Penny Dreadful Vintage

New Website!

2011-10-19T18:34:00.000+01:00

The new Penny Dreadful Vintage website can now be found at www.pennydreadfulvintage.com

The Penny Dreadful Vintage blog is at www.pennydreadfulvintage.com/blog/

Come on in, the water is fine!

Vintage Tips, Tutorials and Links Round-Up

2011-10-14T16:46:00.000+01:00

Men photographed in traditional pin-up poses. Hilarious, but it also makes you realise how concerning it is that this kind of cutesy pose became so identified with womens' sexuality.

I hope you have all had great weeks and are looking forward to the weekend. Mr D's folks are down visiting from Scotland so we'll be eating and drinking and catching up, but I am also hoping to get any last minute changes made to the new website since IT IS GOING LIVE ON MONDAY! I am really excited and can't wait for you all to see it.

We have another bumper crop of articles and photographs for you all here. I have started following a few wedding blogs since I have several friends getting married next year and am really excited for them - so you'll probably see a few wedding dresses creeping in to the round-ups from now on. Have a have wonderful weekend all!

Attention knitters! There has been an oil spill in New Zealand and the little blue penguins which have been caught in it need woollen jumpers. You can find the penguin sweater pattern and where to send them at Skeinz.

There is a new TV program being made here in the UK about shopaholics who can't help hoarding their purchases. If you fit the bill and want to see your mug on telly, email hoarders@betty.co.uk

Tutorial for a 40s style double hair roll.

Ideas for halloween costumes and homemade halloween decorations.

Tutorial for Frankenstein nails, complete with stitches.

32 witty comebacks from history.

How to declutter by letting go of your fantasy self.

New research busts myths about the gender gap in the workplace.

Tutorial for everyday 40s style make-up.

Retro Renovation's top stories about renovating a vintage home.

Mini travel guide to South Africa.

Who reads more books, e-readers or paper-based readers?

Photographs of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Photo line-ups of fans at music concerts (The Rod Stewart line-up in particular made me laugh).

Tips on creating a 1940s bustline.

New medical research demonstrates risks in taking vitaman supplements in pill form. Better stick to fruit and veg.

Where to find rockabilly fashions in the UK.

Book review of Maus by Art Speigelman.

Which foods are in season in October (northern and southern hemispheres).

Traditional breakfasts from around the world.

An amazing tree house home.

How to refashion an 80s curled brim felt hat into a 20s style cloche.

Interview with Anne Taintor about her new retro cocktail book.

Make a tealight holder and succulent planter... from an old brick.

How to host a 1920s party.

A history of blue jeans.

How to make pretty twiggy drawing pins and coat hooks.

Along the same lines, you can also make thumb tacks from acorn tops.

A short history of board games.

How to transfer photos onto fabric.

Profile of 30s and 40s designer Valentina.

How to rotate your closet for a new season.

The use of radium in beauty products of the 30s.

A DIY on preserving autumn leaves in melted wax. Wonderful for halloween decorations.

Do we have double standards in romance?

Recipe for toffee vodka. Om nom nom.

Make your own origami bats.

Taking in a too-large vintage dress.

How to reupholster a bergere chair.

DIY floral elbow patches.

Top idea - make a lace tunic top out of an old tablecloth.

Do you wear big knickers?

DIY an old suitcase with a fabric panel.

A wonderful bedroom storage make-over. I particularly love the boxes marked with famous women's names for the type of clothing inside (ie 'Rosie' holds old clothes for dirty work).

Wendy B comments on Kanye West being Kanye West. ie, a moron.

Lady Gaga duets with Tony Bennett. Amazing!

Hand stamped cat tights. I love these, but am still too lazy to make them myself. Maybe.

Top idea - chart your kids growing up by a once a month photo in the same spot.

Pictures of John Lennon's Surrey house.

Recipe for black beans, corn chips, and loadsa other lovely stuff.

Why the sudden use of the word 'fempreneur'. Aren't we just entrepeneurs?

An amazing re-fashion of a 60s velvet maxi dress into a 30s style.

Tutorial for a 1940s Veronica Lake waved hairstyle.

Book review of The West End Front: Wartime Secrets of London's Grand Hotels. I really want to read this.

Three women activists win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Tutorial for an 18th century curled up-do hairstyle.

A clever abandoned cat who led the RSPCA rescuer to her hidden kittens. Awwww. She had been thrown from a car - what is wrong with people?

From Me to You

Fashionistable

Esme and the Laneway

Bright Young Twins photographed by Sin Bozkurt

Photographs of Marilyn getting ready for a night out

Screencaps from Arzoo at Bollywood Movie Fashion

Toby and Isa at Rock n Roll Bride

A Fine Day for Sailing

Chronicles of an Eccentric

Modernist house for sale in Wales

Leopard and Lipstick

Here's Looking At Me Kid

Sexay album covers from the 50s and 60s

Casey

Dethrose Vintage

The Sarorialist

Barbara Hulanicki's studio at Vintage a Peel. I want my home to look like this.

Misfits Vintage

Agent Lover

Vogue illustrations from 1959 at Sighs and Whispers

Keiko Lynn and Miku

Someone Like You

Karla's Closet

Vanessa

Amazing 60s house for sale in Scotland

The Nyanzi Report

Nicole has the most wonderful collection of hats and bags.

Societ car ads from the 60s and 70s

Gypsy Skirt Vintage

Style Bubble

Johanna Ost

Crikey! Found at The Glamourologist

Selective Potential

James's kids hanging out in a sheet fort. Looks like so much fun I want to build one in our loungeroom.

Jess at Street Style Aesthetic

Statements in Fashion

Racy 1920s illustrations by artist Leo Fontan

Vix

My lovely friend Gemma photographed by Southern Retro

Sacramento

Vintage Virgin

Little Girl Big Closet

Vorey the cat at Hen House

Witch Hare

Susie Bubble photographed by Wayne Tippetts

Stormion

Jazabelle's Diary

Style Montreal

Snippets of Shiny Thoughts

Photographs of Jean Harlow

The Comtesse de Ferveur

The Thriftaholic at Dethrose Vintage

Dethrose Vintage

I just had to include this one too. A girl after my own heart.

Brigitte Bardot pictures

Bargainista Fashionista

A Fine Day for Sailing

Tikkitiboo

Mousevox

60s advertisements at My Vintage Vogue

Tick Tock Vintage

Style Bubble

Nova, June 1973 at Sighs and Whispers

Modernist classical album covers

A pink-haired bride, so pretty

1957 catalogue at What I Found

Photographs of smiling Victorians

Duffy photographs at Vintage a Peel

American Girl magazine covers from the 30s

Photographs of Anna May Wong at Leopard and Lipstick

Book Review: Bus Stop and the Influence of the 70s on Fashion Today

2011-10-13T18:34:00.002+01:00

There is no arguing that Lee Bender and her Bus Stop store and label were huge during the 70s. Like Biba, what was once budget fashion is now highly collectable and recognised as being a major influencer during that period. With all that in mind, I had been looking forward to finding out more about the label in the book Bus Stop and the Influence of the 70s on Fashion Today, written by Lee Bender herself.

I don't even know where to start with how disappointed I was with this book. It was badly written, with very little real information, an unattractive design and layout, substandard production, not enough photographs, and too many illustrations. I actually found myself getting angry while I was reading it.

In a nutshell, the book talks about how boring fashion was before the 70s, how brilliant the 70s were, how amazing Bus Stop was during the 70s, and ends with Bus Stop taking over the world. It seems odd that with Bus Stop essentially having global domination at that point, we never find out why they aren't around anymore. There simply weren't enough detailed facts for me.

I even felt let down by the captions. Where there were proper photographs of Bus Stop clothing as seen in magazines of the time, there were no captions provided as to date or publication. This made it hard to get any idea of a timeline. In the entire book there wasn't a single contemporary picture of a Bus Stop garment displayed and photographed on a mannequin, so that we could get a proper look at the clothing in high resolution. The illustrations may have worked as a basis on which to design clothes, but in my opinion they are not well executed and don't give any real indication of what the clothes truly look like.

In the interest of being fair, I asked for second opinions from friends - both those with an interest in vintage and those without. The unanimous consensus was that this book looks like a badly put together primary school text book.

You can't question that Bus Stop came out with great designs and really led the pack with high street fashion in the 70s. Unfortunately, we'll still have to wait for a decent history of the label, because this misses the mark by miles. It doesn't work on an informative level for vintage aficionados, or an a visual one for those with only a passing interest.

Badly conceived illustrations

No dates on any of the photographs

I wasn't aware that England in the 60s had only drab clothing choices - news to me.

An example of poor design and zero informative content (grainy quality is down to my scanner)

London Fashion Week Favourites: N to Z

2011-10-12T17:43:00.001+01:00

Unique

The final selection of Fashion Week favourites, and tomorrow we will be back to regular vintage programming. I know that many people who enjoy vintage aren't in the least bit interested in modern fashion, but I enjoy design from all periods - including the one I live in. Art is art, whenever it is from.

I have also heard that the blog is not updating in Google Reader. I can't find any solutions in blogger forums but am doing my bext to fix things - if anyone else has a solution please let me know!

Nicole Farhi showed some luscious sherbert colours in stiff cocoon shapes. I love the laser cut leather dress, a trend lots of designers have been playing with.

The Paul Costelloe collection was slightly mishy mashy, but I adore the black and white striped dress and the brocade trapeze coat.

The reptile-like prints at Peter Pilotto were placed in such a way to emphasise the figure in all the right places.

The Richard Nicoll show was a little haphazard, but I liked some of the ideas. In particular the clear plastic tunic layered over a brocade top and mini skirt is interesting and new and classic all at once.

My favourite part of the Roksanda Ilincic show were the flower-like cuffs. The rope belts were also lovely and something you could do so easily yourself.

Temperely was, as always, an utter delight. The dresses were beautiful, the styling was beautiful, the models were beautiful, it was all just wonderful. How could you ever choose just one of these dresses to wear? It's almost fortunate I'll never be in that difficult position.

The Rodnik Band were a label I'd never heard of, but aren't their nautical themes fun. The crab dress is just incredible, I would wear it in an instant.

London Fashion Week SS12: F to M

2011-10-11T20:11:00.000+01:00

Issa

The second of my collections of favourites from London Fashion Week for Spring Summer 2012, this time names from F to M.

There were some striking metallic designs from Giles, with laser cut leather and fringing. I also really loved the recurring swan motif.

Felder Felder also showed some fun metallics (this was a theme with quite a few designers).

House of Holland had a bit of a pastel punk vibe - cute colours in Skin-style shapes and mesh.

Once again Holly Fulton was one of my favourite collections. Striking graphics and bold colours on simple 60s style shapes. The punched out yellow leather dress is my favourite.

Issa showed modern flapper style dresses with fringing and fresh, pretty maxis.

J JS Lee might not be my usual style, but you have to admire the incredible design and workmanship. You have to have incredible skill to pull off this kind of minimalism.

Jaeger are back on form after a lacklustre show this time last year. I love the dresses with net layered over lace, the jackets with scalloped lapels, and the cut out designs on dresses and skirts.

Luscious bold reds from Jasper Conran; the first mod style dress is particularly fab.

More prettiness from Jonathan Saunders, with early 60s style dresses and mix 'n match prints.

It took me a while to get my head around the chunky applique from Louise Gray, but once I'd gone back and looked several times I decided I loved it. This is just so much fun.

These crochet mesh designs from Marios Schwab manage to be both ladylike and edgy. I would wear any of them very happily indeed.

Still with crochet (hurrah!), Mark Fast showed Hollywood style glamour with a 70s homespun hippy twist.

Matthew Williamson had prints in gorgeous muted colours.

The Meadham Kirchoff show was great fun. Childhood kitsch meets pastel 50s four frou, fabulous!

These designs by Michael va der Ham very clearly reference tradition 'torn paper' effect kimono fabrics, but in crisp modern styles.

Mulberry had some wonderful pastel plastics with a distinct 60s edge, keeping things ladylike with below knee skirts and chiffon maxi skirts paired long sleeves. And how could I resist the cute little schauzer pups being walked down the runway!

London Fashion Week Favourites: A to E

2011-10-10T21:54:00.000+01:00

Ashish

London Fashion Week came and went several weeks ago, so I'm displaying my lack of 'proper' fashionista credentials by writing about it only now. But, truth be told, I find the hysteria of that week a little hard to handle, and usually prefer to let things rest for a while before digesting what has been shown. It is a rather lovely thing to lie on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon, drinking many cups of tea and clicking through so many beautiful designs. We are so lucky to live in an age when these things are all available to look at for free and almost immediately - can you imagine what it must have been like in the old days when you had to order catalogues from Paris.

I had many favourites, so this will be split into several posts. In fact I found something to like in almost every collection; once you set aside your preconceptions of whether it is something you would wear, you can enjoy things simply for the quality of design.

In terms of trend-spotting, if you want to stay ahead of the curve for next summer look out for 60s style printed capris or cigarette pants, playsuits (still big), floral short and jacket sets, 70s style flowing maxi dresses with balloon sleeves, and full dresses or skirts in coloured cotton - think Brigitte Bardot on the French Riviera.

Amanda Wakeley

These 70s style chiffon gowns from Amanda Wakeley were very beautiful.

Antonio Berardi

Antonion Berardi stepped away from his usual stark white and showed some stunning beaded gowns in cream and jet black.

Antonio Berardi

Ashish

Ashish was a surprise hit for me. I sometimes find their clothes a little bit haphazard and tasteless, but I adored the exuberance, fun and colour in this collection.

Ashish

Burberry

Burberry wasn't quite as consistent as usual, but they did have some fab printed coats.

Caroline Charles

Caroline Charles showed some classic little suits and tea dresses, but what I loved most were the dapper straw hats on the models.

Caroline Charles

Christopher Kane

Some rich metallic brocades at Christopher Kane, reminiscent of 60s cocktail dresses.

Clements Ribeiro

Understated monochrome at Clements Ribeiro.

Corrie Nielson

Elegant shapes from Corrie Neilson, though I wouldn't say they are particularly summery.

Daks

Daks was one of the stand-out shows for me, they blew Burberry out of the water. This is the new heritage brand to watch.

Daks

David Koma

David Koma showed some incredible space age designs, that wouldn't have looked out of place in Barbarella.

Emilia Wickstead

Emilia Wickstead is a new name to me, and I loved her romantic but preppy designs. They look like something from a modern Great Gatsby.

Emilia Wickstead

Erdem

Erdem were once again Rulers of The Floral. So many pretty, Grace Kellyish frocks here, perfect for the pale spring sunlight.

Erdem

Vintage Tips, Tutorials and Links Round-Up

2011-10-07T18:57:00.000+01:00

Franca and Dave's first dance at their wedding was to The Lovecats - isn't that wonderful.

Well I was hoping that I would have the new website ready to go today, but I haven't done a single piece of work all week due to my rotten cold (other than making sure I still got blog posts out). Luckily it is easing off now, so I have a full weekend planned of meeting a friend's new pet bunnies, going wig shopping, and discussing wedding plans with a newly engaged pal. Hope you all have great weekends!

How to make a witch's hat for Halloween.

Knitting pattern for a 1940s striped jumper.

A profile of vintage designer Norman Hartnell.

Ingredients for a salted caramel martini, yum!

Tips on forgetting about work worries when you get home.

Video tutorial on styling a 1920s chignon. Great for vintage girls with long hair!

Recipe scans from a 1950s French cookbook.

A cake stand made out of old vinyl records.

A selection of amazing Halloween costume ideas.

Wendy B describes the process of designing a custom-made ring (in the shape of a tiger no less).

Slideshow of White House interiors from The Kennedy's on.

How to wax your own jeans.

Singer Gabby Young talks about her favourite vintage things in London.

A trademark war over the Keep Calm and Carry On phrase.

Video tutorial for styling 1940s victory rolls.

A simple recipe for apple and ginger flapjacks from Vix.

Interview with photographer Ari Seth Cohen about his new Advanced Style book.

A bathtime giveaway on Snoodlebug.

I cannot WAIT to see this: a documentary about the puppeteer behind Elmo.

A video of swimming cap fashions from the 1950s.

Tutorial on styling a hair bow.

Make your own elbow patches.

Review of the Maidenform Instant Slimmer waist nipper.

Pattern for a cable knit hot water bottle cover.

A sad story about losing a much loved pet with no warning.

The history of lipstick.

Recipe for spiced apple rum.

Make your own D&G style pasta earrings.

How to wear vintage without it looking like a costume (not that I have a problem with that, obviously!).

Recipe for traditional Shrewsbury biscuits.

10 ways not to look like a tourist in New York.

Review of A Dedicated Follower of Fashion.

Feminist article of the week: when to patiently explain and when to laugh and walk away.

Videos of Soul Train lines in the 70s.

A full index to period films and costumes dramas, and the same organised by historical period.

Iconic photos recreated in lego.

All about Gianni Versace's first designing job, at Genny.

Armchairs used as desk chairs.

Scans of 1920s crochet patterns.

Girls looking awesome in glasses.

Free knitting pattern download for a 30s jacket.

How to make a floral fabric headband from scraps.

A great idea for re-using old shirts - turn them into cushions!

A glam desk made for only $10.

Love this - a Sergeant Pepper pepper mill!

Hummingbird Girls

Advanced Style

Magpie Girl

Fab ghostly poodle skirt at Atomic Redhead

Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Cheeky Charly

A girl, her bike and her dog in 1911

This Old Life

Selective Potential

Fleur de Guerre and Banbury Cross modelling for Betty Blues Loungerie

Esme and the Laneway

Leopard and Lipstick doing a falconry experience. Amazing!

Scans from Queen, 1969 at Vintage a Peel

Theatre Magazine covers from the 1920s

Alex

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, my favourite ever Hollywood couple

Big Girl Small Budget

All This Happiness

A sweet vintagey wedding

Harlean's Heyday

Mousevox Vintage

Pink Champagne

My Happy Sewing Place

Charlotte

Style Pantry

Call Me Lucille

Circus performers in the 40s and 50s

Frassy

Magazine scan at Vintage a Peel

Pull Your Socks Up

Annimal House

Charlotte Rampling in 1985, scan Sighs and Whispers

Frocktasia

Comtesse de Ferveur

Helga the Hussy

Nubby Twiglet and Gala Darling

The Sartorialist

Vintage Passions Just Like Mine

The Vintage Baroness

Fashion and cars by John Rawlings

Dressing table inspiration

1960s house for sale in Bexhill-on-Sea

Thriftaholic

Hummingbird Girls

Michel Tellin ads from L'Officiel 620, 1975, Sighs and Whispers

A Cup of Jo

Amazing retro hairstyles

Cathering Deneuve at Film Noir Photos

Las Vegas in the 50s

Vintage Festival Outfits

2011-10-06T19:23:00.003+01:00

My round-up of the vintage festival in July is now well overdue, but rather than getting stuck into my review immediately I wanted to show off some of the lovely outfits that were on display. Most of these are my own chums as I am a bit shy about asking to take pictures of strangers - I would be a useless street photographer. I'm obviously biased as these are my friends, but I think they are all very dashing and beautiful and deserve to be admired by the wider world.

Currently I am still coughing and spluttering with this cold that seems to be going around London, have any of you been suffering with it? I must look like Lady Muck right now, as I've folded out the sofa bed in the living room and am tucked up in my blankets surrounded by books, watching old films, snuggling with Elsa the cat, drinking tea and eating chocolate. If I was feeling better this would be utter bliss.

Lovely Lena, in a dress, bag and raffia beret borrowed from the PDV shop.

Colin, the Vintage Style Doctor

This Pearly King and Queen couple were very sweet

Lena couldn't stand another day of 50s, and reverted to her beloved 60s on the second day.

Bethan left and Jeni right, I am not sure of the name of the girl in the middle.

Sarah and Bethan preparing for the Chap Olympiad

This girl was competing in the Chap Olympiad, isn't her parasol lovely.

Fleur and Mr Attree of The Chap Magazine

Moi (but there was a nicer photograph taken of this dress by Dvora)

Colin and Lena

Chris and Gemma

1930s Italian straw hat worn by Gemma

Min and Bethan

Rebecka and Charly

Hannah and Cheeky Charly

Claire, Hannah and Charly

These girls were competing in the Chap Olympiad

Gemma leading a Festival of Britain tour

Shona of Heyday Clothing with Gemma

Shona's dapper husband Twan

Chalry showing off her fab new embossed leather satchel

Jeni was getting sick of posing for photos so I asked for her best grumpy face

And this is her fake happy smiley posing face

Charlotte, Jeni and moi

Two more grumpy faces. We were all feeling a bit fed up by the end of the day.

The divine Miss Asprey. Doesn't she look just like a 50s model.

1930s Vintage Film Style: Flying Down to Rio (1933)

2011-10-05T18:08:00.002+01:00

Let's get this out of the way straight up. Flying Down to Rio is a very silly film indeed. However, like many other silly things (whoopee cushions, jaffa cake flavoured milkshakes, nail art, shoes with cat faces to name a few), that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile.

Flying Down to Rio was released in 1933 and loosely follows a dashing band leader and his pursuit of a Brazilian Bombshell. The two leads are Dolores del Rio and Gene Raymond, but nowadays the film is better known as being the first to pair up Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. In fact at this time Ginger was much better known than Fred, and it is the only time that her name ever appeared before his in the billing.

The plot really isn't important at all, but the music and dancing are sparkling and the movie is well worth watching for these alone. Being pre-Code, some of the costumes are also rather racy and wouldn't have been permitted in a 1950s musical.

You can watch it online at BBC iPlayer until 8 October, though this may only be available to UK folk so here also are the two most famous dance routines.

Flying Down to Rio (1933) on BBC iPlayer

The Carioca dance routine in Flying Down to Rio on Youtube

The aeroplane dance number in Flying Down to Rio on Youtube

Pre-code!

This was a publicity still, but the dress was never worn in the movie

1940s Outfit for a Scottish Wedding

2011-10-04T19:49:00.001+01:00

Not many words from me today, as I'm still in bed with my cold. Luckily Elsa has been right by my side all day, demonstrating just exactly how napping should be done (in case I had lost the knack).

This outfit was worn to our friends' wedding in Scotland two weeks ago. I knew that it was likely to be colder than down south, so made sure I was wearing something with sleeves. As it turned out we had torrential rain, so I was most grateful for the bit of fur around my neck - it really does keep you warmer than anything else.

Outfit details: Secondhand 1940s reproduction dress, vintage fur, vintage satin gloves, vintage cameo brooch, 70s vintage clutch bag, 60s vintage pillbox hat with bow, art deco earrings of pearl and marcasite, Dolcis shoes.

I was quite pleased with my make-up so took a mirror shot. I have never been very good with cosmetics and it has taken me a while to learn how to do a 1940s face, but I think I am getting there. The key seems to be going easy on the colour, and concentrating instead on bright lips, dark eyelashes, and a strong eyebrow.

This is the only full length photo of the outfit I have, and it makes me look knocked up (or a heavy beer drinker). Gah! This is why ladies in the old days wore girdles, and made sure to stand up straight. Note to self: must improve posture. I should have taken tips from Grace Kelly - hold purse OVER stomach, not beneath it.

It might look like I am pointing out something cultural or intelligent, but actually I was just really excited by the menu of this hotel. Haggis! Stovies! Cullen Skink! Don't believe the nonsense some people say about haggis, it is really just a big spicy sausage and completely delicious. I love Scottish food, it really should have a much better reputation than it does.

There is nothing amazing about the photo below, but I simply had to demonstrate to you that my stomach doesn't normally stick out like Porky Pig in drag.

Quirky Cat Shoes by Charlotte Olympia

2011-10-03T18:08:00.000+01:00

I have a bit of a head cold today so haven't done much other than ordering some grocery shopping (which contained much more cake than usual), napping with Elsa, and ogling shoes that I can't afford. I am very much in love with these adorable 'Kitty Flats' by Charlotte Olympia. Aren't they wonderful? And luckily so far out of my budget that I can't even dream.

They also come in a heeled style.

And a wedge style.

These piano shoes are rather fab too.

The kitty flats remind me of the Marc Jacobs mouse flats that were popular a few years ago. I loved these as well, but again they were well out of my budget. It is still nice to admire things you can't afford though, isn't it. And wouldn't it be fun to have a pair of both the Marc Jacobs and Charlotte Olympia flats; then you could have a game of cat and mouse on your feet!

Vintage Tips, Tutorials and Links Round-Up

2011-09-30T18:37:00.001+01:00

Autumn 1949 advert, Vintage Chic

Hope you have all had great weeks, and enjoyed the oddly warm weather we've had in the UK the past few days. I'm still working away on the new website which is rather dull, but I am hoping it will be ready to go live this time next week. Fingers crossed!

I hereby give you, The Best of Vintage on the Internet This Week (if you ever think I missed something fabulous then let me know!)

La Dama's recipe for Huevos Rancheros. "Throw the tortilla on the plate. It's okay, you can be messy. I treat everything like a prostitute."

Retro Chick review Style Me Vintage Make-Up.

Soviet fabrics of the 20s and 30s.

Tutorial on adapting vintage sewing patterns to modern plus sizes.

An incredible staircase 'made' of books.

New boutiques of London... in 1965.

The penny farthing is being put back into production!

Book Review: From Culture to Catwalk.

Luxury brands should start taking ethical responsibility, from The Guardian.

I can never get enough of dogs scrapping like morons.

The character of Mrs Exeter from Vogue magazine in the 1950s.

How to tie a quick and easy turban.

'Colour Me Good' 1990s colouring book. Hilarious!

A doughnut themed engagement party. YUM!

An Australian student set up a Fashion version of wikipedia. Has anyone used it?

The ever beautiful Esme

Calivintage

Wish Wish Wish

Tea and Crumpets

Debi and Solanah

The lovely Rosalind photographed by the equally lovely Dvora

Freelancer's Fashion Blog

Tasha and Mel, aren't they cute.

The Coveted

Desiree

Style Pantry. Aren't those earrings awesome.

A Fine Day for Sailing

Pearl

Strawberry Koi

ReeRee's new knuckle tattoos

Keiko Lynn

A Beautiful Mess

100 years old and still fab. Advanced Style.

Vintage flight attendants at Child of the Moon

Tick Tock Vintage

Just Another Wardrobe Experience

Butterflies and Daisys

Frassy

Style East

New collection from the amazing Mrs Jones

A Fine Day for Sailing

Selective Potential

Helga

Franca's lovely wedding photos

60s Playboy adverts

Vanessa

Karla's Closet

Gorgeous wedding dress at Xtabay

Chronicles of an Eccentric

Frocktasia in her mum's old waistcoat

Street Style Aesthetic

Va Voom Vintage by Phantom Photo

Shen Dove

A 1969 Giorgio di Sant' Angelo patchwork dress at FIDM Museum blog

Vintage Outfit: Androgyny for Cake and Jane Eyre

2011-09-29T18:28:00.000+01:00

I often show you outfit photos where I am all gussied up in some kind of extravagant frock with red lips and a sparkly purse about to go out to a party. But this is much more the kind of thing I have been wearing recently, either when I am at home working, or out and about locally on the weekend.

By androgyny, I really do mean that I am wearing men's clothes. Both the jeans and the shirt used to belong to Mr D, but I claimed them along with a few more of his old shirts in a recent charity shop sort out. In the past I have never liked wearing shirts as I don't think they suit me, but slim fitting men's shirts seem to be perfect. Which just goes to show that it is important to think outside the square with your clothes. Now I have lots of lovely shirts and they didn't cost me a penny!

Outfit details: Secondhand Uniqlo jeans and Topman shirt from Mr D, pewter ballet flats from Dorothy Perkins, secondhand black blazer by Cerruti, Oasis baker boy cap, vintage fruit print scarf, my favourite bag ever from The Leather Satchel Co.

Before going to see Jane Eyre at our local cinema, we stopped for cake at Louis Patisserie. I really do think this place does the best cakes in London. You can feel your arteries hardening with every mouthful.

This was my selection from the tray of cakey gloriousness. It contains layers of chocolate sponge, chocolate cream, walnuts, marzipan, and more chocolate. ORGH.

Mr D went for the 'healthy' fruit option. Under all that is a mountain of sweet cream.

The patisserie was full of groups of old folk meeting up for their weekly gossip. I tried to take a sneaky photo of this group of men because they seemed so happy and involved in their conversation, but it is clear I was rumbled.

As for Jane Eyre... reader, I didn't like it. I didn't think the mystery parts were gripping or exciting, many parts of the story were skipped over so quickly that unless you've read the book they didn't make much sense, and I didn't feel any chemistry between the two leads. I wasn't sure if I was just being picky because I love the book so much, but Mr D felt the same and he has never read it. At the point Jane was sobbing on the moors, at deaths door with a broken heart and not a single friend in the world, I was picking my nails and looking forward to our post-film cider. Coming from a hard-core fan of historical romance, that is a shocking indictment.

The scenery, however, was beautiful, and made me want to live in a little stone cottage in the middle of nowhere, fastening the shutters against the swirling snow, sweeping the floor with a birch broom, and reading books by candlelight. Now THAT, dear reader, is romance.

An Elsa the Cat Update

2011-09-28T19:00:00.000+01:00

Elsa with the still very healthy looking White Mouse, and her string.

It has been a whole two weeks until I last talked about my cat, and I can't hold off any longer. More cat stories must be told or I will explode! I never promised you I wouldn't turn into a crazy cat lady. Well, perhaps I did, but it was a damn lie.

Can you tell what this is?

These are the remains of what used to be Elsa's toy mouse.

He lasted for only three weeks.

Brown Mouse was torn apart in every way possible, until he was no longer recognisable as mouse.

We have had to confiscate Brown Mouse, due to the explosion of catnip guts all over the floor. White Mouse, on the other hand, has still barely been touched.

'Mmmm, mousie. Nom nom nom'

'Wha...? The fuzz!'

'Who me? Honest guv, I ain't done nuffink. He was like this when I got here!'

Luckily we have found two replacements for Brown Mouse. Firstly, if any of you have a cat I can highly recommend the Kong Kickeroo. It is much bigger than a normal cat toy, so they can properly tackle it and kick at it with their back legs. Being large they aren't much good for pouncing, but are excellent for wrestling.

The second incredibly high tech toy that has become Elsa's favourite is a piece of string. When I first dangled some string for her she didn't seem very interested, but I discovered that is because I was being too slow.

Our string-play method is now as follows: Margaret loiters in the loungeroom looking innocent, casually picks up the string, then leaps out the door and bolts down the hallway. Elsa springs into action and tears down the hallway snapping at the string. Margaret whips the string up onto the bed where Elsa hurls herself and begins merrily pouncing. The duvet is quite rustly and creates an intriguing noise with every pounce, so the game goes on indefinitely until Elsa decides that it is time to enjoy the spoils of war, and drags her string off to a quiet corner for a session of gnawing.

The popularity of this game is such that I now find myself being pestered at various times throughout the day for string chasing. Well, at least we are both now getting SOME exercise.

Stalking...

ATTAAAAACK!

Heritage Toys: Steiff Animals

2011-09-27T19:30:00.000+01:00

The German company Steiff is one of the most collectable names for vintage teddy bears and stuffed animals, but the company is still in existence and making toys today. They have managed to keep their reputation for quality for over 120 years.

The business was started in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, who for all of her life had been restricted to a wheelchair due to having polio as a baby. For something to do, she began making pincushions in the shape of elephants to sell to her friends. These pincushions started to be played with by children rather than used for their original purpose, and so she decided to change her focus to toys, and expanded the range to include other animals. The company took off and eventually became a family concern, with her brother and nephew both joining.

It was her nephew Richard who in 1902 invented the world's first teddy bear. The teddies were distributed in America and became wildly popular. By 1904 the company was having such problems with counterfeits that they decided to place a small button in the ear of each bear to mark their work. The button became a Steiff trademark and are still used in the animals they produce today.

While Steiff are famous for their bears, I actually prefer their animals. They have an enormous amount of character and I love some of the more unusual animals they make. Here are some of my favourites from the Steiff UK website.

This lion is over a metre long and costs £3000!

Vintage 50s Film Style: Carmen Jones (1954)

2011-09-26T17:23:00.000+01:00

Carmen Jones, a film musical from 1954, doesn't sound as though it should work when you first hear it described. The classic opera of Carmen is moved from Seville in the early 1800s to North Carolina in the 1940s, and the original score by Bizet reinterpreted by Oscar Hammerstein. And instead of being a gypsy, Carmen is a worker in a parachute factory.

But it is completely and utterly brilliant. The modern lyrics work fantastically well with the updated but not bastardised music, Harry Belefonte is great as the slowly unravelling Joe, and Dorothy Dandridge is smouldering as Carmen. The clothes are also fabulous, and the credits were done by the famous designer Saul Bass.

The director Otto Preminger had to seek private funding to get this film made, as at the time the studios in Hollywood would not produce a film with an all black cast. Not long into filming, he and Dorothy began an intense affair. Critics gave mixed reviews of the film, but Dorothy was nominated for an Oscar and the film won the Golden Globe for best musical.

This is a selection of screenshots from the film, but you can see more on my Flickr page. The full film is also available to watch on YouTube in ten parts.