Book Report: The Fashion File by Janie Bryant

The Fashion File by Janie Bryant is glued to my hands as we speak. I don't even know how I am typing this. :::gush::: I've made it known before that I have an obsession with the fashion from the show "Mad Men" but now I have a beautiful hardcover book in my possession by the Emmy-winning costume designer herself. The sketches alone make it worth the purchase to me, and this book is going to live with my sewing patterns as inspiration.

The book is full of suggestions on how to take vintage style and use it to enhance your wardrobe, as well as important advice on how to fit your clothes. She talks about essentials for your wardrobe, but also goes decade by decade to show you her inspirations and how you can translate that into your style choices. I opened this book right before I was about to go to sleep, and I ended up poring over it from cover to cover before I could shut my eyes. It's just that beautiful.

Now all I see are 60s-era dresses dancing through my head, and every sewing pattern I buy gives me modification ideas on how I can make them even more vintage-looking.

Always,

Aubrey

The Band Perry

I'm a bit obsessed with this song by The Band Perry. It's just so beautiful and poetic to me. I could listen to it on repeat all day. They're definitely worth a listen!

"If I Die Young"

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Always,

Aubrey

B-town Roundup

I loved my trip home! I just felt like I had the Christmas spirit all around me the whole time. There were so many wonderful things to love about it...

-Nick's English Hut, Yogi's, Lennie's, and Serendipity with old friends, including some Upland Wheat Ale like a good townie

-Cally the cat's 15th Christmas with our family, sitting under the tree just like when we got her for Christmas '96

-listening to Mom and Dad be hilarious, as usual

-FAMILY. Seeing everyone after so long away was wonderful. I'm so lucky to have so much family to fill my life with love.

-Having none of the lottery tickets I got for Christmas be winners... I already spent my luck getting home!

-Two words: Spam Musubi

-Oliver Winery wines... Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chambourcin

-FOOD... all the favorites for the holidays, in Midwest-sized portions

-Presents! Sweaters, accessories, a SEWING BASKET, lots of things I love!

-celebrating Dad's birthday by watching True Grit, because Dad loves a western and Mom loves Matt Damon

-getting my butt kicked in Jazzercise with Mom

-celebrating JM's 28th birthday with Funfetti cake (I can make cakes from scratch, but that's what he wants)

-watching the snow fall, big and fluffy, just in time for a White Christmas!

-buying my first sewing patterns

-shopping with Amy and Mom, a Williams family tradition every time I come home

Every time I come home, I want to stay longer.

Always,

Aubrey