Great Hair Do's - I want them all !!!

I am a very firm believer in hair and make-up not being the finishing touch to an outfit. For historical dressing, it is IMPERATIVE that your hair and make up reflects the era, infact, to me it is almost more important than the outfit. Let me try to explain.......

If I put on a vintage 1930's evening dress and left my hair 'fashionably' toussled and my make up reflective of today's styles, what do I have? A look that might be sucessful on the red carpet of a film premiere, but it's just NOT vintage.

However, if I put on a reproduction dress, or, as in a previous outfit post of mine, some brand new from Target white skinny jeans and a navy and cream stripped top, but do my hair in a beehive with ponytail and 1960's heavy eyes and nude lips and what do I have? A look that screams 1960's, even if the clothing is brand spanking new.

Do you see what I mean? If you want to really do an era, you have to get your hair and make up right....and it's not that hard really....just attend one of the Lindy Charm School sessions for some tips and tricks, or simply pay attention to photographs and movies from the era you love and practise practise practise - it's all good fun !!!

Here are some sensational hairstyle from different era's that I just love - I want to try them all at some stage in my life ! What look is your favourite ??

Nineteen Twenties Bob.......

Nineteen Thirties Waves.........

Nineteen Fourties rolls...........

Classic Nineteen Fifties Do's.......

Structured Nineteen Sixties styles......

Another work outfit........

This is one of my favourite work dresses - it fits as snuggly as any Joan Mad Men Style work dress, and it is my favourite colour! I made it out of green cord with velvet ribbon detailing at the waist.

I am looking a bit grumpy in these shots because no matter how hard I tried, I could not get the photographs to be clear and effective - frustrating ! However, hopefully that is all about to change as I received a new tripod in the mail....there should be smiles all round from now on !!!

Living Doll - Miss June

Living Dolls are mothers, nurses, models, photographers, graphic designers, grandmothers, students, teachers - infact you name it, they come from every walk of life but have this one thing in common - they love and live vintage !

Ever lovely, ever creative and ever eyecatchingly beautiful, Miss July is the ever wonderful

Miss Tallulah Porkchop !

(and I am loving that rose print dress my friend !!! XOXO)

What does 'vintage' mean to you?

The best of yesteryear that has stood the test of time for future generations to enjoy.

What was it that first prompted your interest in vintage culture?

As a young girl I was taken by how beautiful and glamorous the all the old Hollywood movie stars were. I felt they were so much prettier than the modern examples of beauty. This led to me emulating their hair and makeup, and snapping up old frocks, shoes and handbags I found in op-shops. 

What is your favourite era, and do you 'live it' every day? In what ways?

The 1950s/early 1960s have always been, and always will, be my favourite decade/s. I have a deep appreciation for the 1920s through to 1940s, and the late 1960s, but my body shape dictates what I wear, and it was built for the 1950s/early 1960s.

I dress up to the nines on weekdays, and for special occasions, and it’s rare occasion that I don’t have any vintage garb on at all. That said, I do have off-days on the weekend where I wear no makeup, don’t do my hair and wear tracky dacks.

I don’t ever wear full vintage. I also have an obsession with high fashion, I usually mix a bit of designer, or cat-walk inspired ideas into my outfits.

Our home is full of 1950s and 1960s furniture, which is more my partner’s obsession, but it has rubbed off onto me. I’m not very knowledgeable when it comes to brand, designs and eras, so I leave the furniture shopping to her.

Tell us about your favourite item of vintage clothing, kitchenalia, music, furniture or whatever !

My hands-down favourite vintage items are pieces of jewellery that have special stories attached. I’ve been gifted some very special pieces: a necklace given to my mother-in-law from her Dad on her 16^th birthday; a necklace that that was given to a lady on the eve of her wedding from her husband-to-be, an engraved 1940s sweetheart bracelet with the two sweethearts initials engraved... I love that these pieces that were once so special to someone are now being loved and enjoyed and taken extra care of by me. I think the original owners would be pleased.

Can you share with us why vintage culture continues to hold such appeal for you?

With the clothes, I guess I appreciate the fact that a lot of the stuff was lovingly hand-made, hence are one-off pieces. I love the colours, the cuts, the modesty…

Do you have any tips for anyone starting out in the vintage scene?

Have fun and enjoy playing dress ups. You don’t have to emulate a decade head-to-toe. Sydney, from Golden Girl of the West, is a phenomenal stylist and quite the expert at mixing eras together for a striking result. Wear it your own way. *whispers* and don’t buy anything from a “vintage” retail store - you can get it at an eighth of the price on etsy.

Now is your chance to provide us with an overview of who you are and what you do.

Would you believe I work at the reception desk of an inner suburban local council? Our motto is “Diversity” and we encouraged to be our authentic selves, so there are no uniforms and I get to play dress-ups on a daily basis.

I live by the beach with my long-term partner and our 24 critters: three pugs, six cats, two rabbits, two lovebirds and eleven hens.

I’ve been blogging for a year and a half and am totally hooked. I cannot believe how far I have come and how much I have learned. It is my creative outlet.

My goals for 2012 are to start a family, and begin making vintage-style half-hats and headbands using the millinery skills I recently acquired.

Finally, what or who inspires you and why?

Surely no one does it better than Dita, do they?

Real ladies who thrill me with their use of vintage fashion are: Marianne from Esme and the Laneway, Ulrica from The Freelancer’s Fashion Blog, Sydney from Golden Girl of the West, Miriam from Kafferepet, Hannah from Hannah and Landon, Elsa Billgren from Need Help Dressing?, Helga of Helga von Trollop, and Amy and Harriett from Bright Young Twins.

Sage advice for seamstresses.....

My dear friend Danni posted this on my facebook page and I had to share with my fellow bloggers....do enjoy a good laugh at this....I am struggling not to think it is some kind of silly joke ! Happy sewing friends !

Quote of the month - June 2012

Let us be grateful to people

who make us happy;

 they are the charming gardeners

who make our souls blossom.



I dont know who originally said these beautiful words, but my darling friend Brookie recently sent this quote to me. She is one the people in my life who makes me happy and also makes my soul blossom. The amazing photograph above is a picture of her - isnt she so beautiful, not to mention talented with a camera?!

Click here to see more of her amazing work......

Music of the Moment - James Intveld

Have you heard of James Intveld? I must confess I  had not until last week. A friend put on a CD compilation from the Australian Music Festival "Greazefest", and the first song off the ranks was the James Intveld classic "Cryin' over you" (recorded by Rosie Flores). I am now truly hooked. What a voice, and what great vocal style !! Actually, James is the singing voice of Johnny Depps character in the John Waters film 'Cry Baby' (1990), and has dabbled in numerous acting and, more recently, directing rolls himself.

But it is his wonderful musicality that I want to focus on here. An adept musician, James plays double bass, drums, slide steel, and guitar as well as singing and songwriting. Like me, James grew up surrounded by music, listening to his parents records of Dean Martin, Hank Williams Sr, and Elvis. As a teenager he began performing at the Northern Hollywood Palomino Club and formed a band with his younger brother Ricky and bassist Patrick Woodward, calling themselves "The Rockin Shadows".

"The band disbanded when Ricky and bassist Patrick Woodward were asked by Ricky Nelson to join his backing band, the Stone Canyon Band. Both Intveld's brother and Patrick Woodward were also killed in the subsequent plane crash which took Nelson's life."

Wikipedia

According to his homepage bio, this incident left deep emotional scars in Jame's life. Naturally. Yet in the face of this great loss, James has been able to go on to achieve some wonderful successes on a professional level, buoyed by his faith. James beliefs are so beautifully evident on tracks such as "Walk with me"off his most recent release "Have Faith". 

Personally, I just love his laidback, smooth sounding, old school style of music (with a touch of country) in tracks like 'Crying Time', 'Lets get started', and "Perfect World"  - I feel it's what he does best.

If you havent heard of James Inveld, how about popping over to his webpage and checking him out too - you are sure to be impressed !



Hi ho hi ho - its off to work I go......

Well, not really........this is actually what I wore to work last Friday. In many respects I may be a little overdressed for a work environment these days, where a tie can be seen as overly formal, but I just like it. I feel more professional when I am dressed professionally, and that gives me a confidence that I probably would not convey in my skinny jeans and a shirt. Dont get me wrong - there are plenty of times when I dont want to get out of my pajama's, let alone my converse sneakers and comfy 40's high waisted jeans. I guess that sometimes, I just feel the benefits of making the effort within myself in the long term. I feel prettier, more feminine, and as afore said, more professional.

As for this little 60's suit number, well, I made this one out of vintage wool fabric about 6 or 7 years ago after the birth of my first child using a 1960's Jackie O style pattern. Let me tell you now it was one of the hardest patterns I have ever attempted, with the only exception being an evening dress that had those strange little 'armpit triangles' - cringe ! This one was hard namely because sewing with bulky wool, slippery lining and an old pattern that needed to be adjusted to fit me better (without a mannequin at the time I might add) was not a fun experience. Needless to say it has taken me about 6 years to feel ready to tackle a wool suit again !!!!

Regardless of the experience, I am delighted with the outcome - just wish there had been enough material left over to cover a pill box hat for that true Jackie look.....no matter, my Ronnettes hairdo looks the part just the same !!!

Apologies one and all for the awkward mirror shots.....am awaiting the arrival of a tripod with much anticipation !

Top photograph thanks to Brooke Orchard Photography - see link in my side bar.