Mid-Week Inspiration: Blonde Bette Davis

When we think of Bette Davis we think of a strong willed, head lining brunette. In the early 1930's a young Bette starred in several pre-code films as a blonde ingenue.

She was stunning!

Fashionable History: Veils

I've always been fascinated with vintage hats with veils and the glamorous mysterious effect they have. After making many veiled headband fascinators last week and posting a tutorial on how to make them, I began to wonder about how wearing veils came about. Certainly there are many religious origins to the veil, think Catholic Nuns and Muslim Burqas. There is also the wedding ritual where brides wear veils ( like the gorgeous one above) to represent their virginity, a tradition that still carries on with meaning or not. There is also the somewhat old fashioned use of black veils at funerals worn by widows and those in high mourning. But where does that leave us in the fashion world where wearing a veil is a choice not a societal standard?

Let's have a look:

In Victorian and Edwardian times, large veiled hats were popular to keep sun off of the face and dust out of your eyes while riding in an automobile. Practical and pragmatic.

Bette Davis in the 1940's. Veils are worn by glamorous women. They define a lady's space and separate them from the common woman.

In the 1950's a lady never went out without a hat and her gloves.

Veils attached to fancy cocktail hats were an option for formal occasions.

Another image from the 1950's when wearing fashion veils peaked.

Sophisticated, mysterious, refined, and very lady like.

Modern times.

Veils make a come back for a glamorous night out.

Drew Barrymore is stunning in her birdcage veil at the Grey Gardens premiere.

Mid-Week Inspiration:Stardust-Vogue Italia

Steven Meisel shot a retro inspired spread for the Sept. 08 Italian Vogue featuring model Viktoriya Sosonkina. The shots are very Classic Hollywood, reminding me of Bette Davis, Marlene Deitrich, the Hitchcock blonde and more. Katie from Old Hollywood Glamour posted the complete spread a month ago and the two photos above are my favorites. Thank you Katie for finding these!

Vintage Finds of the Week: Repro Cocktail Rings

I absolutely love this photo of Marlene Dietrich. It makes me want to grow out my fingernails and wear super large cocktail rings. So for this week's Vintage Finds I have searched for Hollywood inspired cocktail rings and am amazed at what I have found. At bombshells.com they have a gorgeous collection of reproduction costume cocktail rings based on actual rings worn by Hollywood starlets in their classic films! I am having 50 heart attacks over the selection. You can choose by the actress including, Bette Davis, Jean Harlow, Marilyn Monroe, and many more. Here are some from the Marlene Dietrich collection.


From left to right:
Cognac Bauble: $70. A whopping 23ct. cz!
Seascape Emerald: $70 Inspired from the film, Pittsburgh.
Champagne Ice: $72 Inspired from the film, The Devil is a Woman.