Vintage fashion blog
The Vintage Woman Magazine, a source of inspiration and practical advice for every vintage purist, has launched their website and I couldn't be more thrilled to introduce to you all, the talented team behind the project, which is already being referred to as "the vintage style bible." This wonderful new resource for us all in the vintage community comes to us courtesy ...
Faux fur from Helen Moore is the best Winter (and beyond) accessory for a vintage girl. And if you wonder who would wear faux fur in the Summer, wonder no more because I definitely would wear it regardless of the season. Their sumptuous and very 1930s looking Slim Vixen scarf being the perfect example, as it would make for an ideal addition to a vintage floor length evening gown. It would also look divine paired with a couture blouse with short sleeves and a longer 1940s skirt.
I’ve been dreaming about a 1930s kimono robe ever since I saw Marlene Dietrich wearing one in Shanghai Express. The 1931 visual masterpiece directed by Josef von Sternberg.
Marlene Dietrich
I remember opening the incredibly well-packed garment and immediately falling in love with the magnificent shade of teal. The kimono is made of silk crepe with floral lace panels throughout and what makes it really special for me, is that it’s adorned with hand-painted cranes. Very similar to the ones on Dietrich’s robes in the photographs above. It’s definitely the most dramatic dressing gown I’ve ever owned and it’s a piece I wouldn’t hesitate to wear on a red carpet.
Vintage inspired hair flowers and accessories from Shazam Pin Up Hair Flowers is what every vintage girl should have in abundance. I certainly do!
Janet Ewers, the creative genius behind Shazam Pin Up Hair Flowers, is a professional florist with 30 years of experience, which explains why her dazzling hair flowers look so realistic!
When the DC Thomson publishing company approached me, asking if I would be interested in sharing some of the 1950s tips and cooking recipes they had published on their blog, I was intrigued to find out more about the book that the recipes had come from.
Today’s post, entitled Winter essentials for the vintage girl, is the follow-up to my “How to dress vintage when it’s cold” article from a few weeks ago.
Winter is a harsh mistress, making icicles of us all and sadly the vintage girl is not the exception. With the temperature dropping rapidly and way below my cold-threshold, I need to take extreme measures to stay warm. Not an easy thing to do without compromising my vintage look.
An all black vintage look might be just the right idea for those of you who are as fond of the colour black as I am.
It is also the perfect colour for anyone who is new to the world of vintage and at the stage of now contemplating the purchase of their very first vintage piece of clothing.
Even though black is often used as a symbol of death, mourning as well as witches and magic, for me, it represents elegance, power and individuality. Also, as an old-school Goth, I’m rather thrilled that it’s associated with darkness and Victorian mourning attire. That also explains my fascination with XIX century funeral capes which I have in abundance. It’s the prefered attire colour of a Femme Fatale and if you are curious about her history in the 19th Century paintings, Film Noir and 1930s-1040s Fashion, I suggest you read my article on that very topic.
How to dress vintage when it’s cold is a nagging question I’ve been trying to find an answer to, for the past few years and I believe I’ve finally got it!
It’s all fine and dandy to wear your favourite vintage suit or slacks underneath a lightweight coat if the temperature in Autumn and Winter is mild. When it gets to – 5ºC however and you have a very low tolerance to cold, the idea of swapping your stylish boots for a pair of UGGs sounds better and better the colder it gets.
Staying warm without compromising vintage style can be rather tricky, but I have few ideas which might help my fellow vintage ladies. [Scroll down the page to find out more!]
How to dress vintage when it’s cold. In the picture, I’m wearing a 1940s wool houndstooth tweed skirt suit paired with a vintage purse, Lea Wolford tights and Megumi-O sunglasses.
Autumn is without a doubt my favourite time of the year. It’s the most vintage friendly season, as long as it’s not raining that is, when I can wear a 1950s skirt suit, like the Handmacher beauty in the picture below, or a dress, without the need of having to cover it with a coat.
How to shop for vintage lingerie. Expert advice!
How to shop for vintage lingerie and what to do to make vintage clothes fit properly are two of the most frequently asked questions I receive from my readers.
Well, the answer to the latter is quite simple. Always buy clothes in the right size, mind you that it’s better if a vintage dress is a tad too big than too small, and always wear proper foundation garments!What really does the trick for me, is a pair of high waist knickers, a longline bra and my beloved Orchard corset, which I put over a slip, be it vintage or contemporary one. You see, I love to mix vintage lingerie with contemporary brands inspired by the 1930s-1950s and since I truly believe that what underneath counts, I can never pass on yet another gorgeous piece of undergarment. What can I say except that it’s beyond my control!
The answer to the first question, how to shop for vintage lingerie, is best left to the expert and who better to give advice on that very topic, than the owner of the extraordinary Daggers and Dames vintage shop, specializing in antique and vintage lingerie!
My Queen Bee look consists of:
A 1950s Handmacher skirt, “Queen Bee” top from 1683 Atelier, a contemporary brand that goes perfectly with all my 1930s-1950s garments, a late 1940s purse, a 1950s style Pillbox hat and the French Sole Hefner slippers with Queen Bee embroidery that I believe even Joan Crawford would approve of!
Detail of The Queen Bee top by 1683 Atelier
"Old age ain't no place for sissies.” Beautiful Bette Davis as Margo Channing in All About Eve I heard someone say once that the 'beast' known as Hollywood forgives everything from a small indiscretion, to a huge scandal even a month at a Betty Ford clinic but not birthdays. This resonates so well with a quote attributed to the great Miss Bette ...
I’m the creator of It’s Beyond My Control vintage fashion blog with a modern twist. I love, wear & write about fashion from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
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