The Ghost that haunts me: Norma Shearer

Almost two years ago I went through a bit of a rough patch, boy troubles naturally. It was during this time that I was haunted by Shearer, of the Norma variety. Everywhere I went there she was. Prior to this I am not even sure if I knew who she was. It was this constant reminder of her that made me build a distaste for her. I didn't find her particuarly attractive and I never saw any of her movies, so she became the symbol of a rather putrid time in my life of drama.


Just the other day, however, my friend and I watched The Divorcee. A fantastic pre-code film staring Norma Shearer. Perhaps it was her character or even her hair (yes, hair again), but something happened. She grew on me a bit. I warmed up to her and found the movie to be quite clever. Although the ending was a bit predictable and less than desireable in my modern mind, the rest of the movie was fantastic!

I even found myself crushing a bit on one Robert Montgomery (father of Elizabeth Montgomery). It could have been his character I was attracted to. Don. A fun loving cocky fool. A bit arrogent at times, but while he didn't go looking for trouble, he would welcome it when it came to him.


Back to Shearer... she grew on me. The next night we watched A Free Soul. Not as good as The Divorcee, but I didn't find myself hating Norma Shearer again. Perhaps my liking of her is symbolic. I let go of the anger that has been holding me down for a while now. Or maybe I just replaced one heartache with another.

Her crystal gaze and sleek hair is a favourite look of mine. If my hair would behave this nicely when cut this short, I would most certainly wear it like that always! But alas... this sleek bob is just a pipe dream for me.

Here are some of my favourite looks of Mrs Shearer.

Just My Imagination...

Wowzas! I hung out backstage with the Temptations tonight! How fantastic is that? Otis is the only original member, but Ron has been there almost as long! Weee!! I blurred my friends faces because I wasn't sure if they wanted me to post them. :)

30's inspired

Here is a goofy photo of me, but shows off my 30esque hair the best. Being a blonde with thicker dark eyebrows, I wonder if the look comes off more Marilyn than Ginger. I don't much care for lighter thinner brows... even if it means acheiving the 30s/40s look more authentically. I can't help it, I love blonde hair and dark eyebrows.

My hair would have looked nicer with a wave in the main side, but I didn't set it for that... just for the curls. Like usual for my hair I sleep in perming rods. I used the purple ones for this set. I actually set my hair on a cold or wet set on Wed at 9am and took my hair out at 4pm Thursday. A day and a half total. Most people won't have to set it this long.. overnight should suffice. I didn't have much of a pattern set... I just rolled the rods to the nape of my neck and up along the sides lining the face. Brushed and shaped it out pinning some of the main part away from my face.

William Powell

Prior to today, I have never seen a William Powell flick. I know his recognizable mug from many old Hollywood photos. I can't say I am much of a fan of his... I don't find him really attractive. Today I caught the end of Liable Lady where Powell co-stars with Myrna Loy and Jean Harlow. Perhaps it was his character in the film or something has simple as his hair, but I found him to be quite sexy in this film. I adore Jean Harlow, but don't know much about her... so finding out that she was dating him at this time and that he never got to propose marriage to her before she died made him just that more handsome. Cause he loved her and she is one of my favourites. :)

The accidental pageboy.

I could never for the life of me do a pageboy style. My hair is far too thick and the curls would never hold shape properly. Something about my face shape too...

This past Thursday I had a photoshoot for a local business. I wanted to show off the vintage side in me while modeling their wares so the day prior I got my roots touched up and my yellow toned out. While sitting with my girl -- Mrs. Kristy Richardson -- we decided (and when I say we I mean she) to dry my hair and straighten it. So that she did. Blow dried and flat ironed. I know from past straightenings that my hair will NOT hold curl even when set over night after it has been flat ironed. I have to wash it before it will curl again. But being lazy I threw in my sponge rollers with some gel hoping that my hair would give me a very side part face wave. (Take note: When I usually set my hair for this style, I don't use sponge rollers or straightened dried hair, but rather cold set with perm rods.) Needless to say, the next day I had no real curl and no wave. The best I could do was to part it like I intended and pin up the one side. As I did this, I noticed that for the first time... I had a bit of a pageboy!! Wowzas!


My look came out more Tragic Kingdom Stefani than Veronica Lake, but it was a "retro glamour look". I have no idea when the photos will be released or when or if they will be used, but it was fun never the less. I am excited to see what gems come from the shoot as the photographer is quite the snapper! I wouldn't mind doing a shoot with him individually, but I don't think that is his interest at the moment. Oh well... at least I got to work with him in this format!