Disneybounding Snow White: 1950's Style

For our October meet and greet the fellow Mickey's Pink Leaders and myself thought it would be fun to ask the girls to come to Disneyland in our Disneybounding best. (For more on Disneybounding check out disneybound.tumblr.com - they reblogged my post which is so flattering!)

I had to be my favorite princess Snow White, I didn't even have a choice.  She's always my first choice, although I do have a few characters in mind for the future...it really was so much fun, I want to do it every week! ;)

Another year, another ticket to twenties

Another of my favorite annual events has come and gone. the Ticket to the Twenties festival and the Workman Temple Homestead museum. 

I always attend with my mother, and we always have a great time. This year seemed even more crowded then the last two years combined! Even the nearly 100 degree weather didn't seem to scare people away.

The day for me was full of a fantastic silent film with live accompaniment, enjoying lots of wonderful live music, a lovely fashion show out on my the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles and some delicious ice cream from a food truck.(I know, not exactly Gatsby Afternoon level authentic) 

As always I leave feeling bittersweet that every weekend can't be a little bit more 20's. 

 

Dapper Day Fall 2013

Another Dapper Day at Disneyland had come and passed. This fall day was a real doozy, during a bit of a heatwave with humid nearly 100 degree weather it was pretty hard to feel too dapper, but we all did our best. 

After the drama of my dress breaking the day or so before and the warm weather I wanted to be a little more casual then dapper days of the past, not out of want but necessity. I decided to stow the furs and glitz away for next time when I can actually enjoy wearing them. 

It's really been amazing seeing how each event becomes more and more crowded in attendance, and now with the addition of 'dapper disney bounding' the creativity level has just gone through the roof. I love looking at everybody's outfits and what they've managed to come up with. 

I've started to feel a bit like Dapper Day has become a new 'Halloween' for me, where once it's over I just start planning for next time. Constantly looking at the antique malls and thrift stores for that something extra special that will be used at dapper day. And now the countdown begins till February... 

How to survive Dapper Day at Disneyland

Well, unfortunately the old blog has been really neglected since I've been without a working computer for the past few months. I'm still surviving with just my iPhone and iPad and unfortunately neither of them are too blog writing conducive. 

Anywho with one of my favorite 'Disney holidays' approaching and a few events under my belt I'd thought I'd write down a few tips on the extra precautions to take when attending Dapper Day.

If you are either not a constant vintage wearer, or perhaps not a frequent theme park visitor a day like Dapper Day can easily be overwhelming. But hopefully with a little extra preparation you can make the day go much smoother.

1. Check the weather report. Dress appropriately.

Now this might seem obvious but I cannot stress enough, know what to expect from Mother Nature. This upcoming fall dapper day is supposed to be 100 degrees! Now I am going to stick it out with the dress I bought but I've nixed the fur stole and back seamed stockings. Don't make it harder then yourself then it already will be.

2. Take all the pictures. 

Honestly, you'll want them, so just take as many as you can bear. Some of my past dapper day photos are my favorites at the park, and being dressed up really adds something special.

3. Pack smart.

Charge batteries beforehand or bring a spare. Don't forget a phone charger. Being makeup for touch ups and Tylenol for headaches. Bring band aids for blisters and sunscreen for uv protection. Make a checklist. You won't regret it when you leave for the resort and know you have everything you'll need for the long day ahead.

4. Pick shoes you know you can walk all day in.

Plain and simple. I learned my lesson when I wore a pair of vintage heels earlier this year and had to leave in the afternoon because my feet could barely walk. As much as your look may be important, try to choose something that's both cute and relatively comfortable. Or bring flats to switch in and out of during the day.

5. Be friendly

It's a great experience to walk around the park being greeted by strangers with 'happy dapper day' and complimenting each others' wardrobe choices. Attend the meet ups and talk to other attendees. It will make the day so much more amazing!

6. Enjoy the theme.

I enjoy theming my outfits to the time when Disneyland would have first been opened in the late 50's, and I get so much joy out of incorporating tidbits from that era into my day. I change my iPhone ringtone to a favorite 1950's song, I buy 1950's candy to put in my vintage purse and bring along a 1950's magazine for photo opportunities. By any means don't pack for a photoshoot, but by bringing along a few things you can really enhance your experience.

Well, that's the best I can muster! I can't even wait till Friday, my third Dapper Day here I come!

Have you attended Dapper Day before? What tips would you give a first time attendee?

Wondercon Adventures 2013

It's that time of year again, and that sweet, albeit sticky(maybe closer to musky) smell of Comic Conventions is in the air.

This year Wondercon suddenly was here and I hadn't planned anything at all, so I was pleasantly surprised when my old SDCC roomie Jennifer asked to stay with me as she was coming down from San Francisco. I knew I hadn't reserved much energy for the weekend so I was glad she would be there to kick me into action a bit more then I would do for myself.

Honestly, conventions always fly by in such a blur, there's so much to talk about but then suddenly it's gone quicker then it had begun and you just have to attempt to gather all the pieces you're left with.

So instead of any sort of in-depth line up, here's my highlights:

Friday: The first day of the convention is always overwhelming, and since there wasn't much in the way of panels that interested me, I spent most of the time on the exhibit floor. Jennifer brought me to the Jason Palmer booth, where we oogled lots of art and I bought too many buttons. We saw the WB Archives Panel with the legendary Ron Ely (Look him up ladies, he used to be Tarzan) and a writer's panel (we had to see Jane Espenson). After the convention we met up with some of Jennifer's Nerd HQ posse at Umami Burger, where I'd never been. They have some pretty stellar sweet potato fries. Then we headed to The Anaheim Grove to see The Nerdist Podcast, which was AMAZING. I actually won the tickets and the whole experience was fun, I have been addicted to that podcast since it's inception so meeting those guys was a-ok.

Saturday: All I cared about Saturday was getting into the Vikings panel. I've been hooked on the new History Channel series since two minutes into the first episode, and I had a hard time containing my adoration. But Conventions are when it's okay to nerd-out, at-least that's what I'm told. I succeeded, and the rest of the day is a total blur.

Sunday: I wore a Star Trek inspired outfit, got called Star Trek Katy Perry too many times to count. Final day of the convention we spent most of the day in The Arena, The Much Ado About Nothing, Nerdist and Arrow Panels were all entertaining. I didn't manage to get an Arrow signing wristband, but my friend Jennifer did so I just stood inside the DC booth and oogled the cast while I waited for her to get her poster signed. (I'm not complaining) I ran into a handful of great people and ended the night at my favorite sushi place.

Lots of things happened in-between, but really who can remember. I only get through these things with the help of Starbucks, oh so much Starbucks.

An Adventure in Disneybounding

So, as someone who spends their fair share of time traipsing around Disneyland for a while I'd been wanting to take part in the act of Disneybounding. For those unassociated it's basically planning your outfit to be inspired by that of a Disney character. For my first endeavor I had to choose my favorite princess herself, Snow White.

My friend Kate chose Belle, and created herself a lovely yellow hair bow & my red bow headband. My yellow skirt is a California Ranchwear piece I've been hoarding for a few months, and the character shoes I've had for ages, the rest of my outfit was found at Savers for under $10.

There were a few things I would change if I were to tackle her outfit again, but for a first attempt with only a day to put it all together I was quite pleased. I can't wait to Disneybound some more of my favorite characters. ;)

Spring Dapper Day at Disneyland

well, unfortunately again this is a bit late in being published, but I've just been caught up in a whirlwind of preoccupation. I am working on trying to be better about my posts, really.

Anywho, way back in February one of my favorite unofficial Disney holidays occurred, Dapper Day. for those of you who are unaware you should definitely peruse DapperDay.com for a much more eloquent explanation then I can currently muster.

I attended the Fall Dapper Day last year, and was very eager to attend my first Spring Dapper Day in the park I so frequently attend. Although a few days before I came down with some sort of allergy attack/cold that really kicked me in the bum, so unfortunately although I knew I didn't have it in me to stay all day I still managed to stay for most of the morning into early afternoon.

I caught up with one of my dear old Disneyland cast member friends, Tom (who is kind of one of my Disney Dads) and spent most of my time walking around, trying to take photos with characters and people watching, as you do.

I realize this is an awful amount of selfies, but I suppose it's not like I dress-up to this extent for every Disney trip. ;)

Dress: gift from my lovely cousin Alexandra

Fur Stole: hand-me-down from my grandmother

Sunglasses: $20 from The Getty Museum Gift Shop

Belt: hand-me-down from my other grandmother

Hat: $5 Mission Galleria Antique Mall, Riverside, CA

Purse: Street Level, LittleBlackBag.Com ($88)

Shoes: Savers thrifted, Anne Klein ($8) 

Black Gloves & Shoe Clips: Vintage, hand-me-downs

Lipstick: Lime Crime Velvetines in Suedeberry