1920s Swing Dance

I had blogged about 1920s fashion inspiration for the Great Gatsby themed swing dance I was planning on attending. Well, Sunday was the dance and this was my outfit! 

I always have a blast researching different fashion eras and learning about the hair and makeup of the time (thank you Youtube) and trying to recreate a look in my own way. I was also pretty delighted to pull everything I'm wearing from my own wardrobe and was flattered at all the compliments I received.

I love the loose description for 1920s makeup; pale face, dark eyes and red lips. Hrmmm, I can do that! I also solidified my belief that Siouxsie Sioux's makeup and (some) wardrobe was inspired at the 1920s and Egyptian Revival intermixed with punk and goth. 

We clean up pretty well! 

We didn't do any dancing as I'm not going to lie, I wasn't feeling well (again) and took it easy by hanging out at the bar. I have a doctor's appointment today, so I have a lot of questions that I'm hoping will get answered. I'm optimistic that it's a dietary issue as some other major factors have been ruled out. Positive thinking, positive thinking, POSITIVE THINKING!!! Hahahaha!!!

Thank you for reading, until next time!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Gabbing About 1920s Fashion and Hanging with the Fabulous Jodee

These photos were from last month's swing dance and I realized that it's been a month, because the July's swing dance is tomorrow! Time is flying, argh!!! Derek and I will not be attending this month since we'll be at the Renn Faire, but I'm already planning out my outfit since it's a Great Gatsby theme. I really had to brainstorm an outfit since most 1920s silhouette's look ghastly on me and as much as I like fringe and the flapper look, there is much more to that era of dress. Much more....

Franny (The Curious Professor Z) will agree with me that watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a wonderful source of 1920s inspiration and oh-so-drool worthy. I can't get enough of the costuming on the TV series and would love a dress like Phryne Fisher for the dance, but in reality I just can't justify spending a lot of money on one evening.

Stunning!

So I've opted to dig into my closet and (as Tim Gunn would say), "make it work!" Luckily some of my drapey and lacey pieces will do the trick and by adding some long layered necklaces, it will hint at the 20s. I truly believe when you're going to a themed event, you don't have to look like you are wearing a costume nor spend a lot of money. *Wink*

Some of my inspiration:

My dress is a similar silhouette to the gal's (all the way to left) dress. 

I love the turban, layered necklaces and the floral details on the shoulder. If I don't wear my kimono over the dress, I may make a floral shoulder piece to wear.

The gal on the left's dress is amazing and the silhouette works for me, the other two are darling, but the shape is wrong for me.

Siouxsie Sioux's amazing long beaded overdress is a perfect pairing of 1980s goth and 1920s glamour. You see Siouxsie wearing a lot of beautiful vintage pieces throughout her career.

Before I get too excited for the dance, I will stop here. Thank you for letting me brainstorm!

Do you take fashion inspiration for the 1920s?

Thank you for reading, until next time!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla 

NGSD Prom Dance

dress also featured here

Sunday evening we got gussied up for Next Generation Swing Dance, prom theme! Since we've been taking date lessons and we missed last month's dance, we got to cut a rug and know what we are doing. Hahaha!!! Chuck Chaz (who is our teacher/runs the dance) he taught a Foxtrot lesson before the dance started and man, I was having a tough time! I am definitely interested in learning different dance styles, but I think my brain was so focused on Swing that I couldn't make sense of it. "Come on feet, work with me!!!"

PROM POSE!!!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!!!!

Thank you for reading, until next time.

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Swing With Me, Baby!

Two Saturday's ago I attended a swing dance that was sponsored by my work. I had an opportunity to give this purple leopard swing dress another try by modifying the armpits to make it more comfortable. It was a surprisingly easy fix and the dress is now back in the wardrobe, yay!!!

Wearing; purple leopard panel dress (Dead Threads), black shrug (Target), accessories (all gifts), bat wing flats (Iron Fist, Yule gift from Derek).

I got to wear these Iron Fist flats for the first time and they surprisingly work well for dancing. There isn't much to these flats, so I do believe they won't last me too long, but they are pretty adorable! 

Our swing dance lessons have been going very well, we just haven't had much time to practice since we've been putting a floor down (I've never been this sore in my life!), yet we've decided to continue beyond our introductory three sessions. We must practice, practice, PRACTICE!!!

Hehehe!!!! Thank you for reading, until next tome!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

February Swing Dance : Dress by Dead Threads

purple bat purse is an oldie by Dungaree Dolly

I wore this cute Leopard Panel Swing Dress by Dead Threads to Sunday's swing dance. I have seen the brand around the web, so when we went to MAGIC in Las Vegas (last August), Julie Ann and I decided to try the brand out for Cats Like Us. 

The dress had corset lacing on the sides that I snipped off, because it created a sort of 'maturity' look to the dress (on my shape), so off those went and an elastic waist belt was added. My only complaint is that the dress dug into my armpits, but I quickly forgot about that after a vodka tonic. 

My closet has had a sudden influx of dresses from work, so I've been enjoying sharing them with all of you.

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Swing Dance!

Derek looking dapper in his (ridiculous) purple suit that we got 

from a thrifting adventure. He always looks great!

One activity that Derek and I like to do is go to The Next Generation Swing Dance which is held once-a-month at the beautiful Hamlin House in Buffalo. Though we don't always join in every month, it's a nice excuse to get dresses up and put on our dancing shoes!

We're not very good swing dancers by any means and we really need to take some lessons, but it's fun to both be confused on the dance floor when Derek doesn't really know what he's doing and I'm trying to follow. Basically we just laugh at each other the whole we're out on the dance floor. Excellent date night!

I didn't get any shots of my outfit as I was feeling uninspired due to the cold and a chance didn't arise to snap a decent photo, but I snapped a few photos of my hair as I haven't done a good roller set in a while. For this hair style I used a big barrel curling iron as my trusty (and old) 1 1/2" curling iron died upon plugging it in! My hot rollers died a while ago, so I had to make due with my 2" curling iron for my whole head. I was up for the challenge.

Tools of attack!

My hair was a little messy, but I didn't do too bad!  My hair has been so short with the mohawk style that trying to a vintage-inspired style just wasn't in the cards. Now with my hair becoming longer, I have more hair to play with and it's fun to mess around with it once more. I like the way I styled my hair around the shaved side as it creates the look of having one side 'pulled back', though there is just no hair there! Hahaha!

Though my hair appliances are dying, now I have a good excuse to buy a new curling wand and give myself big, big hair! *A gal can dream*

Thank you for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla

Swing Dance : Inspired by 80s Rockabilly

Hahaha!

A month has flown by since last month's swing dance, so (Sunday) it was time to get gussied up and put on our dancing shoes. Derek and I had been listening to The Stray Cats, The Polecats and The Rockats (80s neo-rockabilly!) all day, so our outfits reflected the time period in rockabilly that we both love.....fashion too! I really enjoy the '80s does the 50s' fashions, in fact I'm on the hunt for some dresses to wear to future dances.

I styled my pink polka dot dress by Living Dead Souls with a black button-up shirt over the dress, in which I tied in the front and added my awesome atomic pin by The Crave Yard, which was a gift from the lovely Miss Beth. 

My teased bouffant was held into place with the help of a black and pink zebra print bandana and I liked how the bold print and color tied into the big pink polka dots on the dress. I'm wearing a bronze lip color, black button earrings and my big plastic bow necklace. I feel kitsch-tastic!

Let's not forget about my date and dance partner! Dapper Derek is rockin' a leopard jacket that was a gift from me by Nine Deep from ebay. The jacket was bought a size too big, but then was taken to our favorite tailor who did an amazing job on the jacket. Derek is not an 'off the rack' sorta guy, so having a good tailor is key to his dapper dressing skills!

Besides the leopard jacket, Dere is wearing a short sleeve black button-up top in which he changed the buttons to pewter coffin buttons by Alchemy Gothic and an awesome cross bolo tie that we purchased at a Florida cowboy store some years ago. 

Here's my full outfit, hand craved purse by De Tiki

We had a great time and I'm looking forward to next month's dance, but boy are my knees sore! Hahahaha!

I'll leave you with an awesome video that is a great song and have some awesome 80s neo-rockabilly fashion. You know I love the 80s!

Thanks for reading!

XOXO-Meagan Kyla