Mid-Week Inspiration: Chanel Pre-Fall

I know! I know! I haven't even gone to the beach yet or worn my bathing suit but I am already dying over the Pre-Fall ads from Chanel! Gorgeous!!

On My Wishlist: Chantal Thomass

How cute is this striped bikini from Chantal Thomass? And the shot is just adorable!

But what I really want are the Chantal Thomass iphone covers! And I don't even have an iphone! Brilliant!

images via Faire Frou Frou.

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Elle France

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. Here we explore Retro Looks in the Modern World.

The gorgeous and sexy Laetitia Casta was featured in the January '08 issue of Elle France. I love the vintage lingerie, the 1960's influence, and her messy bed-head!

Photographed by Vincent Peters.

images via fashiongonerogue.com

My Projects: Veils and Garters

This past week I was busy working on a custom wedding veil for a co-worker. She wanted a large and poufy birdcage veil to wear with her gorgeous and simple Vera Wang ivory dress. I got the widest netting in 18" ivory and attached it to a comb. This is the veil here, not completely finished. We are going to add more decoration when she decides what she wants. So for now we have the basic shape. At the moment she is deciding if she wants to wear it centered on her head as shown above or on the side for an asymmetrical look (shown below).
Which do you prefer?
I'll post more pics soon when it's all complete. Hopefully with the bride in her gorgeous dress!

I also made up some new garter styles for my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail! The one above and below is the Ma Cherie series. It features wide lace on the bottom, a narrow lace on top with a solid satin ribbon elastic casing. The decoration is a vintage ivory lace bow with a pink pearl and ivory satin ribbon strands.

This beauty is the Ma Fleur. Organza ribbon with narrow lace trim and satin ribbon elastic casing. The flower is handmade in the prettiest ballet pink satin ribbon with a pearl center! More colorways to come!!


Be sure to visit my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail, to see more of my handmade items!

Mid-Week Inspiration: Marilyn Monroe in the Subway

After several years of being able to walk to work in Brooklyn, I am now once again commuting into Manhattan. This photo of Marilyn waiting for the subway train is great inspiration. May I please look half this glamorous no matter how hot or annoyed I may get!

On My Wishlist: Red or Dead Swimsuit

I'm really in love with this swimsuit from one of my favorite British labels, Red or Dead. Really now, how adorable is this?

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Far From Heaven

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. Here we explore Retro Looks in the Modern World.

This Vogue UK editorial features Shalom Harlow in gorgeous 60's influenced attire. I love the clothes, the hair, and the interior!

Photographer: Javier Vallhonrat

via fashiongonerogue.com

Fashionable History: Sunglasses

Roman Emperors uses emeralds to watch gladiator fights. In 12th Century China smoky quartz was used to hide the eyes and facial expressions of judges in Chinese courts. But it wasn't until the early 19oo's that fashionable sunglasses as we know them became more common place.
This was epecially true among silent film stars that constantly had red eyes due to the powerful lighting needed for the extremely slow film stock used to make those films. If the stars do it so does the rest of the world so even when the harsh lighting used in films was improved with ultra-violet filters the sunglasses remained. And they've been cool ever since.

In 1929 mass produced sunglasses were produced and sold in America by Sam Foster. He sold the shades on the boardwalks of Atlantic City under the name Foster Grant from a Woolworth's. We now can't live without them at the beach!

Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly made wearing sunglasses in the 50's a classic accessory. Not just for sun protection but now a style necessity.

Mid-Week Inspiration: Ginger Rogers

*GASP* This is gorgeous!

Ginger Rogers by Horst P Horst.

My Vintage Vanity: Summer Straw Bags

**Have a peek into my permanent vintage collection.**

I love straw bags for the summer. I have two that I simply adore and am always on the hunt for more!

This one I bought in Phoenix, AZ at Nostaligic Alley. It's gorgeous and perfect for an afternoon in the park!

This red lovely I actually use a lot! I bought this one in St. Louis for $13! A total score!

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Elle Brazil May 2010

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. Here we explore Retro Looks in the Modern World.

These gorgeous images from the May 2010 issue of Elle Brazil features model Viviane Orth in a decadent, gothic, flapperesque look. I absolutely love it!

Photographer: Fabio Bartlet

via fashiongonerogue.com

And The Winner Is....

It's time to pick the winners in my Birthday Give Away!! Whoohooo! All entries had their name written on a piece of my adorable Barbie note paper!
They were then folded up and put into my vintage ice bucket, mixed up and then chosen!

The first drawn was Dawn Steckmesser! Congrats! Dawn has won a $25 store credit to my vintage shop, Femme Fatale Vintage!

The second name drawn was Philomena! Congrats! Philomena has won a $25 store credit to my handmade shop, The Sparkling Cocktail!

A big heart felt thank you goes out to all that have entered! Thanks for all of your support!

Don't forget there is something for all readers too! The 20% off sale is still on!! From now until June 24th take 20% off any item in either of my shops. Be sure to write "Bobbins and Bombshell's Birthday" in the Message From the Buyer when you make a purchase! Your discount will be refunded via paypal.

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Fashion Blogger’s Delight

Edited by Jennine/IFB

After a small hiatus of Links à la Mode it was great to revisit all the wonderful links submitted to the community each week. As bloggers grow, so do concerns about growing pains. Sugar & Spice talks about bridging the gap between her online identity and real life one, Retro Chick ponders the pros and cons of niche blogging and Miss Vinyl Ahoy shares tips protecting your content with a Creative Commons license. But that’s not all… there are loads of interviews from Fasshionaburu meets Rachel Roy and M.I.S.S. interviews a vintage vixen for a stunning video (try saying that 3x). All a great mix, so grab a cuppa tea and enjoy!

Images via Poetic & Chic, Confessions of a Fashion Editor, Parker + Muse, and M.I.S.S.

Links à la Mode : June 10th

• 365 Fashion Rehab – Lookbook #1-White Blouse 4 Ways


• a la Modest – The Invisibility Cloak: The Desire to Be Noticed


• c u f f i n g t o n – Easy, inexpensive tricks in wearing your chic flats without socks and not succumbing to blisters and calluses.


• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Playing ‘Dress’ Up


• Dedicated Follower of Fashion – Prized! – Win a T-Minx Cropped Tee!


• Fasshonaburu – Interviews the glamorous, yet down to Earth, Rachel Roy!


• Fete a Fete – iPad Leather Covers from April in Paris


• For Those About To Shop – Plus-size Fashion Good For Business


• Holier Than Now – Shoes You Can Use


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Are Bloggers Getting Stressed?


• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS – Interview with Heather Martin of mono


• M.I.S.S. – Follow the Leader, Episode #1–Vintage Vandalizm


• mimosas in bed – SF indie mart


• Miss Vinyl Ahoy – Protecting your blog and copyright


• Parker Muse – Interview with Felice Lee’s Wabi Sabi


• Poetic & Chic – The Great Shoe Wake


• Retro Chick – Don’t Box Me In


• Return to Sender: A Fat Girl's Letters to the World – Urban Outfitters: Eat Less. Actually, just Shut up.


• Style Eyes Fashion Blog – Age Appropriate Dress


• Stylish Distractions – Ring Toss


• Sugar and spice and all things nice: – I write a fashion blog… And I’m proud of it.


• the Citizen Rosebud – the Bobby Burns


• The Coveted – Late Night Drugstore Haul

Shop News...This Just In!

More garter sets have been listed in my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail this past week! Here are a few:

Bridal Garter Set - Mon Amour in Black Satin and White Lace with Brass Locket- $30

Bridal Garter Set -Mon Amour in Buttercup Satin and White Lace with Oval Locket-$30

Bridal Garter Set - My Destiny in Ivory and White with Cameo Locket-$35

Items from my shops have also been featured in these lovely blog posts and Etsy Treasuries!

*Hinterland Vintage featured the yellow eyelet white gloves from my shop Femme Fatale Vintage in her blog post "Will You Marry Me?"

*The pale blue 1960's Peignoir from Femme Fatale Vintage was featured in this lovely treasury called Keep Calm and Carry On.

*And my Bird of a Feather Garter from The Sparkling Cocktail was featured in two lovely Etsy Treasuries!! A Radiant, Feminine Day and A Waking Dream.

Thank you all so much!!

And finally, in case you didn't read yesterday's post Bobbins and Bombshells has turned two!! To celebrate there is a SALE and a GIVE AWAY going on right now! Please read yesterday's post for the details and to enter!

For instant shop updates please follow me on Twitter!

Bobbins And Bombshells Turns TWO!

I can't believe it's already been two years since I started this little blog! Thank you all so much for reading, responding, sharing, and well keeping me going! I absolutely love sharing my vintage and design inspirations with you!

To celebrate I am offering 20% off ALL items in my Etsy shops, The Sparkling Cocktail and Femme Fatale Vintage to my blog readers starting today through June 24th!! All you have to do is put "Bobbins And Bombshells Birthday" in the Notes to Seller when you make a purchase. Your discount will then be quickly refunded!

To top it off I'm also having a Birthday Give-Away!
In honor of turning two, there will be two winners in this little contest!

The first drawing will be a $25 Store Credit for my vintage shop, Femme Fatale Vintage!

The second drawing will be a $25 Store Credit for my handmade shop, The Sparkling Cocktail!

With the additional 20% off code mentioned above that's pretty cute!

You only need to enter once.

To enter make a comment in this post below. (Something nice please! Spam comments will not be counted!)Please leave your email or twitter handle so I can contact you should you win!

Enter now, this contest closes Saturday (6/12/10) at midnight (EST).

The lucky winners will be announced in a new post Sunday!

Good luck!

(The lovely cupcakes pictured above that I wish were really in front of me are from Sugarbloom Cupcakes. )

Mid-Week Inspiration: American Woman-Fashioning a National Identity

Last weekend I went to see the Costume Institutes exhibit at the Met called American Woman- Fashioning a National Identity. The collection was exquisite and extremely inspiring! If you are in the NYC area this is a must see! The exhibit takes us on a journey back in time to when American women were first starting to be recognized as fashionable by Europe in the late 1800's and early 1900's up through to Hollywood's Golden Age in the 1930's. It was so enjoyable that I really wished the exhibit kept going up to modern times. I could have spent all day there!

For those of you that can't go here are some photos from The Metropolitan Museum of Art's flickr page. Photography is not permitted at the exhibit. Keep in mind that even their own photos do not do these dresses justice. The fabrics and bead work must be seen in person!

The Society Ladies: 1900's. Evening gowns from The House of Worth.

The silks and laces were astonishingly beautiful!

Bohemian. 1910's. Gowns and robes by Weeks, Paul Poiret, Liberty of London.

The Flapper. 1920's. Jeanne Lanvin, Edward Molyneux.
The bead work on these dresses was incredible!

Screen Siren. 1930's. Madame Gres.

Screen Sirens. 1930's. Dresses by Jesse Franklin Turner, Chanel, Travis Banton, Jeanne Lanvin,
and Vionnet.

Yes that dragon dress by Travis Banton is the very one worn by Anna May Wong . That made my heart skip a beat!

On My Wishlist: Jolie Marche

I'm dreaming of the day I have a bigger apartment and can decorate all over again! Until then I'm saving my money and collecting ideas. I love everything in the Etsy shop Jolie Marche and would really love to have these gorgeous pillows!
The store is filled with burlap pillow covers, table linens, and home decor items with pretty french script and vintage images.

Which one is your favorite?