summer in the 60s

Happy Friday!

I came across this image on one of my favorite street style blogs, The Sartorialist. I love this splashy dress in a vintage cut and the petite kitten heel slingbacks are such a divine addition. Makes quick get-a-ways that much easier!

Turning the tables back to the 1960s today with this image and one of my favorite songs that pops up on my Vintage Cocktail Party playlist - because everyone needs to have one :)

Enjoy your weekends, toodles!

(via The Sartorialist)

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emanuelle alt

I have found myself filling my tumblr page with loads of street style pictures of women in straight slacks or jeans, classic button downs, and oversized blazers. I love the simplicity and timelessness of the look. As much as I enjoy buying statement pieces (cue ball gowns, tunics, party dresses, and sparkly shoes), I am really obsessing over this uniform. I mean you CAN'T go wrong! 

But having a healthy dose of French chic with festive Palm Beach flair can still work, right? 

I slowly began realizing that the woman in most of my tumblr "re-blogs" was Emanuelle Alt, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Paris. She is most celebrated for her make-up free and youthful appearance and nixing skirts and dresses for denim and her signature blazers or jackets. She is a fan of black heels, as you might gather from the images below. BUT - I see a fair amount of kitten heels in the outfits. Totally a-ok with that!

It's always fun to find new style icons. Although it might be a bit of a stretch for one person to channel both Emanuelle and Iris Apfel in a wardrobe, who said life shouldn't be a bit of a creative challenge? 

Enjoy your weekend!!

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classy girls

For all of the classy girls! 

One of my most favorite songs - the BEST lyrics ever. 

(via)

"Classy Girls"

Well she was standing in a bar

I said, 'Hello, how do you do?'

She handed me a beer with a kangaroo

She spoke of places I had never been

That she had traveled to

And we slowed danced, faster too

And I made her laugh, I made a pass

I showed her my half dollar ring

She said, 'that's pretty cool,

but classy girls don't kiss in bars your fool'

So later on the crowd calmed down

And I believe it was as if something drew me closer to her lips

So picture my surprise when I had tried to lean in for a kiss

And she just smiled and turned her head down

I asked her 'Why?' and she replied

It was nothing I was doing wrong, it's just what it is.

No, classy girls don't kiss in bars like this

No classy girls don't kiss in bars

Boys will break their backs and hearts

 But it's alright, the hardest part is through. 

Oh through!

Oh through!

Oh through

The hardest part is through. 

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dream photo shoot

If this isn't the most marvelous Monday musing, I don't know what could be! One of my favorite bloggers, Lauren of Aspiring Kennedy, shared this phenomenal photo shoot last week. The lovely blogger and wonderful mother has spent the past few months working out of Paris. The family of three has chronicled their Parisian journey, filled with countless wanderlust moments, on Instagram.

I adored following their adventures and have to admit I was quite jealous. The family was able to celebrate so many of life's beautiful moments, in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I mean, how much more fabulous would your child's first steps seem if they were taken in Monet's garden?! 

Lauren and her husband reside in London, although are both originally from the United States. I am beyond intrigued with their semi-unconventional, but utterly charming young family journeys. Who said a post-graduation trip is the only time you can experience the wonders of the world. Hey, traveling with a baby in tow might be even better! Definitely creates more photo-ops :) 

Near the end of their Parisian jaunt, Lauren sported dozens of yards of black tulle and paraded and posed throughout Paris. Sign me up for that glamour shot! I think these images are breathtakingly beautiful, but equally fun, happy, and natural. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week, toodles!

(via Aspiring Kennedy) 

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slim keith

"There are, don't you know, women who are so incandescently, overwhelmingly charming that they need be nothing else in life. I couldn't pretend to set down the formula for the chemistry that produces such extraordinary charm. Certainly the ingredients include beauty, grace, glamor, sensuality, style, poise, presence, taste, intelligence, wit, a knowledge of the world, and an ability with conversation.

But there are a lot of women with those qualities who are otherwise absolute horrors-and in this I would include not a few of those glittery trophy wives to be found at Cafe Mortimer's, Le Cirque and Bice.

The rare breed I'm talking about brings a lot more to the formula:

friendliness, warmth, sympathy, loyalty, guts, genuineness, a spirit of adventure, a little mischief and the ability to get along with people of every social station. The kind of woman who can transfix men, endear herself to other women and, just by being there, as the late Chips Channon said of the Benzedrine with which he used to lace his guests' drinks, 'make a party go.' In my own life, I've only known a handful of such women. One was a fabulous New York fashion model and artist of the 1950s named Donna Lee Hawkins, who could make every commuter in Grand Central miss his train just by strolling through and dropping her glove. Another, I daresay, is my 5-foot-12 haute couture pal, the Dangerously Strawberry Blond Jan Strimple-an unaffectedly enchanting stunner who turns heads the way reapers fell wheat and can converse knowledgeably about Madonna's underwear, balloons, existentialism, pear trees and Delacroix all within 60 seconds.

But the champion charmer of our century is a woman who, sadly, I never knew and now can never know. She came into this world in 1918 as Nancy Gross, the daughter of a Monterey, Calif., cannery owner. She left it just a few weeks ago as Nancy, Lady Keith, better known to the legends of Southern California, Manhattan, London's West End and France's Cap Ferrat as 'Slim' Keith." 

- "The Discreet Charm of 'Slim' Keith." Michael Kilian, The Chicago Tribune

(via)

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i'm coming back!

Happy Monday everyone! Over the past 10 days or so I have run into a surprising number of people (both near and far) who have brought up the blog. They have told me how much they enjoy it, but want me to post more often. It's funny, can you be both flattered and stressed at the same time? Because I have definitely felt that way. It makes me so happy and pleased when people mention how much they enjoy my little blog, but they want me to hop back on the blog roll more consistently. 

Within the past two weeks or so I have spent many evenings lamenting over not having the time to blog. My posting whittled down to once a week and I felt horrible about it. I want to post the right things, but I just haven't been in the swing of it. As much as I like to think of this as a hobby and personal portfolio, I have learned that it's much more than just an activity for me. I realize how many people are influenced by Twirling Clare.

My mom runs into women who tell her they read my blog every week. Friends, family, and past teachers read my blog as a way to keep tabs on my life. Even mothers of people I went to college with keep up with Twirling Clare. And, of course, the countless readers I don't even know! 

When I first started blogging three and a half years ago, I remember how excited I was to have a couple dozen visits a day. I'd obsessively check my stats page and try so hard to get followers...but, after awhile, that didn't seem as important. I valued having a unique space, a true reflection of me rather than a top-trending blog. I wanted to inspire the world with stories, articles, and images. It didn't matter to me how many read my blog; I just wanted to keep scattering the seeds and see what came of them. 

Like everything in life, you can't predict when things will take off. Patience is a beautiful thing and God always has a way of coming in when you least expect. The past couple of weeks (especially this weekend) has been very motivating for me, and it's funny how these unexpected "messengers" have helped encourage me to keep up my little creative exploration. My inner turmoil of finding inspiration, time, and the passion to continue, was answered. Not exactly how I'd expect it to be...but that's what makes life a beautiful adventure. 

With the kind words and appreciation of Twirling Clare and my creative spirit, also came a request to keep it alive. Not that I was ready to shut-down the blog, but Twirling Clare deserved a bit more love and attention. All good things in life need nurturing, cultivating, and love and Twirling Clare really is part of my spirit than needed reinvigorating. So thank YOU for the encouragement and passion!! 

It makes me incredibly grateful to hear of so many people enjoying my happy space and little musings. Twirling Clare is one of my proudest accomplishments, I won't be posting every day, but hopefully be more immersed back to my creative space. 

 Thanks for not just inviting me, but challenging me, to come back to the party...

(via)

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Support Maddie's Maukingbirds!

Hi everyone! Every spring I devote a post to the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk. If you are new to the blog or even a returning fan, I'd really appreciate if you'd take the time to learn about CF and why I walk each year! 

One of my closest friends has Cystic Fibrosis. Maddie and I met in college at Ohio Wesleyan. She is an amazing person and a special friend of mine. Maddie is from Connecticut and I met her when I was a sophomore, and she was a junior, at Ohio Wesleyan. We quickly became fast friends and I have some of my best college memories with her! After college, Maddie moved to San Francisco for a few months to explore the city and spend time with her art (she is an amazing artist!) Unfortunately, she had to move back home around Christmas time to focus on getting healthier due to a lot of challenges in San Francisco with treating CF. 

Cystic Fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system. An estimate 30,000 children and adults in the United States have CF; 70,000 worldwide. Over 45% of people with CF are adults, which shows the amazing progress over the past decades!! The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world's leader in the search for a cure for CF. The non-profit and donor based Foundation funds life-saving research and works to provide access to quality, specialized care, and effective treatments for people with CF. Nearly EVERY drug available today was made possible because of the Foundation's support. And, the life expectancy of a child with CF has doubled! 

While I was at school, my friends and I participated in the annual Great Strides walk each May. This year I am participating and volunteering for the walk in Cincinnati. I would truly appreciate to have your support this year as I help raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis and collect donations to find a cure.

The Cincinnati Great Strides walk is on Saturday, May 17th at 10:00 in Sawyer Point. If you are interested in also participating or volunteering, we'd LOVE to have you! In fact, we are specifically looking for the following volunteers: photographer, security, and medic. If you have any suggestions of who could help, please let me know! You can either comment below or email twirlingclare@gmail.com. If you are just interested in learning more about the walk or attending, I'd be happy to give you information as well! The walk is free to participate, but we are actively trying to campaign and raise funds, so your financial contribution would be greatly appreciated as well. No amount is too small!!

MAKE A DONATION TO MY CYSTIC FIBROSIS TEAM. 

Thank you in advance for your support!!

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moonwalk

This Sunday is the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati. Although I am not running in the marathon, it's a city-wide event! Kudos to all the athletic superstars who are racing this weekend. I admire your determination and training over the past few months; wish I had that dedication! I am signing up to train for a summer 4 mile race in Hyde Park. I am training with a group and that starts next week. I know it's nowhere near a marathon ranking - but hey, you gotta start somewhere, right? 

One of my favorite things that I came across this week was this video documenting the origins of the moonwalk. Yep, long before MJ was even born, people were strutting their stuff.
For those that aren't running this week, maybe you can join me in a little moonwalk dance-off! I think dancing is the best exercise; honestly, I'd pick this ANY day over running.
I may or may not be practicing the moonwalk as I get ready for bed...
Enjoy your weekend everyone, toodles!

(via)

(via Mashable)

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