Ooh, foxy scarf lady!

Outfit details

C. 1980s paisley print scarf (worn on my head): Thrifted (Value Village)
White plastic rose earrings: Claire's
1940s style sparkly gold sunglasses: Canadian Tire
Custom handknit fox scarf: Delightful Handiwork
Forest green button front shirt: Joe Fresh
1940s style side button jeans: Freddies of Pinewood
Vintage yellow and orange Bakelite bangles, and wooden bangles: Assorted sources
Camel coloured cross body purse: eBay
Contemporary 1940s style camel coloured shoes: Swap meet find years ago
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Granted Jimi Hendrix and 1940s garb might not always be the first natural pairing that you think of, but I couldn't help borrow and slightly modify the title of this rock legend's classic track for today's vintage outfit post, as it really does suit it so splendidly well. :)

Many a photographer will tell you that shooting in harsh afternoon sun is a big no-no (even though hip fashion magazines have been doing it for decades), and in general, I'm with them on that, but sometimes it's flat out fun to venture down the unconventional path, especially if that's when you happen to find yourself on a quaint, peaceful dirt farm road in East Kelowna on a nippy April day while wearing your brand new knit fox scarf.

Designed to look resemble classic fur scarves, wraps and stoles of decades past made from whole or partial animal pelts, this gloriously adorable creation is one that I recently bought from fellow vintage blogger Michelle's Etsy shop Delightful Handiwork. She posted about her own identical scarf not too long ago on her blog (also called Delightful Handiwork) and the moment I saw this darling creation, I knew that I absolutely had to purchase one.

I zipped an email her way and before I knew it, her knitting needles were clacking away and just a couple of weeks later, this cuter-than-the-day-is-long tawny red and white fox scarf - designed in the classic Miss Marple style - had landed on my doorstep.

Fortunately since chilly weather often lingers into April (or even May) in Canada, I was able to test drive this excellently well made scarf a few times before spring really started to hit it stride and may honestly whip it out even though it now has. Say, on rainy day and/or chilly days or at an evening beach bonfire come summer.

I love supporting fellow Etsy sellers and I also adore a heavy-handed dose of whimsy in my wardrobe. This gem of a hand knit scarf delivers like there's no tomorrow on that front. At just $20.00 USD + shipping, it's also a serious bargain, too, IMO, for a handmade creation and I would happily purchase more from Michelle to give as gifts or if she makes other variations featuring different precious critters in the future.

On the day that these photos were taken, Tony and I attended our town's annual gun + antique show, which is about 98% guns and the like, both past and present, and about 2% other vintage items, so the name of this event is somewhat misleading. However, this wasn't my first time visiting it, so I knew what was in store for us there. While guns and hunting aren't personally my cup of tea, I couldn't help but think that the natural association of fox those two things made this a cheeky place to wear my new scarf to.

No one other than Tony picked up and commented on the association, but I still liked being able to have a somewhat themed accessory to sport to such an event. Very little vintage was to be had, but I did pick up a couple of small items for the shop and one seriously cool book from 1958 featuring hundreds (if not more) B&W photos all from classic mid-century movies. It's missing its dust jacket, but for $14 (the seller would only come down a dollar from his asking price of $15), it was still a steal of a deal for all of the cinematic history it houses (I will definitely try to share some pages from it here and/or on Instagram in the future).

Fashion, like sunlight, doesn't always have to take the path most followed. No matter your stance on wearing real fur (and/or hunting), you can easily sport a darling vintage appropriate handknit creation like this uber sweet fox scarf. I really adore how as time goes on, we are fortunate as old school fashion fans to consistently have creative folks like Michelle offering up products that not only look the yesteryear part, but which are skillfully made, and available to one and all the world over.

So while I don't plan to suddenly do all my photo shoots in the glaring mid-day sun, sometimes it's more than worth it to try something new and worry more about capturing the moment, than twiddling your thumbs while you wait for the golden hour to appear. When a scarf this adorable is around your neck, you want to take photos the very moment you slip it on - or at least asap, as we did that windy, golden springtime afternoon last month.