About

Vintage, romantic, and feminine, with a classic touch of old school glamour,
The Weekender is a mix of fashion, photography, travel, beauty, and inspiration.

Welcome! I started my blog in 2016 as a Fashion Field Guide to inspire women on their journey to discovering and identifying personal style. I believe the more glamorously strange the better. Personal style is an evolution and here you will find a place to explore with endless options of self-expression. If you love vintage romance and feminine whimsy this is your place for inspiration. Darling and daring. Through photography, {and hopefully some artful brilliance!} I wish to leave you feeling that you too can master your style, and show you how. Fashion and life are about taking risks and sometimes making mistakes. We’ve all looked back on those moments with a smirk, and hey, that’s ok! That’s part of the adventure. Fashion is always evolving, and in a sense, finding your style is a journey all of it’s own.

 A little more about me… Hi!! I’m Jess Wagner, I grew up in the MidWest and am originally from Cleveland, Ohio. I now live in Toledo area with my husband and *amazing* photographer Rob. {You can follow more of Rob's work here.} We have been married 10 years and love creating together. I am Mama to our 11 year old son Noah, our 6 year old daughter Coco, and our Cavalier King Charles pup Sir Marty McFly. I come from big Irish/Italian families and if we ever meet I will probably hug you or try to to pour you a drink! (Turns out I am a terrible cook, otherwise I would try to feed you. So I hope you like wine.)

I love to explore fashion as much as I love to explore the great outdoors. I’m a girlie-girl tomboy and like to forage flowers, paint things pink, and drink Rosé All Day. You can usually find me getting lost in a thrift shop, working up a sweat at Pure Barre, reading a book in a little cozy corner, taking a mom-break at the salon, or connecting with nature at our family cottage. I like to make friends with everyone I meet, so hi babe, let’s be friends!! Please say hello, drop me a DM, I love hearing from you! I belong in the summertime. I’m a sewing novice and live to style and create. I am a vintage junkie. It’s a lifestyle. Rob and I love shooting videos and bringing an image to life, and it’s always fun to get the kids and Marty involved. Lots of the said vintage ends up inspiring our shoots. I am working on becoming a paddle boarder-extraordinaire. I’m pretty chill and like to have a good time. I was voted most fun in high school! Ha! So yes, I like dance and sing and act silly and make people laugh although I attempt to be ladylike most of the time. I’m an old soul, can’t even help it. My lifelong goal is live on a beach - I have other goals too, but that one feels important. One of the best times in my life was traveling up the Gold Coast of Australia during college. It was life-impacting. If you get the chance TRAVEL. Do it young. Rob and I also lived in LA for a year. It was prrrretty cool. I worked for E! Entertainment. I have a journalism degree and thought I wanted to be a big city pop culture hostess-with-the-mostess but turns out I’m more of a — I don’t know — small town mom of two with lots of hobbies and interests? {Not as interesting, I know but hey.} I’m not really a 9-5er and do freelance work and feel very thankful to make and create my own hours. I’ve done it all folks and have worked since I was 15, part time, full time, good jobs, terrible jobs. If you need career advice I am not the one to give it. I will tell you to follow your heart and F! (forget!) the system. I also do voice-over work which I love. It’s fun and not as much pressure as being on camera. Sometimes I’ll do a little “acting” too. I use quotes because I am not an “actress,” but I pretend I am one a lot and writing it down here makes it feel more official. I am morning person and drink 1 cup of coffee every day and is one of my favorite small pleasures. I love creating content to share with you all on this space… honest — the best part of this social media driven world is when I get to connect with you. I am also a recent level 1 sommelier. {I might need a whole post to share the wine and rosé adventures and some to come - I’ll just drop future trip to France and Chateau here, more on that later.} I am also pretty sure I have ADD and was never diagnosed. Kinda love that about myself. Well that about covers it. If you are still reading this BRAVO.

I love to share whatever is currently inspiring me. From books, to cups of tea, to vintage doll house renovations, to learning how to grow secret flower gardens. I am always ready for travel adventures, but I do not pack light, and love to try new things. Writing and telling stories is a heartfelt part of my soul. I hope you find an encouraging message and a spark of light to your imagination.

Thanks for following along friend, I hope you enjoy! XO