Sunday, September 26, 2010

Vintage Wedding Website


The other day while searching for an image of a classic film star on google, I came across a photo that lead me to Rock N' Roll Bride, a website devoted to sharing edgy weddings. I don't know about you, but I love weddings and I love reading about them -- especially ones that have a vintage flare to them. Since I fell in love with so many of the photos on the site, I thought I would share the link with everyone to check out. Regardless if you are planning a wedding or not, this site offers up some really great love stories along with some truly beautiful imagery.

Emily


*Photo from RocknRollBride.com

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Vintage Twins


Last week I attended an estate sale what was FULL of vintage costume jewelry. The entire front room of the sale was jam packed with boxes and tables of rhinestones and anything that sparkles. I picked up a lot of great pieces, including a pair of yellow bakelite carved hoop earrings for $3. My favorite find would have to be these scatter pins which are an exact match to these earrings from my grandma. I also found a pair of costume earrings that were twins of a pair I bought from Lana Turner's daughter. I left those for someone else to find and treasure, but it was so cool to discover so many vintage twins at this sale. I have occasionally come across the same dress, but that is VERY few and far between. Have you ever found a vintage twin out there to something you already own?

Emily

Friday, September 24, 2010

Swirls and Snoods


I can't believe how fast September has flown by! Life sure has gotten crazy now that I am back in school, teaching, and working all at once. I hardly have had time for estate sales lately, well at least not on the first day that they open. I am super excited for this weekend; there is a HUGE flea market in Midland, MI that is seriously the biggest flea I know of in the state. They hold it three times over the summer and this weekend is their final date for the season. I have gone the last two years and always come back with lots of goodies!!

On another note, Wednesday was the last official day of summer and I wore my newest addition to my Swirl collection. I just had to have this one because of the yellow in it -- my favorite color! I am also still trying to get use to setting my new cut. It didn't really turn out as expected this particular day, so I opted for a snood to remedy the problem. Don't you just love snoods? They are better than a ponytail, in my opinion.

Emily




50s Swirl and Bakelite Earrings: eBay

Bakelite Bracelets: Estate Sale

Shoes: Converse

Friday, September 17, 2010

Film Fashion Friday: Daytime Wife (1939)


Just in time for the back to school season and budding fall weather here in the States, today's Film Fashion Friday selection highlights suits, hats, and accessories all fitting for this time of year for the vintage gal.

The Players


Linda Darnell.....Jane Norton
Tyrone Power.....Ken Norton
Binnie Barnes.....Blanche
Warren William.....Barnard "Barney" Dexter

Directed by George Ratoff
Costumes Designed by Royer


If you like Linda Darnell's hat in the above photo, take a look at these two hats (1 & 2) that I found on etsy that are quite similar.

Synopsis
Jane and Ken Norton are what seems to be the prefect married couple. The night of the Norton's second wedding anniversary, Jane has stages a fabulous surprise celebration for Ken, but Ken does not show up. What he does succeed in doing is forgetting the couple's anniversary, spurring Blanche, Jane's close friend, to concluded that Ken is running around with another woman, his secretary none less! Jane becomes intrigued with secretarial life and how they factor into their boss's life. Jane decides the only way to figure out what's going on is to take a job as a secretary. What Jane doesn't know is that her new boss is a work relation of her husband's. What follows is a series of close calls and funny run-ins to avoid her husband finding her out. Does the couple reunite or does Jane's new job show her a new way of life?

Fashion Review
While doing a bit of further research on this film, I was saddened to find so many poor reviews of Daytime Wife (1939). While I am not here to argue that this is amongst the greatest of the screwball genre, I do feel it deserves much more credit than it is given; and not just from a fashion stand point. In only her second film appearance, Linda Darnell proves that she can handle a leading role and look fabulous while doing so. She was only 16 at the time. I do agree that Tyrone Power is a bit weak throughout the course of the film, but that doesn't detract much from film on a whole; especially since I find this screwball plot fresh and creative, telling the story of remarriage in a unique way that many of its contemporaries did not (i.e. giving power to the female character and presenting an almost feminist message).

The costumes were designed by Royer, who has his roots in 30s costume design. Royer started at 20th Century FOX in 1933 as a "studio stylist" and stayed on until 1939. From 1940 to 1942 he work at Hal Rauch Studios. Royer would go on to be a fashion advisor for Lord and Taylor. He also taught at NYU, Columbia University, and New York School of Fine and Applied Art.

Daytime Wife displays Royer's sheer talent and his experience in dressing actors in both scenes of formal wear and daytime attire of the late 1930s. I am especially drawn to all the little details and accessories Darnell is seen wearing throughout the film. She is always wearing a great hat and some sparkly jewels to go with it. This film is really making me wish for colder weather to come so I can pull out my 40s suits and hats. I also really like that Darnell, and all the female workers for that matter, are shown dressing to the nines for work, something I feel current society does not still practice. When did it come acceptable for us to just roll out of bed and come to work? I don't even like wearing dress pants to work, I feel so unprofessional. Maybe it's just the vintage girl inside of me!

Fashion Grade: 9/10 (for numerous costume changes and exemplifying the entire wardrobe of a middle class/upper middle class female in 1939 from sleep wear to evening wear).




Daytime Wife is available in the Tyrone Power Matinee Idol Box Set and through Netflix and ClassicFlix to rent.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Dally in Detroit


Last weekend, Detroit held a little flea market/festival thing called Dally in the Alley. What is so cool about this is it is held in old little alleys in a really sweet part of "historic Detroit." Above is one of the really great buildings that was in the area.


It was a hot day on Sunday, so I got one more chance to wear this blouse and skirt set before fall weather arrives. I love this set; definitely one of the best vintage buys I have ever made. I like that I can wear them together or separate the top and skirt to make completely different outfits. Aren't separates great?!

Emily





Blouse & Skirt Set, Handbag: Estate Sales

Belt: American Apparel

Black Flats: JC Penny



Wednesday, September 15, 2010

New 'Do


As I mentioned in my last post, two weekends ago I got a haircut and decided to get bangs this time. I am really loving the shorter hair and am even considering going a bit shorter before winter comes.

I was super excited when this dress fit me -- it came off the center rack, featuring hand picked vintage styles, which normally doesn't have plus sizes. It's kinda hard to tell in the photo (I got a little too carried away with fancying it up), but the dress is in the most lovely shades of pastel blue, pink, and lavender, with just a hint of navy accent.

On a completely other note, several weeks ago I mentioned a 125 followers giveaway and never got around to it. I am in the process of putting all the lovely prizes together, so look for this soon!!!

Emily




Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Shoes: Target

Belt: Off Another Dress

Handbag: Salvation Army

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

A New Beginning....


Sorry I have been gone for the past week or so. Last Wednesday I started grad school and my graduate assistantship. To say that I was/am a bit overwhelmed is an understatement. It definitely was a bit difficult to get back into the swing of things, but now that I have started both classes, I have a better feel for things and my new schedule.

I wore this two weekends ago, while it was still hot enough here to wear a summer dress; it has since cooled off considerably. This is also the last photo of me with long hair -- I got a haircut the day after this photo was taken. I am also sporting my new bakelite bracelets that I found at an estate sale for $1 each!!! My first time finding bakelite in the "wild!!"

Emily



Dress and Bakelite Hoops: eBay

Sweater: Target

Bakelite Bracelets: Estate Sale

Friday, September 3, 2010

Film Fashion Friday: Love Before Breakfast (1936)


After a long debate, I have decided to bring back Film Fashion Friday. I needed to reminded myself why I decided to begin this feature in the first place: to aid my Masters work and to share lesser known classic films with my readers. Since this type of feature is now not unique to my blog alone, I am refocusing my goals with these biweekly posts. Instead of just looking at lesser known films, I want to keep my attention on films made during the 20s-60s that represent the fashion of that period; I am weeding out period dramas made post 1960. I feel that most of my readers have heard of or seen these films and I would much rather feature films that have primary verses secondary examples of vintage fashion inspiration. I have also decided to restructure these posts with regards to how they are formatted. Now that I have all the logistics out of the way, let's move onto this week's feature: Love Before Breakfast (1936).

The Players

Carole Lombard.....Kay Colby
Preston Foster.....Scott Miller
Cesar Romero.....Bill Wadsworth
Janet Beecher.....Mrs. Colby
Betty Lawford.....Countess Jane Campanella

Directed by Walter Lang
Miss Lombard's gowns by Travis Banton
Other gowns by Brymer

Synopsis
Carole Lombard is caught between two men in this classic 30s comedy of remarriage. Kay Colby is engaged to Will but has captivated the heart of Scott. When Scott buys the company Will works for and sends him to Japan in an effort to gain some alone time to win the heart of Kay, a love triangle beings to form. Who will win Kay's heart and exchange wedding vows at the conclusion of the film? Will it be the button-pusher Scott or the blue collar Will?

Fashion Review
Not being widely familiar with Carole Lombard, I didn't really know quite what to expect on the fashion level when I purchased the Glamour Collection box set featuring six of Lombard's films from the mid-1930s. I must say, I was impressed with this film's use of both gowns and daily/sport attire. Lombard's gowns were designed by Travis Banton, who worked with the actress on a number of films, most notably My Man Godfrey (1936). I feel that Banton has a true talent for designing the figure hugging liquid satin gowns that are synonymous with the 1930s. I would highly recommend checking out his library if you are a 30s gal at heart and are looking for inspiration. I really like his take on the 30s gown; simple yet never plain.

Brymer did the rest of the supporting cast's gowns, primarily Betty Lawford and Janet Beecher, both whom sport some pretty fabulous looks throughout the course of the film. I feel Brymer did particularly well to dress the supporting female characters in a way that would enhance Lombard, but also allow the supporting actress to have a look distinctly all her own. Both Mrs. Colby and the Countess each have their own "look" that is unique to them, but also allows for Lombard to stand out as the lead female of the film.

One of the things I really loved about the fashion in this film is the keen eye for detail not only with the film's leads but also with all the extras in the film (you can see some smartly dressed extras in the scenes that take place in the nightclubs). This is one of the main fashion strongpoints of the film.

Fashion Grade: 8/10 (for good use of both formal and informal attire).




Love Before Breakfast is available on DVD in the Carole Lombard: The Glamour Collection and is available to rent though Classicflix.com.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Zoomance


Most of the time, I love living in the Metro Detroit area. We have a lot of old movie palaces, some great downtown areas, decent vintage shopping, and a great zoo. Last week, the zoo held a special event for adults called "Zoomance." The zoo was open from 6-9 p.m. just for adults 21+ to walk around, sip some wine, and enjoy the animals and lovely atmosphere. It had been about ten years since I had been to the zoo, so the beau offered to take me to Zoomance. I decided I wanted to channel the look of what a gal in the 40s might have worn to walk around the zoo. I've had this dress for a while and never knew quite where to wear it to, so a trip to the zoo seemed like a perfect place to debut it.

We had lovely weather that evening and almost all of the animals were out and about!

Emily


Dress: Mother Fletchers

Shoes: Re-Mix

Earrings: Great Aunts

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Pink and Red Plaid


I can't believe how quickly this summer flew by!! It was so nice to have a summer off from school and be able to get in some great vacations before I had to buckle down and begin work on my Masters. Classes officially begin tomorrow, but I don't start until a week from today. I am both excited and a bit nervous for classes to start..... a little anxious to see how it will be to balance out school, work, and running film labs. I was offered a graduate assistant position in the Cinema Studies department (which is where my undergrad is from) and gladly accepted. I think working with the other film professors is what I am most excited about!!

Here's what I am wearing while I enjoy my last few days of summer freedom:

Dress: Lost and Found Vintage
Shoes: Target
Belt, 40s Watch, & Handbag: Estate Sales
Earrings: Salvation Army


Emily