inspired by the stage.

We mentioned last week that we were lucky enough to catch a local production of The Merchant of Venice on stage at our awesome local theater, Trinity Rep.

The show was absolutely incredible -- and that's coming from a couple of everyday girls that did not read the cliff notes beforehand. Since I have a hard time leaving a voicemail without stuttering or mispronouncing my own name, I am always impressed at these inspiring actors that can recite such beautiful monologues with emotion (and without stumbling).

The actors were so amazing - and the play so entertaining - that the beautiful costumes were totally an added eye candy bonus. Jane was so inspired she decided to take her inspiration for our everyday wear from the stage. While wearing an actual Shakespearean costume might not be your pick for your Wednesday work outfit, it is possible to integrate hints of such beautiful costumes. A chain here, black velvet here, high boots there -- piece it together to create your own look, inspired by the stage!

jane wears ::: a day at the theater

Last week, Jane + I spent an afternoon at our local theater, the Trinity Repertory Company.
They invited us to watch The Merchant of Venice + see the amazing costumes by the incredible designer, Olivera Gajic.

Like a good student, Jane forwarded me the cliff notes the morning before the show, and like a sorta good procrastinating student, I kind of scanned them as I was running out the door. The best part - it didn't matter! Even without the cliff-note-knowledge of the appropriate times to laugh/cry/be shocked, we absolutely loved the play!

In case you're in our neighborhood(providence!), we highly recommend checking out the show!

jane wears ::: black and blue

We're spending some time getting a studio set up for blouse (thanks to the talents + skills of photographer Brittanny Taylor!) and while we're moving lights and hanging backgrounds and fighting with shadows - Jane wore the perfect everyday, knock around outfit.

See the formula below -- but combine a big, comfy sweater, your favorite worn-in tee and bright jeans. And then, you'll be ready to set up your studio/walk the dog/curl up on the couch + watch Home Alone. Again.

jane wears ::: what goes around

When I picked up Jane for a blouse shoot shopping excursion the other day, her adorable, fall-ish pale yellow dress seemed familiar, but I chalked it up to seeing her on multiple occasions the past three years. It was about three hours into the day when it dawned on me that I recognized the dress because at one point, it was my dress.


For a dress from the 1970s, just the past five years have been pretty eventful. Found in a small town in Washington at a yard sale, I splurged and paid a whole buck for this dress. (side note: I'm sure this dollar was paid in loose change, found floating around whatever huge purse-bag I was using at the time).

It's your classy 70s velour dress -- and it was even classier because when I found it: it was full length. Yeah, it was that classy. The best way I can describe it is a cross between a prom dress and a jazzercise uniform. It was confusing, to say the least.

And this is where it gets hazy - because now I can't recall if it was Jane or if it was me that did the hack hem job. But from Washington, it was brought back home to Chicago after the family reunion was over. And then it was moved to Rhode Island. And then Jane showed up in Rhode Island -- and the dress moved from my closet to her closet.

Now it's here - five years after hanging over a tree branch in the front yard of a duplex - with a vintage black belt and an over sized scarf, spending the day shopping for blouse.


It reminded me of two things:

[1.] When something in your closet just isn't doing it for you anymore - donate it. (to the salvation army, to a shelter or even to your girlfriend's best friend that eventually becomes your business partner.) Just because you might be over your denim romper phase, doesn't mean that there isn't somebody out there just praying for more jean shorts.

[2.] Vintage clothing is simply: amazing. Vintage vs. brand new clothing is like a victorian house versus a strip mall. One has incredible character and an interesting history and the other has a generic feel and a suspicious looking nail salon.

Isn't it amazing that even before this dress traveled three thousand miles, it had another life? Maybe that life consisted of hazy, 1970s parties with daiquiris and men with side burns. Or maybe it spent most of the time on a shag rug, staring at a poster of David Cassidy. Or maybe, maybe it managed to avoid every stereotype from the 1970s and was just worn by some really cool lady who could rock a full length velour dress.

rain, rain.

In a lovely, cozy, dry dream world, you would never have to leave home when it's raining + cold outside. Your only tasks would be to snuggle, watch movies, eat soup and then, snuggle more.

But unfortunately, some things in life, like appointments and jobs and dogs, require us to stop snuggling and venture out in the rain. A couple of days ago Jane + I had to do some venturing of our own - and I loved her forest green rain boots + bright yellow rain jacket. So cute, it almost makes up for being out in the rain!

jane wears a leather jacket.

A couple of things are happening in these photos ...

1. During a yard sale, Jane accidentally almost sold a box of clothes that belonged to her former roommate (and blouse model) Michelle. After dragging it back into the house, she realized she loved this box of clothes. And so, here she is, wearing them, thankful she didn't accidentally sell them for a buck.

2. We're in progress of setting up the blouse studio! It's a work in progress ... but here's some behind the scenes photos.

3. While working in progress, we listened to some records ... including one Jane scored at a local record shop ... a Seattle band named .... wait for it .... Blouse. Yes, we want to be groupies and dress them in vintage clothes. Like you had to ask.


Sorry for the lack of activity around here! I've been home sick all week, drinking tea and water and other non-coffee beverages. (i miss coffee) But next week is exciting - with my full vitality back, we'll be having all sorts of fun on the blog ... including an interview with an amazing designer, Brianna Moon!

being interviewed.

This week the blouse team was interviewed by the amazing woman behind Sexy Period, a new line of sexy, fashionable, leak resistant underwear for that time of the month. We're pumped for our video(!) interview and to be their very first Sexy Gals of the Moment. We absolutely loved meeting with Julie -- the most amazing, impressive and down to earth chemical engineer turned entrepreneur we've ever met!


After the interview - and a few quick outfit pics - we may have caught someone vandalizing sharing the everyday girl love! We have no. idea. who. this. person. is.

But if I did know this woman - I may tell her thanks. And that I like her dress. And that I forgot my coffee mug at her house and I'll get it next week.

If I knew her.

what we wore.

This past Monday was my definitely my kind of "the monday blues." Jane and I had a super busy + super successful day of prepping for our StyleWeek Providence coverage.

We had the opportunity to meet with two of the featured designers -- these interviews (plus behind the scene photos!) will be posted on the blog soon ...

And while we were out + about doing our fancy interview thing -- we snapped a couple self photos in Boston. Jane got all snazzy with her great hat + red shorts and I borrowed some shoppe inventory.

when it's 105.

(this is the real-life outfit jane wore when we braved the high temps to go out shopping for the shoppe last week.)

Any other tips on keeping it cool on these hot, hot summer days??

blouse wears, take two.

Some of you might have seen the first edition of blouse wears - but Jane + I thought it would be fun to start a little project where we share what we wear -- and, how each of wears it. Introducing -- the second edition(!) of blouse wears: the striped shirt.

Stripes! Here at blouse -- stripes are totally in this spring. Jane and I each wore one of our favorite striped shirts (that's right, there's more!) to show how we each wear stripes.


Jane's adorable short sleeved teal + white vintage top got all dressed up with a tight black mini skirt, white tights and black ankle boots. I'm loving the vertical and the horizontal stripes on her blouse.

I'm wearing an oversized 80s striped sweatshirt that I paired with floral tights and a super soft denim skirt.

I feel like stripes have always had a lot of rules around them -- don't wear horizontal, only wear skinny stripes, blah, blah, blah. Ignore the rules. Embrace stripes: the new polka dot.