5 Things I Discovered This Week

1. The Art of Being a Well Dressed Wife: The V&A is reissuing this 1950s fashion etiquette book, and I've already ordered a copy. Its author, Anne Fogarty, was a fashion designer from the late 1940s to 70s, and in her book she recognized that women led such varied lives (students; wives; career) and encouraged them to develop their own style. (Keep in mind, this was back in the era when there was one--just one!--"in style" hemline or silhouette of the season.) The '50s being the'50s, you'll catch moments of unintentional humor. For the moments you can't find something in your closet to wear, Fogarty advises to "forget about what I'm going to wear for a few minutes and lie down with my feet elevated. Five minutes "on the flat" is the best restorative I know of, along with a square of chocolate or a sweet drink for a quick pick-me-up to start the vital juices flowing and make decisions that much easier." Then again, she might be on to something here ....

2. Judy Lee jewelry: A recently developed love for '50s rhinestone earrings has me scouring online for vintage finds, and this defunct Chicago-based brand consistently pops up with pieces that avoid swinging even remotely close to either end of the "tacky bling--blah" pendulum. During its heyday the jewelry was sold at house parties (yes, like Tupperware), and not only are the designs super-chic, but the prices are still pretty average: The five pairs I bought this weekend on eBay were $25 and under, and necklaces and bracelets fell within that range as well.Here's another set I love.

3. Thelocals.dk: I actually felt chest pangs when copenhagenstreetstyle.dk announced they were closing after four years--their street style photos have appeared on my pages. Luckily my Northern Europe street style hookup continues--the site's photographer, Soren Jepson, has gone off to start this new street style blog, which I highly recommend checking out especially for winter layering inspiration!

4. John & Mary : Controversial when it came out in 1969 (the two main characters meet in a Manhattan singles bar), but Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman are fantastic; so are Dustin's character's gigantic, minimally decorated apartment and Mia's wardrobe of minidresses. An absolute must-Netflix.

5. Superdry makes the kind of longisle sweaters Brigitte Bardot would have worn skiing in the 1960s: I bought one over the weekend. The long, snug fit, retro snowflake pattern and double-front pockets make for one very chic cable-knit sweater (a phrase I very rarely get to say).