know why you would want a Pan Am bag and both Audrey and I said at the same time "Um, because it's Pan Am and it's amazing." 

The bag is actually amazing. It's something that's still officially licensed by Pan Am. I love the bag so much and I really want to get some bigger travel bags from the range! 

After meeting Audrey, we continued down the Boulevard, stepping in and wandering around whenever something caught my eye. I could have spent hours in Playclothes, where the prices were amazing. 

I wanted to take this gorgeous bag with a cane beetle home with me, but was afraid I'd get pulled up in customs and lose it, so I took some photos and tore myself away. I did however, buy this lovely red hat which I wore to an event a few days later (and know I'll get a lot more wear out of it too). 

And after a long march in the blazing sun, we finally reached Unique Vintage, only to find it was closed for renovations. I could have cried! 

But instead, we called an Uber, went straight back to PUG where I still managed to just walk away with two new dresses and a skirt. Though, I think the day I get a job I'll be heading online to order both the green Ava dress and the peach Dee Dee I left behind. 

Amanda did come home with me!

I loved shopping in the Pinup Girl Boutique, it was an amazing experience. I don't love LA and couldn't really see myself living there, but it'd be nice to be close enough to shop there regularly and go to some of their events (though it would be seriously dangerous for my wallet). 

Dee Dee didn't make the cut, but I have a feeling she'll be in my wardrobe soon!

Late night shopping - bricks and mortar Brisbane locals

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I'm a big fan of shopping small and shopping locally. As with many things in the digital age, the convenience of doing things online is choking a lot of small businesses, so it's important, where you can, to visit and support bricks and mortar stores. 

In Brisbane, there are a few places where I head to visit the staff and touch, see and most importantly, try on clothes and know exactly what the fit and cut and colour is like. I love shopping online as much as the next girl, but there's always a moment of nervousness when I rip open a package: is it going to fit? Will it look good? Will the colours look the same in person as they did online? 

So here are my go-to Brisbane places to visit:

That Shop

28a Logan Road
Woolloongabba 

Picture pinched from That Shop's Facebook

While there are more That Shop stores down the Gold Coast, in Brisbane we have a gorgeous store in Woolloongabba which is staffed by the loveliest ladies ever. You're always greeted with a friendly smile, asked if there's anything you're looking for and helped if you need it or left to browse if that's what you'd prefer. I love going in, telling the girls I'm shopping for an occasion and just standing in the change room playing dress ups. They love picking out outfits for you and many times I've walked away with a dress I may not have considered, but end up loving.

They're stockists of Pinup Girl Clothing, Collectif, Hell Bunny, Banned Apparel and many other loved pinup and rockabilly brands. There's makeup, hair product, accessories and handbags and they've just started stocking those awesome Sun Jellies tote bags! The stores are always immaculate and I find that there's a real pride in the items selected to go in the stores; the best cuts and patterns always make their way to That Shop. 

Tattooed Zombie

Shop 4, 1 Dayboro Road (right on the big roundabout)

Petrie 

Photo pinched from Tattooed Zombie's Facebook

A little off the beaten path for those of you in the city or South, but close for those of us on the Northside, Tattooed Zombie is one of my favourite places to stop. It's a small store, but if there's something in particular you're looking for, Dom is always happy to order it in for you. It's never taken more than a week for an item to come in, and Dom always messages straight away to let you know it's in stock. 

They stock Hell Bunny, Pinup Girl Clothing, Lindy Bop, Erst Wilder, and more, along with a range of shoes including TUK.

She also does some great flash sales, so I highly recommend adding Tattooed Zombie on Facebook so you know when something's coming up. Dom's always really accommodating with these sales too and if you can't make it out to Petrie at short notice, she'll take phone orders for you. 

Ursalady Creations

2/247 Logan Road

Stones Corner

Picture pinched from Ursalady Creations' Facebook

I love this shop. Everyone who works at Ursalady Creations is so friendly, they have a huge range of products from true vintage, to the latest Collectif pieces. They also stock steampunk, costumes, bustle dresses, corsets, Ursula's own line of gorgeous clothes, underwear, and lots of other bits and pieces. The prices are reasonable and everyone will go out of their way to help you; and by out of their way, I mean, I've had offers to keep the store open later until I could get there, dresses held for me and just some of the best service I've ever experienced. 

So those are a few of my favourite places to shop in Brisbane. Are you a local - where are your favourites? And I'd love to hear about stores in your local areas, Australia or otherwise! 

 

Saturday shopping outfit (featuring Hell Bunny Scottie skirt)

Saturdays are for shopping trips and days out with friends and family. I admit that most Saturdays where I do this, I go straight from pilates class to the shops wearing leggings and a t-shirt with my hair in a top knot and no makeup. Last weekend though, was for wedding dress shopping with my soon-to-be getting married sister, so leggings and top knots were not really acceptable attire. I was also going out on Saturday night with limited time between shopping and leaving to get changed, so I had to work around my hair which I'd wet set the night before. 

This outfit is probably pinup casual for me. It's a few steps above leggings, but is much lighter makeup, less floof in the skirt and less fuss all around than going all out. It's cute and comfortable and perfect for a day out. The scarf makes a nice neat way of hiding my pin curls but still helping me look put together. 

I have a weakness for Scottie Dogs (they're my favourite, after Jack the Westie of course - and yes, he has is own Instagram these days), so I adore this Scottie print from Hellbunny. I've got my eye on the Scottie sweaters too, but they'll have to wait to go on the shopping list until after I get back from the US next month! 

Outfit details

Skirt: Hell Bunny (from That Shop)

Shirt: H&M (similar)
Shoes: B.A.I.T Footwear (from Kitten D'Amour)
Scarf: That Shop

Shopping ban

Shopping ban. Two words that strike fear into my little heart.

Okay, so it’s not that bad. And actually, my shopping habit isn't too bad (or so I think, we’re about to test that theory). I've gone a really long way with my love of shopping; years ago, there was no activity I hated more than walking around a shopping centre, trying things on, hating everything, buying a bunch and still having nothing to wear. Then I started dressing pinup and worked out where to shop and I went in the complete opposite direction; I’d walk into a store, get super excited about the colours and styles and fit and buy everything.

I've slowed down a lot since then and I've become smarter about how I shop (I can say no now quite easily). But I do have my moments where I MUST HAVE that brooch I just saw Deer Arrow post (and I have it, and love it) or that skirt or that dress… this is how I ended up with a beautiful floor length evening gown that really can’t be worn to many places.

My new Deer Arrow brooch. You can see why I had to have it, right?

When I looked at that sad evening dress hanging in my wardrobe with nowhere to go and also when I pulled out a dress to wear to my sister's recent birthday party that I've had for a year and not worn, I decided it was time for another period of no shopping. I did it for a while last year to get myself out of a financial jam, and it’s time to start again.


I'm heading off to the US of A for a couple of weeks in July and I want to have actual cash to spend, as opposed to giving my credit card a workout. There’s a visit to the Pinup Girl Clothing boutique scheduled in for my second last day in the US, so I have to have enough money left to have fun there right at the end of the trip!

So I'm putting myself on a shopping ban for June. I have a few things to get organised for a photo shoot that’s in a couple of weeks. With that in mind, I'm aiming to make them my only spends in the next week, because from Monday 1 June, it’s no shopping for this mouse.

I have worn all of these... not sure if I've read the comics yet though...

I wish I could spend $0 between now and then, but obviously, I have to eat and things will come up. I shouldn't have to buy any toiletries or things like that because I tend to be a ‘buy up while on sale’ kind of make-up and shampoo buyer. But it means limiting frivolous things like lunches out and movie tickets as well as buying absolutely no clothes or accessories. When I feel the urge for new clothes, I can guarantee there are at least five skirts in my wardrobe that haven't been worn... there are probably some dresses as well. Eeep.

My wardrobe, where apparently, there are clothes with tags on hiding

I'm also going to sell some things to give myself a bit of a boost. I've got a few dresses and cosplay things that have been retired, so if you’re that way inclined, keep an eye on my eBay!

Deep breath. I know there's nothing that I currently desperately need in order to function. I'll be right. Oh... but if anyone wants to buy me these fox slippers from Kmart, that'd be rad (I wear a size 9)...

Late Night Shopping - Pinup DisneyBounding edition

I've always been a classic Disney girl (obviously, with a pinup name like Miss Mickey), but since I started cosplaying as Ariel, I've become a lot more obsessed with Disney Princesses. This year I've been eagerly going through pictures from Disney's Dapper Day celebrations, ogling all the girls who have been DisneyBounding as popular characters.

For those of you who haven't heard of DisneyBounding or Dapper Day, here are a few definitions for you:

Dapper Day is a twice-yearly celebration of 'stepping out in style' held at Disney parks around the world. The point is, you dress up to go to Disney; whether that's vintage and dapper, or just your interpretation of classy and elegant.

DisneyBounding is an interpretation of a Disney character's outfit that isn't actually a costume. I'm pretty sure this came about because adults are not actually allowed on Disney property dressed in costumes, so people don't confuse them with the people who are paid to be princesses and princesses (for some obvious reasons). But it's also now a part of Dapper Day that people dresses as dapper versions of their favourite characters. 

I love this idea so much (obviously, since this is the concept I used for my Rockabilly Ariel costume), and I know a few of you would enjoy being incognito princesses in your everyday clothes, so this week's Late Night Shopping is all about helping you get that Disney look in your wardrobe, with a vintage twist!

1. Rockabilly Ariel (modelled off my own costume, except I made my skirt and necklace myself!)

Rockabilly Ariel (DisneyBounding) by miss-mickey-1 featuring disney jewelry

2. Snow White
Not the Zombie version this time. I do a version of this outfit, except I have a gorgeous yellow vintage dress that I found as a HUGE fluke (it was pretty much exactly what I was looking for - anyone who thrifts, knows that NEVER happens). This one is based off things you can get in store currently.

Pinup Snow White by miss-mickey-1 featuring a blue cardigan

3. Mickey Mouse
I couldn't do a DisneyBounding blog without including my namesake, Mr Mickey Mouse. I've seen lots of pinup versions of Minnie (and it's super cute and easy to do!) but never so much old Mickey. I did a version of Mickey, pinup Steamboat Willie Mickey, for my work Christmas party last year and it was the most comfortable Christmas party outfit I've ever worn.

Pinup Mickey Mouse by miss-mickey-1 on Polyvore

I had heaps of fun using Polyvore to create these collections and will definitely be using it to create more!!

Which characters would you like to see added? 

Late Night Shopping - Autumn calling

We’re twelve days into Autumn and all we've had are long, hot days that are hotter than some of our summer days were! I keep looking at my boots and cardigans and stockings and some of my shorter dresses and skirts (the kind I only wear with tights) longingly. In a lot of ways, winter does make it harder to dress pinup, but for me at work, it actually makes it easier. I have a lot of dresses with low backs and spaghetti straps that are great for a summer day out, but maybe a bit much for the office. But as soon as winter comes and I add a jacket or a cardie, they’re much more office-friendly.

I want to try and organise things here so there’s more regular activity, so I’m going to declare Thursdays ‘Late Night Shopping’ and try and put together some themed shopping posts. I know lots of people are doing this, but you know what? I LOVE posts like this. There’s always something that I’m searching for and reading other girls’ posts on their recommendations quite often unearths places I haven’t thought to look!

So, to start with, tonight’s Late Night Shopping is dedicated to the season I’m currently desperate for, Autumn.

Okay, so let’s start with cardigans. 

For me, because I wear a lot of cupcake-shaped dresses, cropped cardigans are really important. I do have and wear a lot of regular-length cardis, but a cropped one will stop any bunching around your butt and show off the cut of your dress.

Because it’s Autumn and you might just need some light coverage (or to cover up the aforementioned spaghetti straps or low back), this Kitten D’Amour Girl Crazy cardigan is a really nice choice and it’s on special at the moment!

I have a steadily growing obsession with Trashy Diva (including one dress in my wardrobe that I got off eBay that the zipper doesn’t quite close and yet I can’t bear to part with). When you go to Trashy Diva and search for cardigan, they have pretty much every colour in the rainbow and they are nearly all of the cropped variety. I don’t know about the quality, but for $28, as long as they last a season, they’re affordable enough to replace. And honestly, I’ve had $100 cardigans that have barely lasted a season. Anyways, I was a fan of this cardigan in the lilac colour, but the same style comes in lots of other colours!

Sometimes though, you just want a long cardi to snuggle up to. I love this squirrel cardi from Pinup Girl Clothing and because of the belted waist, would look perfect over a wiggle skirt or dress.

Of course, if you need something a bit heavier, but aren’t quite ready to get out the big coats, you can also go for cropped jackets. Miss Amy May, who is one of my favourite Instagrammers (seriously, check her out), has just posted a great blog post about leather jackets and she looks super cute in hers.

Skirts and dresses
I mentioned before that in winter I tend to bring out the shorter skirts and dresses because I can wear tights. I do wear the occasional short dress in the summer but I generally don’t like to wear anything that wouldn’t cover my butt if I had to bend over.  which is why the short things come out in winter.

This winter, my plan is to rock more mod-style outfits. When I was in Adelaide a couple of weeks ago, I stopped in to visit my favourite mod-girl, Jordan from Closet Mod and picked up this gorgeous skirt (and matching earrings). Jordan’s just launched her online store, so you should check it out. Also, follow her on Facebook for hints at what she’ll have in store soon!

I also discovered Uncle Phuncle, another mod-inspired label, when I was in the Raw Brisbane showcase last year, and have been lusting after this dress and coat combo ever since.

Shoes
Autumn also calls for closed in shoes that you can wear with stockings or knee socks. If you’re like me and love multi-coloured stockings, you’ll need shoes to go with all the various colours.
Oxfords are basically my favourite type of shoe in the whole world, and I usually go to Modcloth for them. They’ve got heeled ones, flat ones, different colours, different laces… crazy ones and sensible ones. Here are some favourites:

Step Rally Flat in yellow

Swoonful of Sugar Flat (The lace! Look at the lace)

Refined your purpose heel (sensing a bit of a yellow theme for me here!)

Okay, that’s enough for me! If you’ve got other themes you’d like me to feature, or occasions you’d like me to try and cover off for Late Night Shopping, let me know!!

Wishlist Wednesday

This isn't going to become a regular thing, but I’m getting into the swing of things for the year, planning costumes for conventions and outfits for pageants (I've just sent my application in for what might be the first for 2015!) and photoshoots. Part of what comes with that is a shopping list. And, because I’m determined not to have a repeat of the frantic, expensive and excessive shopping trip I had in the lead up to Cooly Rocks On, I’m making lists.

Lists are important because they help me to budget. They also help me not to shop blindly and get dazzled by shiny things (I am possibly part magpie and this happens often) and they help to work out how long you've got to look, which means whether I have time to wait on international shipping, or if I can try and sew something myself.

I've been cleaning out my wardrobe and identifying holes. You know, those holes where you've got an event and you think: “Hmmm, I don’t have a Michael Jackson t-shirt for that tribute show I’m going to this week*” or, “There’s a chance** I might be invited to a black tie event this year, I should really get an evening dress (or four) just in case.”

With that in mind, here are some of the things on my clothing list at the moment:

 

Pinup Girl Clothing dream sequins dress in black

I have loved this dress since I first saw it. I missed out on it in the Black Friday sales (it was all I wanted) so now I’m committing myself to buying it THE SECOND it comes back. (Please, let it come back). I can wear this so many different places!

Pinup Girl Clothing Laura Bynes Gilda Gown in olive velvet

Seriously, was there ever a more perfect evening gown for a red head?

Glamour Bunny Lulu retro nightie in blue

I have plans for this lady. Not the least of which is to bring a little glamour into those Saturday nights I spend on the couch.*** I am holding out on this one for a bit though because I’m convinced I might be able to get a pale blue real vintage nightie for less than $100, which this one will cost to ship from the UK.

Glamour Bunny Jessica dress in blue

Look at the colour! I have a bit of a thing for sequined dresses and this one is beautiful. Another one for all those glam parties I’m being invited to. This one is probably going to stay on the wishlist on account of the fact it’s been out of stock for a while.


And now the shoes. My physio has banned me from my obsession with cheap (but cute) flat shoes. You know the kind I mean? The ones that are always reduced to $5 and start to stink after about four wears and fall apart in a couple of months? The ones that sneakily mean you’re spending more money on shoes than if you’d just forked out for decent ones in the first place?

So I’m moving on to mid-height heels, particularly lace ups and strappy shoes so they’re practical for shopping, walking around on the weekend, etc.

Which brings me to my current major footwear love, B.A.I.T Footwear. Their shoes are so cute, comfy and affordable and they go with my vintage clothes!

Here’s my current B.A.I.T wishlist:

Robbie: in like, all the colours (except for pink. I don’t do pink). They’re 40s style, glittery, buckle-up shoes and I LOVE them. (The link goes to the blue ones, which are my favourites)
Picture from B.A.I.T Footwear’s FB page.

Dennise: in yellow. And also celery (but I they're sold out in my size).
I feel like these would work well as a casual shoe, but they’re also dressy enough that I could wear to work during summer without looking like I’ve come from the beach.

Desi: in, again, all of the colours. For the Aussie girls, Desi is one of the B.A.I.T lines that Kitten D’Amour is now stocking and with the Aussie dollar not really sitting equivalent with the USD any more, they’re cheaper than what you will pay direct from Kitten (that’s where I’ll be getting mine). Kitten D’amour’s shoes can be found by clicking here.


I’m going to finish by saying that this is just my wishlist. Before anyone says something about my shopping habits; I haven’t bought anything off my last list (they’re all still there). But listing them out is a really good way of working out if I really need them. Or waiting until there are sales!!

Happy shopping.

*My actual thought process in the week before the Michael Jackson “Thriller Live” show.
**There’s pretty much .01% of a chance I’ll be invited to a black tie event this year.
***Basically every Saturday night.

Disclaimer: While I do have affiliate links on this blog, I have not been paid for this post and I will not earn commission on any purchases made via links from this post.