Stop and Smell the Flowers

I just love this dress. I mean who doesn't love a maxi / hostess dress, especially when its vintage. They are just so versatile and flattering on all body types. 

One of the features that I love on this dress is the V-neckline which then draws attention to the diamond on the chest. The flowers on the dress are so bright and pretty you just want to stop and smell them. This is such a fun dress.

For this look, we styled the dress more formal with black high heels and more dramatic hair and make-up, done by the amazing ladies over at Mint Salon. 

What a lovely time. They opened the salon an hr early to fit us all in, last minute. Such a blessing to have them in town. Kendra (3rd from left) is also my stylist. Love me so Mint!

My Personal MelangeStyle would be to style this look with Nike Chuck Taylors, Frye Erica Stud Oxford, or DollsKill Dr. Martens Iced Metallic Pascal Boots. I would pair all shoes with the ModCloth Hell Bunny Spell It Like It Is Bomber Jacket and toss my hair in a messy bun and call it a day. 

I hope you enjoy the look below and the styles I suggested for my own MelangeStyle. Please leave me a comment with what you would style along with our Stop and Smell the Flowers Dress.

If you are interested in buying this dress you can purchase it here but don't delay too long, there is only 1 available. 

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For the love of Fringe

I have missed you guys!!!!

I want to apologize for not posting last week, but there are times when being on vacation means....no cellular networks and truly taking a break from Technology. So please...forgive me...pretty please with lots of vintage fringe on top!

Todays blog post is highlighting something you will find a lot of in my wardrobe. Be it on a sweet pair of shoes,  leather jacket, belt, dress, or jewelry. Fringe is one thing that I cannot get enough of. I think I even like Fringe better than truffles...and man do I love me some truffles....but this is a fashion blog not a food blog so I need to reel myself back in.

When I saw this jacket at....of course Goodwill, I just had to have it for the shop. The jacket is in great shape with very little wear or fading and the fringe is all there and still moves with ease. It is also this amazing camel brown color which goes perfectly with all types of fabrics, patterns and color pallets.

For this outfit, we styled the jacket with oversized tortoise shell sunglasses which I secretly took from my little sister...its not technically stealing if she is family right....lets just hope she isn't reading this post. shhhhhh

We also decided to dress up the jacket with this great layered necklace. The necklace is just so precious. Its vintage and it was my grandmothers. Check out those amazing gold and cream swirls and the beautiful coloring of the beads. This necklace is sure to dress up any outfit.

We also paired with an oversized brown cluster ring to help carry the darker colors of the necklace throughout the outfit. My mother had a healthy obsession with cluster rings so I have a few available in my shop now. Ya know...I'm always happy to help one with an addiction..espically a vintage shopping addiction.

To give the final feminine touch, we styled this look with an amazing crochet dress. The dress is not vintage but it is vintage inspired and I truly believe that this dress completed the look. This dress is hot, hot, hot! It created this carefree style that would be perfect for work, dinner, festival and more.

Don't you just love this jacket!!?? Fringe on the front. Fringe on the back. Its just perfect!

Thank you for stopping by. Please share this blog to inspire others and please do not hesitate to share blog ideas with me.

Renee XOXOXO

Rock Star

This entire outfit makes my heart melt and leaves me wanting to hug my family. I know you are probably thinking...okay weirdo this outfit makes you feel like that!? So let me just elaborate a little.....

This Rock Star outfit has bits and pieces of wonderful memories from my childhood and honeymoon. AWE LOVE.

This amazing faux leather puff jacket was purchased in London on my honeymoon, 7 years ago. I took one look at the puff on the shoulder and just had to have it. The vintage red gloves and purse were my mothers from the 80's and I remember her wearing them with some killer red boots. The black oversized sunglasses were a super sweet Goodwill find along with that amazingly bold vintage scarf....just imagine the creative ways to wear that scarf...we will save that for another blog post. AND...the black sequin dress was a dress that my older sister Brianna wore to one of our family Christmas vacation dinners when we were young teens. 

I grew up in a small Illinois town, made up of 3500 people and my parents felt that it was important to take trips each winter to the BIG City...aka Chicago, to help make sure that we understood that there was more to our future than a small town. We would get 2 rooms at the Palmer House and live like princesses for a day or two, walking all over Chicago and trying new types of foods and go to the theater dressed up like we were going to prom.  I believe this was the best thing they every could have done for us and it created wonderful memories year after year, after year. And because I love my family so much...watching Meisha model this outfit, just melted my heart.

How amazing are those EXTRA tall heels!? If you were in an environment where heels are not the best option or you are anti heels, I would pair this outfit with black suede wedges, sequin boots, combat boots or a cute pair of black or red flats.  

For Meisha's make up, we decided to keep it fun and bold. We drew attention to her beautiful eyes with gold liquid eye shadow around the outside, which highlighted her amazing bone structure and paired well with her bold purple hair.  

We also went with a smokey eye with black and a bright pink eye shadow and created even more of a rock star look by giving her a little wing with eye liner.

Because her outfit, hair, and eyes were so bold, we decided to keep her lips and cheeks neutral. With a model this beautiful, we could have done just about anything and she would have looked like a Rock Star!

The dress, jacket and scarf are available for purchase through our Etsy shop and Instagram page. Or just shoot me an email and we can chat about what you are looking for.  

XOXOXOX - Renee

Girl Boss

While wearing this outfit, I felt like the pimpiest of pimps...pimping out my vintage wears that is.  Add a walking stick with a gold hawk on the top and BAM, I'm the most bad ass Girl Boss in all of the lands!

For this look, we paired my jumpsuit, which I found on Groupon, with a vintage perfume necklace from Avon, which now holds my good luck crystals and stones. A vintage all black hat and faux fur coat with beautiful copper colored lining and collar, which was a Goodwill find.

We also decided to go big on the arm candy, by pairing a cluster ring, which used to be my mothers, with a copper color similar to the jackets lining,  A really neat vintage XXL ring with the most interesting detailing and the most chunkiest bangle I have ever owned. I felt like wonder woman while wearing it. Both the ring and the bangle were a Goodwill find. Yes....I spend many hours sorting thought Goodwill Bins.

I also have another addiction I haven't told many about, but you will find out soon anyway, so why not hear it from me. I am addicted to vintage American Tourister Bags. I travel with them, use them for my laptop, take to the gym...they are bright, leather and stunning. I just LOVE them. So guess what....we decided to pair one with this Girl Boss outfit.

One of my favorite parts of owing a Boutique, is coming up with the look, the hair, the make up...everything...its what keeps me ticking day after day. So, for this look we were blessed with two amazing artist from Jean Marie Salon www.jeanmariesalonandspa.com Check the salon out! @hair_by_richelle on instagram or ask for Richelle at the salon.  

We decided to go with a more BOHO vibe with two fishtail braids which were pulled and tugged to create this carefree hairstyle, with ringlets surrounding the face.

Being that the outfit made me feel mega bad ass, we decided to go with bold make up. I rocked this same makeup at a few music festivals this past summer...fun times. For the make up, we used basic scotch tape to create a design and then add color where needed. We outlined the lips in a darker red and utilized a light pink lipstick, to create more drama. I love this look, just love love love it!

The jacket and some accessories can be found on our etsy page. We also have some vintage jumpsuits still listed at this time. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach on out. www.etsy.com/shop/DiscoverMelange

TGIF - Have a wonderful and safe Super Bowl weekend!

xoxoxox - Renee

Blue Skies Smiling At Me

When I saw this Amazing Blue Vintage Jumpsuit, I fell madly in love and had to have it. Not for myself....well kind of...I HAD to wear it once...ya know...make sure the quality is up to par. LOL. All joking aside, I had to have it so I can share it with the vintage community. I love finding vintage but it is not always my size, style or color but I still buy it. I think I may have a vintage shopping addiction. I truly hope to find this bad ass jumpsuit the perfect home.

This jumpsuit can easily be dressed up or down. It can also be used for many different styles. For this outfit we made it more late 80's early 90's by adding this bold pattern jacket with oversized shoulder pads and collar. This jacket will have a blog post all to itself. I just love it. but lets save that for another day.

If the jacket was removed, you would find two front breast pocket with snap closures as well as two front pockets over your thighs. I'm a sucker for pockets so this is kind of a big deal to me. The other big deal when it comes to jumpsuits is that is gives a good shape. This Blue Jumpsuit has an elastic waistband. Yes you heard me...ELASTIC WAISTBAND!! To me this means two things. 1) Because the band is elastic that means it will fit a wider range of sizes and 2) you will have a nice tapered waist. Which is important when working with a vintage jumpsuit.

If you haven't worn a jumpsuit before, its worth giving them a try. It may take a minute or two to find your ideal jumpsuit, but its worth the search. Jumpsuits can empower you while still making you feel femanine. You will feel like you can conquer the world and take on whatever it is life throws your way.  

For more information please visit my Etsy Shop https://www.etsy.com/listing/469566700/blue-1980s-jumpsuit?ref=shop_home_active_41

XOXOX

Renee

Red, White & Blue

Here is another Vintage Jumpsuit I just had to have. I'm sad to say though.....I couldn't wear this one. My lady curves are just too curvy for this style. Sad for me, but good for you.

What drew me to this Jumpsuit is the color. Its so hot...red hot to be exact. I mean who wouldn't want to toss on this power outfit and take on the world?!

We decided to pair the jumpsuit with a vintage sequin gold stretch belt with Wing Closure to create a more feminine shape, nude High Heels and a Madden Girl American Flag backpack.

If you wanted to take this look from day to night, I would suggest change into a pair of black high heels with gold tips on the toes and heel and a black blazer or bold scarf to create your ideal Party Girl outfit.

Some other great features on this Jumpsuit are the pockets...yes I am a sucker for pockets...and the deep V neckline. Often pockets, shoulder straps and pads can make an outfit look quite masculine. By adding the Deep V Neckline, it really gives the feminine touch you need.

Check out the listing on our Etsy store. https://www.etsy.com/listing/483059009/red-1980s-jumpsuit?ref=shop_home_active_31

XOXOX

Renee - Melange Boutique

Girl Power Outfit

With over 3.5 Million people marching and supporting Women's Rights on 1/21/17, I have decided to highlight some of my most favorite vintage jumpsuits, to help those Girl Bosses out there and to inspire others. #womensmarch

I don't know who I am in love with the most, the model or the Jumpsuit.

Don't you just love the cut.

What I love the most about this Montgomery Ward Jumpsuit is the deep-v. Often vintage just does not fit us modern day ladies like we would hope. But with a deep-V you can adjust the top to fit our various shapes.

We choose to pair this blue and cream jumpsuit with nude heels, blue and gold costume jewelry, Vintage Red Blazer Style Jacket and Vintage Tooled Leather purse from Mexico. The best part of creating your Melange Style is that its all yours and you get to Mix - Blend - Mingle many different colors, patterns and eras.

You really want to know what gets me all hot and heavy when it comes to jumpsuits...vintage or modern..??? Man they make your best ASSets shine.

 Perfect Fit! Check out our Etsy Shop under @discovermelange for more vintage jumpsuits. I will be posting more throughout the next 30 days to support the strong men, women and children who believe in equality for all minorities.

And so it begins

My name is Renee and I am the owner of Discover Mélange; an online vintage and vintage inspired boutique

 I was raised by two amazing parents both with a passion for family, food, The Arts, being "BOLD" and being "YOU".  I truly couldn't have asked for two better people to gather genes from.

Like most children of the 80's, we were the poster children for bad trends. I know I am not the only one to fall victim to French rolled jeans, teased hair, applying WAY too much Aqua Net or the dreaded oversized shoulder pads! I think it is safe to say that we had to learn how to own, rock, and survive our childhood wardrobes.

Throughout my childhood, I saw my mom getting dressed in modern bright bold colors and patterns while paring them with her vintage hats, shoes and accessories. I always found it so fascinating how she could mix, blend and mingle different eras and trends and come up with this one of a kind style that seemed to make everyone gravitate towards her. She was truly the first #melangegirl and inspired what I like to call #melangestyle

Mélangestyle is about being BOLD and being YOU. Taking your favorite trends from the past and blending them into present day life, resulting in a Mélange style that you can call your own. The purpose of my blog and Discover Mélange is to provide exciting recipes, vintage fashions, home furnishings and entertainment, creating the synergy needed for a happy, healthy, well balanced soul.  

I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you! Keep checking back for more Melange Tips.

XOXO - Renee