25 vintage deals under $100 for October 2014

There's crystalline dew on the tips of the rust hued grass out front. The dark, sleepy night is still fresh in the bracingly chilly air and piles of leaves, rich and fragrant with dampness, in hues of marigold, persimmon, candy apple and mink rest along the street edges as far as the eye can see. This is mid-October, that beautiful, woefully fleeting time of the year when we can still sense the tiniest speck of summer's warmth and yet are so very near to winter's chill and the long, grey months it harbors.

Now is when the world harvests and celebrates its age old bounty. Here in Canada, we sat down to a full turkey dinner spread earlier this week on Monday evening for Canadian Thanksgiving and next month, right at the tail end of November, those in America will do the same. Children and the young at heart alike are giddy with excitement about Halloween and pumpkins appear like polka dots on Mother Nature's beautiful dress all across the land.

This is a merry time. Warm and bright, if not in weather, than at least in spirit. We turn some of those orange globes of tender, stringy flesh into baked goods and scrumptious beverages, others become the grimacing and gap-toothed smiling jack-o-lanterns of October 31st, and we begin think about nestling into our homes, cozying up for the lengthy winter ahead and finding comfort indoors, more often than not.

Before we resign ourselves to winter (which, to be fair to this often underappreciated time of the year, has many a good point to it as well, not the least of which includes Christmas) however, we'll load our carts up with decorative ears of Indian corn, lush golden pears, and bags of festive sweets; turn our gaze once more to the resplendent harvest moon, and continue to surround ourselves with beautiful elements of the season. If, like me, you're in the mood to do just that, than the lovely selection of harvest worthy, budget-friendly finds in this month's edition of 25 vintage deals under $100.00 is for you!

1. Resembling two of fall's most timelessly lovely symbols, the leaf and a shaft of harvested wheat, this gorgeous, good sized (it's 2.5 inches long) circa 1930s deeply carved vintage butterscotch brooch is the perfect accent note on any ensemble this season - or the whole year round. $42.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



2. Toast in this magnificent time of the year with these immensely pretty NOS (new old stock) vintage maple leaf print drinking glasses that feature a truly spot on autumn colour scheme. $29.99 for all eight glasses from Morning Glory Moderne.



3. Even those who don't count themselves as big hat fans usually reach for a trusty, wonderfully warm chapeau or two come the return of autumn's icy winds. Whether you can't get enough of hats the whole year round or fall into the "cold weather protection only camp", this timelessly pretty 1920s style handmade brown check patterned slouchy cloche inspired topper is for you. $32.36 from Contrapunt.



4. If you're like me, come fall, one of - if not "the" - first colours you make a mad dash for is mustard yellow. I could gleefully live in it everyday from September to the end of November and never tire of finding timelessly lovely vintage pieces in this warm, beautiful shade to fill my closet and autumn ensembles with. This wonderful 1980s does 1940s/50s mustard yellow and white polka dot dress, with an elegant lace trimmed collar, is just the feminine, stylish ticket if you're keen on doing the same. Fits up to a 34" bust/28" waist. $32.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



5. My first thought upon seeing this peacefully gorgeous set of four matching fall leaf vintage trinket/serving/candy dishes is how amazingly at home they would look in a woodland cabin. The second was that I wish they were sitting on my dining room table, in our far-from-rustic contemporary condo, right this very minute. $20.00 for all four from Remembering Diane.



6. Add a fun, marvelously stylish jolt of autumn's palette to your favourite vintage hairdo or pinned to a beloved garment by way of this timelessly pretty black and gold hued feather hair clip/corsage pin, that would also look terrific, I think, as part of steampunk and goth ensembles alike. $11.99 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



7. Serve up your favourite fall time eats, be it on Thanksgiving or any other day of the season, atop this timelessly elegant vintage 16.25" long oval turkey and fruit print serving platter. $18.50 from Farmhouse Supply.



8. Honour the spirit of fall by wearing a beautiful circa 1920s/1930s brass and enamel art deco era bracelet featuring an elegant red maple leaf on it. Naturally, given the subject matter, this maple leaf bracelet lends itself particularly well to Canada Day celebrations as well. $22.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



9. If ever there was a vintage tableware set that captured the spirit and hues of autumn, this serenely beautiful pumpkin shaped salt and pepper + cream and sugar quartet, which also comes with the silver toned metal spoon shown in the photo, is it. $44.00 for all five pieces (such a good deal!) from Dannah's Diggs.



10. Keep autumn's chill at bay and appear stylishly professional at the same time with this nine-to-five perfect 1940s brown wool pencil skirt, that would of course be fabulous for a busy mom-on-the-go, brunch with your bestie, a day of errand running, or anytime you want to nail one of the most iconic looks of mid-twentieth century and stay roasty-toasty warm in the process. Fits up to a 28" waist/41" hips. $48.00 from Dalena Vintage.



11. Searching for new ways to serve one of fall and winter's most iconic ingredients: the tart, juicy, delicious crimson hued cranberry? Then look no further than this wonderful 23 page vintage recipe booklet featuring festive ideas to put this healthy berry to work all year round. $10.00 from Cookbook Maven.



12. Stay warm and look like a million mid-century dollars in this timelessly gorgeous cream cashmere cardigan with faux pearls and gold seed beads laid out in an enchantingly lovely leaf, vine and grape pattern that suits fall to an absolute tee. Fits up to a 38 inch bust/30 inch waist. $85.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



13. With the return of cool fall weather comes a renewed desire to craft - or so it does for me! :) Hunkered inside, I want to make and create like mad all the way until the warm days of April or May return and many of my projects, especially my scrapbooking and card making ones, involve buttons. As such, I love sourcing great multi-colour and multi-style lots like this Halloween perfect vintage selection for just such creative endeavors. $6.50 (for 63 buttons) from Peach Parlor.




14. You can't beat the classic combination of orange and black - in this case with a little red swirled into the mix for good measure - when it comes to fall and Halloween time attire, and this wonderful upcycled 1950s style scarf/collar is bursting with this great palette. Wear it now for October 31st and the rest of the year for a reminder of the fun and festivities of fall. $16.18 from Contrapunt.



15. I dare you not to fall in love with this fabulously adorable vintage autumn squirrel vase - that also does a great job of being a pen or pencil holder. It's sweet, fun, kitsch and oh-so-cute!!! $16.58 from Eclectic Moi.


16. Wear two of fall's most iconic colours - orange and gold - on your ears and look as pretty as a field of pumpkins care of these fabulous 1950s lucite confetti earrings that stay put thanks to the novel use of magnets, not clips or posts. $11.00 from Sanne's Vintage Jools.




17. Layer this wonderful 1950s pale gold sleeveless blouse under sweaters, cardigans, suit jackets, blazers, and shawls now and wear it on its own come the return of sunny spring days. Fits up to a 37" bust/30" waist. (On sale at the time of writing for) $23.50 from The Best Vintage Clothing.



18. Owls and fall go together like cardinals and winter. The two compliment each other sublimely and are an emblematic sign of the season. This autumn, adorn your tabletop with this pair of massively cute, completely kitschy made-in-Japan googly eye adorned wooden salt and pepper shakers and smile every time you sit down to eat. $11.66 from Peppermint Sea.



19. Just because summer's blooms are becoming a distant memory doesn't mean you can't keep the spirit of a lush, sun-kissed garden alive care of your wardrobe choices. This big (it's square shaped and measures 30.5 inches on all sides), beguilingly beautiful 1950s silk scarf features a pattern of big, bold roses in shades of mustard yellow, fawn brown, slate blue, and rich cream that is sublimely well suited to all kinds of autumn attire. $22.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.



20. Right up there with mustard yellow (and rusty shades of orange) for me on the fall colour palette must-have list is brown. It's warm, evocative and brings out the tones in my skin far better than black, which is no small part of the reason why I especially love wearing it near by face. Sometimes though, as I would if I owned this awesome 1950s cocoa brown circle skirt, I turn to it to adorn my bottom half and swoon over the way it still helps brighten my pale, pink tinged complexion all the same. Fits up to just under a 29" waist/full hips. $58.00 from Dalena Vintage.



21. Whether you bestow it upon a beloved chap or sport it yourself, this classic hand painted 1950s leaf pattern neck tie is the kind of seasonal, Thanksgiving dinner perfect accessory that will never lose its charm or appeal. $14.00 from Marc Joseph.



22. Look cute as a button and keep your clothing neat and tidy care of this wonderfully pretty 1960s green and white gingham half apron with a lovely embroidered design of pumpkins, corn and squash above the hem and on the pocket. $12.50 from Siblings Vintage.



23. It's never easy to say good bye to our favourite warm weather footwear like sandals and peep-toe wedges, but timelessly charming, completely lovely autumn worthy shoes like these beautiful Retro Cream Color Mary Jane Heels can certainly help make the process a whole lot easier - and fashionable! Available in modern ladies sizes 7 to 9 (at the time of writing). $54.95 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



24. If it weren't for the fact that it's too big for me, I'd be incredibly tempted to snap up this well priced, endlessly pretty 1940s daisies and dahlias floral print skirt faster than you can say "vintage fall fashion!". Fits up to 31" waist and is 28" long. (On sale at the time of writing for) $55.20 from The Best Vintage Clothing.



25. This vintage acorn stunner? Why, yes, it does just happen to be the most autumn perfect, sophisticated, stop-you-in-your-tracks, completely gorgeous early 20th century brass dress/fur clip of all time. $42.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.

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I set my fall and Halloween decor out early and leave it up late. Well, perhaps not all that late, but at least half-way into November more often than not (if I lived in the US and celebrated Thanksgiving during next month's final week, I would keep it up until then), when often in the same day that the ghosts, pumpkins, and witches get tucked away once more, the Christmas tree, wreaths, and jingle bells come out of storage again.

Each year I love growing my seasonal decor collection, which houses a mix of new, old, and childhood treasures alike and 2014 has been no exception there. In fact, I've purchased several new fall and Halloween decorations in the last few weeks and am seriously tempted to add at least one or two from today's post to that growing pile as well. We'll see though, as I spent a fair amount on our recent trip to Vancouver Island and Christmas is but a stone's throw away, so perhaps I'll just admire them from afar and let all of your lovely dears avail of these beautiful, fall harvest perfect vintage bargains. :)

Here's to a frighteningly fabulous, fun filled, very happy second half of October - may it be a stellar one for all of us!