The Timeless Importance of a Thank You Card

It is easy to forget how important a personal touch can be in an era where all communication is done with email and messaging. However; we must be careful not to forget the most fundamental etiquette in communication, such as, the Thank You note.

A personal touch of gratitude does wonders, especially for your relationships. When someone gives you something, you want to thank them with the same enthusiasm they gave you. This principle extends beyond a gift, it can be used for anyone who helps you or does you a favor. A well written note is the gold standard for manners, especially in a world of technology. Taking the time to write someone to thank them for brightening up your life is a show of sincere appreciation. 

To write a good thank you note, you want to write sincerely, and consider the person you're writing to as much as you consider what they have given you. For example, maybe you use the first paragraph to say how much you loved the gift, and the second paragraph to say you hope they are well and you look forward to seeing them at Christmas. This adds a distinct personal touch, and shows gratitude that is less material than it is personal. 

If someone has given you money, it is most polite to tell them what you plan on doing with it. Perhaps you intend to spend that $50 at Sephora, let them know how exciting that will be for you, and as bright lipstick is your signature look, you'll be thinking of them every time you wear it. If you are thanking them for a favor, let them know how much they truly helped you. I encourage a personalized card, a pre-written thank you comes across as insincere. You want to be sure and add your own personal touch to the card.

Thank you cards are most appropriate for when something is sent to you, or when they giver wasn't there when you received it. No gift is too small to express gratitude for, and no amount of time is too long to say thank you. A timely thank you is within 3 months of when you received it. While it may seem like a daunting task, remember that the intention of a thank you card is to make the person you're writing to feel appreciated too. After all, that is what good etiquette is for, making the people around us feel comfortable and appreciated.

Queen of Hearts

Photography by Tell A Story Studio 

Alice in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite books and Disney films. I could get lost in that fantasy, talking flowers, anxious rabbits, and ridiculous creatures. It has never stopped enchanting my imagination. So I was very excited when Pin Up Girl Clothing released their own Alice inspired dresses with illustrations from artist, Stephanie Buscema. I'm wearing their famous Lydia dress, featuring Buscema's Queen of Hearts artwork as a border print.  

Pinup Girl Clothing understands the way into this Disney Dolls heart, and this print is just one of many adorable Disney-themed outfits they make. It's an unusual color choice for me, but I appreciate it more for its use of yellow and green. I don't find those colors to be very flattering on me, but with the black halter to frame my chest and hair, it works without clashing and is a welcome change in my wardrobe. 

The fit is what many pin ups have come to expect from Pinup Girl, comfortable yet curve-hugging. I wear a size small, and found it true to size. My cleavage felt like a little much on the first wear, but I don't consider that too much of a problem. You have to give credit to a dress so well constructed that even a larger bust can be accommodated without struggle in a halter! This is a fantastic dress for warmer weather, I intend to wear it all summer! 

Trove Vintage Boutique

Trove Vintage Boutique, by Tell A Story Studio

I have been hearing about Trove for years, the ever changing window displays seem to catch the eye of every one who sees them. I've had friends, colleagues, and even strangers stop me to make sure I've been to this store. It is a rare gem of Seattle, combining modern pin up style and beautifully curated vintage in one whimsical store. 

The shop feels at once like a gallery and like your dream living room. It's almost impossible to enter with out finding something that catches your eye, every thing is laid out beautifully and every where you look you find something new and beautiful. It makes me feel like Audrey Hepburn staring into the window of Tiffanys, a magical home away from home. You could lose yourself in this setting, becoming totally enveloped in the charm of your surroundings. 

The owner, Cyrena, has an eye for beauty. She has always loved decorating and creative hobbies, as well as vintage clothing.  Over time that led her to open her own store, and we're so lucky to have it! As much as its a vintage shop, it's different from many in that it is so welcoming and cheery, it's a place to hang out. It's a store where you can slow down, it has some thing to appeal to all your senses. Scented candles at the front of the shop, your favorite music playing, candies by the cash register, and more clothes to feel and look at then you can imagine. 

The special beauty of vintage that drives so many to buy it is not lost at Trove. For many, they aren't just clothes. They have their own story, their own history. As we adopt them into our lives, that story expands, and is adopted by the owner. Buying vintage isn't just about getting a new dress, it's about finding a home for them. Whether that's mixing modern with vintage, or going all vintage. The displays around the store will inspire you to do both.

This store doesn't speak to one type of vintage. As the window displays attest, the stock is every changing. There is some thing for every body, from every decade. As a pin up girl, I love the 50s and 60s, and particularly love the wealth of accessories. There is even a vanity where hairstylist, Marjory Mercury comes to do retro hair a couple times a month! Miss Rockabilly Ruby even taught a class in their hair studio a few weeks ago. It also carries many styles from the 30s, all the way through the 80s. For many modern playgirls, this is true vintage. Far enough away that it probably wasn't in your moms closet, but so timeless you can wear it for years to come. 

It is so wonderfully curated and styled, you will undoubtedly find inspiration for your next outfit when you walk in the store. It speaks to a lifestyle, a sensibility to slow down, take in what's around you, and revel in expressing who you are. This is not a place for fast fashion, that superficial trend. This is a place for women to come who want to be bold, to embrace their unique personality, and find the perfect outfit and accessories to do just that.