9 tips to survive Dapper Day

9 ways to survive Dapper Day

The 7^th anniversary of Dapper Day is coming up, and I'm hoping to attend. I've learned some tips from the past few times I attended, so I figured I'd share them with you.

1. Pack smartly.

- If carrying a purse, try not to let it get super heavy.

-Ask a friend to carry things for you.

-Utilize the locker services if you're there a long time.

-Consider bringing a portable charger for your phone.

2. Check the weather report.

-bring sunscreen and water.

-carry a small cardigan.

-bring or buy a parasol or umbrella.

3. Bring your camera and take photos!

-Trust me, you'll feel a million times better. After picking out your amazing outfit and seeing everyone else dressed similarly, you'll want to remember this day!!

4. Be friendly!

-goes without saying, a smile can take you a long way.

-use social media to network with other people.

-compliment other peoples’ outfits.

5. Plan accordingly

-ride the rides you want to get on, be prepared to wait a good while; use fast-pass when you can!

-if with a group of people, schedule certain times to check-in with each other.

6. Be prepared for possible wardrobe malfunctions

-carry a small sewing kit with you.

-If not wearing 'true vintage' carry a small bleach pen with you.

7. Wear comfy shoes

-You'll be walking around the Disney parks A LOT, you'll thank me later.

8. Check out the Dapper Day Expo*!

-If you can’t actually get into the parks, or you are doing the 'twilight ticket' you can check out the FREE expo. Make some awesome purchases from the oodles of vendors selling vintage clothing and accessories there. Who knows, you might want to make a wardrobe change or two.

*The Expo is only available at the Disneyland CA parks.

9. Have Fun!!

-You're in a lovely vintage outfit at The Happiest Place on Earth. How could the day get any better?

Have any of you been to Dapper Day?
Are there any other tips you'd suggest?

Whats on my table

Oh it's been a while since I've done one of these!

Lately, I've been a busy bee, flitting to different projects here and there like many flowers. It's keeping me content, thankfully.

I'm craving a beautiful 1940's suit, and McCalls 4184 is just the ticket. I finished tracing the skirt, and will be perusing where to get an appropriate weight muslin so I can make mockups!! (I have a 'how to work with vintage sewing patterns' primer in the pipeline, so keep your eyes peeled.)

I decided to take on a fun little project I'm chronicling for the blog, I can't wait to share it with you all. It's all in the spirit of Making do and Mending!

Why yes, I'm still working on my Date Maker Cardigan. These are the sleeves, which I'm working two at a time. Making slow progress, as it's been very warm in the afternoon and that's sapping my want to knit, but it'll be done when it's cold!

And I'm finally making sizable progress with a commission to a sweet lady. I have the muslin cut out and will be testing the fit before I work with the fashion fabric.


And that's it. Jugging these four projects is very fun, and is keeping me nice and busy.

What all do you have on your worktables?
Are any of your working on your fall wardrobes?

Product Review: Besame Cosmetics Victory Red Lipstick

Edit to add- Besame's Marketing Director reached out to me, and asked me about which are the best ways to do photograhs for showing the product on varying skintones, and my opinions about diversity in general.  I appreciate it, gratefully. I am excited to see how this new step in the more diverse direction of Besame.

This was actually a difficult review for me to do, for a number of reasons, which you'll read in this.

I was ecstatic to see a new Besame Cosmetics color! A color from 1941 called Victory Red.(currently sold out) I buzzed about it with friends, and a friend helped me get it, as she'd be awake early for work.

A week after she got her lipstick, she sent mine, and I was still excited, but not as much. On the fair toned models who bought it in store and the fair toned Besame Girls Promotion team, it was starkly bright. I was worried, but I tried to hold the worry in the back of my head, as it might be different on me. I was hoping to see it on a darker toned person, but I didn't.

I tried it the night I got it, doing my usual applying from the tube. It was the worst experience ever. It was akin to dragging a crayon on my lips. So I got my lip brush and gingerly applied it. It looked like costume lipstick was on my face.

It was very bright. And very drying, my lips feel chapped.

I scrubbed it off my lips and said I'd try again the next day. So I did. And I tried again the next day. I tried to make myself like it, but alas, I can't.

I'm reminded of this post I've seen floating abut the internet.

That's the same shade of lipstick on two different skin tones.



Its a darling color, it's perfectly accurate, but its not for me. I think if Besame had put the lipstick on a variety of skin-tones, it would have bettered my purchase. Honestly, if I saw it on someone similar skin-tone to me, I would have not purchased it.

I talked it over with a friend who was curious about the company, she looked through their Instagram and told me she counted less than 10 darker toned women who's faces were featured. (This was on June 27th of this year) That made me very sad.

I talked it over with my sister, and she said she'd probably not want to make a purchase due to that fact 'If I don't see someone who looks like me, I wouldn't want to waste money hoping it works' She tried it, and was quite shocked at the starkness, and scrubbed it off after a while, saying 'It would work for the club maybe'.

My friends assured me I look lovely in the shade, but I am not a fan, sadly.

Like I mentioned earlier, the lipstick is a beautiful shade in the tube, and there are many many girls who look stunning in it, and rock it, but its not for this darker toned vintage lover. I'm hoping in the future, Besame has a nice gambit of skin-tones of vintage lovers, instead of maybe, three lighter tones.


Have you had an issue with a lipstick?
Do you own Victory Red? How do you find it?

EDIT- 8-23-16: I found this lovely article which addresses some of my concerns for having a more diverse cosmetics company.

Disclaimer: I purchased this with my own money and am receiving no compensation from Besame Cosmetics.I have used affiliate links in this post.