Are any other bloggers on blogspot getting an influx of spam comments? I used to get a couple here and there and I would just mark them as spam, but they are getting out of control on the daily now!
Monday, February 18, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Current Obsession: Gone with the Wind and the Twelve Oaks Barbeque Dress
Yes... I am a little late to the game, but I finally watched Gone with the Wind for the first time ever in my life! I know! I know! I should have my vintage card revoked for taking so long... but wouldn't I get it back for actually watching it?
I could write a whole blog post on themovie film of epic cinematic greatness, but I am sure I would just be rehashing everything you already know about this movie! I am ashamed I waited so long to watch it. If you haven't seen it yet and you are a lover of classic cinema, go watch it now! Do not be afraid of the 4 hour length. Every moment is worth it and those who have gasped that you haven't seen it yet are absolutely right! They are not lying to you!
Right now I am obsessed with the film and I am drowning myself in the movie's history and information. Naturally, I am drawn to Scarlett O'Hara's costumes and see how they did indeed inspire early fashions of the 1940s. I am actually surprised that the red gown she wears when attending Ashley's birthday party is not my favourite -- although it is a close second. My favourite gown and the one that is making me weak in the knees and inspiring me to create a version of my own is the famous green sprigs party gown also known as the Twelve Oaks Barbeque Dress.
I love the youthful, innocent, and feminine seduction that bodice gives. Though in the movie she tried to wear it to show off her bosom, I think the real charmer of the outfit goes to the bare shoulders. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE in your face sexy (the red dress), but this one the sexiness kind of sneaks up on you. Before you know it, you are enchanted by the delicate girlishness of the ruffles and velvet. Well... maybe it is just me.
Like I said, I am now inspired to make this my own. This dress is obviously of an era, that even for this vintage wearing gal, would make me feel like I am "in costume". Not to mention it is iconic-ally recognizable that I would be "in costume". I believe I can keep the bodice as is and still wear an authentic 40s' style. However the (hooped) skirt is a bit much. I am considering a skirt at that length, but without the hoop and petticoat. I figure it would make a delightful garden party dress. Much like the barbeque in the movie! But let's face it, even with vintage friends and vintage parties, how many of us actually wear formal wear even to the most lavishly hosted parties? So I am thinking a knee length party gown or summer dress. Not anything against Miss O'Hara, but green really isn't my favourite color, so I think a red velvet version with an inspired floral organza in matching tones may be the way to go for me.
So now I am on the hunt for Hollywood Pattern 1988 to make this dress. I suppose I could attempt to draft my own interpretation, but I do love the bodice so much that I would love to get it accurate. If the barbeque dress is something you too are inspired by, you can purchase your own reproduction fabric for the gown from here. Unfortunately, it is a bit pricey for me for all the needed fabric, but if you want a to make a replica of this dress it is well worth it! You can see here at this fan's page. She has made her own gown and it is just as stunning as the original!
In the end, this will probably just end up in my "To do, but probably never will," idea book.
So for you Scarlett and Gone with the Wind fans, what is your favourite gown or costume from the film?
As usual, click any picture to enlarge.
 |
| This is usually how you find me at parties... surrounded by all the menfolk! Hahaha! |
I could write a whole blog post on the
 |
| Sit through a 4 hour movie? It better be worth it! |
Right now I am obsessed with the film and I am drowning myself in the movie's history and information. Naturally, I am drawn to Scarlett O'Hara's costumes and see how they did indeed inspire early fashions of the 1940s. I am actually surprised that the red gown she wears when attending Ashley's birthday party is not my favourite -- although it is a close second. My favourite gown and the one that is making me weak in the knees and inspiring me to create a version of my own is the famous green sprigs party gown also known as the Twelve Oaks Barbeque Dress.
 |
| Oh what? This 'ol thing? |
I love the youthful, innocent, and feminine seduction that bodice gives. Though in the movie she tried to wear it to show off her bosom, I think the real charmer of the outfit goes to the bare shoulders. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE in your face sexy (the red dress), but this one the sexiness kind of sneaks up on you. Before you know it, you are enchanted by the delicate girlishness of the ruffles and velvet. Well... maybe it is just me.
Like I said, I am now inspired to make this my own. This dress is obviously of an era, that even for this vintage wearing gal, would make me feel like I am "in costume". Not to mention it is iconic-ally recognizable that I would be "in costume". I believe I can keep the bodice as is and still wear an authentic 40s' style. However the (hooped) skirt is a bit much. I am considering a skirt at that length, but without the hoop and petticoat. I figure it would make a delightful garden party dress. Much like the barbeque in the movie! But let's face it, even with vintage friends and vintage parties, how many of us actually wear formal wear even to the most lavishly hosted parties? So I am thinking a knee length party gown or summer dress. Not anything against Miss O'Hara, but green really isn't my favourite color, so I think a red velvet version with an inspired floral organza in matching tones may be the way to go for me.
So now I am on the hunt for Hollywood Pattern 1988 to make this dress. I suppose I could attempt to draft my own interpretation, but I do love the bodice so much that I would love to get it accurate. If the barbeque dress is something you too are inspired by, you can purchase your own reproduction fabric for the gown from here. Unfortunately, it is a bit pricey for me for all the needed fabric, but if you want a to make a replica of this dress it is well worth it! You can see here at this fan's page. She has made her own gown and it is just as stunning as the original! | ||
| What? Not make the dress?! That makes me mad! |
In the end, this will probably just end up in my "To do, but probably never will," idea book.
So for you Scarlett and Gone with the Wind fans, what is your favourite gown or costume from the film?
 |
| Sorry Stuart, but Superman is going to win this fight! |
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
January beauty in review.
You may recall in this post on January 1st, I wrote about my plans for beauty use and simplification. I thought I would update everyone here on what has been happening.
Sad to say I neglected my skin a tad and didn't use Pond's quite nearly like I should have been and boy can I tell! Being that I wear little to no makeup anymore, sometimes it was just easier to wash with soap and water or breeze with witch hazel on a cotton ball. It's actually getting cold and dry here in the land of Kenosha and my skin is horrible. Dry, tight, and flaky. Pond's today for sure!!
As for my hair, I am happy that I stuck with lemons! I even tried the baking powder wash! I am in love with the combination of the two! However I believe I will only be able to use this combination once a month. As you'll read in a bit. The combination kept my hair and scalp perfectly clean! Sure my hair wasn't fragrantly fresh as with a regular scented smooth, but it didn't stink! It didn't smell at all. My sets benefited from this combination as well! My hair stayed curled for a week and looked amazing with just a brush out! I only had to reset my front pin curls every other day and I was good to go!
I did, however, notice that after the 3rd lemon rinse (1 in Dec, 2 in Jan) that my hair did feel a tad dry. Not dried out... not even fried... just a bit too clean (if that is possible). In the original post, dear reader, Sissy mentioned using coconut oil and that reminded me... I HAD COCONUT OIL! So on my 3rd wash of January (first 2 washes of January being 2 baking soda washes and 2 lemon rinses) I decided to do a baking soda wash and a coconut oil condition. For this I washed as normal and then heavily coated my hair in coconut oil. I put on a plastic shower cap and sat under my bonnet dryer for an hour before I rinsed out the oil with just water.* The next day my hair was... eh. I was hoping for softness that only the most lavish conditioner commercials seem to have, but my hair was just eh. So I waited one more day and it somehow turned into a grease ball. Maybe that is a good thing? However the next day I couldn't take the greasy roots and the dry ends and hopped in the shower and did a baking soda wash. No rinse. The day after that my hair was dry and crunchy! Perhaps I didn't wash the baking soda out enough, so later that night I tried to wash out more with just water. It wasn't crunchy any more, but you can feel that there is still baking soda there. What the heck? Is this stuff glue? Hahahaha Looks like it is a lemon rinse for me again. My last two washes of the month, I ditched the baking soda all together. This definitely helped. My last wash I did use a regular shampoo with the lemon rinse. The shampoo fluffs and poofs and frizzes my hair far too much for my liking. So as I enter February, I will be on the hunt for a better "shampoo". I will baking soda wash it once and keep the lemon rinses for each time, but will still experiment with finding the right combination for me and my hair. In the end I am surprised what a difference the way I cleanse my hair makes with the way my styles come out.
The hardest task for me was simplification! I did end up tossing 2 bottles of lotion that I knew I would never use, but kept forever and just told myself to use up. In the trash they went. The back of my toilet looks less crowded already! I am also using up my body sprays to get them the hell out, but I always lag on lotions! I completely forget to use them! I didn't buy anything else as far as beauty/health products were concerned but my sister did give me some LUSH soap for Christmas, so I can't be too mad. :) It is LUSH afterall!
So how boring was this post? I didn't even think to take photos of my hair cleansing journey. But not wanting to be a complete blog sinner... here is a picture of Marilyn. She is much prettier to look at than I am at the moment.
*This will make your tub SLIPPERY! Please be careful and clean shower or tub thoroughly after.
Sad to say I neglected my skin a tad and didn't use Pond's quite nearly like I should have been and boy can I tell! Being that I wear little to no makeup anymore, sometimes it was just easier to wash with soap and water or breeze with witch hazel on a cotton ball. It's actually getting cold and dry here in the land of Kenosha and my skin is horrible. Dry, tight, and flaky. Pond's today for sure!!
As for my hair, I am happy that I stuck with lemons! I even tried the baking powder wash! I am in love with the combination of the two! However I believe I will only be able to use this combination once a month. As you'll read in a bit. The combination kept my hair and scalp perfectly clean! Sure my hair wasn't fragrantly fresh as with a regular scented smooth, but it didn't stink! It didn't smell at all. My sets benefited from this combination as well! My hair stayed curled for a week and looked amazing with just a brush out! I only had to reset my front pin curls every other day and I was good to go!
I did, however, notice that after the 3rd lemon rinse (1 in Dec, 2 in Jan) that my hair did feel a tad dry. Not dried out... not even fried... just a bit too clean (if that is possible). In the original post, dear reader, Sissy mentioned using coconut oil and that reminded me... I HAD COCONUT OIL! So on my 3rd wash of January (first 2 washes of January being 2 baking soda washes and 2 lemon rinses) I decided to do a baking soda wash and a coconut oil condition. For this I washed as normal and then heavily coated my hair in coconut oil. I put on a plastic shower cap and sat under my bonnet dryer for an hour before I rinsed out the oil with just water.* The next day my hair was... eh. I was hoping for softness that only the most lavish conditioner commercials seem to have, but my hair was just eh. So I waited one more day and it somehow turned into a grease ball. Maybe that is a good thing? However the next day I couldn't take the greasy roots and the dry ends and hopped in the shower and did a baking soda wash. No rinse. The day after that my hair was dry and crunchy! Perhaps I didn't wash the baking soda out enough, so later that night I tried to wash out more with just water. It wasn't crunchy any more, but you can feel that there is still baking soda there. What the heck? Is this stuff glue? Hahahaha Looks like it is a lemon rinse for me again. My last two washes of the month, I ditched the baking soda all together. This definitely helped. My last wash I did use a regular shampoo with the lemon rinse. The shampoo fluffs and poofs and frizzes my hair far too much for my liking. So as I enter February, I will be on the hunt for a better "shampoo". I will baking soda wash it once and keep the lemon rinses for each time, but will still experiment with finding the right combination for me and my hair. In the end I am surprised what a difference the way I cleanse my hair makes with the way my styles come out.
The hardest task for me was simplification! I did end up tossing 2 bottles of lotion that I knew I would never use, but kept forever and just told myself to use up. In the trash they went. The back of my toilet looks less crowded already! I am also using up my body sprays to get them the hell out, but I always lag on lotions! I completely forget to use them! I didn't buy anything else as far as beauty/health products were concerned but my sister did give me some LUSH soap for Christmas, so I can't be too mad. :) It is LUSH afterall!
So how boring was this post? I didn't even think to take photos of my hair cleansing journey. But not wanting to be a complete blog sinner... here is a picture of Marilyn. She is much prettier to look at than I am at the moment.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Adopt a hat.
I somehow got my fingers to press the submit button on Etsy to list my first hat from my personal collection. *cue dramatic music* Ooooh that pain of saying good-bye to an old friend! Such a lovely friend too! Hopefully someone will "adopt" my hat and give her a loving home full of wear and life. A life, I couldn't give her myself.
Here is the Etsy listing... Adopt a Hat!
Here is the Etsy listing... Adopt a Hat!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Lolita Haze for Arthelia's Attic's new hair flowers!
Just when you think Arthelia's Attic can't get any better, Naomi adds hair flowers to her shop! Wonderfully full blossoms that will stay secured in your hair make a delightful addition to your snood wearing! When you want something a bit more "pinup" and feminine, a rose is always a classic choice! Wear them with your snoods or alone! You will look the part with another winner from Naomi and Arthelia's Attic!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)