NEW BLOG HOME!

Happy Monday to you my blog friends! i am hoping you all are having a lovely start to your week! phase two of our transition is finally complete, our new blog home will remain on blogger not wordpress as i intended it to be. the url is giselaandzoe.blogspot.com

I felt i should stick to blogger because i knew all the in's and out's of it down to the html already. wordpress, although a really great blog home for business blogs deemed to complicated for me design wise, and was taking allot of precious time i need to concentrate on the restructuring of our brand.

I still am working out our logo and overall design aesthetic in my mind; but that will come after i've got everything up and running smoothly. one of my quirks that can be good and bad like most quirks can be is that of being a perfectionist. i've unfortunately handed this one down to Zoe. when it comes to my sketch's, design, sewing etc.. my perfectionism kicks and and i am too much! 

Any-hoo please save our new blog home or follow us on any of the various blog readers. this one will stay up for a while until i know most of you have caught on to where our new blog home is now!

Thanks for reading and for following us through our transition and growth of our brand! I appreciate you all!

xoxo,

gisela

giselaandzoe.blogspot.com

MISHA LULU SPRING 11

Misha LuLu's Spring 2011 look book is up! as always Karen takes you on a fantastic voyage with the prettiest prints in the softest fabrics and shows you the world through Misha LuLu's eyes. 

It has been an amazing journey for me to see first hand how much hard work, creativity, and dedication that goes into the making of this unique and one of a kind brand. It makes you appreciate to buy from Independent Designers.

These are just a few favorites, i love the whole line!  

And i spy some blogging mamma's adorable kids!

Penelope from Pippi Parade 

Soul, True and Brave from Cakies 

Jimena from Color Land

Greta from Hi Happy Panda

And of course beautiful Bela from Misha LuLu Blog

For stores and locations go to mishalulu.com

gisela.

CREATURE OF COMFORT

I'm so tired of California weather. i'm done with the cold, i'm done with the rain, i'm done with it being over cast. these are the moments my Miami blood kicks in and my skin thirst sunshine!

So in these internal days of no sunshine, my dressing in cute girly dresses motivation is way down and i become a creature of comfort; throwing on my jeans and hoodie or sweater top. 

In this case my newly bought vintage raglan mickey sweater has been on my back the whole weekend. i love how it's already very much broken into and it is so soft and comfortable to wear. i was going to add it to this weeks vintage pile to hit the store; but i decided it was a keeper since i had the same exact  one when i was a little girl. here's hoping for more sunshine...pretty please.

SWEATER: vintage 1980's mickey raglan 

JEANS: Gap bell bottoms. bought at thrift.

T-SHIRT: heather Alternative Apparel tee.

CLOGS: Mia

What's your favorite comfortable wear?

gisela

RACHEL ANTONOFF FOR BASS

I am so loving the new collaboration between Bass and Rachel Antonoff! Bass was huge when i was in middle school and high school, basically late 80's early 90's. all my "preppy" friends had a pair and i always wanted a pair of the classic oxford in black and white. the price tag then was still hefty so momma could not spill those type of beans.

The great thing about Bass is that they've always stayed true to there designs, never changing them just tweaking them in color or slightly in design. they are a brand that has has stood the test of time.  

I love the pink and white patent leather ones for Zoe. i would totally sport the pair with the little bow, so cute and girly! i think i may eventually get me those classic oxfords but now in the brown tones..

the classic oxfords in cocoa

gisela

A GIRL AND HER DOG

How cute are they?! my favorite moments are at home hanging out with both of them; i cherish all those moments! 

I just noticed Zoe's shoes matched Cody's sweater, a pretty coincidence. it's so nice to see her in girly flats besides her staple of sneakers on her feet. she looks so grown up! love you my sweet girl!

xoxo, mom

IN MEMORIAM

Elizabeth Taylor truly was a stunning woman, just beautiful. Zoe, about a month ago watched the epic film Cleopatra for an english paper and project; so it was sad to get the news today. it is so hard to really know how a famous person truly is in character. sure you can see some behaviors and/or  personalities through interviews but with all the gossip and rumors you can't honestly know them unless you personally know them. 

Zoe asked me about her today and i can honestly say i was quick to talk about all the gossipy things about her. like how she was married 7 times with 1 husband stolen from Debbie Reynolds (although i did tell her she later apologized to Debbie). i also assumed she was very vain and conceded because of all the things i heard about her when she was a young working actress. but then i heard some stories on a talk radio show from a person who became her friend later on in her life (not a famous person); and they spoke about how down to earth she was, how much she did for others, what a good confidant she was and what an amazing mom she was to her kids. you know, the things tabloids never cover. that's why i hate how hung up we are on fame. they are people like anyone else, they are not built differently, they are not any better or worse they are just people who happen to have a career that  unfortunately can carry so much ugliness. so next time i won't be so quick to point out the gossip. after all only those closest to her know the real Elizabeth. 

She was a woman with a God given talent and i so enjoyed and will continue to enjoy her films. 

In memoriam.

gisela

GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS

Hi guys! working on getting back to business as usual. the curve balls of life keep coming at us but we are fighting and getting threw them with many dear friends helping us through it all. although Zoe and i have an upcoming trip to Miami in two weeks to visit family, i will be working  hard to get back on schedule here on the blog and in the shop.

There are allot of exciting new things happening in growing our little business. when i say "our" i'm always talking about Zoe and I. my beautiful girl is as much part of my focus on being an entrepreneur, because as a single mom she has been by my side in making my goals a reality. it's as much hers as it is mine. 

So with that i am happy to introduce the name of our new vintage shop and soon to be coming small clothing label, gisela&zoe! there are two reasons for the change in name of bella vintage.  one, is because i wanted the brand to be under the same umbrella for business/tax, and branding purposes. and two,  because their is nothing out there close to our name. it was easy to get our url and everything else that needs to be set up. unfortunately there are tons of things close to bella vintage and i wanted nothing to be confusing or to be similar to our name. in many ways it's been a long journey because i've changed my vintage shop name twice; this one being the 3rd but last for sure! it's been a learning experience in the last few years and i'm also learning from many past mistakes.

the name gisela&zoe also has so much personal meaning within it too and is why i also chose it as our clothing label name. my name is not such a common name and well i chased my career goals always conscious in never compromising in the  raising of my daughter. it took a while getting to this point, because i never wanted to put my career ahead of her. thus came the creation of our label gisela&zoe and my dream of finally making clothes i love!

bella vintage will continue to operate as i transition into opening the new vintage  shop and also try to sell most of the vintage out of the shop. but we will be transitioning not only the store but the blog too. i can't wait till we get to the final point of this particular goal!

You can click and favorite our new shop meanwhile it opens next week. i will have sooo many cute dresses stocked up for this beautiful spring! i also have acquired to new wholesale warehouse sources chuck full of yummy vintage and can't wait to see what treasures i dig up to bring to you. it's all very exciting for Zoe and I!

Thanks guys for all YOUR support! and i can't wait to start this new journey with you all!

xoxo, gisela

S IS FOR SPRING & SLIP DRESSES!

Sorry guys for the long hiatus. i needed to take some time off from blogging and basically most social media. Zoe and I have been going through some tribulations both personal and financially, but i feel blessed to give my burdens and worries to God. i wouldn't know how to deal with everything coming at us at once if it wasn't for Jesus.

I'm grateful for all of you still reading my blog. and i hope your all good! we are going through some transitions with Bella Vintage and will be sharing as the changes come.

The heat has finally broken through the California sky and i am smitten in breaking out all the comfortable dresses. 

There was still a chill in the air at the time i took these pictures; that's why i'm wearing the over-sized cardigan and am not over killing my self with heat, haha! 

I have quickly fallen in love with this slip dress. i have always loved how vintage slip dresses can be easily worn as outer wear. all the detailing and craftsman-ship just can not be replicated in the mass retail market. my favorite slip dress era is the 1920's-1960's. with all the pretty pleating, contrast stitching, and laces. 

This one has a pretty zig-zag stitch detailing on the front bodice. definitely comfortable wear for this spring / summer season. and so versatile too!

SLIP-DRESS: 1970's vintage,  thrifted

OVER-SIZED CARDIGAN: 1980's vintage, thrifted

BOOTS: 1980's vintage 9 West, thrifted

MUSHROOM NECKLACE: fleamarketgirl

wearing easy hair, the messy bun and the red lips continue..

xoxo, gisela

FLORALS NEVER GET OLD

A favorite since i saw those adorable ankle socks in the beginning screen shots in Pretty In Pink. i could wear them every season. and even better it goes beyond clothing! i love it on curtains, wall paper, kitchen-ware the list goes on and on. my bed sheets are floral. i love these florals too!

source.

If only i could paint my nails like so..

source.

I LOVE the decor in this living room!

gathering spriggs flicker stream

lovely 1950's vintage dish ware on etsy. vintage kitchen job.

wishing you a lovely sunday. gisela.

KISSING SWEATERS GOODBYE....

But still want a few! this Manoush sweater is so pretty! 

source

Currently working on my shop update! lots of cute spring dresses will be posted along with winter wear! it's still pretty darn cold out there!

gisela

RED LIPS

The weeks literally have been flying by. when your so busy it feels as if your the one trying to keep up with the time. some days i don't even know what date it is. good or bad it always reminds me to appreciate life.

If you've been following my blog for a while then know i barely like wearing makeup. it's more because i'm lazy about putting it on then not liking how it makes me look. but there are the days i just want to whip out some color, and on those days it is either a bold lip color or a dash of bright color on the eye lids. i've had my Mac matte red lipstick for over 10 years. yeah, a little gross but i barely use it and it feels like a darn shame tossing it in the garbage even though many experts would say to do so. after all i dished out $16 bucks for it. but that's what i get for getting it and knowing i don't much like wearing lipstick.

These navy vintage 1970's Levi slacks have been part of my closet since i was 16. i love them so and most especially like that they are high waisted. for a few years now, you barely did see the shape of hips among a sea of under wear peek-a-boos when the waist line went way south.

At times i have been a bit self conscious since my hip line has grown but i feel that high waisted pants can be much more flattering for figures like mine.

TOP. Marc Jacobs

SLACKS. thrifted 1970's vintage Levis 

SHOES. Mia clogs

BELT. thrifted 1980's vintage 

I have a jammed pack weekend trying to focus on updating my poor shop. wishing you all a lovely one. 

gisela.

p.s. i look so mad in the first picture. i wasn't ;)

INDIE LOVE

Etsy just keeps getting better and better for me. i just keep finding the coolest shops of independent entrepreneurs. it excites me how Etsy has been such a great platform to launch a small independent companies. it's just great!

One such company just made it to my favorites folder when i saw their cute and affordable shoes on the Etsy front page. they are called Golden Ponies out of Guadalajara Mexico. I'm so glad i came across them because i've been wanting flats SO bad and have had such a hard time finding good leather ones in stores at a decent price.  

These shoes are now on my radar and they are in all the perfect shades and fabrication i've been wanting!

I also love how you can pick out custom colors and fabrications:

And their satchel bags are just as cute; perfect for work!

Their shoes are all under $50 and their bags under $100. You can't beat buying from an independent company with real leather products at such great prices!

Check out their shop on Etsy at Golden Ponies.

source: all images from golden ponies store on Etsy.com