Friday, July 31, 2009

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode


The Elements of Style


Edited by Retro Chick

Whether it’s Winter or Summer, relentless rain or an unceasing heatwave where you are, this weeks Links a la Mode is packed with entertainment to keep you out of the sun/rain/wind.

If you plan to travel to escape your current weather conditions then Hi Fashion has some great travel tips and Idiosyncratic Style has some ideas for easy fashion DIY projects you can take with you.
Other highlights this week include a hilarious mans view on some Celebrity Fashion choices from Unfunded, Our Ocean’s coverage of Vivienne Westwood’s appearance on Jonathan Ross and Style Amor’s refusal to buy a wedding dress, as well as some insightful interviews and gorgeous give-aways.

Choosing just 20 links from the number of fantastic submissions is a challenging task and this week I found it particularly hard to whittle down the numbers so be sure to go and check out the rest of the links in the full Links a la Mode thread.

Links à la Mode : July 30th



  • Breakfast at Saks – Aschobi: Sierra Leone Couture

  • Brick My Lane – Interview with Christian Joy, the genius behind the costumes worn by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

  • by Hillary – Deciding if you really need to dry clean that dress that says “dry clean”

  • Culturistas – The Culturistas find a ‘Lust vs Must’ profile of the Romper Trend!

  • Fashion Cents – Can you wear the romper trend? Fashion Cents helps you decide if and how to romp around

  • Fashion Hippo – Fashion Hippo is having a fantastic giveaway: Mary Frances “Mercury Rising” wristlet bag.

  • Fashion in my eyes – Interview: Fashion editor at 17

  • HiFashion – Tips for fashionable travellers

  • Idiosyncratic Style – A round up of 5 cool projects that are perfect for summer vacation, because they are light on supplies and low maintenance.

  • Independent Fashion Bloggers – Rhythm is Gonna Getcha: Maintaining Consistency in Your Blog

  • iStyle – The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Looking Fab: A real-life 5 minute make-up guide with unedited photos

  • Mademoiselle Robot – An interview with headwear designer Jennifer Loiselle about films, motherhood and independent designers.

  • Only Style Remains the Same – Offer an outfit idea to win a pair of Current/Elliott jeans from only style remains the same and chickdowntown.

  • Our Ocean – An insanely inspiring interview with Vivienne Westwood on Jonathan Ross

  • Pursed Lips – Lara Stone, size 4, heralded as bringing “curvy” back. But isn’t the bigger difference her C cup bra, and not her weight?

  • Rags to Reverie – A look at the Stella McCartney Fall 2009 ad campaign + a couple of deals from the eponymous label

  • reLYME – It’s Beka’s birthday, and in the spirit of birthday giving, reLYME is giving away SIX China Glaze nail lacquers from the Kicks collection!

  • Retro Chick – Can I wear it? Yes, I can! Retro Chick gives Harem Pants a try with surprising results.

  • Style Amor – Check out why I have given up buying a wedding gown from a traditional bridal boutique.

  • Sweet Fuzz – Score one of a kind fashion treasures at your local thrift store and check out the insanely cheap items I snapped up at mine.

  • The Coveted – Amsterdam Fashion Week bridges the gap between fashion students and industry at Lichting 2009

  • Unfunded – Unfunded collaborates with J. Money from Budgets are Sexy to learn what guys really think of the things we wear.

The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award!

The lovely and stylish Christina of Fabulous Finds & Co. has awarded me the Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award!! I'm thrilled to receive it from such a beautiful blog. I need to catch up on my blog reading and send this award back out. A list that will be too dificult to narrow down! While I work on that, check out the good company Bobbins and Bombshells is with at Fabulous Finds & Co.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Mid-Week Inspiration: 1940's Bandeau Tops

1940's bandeau tops
1940's bandeau tops I found these illustrations of bandeau tops on flickr from a July 1947 issue of Charm. I want to make and wear everyone of the styles.
It reads: Bare Economy. Make yourself a gay assortment of halters to wear with slacks, shorts, and dirndl skirts the sunny summer long. All you need is a remnant of square of cotton and a few well placed stitches.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Fashionable History: Swim Wear By Decade- 1960's

In the 1960's surfing, surf music, and beach party movies are all the rage. The main focus drops down from the decolletage and bust line of the 50's to the midriff exposing the belly button. Bikinis become popular and mainstream. They range from the sweet "Gidget" like to the super sexy and barely there. With the more popular use of Lycra, zippers are no longer needed. Suits are fitting closer to the body and become smaller. The monokini is also introduced.

Bikinis are so mainstream now, teens are wearing them.

Sweet vs. sexy.

The iconic Bond Bikini. Ursula Andress in Dr. No, (1962).


Bold and Bare! LIFE Magazine, 1967, shows the monokini. The "peek a boo" nature of the very low cut back of the one on the right did not make it onto the cover. Yes, it exposes bum cleavage!


The original topless monokini designed by Rudi Gernreich.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

LALM

Style Cravings & Indulgences


Edited by Jordana

This week’s Links à la Mode round-up from Independent Fashion Bloggers provides a variety of sweet treats. We’ve got hair how-to’s from Fasshonaburu and Bonne-Vie, sorbet inspirations from Idiosyncratic Style, Paris Couture collection picks from Fashion Pulse Daily and interviews galore, among other juicy additions.

I also want to give a special shout-out to IFB editor Ashe Mischief of Dramatis Personae, who is celebrating her 2 year blog-aversary with a special giveaway.

Links à la Mode : July 23rd



  • A Typical Atypical: A look at the unexpected fashion gems on offer at this year’s new designers exhibition in London – cut-out dresses, paper-like jewelry and more!

  • Bonne-Vie: Pincurl project – experimenting with glamorous retro style techniques to create a saucy updo!

  • Confessions of a Fashion Editor: Polling for the next Vogue Cover Girl – Bonnie Wright’s first fashion shoot.

  • Denimaniac: Camo’s SS 2010 “Horses” collection and thoughts of Meryl Streep…

  • Dramatis Personae: Celebrating a two year anniversary with a great giveaway – $50 gift card to BeautyTicket.com!

  • Duper: Interview with Raoul Keil, founder of NINETEEN74 and Schon! Magazine.

  • Fashion Cents: How to get glam for a movie date so that there is real life lights, camera, action!

  • Fashion is My Crush: It’s a mosh pit: A studded DIY belt, some jellies from the kids section at Payless and some concrete comfort.

  • Fashion Pulse Daily: Hand-picked favorite looks from 10 of the Paris Couture collections.

  • Fasshonaburu:Finding a new hair dresser and how to break up with your old one.

  • Idiosyncratic Style: A design board of inspiring comparisons of cool sorbet treats and summer fashion choices.

  • Retro Chick: Sunglasses to flatter your face.

  • Shop Diary: Cozy up with a snood for fall and how to improvise in these recessionary times.

  • Style Symmetry: Interview with Cammila of Dressed Up Like a Lady.

  • The Coveted: Turning Red, How to go monochromatic…

  • The Musings of Ondo Lady: A look at Style Sample Magazine – featuring articles about a wide variety of bloggers across the world.

  • Unfunded: Drooling over the sexy styles of Brandon Boyd and Robert Pattinson.

  • V is for Olive: Inspired by a road trip through the American West - taking color palette ideas from nature and applying them to your own summer wardrobe.

  • WorkChic: Teamed with Polyvore to show examples of a blouse makeover by style and your office type.

Newly Listed This Week!

I've listed some great vintage items this week in my Etsy shop, Femme Fatale Vintage! A couple of patterns to make your own retro look, a wonderful sequined cocktail hat, a MOD scooter dress, and a lacy bow-bra! Take a look (click on the photo to go to item listing):

vintage sequined cocktail hat

vintage pattern vintage MOD scooter dress

vintage nude lace bow-bra
vintage pattern

Friday, July 24, 2009

The Lemonade Stand Award!

What a surprise to find that Bobbins and Bombshells was awarded The Lemonade Stand Award from Jessica at Chronically Vintage! I am very honored as Chronically Vintage is an outstanding blog. Bobbins and Bombshells is also in very good company with eleven other blogs, so go on over and check out the list! Thank you Jessica!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mid-Week Inspiration: Gaultier Couture- The Hair!

The Jean Paul Gaultier Fall 2009 Couture Show was a fantastic display of the many classic Old Hollywood styles rolled into one. Art Deco meets Brigitte Bardot. The dresses are amazing, like the Art Deco draping below, but it's the hair I'm really drawn to. Ohh especially in the first photo above. When you take your curlers out of your wet-set, try one of these!


Monday, July 20, 2009

A Basic Wet-Set for Vintage Hairdos by Pete

Today I am so thrilled to introduce a guest contributor! Pete from Incurlers is going to help us ladies, (well, I'm the one that needs help but I'm willing to share!) achieve vintage hairstyles with some amazing tips! Please post comments below to let us know what you think of this first collaboration and what you'd like to see in future installments!
Okay, on to our first lesson. Take it away, Pete!

A Basic Wet-Set for Vintage Hairdos

Wet-sets with curlers were the way to do hair in the 50s and 60s. Even today with curling irons and hot rollers, a wet set is still a good way to do many vintage styles if you want to wear them for more than just a few hours, and is also a great way to style your hair with minimal damage. If you not sure what a wet-set is, its actually quite simple: you wind wet hair on curlers (or in pincurls, but thats another topic) and then let it dry. The water and tension on the hair causes the very weakest chemical bonds in the hair to break and reform as the hair drys, resulting in the hair retaining its new shape. Unlike perms ( which reform stronger and more permanent disulfide bonds), exposing hair to water undoes the set, so don't get your finished hairdo wet!
Before you set our hair, you will need a few things, the most obvious being rollers (also called curlers, no difference). Use curlers that you are familiar with. If you have never set your hair before, try some sort of brush or mesh rollers – they are easiest to roll which can be tricky the first time you do it. Magnetic (smooth plastic) are the hardest to use, but also produce the most well defined curls. Velcros and sponge rollers are somewhere in between. Choose the size of the roller to match your hair length: hair should be able to wind around the roller two to three times. Depending on the roller type, you will need piks (long plastic pins) or clips to hold the roller in place. If you not sure which to use, ask at the store which is the best for the rollers you are buying. If you are using brush or mesh rollers, piks are usually the easiest. You may also want to pick up a net to help hold your rollers in place, and some setting lotion or gel if you want more well defined curls.
The best way to do a wet-set is wash you hair first, preferably with a shampoo like Infusium, and then use that product's conditioner. Put a towel over your shoulders and leave your hair wet. Sit in front of a mirror and have everything you need within easy reach. This includes curlers, piks or clips, and setting lotion or gel. If you use gel, put a nice big blob of it on a saucer so its is easily accessible. The best hairdos are from neatly done wetsets, so following the setting diagram below for curler placement:


[Over 200 New Hair Setting Patterns,1969 ]


Comb your hair from the forehead back, and and left and right as shown below:

[ Hairdo, May 1961]
Now comb a neat section of hair about as wide as your roller forwards, and grasp it between your fingers and hold it up and a little forwards.

[ Hairdo, May 1961]

With your other hand, smear some gel onto it, then hold the end of the hair to the curlers, and roll it back keeping firm tension on the hair till it touches your scalp. The hair should neatly wind on the roller as shown below:

[ Hairdo, May 1961]

If it isn't neat, try again. It is tricky looking into a mirror In fact, it can be easier if you don't look. If roller wind looks messy, try a few more times. If you have plastic brush rollers, you can use the roller itself as a comb which makes winding a little easier:

[Wil-Hold Hair Roller package from the 60s]

Don't get discouraged – it does take practice. After a few tries, even if it isn't perfect, secure with a pik as below (Note that this picture is for a narrower roller, but pik placement is the same):
[Hairdo, May 1961]

Be careful how you place the pik. It should be pushed through the roller at an angle so the end touches your scalp. If your roller is nice an secure you have it right. If not, you probably have the pick in the wrong direction or at an angle, so take it out and try again. You may have to try a few times until it is both secure and comfortable. There should be even gentle tension on the hair. Too loose and the roller fall out, too tight and it will feel unpleasant. A good rule of thumb is just tight enough that you can feel it, but just barely. You will have to get to know what is best for your hair.
And now repeat going back towards your neck. Now you can also make securing your rollers easier by place the pick so it goes into the previous roller. If course this only works of the rollers are close together which they should be. Half way done and your set should look something like this:

[Hairdo, January 1963]

Depending on your hair length, you may need smaller rollers on front and at the back close to your neck. Now do the same for the left and right rows. This is where the mirror really makes things tricky until you have quite a bit of practice. Again, don't try and roll while watching – the mirror makes you want to move in the wrong direction, so wind a roller, then look, then pin with a pik, then look. Now fill in the back with as many rollers as you can. Don't worry at this stage if they are little messy.
Once you have set your hair, you may with to add a few more piks in places where the rollers look or feel like they may be on the verge of falling out. And if you notice an uncomfortably tight roller, remove its pik and re-insert the pik in a slightly different place.
With a bit of luck and some practice, your set should look like this:

[Woman's Day, 1975]

Of course, if you have a friend who can set you hair, its much easier than doing it in a mirror.. Either way, if you have have arrived at this point, you should be nicely set in curlers.
Now its time to dry, and there are a number of options. The simplest method is to air dry, but it also takes longest, either spending all day or all night in rollers. I certainly wouldn't recommend wearing curlers overnight until you have had a number of wet-sets and gotten used to being in curlers. You certainly do get used to being set, but it may be quite a few times until you are really comfortable wearing them.
The quicker way to dry a wet-set is with a bonnet dryer, either hard bonnet similar to a salon dryer, or a soft bonnet similar to a shower cap. Both work well and area easily available. If you use a dryer, stay away from super hot temperatures – not only is it uncomfortable, but will not be great for the health of your hair.
The best compromise is to use a dryer till your hair is almost dry, then air dry to finish it.
Styling
Only remove the rollers when you hair is completely dry and has cooled down, or setting your hair will have been for nothing. If in doubt, stay in rollers for another half hour or go under the dryer a bit more.
Unwind you rollers in the opposite order in which your wound them. This will keep them from getting tangled, particularly if your hair is longer. Of a roller does get tangled, go on to the ones beside it and then once they are loose, it will be easier to unwind. Once your rollers are out, you have a wide range of options. Use your fingers or the narrow handle of a comb to adjust your curls. If you like it, spray with hairspray and your done. If not keep try actually combing and then brushing your hair. This will remove well formed curls and create wavy hair, and if you continue, straighter hair with volume. You can also tease it (another topic) for bouffant styles.
So those are the basics. Changing size and placement of rollers will produce different hairdos, as will the type of hair you have, roller style, and the use of gel or setting lotion. Wet-sets can – and were - used to create virtually every type of hairdo, from curly, to wavy, to straight. You will have to experiment to see what is best for you, and don't give up it things didn't work out great the first time.
A few additional thoughts: don't set your hair the very first time just hours before some important event. Instead, plan to try a number of wet-sets when you have some spare time to see what works best for your hair and get some practice. The good thing is that in spite of the holding power of a wet-set, washing your hair will remove the style so you don't have to worry when you are experimenting. Similarly, if you decide to try setting your hair overnight, don't try it for the first time if you have have something important the next morning – sleeping in curlers does take some getting used to, and you may not sleep well the first few nights. Also, be aware that if you are unlucky enough it have an exceptionally sensitive scalp, roller sets may not be for you. If that is the case, concentrate you efforts on pincurls, and/or curling irons. Either way, enjoy your new hairstyles!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Fashionable History: Swim Wear By Decade- 1950's

For my Fashionable History segment this summer I am exploring swim wear by decade. Here we are at the 1950's. Swim wear becomes form fitting and curvaceous. The hourglass look is in. Shaping and support are key factors and swimsuits resemble corsets in many ways. Strapless one pieces are favored over the bikini but are very sexy with bias shaping, ruching, and padded cone shaped bra cups. As shorter curled hairstyles become important, so does the swim cap to protect the hair from swimming. Here's a look at some gorgeous photos.

1950s swimwear

These ladies are wearing serious suits to swim in with the funniest swim caps!

1950s swimwear Gorgeous use of plaid with bias shaping and a ruffle at the bust.

1950s swimwear A great shot of the popular ruched style on the left and chevron stripes on the right.


1950s swimwear Matching swim caps! Divine!

1950s swimwear Truly form fitting!

Click this link to see the 1952 Swimsuit Fashions Heavenly Bodies Newsreel. It's very glam!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode


Make New Friends, But Keep the Old…


Edited by AsheMischief
Because fashion bloggers love both silver & gold!

Okay, that was a bit of a cheesy, childhood song for those Stateside, but I did notice one thing this week– fresh new faces and old familiar ones. From long time contributors like Mademoiselle Robot and The Musings of Ondo Lady, to new (-to-me) Our Ocean, Links á la Mode is an amazing way to meet new bloggers and discover new territories. Think of today as Make a New Friend Day on Links á la Mode…read new blogs for a fresh dose of inspiration and revisit your favorites to remember why you love them!

As always, we’ve got a delightful mash-up of posts, too… from how to score review samples to a thoughtful post on The Uniform Project and lots of great summer clothes and jewelry. Be sure to check out the forums too, as there are several great contests going on!

Links à la Mode : July 16th



  • 39thandbroadway.com – NYC vs LA – The Fashion Week Debate

  • Fabulous Finds Gal – Who doesn’t love a gorgeous pin-up? The pin-up poet’s gorgeous and creative new amazing book and insightful interview with the author.

  • Fashion Dare – A Nautical Nod

  • Fasshonaburu – Everyone has a list like this, places to go before you turn 50, a “bucket list” of things to do before you kick it, etc. Well, it sounds shallow and superficial (and by “sounds” I mean “is”), but I have a list of things I want to buy before I enter my nex

  • HiFashion – The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Good Health

  • Hong Kong Fashion Geek – Wide-leg pants and how to make them work for you

  • Independent Fashion Bloggers – Not Buying It: How has the recession affected your fashion blog?

  • Mademoiselle Robot – A London Girl’s shopping guide to Stockholm.

  • Meilily – Island Style Pick: Wood & Bead Bracelet

  • Our Ocean – A colourful review of the clothes in An American in Paris.

  • Retro Chick – Lulu Guinness Holiday Resort 2009 Collection

  • Shop Diary – 2 days ago 1stdibs.com, the renowned antiques site, just launched a vintage couture, fashion and accessories designer section.

  • The Capitol Fashionista – Modern Fashionista Travel with Vintage Luggage: What better way to add a little touch of class than packing it all up in vintage luggage.

  • THE COVETED – Gorgeous New, More Affordable Denim from AX and a $500 A Gift Card Giveaway

  • The Fashion Planner – ShoeDazzle – Review of Kim Kardashian’s shoe club.

  • the musings of ondo lady – Mention the word Biba and you can bet that any decent fashionista will go all starry eyed. This is because along with Mary Quant, Diane von Furstenberg and Twiggy, Biba is right up there as one of the iconic fashion brands of the 60s and 70s.

  • The Recessionista – 2 days ago Essential Summer Style Tips–Tips for essential summer wardrobe staples: Tips from The Recessionista Blog and Jones’ New York Style Guru Lloyd Boston

  • Think Thru Fashion – Agate Accessories: Find affordable ways to wear the trendy crystal.

  • threadbared – How the Uniform Project highlights fashion’s one constant — the tension between individuality and standardization

  • tickle – Fresh Catch! tickle grills the designers of Delirius, a line as flirty as NY girls

  • Unfunded – All Eyes on Hayden Panettiere and Lace!