Happy Memorial Day!

I hope you are all having a fabulous holiday weekend!

To celebrate I'm letting you in on my Twitter sale! 30% off all items in my vintage shop, Femme Fatale Vintage! Put Twitter30 in notes to seller for an adjusted invoice!!

Don't miss out, this sale ends tonight at midnight (EST)!

Shop News...This Just In!

It's been a crazy busy week! Needless to say I've fallen behind on new listings in my Etsy shops. Which is no fun, I know! So I'm going to be having a pop-up sale... mmmm... sometime this week end for my vintage shop, Femme Fatale Vintage, to make up for it! The announcement will be made on my Facebook fan page and on Twitter. So please follow me there to get in on the sale!!

I've also bought lots and lots of satin ribbons and vintage laces to make up some more garter sets for my handmade shop, The Sparkling Cocktail! I will be sewing up a storm this weekend! On that note I am leaving you with a little garter inspiration!

Mid-Week Inspiration: Dating Lessons

Oh I hope you can read the small type! There is some good advice in these dating lessons from the 40's/50s. Or at least some good laughs!

via chateau thombeau

My Vintage Vanity: Sewing Patterns

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

The vintage community is so generous. It never ceases to amaze me how resourceful, helpful, and kind my fellow vintage sellers can be. I recently received a sizable package of vintage patterns from the super sweet Emily of Tea Street Vintage! She was given a huge lot of them and sent me the ones that she couldn't sell due to missing pattern pieces. Lucky for me the missing pieces are just simple facings and being that I know patternmaking, I can easily and willingly make new ones! Emily knew that and sent them to me free of charge! Thank you Emily...I can't wait to get started on my new projects!

Here's a small sampling of the many she sent.

I must get started on this one right away!


So simple...but I really love it!

This can go in many directions!

Please visit Emily's Etsy store, Tea Street Vintage for some amazing vintage finds. (psst..she's having a sale!) and follow her on Twitter @teastreetvtg.

5/26/10 Edit- Emily is now offering my dear readers ( that's you!) 10% off any sewing patterns in her shop, Tea Street Vintage, when you mention Bobbins and Bombshells in the Notes to Sellers! She will be listing more patterns this week! Don't forget to mention you read about it here! Happy Shopping!

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Numero 112

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 week I have discovered this adorable editorial from April's Numero 112.
I love the cute Italian 1960's vibe.

Model: Rasa Zukauskaite

Photographer: Val & Musso

images via fashiongonerogue.com

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Fashion’s Bold Step Forward

Edited by Ashe/Mischief Dramatis Personae

To be honest, I’ve been really excited about the content on the web lately…. because each week, it seems that fashion & style bloggers are making a bold step forward. In a niche that was once dominated by runway photographs and personal style posts, we’re evolving to include daring, thoughtful, provocative posts as well. I am continually shocked and amazed by the range of posts… from wearabout’s post on androgynous Indian men and Style Amor’s post on Arab women in fashion to posts about fashion blogging as a career at Style Eyes fashion blog.

Images via The Curvy Fashionista, The Coveted, Hello Beauty, and Wearabout

Links à la Mode : May 20th

• Awakened Aesthetic – Giveaway! Enter to win a hand-embellished floral top by independent designer Eliza + Axel and take the floral trend in a different direction.


• CMYKaboom!: – New York Fashion Week Coverage: IFB “Evolving Influence” Conference


• fete a fete: – Clarins Instant Sun Light summer makeup


• Guacamole & Toast: – What makes a good fashion blog? How can we avoid turning into one of the minority of superficial fashion bloggers that everyone stereotypes us to be?


• hello beauty!: – we have a new makeup lesson video with Guerlain’s top makeup artist and a review of the Guerlain Summer 2010 Collection.


• Holier Than Now: – How to fall in love with last year’s summer essential, all over again.


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Skills Bloggers Can Use to Get Hired


• Jewelry Whore: – Designer You Should Know: Elsa Schiaparelli


• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – An exclusive interview with Amanda deLeon, a fabulous avant garde designer from North Carolina, and personal favorite of Kat Von D!


• M.I.S.S.: – TV: Follow the Leader: A New Style Series Promo! | M.I.S.S.


• Pretty Shiny Sparkly: – Exploring the trend of resin-coated black denim, with a best of the best roundup!


• Shoe-a-Day: – How to Shop for Shoes when you’re living ohsofaraway from civilization.


• Style Amor: – Celebrating the Beauty of Arab Women & Our Diverse Culture


• Style Eyes Fashion Blog: – A career as a fashion blogger – have you considered a career as a fashion blogger? Here are my experiences.


• Stylish Thought: – The Dressing Dilemma: Who do women really dress for?


• The Coveted – Anica boutique is the place to experiment with avant garde


• The Curvy Fashionista: – Curves in the USA? A Question… The Elite of fashion magazines across the pond are fashioning the most fabulous spreads of full figured fashionista, bloggers, and models, will the US follow suit?


• The Recessionista: – Jeans: We’re Spending More and Shopping Longer Does anyone recall the moment when jeans became a luxury item?


• The Thrifty Poet: – “Why Should I Be Ashamed of My Shape” — why I think classifying women into only 4 different body shapes (two of them fruit) isn’t right


• wearabout: – The luxury of not caring – a look inside an androgynous indian male’s wardrobe.


• What 2 Wear Where: – After the fab opportunity to preview the Met’s exhibit “American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity”, we looked at each of the perfectly portrayed eras and paired them with contemporary looks.

Shop News...This Just In!

Yippee! I sold my first garter set this week!! So I stitched up a few more and added them to my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail!

Here's what's new:

Bridal Garter Set - My Destiny in Chocolate Satin and Ivory Lace with Cameo Locket-$35

Bridal Garter Set - Mon Amour in Cafe au Lait with Brass Locket and Polka Dot Bow -$30

Bridal Garter Set - Lil' Flirt in Red Lace and Red and White Polka Dot Satin -$28

For instant shop updates please follow me on Twitter @BobbinBombshell

Mid-Week Inspiration: Karen Elson's Hair

Karen Elson has beautiful hair. I especially love the messy somewhat curled look in these photos from Foam Magazine. Inspiring to just wear a third day set brushed out and messy and not care. I'm curious what her music is like. Have any of you heard it?

On My Wishlist: Kriss Soonik Lace Romper

I'm starting to think the only things on my wishlist these days is lingerie. I may have a problem. But how cute is this lace ruffled romper from Kriss Soonik? I mean, come on! How can this NOT go on my list?

Retro Looks In The Modern World: In Budget Blues

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. The hair in these photos is amazing!

Bon Magazine

Photographer: Andreas Sjodin

Via fashionising.com

Shop News...This Just In!

I've been a busy bee this week!

First here is a sampling of the many new items in my handmade shop The Sparkling Cocktail:

Flapper Fascinator Black Headband with Beaded Leaf Motif- $42

Bridal Garter Set -Mon Amour in Black and White with Sweetheart Locket-$30

Bridal Garter Set -Something Blue with Sweetheart Locket-$30

Bridal Garter -Je T'Aime Tosser in Black and White Lace-$17


And in my vintage shop, Femme Fatale Vintage:

Grace Kelly Vintage 1950s Wrist Length White Gloves with Knotted Flowers-$10

Brown Pinwheels Vintage 50s/60s Wrist Length Gloves-$12

Pretty as a Peach Vintage 60's Embroidered Vanity Fair Slip Bust 36-$30

Betty Blue Vintage 1960's Double Chiffon Peignoir Robe with Lace by Radcliffe-$32

I have also redone many photos of some of your favorite items (VINTAGE SHOES!!) so be sure to take a peak in the shop and get a new and better view!

And as always for instant shop updates please follow me on Twitter @BobbinBombshell or @femmefatalevtg!

xoxo

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Beauty is Truth

Edited by Thom Wong

Beauty is truth and truth is beauty, but what happens when fashion enters the mix? Several of this week’s links tackle this thorny question with gusto, teasing out the various layers of meaning behind the term beauty and what it means to feel or be beautiful. Ethics and the material nature of style emerged as another dominant theme. The Laundry Narrative wonders if she can enjoy fashion blogging without dealing with the BIG ISSUES. Then there are longer form posts where I felt the writers stretched their narrative legs, some new voices in the game who could use your attention, and, since this is still about fashion, some lovely outfit pics of girls on bikes. Finally I’ve included the only two men who bothered to post (seriously, what up men). And meggings – nooooo!!!!!

Collage images via: Brachman’s Sparrow, évoluer, The Sunday Best, and Oranges and Apples

Links à la Mode : May 13

• 365 Fashion Rehab – Notes from the closet: Day 357! Building better future buying habits by way of a major wardrobe investigation.


• 39th and Broadway – The Fall of Designer Denim.


• Bachman's Sparrow – Saturday Advice column: develop your personal style into something amazing by learning how to take risks and not dress for others.


• Chrissy Styles – I create an outfit inspired by a painting. This time one by Luc Tuymans:


• D e f i n i n g B e a u t y – Pass it On – What do you do with clothes you don’t want?


• DailyDivaDish – True Cost of Disposable Fashion: You may be paying more than you realize.


• Debutante Clothing – Are you Lying? Why Do You Wear Vintage? A response to 5 Lies Women Tell About Vintage Dresses.


• Emerald Dandy – Meggings: Meant to be?


• Evoluer – 7 girls : 7 bicycles : 7 unique & adorable outfits


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Finance & the Fashion Blogger: Ignore-ance


• Journey to Fashion – From Undergrad Slob to Graduate Fashionista? An introduction to my quest for fashion.


• Missemmamm – How the internet has changed & woman are now more empowered.


• Oranges and Apples – On Beauty.


• Retro Chick – Are you ethically fashionable or fashionably ethical?


• Return to Sender – What do you do when your old insecurities rear their ugly heads?


• Shrimp Salad Circus – Ten things to smile about right this very second.


• Style on a String – The Insatiability for Logos, not Luxury.


• The Coveted – The Coveted launches a new blog dedicated to real women wearing denim.


• The Laundry Narrative – Fighting the urge to justify criticism of fashion blogging as superficial, anti-feminist, and materialistic.


• The Sunday Best – The Best Time of the Year for Menswear


• The Thrifty Poet – How to Feel Beautiful.

Mid-Week Inspiration: Hair Clips

Just love. I love the hair clips. I love her hair. And I love the dress.

Photographer: Paolo Roversi for Vogue Italia.

My Projects: Garters

It's time to put the "Bobbins" back in Bobbins and Bombshells! The road to recovery since my hand injury and surgery last November has been a long one, and I'm still on it. But I can sew again for a short time before my hand gets really tired. So I have started by sewing up some accessories for my shop The Sparkling Cocktail and I am excited to be once again sharing my projects with you. I am also excited to be putting into reality ideas that I've had since before my injury...what a relief! The direction I'm going into is boudoir bridal. To start I made up some garters the other night. Inspired by Jean Harlow in the pre-code film Red Headed Woman (shown above), I've been making sets with lockets attached. Of course devilish Jean had a picture of the man she was out to get in her locket but they are also a great for holding a picture of your Groom on your wedding night. **Hint Hint** These make great bridal shower gifts!

This picture is also great inspiration!

Ribbons, lace, and lockets!

Garters ready to be decorated.

A finished product!

Some are already listed in my shop, The Sparkling Cocktail, so have a look! More will be made and listed soon.

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Le Cirque

As much as the modern fashion world looks forward it also continually looks back in time. Photographer Wendy Bevan does it again with these beautifully romantic nostaligic images for Marie Claire Italia (April 2010). This one is titled "Le Cirque" and features model Sophie Vlaming.

My favorite is the one with the swing but I love the corset in the second image.
In case you missed it, last week's edition of Retro Looks in the Modern World featured Wendy Bevan's English Party. Have a look.

images via fashionising.com