Vintage

Vintage Window Shopping? Yes Please!

Vintage Window Shopping? Yes Please!

I was delighted to be invited to create a guest Pinterest board by Miss Kitty from The Best Vintage Clothing*. It’s not often I get the chance to create a dream wishlist of vintage clothes so I had great fun picking my favourite gems from her store. Honestly, I surprised myself with my choices. At(…)

The Space Cowboy’s Back In Town

The Space Cowboy’s Back In Town

You may think I’m just indulging in my Han Solo obsession again but happily there has been some *good news on the Star Wars front*. Over 30 years after the last ‘proper’ Star Wars movie was made the original cast are getting back together for Episode VII of the Trilogy. <geek-rant> Yes I know it(…)

When Paris Was a Very Different Place

When Paris Was a Very Different Place

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(…)

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of the 1950s (You’ll Be Surprised!)

The 10 Top Grossing Movies of the 1950s (You’ll Be Surprised!)

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(…)

Win a Vintage 1940s Pearl Necklace

Win a Vintage 1940s Pearl Necklace

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(…)

Vintage Style Icons: Adrian – MGM’s Costume Designer Extraordinaire

Vintage Style Icons: Adrian – MGM’s Costume Designer Extraordinaire

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(…)

Screen Idols: Donald O’Connor

Screen Idols: Donald O’Connor

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(…)

Vintage Lookbook: Princess Leia’s Vintage Makeover!

Vintage Lookbook: Princess Leia’s Vintage Makeover!

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(…)

Movie Tuesday: Red Dust (1932)

Movie Tuesday: Red Dust (1932)

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(…)

Top 10 Leading Men of the 1940s

Top 10 Leading Men of the 1940s

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(…)

Jackie Kennedy Aged 6

Jackie Kennedy Aged 6

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!

30 Gorgeous Pieces of Vintage Knitwear

30 Gorgeous Pieces of Vintage Knitwear

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(…)

20 Vintage Fur Adverts You Wouldn’t See Today

20 Vintage Fur Adverts You Wouldn’t See Today

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(…)

I Love Lucy, but Not This Much

I Love Lucy, but Not This Much

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(…)

1930s Movie Icons: Lupe Vélez

1930s Movie Icons: Lupe Vélez

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.(…)

Movie Monday: Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Movie Monday: Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

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(…)

10 Supermodels of the 1950s

10 Supermodels of the 1950s

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(…)

7 Classic Hollywood Stars Who Had Plastic Surgery

7 Classic Hollywood Stars Who Had Plastic Surgery

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(…)