Boyer Family Singers Blog

Hey look! We've Moved!

2015-01-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy new year friends! With new years come new beginnings, right? Well, 2015 is bringing in a very big new beginning for BFS. That new beginning is this: we've moved! Yes folks, that's right! This is the last post that will ever be written on this old, worn-out blogger blog. After a time of dreaming, and that dreaming becoming possibility, and that possibility becoming reality, we have finally moved to our own, wordpress-hosted blog! I know that this may be heart-breaking for some, and confusing, yet exciting, for others, but nonetheless we hope that you will continue to follow along our blogging journey at boyerfamilysingersblog.com

This blog, Boyer Family Singers, started out as an online journal for our mom to keep up with our friends back at Washington, when we moved from the west-coast to the midwest. As time went on, we girls began to become more and more involved in the blogosphere through mom's blog... which, as you can now see, is our blog... and it evolved into an encouragement online-magazine of sorts, to inspire young ladies to dress modestly, yet creatively, before the Lord; and to live a creative, artistic lifestyle to His Glory.

Well, it was time for a clean slate. One that we could start afresh on our own, with the BFS trademark that we have developed over the past months, stamped on it all the way. Though evolving is a huge part of any blogger's career, sometimes you need to wipe the slate clean of old times and begin anew. So much of our vision for this blog has changed, and it was time for a home of it's own.

Most of the old, relevant archives of this blog have been transferred over, and we will continue to keep this blog live for future redirection... and for the sake of nostalgia :)... Also, all of you who follow our blog with Bloglovin', your feed from this blog will be redirected to the new blog. Now you know why we've been emphasizing following us with Bloglovin' over the past weeks :)

Also! The winners of the HWWV for the Holidays Contest will be announced on the new blog, so all the more reason to come over to the new site and follow us, hehe! We planned that well, didn't we? ;P

Thanks so much for supporting us though this blog!! We are beyond grateful to you all, and most of all to our Lord and Savior for giving us the heart and will to do this blog. Soli Deo Gloria.

Now, come on over to the new BFS, and make yourself at home!

boyerfamilysingersblog.com

xoxoxo,

-Charlotte

for the B. Girls

Merry Christmas from the Boyer Sisters!

2014-12-25T08:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is already here once again. This past year has flown by SO fast, and so much has happened since last Christmas that we can hardly believe it was only a year ago that we were dreaming about everything that actually happened this year. The Lord has indeed blessed us! We wanted to send you all a Christmas greeting with one of our new favorite Christmas songs, and give you a peek into what our Christmas has been like thus far. So, without further ado, Christmas in about 3 Minutes!

We've said it once, and we'll say it again, SOO much has happened this year! Last year we girls were only dreaming about recording a CD, performing our own concerts of 1940's music, and expanding this blog to the level it has become. We never dreamed that all that would come to pass in just one year! God fulfilled all of our dreams, but closed doors to other dreams as well. But most importantly He gave us the Reason to even be able to dream and hope for a future: His Son. If it weren't for Jesus coming to earth, dying on the cross, and rising again, none of this would exist. This blog, our singing, the fact that we three sisters can even get along. NONE of it would exist, except by the Lord's good grace. It is our prayer that this Christmas finds you full of joy and peace, that all the cares and worries would be overcome by His abounding love, and that you will be surrounded by those whom you love.

Merry Christmas dearies!

xo,

The Boyer Sisters

p.s. Yes that is an Elna machine we were talking about on the video. :D You'll most likely be introduced to it in the New Year. ;)

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Graphic & Video: Charlotte Boyer

HWWV for the Holidays Contest! [CLOSED]

2014-12-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

Oh oh oh!!! We are SOOO excited for today's post! Because guess what? Today our ever so popular How We Wear Vintage Polyvore contest returns! Only this time, we're going to do everything with a holiday twist! For those of you who don't know what our last contest was like, let us explain: This contest is to encourage young ladies who want to get into vintage fashion, admire the styles of eras gone by, or those who are already avid vintage wearers, to come up with a holiday outfit inspired by your favorite vintage era from the 30's to the 60's.
So, what do you have to do to enter the contest? Let us tell you:

You must create a Polyvore board of a holiday outfit inspired by your favorite vintage era from the 30's to the 60's (outfits based on styles prior to, or after those eras will not be accepted). If you don't have a Polyvore account, don't worry! Polyvore is free, and on top of that, it is a great tool for coming up with outfits using items already in your wardrobe, or if you are contemplating adding certain pieces to your collection of clothes.

If you need help getting started, here is an overview of Polyvore, and a basic tutorial on how to create a collage.

The boards will be judged on Originality, Practicality, Authenticity, and Holiday-ness. The contest will run from today, December 20th, to December 30th at Midnight EST, and is open to international and U.S. readers.

Now that you have an overview of the contest, and before we get to the rules, let us show you the prizes that four of you have the chance of winning!

THE PRIZES

3rd Place – For 3rd place prize, is a $25 credit to Chronically Vintage, one of the best vintage jewelry and accessories shops we have ever encountered, run by one of the sweetest vintage bloggers Jessica of Chronically Vintage. The three items above are just a very small sampling of what Jessica has to offer in her amazing shop, so do check it out and browse around for a while. But be sure to come back and enter the contest!

2nd Place – In 2nd place prize, we have a $35 credit to Two Old Beans, a wonderful vintage shop run by two dear girls (who go by the lovable nicknames of Jack & Charlie). Two Old Beans has some of the best priced vintage we have ever seen, so stop by, even if you don't plan on entering the contest.

1st Place – For 1st place prize, we have a $45 credit to HolliePoint Vintage! Jennifer runs an absolutely delightful vintage shop full of clothing, jewelry and other accessories. Whatever lucky duck wins this prize will certainly have a delightful time picking out their item of choice.

Grand Prize – Caitlin of Croatia Vintage is giving the grand prize winner a $100 credit to her shop! Just think of that girls! You could practically pick out a whole outfit for that amount, or a lovely vintage dress! If, after browsing around Croatia Vintage, you aren't enticed to try your hand at concocting a vintage outfit, I don't know what will convince you!

We girls are so envious of you all, and your chance of winning one of these lovely prizes! But half the fun is seeing all of the amazing ensembles you come up with. With that said, let's get on to the rules, shall we?

THE RULES

These are mandatory, and you must abide by them, otherwise you will be disqualified from the contest.

1. You must put a link to your Polyvore outfit board along with your email (you can put your email in this form: name(at)townsville(dot)com so that no one can grab it) in the comments below. Any other entry, such as mentioning us on Polyvore on your board, sending us your board through Polyvore, etc. WILL NOT be accepted.*

2. One board entry per person! Extra boards will not be accepted.

3. ONLY ONE OUTFIT per board.

4. Your boards must retain modest standards. No racy or pin-up styles please. We will not chose those boards to win.

5. No copycatting. If we find two very similar boards, we retain the right to disqualify the most recently created board.

6. No items with a value of over $200 may be included on your Polyvore board. Remember, one of the judging criteria is Practicality.

7. Please DO NOT mention your name, or blog name on your board.

8. Please DO NOT create a super fancy outfit. Though we are asking you to create a Holiday outfit, we ask that you keep it to something that you would wear for Christmas day, or a Holiday family dinner.

Now that we have all of the Do-Nots listed, shall we get on to the Please-Do's?

1. Please be creative, practical, authentic, and create a delightful casual Holiday inspired outfit.

2. Make sure your outfit is holiday themed. Any summery, fall, or spring inspired outfits will not be accepted.

3. Please do be modest in your clothing choices.

4. Have your Polyvore board turned in before Midnight, December 30th EST.

5. Create an outfit YOU would wear, not something you think WE would chose!

6. Create a comfortable, fashionable outfit that you would wear on Christmas day, or to a Holiday family dinner.

7. Please do create ONE holiday outfit based on one of the eras in this series: 30's-60's.

8. Most importantly: Enjoy Yourself!

OTHER DETAILS

You already know the judges, we three girls, Jessica, Brigid and Charlotte Boyer.

The standards we will be judging the boards by are explained below:

Originality: Creativity in ensemble and accessory choices, and showing a strong sense of personality.

Practicality: Frugality in the monetary items on your board (but remember, quality over quantity!), and the wearability of the outfit.

Authenticity: Authenticity to your inspirational era, as well as authenticity to your personal taste.

Holiday-ness: How well the holiday/Christmas spirit shows through in your outfit. We will be judging by colors, accessory choices, etc.

Each category will be judged on a scale of 1 to 10 with a possibility of up to 40 points!

So, does everyone understand how the contest works? If not, feel free to ask us ANY questions in the comments below. If you understand, then what are you waiting for? Head on over to Polyvore, and get creating! We cannot wait to see all of your fabulous holiday outfits that you'll come up with!

Merry Christmas and Happy Polyvore-Ing!

xoxo,

The Boyer Family Singers

* If you are having trouble commenting, please email us at: boyerfamilysingers(at)gmail(dot)com, and we will see if we can remedy the problem.

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Graphics: Charlotte Boyer

How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays // Hair & Makeup

2014-12-19T15:18:00.001-05:00

Bobby pins, pomade, hair spray... what else... Oh yeah! Curlers and a comb! Where did the mascara go...?
Hello my dears! I am on a rampage today with vintage hair and makeup things as you can see. Why? Well, for one thing it is because this is the second to last post of the H.W.W.V., and for another, I have never ever done a post in this series before, so I am trying to "pin" down my thoughts. The girls asked me to talk about hair and makeup this time, and of course I gleefully said yes. So if you don't mind, I am just rounding up the last bits of my trailing recollections before we begin... Ok, I'm set now. Are you ready to plunge into the four eras of hair styling and makeup looks? Before we do, let me prepare you for the layout: on the left hand side you will see the vintage icons, while on the right you will see modern day takes on all of the eras presented. Ok, lets go!

1930s

LEFT // RIGHT

Hair – After the Roaring twenties ceased to dazzle and blind the world with its stupendous glamor, the humbled thirties bore the Great Depression with a grim face; however the women did grace this era by reclaiming the fashion of longer locks. Truly, the hair trimmings that took place every 4 to 6 weeks were far too expensive to keep up, and so the trip to the barber shop ceased to be the "thing", and growing out that new bob was a pressing thought on many ladies minds.

Pin Curls certainly helped with this, and there were many wet sets that came out of the late twenties and into the thirties that helped keep the elegance. The finger waves stayed in style, and a new, low chignon, or bun was soon worn in the back at the nape of the neck.

Create the Style – So to create your own thirties hair style, all you would need to do is texturize your hair (Braiding small french braids into wetted hair over night really works well. Three ought to do the trick; one on each side, and one in the back.). Then take out your hair and roll it into a nice little bun in the back, teasing it a bit to create some volume. Oh! And make sure you cover your ears! They never really let their ears show very much in the thirties, as you can see in the picture above. You could even go so far as to make several low buns across the nape of your neck. That would look very elegant, and very thirties indeed.

LEFT // RIGHT

Makeup – The lack of money caused women to rethink every old trend they once loved in the twenties, and practical, modest, and cheap looks were created to cope with the Great Depression. The tight little cupids bow lips were transformed into a more natural shape, the eyebrows were picked extremely thin, and the eyes wore less shadow. It just occurred to me that perhaps because ladies no longer had the freedom to apply as much rouge to their lips, and kohl to their eyes as they were used to, that the last feature they could transform with little or no money was the eyebrow. Just a theory.

Create the Look – To transform your own face to a thirties look I would suggest adding a little bit of foundation on the underside of your brows, and pencil them in so as to make a distinct, fine line. then go light on the eye shadow, or don't use any at all, touch it up with the slightest sweep of blush, and then round out the upper lip with a nice subtle lipstick. Or again, don't use any at all. Remember, the average woman was saving her pennies. The thirties did seem to accentuate the long lashes a bit, so if you want you could take your mascara wand and add a touch to the ends of your lashes, including the bottom to get the well rounded eye.

1940s

LEFT // RIGHT

Hair – Ah, the good old forties! How I love this era! The seemingly lost spirit from the twenties was revived and put back into the lives of families on the home front during the great WWII. It is true that the spirit was not so much for fun any more, but most definitely more on the lines of duty and patriotism. Every person wanted to show their enthusiasm to get the job done, and help win the war. The aspects of life had changed with the war; and for the hard working woman, it was how she presented herself to the invigorated society that mattered. Victory rolls were the sign of hope and will to win. Medium to long fluffy curls worn by every young lady were to their daddies and brothers the flags and banners that cheered them on to protect the country and families they loved. Women knew how to say, "We Can Do It" just in the way they dressed their hair! This to me is fascinating that the simple words like "victory" could be laced into the thoughts of men and boys every time they saw their sweethearts' flamboyant hair!

Create the Style – So if you want to call it a forties day, simple curl your hair the night before with pin curls, and brush them out the next morning. Using your brush, direct the curls, and shape them into submission, then add a victory roll or two. If you don't want to fuss with curling, tie up your hair with a scarf, and pin a curl in front for a faux bang.

LEFT // RIGHT

Makeup – Now that the economy was back, and the working woman became the highlight of the home front, this meant that mothers and daughters had to look their very best. The makeup was still far from being as overdone and glamorous as it was in other eras, but it was definitely used during this time as opposed to the thirties. The eyes were made to pop with the help of a lovely brown shadow, mascara, and a natural brow. The whole look was indeed very natural, including the lips–the lipstick did not shy or over exceed the natural line of the lip, but matched it perfectly. Only when we get into the fifties do you begin to see the upper lip exaggerated, but I am getting a little ahead of myself.

Create the Look – To get the perfect forties look, simply enhance the features you have so lovingly been given by our dear Creator with foundation, brown shadow, mascara, red lipstick, and by all means use some rouge on those cheeks! A little color went a long way back in that time, for a rosy face was a cheering comfort to all of the boys overseas.

1950s

LEFT // RIGHT

Hair – Now for the era of the Baby Boomers! What a time we had after the world recovered from the Great Wars! As the girls have already told you, the fifties was very laid back, and the glamor of the working woman was replaced by the lovely housewife once more. I think the simplicity of the hair during the fifties really helped to accentuate the lovely new fashions, as it did not draw too much attention, but was still quite sophisticated. Rollers were now in use, and this gave a softer touch to the hair as opposed to the perky hairstyles in the forties. The Baby Boomer era was a time of rest, a time of party going, and a time for being a family again. I have noted from other resources too that the teens began to take center stage in the mid fifties, along with the debut of Rock 'n Roll. This brought about the pony tail, the very short Gamine cut, and the fluffy Italian cut. The Bouffant came into fashion at this point as well, and thus begins the switch over to the sixties with the very. big. hair.

Create the Style – To create a fifties hair style, a curling iron or a more "sausage sized" set of pin curls will do, which ever one suits you best. Brush out those curls and shape them around the face for a soft Pageboy look, or if you have shorter hair, tease, spray, and shape it into a bouffant. Teasing is another name for the backcombing technique; this is done by taking a fine-toothed come and brushing a section of hair in the wrong direction. Typically, the crown of the head is teased, and the the top most layer of hair (where it is parted) is then brushed over to hide the frizzed sections. Teasing is only used to create volume, but what volume one can achieve by doing it! If you don't like all the work, then by all means, just pull your locks back into sleek pony tale! To make it more sophisticated, pull your bang section forward, swoop around to the side, pin, and then draw it back into the pony tail. You will look every inch a fifties girl!

LEFT // RIGHT

Makeup – While housewives stayed home, they had lots of time on their hands to relax in front of their vanity. Foundation was already in full use during the forties, and so at this point, every woman made up her face with cream or powder, and then a finishing powder. The eyebrows were coaxed into a lovely arch with the help of a pencil, and the eyes were shadowed with greens, blues, purples, grays, and browns. Mascara was used every day and so was the new eyeliner. Lips had taken on a bit of glamor with the introduction of oranges, pinks, maroons, along with the bright reds. To finish off, the face was caressed with a touch of blush to contour the cheek bones, and the look was finished.

Create the Look – To pull off the fifties look, I would suggest you do every thing you did for forties, only this time, ad bolder color combinations such as the pale blue shadow and bright red lips you see above! Don't forget to be generous with the mascara, and by all means, try to get the lovely arch in the brows. I have done this before by every so slightly elevating the natural line of my brows with the help of a pencil. There you have it!

1960s

LEFT // RIGHT

Hair – For the sixties era, the girls have already been kind enough to give you the brief talk about the "interesting" things that happened during this era. Despite these historical events, there is a lot of freedom here to play around with the hair on your head. Many girls during the sixties were all about losing any natural curl or wave they had and replacing it with either completely stick straight locks, or else adding a slight flip to the ends of straight hair. The bouffant was in high fashion now, and so was the beehive, but I chose to stick with the more approachable hair styles for this post. The teasing technique I mentioned above was used by just about every girl alive during this time, and so was the horrid hair spray. I can just imagine the cloud of toxic fumes coming out of an open bathroom window on the morning of a school day! Oh dear! But as you already have seen, I too was overcome by the need to use quite a bit of spray for my sixties look yesterday, so I am a culprit too. Ha ha! I really like the side bangs so many of the girls wore during this time, but I have to say that when I took mine out the night of the photo shoot, I had a terrible head ache from the complete vertical shift my hair follicles went through to achieve the side bang! Ouch! It really hurt!

Create the Style – If you want to get a sixties look with wavy or straight hair, curl it, flat-iron it, pin curl it, whatever it takes to get the right texture in your hair, and then tease it into the lovely volume or the era, and finish with a lot of spray. The sixties was all about freedom, and truly, the only freedom I see when I look at the towering beehives, and bouffants is the freedom of creative expression and not practicality. ;)

LEFT // RIGHT

Makeup – During this time, many girls went for the look Twiggy so expertly wore, with the lined crease, the white lid, and lots and lots of eyeliner and mascara. (The two things I don't think girls could live without was mascara and hairspray!) But don't forget the brows! The pencil went on darker and bolder than ever during the sixties; in fact everything did! Everything, that is, except for the lips. This pale lip is the most wonderful quirk about the sixties, and it is one that definitely appeals to me! – I know you have seen me in many photo shoots wearing a normal lip, lip balm or even a darker red, but you haven't seen me on my regular days, in which I don't wear anything or else if I do, it is a pale lip color. But back to the era – I don't know why the pale lip was so attractive, but perhaps it was because in all of the centuries previous, women accentuated the rosy lip. It was a rebellious trend with out a doubt, but it helped us climb out of our comfort zone, and look at those pair of lips in a very striking "light"!

Create the Look – To achieve the sixties look here is what I would do: cover up with foundation, line your eyelid crease with a dark eyeliner, and accentuate the arch under the brow with white, and then repeat for the lower lid with a light shimmery color. Right above the crease line you will want to shade in a dark shadow. Line the eye above and below the lashes with eyeliner (yep!), and do the same for the bottom lashes. Then contour your face with a bronzer, and finish off with a dousing of mascara, and a very pale lipstick.

RESOURCES

1930s –

30's Hair Tutorial

1940s –

Casey's 40's Hair Tutorial

1950s –

1960s –

What do you think of the inspirational images I have chosen for the eras?

Which is your favorite look?

Can you guess which era I like the best as far as makeup goes?

Much love to you all during this Advent season!

Love always,

Jessica

The eldest sister & singer

CREDITS // Author: Jessica Boyer; Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Outsourced images linked accordingly

How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays // 1960s

2014-12-18T12:20:00.000-05:00

Ah the sixties. It's really a love-hate decade for most. Some adore it in every way; others simply despise it, being blinded by a few of the horrendous revolutions and political events that took place.... and then there are those like me, who only care to take bits and pieces of the decade for fashion inspiration. This was the era for mod shifts, kitten-heels, mini-skirts, cable-knit sweaters, and beehives. I think the best way to wrap up this decade of eccentric fashions in a few keywords would be this: structured, casual, and colorful. Shall we take a look at how to style this era for your holiday excursions? Let's go!

BACK THEN

CLICK EACH IMAGE FOR IT'S SOURCE

I must say that after researching this era further, I couldn't help but be inspired by the incredible variety of styles. From the flared, very structured silhouettes of the early 60s, to the more "anyway the wind blows" styles of the later end when the 70s began to creep in. Oh the 70s... Let's just kinda not really talk about them....

Anyhow! What key elements of the fashions from this era could you be taking inspiration from? Well, a few marked staples that I see over and over again are cropped, slim trousers (not skinny jeans. Trousers.), pencil skirted dresses and separates, shift dresses and jumpers, mod-printed blouses, and tweed suits. Since the 60s was the era of the baby-boomer's teen years, youthful styles were all the rage. The hems of skirts started creeping higher and higher, school-girlish styles like pretty white blouses under sophisticated jumpers or pleated skirts were popular; and bold, crazy color combos like pink & purple, blue & coral red, and yellow & purple were worn. If the garment wasn't fit-and-flair, it had a shape of it's own, whether it was triangular, rectangular, or, horror of horrors, circular. You're welcome for that delightful image.

I think that the best way to implement 60s fashion into your holiday style is to think laid-back sophisticate: structured crops with a loose, long sweater. A tailored, tweed skirt with a casual turtle-neck. And don't forget the color! As you can tell from the above images, the 60s did not lack in color contrast. You could go a bit crazy this holiday season by trying out different combos like rust-red with a bright green, or black and green... Or if you are of a more subtle fashion-sense, try pairing a bright with a neutral like the image second-to-last.

PRESENT DAY

In the outfit on the left, I have created an ensemble that illustrates what I suggested above: structured crops paired with a looser sweater (find this one at Croatia Vintage!). By adding in some holiday bling (care of Chronically Vintage), and a comfy pair of loafers, you will be all set for gathering around the Christmas tree to open presents, feast with the family, or whatever your holiday traditions might be.

On the right I have played a little with color & silhouette contrast. By pairing a predominant color, like rust red, with hints of bright green here and there (find the adorable green bracelet here!), you can quite subtly pull of the novel, quirky color stories of the 60s while not going completely all-out. Also, don't be afraid of wearing things you wouldn't normally think go together, like a long cardigan with a pencil skirt (find this authentic 60s skirt at Croatia Vintage!). The 60s were all about ditching the old and bringing in the new by trying out novel silhouettes and styles, so be bold and daring with pairing different items together. But don't forget class! Sometimes less is more, and sticking with what you already know to look good on you is a good thing. In fact, laying the foundation of your outfit on those pointers will help in taking a leap with your wardrobe to something new and bold.

HOW WE WORE IT

Sweater: Hand-me-down from Mom // Skirt: Land's End

Shoes: Hand-me-down from Mom // Headband c/o Lilla Rose

Jessica illustrates the sophisticated academic style of the 60s by pairing a sweet plaid, pleated skirt with a boxy, light-weight sweater. The sweater has gold sparkles woven into the fabric, making for a perfect holiday garment. Jessica gave her hair some volume with a small beehive, and crowned her head with a classy pearl headband.

Sweater: Thrifted // Skirt: Garage Sale (Vintage)

Shoes: Hand-me-down from Jessica // Brooch: Gift from Grandma (Vintage 1960s)

Brigid looks quite fabulous in her conservative 60's outfit. The mint green cozy sweater paired with her glowing brooch makes for the perfect holiday pairing, and what screams holiday more than plaid?
By slipping on a pair of low-heeled mary-janes, Brigid is set and ready to go for any holiday gathering.

Sweater: thredUP, Apt. 9 // Skirt: Thrifted, Chadwicks // Shoes: thredUP, Ann Taylor

I decided to dress-up a little by pairing a christmas plaid pencil skirt with a be-glammed sweater. Like I said above, Pencils skirts were a staple of any 1960s lady. Also, by pairing knee-highs with a just-at-the-knee skirt, you can pull off a school-girl look that is very 60s. Matching little things like sweaters to socks and jewelry to shoes can also add little touches of vintage that you normally might overlook.

Now for some fun Christmas facts from this crazy, fashion-forward era:

A Charlie Brown Christmas aired on TV for the first time in 1965, and became a staple broadcast for every following year (link)
Apollo 8, the second human spaceflight mission of the US Apollo Space Program was launched December 21st, 1968 (link)

That's all for now friends! Jessica will be sharing all about beauty & hair from the eras we have covered this week, tomorrow, so stay tuned for that!

Do you like the fashions of the 60s?

xo,

-Charlotte

CREDITS // Author: Charlotte Boyer; Photography: Charlotte & Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets; All outsourced images linked accordingly

How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays // 1950s

2014-12-17T13:20:00.000-05:00

Hello dears, Charlotte here! Today we get to cover my most absolute favorite era, from beginning to end: the 1950s. Why do I love this era so much? Well, at the start of it you have adorable designs that still harken back to the 40s; the middle has the absolute splendor of huge skirts and eccentric details; and then at the later end, the conservative, ever-classic fashions of the 60s start trickling in (think Dick Van Dyke style)... Oh how I do adore this era! Anyhow, we get to be inspired today by these gorgeous fashions for our holiday outfits, so let's dig in, shall we?

BACK THEN

In the early part of the 50s, like I mentioned above, you may find skirts, dresses, and blouses all fairly similar to those of the late 40s, which shouldn't be of any surprise. The skirts hadn't yet reached their fullest point for the average lady, and you almost get a sense of a more laid-back, less business-like shape and structure.

Definitely the most practical way of wearing vintage for modern day is by combining classic separates like wool pencil skirts with plaid blouses. I think that the most marked difference between the 50s and 60s is the hem line. The 1950s were more mid-shin, while the 60s started creeping up higher to the knee and above. If you really want to be accurate, then go with a very full skirt. This era was known for its very full circle and dirndl style skirts.

If you have the ability, one of the sweetest ways of pulling off the 50s, is to make yourself a classic dress or jumper. Or, if you're lucky enough to find one, buy a frock that fits in with this era. A very youthful, school-girlish way of styling this era is by layering a white blouse under a sleeveless dress or jumper.

Shoes are my favorite. Why? because they are SO simple! Just a cute mary-jane flat or heel makes for the perfect 50s shoe. These are so easily found these days, and can be quite inexpensive, depending upon the brand you choose. Black is definitely the most accurate, though if you wanted to bring in a bit more modern flair, you could choose a colored shoe.

The basic recipe for the 1950s holiday style would be this:

Combine 1 plaid blouse, or simple cardigan, with your wool skirt of choice (preferably a circle skirt, though below the knee pencils will do). Add to this ankle socks (or tights, or long stockings) with your favorite pair of mary-janes (be they heeled or flat). Finally, a couple sweet items of jewelry (something that is wintery or Christmas-y is best) that retain sweet, nostalgic details, such as snowflake earrings, or a crystal necklace for extra glamour. Laid-back is key with the 1950s, so don't fuss too much over your clothes, and you will do just fine.

PRESENT DAY

As you can see from this collage, I went with the recipe I stated above.

To the left you find a simple polka-dot sweater with a full, pleated skirt. Add gold beads (find these at Chronically Vintage), and plain black flats, and you are perfectly suited up for a 1950s Christmas.

To the right, I basically created the same outfit, only with a few changed details. Instead of a pull-over, I used an authentic vintage cream cardigan paired with a full plaid skirt. By adding some lovely, simple earrings and cozy velvet slippers, you have the epitome of laid-back holiday style. The color scheme of this outfit is the main element that makes this outfit 1950s christmas-inspired. The 1950s were known for the kitschy holiday color scheme of blue (think turquoise), pink, and white. By incorporating this combination into your outfit, you add just another element to retro flair. It's all in the details. :)

HOW WE WORE IT

Dress: Handmade // Sweater: Gift // Shoes: Old...? // Flexi-Clip: Lilla Rose

Jessica illustrates my comment about classic holiday dresses perfectly through the above ensemble. By combining a fit-and-flair, christmas plaid frock with a dainty white shrug (shrugs were also a popular addition to any outfit in the 50s), and sweet red flats, Jessica is able to pull-off a very retro-inspired, though very practical outfit.

Sweater: Forever 21 // Skirt & Shoes: Thrifted // Necklace: Gift

Brigid takes inspiration from this illustration for her outfit. She adds her own unique touches by utilizing what she already has in her wardrobe: red pumps, a glittery necklace, and a silver-on-black polka dot sweater as opposed to black-on-white. All-in-all, Brigid has created a lovely 1950s inspired ensemble, with some more dressy touches. To tone down the more formal look, try replacing the glittery necklace with a kitschy string of beads, and simple flats or house-shoes as opposed to heels.

Shirt: Target // Sweater: Vintage, Gift // Skirt: Handmade

Flats: ThredUP // Necklace c/o A Pocket of Whimsy

I styled my outfit according to the styles of the later 50s, when the whimsical, sophisticated 60s fashions started trickling in. My color story consists of different hues of wintery blues, with bits of black, grey and gold intermingled. The full skirt and authentically vintage cardigan really channel the fit-and-flair silhouette. My make-up I did according to the more sophisticated, polished look of the 1950s with cat-eyes and a nude lip, as opposed to the traditional red.

Something that all of the vintage eras are known for are their whimsical, novelty pieces. My little reindeer necklace (courtesy of A Pocket of Whimsy) illustrates this style perfectly.

Alright, now that we've covered fashion side of things, let's take a look at some interesting facts of Christmas in the 1950s:

White Aluminum trees were first introduced in the 1950s
Real trees became available once again after they were restricted during WWII
Plastic ornaments dominated the previously popular glass ornament market.
White Christmas (the film) was released in 1954

That's all for now, folks! Check back tomorrow for the 1960s edition!

Pencil Skirts or Circle Skirts?

Separates or Dresses?

xo,

-Charlotte

CREDITS // Author: Charlotte Boyer; Photography: Charlotte & Brigid Boyer; Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays // 1940s

2014-12-16T13:14:00.000-05:00

Hello again dearies! I'm getting a bit of a late start today, and, oh, there is SO much to do before Christmas gets here! But let's take a few minutes to step back in time to the 1940's and take a look at what they wore back then for the special time of year that we find ourselves in at the present.

BACK THEN

Don't you just love, love, love that fabulous blue shirtwaist dress at the top?! If I could get my hands on some lovely blue wool I would make it in a heartbeat! But let's talk about silhouette, shall we?
The 1940's silhouette and styles stayed relatively the same from 1940 to 1946/47 on account of World War II. That makes it a bit easier for us who are seeking to take inspiration from the era as a whole, but harder for the historians among us to pinpoint when exactly what style of particular dress was worn. The basic silhouette was a sturdy shouldered, what I would call capable, practical look; shoulders were padded, and skirts were typically of an a-line shape.

On account of rationing, skirts couldn't be very full, and hemlines hit just below the knee. For Winter fashions they were typically wool or some thick rayon/wool blend, and would most likely coordinate or match an accompanying jacket.

Another result of rationing is the surge in accessories, hats, and small jewelry among them. Accessories helped to broaden an otherwise narrow wardrobe, taking one suit from Spring right through Winter, and back again. Garments would also be trimmed with small details such as spangles (see the red jersey top in the second to last picture), mainly after the war, or self fabric details such as little bows, fun pockets, etc. You can take a look at my Just the Small Details board for vintage and modern garment detail inspiration.

Dresses were popular in this time, and sweaters were used to extend the seasonal life of a dress as long as possible. Separates were catching on as a good way to get as much wear, and different looks, out of as few pieces as possible. Just think what you could do with a skirt suit, two blouses, a sweater and another coordinating skirt, not to mention some lovely little accessories! Wool Jersey "blouses" seem to have caught on by the later 1940's, and skirts started to become fuller, though not quite to the extent that we see in the 50's. They were still of an a-line shape, but hemlines lengthened and skirts could boast a sweep (hem circumference) of over 72 inches!

Turbans were another option if you didn't want to wear a hat, and did double duty for keeping your hair out of your face, especially if you were a working woman of the day. Headscarves were also worn in the winter time to keep ladies' perfectly arranged curls in place while out in the elements.

Slacks were also becoming more prevalently worn, and we will see the first dungarees made for women in this era. Among the teen set, plaid flannel shirts, as well as novelty sweaters were popular. The 1940's also saw the rise of the turtleneck (no pun intended) sweater, and later, the dolman and kimono style sleeves would be reintroduced.

Shoes were mostly practical pumps, and we also see the ever present oxford in this era. Later on the ballet flat was introduced as well as other similar (more comfortable in my opinion) style shoes such as the low wedge.

So to sum it all up: Up until 1947, the silhouette was practical and sturdy, shoulders being padded, skirts a-line, and hems reaching just below the knee. Wool or wool/rayon blends were the fabrics of the winter months. Suits and separates gained in popularity, and slacks were accepted as women's wear. Hats, turbans, and headscarves were worn. In the later 1940's skirts became longer and fulness was increased. Dolman and Kimono sleeves were reintroduced, as well as the turtleneck. Shoes were practical pumps, the ballet flat being introduced in the later 40's. Sweaters were used to extend the seasonal life of a dress as long as possible.

PRESENT DAY

The outfit on the left, if you can't tell, takes its inspiration from the late 40's. The plaid circle skirt, ballet flats and cardigan could even pass for 1950's if you wished! When you're looking for bottoms to wear for the 40's era, look for high waists like this skirt from eShakti. This cardigan from Hollie Point Vintage displays a similar spangle trimmed look to what I was talking about earlier, even though it is from the 50's. The earrings and bangle from Chronically Vintage complete the outfit by pulling the red from the skirt, thus adding some continuity and flow to the ensemble, not to mention some Christmas cheer!

The outfit on the right is more of an early to mid 40's inspired ensemble. The whole outfit was really centered around this delightful 1930's brooch from Hollie Point Vintage, and all the other pieces, such as the lovely velvet (can't forget the velvet folks! It's a must for Christmas attire!) skirt from Two Old Beans, and authentic 1940's shoes, again from Hollie Point, just fell into place.

Ah! Now that's done! oh, oh, oh! Now you get to see one of my favorite parts:

HOW WE WEAR IT

Sweater: Thrifted-Original 1940's // Skirt: Thrifted-Vintage, Evan Picone // Oxfords: c/o ShopMieux Purse: Thrifted-Vintage // Coat: Thrifted-Talbots, borrowed from Charlotte // Belt: Target

Necklace: c/o A Pocket of Whimsy

For this outfit, I of course had to wear the only green, original 1940's piece in my wardrobe: My Green Sweater from my vintage sweater set! I was inspired by this particular outfit from this pin, so I paired my sweater with a grey pleated skirt, and my coordinating belt. Matching shoes and purse were a must, and so was a warm wool coat. The finishing touch was my little novelty Bottle Brush Pine Tree necklace from A Pocket of Whimsy. Alexis is out of town on Christmas holiday right now, but when she is back, do check out her delightful shop (you can put in your email at her page to be notified when she returns)! Her pieces are so delicate and delightful. I knew as soon as I saw this necklace that it was just the piece to finish my 1940's ensemble!

Sweater: Thrifted-American Eagle // Skirt: Antique store-1960's // Coat: F21 //

Earmuffs: ?-Ancient // Oxfords: Thrifted // Birdie pin: Gift from Moi!

For the first time we had a cat photobomb! So please excuse the cat photos. It's not every day you have a sweet kitty for a photoshoot companion.
Anyways, let's talk about Jessica's outfit.
Starting out with her Fair Isle sweater, Jessica added a 1960's skirt that fit the bill perfectly for a 1940's copycat. One thing to keep in your head when you're out searching for vintage looking pieces: If you ever come across, say, a 1970's suit, sure the jacket may not look 1940's, but if the skirt does then by all means wear it as such! That's exactly what Jessica did here with this outfit. To top off her otherwise simple ensemble, Jessica added some delightful milkmaid braids (she'll be talking about hair and makeup later this week), and the ever present oxfords. Oh, and of course, don't forget the coat, dear. You'll be freezing in that ice-cold weather otherwise.

Sweater: Thrifted-F21 // Pants: Made by Charlotte-Wearing History Smooth Sailing Pattern

Boots: Thrifted // Beads: Antique Store

Charlotte's outfit is a 40's take on the ski look that I talked about in yesterday's post. With her boots, jeans and sweater she could just as easily sit by the Christmas tree sipping hot cider (never Hot Chocolate for her! Poor thing doesn't like it) as playing out in the snow (with the proper coat on). As we were getting ready for this post this morning, I came across a pin on Pinterest, this one in fact, that was rather ironic. It matched Charlotte's outfit components almost to a T. Even down to her coat. Wait, what coat? Charlotte did have a coat on, but she decided she didn't like it. Oh if only she had kept it on! But oh well, you get the idea. :)

I almost forgot! Some Christmas fun facts for the 1940's:

Pearl Harbor was bombed, December 7th, 1941.
White Christmas and I'll Be Home for Christmas were both written in the 1940's
Children actually weren't allowed to see the tree sometimes until Christmas morning! The mother would decorate on Christmas eve while her Children slept, leaving the finished piece to be a surprise for Christmas morning.
In the U.K., Christmas had to be celebrated underground due to the war.
Due to the war, Christmas trees were in short supply, so artificial trees had to suffice.
Electric Bubble Lights were invented in the 1940's and remain popular to today.

Which outfit from the "Present Day" board would you wear?

Would you be more likely to wear mid or late 40's styles?

Plaid or Solids?

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Photography: Charlotte & Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays // 1930s

2014-12-15T12:41:00.000-05:00

Hello dearies! Can you believe that Christmas is only 10 days away? I am so excited! Not only for the celebration of our dear Savior's birth, but for this upcoming week! Starting today, we're going to be encouraging you all to dress up a little for Christmas by taking a look at the vintage eras, and how girls dressed back then, not only for the Winter, but for the wonderful Holiday season that is upon us. Shall we start with the 1930's? Let's go!

BACK THEN

All of these inspirational images are from a 1939 vintage Glamour magazine, and a mid 1930's Sears & Roebuck's catalog. Starting with the top two images from the Glamour magazine, we see that towards the end of the 1930's we have a flared silhouette, with pleated or gored skirts, and slim fitting tops being popular. Smart little jackets had their heyday in this year, as you can see in the cute little bolero jackets and cropped sweaters above.

In the mid 1930's (the images starting with the Sears & Roebuck's catalog cover), you can see that the slim silhouette was all the rage. Cozy wool knit sets such as those seen in picture 4 with a blouson top and a snug fitting skirt were typical of the winter wear of the era. Broad shoulders with slim bottoms was the silhouette of the day, and warm wintery colors, such as Rust, Hunter Green, Royal Blue, and Wine were worn. Velveteen was another cozy material that was worn, and conjures to my mind images of Christmas garb from days gone by, velvet always being associated in my mind with the Christmas season and the lovely little Church dresses we would wear at that time.

Necklines were high, and the reverse of suit and jacket collars were wide. Skirts with offset buttons and closings were popular, and the hemline moved up and down between mid-calf and about 2 inches below the knee. Scarves were a good way to accessorize the necklines of this era, and would keep the wearer warm and fashionable.

Another wintery style from the 30's is that of the ski slopes, which seemed to have been influencing winter fashion since around the 1920's. Picture in your mind slacks such as those seen just above, with gathered cuffs, paired with a plaid flannel shirt, or a cute knitted sweater and you get the general idea. You can see more of this style of winter fashion on our How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays board.

So, to sum all of this up: In the mid 1930's, the popular silhouette was a broad-shouldered, elongated look. Fabrics were wool, wool knit, and velveteen, among others. The fashions of the Ski slopes had some influence on what was worn in the winter time, specifically in sweater fashions. Plaid and stripes seem to be common patterns that were worn, and would be perfect for the Christmas season. In the later 30's the broad-shouldered look still persevered, but the slim, long silhouette was traded out for a flared skirt, which would lead into the fashion silhouette of the 1940's. Smart toppers such as boleros and cropped sweaters were popular, and a good way to broaden your wardrobe. Colors were Rust, Wine, Hunter Green, Royal Blue and Brown.

PRESENT DAY

The outfit on the left was inspired by the ski fashions with it's cute reindeer sweater. I added a skirt to make it more ladylike, though you could add wide legged pants and still get quite a cute look. Galoshes similar to the boots in the outfit were popular in the wintertime, so they seemed the perfect shoe to add to the outfit. If you wanted to make this outfit more dressy you could add the bakelite bangle and glass bead necklace from Chronically Vintage.

The outfit on the right is for a slightly more formal Christmas occasion such as a family dinner, or even a Christmas eve party. Cowl necks were one of the necklines worn in the 1930's, so this white cowl-necked sweater seemed like a good top to start with. As I said before, velvet always brings Christmas to mind for me, so a wine colored velvet skirt was an absolute must. The shoes are nice and practical, while still being very fashionable, and have a silhouette similar to shoes worn in the 30's and 40's. I actually found a pair almost identical in one of the Sears & Roebucks catalog reprint books I have! To accessorize, I added this wonderful authentic 1930's necklace from Hollie Point Vintage, and some earrings from Chronically Vintage. Although they aren't quite authentic to the era, I thought the earrings would add a nice touch of completeness to the outfit.

HOW WE WEAR IT

Sweater: Thrifted-Tommy Hilfiger // Scarf: Gifted-India // Beret: Me-Made

Wool Palazzo Pants: Me-Made // Oxfords: DSW // Heart Bloom Bobby Pin c/o Lilla Rose

My outfit, if you can't tell, was inspired by the ski fashions of the era. The wide leg pants with the cable sweater give off the effect of the ski look, without me wearing full-on ski attire. The beret and scarf finish off the outdoor style, while the sweet little Bobby Pin from Lilla Rose adds a touch of Christmasy glimmer to the outfit.

Sweater: Thrifted-Vintage // Skirt: Thrifted-Vintage

Lady Tie: Handmade // Oxfords: Payless Shoesource

Charlotte's look was inspired by the mid 1930's with her slim silhouette plaid pleated skirt, and her blouson sweater. Lady ties are another accessory that you can use to accessorize the high necklines and collars of this era. Oxfords are, of course, a classic shoe choice for any decade from the 1930's onward!

Sweater: Thrifted-The Limited // Blouse: Thrifted - Jones New York // Skirt: Thrifted - Talbots

Earrings: Gift // Necklace c/o A Pocket of Whimsy // Oxfords: Thrifted

Jessica's outfit is a nice combination of the mid and late 1930's. Her close-fitting, high waisted sweater has the silhouette of the late 30's, while her mid-calf length pleated skirt has the look of a mid 1930's piece. Novelty accessories were popular throughout the 1930's and 40's, and Jessica's cute pinecone necklace from A Pocket of Whimsy is the perfect touch of Christmas glimmer for her outfit.

Before I sign off, I thought I would tell you all a few fun facts about some Christmas traditions that were started in the 1930's.

The practice of buying Christmas trees at a farm, rather than going out in the woods and cutting one down yourself began in the 1930's.
The typical jolly old Saint Nick image that most of us grew up with (never allowed to believe in mind you) was created by artist Haddon Sundblom in 1931 for Coca Cola.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer was introduced as a marketing scheme by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward.
Leaving out cookies for Santa was started in the 1930's as a way of parents encouraging their children to share with others.
The Friday after Thanksgiving was finally grounded as the beginning of Holiday Sales campaigns in the 1930's, becoming what we know today as Black Friday.

Which style of the 1930's would you wear: Mid or Late 1930's?

Would you rather wear Velveteen or Wool Knit?

Do you associate Velvet with Christmas?

How would you wear 1930's for the Holidays?

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Photography: Charlotte & Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Announcing How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays

2014-12-13T13:26:00.000-05:00

Hello there! We are SO excited to officially announce our "How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays" blog event! After our successful rendition of this series this past Summer, we girls thought it would be awfully fun to reintroduce it for the Holidays!

Now what might this blog series entail? As many of you know, we girls have a deep love for the mid-century eras of the 1900s, and gather much of our wardrobe inspiration from them. As a result of this, several of you, our readers, ask how we are able to pull it off. Well, that's what this series is all about, only Holiday inspired!

What's the schedule for this grandiose event? Take a peek below:

December 15th-20th
Monday: 1930s Holiday Fashions
Tuesday: 1940s Holiday Fashions
Wednesday: 1950s Holiday Fashions
Thursday: 1960s Holiday Fashions
Friday: Hair & Makeup for the Vintage Eras
Saturday: Contest!

Each day we will cover a different era, and each post will be divided into 3 sections: Back Then, Present Day, and How We Wore It, along with some fun facts about Christmas in each era.

We hope you all will join us for this event, and stay tuned for the big (amazing! spectacular! we girls wish we could participate!) contest at the end! Beware, however, that in order to be able to participate to the fullest in the big-bash contest finale, you will have to follow along closely with each of the posts leading up to it :)

Until Monday!

xo,

The B. Girls

CREDITS // Author & Graphic: Charlotte Boyer

A Little Bit of Christmas

2014-12-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

This Christmas season has been like none other for our family. What would typically be a pleasantly busy (Ok, so maybe not too pleasantly busy) month in which we are able to fit in our random seasonal traditions (one whole day of decorating after fetching our Christmas tree, while blasting The Kings Singers & Christmas Dance Party through the very foundations of the house), has turned out to be a hodge-podge of getting things ready here, prepping this there... To be blunt, so much of our girls' days have been consumed in the blog & our many singing performances. To say that I am stressed would be an understatement... And yet there is so much excitement and anticipation! We girls couldn't imagine a better way to occupy our time. And then little, bright rays of sunshine come in through the cloudy days when you send in your sweet, precious thoughts to us, uplifting & encouraging us girls in our work. Thank you! It has brought us so much joy to know that our work is paying off. We couldn't do it without you!

Oh dear, this post has become quite grave, hasn't it? Well, let's try and lift the gloom I have just spread with some very random snapshots from my camera that I took while Christmas tree hunting with Dad & Jess, and then setting up for a very big blog series (more details on that tomorrow :D). Enjoy!

Here's to looking at the future ahead, with 1.5 blissful weeks of no commitments from the 23rd on!

What has your Christmas Season looked like thus far?

xo,

-Charlotte

CREDITS // Author & Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Glass Globe Ornament Tutorial

2014-12-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

Hello dearies! Today I have a fun and extremely easy Christmas ornament tutorial for you all! I came up with this just the other day when we were decorating our Christmas tree. I saw these empty glass ornaments, some beaded garlands, and Ta-dah! An ornament was born. Take a look at the tutorial below if you want to make one, or a few, of these for your own Christmas tree, or just to decorate your house with, no matter the season.

What you will need:
1// One clear globe glass ornament (the top needs to be able to come off).
2// One wire hook to use to hang on your tree (optional. You could use ribbon instead)
3// Beaded garland small enough to fit through your ornament opening. (we got these ones for practically nothing at a bag sale)

Take the "lid" off of your ornament globe. Start feeding the garland into the ornament. Fill up the ornament only about half way, otherwise it will be too heavy to hang on the tree!

Once you've filled the ornament to the desired fullness, put the "lid" back on, along with the ornament hook (or ribbon if you're using it), and shake, rattle, and roll that thing until the garland is all nicely arranged inside the ornament.

And Voila! You're done! Wasn't that SUPER easy? You can put all sorts of different types of garlands and decorations into these lovely ornaments. I made, apart from the gold one, a pearl and a silver version. Couldn't you picture using large flaky glitter instead? Or maybe a cloud of ribbons! The possibilities are endless!

What would you put inside one of these ornaments?

Which one is your favorite? Pearl, Gold, or Silver?

Have you ever made ornaments for your Christmas tree?

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Photography & Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Outfit // Winter Uniform

2014-12-10T13:42:00.001-05:00

Well, friends, the Holiday season is upon us! Here at the BFS studio we are in full-swing with Christmas preparations, both for the blog & singing. We still have 5 more venues to sing at before we are done for the year (al.most.there.), and today we have 2 photo-shoots, one already done, and the other a project of 3 combined photo-shoots. Whew. Sorry for the low-down on our schedule ;) I guess it just feels good to let out a little steam at somebody other than your two best friends (i.e – sisters)... who are also experiencing it. :D Now, to talk about polaroid cameras and uniforms!

I would like you to meet my old friend (and only old in the sense of the manufacture date): Polaroid Land Camera Model 80. I picked up this new edition to my (small. Very small.) vintage camera collection at a garage sale this past Summer for $5, and have been unable to pay any of the much needed TLC it deserves. Perhaps, when I have the bug-bite of a fixer-upper, I will finally get around to paying it the ol' spit-and-polish, but until then, the ancient rust spots adorn its well-worn body quite gracefully. :)

I was greatly saddened to find out that this new (old) treasure of mine could not work, because it's film type is no longer manufactured. Sigh. My hopes of possibly (finally) owning a functional polaroid camera were once again dashed on the bricks of monetary lack. It does earn its keep, however, by sitting quite impressively on my bookshelf, boldly proclaiming to all who enter that I am a photograph geek... Ok, not really... but you get the picture ;)

Shirt: Boden via thredUP // Trousers: Me-Made // Beret: Forever 21 (old)

Necklace: Gift (ModCloth) // Belt: Target

Now let's talk winter uniforms! I have been finding myself reaching for my 1940s pants (of which I have 3 pairs now: 2 printed, 1 solid) again and again, not only because of their immense warmth and comfort, but also because they are SO flattering, easy to style, and cover up any wonky stockings or leggings I might be sporting underneath.. heheh... Ugly sports socks anyone (see the GIF below for more on that topic)?

Anyhow, I am thinking about making myself another pair made out of wool suiting, or perhaps a bright twill (like Casey's flawless pair). Ideas, ideas... :D

Above my ever-so-practical trousers I will adorn a sweet little crew-neck jumper or cardigan, whether it be striped, solid, kelly-green, fair-isle... And that, with a pretty beret or necklace, finishes off my Winter uniform. I may, upon occasion, pair a button-up with my pants, as pictured in this outfit. This particular shirt I am wearing is an absolute favorite. Guess the brand! Boden, of course ;) I found this wonder-of-wonders shirt at none other than thredUP, and snatched it up without a second's notice. And folks, this shirt fits like a dream. I can't believe that I don't wear it more often!

Well, I've got to get going! Make-up & set-up needs doing for this afternoon's escapades.

What is your winter uniform?

xoxo,

-Charlotte

CREDITS // Author: Charlotte Boyer; Photography: Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Oh, Christmas Tree // Ornaments Old & New (+Giveaway Winner!)

2014-12-09T08:48:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone. Year by year our Christmas tree decorations have grown and transformed, just as much as the girls and I have. I had a lovely inspiration, yesterday morning, to show you all an assortment of Christmas ornaments we once used, and are now using, thinking how fun it would be for you all to see what we once used, as compared to what we use nowadays. Let take a look!

There used to be a tradition in our family in which our parents were given a Christmas tree ornament every holiday season by our grandparents, and before long the tree was full of little collections of Hallmark trinkets. There were funny old Santas (1)(4), a series of little bitty eskimos with their cold weather friends (6), silly little nursery toys supposed to harken to the time that we would soon be in the world (7), many countless angels (3), funny little scenes like the rather apple-filled sleeping mouse (5), and then when we at last shared the joy of Christmas, there were little dolls and fairies to hang up (2)(8). All in all, our family characteristics showed through with much merriment with the help of these darling Hallmark ornaments.

As the years have passed, we three began to look back at the Christmases when we would go visiting our family or friends, and within several of the homes stood striking trees that did not have one single family ornament, but was decked with themes of Christmas colors and textures. And so, one year it was decided, we were not going to hang up our family ornaments that year, or any other year to come. We were going to have a very grown up tree, and decorate it with coordinating Christmas colors and textures. We accomplished this by going to our excellent Hobby Lobby (or other places in which we could find deals on ornaments) to gather a lovely assortment of bells (7), apples (5), birds (1), glittery trinkets (6), pinecones (8), old fashioned Christmas cards (3), bows (4), and garlands of gold (2). The tree turned out satisfactorily to our great delight, and I am pleased to say that it still retains the ora of the Boyer household. Though the sweet old ornaments are retired, the family touch is not lost, but I think in a way, it has gained luster and class.

Do you prefer themed decorations, or family ornaments on your Christmas tree?

Do you like our new collection of ornaments?

What do you like to do best when decorating for Christmas?

Attention Giveaway contestants! The winner for the eShakti Giveaway is: Hannah Bergmann! Congratulations my dear! I hope you enjoy your new dress! :)

May you all stay warm, merry and bright!

Jessica

The eldest sister & singer

CREDITS // Author: Jessica Boyer; Photography & Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Classy on Sunday // Mixing Prints

2014-12-06T11:18:00.000-05:00

Hey friends! Today I have a very bold, absolutely pure fun outfit to share with you all! You know those outfits that you see on pinterest and think, "oh if only I had it in my closet to recreate that!" Well, this is that outfit for me. It's kind of like the epitome of fall style for my wardrobe, all wrapped into one outfit: tall boots, a plaid scarf, printed pencil, jeweled cardigan (!!!), cozy coat and berry red lips.

I originally wore the scarf, shown above, for warmth; but once I thought about it, it actually made for a bit of a whimsical attribute to my outfit. I think I am definitely the most print-mixing person in my family. If you were to look in my closet right now, all you would see is striped & floral tops, and plaid skirts. With maybe a solid wool skirt and cardigan mixed in here and there. Yes, it is a bit of a challenge getting dressed each morning, trying to figure out which prints aren't too wild to match each other, but I feel that print mixing is a bit of a signature for me right now. I know that one's style evolves over years and years, but pretty prints have always won over solids for me. No matter how hard I try, a new striped sailor top lands in my shopping cart before any solid T ever had a chance to weasel it's way in. What about you? Solids or Print mixing?

Another wardrobe dilemma: 3/4 sleeve tops. Does anyone else deal with this problem?! I just think that clothing companies just should never have offered those to the public, because it makes my wardrobe decisions even more unpractical than they are already (i.e: print mixing). Those sleeves were maybe made for the stylish winter birds that fly down to the South for the colder months. I'm just a little sparrow trying to pull off the cute, too-short sleeves in the cold North. Oh, help me! Why do they have to look SO much more adorable then full-length sleeves?! Why?!

I have always been a bit fashion-obsessive, and choose anything that looks nice over something that actually will suit the weather. Take for example, when we lived on the west coast: I would wear my summer tank tops and short skirts in the middle of Winter. And Washington really isn't all that warm in the Winter. Yes, I think I was very much fashion obsessed in my single-digit years. Yes, very much so.

Even this year, I haven't been warm once in my normal clothes all Autumn. That is, until Mom bought me the most perfect long-sleeve cardigan and I slipped that on over my cute J. Crew pullover (yes, it had 3/4 length sleeves. Go ahead, judge me, and tell me you wouldn't have gone for it too), and BOOM! Warmth!! Hopefully this Winter will teach me to go for practicality over fashion. Because, you know, warmth is so much more comfortable than the cutest mid-length sleeve cardigan or pullover. Right?

Sweater: ThredUP (get $10 off your first order here!) // Skirt: Handmade // Boots: Ruche // Coat: ModCloth (last year) // Earrings: Forever 21 // Socks: Target // Scarf: Gift from India

Thanks for putting up with my wardrobe ramblings, dears! Now to hear yours!

What are your wardrobe dilemmas?

Prints or Solids?

xo,

-Charlotte

P.S- Don't forget to enter our Holiday Frock giveaway with eShakti! Hurry up and "put your name in the hat" before it's too late!

CREDITS // Author: Charlotte Boyer; Photography: Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Advertiser Love // Holiday Edition

2014-12-05T11:13:00.000-05:00

Oh dearies you can't know how EXCITED I am to share this Advertiser Love post with you all. One, because the format is a leetle bit different: We're sharing outfits made up from items from our sponsors! And two, there's a reason why several of our newer sponsors are with us this month. BUT! You're going to have to wait and read to the bottom to see what that is all about. ;)

CAROUSEL CASUAL
Dress: Hollie Point Vintage // Sweater: Two Old Beans // Necklace: A Pocket of Whimsy // Scarf: Made by Rachel Emily // Bracelet: Chronically Vintage

Can't you just picture wearing this lovely outfit for a casual fall or spring day? A lovely scarf and sweater would keep you warm, while the gold touches of your accessories would add a sparkle that would bring a smile to everyone you met.

PUMPKIN PARTY
Dress: Croatia Vintage // Bracelet: Chronically Vintage // Purse: Hollie Point Vintage // Flexi Clip: Lilla Rose

This outfit would be positively splendid to wear to a birthday or tea party! The touches of peach, pink and cream make it suitable to wear in the spring, or with a light cardigan in early fall. Can you tell we're already dreaming of the warmer months over here?

AN AUTUMN PICNIC
Dress: Croatia Vintage // Heels: Two Old Beans // Headwrap: Garlands of Grace // Purse: Chronically Vintage

Do we even have to say how perfect this is for a autumnal picnic? Whether it be for Sunday or just a fun, Saturday jaunt, this sophisticated ensemble would see you through.

– – – – – – – –

Don't forget to click on the links below the outfits' titles to see each of the items for yourself!

SOOooo, that thing I was talking about at the beginning of this post... the reason for why we have four new vintage clothing advertisers this month...

If you have been following us since earlier this summer, you may just remember in the back of your mind a certain week long event we held, oh, at the end of May, that was topped off with a fabulous contest at the end of the week. And all of you loved the event so much that you begged for us to do it again... Well, my dears, your wish is granted!

The ever so popular How We Wear Vintage series is returning for the Holidays! And guess what? Not only will we be putting a Christmas spin on all of our posts (what did they wear in the 30's for Christmas anyways?), but we will be holding a fantabulous Polyvore contest at the very end to find the four very best vintage Christmas ensembles that you lovely ladies can come up with! Are you excited?!? Because we certainly are! You can mark your calendars for the week of the 15th of this month, December, because that is when the festivities will officially begin. We'll be announcing more details about schedule, etc. Saturday the 13th (next week!) so you'll have a few days warning. ;)
'Til then!

Which is your favorite outfit/item?

Are you excited for How We Wear Vintage for the Holidays?

Are you planning on participating in the HWWVH contest?

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Graphics: Charlotte Boyer

How We // Shop at Goodwill

2014-12-04T14:09:00.000-05:00

Hello dears! One of our girls favorite things to do is thrift shop; or more specifically, thrift shop at Goodwill. We absolutely adore scoring adorable items for amazing prices, and as many of you know, most of our wardrobes are thrifted. Goodwill thrifting is a double whammy, because not only are you able to find some adorable stuff for sweet prices, but you are also helping in supplying jobs to people who would otherwise be unemployed. Interested in finding out what our top 5 tips for shopping at Goodwill are? Read on!

However fun thrifting is, it can be very overwhelming at times, being surrounded by so many different styles of clothing and decor. Here are a few pointers that we girls have developed and always keep in mind when going through the racks at Goodwill.

1 // LOOK OUT FOR SALES
Though the prices are reasonable as it is at Goodwill, we still love getting as much bang for our buck as possible. Thus we always keep a look out for the 50% off days or Managers sales. By signing up for their monthly newsletter, or grabbing their deals calendar next time you go, it is easy to stay up to date with their latest sales, and plan your shopping trips accordingly.

2 // LOOK FOR AMAZING BRANDS
Though it's easy to just browse through the racks of clothing and not pay any heed to the tags, one of the best ways for finding the best quality clothing is to look out for recognizable, quality brands like New York & Company, Chadwicks, Clarks, Boden, Nine West, Pendleton, Pringles of Scotland, and even vintage companies. Ha, the first time I ever scored my first Boden knit blouse, my week had been made (can you tell I love that brand? ;).

For your next trip to Goodwill, make a list of your favorite clothing brands, and look out for those when browsing through. It will not only help you keep focused, but also allow you to score clothing that you will love for a long time.

3 // INSPECT!
You don't know how many times I've come home from a thrifting trip, only to find that my new, adorable sweater had a shredded cuff, or worse yet, that I had purchased a moth-eaten kilt. Those were dark days.... ;P

Though thrifting is cheap, and maybe a $2 loss isn't huge in your pocket book, it is still a good idea to inspect the items of clothing that you are thinking about purchasing. We are talking about used clothing, after all, and who knows what the last owner did to your next wardrobe candidate. Some key places to check for stains and holes are the underarms of t-shirts, the cuffs & collars of sweaters (actually, checking the entire sweater would be a better idea... Moths love wool and natural fibers!), and all over skirts. I almost came home with an adorable camel-colored vintage pencil skirt, once, only to find tiny moth holes scattered all across the front. Yikes!

4 // BE OPEN MINDED...
This is a tip that I have most recently opened up to (can you tell I'm a rather inflexible person? Any other type-A's out there?), and have found it to be very helpful. Let's take for instance the adorable cardigan from Forever 21 shown above: the size reads Large, but it looked very much like it would fit my small frame. Thus, it came with me to the dressing room. Although size tags are helpful, be more open-minded and don't shy away from going "a size" up or down: you may just find treasure!

Another thing to keep in mind is, can this item be altered? Maybe a new hem on a skirt, or chopping the sleeves off a dress, or even ditching the original design and altering the item altogether might reveal some treasure for your wardrobe. I made the most adorable sundress (which now hangs in Jessica's closet... oh the joys of growth spurts...) last summer from a terrible maxi dress that was a size or two too big. Get creative when thrifting!

5 // ...BUT KEEP A CERTAIN STYLE IN MIND
One of the best attributes about Goodwill, the huge variety of clothing styles, is also one of the scariest. Right next to that adorable cashmere sweater hangs the ugliest of Christmas apparel you've ever seen! It can be super overwhelming going through racks of clothing when polar opposites of fashion are sitting right next to each other. The cure to this is to keep a certain style in mind, whether that be vintage, boho, classic, or a mixture that works. I have trained myself to follow my inner stylist when shopping, and only pick out those things which really speak to me, and I know will fit well into my wardrobe. Don't let the price tag deceive you. Though that prom dress may only be $15, it's only going to take up clutter in your closet if you don't have a set event to wear it to. Look at the example above: Brigid has found a beautiful wool pleated skirt, and an equally adorable vintage-inspired top. How well those would look together! And how easily they could be styled with other items in her closet. Be practical and realistic, and try to choose items that will go together; or at least will be able to be incorporated into your present wardrobe.

Well, that's all for now friends! I hope you have gleaned some helpful tips from this post for your next trip to Goodwill.

Want to see past outfit posts featuring our favorite thrifted items? Click here!

What are your key pointers that you keep in mind while thrifting?

Any thrifting horror stories? C'mon, I know we've all been there before! ;)

xo,

-Charlotte

CREDITS // Author, Photography & Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets; Special thanks to the Ohio Valley Lebanon Goodwill for allowing us to take pictures in their facility, and feature them in this post.

Calling all Seamstresses!

2014-12-03T11:00:00.000-05:00

Thank you all so much ladies! I have all of the testers I need currently, but thank you all immensely for your interest! You don't know how encouraging it is to me to know how many people out there want to try out my pattern. You all had better keep your eyes peeled sometime in February, as the pattern should be ready to be released around that time.
-Brigid, the Middle Sister and Singer

Calling all seamstresses! Calling all seamstresses! I have a request to make! If you all remember, a few months back I did a post on my Palazzo pants that I had drafted for myself. Well, after much interest in the pattern itself, I've decided to turn it into a PDF pattern to sell, but before I can actually introduce it to the public, I need some pattern testers! Sound interesting? Then read on for further details!

What You Need To Know:

The pattern is for the Palazzo pants shown above, and written about in this post. I have added on some fun variations (high waist anyone?), and am currently working on tweaking the final fit of the pattern.

I hope to have the pattern ready for testing by sometime in January.

I currently have only 4 sizes that will be available:

Size 1: 24.5" waist, 33"hip

Size 2: 25.5" waist, 34" hip

Size 3: 26.5" waist, 35" hip

Size 4: 27.5" waist, 36" hip

I currently need seamstresses to test sizes 1, 2, and 3. I already have pattern testers for size 4.

The pattern will be in PDF format.

When the pattern is ready, I will be sending an email to everyone who has contacted me (see below), letting them know any further details, such as deadlines, etc.

When the pattern is ready, I will have a sewing time of about 2-3 weeks, for the pattern testers to send me their feedback.

I will (hopefully) be providing some tips on how to alter the pattern if you have a larger waist/hip ratio, need to lengthen/shorten the pattern, etc.

I need experienced seamstresses to pattern test, as the feedback, unfortunately, won't be as profitable if I am receiving feedback from beginners.

You do not have to have a blog to participate, though I would appreciate any shout-outs on your blog, if you have one, once the pattern is released!

An explanation on the sizing of the pattern.

This is my first public, multi-sized pattern. And because of that I have absolutely no idea what the interest is in this type of pattern, etc. I drafted the base pattern (size 2) on my measurements which are pretty close to standard, but with a slimmer silhouette than the average misses' pattern. If there is enough interest in a broader size range, I may go back and add some new sizes, but I didn't want to do that first off, when I don't know my market very well.

How to get involved?

Now, that I've listed all the bare, boring, un-exciting facts, do you want to help me? As I said above I need pattern testers for sizes 1, 2, and 3. If you would like to be a pattern tester please email me at: brigid(dot)boyer(at)mac(dot)com I'll get back to you with further (fun) information on fabric, and answers to any questions you may have.

I would love to hear from you, with suggestions, comments, etc. so please feel free to drop me a line below or at my email above!

Have a lovely day dearies!

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Graphics: Charlotte Boyer

Holiday Frock Giveaway from eShakti [CLOSED!]

2014-12-01T14:44:00.000-05:00

Hello dearies! Oh but do we have a surprise for you on this first day of December! Today we are partnering up with one of our favorite clothing companies, eShakti, to bring to you the holiday giveaway of your dreams (we girls are soo envious of the winner, hehe ;)! One of you will win the holiday dress of your choice from eShakti! Isn't that simply stupendous? Read more to find out how to enter!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

We girls wanted to share with you our tip-top picks from eShakti's winter collection. Boy, but did we have fun picking these out! Click the numbers above to go to each dress, and be sure to check out their new arrivals for more fabulous selections!

So, we know you all are wondering how to enter, so the widget below should help you with that :) It is open until the 12/9/14 12:00 AM, and we'll announce the winner soon after. The official prize is any dress of your choice from eShakti, with free customization & shipping.

Open to U.S. and Canadian Residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck dears!

-The B. Girls

CREDITS // Author & Graphic Design: Charlotte Boyer; Post sponsored by eShakti

Classy on Sunday // A Trip to the Aranoff

2014-11-29T13:10:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I can't even believe that Thanksgiving, the holiday of feasting and gratitude, is already behind us, in our minds, and spoken of in the past tense. We certainly have had a lovely one! Most of the day our family was gathered around the kitchen counters, wrapped in the aromas of great food, (all from scratch), busily working to get it on the table, then to be devoured over the next couple of days. Mmmm... Bliss. But let me take you farther back than Thanksgiving, and come with me to Cincinatti's famous Aranoff Theater, to see the story of Peter Pan danced across it's grand stage.

A few weeks ago, we three were surprised by the announcement Mom made to us regarding the opportunity of attending the Peter Pan ballet dress rehearsal with our voice teacher's young ballerina daughter. "Really? Truly, Mom? We can go?" we all cried. "Well, only two of you can go, and since Brigid is sick with a cold, I think it would be best that Charlotte and Jess go." Brigi was disheartened, but she faced the disappointment with a stiff upper lip, and said it was only right, as she was the last one who had attended a ballet. Charlotte and I thanked her ever so much, and then assured her we would tell her all the good parts.

The ballet was incredible, as only the Peter Pan story can be. Who wouldn't want to fly out the window of their safe and secure nursery, whilst their parents were out on the town? And to fly away with a strange boy and his fairy friend? Well, I know I would. I would dream of such happenings when I was little, and pretending and transporting ones self though books was the only way I could visit an enchanted Fairy World. If you could only see what I cooked up in that 8 year-old noggin of mine! Sheer magic, to say the least.

Days like this one we were to blessed to have, always puzzle me. Why? Well, for one, it was nearly perfect! We did get slightly lost in the big city, but other than that, we had a truly, perfectly, splendid day! How is it that God desires to bless us with hours of joy and peace, where no trouble can reach in and hurt us, or steal away the joy? This one thought coursed through my young-adult mind all day long, after the ballet, and all I could do was praise Him for His great blessings. That must be why! Perhaps God gives us those seamless days to allow us to stand back in awe, and worship Him with grateful hearts! It is hard to give thanks in the hard times, that they will not be lost to the past. In a way, they become a sort of strength He uses to lift us up.

Interesting though: If all we had in this world was a prison cel, and a Bible, with a little food to sustain us, would we praise Him? This question has bee on my mind for some time now, especially after reading Christian WWII veteran, Edgar Harral's story, "Out of the Depths", and "Tortured for Christ", by the renowned missionary to Russia, Rev. Wurmbrand. Though I have not finished his book, I still have been greatly impacted by what Rev. Wurmbrand, and Edgar Herral, have to say about suffering for our King. They suffered that His Kingdom might advance on Earth. Yet here I sit, comfortably typing away, only imagining what this suffering, this great separation from physical comfort, must have been to these men. How it must have carved and whittle away the "Old Man" in them, and brought a great sanctifying working in their lives. They were made so pure, because their were able to struggle long and hard to strive for Christ's work to be done. What they share in their books tells me we are able to withstand to much, much more than we might day to imagine! But this is not everyone's lot.

I know that the only means the Lord has enabled me to use to be His light to others right now, is through singing and blogging. We dress, act, and present ourselves as His children everytime we get up in front of and audience, or blog. I still had to wonder through, "Is this enough, Lord?" I can open my mouth and sing, but it is much harder to open my mouth and share what I know is the only salvation from death on the same stage. Words fail me. Yet, I can do it behind a screen using careful contemplation. It is my goal, that the more we sing, and the more comfortable we become in front of our audiences, the better we three will be able to speak Life into the lost. This is my prayer

Skirt: Thrifted // Top c/o Shop Mieux, by Tulle // Scarf c/o Shop Mieux, by Gap //

Stockings: Target // Shoes: Thrifted // Coat: Forever 21

Earrings: Target // Dove Pin: Antique Store // Accent Ring: Charming Charlie

The Lives we are given fall into His Story (History), and there is nothing that can come into existence that God does not plan out for us. We are His chosen people, and we are called to die to ourselves that Christ might gain all. Am I doing this? I pray that I am, and that whatever the Lord wants me to change to better represent Him, I will.

This post of mine was inspired by Psalm 90

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

You turn man to destruction,

And say, "Return, O children of men."

For a thousand years in Your sight

Are like yesterday when it is past,

And like a watch in the night,

You carry them away like a flood;

They are like a sleep.

In the morning they are like grass which grows up:

In the morning it flourishes and grows up;

In the evening it is cut down and withers.

For we have been consumed by Your anger,

And by Your wrath we are terrified.

You have set our iniquities before You,

Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.

For all our days have passed away in Your wrath;

We finish our years like a sigh.

The day of our lives are seventy years;

And if by reason of strength they are eighty years,

Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;

For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of Your anger?

For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.

So teach us to number our days,

That we may gain a heart of wisdom/

Return, O LORD!

How long?

And have compassion on Your servants.

Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy.

That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!

Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,

The years in which we have seen evil.

Let Your work appear to Your servants,

And Your glory to their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us

And establish the work of our hands for us;

Yes, establish the work of our hands.

What do you think about when you read of missionaries?

Are you satisfied with what your are doing before the Lord?

Do you praise the Lord even for the hard times?

Much love to you all!

Jessica

the eldest sister & singer

CREDITS // Author: Jessica Boyer; Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Advertiser Love // November Edition

2014-11-28T11:09:00.001-05:00

Hey all! Anybody recovered from their Thanks Giving feast, and started Black Friday shopping? I know we certainly have (except for the recovery part... still working on that...) Today we girls have some sweet shops who have supported us this past month with advertising, to share with you all!

Made by Rachel Emily // Rachel is our newest advertiser, and we are so excited to have her on board! She crochets the most adorable little baby hats and ladies' scarves! A few products that we have our eyes on are the Puppy Baby Hat, Christmas Chain Scarf, and the PomPom Scarf.

Garlands of Grace // We are so thrilled to have Garlands of Grace on board again for November! We think that the Vintage Dots Cecily in Christmas Red, Garnet Twist, and Everyday Legwarmers in Persimmon would make for some fabulous Christmas presents for those special women in your life.

ShopMieux // As you all know, we love finding bargain prices on quality clothing. ShopMieux does just that, as an online consignment shop! Currently we girls are eyeing the Il Modiano Midi Skirt and New York & Company Beaded Earrings.

Sprouts // The Holiday season has to be the busiest time of year for entertainers, so a remedy to help maintain your vocal chords is a must! We love Sprout's Vocal Remedy for helping with our hoarse or strained voices.

A Pocket of Whimsy // Alexis just released some amazing (!) Christmas items, and we girls are all a'swoon over them! Check out the My Deer Friend necklace, Pine Tree Snow Globe necklace, and the Through My Heart necklace, perfect little gifts to slip under the tree! Oh, and take 30% off EVERYTHING with the code BLACKFRIDAY30!

Lilla Rose // Lilla Rose is currently having a spectacular sale from Friday to Sunday, where everything is 20-50% off, and Free Shipping on all orders $50+! What a perfect time to check items off your Christmas shopping list! We girls are currently loving the Antique Style Gold You-Pins, Lovely Circle Gold Bobby-Pins, and Simple Drop Flexi Clip in Mini.

That's all for now, friends! Now go get some Christmas shopping done! ;)

xo,

-Charlotte

for the B. Girls

CREDITS // Author & Graphics: Charlotte Boyer

Happy Thanks Giving!

2014-11-27T10:22:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! We wanted to wish a very Happy Thanks Giving to all our U.S. readers! This is one of our favorite holidays, because it allows us to reflect on our nation's Christian foundations that were laid down (by the grace of God) by our Founding Fathers at the landing of the Mayflower, the First Thanks Giving, and all the successive events after that.

As this is a time of thanksgiving for all the Lord has blessed us with, we would be amiss if we left out our gratitude for you our readers! We have gained so many, many new friends who are dear to our hearts, through this blog (yes you, Jessica, Rebekah & Esther, Ellen & Natasha, Alyssa & Tirzah, Cassie & Rebekah, Olivia, Ashley, Genevieve, Hannah, Hana, Rachel, Paige, Alison, Abigail, Lauren, Elizabeth, Esther O., Rosie, Natasha, Alexandra, Bekah and so many, many more!), and we are deeply thankful to God for blessing us with you! This blog would never have grown as it has without your, our readers, support. We are greatly humbled to think that we might have impacted your lives through this website, and give all the glory to our Lord and Savior!

And now, to leave you with this stunning shot.

XOXO!

-The B. Girls

CREDITS // Author: Charlotte Boyer; Photography & Graphics: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

Outfit // Thanks Given

2014-11-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

Hello dearies,
Can you believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow? It does not feel like it to me! Perhaps it's because we aren't going anywhere, or having any friends over. That always makes my holidays feel more special, and so it's disappointing to me when schedules don't allow for inviting friends over. This was beginning to spoil Thanksgiving for me, until I thought of the idea for this post...

How often is it that we give thanks for the things we never thought we would be thankful for? I realized just the other day how many hopes and dreams I had that I have had to let go of in this past year. And the most amazing thing is that I am thankful that I had to let these hopes and dreams go. So today, I am going to start something new. Not only will I give thanks for the obvious blessings, but I am also going to give thanks for what I never thought I would be thankful for. Because God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but they are ultimately for our good.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Sweater: F21 // Skirt: F21 // Tights: F21 // Flats: Hand-me-down from a friend

I am thankful for:

Having to give up my dream of having my own clothing business. I have learned so much about myself in this past year, and I can now understand why God put so many barriers in my path to prevent me from fulfilling that dream. Perhaps in the future it will be His will, but not now.

Learning music theory all those years ago, so I can write parts for our singing trio. When I was younger, I didn't appreciate music theory at ALL. But now I wish I had paid greater attention when I was learning it. I am so grateful that my music teachers made me do Music Theory anyways, or else I would be lost today.

Church Children's choir. I loved Children's choir growing up. All of the Christmas songs that we would sing, and the opportunity of getting up in front of the Church to sing... I loved it!

Mrs. W. The organist at our Church on the West Coast. This dear lady was so influential in my life. At the end of service every Sunday morn, all of the kids would congregate around her organ, where she would pass out mints and candies. We only got one or two normally, but if someone had a birthday or had had a tooth pulled, they would get three candies. But Mrs. W. was more than just the sweet lady who passed out candy. She was the director of the Children's Choir, and she was one of the first people, that I can remember, who encouraged my sisters and I in our singing, and inspired me to play music for Church. She was a godly woman, and helped and encouraged anyone who was in need, even if she herself was experiencing difficulties in life. Thank you Mrs. W. for everything you were to us girls. We miss you!

Mr. J. Another person from our Church back on the West Coast. Mr. J. was a jovial, grandfatherly figure to us girls as we grew up. He directed the adult Choir around the holidays, and organized the music for Church. If we were over at their house for Sunday dinner, we would sometimes be allowed to request songs for the evening service. Oh, I felt so special when he would use one of our requests! He was one of the other few who encouraged me, indirectly, to want to play music for Church. The obvious love he had for praising the Lord through music was infectious, and that love is something that has stayed with me ever since those childhood days on the West Coast.

The ability to make my own clothes. You wouldn't believe how many times I have thought over what life would be like if I was blind, or wasn't able to use my hands. I would honestly be lost. I couldn't play music, though I could still sing. I couldn't sew or do the other handicraft things that I love. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with health and I pray He will help me use my abilities to bless others. Every good gift is from Him (James 1:17), even those we may take for granted.

My family. This goes without saying. But if I am being honest, I will say there are days where I am not as thankful as I should be for the enormous blessing my family is in my life. Two sisters who encourage me when I am down; critique me in ways that are sometimes hard to take, but nevertheless help me grow; And teach me things I would otherwise never understand.

My wonderful Mom who does EVER so much for our family. I don't believe we could survive without her. She does so much work around the house, and fills for our girl's chores sometimes so that we can accomplish things with singing or blogging. She is such a thoughtful, loving person. I couldn't imagine life without her.

The amazing leader who is my Dad. He is the greatest inspiration to me when it comes to creative pursuits. He has such insight into things I can't wrap my head around by myself, and yet he makes them clear as day (most of the time ;D). He encourages, rebukes, leads, guides all by the grace of God.

I thank you Lord for the family you have blest me with.

This list could go on, and on, and on, but I must finish it up with one last thing.

All of you. Our blog followers and readers! You all are SO encouraging. If it wasn't for you and your sweet comments and emails, this tough ride wouldn't be worthwhile. I praise the Lord for you, and thank you for taking the time to encourage us girls, each in your own way.

You all are probably wondering about my outfit. Okay, I'll give you the details. This is actually one of the first outfits I ever bought specifically to wear for Thanksgiving. We were shopping at Forever21 when I came across this darling sweater and skirt. This sweater has remained my favorite throughout the years since I have bought it, but unfortunately it is on its last legs. :(
What's funny about this outfit, is it isn't so much a favorite anymore as it was when I first got it. I still like it, just not as much as I used to. The skirt is a wee bit big (come on Brig, can't you fix that?!?), and as I said, the sweater is worn out, but I still love the idea of the outfit, even though I don't like little details of the individual components themselves.

What are you thankful for?

Is there anything you are thankful for that you didn't think you would be grateful about?

Do you have old outfits that you still like, even if they aren't quite perfect anymore?

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

"Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment"

Psalm 66: 8-12

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos Edited with VSCO Presets

Outtakes // Vol. 2

2014-11-25T11:04:00.000-05:00

Yippee! Today is... What? Oh No! Without a doubt, today is the most awkward, the most absurd, the most unladylike post we could put on this blog of ours! That's right. It's Outtakes day, friends. All of our goofy, personal things are in here. Now obviously this is still but a glimpse into our funny bone dispositions, but at least you're not getting the opposite end of the spectrum... hem... cat fights anyone? So please enjoy at our expense, the lovely collection of shots we have for you all today.

Um... uh... really?

No, I didn't have anything in my eye...

I don't know what she was thinking, but it sure looks boring.

"I am one with the camera..."

"Did I really just say that...?"

And of course we have to have the King of all Humor for the finale! Looking good, Dad! :)

Any favorites?

Do you like laughing at yourself?

Giggles and squirms,

Jessica

The eldest sister & singer

Credits // Author: Jessica Boyer; Photography: Charlotte & Brigid Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets

We Have a Winner!

2014-11-24T12:41:00.001-05:00

Hello all! We are excited to announce the winner to our A Pocket of Whimsy giveaway! Drumroll.....

Sarah Gemmill!

Congrats girl! We have sent you an email :)

xo,

-the B. Girls

Classy on Sunday // Stuff & Nonsense

2014-11-22T11:04:00.001-05:00

Hello and a good day to you, dearies! Today is going to be a lovely, calm Saturday, with a birthday party to go to, and a nice warm house to come home to. I love days like today, where you can sit back and relax. It seems like everything lately has been a hustle and bustle of business. I will be SO happy when Thanksgiving arrives this next week. Speaking of Thanksgiving and fall, here is a very autumnal outfit I wore just a few weeks ago for Church.

So, to explain the outfit. I actually wore this to a wedding the day before, and since I liked it so much, I decided to wear it to Church as well. I wanted to wear tights, but I couldn't just have some rust colored tights on the bottom, and no rust-colored-anything on top, so I added my favorite wool cardigan to the outfit. I wasn't sure of it at first, but it started looking nicer and nicer the more I thought of changing to something else, so I stuck with it. The shoes are my highest pair of heels, which I don't get to wear very often, so I took the liberty of wearing them with this outfit since they coordinated better than anything else. Oh, and a coat (this one is actually from... Costco... It's by Michael Kors) is always nice to have.

Dress: Me-made, S&S patterns' 1958 Party Dress // Sweater: Thrifted, Newton Trading Co.

Tights: F21 // Earrings: Hand me down from Jessica

Shoes: Thrifted, Nine West // Coat: Costco, Michael Kors

So, I was having a discussion with my family this morning around the subject of the word cute. Typically when I think of using the word cute, I think of babies, puppies, cute clothes, etc. But what we were discussing was the (rather tragic, in my opinion) use of the word to describe one's peers of the opposite sex. i.e. "that girl/guy is cute". Personally, I think using the word cute to describe any person, other than a baby, or perhaps a girl calling another girl cute on account of her outfit, is objectifying the person, and diminishing their person-hood. But I wanted to know what you all think! If you knew a guy said you were "cute" would you like that, or would you consider it as being offensive? On the other hand, would you call a guy "cute"? Would you describe that young man as being manly, if you also called him cute?

Would you call a guy cute?

Guys, (if you're reading this) would you consider it offensive if a girl called you cute?

Do you think calling a peer of the opposite sex "cute" diminishes their person-hood (i.e. femininity or masculinity)?

Blessings,

Brigid

the Middle Sister and Singer

CREDITS // Author: Brigid Boyer; Photography: Charlotte Boyer; Photos edited with VSCO Presets