Obsessed!

Well, as you can see I haven't posted anything in a while. It's because I'm OBSESSED, obsessed I say, like a person that's gone MAD. Insane that is with making my own t-shirt dresses and tops from old t-shirts purchased at the local Thrift. I just can't get enough of the quirky iron-on's and all the ways I can refashion a tee. I'll post my creations here once I get a good amount to post. I've got so many ideas I can't even sleep at night! Look for them coming soon in the next couple of weeks. Who knows, it might inspire you!

GLAMOR...WHERE HAS IT GONE???

Does anyone miss Glamor like I do??? I mean old fashioned glamor that the everyday person personified. The full 50's skirts, the 60's tight wiggle with pointy sassy shoes. Oh, it seemed to be back full swing in the 80's. Glam big hair, Lot's of make-up, Avaunt Guard styles, bright strong colors..Fifties flashbacks in big full strapless sundresses. Why is the glamorous life more of a fantasy for a modern girl and not an everyday reality??? Why am I more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt than in a full skirt and pointy high heels??? Maybe because everything is just so casual now. It seems little glamour fits into my everyday life now. And believe me, I try! Every once in a while I love to dawn a vintage wiggle, some long gloves and high high pointy heels, pearls and go to tea with a friend or two. It reminds me that I am woman, hear me roar, and yes because of the strides that women like my own Mother and many other fabulous women made in the 70s workplace, I can bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan!!! (Even though currently, I am a domestic goddess.. and loving it!) and all in my wiggle and pointy pumps and pearls no less! All you VINTAGE VIXENS please keep the GLAMOUR alive and keep working those full 50s skirts with style and grace and keep purring in those oh so sexy wiggles!! You know you've got a fan and friend of vintage fashion in me.

For right now, I'm just going to keep enjoying all the glamorous eye candy in "De Lovely" keep it coming. I need to decide what my next time warp movie will be...possibly "All About Eve"? any suggestions??? Time warp movies on a Saturday night...almost perfection!

By the way.. Check out the 50s inspired swimsuits! Glamour spotted in modern day U.S.A! OMG!!! it's like seeing a U.F.O.... Love em! I went vintage swim crazy last week before a trip to Miami and bought 2 vintage inspired swimsuits. I felt quite glam in them I must say! I tried and tried to find a true vintage beauty in my size but atlas, it wasn't in the cards. I'll keep looking, just might get lucky someday. In the meantime, I've gone vintage pattern nuts on Etsy. Take a look at my favs. you'll see the ones I bought. They say, SOLD! don't know if I ever get around to making all of them, but I'll certainly try!

Looking for the perfect bra, panties or corsette for your vintage fashion?

Dita Von Teese turned me onto this website for just beautiful and affordable panties, bras, bullett bras, and corsette's. Also pretty "Curvy Woman" specialities! Great stockings as well. Check it out.

Plastics Purses AKA Celluloid Purses

Celluloid is the oldest synthetic plastic used in making purses. Discovered in 1856 by English metallurgist Alexander Parkees, it was first called "Parkesine". In the U.S., John Wesley Hyatt developed celluloid as a commercial product in 1869. In 1871 the demand for the product noted for it's strength, luster and colorability combined with it's low cost instigated the formation of the Celluloid Manufacturing Company.

Soon thereafter, celluloid was used to make a wide variety of items including fountain pens, piano keys, tooth brushes, dentures, photographic film, and purses! It was plentiful, easy to work with and could be make in a variety of shapes. In despite of all these attributes, celluloid is highly flammable and was banned off the market by 1934 by federal law. From this ban, a new product was discovered, a plastic known as "bakelite". It's a combination of phenol and formaldehyde and often is compounded with reinforcing fillers such as wood fibers or cotton lints. In it's pure form, it is colorless or light golden resembling celluloid, but it is much harder and heavier.

In 1922 the Company called, The General Bakelite Company flooded the market with bakelite products. As plastics were entering the fashion circles, Harry Senzer worked for Associated Plastics that made parts for handbags. Purse handles, ornaments, and clasps. In the early 1950s the first simple box-shaped purse was produced entirely of Lucite and it was considered quite stylish to own one of these bags.

If you're a vintage fashion girl, you have seen these beautiful purses in a variety of shapes, colors and textures. They continue to be very collectible and are at times, very pricey. If you're lucky enough to own one, use it and show off your unique style.

Which coat will be most flattering on your body type?

Finding the right size is important, and most coats can be tailored or altered a bit. You can usually have the hem shortened, the sleeves shortened or let down a bit and have shaping darts tailored to you figure as well. But finding outerware that is flattering is about more than just size; you'll want to start with a shape that works well with your figure.

1. If you would like your coat to help you look taller, try a length that is no longer than an inch above your knee.

2. If you need a little help creating curves, try a belted coat. It will create a feminine shape

3. If your worried about looking top heavy, go with a single breasted coat or jacket.

4. If your worried about looking bottom heavy, go for an A-Line shape.

5. If you have broad shoulders or large breasts, look for a V-neck

Now buy that coat you've been eyeing!!!

Just a little ditty about how to achieve a 50's face (make-up)

The 1950's face was ALL GLAM! Matte Face, Dark Arched Eyebrows, Winged Doe Eyes and Bright Full Lips!

The focus was the eyes, drawn in a new deliberate sweep. Piguet introduced the idea in Paris as a "doe-eyed makeup"; it was to become as exciting and new as the use of lipstick was in the 1920's.

1950's Colors for the face:

Foundation:

*Pearl colored cake or lotion foundation was used. Always as close to your natural color as achieveable.

*1955 Evening Looks- Green powder over regular foundation. It would make skin look brilliant and whiter than while. It was called, the "Lotus Lilly Look"

Rouge AKA Blush:

Early 1950's- Rose and light pink shades

Mid 1950's- Corals and peaches

Late 1950's- Pink-Orange shades, peaches and rose tints

Eyebrows: Always noticeable on a 50's face!

*Brown and black eyebrow pencils used together to darken brows

*Black eyebrow pencils were used alone if the hair was black

Lips: Any 50's darling always had on a bit of lipstick!

*Early 50's- Shades of deep red, fuchsia and bright pink

*1953- Queen's Coronation Pink fad

*Mid-1950's-The switch to paler lipsticks particularly coral and light pink shades

*1957- Pink, coral, light clear red, and deeper shades for evening

*1958-Pale was out and bright was back with true reds, oranges and pink-oranges

Nails-

*Throughout the entire decade, nails always matched the lipstick shade

Two charasticts of the 1950's face stand out to me when I think of those old 50's ad's with beautiful manicured women.... The Eyebrows and The Lips...

How they did those amazing Eyebrows?-----

The eyebrows were well manicured and dark with an arch just past the middle of the brow. Eyebrows would be darkened and shaped with eyebrow pencils and shadow. Even blonds would darken their eyebrows for dramatic effect.

How do I achieve this look today?-----

The idea is to have them fairly thick and dark, even if you're a blond. Eyebrows should be manicured into a high arch above the iris. Using an eyebrow pencil, follow the lines of your natural brow or extend it a bit if your eyebrows are thin. Then using a make-up sponge lightly stoke the eyebrows in the direction of the hair growth to make the lines of the pencil less obvious.

Amazing 1950's Siren Lips-----

The basic look was to extend full lips with emphasized peaks. Or make thin lips look slightly larger all over with emphasized peaks as well. When making a lip line larger, always use a lip pencil that matches your natural lip color and then fill in your lipstick color within those lines.

How do I achieve this look today?----

Start off by applying foundation over the lips. This will seal in your lipstick color. Then blot off excess. Using the lip liner, outline the desired shape. Be sure to include the peaks at the top of your lips. Think sharp peaks but not unatural. Apply lipstick, blot and then after blotting apply lipstick again. It will have a deep pigmited look if you do it this way. For a modern 50's throwback look apply lipgloss just to the middle of your bottom lip and two taps on the top where your peaks are. Think of Marilyn in that perfume ad with the glossy large lushious lips!

****STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO. ON OTHER DECADES*****

Art Nouveau in Fashion

Art Nouveau: "Art Nouveau, 1890-1914, explores a new style in the visual arts and architecture that developed in Europe and North America at the end of the nineteenth century. The exhibition is divided into three sections: the first focuses on the 1900 World's Fair in Paris, where Art Nouveau was established as the first new decorative style of the twentieth century; the second examines the sources that influenced the style; and the third looks at its development and fruition in major cities in Europe and North America."