"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing...kissing a lot. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls." Audrey Hepburn
Ever since I can remember, I have loved the look of a big, fake ponytail. Elvis movies were full of them; my mom LIVED in faux hair pieces in the 60's! They're just the sassiest thing! So my fine, thin hair was definitely not going to ever be capable of giving me the look I wanted in a ponytail.
I first introduced this little item to you long ago, when I was still a blonde. The video still stands and you can still use it, as well as the rest of the videos in that playlist, showcasing all the fabulous retro ways to use this hairpiece!
After I had my hair cut into a pixie last year, I knew it would be some time before I could revisit this sort of piece, so I'm very excited to be back on the 'faux pony'! My hair is now almost shoulder-length and ready for action!
My ponytail was blonde, so I made the decision to color it to match my red, as opposed to trying to match it with one of their existing titian shades. Which was a good choice, as it turns out, because I've since discovered that the reds they offer are no where near my current color. The color I use is the Loreal Feria 'Power Copper' with the color booster. The problem with this color is that it fades pretty quickly on my own hair, so for a time, I've had to wash my ponytail extension every time I wash my hair, so they'll fade at the same rate. A headache. One of the only cons to being a redhead though, so I'll take it.
Now, the tail is the purrr-fect shade of bombshell red, so I'm not complaining.
I also gave it a good whack, since I was bored with the super long heaviness of it. Now, I'm wearing it ALL the time because it's more comfy!
Anyway, that's about it for this entry, other than the link below of course. Clickety-click on the play button and you will see this baby in action as well as hear some handy-dandy tips for applying it!
Oh! And remember that if you use the following link (also in the info bar of the video, on Youtube), you'll get a discount AND be helping me out!! http://bit.ly/IM_Hair219
It was 'Styling as Usual' on Lisa Freemont Street for the last two weeks. That really just means it was a 'return to formula' and I was able to add to some existing series I have going on my channel.
Occasionally, I revisit a tutorial I've done in the past and call it a 'Street Repeat'. Since last week's tutorial was also based on the following Classic Pin Up Art piece, it qualified as both a repeat and an addition to that series. This Pearl Frush lady is just everything, and I love her one upswept little Victory Roll near her face.
Since I have bangs, I found a way to somewhat mimic that upswept look while hiding my fringe and I liked the final product!
The original version of this style, from all the way back in 2009, is still on Youtube and I'll go ahead and link it here as well. For fun, I used the same spunky little Squirrel Nut Zippers tune in my recreation. It's such a good one! Hopefully the lighting and instruction in the new one is easier to follow, but using both together could be helpful as well.
Original Tutorial:
New Tutorial:
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The second tutorial was an installment for my Diamonds & Dames series, which is an all-request series on my channel. You can visit the entire playlist, which started all the way back in 2009, here.
For this most recent episode, I used a request I received for the center-parted softly waved style worn by Donna Reed in From Here to Eternity and catered it to shorter hair. The result was just a semblance of the original style but still very much a 1950's option. It's such a simple look to achieve that I hardly feel it cam be termed a tutorial. So let's just call it a 'styling option' for short hair. Ha!
As far as the movie goes, I'm not a huge fan of this one. I feel it was mostly overrated and none of the characters really resonated with me. That said, the performance by Donna Reed was decent, albeit melodramatic even for the era, and who can forget that oceanside make-out session? It's been years since I've seen it, so I won't mess with trying to rate it accurately...strictly going on memory, I'd probably be scoring it a solid 7/10 based on the direction and some of the performances, in spite of its inability to connect with me.
And here is the tutorial for the Donna Reed inspired style...short and sweet and accompanied by a lovely little Eddie Fisher tune from the year the film was released. Enjoy!
So that was what was up the last couple of weeks. I'm currently settling my kid into K12 home school and planning a move back to middle Tennessee so I don't have as much time on my hands. I'll definitely be around though. You'll see me.
A few months ago, a site out of the Netherlands called Miss Poppywear contacted me about advertising here on my page. I was hesitant at first, since the site was not written in English (although there IS a little drop-down option in the top right corner that I later discovered and which magically converts the whole site into English-Voila!), but quickly got over that when I saw the great selection they had. There is so much good stuff to offer in this little online shop! Separates and dresses and hats-oh my!
But's let talk a little about this dress, shall we?
I picked this dress from their site on my own, and they kindly sent it to me for review. It's by the brand Lindy-Bop (a brand I've also come to love for their amazing childrens' clothing), and featured candy stripes, a little belt, and a flattering gathered bust that really appealed to the 1950's fan in me.
When I received the dress and tried it on, I was really impressed by the quality. Although it's not vintage-authentic in its construction, meaning it does include some lycra-stretch fabric for a more modern fit, it is very well made and showcases a sturdy lining as well. I always try my garments on initially without any shape wear, mainly to gage the 'actual' fit, and even without my handy-dandy under-duds, it zipped easily. It was very comfortable and needed very little pulling or tugging to make it sit correctly. Initially the bust area was a little big, something I'm used to since I am not the most proportionate of gals, but tacking down the extra fabric helped significantly with that little detail.
The fabric is a lovely shade of pink and white stripe, not too bubble-gummy but also not too deep, and the cotton chosen for the bust fabric blends with it beautifully. The belt is a patent material and really neither here nor there, to be honest but I think I may try it with a black belt eventually, to give the dress a little additional 'oomph' at the waist line.
The back of the dress is one of my favorite things about it. Instead of taking the predictable route, there is the added interest of the lovely pointed collar at the neckline which really helps highlight the classic feel of the narrow stripe. The fit at the rear is also very nice, since I feel it flatters that area without adding too much attention to it. Whew! Another nice feature is the graduated wide straps that finish in a cap sleeve for maximum bra coverage!
For the photo shoot, I did indeed wear my trusty Rago waist nipper for a little extra curve-appeal, and also some added security. I feel that from the front and side, the proportions are appropriately consistent and I am more than happy to wear this one out and about for afternoon or evening summer events.
For our hot and humid Memphis weather, I opted to pair the dress with a casual up-do, a gorgeous flower clip from Belle Blossoms, my pink peep-toe pumps by Remix Vintage, and an ever-important paper parasol that I purchased a few VLV's ago. I felt classic and cool-always a nice combo.
I am honored that Miss Poppywear wanted to advertise with me and hope that all of you will visit the site, linked here in this entry AND to the left in my sponsor column. Shipping is reasonable and questions are readily answered, but if you have any queries about either, you can always post a comment below and I will also do my best to help you.
So Long, Dearies!
All photos taken by uber-talented local artist, Jerry Plunk of Plunk Kreativ, at Overton Park, Memphis Tn. Plunk Kreativ is also linked to your right.
I get a lot of Vintage Style questions via email and on social media and usually the questions are pretty easy to answer in writing, with just a few words. Occasionally however, one arises that I feel a video would better serve to answer. This one, for instance:
How do I roll the back of my head?
Because I tend to roll my hair without a back view at all, I sometimes take it for granted that it's something everyone does. I know there are some girls who firmly believe in precision in this regard, using a mirror and a rat-tail comb to delicately part and curl the back of their head to perfection. And certainly vintage styling books show very specific placement for the back of the head, being geared towards the professional crowd as they are. But I do think most people don't give it a lot of thought or effort. Or at least, I think most ladies would prefer not to have to take that much time setting their hair at night.
If you are that latter gal, this video is for you! This is how I set my hair in the back and yes, I show you the messy results as well as the actual style that comes from the process. It doesn't have to be a thoughtful procedure unless you want it to be...and if you do, I salute you. But if you don't...join me and the other ladies who enjoy sitting in a tv-lit room watching Stephen Colbert as we haphazardly throw our hair up for the night!
For those of us with a vintage aesthetic, false lashes can make or break a look! No amount of wiggle dresses, high heels, seamed stockings, or bombshell waves will make up for a lash-less eye. While winged liner and lots of mascara can definitely add some thickness to your flutter, to really channel the broads of yore, you'll have to get used to applying some lashes-at least for special occasions.
The following video was made for YOU...you there, with your glue-problems and red eyes! You poked those tweezers in there one time too often, didn't you? I've got you.
Here is my failsafe, tweezer-less eyelash application tutorial! Enjoy!
I first ran across Lolita Haze quite a few years ago when I was a visitor of the forums called The Fedora Lounge. She had such a great attitude and such a handle on her own vintage style, that I began following her blog and youtube uploads with interest. Since then, we've both been super busy ladies and I actually lost track of her for a while.
I'm happy to see that she's back on youtube delivering more great platinum hairstyles with effortless rolls and plenty of pow!
When she approached me recently for a collaboration idea, I was stumped at first. It's hard to remain creative and vintage-authentic at the same time anyway, so adding someone else's style into the mix can be challenging. Then she mentioned a 'Country hairstyle/City Hairstyle' collab, and that really hit home...I loved the idea of doing a tongue-in-cheek revamp of the age-old 'Country Mouse & City Mouse' fable! I would be the Country broad, since I'm southern born and raise, and Lolita would do a vintage take on a City Broad.
For a few days I browsed the inter-webs in search of some photo-inspiration, and realized that I wanted to keep it simple...closer to what a typical country gal from the south might have actually done to her hair in the heat of summer. Usually there would have been a wet-set involved, to combat humidity, and flowers would have been plucked and perhaps woven into a chain for adornment. So the following look was born, and quite literally created 'on the fly'. It came out a little more bridal than I expected, which I didn't mind at all, and also even a little Petticoat Junction? I can see it with overalls and a gingham top but it would pair just as easily with an eyelet slip dress. I wore this with pride the day I did it though, because it felt completely organic to me. A bit sloppy maybe, but hey, who needs perfection?
I hope you enjoy the following tutorial as well..and please don't forget to check out Lolita's Video too, which will be linked in the info bar.
So far, all of the movies I've paid homage to in this resurrected series of mine, are dramatic films. This time, I decided to use a look featured in one of the decade's most pivotal silent comedies: Safety Last!, starring Harold Lloyd and his real-life leading lady, Mildred Davis. I had only seen those famous iconic images of Lloyd dangling from a clock tower until now, so I was happy to see that the film is available on a variety of streaming options and in relatively good quality. I'm so glad I gave it a watch!
About the Film:
The story is very simple. Harold Lloyd portrays 'the boy', in this one. Names aren't needed, nor are they missed. The boy travels to the big city to seek his fortune, and thus procure the hand of his lady-love back at home. While he is highly ambitious, he doesn't quite manage to make said 'fortune', and instead lives hand to mouth, scraping together earnings from a thankless job at a local department store. Since he exaggerates his success in his letters to home, sending expensive gifts and making dishonest claims about his position at the store, the girl he loves decides to make a journey to the city as well, so they can go ahead and be married. Faced with her presence, the boy must decide how to quickly obtain the funds needed, and comes up with a publicity stunt that would result in a huge paycheck for him, as well as increased business for the store. Chaos and hilarity ensue.
In spite of the fact that the story is very basic, there are moments of comedic timing here that will rival anything ever filmed. The moments at the department store, during sale days, when the ladies ransack the dress goods for a good deal will still resonate with retail workers today. Both Lloyd and Davis shine on screen, separately and as a couple. While I still prefer the acrobatic charm of Buster Keaton, I can completely understand the appeal of Harold's 'every-man' persona. The tousled hair, black framed rims, and lanky frame all combine to create a presence that was much-needed during a time of dark and brooding screen heroes. Davis is a breath of fresh air as well, sacrificing glamour and icy sentimentality in favor of girl-next-door simplicity. Her expressions, fashions, and simple attire likely spoke to the ladies of that generation in a way that was attainable and identifiable for them. The climax of this film did not fail to impress, especially when one considers the amount of preparation and skillful stunt-work that would have been involved in such a feat. For what it is, it is hard to imagine it being improved upon even in light of today's technical advances.
My Rating: 10/10
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The Tutorial:
My inspiration for the look in this video was actually based on a head shot of Davis at the time. I liked the above photo because her curls are still very apparent, and the big beautiful white flower really sets off her hair length and texture.
The trick with this hairstyle is to mimic the look of natural curls, in spite of my stick-straight, fine hair. If you've already got curly hair, simply placing your hair in pin curls while damp and brushing through the newly structured curls until the frizz has abated will give you a similar look. For longer hair, just pin up the length into a faux bob.
I first set it overnight in the smallest foam rollers I had. I parted my hair on the side and sprayed each section with a diluted solution of Lottobody setting lotion before rolling it up.
End papers will also come in handy if you have layered ends. The results of this set are some serious frizzy curls and will be super intimidating at first. HAVE NO FEAR. You can brush past the frizz if you have a good brush and some patience. Forming the curls into waves will be a bit of a process (it actually took me about 20 minutes)but it will be worthwhile when you finish.
The makeup I did was the easiest option for 20's makeup yet. It's a wearable version more consistent with the every day look that makeup novices of the day would have done. After all, makeup was really new to the general public and folks like Mildred Davis made a natural, fresh look not only en vogue, but also highly attainable!
See the video for techniques and application tips, but below is a list of the actual products I used in this tutorial. Some are discontinued so I didn't include those. Just find something with the same general look.
Products Used:
Face:
Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch (primer) by Clarins
Beyond Perfecting Foundation by Clinique in the color 'Alabaster'
Brows:
Mac eyeshadow in Soft Brown
Eyes:
Napoleon Perdis Prismatic Eyeshadow Quad #4
Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in 'Trooper'
Lancome Hypnose 'Doll Eyes' Mascara, black
Lips:
Rimmel Lip Liner in 'Spice'
Loreal Lipstick in Cinnamon Toast
