Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Polar Vortex Sale


With subzero temperatures in the Midwest, it is WAY too cold to venture outside.  Stay toasty and shop from home!




The entire shop is on sale now through the 31st.




Thursday, January 23, 2014

Are you Signed Up? A One Time Sneak Peek Inside the Livin' Vintage Newsletter



Tomorrow is a big day for Livin' Vintage!  My first ever newsletter hit's your inboxes!



I thought I would share a one time sneak peek inside the newsletter.  This content is designed to be exclusive newsletter only material, so this is a special glance!

In every issue you will find a spread from a vintage magazine on fashion forecasts for that given month.  This month's fashion spread comes from the January 1948 Screenland magazine, which showcases the new longer hemlines of the New Look trend.

I'm already flipping through my February magazines to pick out next month's fashion spread!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Storing Vintage Magazines


Storing collections in a fun creative way can often be a challenge.  My vintage magazine collection is bursting at the seams and I needed a way for me to store, organize, and somewhat display my collection without taking up too much room and still being able to access them easily.

In walked these vintage fruit crates.  I was in the basement of an estate sale and there was a giant pile of all different sorts of these crates at $2 a pop.  At the time, I wasn't sure what I was going to use them for, but they were stupid cheap and I've aways lusted after fruit/veggie crate decals.


These crates work great for storing magazines.  They are designed to hold the weight of heavy produce, so they can withstand the weight of magazines.  You can also fit a whole year of a title all in one crate and label the end, so it's easy to find the magazine you want when you need it.  What I also love, is these are stackable and pretty compact -- fitting well under a bed, in a bookcase, next to a desk.  Plus, because of their cute graphics, they are pretty too!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Lately


I've been keeping busy on instagram!  Here are a few snapshots of what's been going on here at Livin' Vintage:


Thrifed this 1950s rhinestone bib necklace.  Once I tried it on, I knew I had to keep it; although it may be a while before I actually wear it.


Added these fantastic 1940s classic hollywood star stamps to my movie collection.  Some of my favorite stars were featured on these stamps and I am currently researching more about these for a project I am working on.  When I learn more, I'll share here on the blog.



These 50s/60s Miller Studio chalkware fish hang in my 1964 blue bathroom.  I always wonder what my grandma had hanging in the bathroom when she lived here in the 60s.  Really, I just wish I could walk through all her homes; we had such similar style.
    


As mentioned in my last post, I am sharing one vintage valentine a day until February 14th.  Follow @livinvintage to see them all!



Bakelite mail!  I am slowly working on expanding my bakelite collection.  I have a lot of yellows and greens, but I seriously lack other colors.  This geometric chunky orange bracelet fit the bill and was a total steal!



What have you been up too?

Are you on instagram?  Lets follow each other!


Friday, January 17, 2014

2014 Classic Film Challenge


One of my goals for 2014 is to watch more classic films again.  It seems that somewhere down the line, I stopped watching mostly classic films and instead, watched a lot more things made after 1980.  For the most part, this was a great move, allowing me to catch up on some of the classics from the later half of the 21st century.  However, I have quite a Sight and Shame List building.  So, when I saw Raquel's post earlier this week, it inspired me to tackle some of that list.

This challenge is simple.  Select 10 classic films you haven't seen and watch them over the course of the year.  In no particular order, here are my selections.


The Grass is Greener (1960)
Johnny Guitar (1954)
Touch of Evil (1958)
White Heat (1949)
The Mark of Zorro (1940)
Humoresque (1946)
That Touch of Mink (1962)
The Third Man (1949)
Crash Dive (1943)
Airport 1975 (1974)


When I was deciding on films, I chose ones from my favorite actors that I haven't gotten around to watching yet and added a few classics that I totally should have seen but haven't.  I haven't seen much of Cary Grant's later career, but have always been interested in it, so I added two to the list.  I have viewed almost all of Dana Andrews' films and these two are some of the last I need to watch.  Same with Joan Crawford -- I started to work on her filmography and never finished.

I think it's really interesting to watch these stars progress though their careers, especially during the Studio System, where many stars were typecast.  I always like to see if they broke out of that once the Studio System fell apart or if they stayed with it; either because it worked for them or because other roles weren't offered to them because of their previous typecasting.


So what makes your list?

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Vintage Valentines Count Down


I'm sharing a month full of vintage valentines on both my Facebook page and on instagram.



Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Vintage Lingerie for Valentines Day | a shop preview




With Valentines Day right around the corner, I'm stocking the shop with lots of beautiful things to lounge around in or gift your sweetie with. 










These items will hit the shop later today and tomorrow.  If you'd like to reserve an item or call dibs, shoot me an email at livinvintage {at} hotmail {dot} com or click the contact me button below.


Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Spectacular Spectacles | Vintage Glasses for the Modern Girl


I have worn glasses since the second grade and surprisingly, it's not something I ever really minded.  There were a few years that I preferred contacts over glasses, but the older I get, the harder it is for me to keep them in for long stretches of time.

It was around the time of high school that I changed my perspective on glasses.  I wore them more as a fashion statement and looked at them as yet another way to expression my personal style.  This is when I branched out and took more risks with my glasses selection.  And, since I didn't wear them everyday, it was much easier to justify a more flashy selection.



However, for the last few years I have been stuck in a rut, wearing the same basic black plastic frames and not veering to far from this look.  If I am being honest with myself, it's because I feel most comfortable with this style and that design does flatter my face better than others.

But, it's time for a change.  Part of my mission for 2014 is to become a more honest version of myself, inside and out.  I have moved away from my vintage aesthetic and it's about time I get back into gear!



One of the ways I want to accomplish this is by getting some new glasses.  Much like a purse, glasses are apart of my daily accessories and they help to express my style.  While there is nothing wrong with my black square frames, I really do want something more inline with my vintage look.  Something that will help convey that look even if I am not wearing a vintage dress.

I really love the pair pictured above.  Cateyes are a bit hard for me to find that fit well with the structure of my face, but these are larger than most and I could probably get away with them.  Too bad I can't order a pair!

Join me over the next few weeks while I shop for glasses, share what's out there for the vintage loving gal, and 1940s, 1950s, & 1960s tips for how to wear glasses in those decades.  Until then, enjoy this late 1950s short on glasses as fashion accessories -- it's a hoot!




Thursday, January 9, 2014

Livin' Vintage on Pinterest


Livin' Vintage has two new boards on pinterest!  


I spent the polar vortex compiling all my favorite outfits and blog posts on pinterest.  I know I am pretty late the game on this, but I am pretty excited that I finally got it accomplished!  Let the year of checking things off my list and organization continue!





Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Sign up for the Livin' Vintage Newsletter!


I touched briefly on my new newsletter in my Coming Attractions post, but I wanted to share more details. 

Many vintage blogs have their own newsletter, many of which I subscribe to.  It's fun to get that email once a month -- it's like have a free magazine subscription!  I wanted my newsletter to combine all my favorite vintage loves: fashion, film, old paper, and freebies.




When you subscribe, you will receive a FREE DOWNLOAD for an exclusive 1944 interview with Joan Crawford.  It's from a Motion Picture magazine and contains some real sensational stuff!



The newsletter will be mailed out on or around the last Friday of the month.  There's no pressure to keep subscribing if you decide it's not your thing -- but if you do decide to keep on reading here's just some of the things I have planned:

-what's coming up on the blog the following month
-exclusive Livin' Vintage Shop previews, get the shop scoop before anyone else
-special newsletter only Livin' Vintage Shop sales, coupon codes, and offers
-tons of vintage fashion inspiration right in your inbox direct from vintage magazines
-freebies, downloads, and pdf patterns
-a good dose of classic Hollywood gossip as seen in fan magazines of the time


Basically, I am planning on using the newsletter as a companion to this blog, offering up exclusive content that won't be available here.  I am taking my love for fan magazines and vintage periodicals and creating my own by pulling directly from the source in order to share with all of you.  I can't wait!


Tuesday, January 7, 2014

History of Fan Magazines


Every since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated with Old Hollywood.  Almost all the movies I watched as a kid were from the Golden Age of Hollywood (roughly 1930s-1960s).  Fan magazines (or movie magazines as some call them) combine many of my passions in life: Classic Hollywood, vintage fashion, vintage paper items, and 20th century American culture.

Over the years I have surmised a fairly large collection of vintage fan magazines and vintage magazines in general -- it's into the hundreds.  What can I say? I am addicted to any old paper item!  Part of my goal for 2014 is to finally get my digital archive up and running and to share my knowledge of these cultural gems with others.  Today I am starting with a history of a movie fan magazine and share a few photos of some of my collection.



Motion picture fan magazines were first published in the 1910s, starting with such titles as Motion Picture, Photoplay, and Screenland.  At their height, some forty different titles would arise, but the most successful and most popular were Photoplay and Modern Screen.  Over the next six decades, these publications would mirror the rise and fall of the Studio System and eventually morph into periodicals we see today (like People, US Weekly, In Touch). 

 Fan magazines were not merely just a publicity vehicle for the film industry, they also functioned as a way to dictate taste to audiences, convey knowledge, and acted as a gateway for fans to enter into the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.  These publications were mostly focused on catering to a female audience, including articles on fashion trends and stars' own recipes. These types of articles allowed fans to feel closer to the star, by attempting to dress like them and even eat what they eat.



One of the most important roles of the fan magazines was to align the manufactured image of the star from page to screen – situating the character in the film with the one they portrayed in the magazine.  These magazine articles were often written by the star's agent or by the studio itself, in an effort to carefully craft the stars' image and conceal the less than favorable aspects of their lives.  It was common practice for fan magazines to submit their articles to the studios for approval before going to press -- all part of the open relationship between the fan magazine and the studio.  To the benefit of both, this type of relationship allowed greater access to the stars while allowing the studios to have a better sense of control over their stars' images.

Just like today, many of the stories printed were not always the most factual and even some of the authors were a complete construct.  Photoplay's gossip colonist Cal York was a fabrication of gossip columns in New York and California, weaving together the two columns. While a lot of what was printed was manufactured, coded language was often used to tip off insiders.  Things like a star have a "high old time" often meant they were seen drunk and an unexpected case of "appendicitis" was sometimes code for an abortion.  I love decoding articles from today's perspective and you can really learn a lot about stars from these articles if you know what to look for.


Over the next few months I'll be digitizing and restoring my collection to share with all of you!  In the mean time, want to catch a glimpse of what's in store?

Sign up for my newsletter and receive a free copy of a 1944 interview with Joan Crawford as seen in Motion Picture.  Every month you will also receive Classic Hollywood gossip found in the columns of fan magazines and exclusive stories of star sightings as found in Modern Screen

I really can't wait to share all this Classic Hollywood fun with you all!


Monday, January 6, 2014

Saving Style | The Bowery circa 1940s and Collecting Nightclub Photos


I am a sucker for old photos, but I especially love to find 1940s nightclub souvenir photos.  You know, the kind that are incased in a slim cardboard frame with a flap cover naming the bar/club the photo was shot at.  Since cameras at this time were bulky and required a flash attachment, many bars and clubs would over photography services.  Think of these like the photos amusement parks take while on a roller coaster.   I love that these photos came in a frame -- helping to document and preserve the picture itself.  My favorite in my collection is from my Grandma, taken during the 1940s at the Bowery in Hamtramck, Mi (a city housed within Detroit's city limits).

| left to right: my grandma, grandpa, and an unknown couple |

The Bowery Cafe was a pretty major nightclub in it's day.  Some people even recall it being much like the nightclub Ray Liotta takes his dates to in Goodfellas, where tipping the the head waiter resulted in your own special table set up complete with carrying it to the center of the floor.  

From HamtramckStar.com:
  "The Bowery drew major talent who would come to Detroit on tour, and it was not uncommon at any given time at The Bowery to see performers such as Jimmy Durante sitting at a table drinking Pfeiffer beer–which was distributed from 11618 Sobieski Street in Hamtramck–or Sophie Tucker sitting with United Auto Workers (UAW) moguls Walter Reuther and Dick Frankenstein, or Jack Dempsey, one-time heavyweight boxing champion of the world. The emcee was Amos Jacobs (Danny Thomas). An artist would come weekly and paint on the exterior of the building a portrait of the entertainer who would be appearing that week as neighborhood children sat and watched the face develop to see if they recognized the star. The Marx Brothers, the Ritz Brothers, Martha Raye, Sophie Tucker and Tony Martin, who was a very popular singer in the 1940s and was married to Cyd Charisse in 1948, were among the stars who appeared at The Bowery. During the 1940s, before they ever became famous on the Jackie Gleason television show, the June Taylor Dancers made up the chorus at The Bowery."

   




Thursday, January 2, 2014

Coming Attractions in 2014


Happy New Year Readers!  While I am not much for resolutions, I do feel that a new year is a fresh start and I have big plans for both this blog and myself for 2014.

2013 was a year of experiments for me.  I started selling vintage full-time and worked hard all year to build my business.  Through this, I was able to learn how I work best and what I need to improve on.  This experience has inspired me to share how I work at home and what I do to stay on task -- look for more of this in the coming months right here on the blog!



I've also FINALLY got my act together and put together the Livin' Vintage Newsletter!  I am beyond excited about this new endeavor and can't wait to share fun extra content with my readers.




When you subscribe, you will receive a free download of a 1944 interview with Joan Crawford and let me tell ya, you don't want to miss out on this one!  The details are pretty juicy!


So what can you expect to find each month in the newsletter?

-what's coming the next month
-exclusive Livin' Vintage Shop Previews
-special newsletter only shop offers and sales
-freebies, downloads, and pdf patterns
-old Hollywood scoop
-vintage fashion galore
-and much, much more!!


One of my goals for this blog is to get back to my roots, so to speak.  When I started blogging 5 years ago, it was an outlet for me to share my vintage finds, my outfits, and my love for classic film.  I have since moved away from much of that, partly because things change and progress, but also because somewhere along the line it began to feel more like work than fun to get up everyday and put on a vintage dress.

I wrote about some of these things in THIS POST and up until recently I still have been mulling all that over.  What I didn't share in that post is the fact that I had (and have) gained some weight which really has prohibited me wearing anything out of my vintage closet.

I want to take this fresh start of a new year to become more real and honest with both my readers and myself and use this blog as a way to be accountable for that.  I feel we are all on a journey of discovery and I want my journey though 2014 to be an honest one, full of love, life, vintage, and happiness.

I hope you will continue to join me!