Top Five Vintage blogs

Trawling the net for tid bits about your favourite category of interest? Hopefully Alice Jean's can make your search time more profitable - provided you are into mid century culture of course !! Here are my five all time favourite blogs on a mid century theme.....enjoy! (Click on each banner to be taken to the blog page....)

 

Number Five - The Beauty Blog
 

Lindy Charm School for Girls is run by my wonderful friend Miss Chrissy, and if its hair and makeup info you are after, then you wont go wrong here. Miss Chrissy is all about sharing the vintage love and creating a connected vintage community Australia wide - so get on it beauty lovers.....release that inner glamour puss !!!

 

 

Number Four - The Décor Blog

I wasn't really sure if I could include this site as a blog - its just so much more than that! However, I couldn't leave it out....if you are after décor or retro renovation information, there is no better site to turn to. You will be inspired by the authentic houses, and the renovation work of others where keeping a historic aesthetic is paramount. And if you love pastel bathrooms (as I do) this is the site for you!!!

Number Three - The Fashion History Blog

 

If there was an award for the most inspiring clothing blog, this would win hands down. Wearing History is the work of an amazingly dedicated (and downright lovely) woman - her authenticly historic creations will leave you gobsmacked......from Victorian Scarlett O'Hara dresses to 1940's wartime outfits, Wearing History is a stunning example of what human beings achieve when they follow their heart and their passions. Thankyou for sharing your incredible ability with the world !

Number Two - The Stylist Blog

 

If its fashion you love, there is simply no better personification of classic beauty and style in a modern woman than Esme and the Laneway. This treasure of a blog is full of inspirational images - such an artistic stylist and photographer is 'Esme'...... There are also fashion and hair tutorials, and the written word is compelling. The other reason I adore this blog is that it is as far from jumping on the bandwagon vintage trending as you can get. It is authentic and beautiful, and obviously a passion and love of the author - not just the 'vintage washing', make it hip blog of the moment. Such a breath of fresh air in that way. Thankyou for your contribution to a beautiful world my friend ! OXOX

 

 

 

 

Number One - The Music Blog

If I am feeling blue, all I have to do is ....... tune into this digital radio station and I suddenly find myself compelled to dance around the house - no matter if I'm cooking porridge in the mornings or mopping the floors or tapping away at the keyboard, WFMU puts a song in my heart and a spring in my step. They also have the most fantastic blog, full of the quirky, the eccentric, the wild and crazy, and - like every good blog should - the informative. There is no better mid century pop culture blog - or digital music station for that matter ! Love you WFMU!!!

 

 

Get ready for Glamour

Mid Winter Revamp

 

Wild moody clouds are skudding past my windows while I write this article - the first in quite some time. There was one of those deliciously creepy fogs covering the countryside as I drove my children to the bus stop this morning, making the trees and cows loom blackly out of nowhere. And on my morning walk spider webs were shining dully with water droplets. Winter is a hauntingly beautiful, erratic, and very stunning time of year - so long as you can keep well rugged up !

 

But wintertime for many is also a time of mental struggle. Some commuters don't actually get to enjoy sunlight at all, with shorter days seeing them at work with sun up and home at sundown. The darkness, the cold, the wetness can all bring one down - so for all my female readers (and wonderful men who are so inclined) I want to journey down some ways we can make our winter malady so much brighter. The following are some great approaches to making yourself feel much brighter, more beautiful, and on top of the world. And of course, like all good mid century approaches to life, they are thrifty and practically cost less - another reason to put some zing in your steps !

 

1. Be kind to yourself

 

Stop comparing yourself to ANY celebrity - that includes Marilyn, Audrey and Grace as well as Jennifer Anniston or Scarlett Johansen ! Women are beautiful in all our wonderous shapes, sizes, colourings, creative dress senses, quirky interest loves and crazy shoe fetishes. Look at our amazing planet - Africa is nothing like Europe. Vanuatu is nothing like Tokyo. The pounding waves on the shore are full of wild untamed and ferocious beauty, and a gurgling mountain stream happy, spritely and joyful. If the entire world looked like New York (wonderful though I am sure that city is) we would all get bored of it pretty fast. Maybe it was some magazine editor who said that all women must look, act, believe and behave in a certain way, but I for one don't buy it. Just as our world is full of unique loveable places, BE UNIQUE LOVEABLE YOU!!! You are adorabe for all the qualities that make up you - not for being a Jennifer Anniston copy!

 

2. Know yourself

 

Make a list of all the wonderful things about you - what do you love most? What is your character like? What are your dreams and aspirations? What is it about who you are that makes you smile? Celebrate those things (sometimes I give myself a little 'cupcake and coffee' picnic in a beautiful place, just to honour being me!) Treating oneself for the simple reason of loving who you are can become a very spiritual and nourishing practise !

 

3. Day Spa at home

 

Grab your friends (or as I did over the winter school holidays, my children) and have a day spa at home. Put on some tranquil music, chill some wine (if your doing this child free!!), light some scented candles and delight in giving each other facials, massages, manicures and pedicures. Its a wonderful way to reconnect and banish the winter blues. You never know - you may find it becomes and seasonal pamper date !

 

4. Spread the colour love

 

Winter is renowed for its black. Black coats, black boots, black work attire....black black black !! Break this deadening cycle and be daring - wear a bright red lipstick, a big chunky burnt orange necklace, lash out and buy an aqua scarf, or what about some green frames for your glasses. The mid century was know for being vivaciously colourful - so go to it gals ! Lift your mood by splashing some colour around - and the good thing is, black goes with almost anything !

 

5. Believe in yourself

 

OK. This is where I fall down. But hey, I am only human. Confidence. Make no appologies for who you are. Find your favourite outfit and wear it - OK, it might just be grandmas going away dress and its way to over the top for the dinner with friends at the local, but who cares? If you love it, wear it, and wear it with pride. The first time I attempted wearing an 'unfashionable' 50's sundress down the street in Echuca 6 years ago, my heart was in my throat, but you know what? The more I took those chances and 'faked it till I maked it' the more I received compliments on what I wore and the more confidence in my own individuality I grew. OK, I still have times when I stupidly apologise for being me (gotta get out of that habit!), but the best way to grow your confidence, is to throw yourself into the ring and TRY!

 

6. Wear clothes you love

 

Wear what you know you look fabulous in, take a little extra time with your appearance and you will feel great all day. (Pajama days are best kept for the weekend anyhow !!!)

 

7. Surround yourself with positive people

 

Avoid those who bring you down, where possible. Enough said !

 

8. Get a good sleep

 

Nothing refreshes like the ideal 8 hours shut eye. Get a good night sleep and it will do wonders for your bodies health, your personal beauty and freshness of face, and of course, your winter mental health. And what could be better than snuggling under the covers on a rainy winters night anyhow - unless of course its snuggling under the covers with your special someone on a rainy winters night !

 

9. Smile

 

Smiling releases endorphins - did you know? This means that when you smile you get a dose of happy chemicals to lift your mood. So smile away - your co-workers, the guy at the train station, the gal serving you your late - everyone benefits from a smile, especially you !

 

10. Relax with some escapism

 

Books, movies, music - all have the power to lift the spirits. When the 'weather outside is frightful', be delightful inside with your favourite feel good. These things are all the better enjoyed with a friend too - share a book, a movie or a band with someone you can talk about it with later - you will double the enjoyment !

 

There you go lovely ones - put your mind to it and you can make the winter blues just that little bit brighter.....and really, spring is only another month away! Hang in there !

1960's hair love......

 

What style icons - hairily speaking - do it for you? Who do you admire and try to emulate? Leave a comment and let me know.....the interests of my readers fascinate me !

 

 

I, for one, adore Jean Shrimpton. She had the classic big eyed 60's look, and a mod elegance and grace in her bearing. I love looking at photographs of her and her style. I also LOVE trying to emulate her 1960's hairstyles.

 

 

In recent years I seem to have embarked upon a journey of style discovery - trying the whole Marilyn effect for the first time (before I was too old to pull it off !!), dabbling in red headedness (which was fantastic) and even attempting Liz Taylor 50's brunette curls (which made me look much older than my years). And after all this experimentation - a wonderful thing, life is too short not to experiment - I have discovered that brunette suits me best (although red is something I want to do again) and that the 1960's is my style of choice.

 

 

 

Curling my hair 1950's style as a brunette just makes me look old and faded. Doing my hair in a beehive, an up do ah la Joan Holloway, or a sexy bob like 99 in Get Smart is far more flattering to my face and early 60's style of dress. So, let me encourage you, if you are wondering what historical style suits you best, experiment, experiment, experiment ! I never thought I would be able to pull off platinum blonde until I tried 3 years ago - and was vastly delighted by the result. Maybe a 1940's Veronica Lake look will be your thing? Maybe a Grace Kelly classic 50's do will work for you? Maybe a Mia Farrow pixie cut will give you a magical air? But for me, the whole Jean Shrimpton effect (and maybe a touch of 99 at times!!) is where my look is headed.....and so, I thought I would take the opportunity to share some 1960's hairstyle love this happy Friday night .......

 

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(My apologies for the poor quality of these images - I have had to purchase a new computer after the destruction of my previous one by an accidental child spillage across the keyboard, and am still learning to navigate and manage the new programs and formats ! XX)

 

Mid Century diet advantages.....

Well, this is the traditional week of festivities, partying and over indulgence - all of which should be enjoyed with great vigour ! However, when the tinsel has been taken down and the final bon bon bad joke shared, the last new year fireworks display errupted and glass of champers drunk, we tend to throw ourselves into physical 'self betterment' with equal gusto. But before you dial Jenny Craig, or reach for the protien shakes, think of the lifestyle strategies of your forebares.

We are now a more obese culture than at any time previously in history, and yet the diet of the mid 20th century  (when our physical shape was universally slimmer) would not pass muster according to todays health authorities - lashings of butter unrestrained, creamy cheesy meals, and as I remember fondly, desserts, cakes and cookies on frequent occasions...homemade of course !!

So what is the difference today? How can our ancestors, only one generation ago, have kept a healthy weight when today, with our knowledge about health care, we are spilling out of our clothes everywhere?

 

 

Opinion varies, however, my observations come down to a couple of things:

1. Less time playing on the computer and being entertained, and much more time entertaining ourselves - climbing trees as kids, making 'stuff' (sewing our own clothes, growing our own food or building our own furniture instead of buying everything), playing outside - bike riding with the kids instead of taking them to the movies. In short, our everyday lives were far more active 40 years ago.

 

2. Serving sizes have increased. Food is abundant in our rich western society and our plate sizes have made room for this abundance.

 

3. The food itself. A meal from the 1950's would look something like this......some sort of meat, peas, honeyed carrots, mashed potatoes, and dessert that was often stewed fruits with ice cream. Yes, the old meat and three veg diet regulalrly. For many busy people (although, I stress, not everyone eats this way), todays meal looks something like this......Takeaway noodles, or pizza if in a rush, a soft drink to accompany, and an icecream on a stick for dessert. My forebares probably ate a meal like that as a 'treat' maybe 4 times a year. We may not eat pizza every night of the week, but I bet we eat it more than 4 times a year ! And that is the point. Middle of last century, vegies and fruits were regulars in the diet, even if served mashed with butter and cream. Today vegies and fruits just dont appear as frequently.

 

So, before you begin your stint with weight watchers, perhaps think about simply readjusting your lifestyle to include more activity, eat a little less, and enjoy more fruits and vegetables regularly.....then you can relax with your lemon curd tart and coffee at Koondrooks Long Paddock Cafe now and then - completely guilt free !
 

 

Here are some facts about fruits and vegetables to inspire you further....

Bananna's can:

Lift Your Spirits thanks to the presence of a chemical called tryptophan and Vitamin B6

Ease menstrual pains also thanks to vitamin B6

Increase Your Brain Power from the presence of potassium

Reduce the effects of a hangover due to their high mineral content

Assist with quitting smoking - certian vitamins and minerals found in Banannas reduce the physical and psycological effects of niccotine withdrawal. 
 

Regulate temperature and calm morning sickness in pregnant women 

Regulate the acidity of some foods in the stomach effectivly soothing ulcers

Ease mosquito bites by rubbing the inside of the peel on the affected area

Fertilise rose bushes - simply throw the skin at the foot of your rose for healthy blooms

Apples Can:

Protect your brain from Alzheimers and Parkinsons by preventing the breakdown of brain particles (NutritianData.com)

 

Help you loose weight if eaten regularly

Decrease the effects of asthma
 

Reduce the risk of lung cancer

 

Zucchinis can:

Lower Cholesterol

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Prevent certian cancers

Fight oxidative stress through the presence of powerful antioxidents and vitamins C and A.

Keep you in good prostate health

Funtion as an anti inflamitory inhibiting the symptoms of asthma, oesteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis

Contribute to heart attack and stroke prevention

Lower Blood Pressure



Carrots can:

Improve Vision

Prevent cancer

Fight aging and slow down the aging of cells

Give you healthy glowing skin - when eaten for internal skin health, or applied topically for external skin health

Provide a powerful antiseptic and can even be applied to cuts

Prevent Heart Disease

Cleanse the Body

Give you healthy teeth and gums

Prevent Stroke

Fabulous Vintage Hairstyles

 

Today I am off to the Kerang Boxing Day races with my lovely friend Mardi (photos to come later) and although I adore hats and have a lovely little collection of them, somehow I just never feel they do me any favours. So, the decision has been made, I am going with my usual flowers in hair instead (and summer brolly to save my skin!) That being the case, I need a wonderful vintage hairstyle to sport my flowers, and where better to look than my WONDERFUL Vintage Hairstyle Book.....

I picked up this treasure in preparation for the fashion parade I hosted last November.....there I was, walking innocently down the main street of Camperdown, at the Camperdown Rockabilly Festival in October, when this book literally accosted me on the street. I picked it up and simply could not leave it there - not when it was jam packed with wonderful advice, hairstyles galore, instructions and inspiration. It was perfect fodder for encouraging my fashion parade models !

 

 

 

I have been wanting to promote this book on my blog ever since, but to my great dismay, I have lost the business card of the wonderful woman who sold it to me! Honey, please forgive me ! I know you are a reader of my blog, however, so please please please contact me and I will rectify this unfortunate situation immediately - I want to give you the recognition you so deserve, and promote your great products !

 

 

My fabulous fashion parade models getting ready with their vintage hairstyles !

 

In the meantime, let me share some of my favourite styles from this book, hoping that you find the inspiration my fashion parade models and I did. As for my race day hairstyle, hmmmm, well, in an attempt to invoke the whole 60's thing (I have just finished watching Mad Men Season 5) I am going to attempt a Sophia Loren look below I think, with flowers of course !! Stay tuned to see if I actually pulled it off !! Happy Boxing Day people......

 

 

 

From Wikipedia:

 

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year. This custom is linked to an older English tradition: Since they would have to wait on their masters on Christmas Day, the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts and bonuses, and sometimes leftover food.

Alice Jeans Fashion Parade Part Two - Evening wear

 

So....naturally you are all itching to see the second instalment of the Alice Jean's Fashion Parade, and here it is.....the evening wear section with my 10 beautiful models all ready to set hearts a flutter in their party clothes circa 1959-ish......enjoy!

 

 

Our Disney Princess, Miss Leah

 

The ever elegent Miss Melissa

 

Our Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, Miss Donna

 

Miss Somayeh as beautiful as Cohuna sunset

 

Barbie Doll Beauty Miss Chanice

 

A dream in aqua, Miss Sarah

 

Cohuna's resident Sophia Lorren, Miss Shabnam

 

A very demure darling, Miss Rachel

 

The bubbly and striking, Miss Rebecca

 

And yours truely in a showy little number, naturally !!!