Summer Time Shopping

A week ago I decided I was going to explore parts of Chicago; To see more of what makes this city so amazing! I have been living here for four years and yet there is still so much I haven't seen! So last week I started with a Trip to the Garfield Conservatory, a wonderful adventure!

So this past weekend the ideas began brewing, maybe I'll venture out to the Botanic Gardens in Glencoe (um that's a loooong bike ride)? Or I could take a trip to a museum I haven't see yet (snooze), or, um I could just do something I so so so love!!!
That's right! Go shopping! And what do you know my favorite place was having a sale! The Edgewater Antique Mall! Seeing this postcard was all it took! And on Sunday I set out for some treasures... and here's what I found!

Favorite finds that I didn't purchase but dearly covet:
—A set of six 1950's glassware featuring pink flowers and blue birds
—A 1950's odd little glass water pitcher a pink base and a pink stripes on the glass.
—A beautiful mirror, circa, yes the 1950's, with a pink wood frame and pink flamingos adoring the actual glass of the mirror
—This funny swivel chair decked out in a turquoise, tweedy fabric.
—A small deer statue, so wittle, so wee, so cute!
—An even cuter ceramic mouse with big mouse ears.
—Okay this one is a little crazy, and I seriously considered purchasing this, a haute couture baby dress. It was velvet black with pink ruffles and SO freaking cute! I want a baby girl so bad so I can decorate her...Dammit I just realized I could have bought this for the cat.
—A strapless blue organza gown that was so amazingly made with gorgeous ruffles and a side sash-thingy, it seriously looked like something I'd wear to the Oscars!
—A pair of 1950's barkcloth window panels in a deep greenish/gray shade with a design reminiscent of an Asian theme with a bright watermelon pink as the focal color. YUM!
—These adorable animal figurines with big rhinestones eyes, two cats, a squirrel, chihuahua and the cutest owl!

What I ended up purchasing...
well let's start with my favorite: This beautiful blouse!!!!! The clerk said it reminded him of the Yves St. Laurent collection from the early 80's. Yes, I thought. "oh yeah I know all about his collections..." now that I think about it, maybe he said Givenchy? Okay I must go get that Vogue book tomorrow.... Oh who cares, the point is, I Love this blouse! It's so beautiful and well made and fits me perfectly. It has a zipper back and pleated sleeves and it only set me back a mere $13.50!
Next was the necklace, shown in the photo, it's gold with white beads. I also got the cutest bangle...And finally I snagged the original photo which was the basis for the store's sale. You may have thought this was Ms. Lucille Ball, which I thought, but it's actually Betty Hutton, a comedic and musical actress of the 1940's and 1950's. Hutton had done numerous roles, but her most notable was playing Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun; she was considered a zany blond bombshell that was goofy and energetic and had this body that didn't stop. In this photo, dated 1944, Hutton's expression is full of so much life and energy. Lucy? Betty? No matter! This lady makes me smile...it's a beautiful woman showing that she can be funny and zany, something an old improv teacher told me once was not possible...I never believed him and often am being proven wrong by such images as Ms. Hutton as well as the knock-out ladies doing improv all around Chicago.

So yes, I may not have gotten uber cultured today, BUT I did learn about a starlet of the past that I was not familiar with until today, so here's to Ms. Betty Hutton!