Singing in the Rain

I know I am going to get a lot of flack for this, but...

I finally saw Singing in the Rain for the first time ever. What a lame movie. I didn't know it was supposed to be cheesy, but once I caught on to that part, I liked it a little bit better. However, with it being a "classic" I didn't see how it was any better or different from any other 50's technicolor musical. Everything was great, the songs, costumes, dancing, and acting, but nothing was standout. There are countless other techni-musicals that are just as good as Singing in the Rain, but don't have the prestige that goes with it.

Now I much prefer the Busby Berkeley musicals to the technicolor, but even coming in open minded, I really didn't see the big woohah about it.

I suppose I would say for me, this movie is good on it's own, but disappointed as a renowned classic.

More adventures in thrifting.

My friend Alicia and I headed out to what was going to be a slow day of hitting a couple thrift stores, but turned into a crazy crack-driven day of goodies. I initially invited her out to go thrifting with me because we both enjoy it and find a few items that tickle our fancy and quite honestly I needed but one thing and that was dark blue seam binding. So, for what was literally .20 cents of a shopping need, I ended up spending all my loose cash on fun goods. All of which was close to 10$ She was on a jewelry buzz and went bonkers, but we had the best day today!

I wanted to share my goods. Nothing too particularly vintage nor spectacular, but fun none the less. What about your guys? Anything fun you've picked up lately?


Click on any photo to enlarge.

This was actually fun... the yard sale we stopped at had this album playing. It was great music and I am glad that they were selling the record. So for anyone selling records at a yard sale... bring a player and play the records! It works!!!

I thought this hankie was nice.

I have a ton of needles, but this was on cardstock and had cute little pockets for the needles. I had to have it. lol

I have never seen hair pins like this before! The card art grabbed my attention. Looks 30's to me. .25$ for those pins back then was pretty $$$. I am anxious to use them, but not quite sure how!!!

I thought these were pretty. Deco shoe clips!! Sadly, I don't have any shoes nice enough... oh wait, maybe I do...

How cute is this kangaroo from 1956? He's a napkin holder! It's a men's wallet caddy! Thanks to helpful reader, Kim, I found out it's real purpose. Hehehe.

Just some fabric. I have a ton already, but you never know when you might need more! Har har har!

So the 2 cards of navy seam binding was ALL I NEEDED on this trip, but as you can see I picked up a lot more. I don't need any of it, but I am sure, and by sure I mean hoping, I can use it in the future.

Last but not least, these 2 books. Both are scandalous and funny books. How can I say no to naughty naughty?!

Vintage finds

My girlfriend and I found our way to a thrift store and I picked up some fun and random vintage linens. I am not into linens, per se, but I have found that I have somehow gotten more than I could imagine. When it comes to vintage, I have no knowledge on linens... so if any of you out there know anything, please feel free to share.
Click on any photo to enlarge


I picked up a cotton hankie and a silk scarf.

I also picked up 3 towels. My new job wants us to go green by bringing our own hand towels to use instead of using paper towel. Yay! Any excuse to use these vintage lovelies!

My favourite... what looks to me like a 30's half apron! I can't wait to bake something while wearing this!!!

I do have to clean these before I can use them, but I am CLUELESS! I want to just toss them in the wash... any tips before I do just that?

Blog absence...

Sorry Loves for being so quite, but here you'll see just what has been keeping my time this past week!

One of my best friends got married this past Saturday so this week was dedicated solely to her and her now husband.

My love to Marina and Dustin.

Hair and nails.

Today was a nice day. I was picked up by my bride and her sister and we went for mani/pedis. I decided to ask for a half moon manicure as I had never had one before. Neither did the girl painting nails. I think she did a good job considering she had never done one before and I had a hard time explaining it. I wish the polish came done a bit more, but over all I love it and feel super glamourous with it! I picked up a trick that I will try out next time when I try to do it myself.

Before I was picked up however, I was flipping through some old rags I have looking for a decent half moon photo to bring with me. Sadly I couldn't find any, but what I did find was a photo of Carole Landis that inspired my hair. It's not exactly the same as I pulled up the sides. However I do think I did a pretty good job for only a 1 hour bonnet set and 15 mins style time. Had I had longer, I am sure I could have done better.

Included is the only picture I got of my outfit for the day. The dress does fall just past the knee even though you can't see that.




Remember to click the images to enlarge.

Sweater Weather

I have been so excited lately. It has finally cooled down enough to wear warmer clothes! Yay! The other night I went to see a friend's band play and meet up with some good friends and wore my 1950's Jantzen sweater set. Sweater, cardigan, and skirt. Hurrah! As always click to enlarge.

I was a bit unsure when I first got the outfit if the color was right for me. It's a bit different than what I am used to, but with all the compliments on the color alone, I think I made a nice choice. I finished it off with seamed stockings and my Cole Haan heels.

UPDATE: Vintage Hair with Lolita Haze episode 1 Technique Brushing

For those who missed it, I placed my hair tutorial video in the left hand column so it is easily accessible at all times.

I am glad to read that it is helping a lot of people already and look forward to more of you sharing your thoughts and seeing your results!

Vintage Hair with Lolita Haze episode 1 Technique Brushing

I finally got around to doing a video tutorial. More like a techniques video versus a tutorial. It isn't the greatest. But it is my first, so to quote the sexy Carey Mahoney, "Please, be gentle." It is a long one, but mostly because I start rambling while I am doing my thang. Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, or want to see more. Thanks.

Hair: Before and After

Yesterday I wore my hair in curlers ALL day. Yes, even going to the grocery store in full on head dress. Now when I set my hair in the perm rods, I do it just to get curls in my hair. I really have no set pattern. My hair really isn't cut in a way to take advantage of a set pattern. Today after I took out the curlers I brushed and shaped my curls and then rolled and side combed the front and side and then side combed the other side. By that I meant placed hair combs in the hair, not brushed the hair with a comb.

So this is the before and after. Yes I am wearing the same dress as yesterday. It's a house dress and I am stuck at the house today. lol Click the photo to enlarge.

Outfit of the Day: Support the Burley Q's!

Click to enlarge.Today I went to a Burlesque Graduation Showcase. I didn't perform myself, I just went to support the lovelies who want to be part of this magickal community! I had a blast and didn't get a chance to get a pic of my outfit before I left, so I had to take it at home by myself. Sorry for the icky quality of the photo.


Vintage 40's dress: Razzle Dazzle (Tucson) 
Seamed stockings: I don't remember
Navy 40's heels: Etsy

Also, here is a closer up photo of my hair and dumb duck lips face. Sadly, this was the best of the bunch. I had to play with the coloring a bit because the lighting in the bathroom was vomit yellow. :-/

As always, Click the photos to enlarge.

Outfit of the Day: Autumn Sunshine

Click to enlarge

I didn't have much planned for the day, but why should I let that stop me from looking my best? :) It is still quite warm here in Phoenix (mid to upper 90's) so I put on a simply casual nylon dress that I got on Ebay a few years back, some old stockings that I can't remember where they came from... I almost never get nude with black seams, and my Cole Haans which were a gift from my Auntie.

click to enlarge

I am actually happy that I got dressed today... A stray male pit mix and his 2 puppies decided to hang out at my place all day, so I had to call Animal Control. The officer who picked them off was a bit of a cutie... so I am happy I wasn't in my pj's all day -- like I can easily do!

I had set my hair last night and styled it today... wasn't really going for any particular look, just not ugly! :-D

click to enlarge

When will this warm weather be over?!

Garden Pinup

Garden Pinup 001 LolitaHaze.com 2010 & La Fine Photography 2009.

These photos were taken spur of the moment after a shoot I did for Hollywood Regency. The sun was starting to set and Perry wanted to practice and dilly around before it got too dark.

1/2 set I am in the garden. 1/2 set I am in a clover patch in my lingerie and stockings.

This photo is from last year, but I wanted to share anyway. I am wearing a 1940's "cock" dress and late 40's early 50's hat. This dress was actually sold later on at Hollywood Regency, to a wonderful woman who became a friend of the store and of mine. I think she actually looks better in the dress than I do! Hah! She tells me she gets so many compliments on it when she wears it to work. This makes me happy to no end!!

Arizona whoas...

One of the downfalls of living in Phx, AZ is the basic lack of spring and autumn. Sure, they are there, but all too briefly. The weather here seems to be bloody hot or why is it so cold? So when autumn rolls around and you find yourself wanting to wear your heavier knits and fall color schemes, turns out it's still too hot! So what's a girl to do? I want to wear my knits and slacks and but it's too warm to wear something that heavy. So instead I aim for one of my old spring/summery frocks, but it seems silly to wear pastels and white shoes.

You would think I would know this by now and be better prepared, but I am always a last minute kind of gal so by time I get a full autumn/winter wardrobe, it will be 100 degrees out again! LOL

I also have so many sewing projects on the back burner, I don't know if I will ever get caught up! That and shopping for heavy fabrics isn't something I often have to do or have the extra cash for.

This post really turned into a whoa is me kind of posting, eh? Iy yi yi! Looks like I am going to have to go on a plan of attack! Starting tonight!

LolitaHaze.com

Just a quick interruption from our usual vintage-goodness... LolitaHaze.com is officially open!

Baking question...

For all of you vintage bakers out there I have a question. I followed a 1929 recipe for cocoa bread to the T, but something still went wrong. Not a bad wrong, just not right. How do I get my bread to be more like bread in texture (light and airy) versus cake-y in texture? Perhaps this was the way bread was back when? Let me also state, that it tastes good (bread-like, not much cocoa flavor).

EDITED TO ADD RECIPE
Cocoa bread
1/4 cup cocoa
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
3 table spoons shortening
1 yeast cake
1/4 cup lukewarm water
About 3 1/2 cups flour

Mix the cocoa, sugar and salt. Add milk, which has been scalded, and the shortening. Let stand until lukewarm and add the yeast, which has been softened in lukewarm water. Add enough flour to make a dough which can be handles and knead until smooth and elastic. Let rise until doubled in bulk. Cut down and knead again. Shape into a loaf, place in a greased pan and let rise until doubled in bulk. Bake in a moderate oven.

Time in baking, 1 hour. temperature, 350*. 1 loaf

Outfit of the Day: Baking (Not so)Betty

Ignore the headless doggie

Hahaha I am not looking my most stylish today... my hair isn't even (gasp) done! Do I loose my vintage cred? I decided I wanted to make bread today. I don't know why, I have never made bread in my life... it just sounded like a good idea. So my outfit today is a ratty vintage sun dress I thrifted for 4$ and a vintage apron that was gifted. My hair is straight in a ponytail... not even pomped. So while I am not the Baking Betty I should be, I just thought it would be funny to share my "awesomeness".

For those curious, I am baking cocoa bread from a 1929 cook book. I don't know how it will taste... or if it will even be edible as kitchen skills I do lack, but it is fun to try. If it does turn out, I will be delivering it to a friend of mine. She is the sweetest person in the world and will genuinely love the gift of homemade bread! If it doesn't turn out and is hard as a rock, I will be throwing it through the window of my arch nemesis. Just teasing.

So are any of you out there a bit like me? Unable to successfully cook/bake, but enjoy doing it anyway? Share your stories with me. Your best effort or your funniest fail!

More new Patterns

So if you are anything like me, you'll always pick up cheap patterns even when you swear to yourself no new patterns/new material until you finish sewing up the projects you already have waiting at home. I am so horrible about this... this past Friday was just one of those days. I went antiquing with a friend and found some patterns for cheap. By cheap I mean under $5. Plus the booth was having an extra 15% off so I couldn't say no. I have no plans for these ones just yet. I do want to finish up my other started projects before I even go looking for fabric, but come on - they were cheap! LOL I thought I would share them with you all.

The only one that was more than $5 was the Vintage Vogue. I picked that darling up for $6 at a fabric store!

Outfit of the Day: Southwest Sporty

Today I really had no where important to go, but in order to get out of my funk, I got dressed. Granted it is completely casual as I did have to leave the house once to mail a letter. So here I am in all my glory!

Vintage Squaw top - Razzle Dazzle (Tucson)
Vintage 40's shorts - Hollywood Regency (Phoenix)
Not seen - Jelly shoes - thrifted Goodwill (Phx)

My hair. Brushed out and reshaped curls from yesterday's style. No reset.

Hair Inspiration: Unknown aka Madonna

I found this photo of this lady on a friend's facebook page. For a moment I thought it was Madonna, but I knew that couldn't be right, so if anyone knows who she is, please let me know.

I instantly knew that this was a style I would have to try out. Last night, with freshly bleached hair I decided to set it and see if it worked. Now my hair is longer than hers, so it isn't perfect. Plus this is my first jab at it so it isn't exactly the same, but not bad for a 1st try, eh? Suggestions?

I have been a bit in the dumps lately, so I am hoping that this getting made up makes me feel better.

Vintage Bloggers Weekend BLOG!!

While the name is still up to change, I have quickly set up a new blog to be the OFFICIAL SITE for the weekender. Please follow this blog to receive the latest news plus please take the polls as well as comment to the entries at hand. Also, feel free to share the link with everyone you think may be interested in coming to the weekender!!! Thank you!!

http://vintagebloggersweekender.blogspot.com/

The still unnamed Vintage Blogger Convention

Awhile back I made mention in a post (click here) about how the lovely Syd Divine and I would like to host a Vintage Bloggers' weekender in hopes of rallying the community together and meeting in person some of our favourite online friends.

Not only would we like a fantastic meet and greet weekend, but we would also like it to be fun and educational. So my dear readers... I ask of you, what seminars, lectures, or other fun activities would you like to see at the weekender? While this is predominately a girls weekend, we want the boys to be included (especially since we'll need dancing partners), so what classes or activities would the gents like to see or take part in? Cars, fashion, war, lectures, ect...?

Syd and I will be chatting more tomorrow about location possibilities, but I wanted to throw this post out to let you know that yes, we are serious about this and yes we will be doing this whether it is for 10 or 100 people, but most importantly a year from now will be here faster than you know it, so start saving up now, because this weekender won't be as much fun without YOU!

Vintage Twins

Last night I was watching parts of Not as a Stranger with Olivia de Haviland. The actress Gloria Grahame reminded me a lot of Maggie Gyllenhaal. Trying to find similar photos is a pain, but trust me, in motion, G Grahame and M Gyllenhaal look a lot alike.