Katharine Hepburn was something of a trailblazer in the Classic Hollywood era. One of the first leading ladies to reject Hollywood glamour and wear trousers, she pioneered the casual look and loved wearing menswear-inspired tailoring and collared shirts. She wore mens suits and casual sportswear at a time when it was practically unheard of, and(…)
What kind of costume are you wearing for this Hallowe’en? Something gross and gruesome, something cute, or something retro? Here are my best vintage-themed ideas for a fantastic Halloween – what do you think of them? And what other ideas could we add to the list? Bride of Frankenstein The Bride of Frankenstein was released(…)
I think we’ve all seen the photos of Renée Zellweger’s new face by now. The news hit like a storm yesterday after she attended a film premiere looking, well, not like herself. If you haven’t seen the photos you can see them here. I honestly wouldn’t have recognized her in the new photos, and my(…)
I was asked by Modcloth to create a vintage-inspired layered outfit perfect for this Autumn and, well, you know I can’t resist a challenge! We all know that dressing vintage couldn’t be simpler in the summer – all you need is a cute sundress, some great sunglasses and you’re pretty much there! As the nights(…)
As promised in my article about the most fabulously dressed ladies at Goodwood Revival this year, here are the best dressed gents. Which outfit is your favourite? I particuarly like the guy with the yellow shirt and pencil thin moustache, and the sailor… Photos used with kind permission from Matt Hind at Men’s File who(…)
Valentine’s day is rapidly approaching, and I know it’s an occasion that people either love or hate, so I thought this was a great Valentines theme. ‘I Won’t Send Roses’ is almost an anti-love song – if you don’t know it, it comes from the 1920s musical Mack and Mabel and it makes me weep(…)
I discovered this amazing video a few days ago on Vimeo and thought you’d love it as much as I do. It’s called ‘100 years of fashion in 100 seconds’ and, well, that says it all really. It’s a fabulous compilation of fashion and dance-styles from 1911-2011 and it’s totally great – I challenge you(…)
I love the Seventies. While I adore the fashions from other decades, I feel at home wearing 70s style. As a small child I was dressed in corduroy dungarees, chunky roll neck sweaters and puff-sleeved dresses and I guess that never really leaves you. Give me a pair of flared jeans and a faux-fur gilet(…)
Grace Kelly truly was one of the most stylish women of all time. She exuded such easy style and sophistication, which is perhaps why Hitchcock adored her so much. He wanted her to continue being his iconic ice-cool blonde, but she had a prince to marry (as you do) and retired from acting in 1956.(…)
Bette Davis’ Hollywood career spanned an incredible six decades, but it was her style in the 1930s and 40s combined with her uncompromising movie roles which cemented her as a movie icon. She was no classic Hollywood beauty, and flatly refused to comply with the ideals of the studios, once claiming: ‘Hollywood wanted me to(…)
Judy Garland is one of those irresistable iconic women who I just can’t leave alone. I keep coming across things in vintage stores and thinking – ooh, that would look fab on Judy so I thought I’d do just *one* more. It more of a grown up outfit than my Tim Burton meets the Wizard(…)
1940s studio publicity photo of MGM actress June Allyson for the film Music for Millions (1944). I love her stripey blouse, it’s another one of those outfits which probably look better in black and white than in colour! I didn’t realise who she was from the photo, but as soon as I saw her smile(…)
I fell in love with this vintage 1970s polka dot trapeze dress as soon as I saw it – isn’t it fabulous? I think I’d wear it with some fabulous 70s-inspired gold accessories to give it a bit of a disco vibe. Love the Seventies! How could I not, I was born in the 70s(…)
Wow! It’s cold out there! Great weather for snuggling up inside a warm fur coat and getting some post-Christmas fresh air! If you’d like to see how I did my quick 5-minute beehive (which doesn’t involve backcombing) then take a look here. It’s easy as pie!
Gardner was born the youngest of 7 siblings in a farming community in North Carolina She was scouted for a Hollywood screen test aged 18 after her brother-in-law put a photo portrait he took of her in his shop window. Despite her almost incomprehensible Southern accent (incomprehensible to the studio execs anyway!) MGM loved her(…)
What will you be doing for New Year’s Eve this year? Will you be meeting someone at the top of the Empire State Building, partying with friends or maybe staying in and relaxing? Whatever you’re doing you owe it to yourself to look fabulous, after all, let’s start the new year the way we all(…)
This picture perfectly captures for me the style of the 1930s. I think my glamorous 1930s ideal probably stems from watching too many Poirot and Hollywood movies, where all the young people were beautiful, tanned and althetic, all the men had slicked back hair and dashing looks and the women had perfect pin curls. I(…)
My Christmas shopping is very much underway now, and I’m trying to introduce a little vintage into people’s lives this year. Here I’ve picked some of my favourite vintage gifts. So, whether you’re buying for boys or girls, big or small take a look and get some vintage inspiration! Happy December everyone! Mouse-over to see(…)