Crazy 4 my collectables

Hello Kitty Instax Camera and Outfits for Curvy Dolls

August 15, 2017 By: Fan

I’ve adored Hello Kitty since I was a little girl. I can remember being in shops that sold Hello Kitty goodies and those scented lip glosses!! My hubby Gary got me this limited edition Hello Kitty camera by Fuji Film and it is the Instax Mini Hello Kitty Camera and I love it. I am not a photographer and for the life of me, can’t take a decent picture but, Instax makes film photography fun and that is really what it is all about. Oh yea, you can be cute too walking around with Hello Kitty.

The Instax Mini Hello Kitty Camera is what got me thinking about styling an entire outfit. Pinup/Rockabilly meets Hello Kitty is what I was going for but wanting to keep it sweet and cute….. you know, just like Hello Kitty. It is not alway easy to find Hello Kitty clothing when you are a curvy Doll. In these pictures I am wearing a skirt from Torrid and their collaboration with Sanrio to make the first ever plus size Hello Kitty line. The mint green skirt is actually a swing skirt with a boarder print of Hello Kitty and includes images from the city complete with skyscrapers and a driving Hello Kitty. The skirt is fully lined too and I was able to add a full petticoat underneath. The skirt comes in sizes 10-30!! It is cotton and prefect for warm weather. I paired it with a cute sparkly Hello Kitty top and simple bow in my hair. It was so much doing this photoshoot with my photographer hubby Gary.

If you love Hello Kitty then hurry on over to the Torrid Hello Kitty page as everything is on sale!!

Summer Style by Hell Bunny

August 10, 2017 By: Fan

It is August and we are right in the middle of summer time. The temps are soaring in so many places. I want to look pretty and put-together but how do you pull that off when temps are over 100 degrees and, you still want to wear your petticoat? You do it with Hell Bunny, that’s how.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Hell Bunny clothing brand, they are a UK company that creates fashion styles from the 40s-50s that is Pinup, Retro, Rockabilly, Punk, vintage with edgy street styles. If you want to stand out then Hell Bunny is a brand you need to get to know!!

I love wearing Hell Bunny skirts in the summer or, anytime the temps soar. The skirts have the most beautiful patterns and colors and are so light and airy. I am wearing the Hell Bunny Cannes Floral White/Red Roses Skirt in these pictures and I love it. I had been searching for a floral patterned skirt that pops for a long time and this skirt was recently restocked so I snapped it up. The roses are stunning on this skirt and really do pop against the pristine white background. The skirt just floats, it is light as air. I am also wearing a full petticoat underneath.

Mixing and matching tops with the Hell Bunny Cannes Floral White/Red Roses Skirt is not a problem and you’ll have so many options. I chose to pair it with my red Doris top from Pinup Girl Clothing fir these pictures but, adding colorful cardigans and blouses with belts, purses and petticoats will give you so many different looks. No doubt, this skirt will be a staple in your summer wardrobe. Also, it would make a perfect holiday skirt too with a red or green cardigan and Christmas brooch…. How gorgeous!

My next skirt is the Hell Bunny 50’s August Cherry Check. This one is without a doubt one of my all time favorite skirts!! Gingham and cherries…. Just screams summer!! This is a full circle skirt made of 100% cotton so it is light as air.

I’ve styled this skirt so many different ways over the past year. Here in these pictures I am wearing it with a long sleeved top but have worn it with red tops, white tops, green tops and even blue tops. I love that you can add a full petticoat underneath. In these pictures I styled it without a petticoat. The skirt nips you in right at the waist, perfect for the Pinup girl and rockabilly look.

Accessorizing this outfit is a lot of fun. I am wearing my true vintage red cherry Bakelite brooch (gift from my hubby) and added vintage cherry shoe clips and vintage millinery cherries to my vintage dark green patent leather purse.

There are so many options to style this skirt with colorful cardigans and tops, adding some fun hair scarves would really give it a rockabilly vibe as well. Wearing a longer petticoat that shows at the bottom would be a sweet touch too. Again, this is such a light and breathable skirt, so perfect for summer time.

You can visit Hell Bunny or do a quick search you’ll find a bunch of stockists. I find the size guide is spot on. If you are not sure, try to get into a local re-seller near you to try on the items or, ping Hell Bunny on Instagram or Facebook and their staff is quick to respond.

With autumn fast approaching and Halloween, Hell Bunny has already released a lust worthy Fall line and even some holiday items so visit hellbunny.com to see more

Hope you all are having a great summer and staying stylishly cool!

All pictures by my hubby Gary

Highlights from America’s Largest Antique & Collectible Show July 2017 in Portland Oregon

July 29, 2017 By: Fan

Here is a full report from my annual trip to America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show that is held each July in Portland, Oregon with over 1,000 booths. The past few years have been more bust than bang but, this year was great. There is usually a lot of chaos getting attendees parked and the lines had been terrible in the past. This year they had it better managed and we got parked within 15mins of the show starting. We try to arrive early as doors open at 9:00 am and you usually need to wait in the ticket line for your tickets then join another line to get inside. The show is held in-doors and outdoors at the Portland Expo Center. Bathrooms are clean and plentiful. Lots of food courts too with seating so never worry about being thirsty or hungry!!

My twin sister and I have been attending America’s Largest Antiques and Collectibles Show for the past few years so we have our strategy down pretty good. But, she was not able to join me this year due to illness so my niece was joining me. It wasn’t quite the same without my sister and we missed her terribly. The weather was gorgeous for Portland and super warm. July in Portland tends to be a scorcher!! Attendees were excited and in good spirits, folks were eager to get started with their treasure hunting. There were also lots and lots of outdoor booths!!

Once inside, it was full steam ahead!! After going through a few booths it was apparent that Dealers this year were in very good spirits and super friendly. The past few shows Dealers were really grumpy but this year was different. It is so much more pleasant to shop in a booth with a cheerful Dealer who also engages and interacts with you. Learning about an item is so much fun and if the Dealer shares background information on a piece it makes it that much more special. Prices were super good too!! At past shows prices seemed really high and no one was interested in negotiating. This year prices were very reasonable and many Dealers even commented they would give up to 50% off!! Wow!!

This show really has something for everyone; young and old. You can find vintage clothing, lots of vintage jewelry and accessories, vintage neon signs, lots of kitchen collectibles and Pyrex, Fireking, Jadeite and so much more, even lots and lots of ephemera, lightening, Mid-Century Modern, items from the 1920s-1980s. Vintage Disney, tin toys, Hawaiiana, vintage Christmas, salvage, furniture, cameras, and so many more items!! Over 1,000 dealer booths. You can literally spend all day treasure hunting.

I filled up two large tote bags with treasures!! I especially love kitschy cute items that are anthropomorphic, vintage kitchen goodies from the 50s-60s, vintage Mermaids by Norcrest, Napco, Joty, Lefton, and Holt Howard too. Vintage 50s Poodles, clothing and lucite purses, Bakelite jewelry and I also love fine porcelains from Herend, Majolica, and Meissen. Mid-Century Modern lamps, dinnerware, and furniture too. Also, vintage Gucci, Chanel, Hermes and Christian Dior…… sometimes you can find a treasure!

The next show is in October and it is the vintage Christmas show….. hmmmm, making plans for that one!!

Review: Laura Byrnes California Lana Dress in Palm Print

July 17, 2017 By: Fan

Palm Beach or Palm Springs? That’s what I thought when I saw the fabulous Lana dress from the new Tiki Capsule Collection from Pinup Girl Clothing. This retro style cocktail length dress is perfection and has the most fantastic pink and green colored palm fronds. Tropical with a little South Pacific flair and the most luxurious of fabrics too…. the bust is fully lined and the dress is of the highest quality.

This is my first Lana dress and I was a little unsure about it at first as it is sleeveless and….. I was worried if it would fit my GG bust. The dress straps are not adjustable. The colors and style won me over and it exceeded my expectations when it arrived. I am wearing my standard 2XL in Pinup Girl Clothing dresses and went by the size chart. Perfection!! It fit better than I could have hoped. It also has pockets. The dress fit my bust with ease, no squishing at all. I knew the waist would be loose and the matching belt worked it’s magic to nip my waist in. I really liked that the Lana has a higher neckline but still shows shape. I am not a fan of sleeveless dresses or tops so I was out of my comfort zone in this dress but let me say that the style is so perfect ….. I wear it with confidence and love how it looks on me and how perfect the fit is.

Accessorizing the beautiful Lana dress is not a problem; add a pink or green cardigan, necklace and pretty purse. The skirt is actually full enough for a petticoat. My purse is the green wicker bag from Pinup Girl Clothing.

So, if anyone of you are hesitant about the Lana dress (especially the curvy big busted Dolls who follow me and are reading my post) do not worry, you will be thrilled with how the fit is and how exquisitely made the dress is. The Lana in Palm Print will be your go-to dress!! Hurry and snapped her up before she is sold out!!

Pics of me for Pinup Girl Clothing by my sweet hubby Gary

4th of July Fashion and Outfit Roundup

June 29, 2017 By: Fan

Here are some of my favorite outfits that can go well for the 4th of July. I wear a lot of Red, White, and Blue through the year and I know a lot of you do too so, why not mix and match what you already have for that perfectly Pinup and retro patriotic outfit for Independence Day.

In my blog post opening picture I styled a really fun outfit for the 4th of July!! The skirt is from Unique Vintage and it is the 1950s High Waist Stars & Stripes Flag Swing Skirt. This skirt is really a show-stopper!! I paired it with my white Doris top from Pinup Girl Clothing and dded a pop of red with my necklace from Splendette. I really love this look and will be wearing on the 4th!!

This last group for my 4th of July outfit round up again features all red, white, and blue themed goodies. For some of you it is chilly this time of year so this nautical inspired coat from Collectif Clothing is terrific when paired with a red top. A fun outfit is this out-of-the-world dress from Pigtails and Pirates featuring a space theme and the pops of color work perfectly for the 4ht of July. Again, polka dots by Hellbunny in white/blue and one of my faves here is this nautical inspired patriotic pinup picture that is all sorts of red, white, blue, with my cherry red top and nautical skirt from Retrospec’d.

There you have it, my 4th of July outfit round up. I’d love to hear from you all and see what you are wearing this 4th of July so send me a note or tag me on social media – @crazy4me

All pics by my hubby Gary

Pinup Giveaway – Pinup Girl Clothing

June 28, 2017 By: Fan

Have you entered my giveaway happening over on my IG – @crazy4me it is one you don’t want to miss!!

For week 4 of my four weeks of June giveaways I’ve partnered up with the fabulous Pinup brand ‘Pinup Girl Clothing’ a favorite for so many of us! My very first Pinup purchase was a gorgeous Birdie dress and I still remember the feeling that came over me when I put it on for the very first time; it was life changing!! The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive a generous $100 store credit from Pinup Girl Clothing!! That gorgeous outfit you’ve been lusting for can be yours!!

Giveaway closes Friday, June 30th at midnight PT – enter now IG – @crazy4me