It’s spring, and so of course my thoughts have returned to Paris, the beautiful city of blossom and boulevards, baguettes and bicyclette *sigh*. But Paris has always had a certain charm it was a very different place when Zeppelins were in the sky or there were German soldiers on the streets. Take a look at(…)
You might think that the 1950s was all about style and sophistication, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, but according to this list of top 10 grossing movies* it was very much the decade of historical epics, Charlton Heston and Walt Disney! How many of these big screen blockbusters have you seen, and are you surprised by(…)
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER IS SHELLEY JESSUP. CONGRATULATIONS SHELLEY, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH ABOUT YOUR PRIZE! I’ve got the most beautiful prize to giveaway this week – this gorgeous vintage 1940s faux pearl necklace thanks to Miss Kitty at The Best Vintage Clothing. Isn’t it stunning? Miss Kitty stocks one of the(…)
Adrian Adolph Greenberg, better known as just ‘Adrian’ was one of the most amazing costume designers ever seen in Hollywood. He was MGM’s head costume designer from 1928 and 1941 and designed the costumes for over 250 movies during the 1930s and 40s. Remember Dorothy’s iconic glittering ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz? Well(…)
You probably know Donald O’Connor best from the movie Singin’ in the Rain – I know that’s where I first came across him. While I fell madly in love with Gene Kelly, I was wowed by Donald O’Connor running up the wall and in fits of giggles at his fight with the mannequin. If you(…)
When I found this fabulous vintage 1940s Princess-Leia-style feather hat I couldn’t resist doing something I’ve wanted to do for ages: add a little colour to her outfits! Sure, she always looks great in the movies and I can’t knock the style of Star Wars which has stayed looking futuristic for the last 35 years(…)
I’ve never really ‘got’ the Clark Gable thing. I’ve watched Gone With The Wind without him leaving any particular impression on me but after watching Red Dust I get it. Maybe there’s something about a rough-and-ready Gable and the sultry heat of the jungle, both women in this movie certainly seem to think so! It’s(…)
There were some great movie actors around in the 1940s, it truly was the golden age of cinema! Here are my top 10 leading men of that decade – have I missed anyone crucial out? 1. Humphrey Bogart Bogart was ranked the greatest male movie star in history by the American Film Institute, and he(…)
A little Jackie Kennedy looking very grown up! This photo was taken in 1935 which I think would make her 6 years old. What a little lady eh? No wonder she became a style icon later in life!
It’s the perfect time for knitwear at the moment: not quite cold enough for a coat, but not yet hot enough to go without some kind of extra layer. Here are some of my vintage knitwear favourites around at the moment. They range from chunky 1970s sweaters to delicate 1930s knitted dresses to cute 60s(…)
You don’t see fur adverts much these days (or at least I haven’t come across many) but basically fur advertising hasn’t changed much since this type of ad (above) from the 1960s. Why she’s holding a lit cigarette lighter that close to her flammable fur coat I have no idea… Anyway, by now you probably(…)
Never underestimate the marketing power of Lucille Ball! I grew up watching re-runs of I Love Lucy on the telly, and there is a special corner of my heart reserved for it, but even my love of the 1950s sitcom wouldn’t make me buy these hideous spin offs! Even the gorgeous Lucy looks unconvinced about(…)
Lupe Vélez was one of the very first Mexican actresses to have a successful Hollywood career in the 1920s and 30s. She was extremely popular but died tragically young at the height of her career aged just 36. Above: Photo of Jimmy Durante, Lupe Vélez and the Mills Brothers from the 1934 film Strictly Dynamite.(…)
If you follow my blog you might have noticed that I’m going through a bit of a Hitchcock phase at the moment. I very much enjoyed The 39 Steps last week (much to my surprise and delight) but sadly I can’t say the same about this movie. Up until this point I’ve pretty much enjoyed(…)
Did you know that Uma Thurman’s mum was one of the most popular models in the 1950s? The Fifties was a great time for models. For the first time they became superstars in their own right. Apart from ‘the big three’ (Suzy Parker, Dovima and Jean Patchett), there were lots of other models who really(…)
Stars were having nips, tucks and predominantly nose-jobs from as early as the 1930s. It’s not well-documented as the stars who had succesful surgery rarely owned up to it, and those who had less successful surgery (like Mary Pickford who was rumoured to have damaged facial muscles after an early facelift) just faded from public(…)
As you might have seen in my post last week, I’ve started painting again. I’s hard to find the time, and I’m still very new to it all but I’ve had great fun having a go and painting some of my favourite Hollywood stars. I’d be intrigued to know whether you can tell who the(…)
Actress and singer Nichelle Nichols is best known as the fabulous Lieutenant Uhura in the 1960s Star Trek series. Her role was groundbreaking at the time as she was one of the first black women featured in a prominent role in a major TV series. When she considered leaving the series to pursue a career(…)