Niagara

Several months ago, when I first discovered Mr. FF and I were going to be moving across Canada to Ontario, I had promised to make a trip to Niagara Falls to take a photo inspired by Marilyn Monroe's own Niagara pics. Well, last month, we ended up making a split decision to hit the Niagara Wine region to do some winery tours and then decided last minute to visit the Falls, since they were nearby. It was a cold day and since we were planning to muck around muddy vineyards, I had dressed more like Amelia Earhart than Marilyn, but I still got my hubby to snap some pictures of myself sitting near the place (or maybe in the exact same spot) where a famous photo of Ms. Monroe had once been taken. It was really cool to imagine being where she once had been. I have some other pics from the niagara visit I may post (mostly for family) later on. Right now, my dog is batting at me for his walk. I'm such a slave to his Majesty.

Oh Boy, Myrna Loy

Okay, enough nudey flappers; time to put some frocks on that gal. I adore Myrna Loy and like many, I've coveted the striped clothing she wore in The Thin Man for a long time. Funny, I've just spotted two "Myrna-esque" 1930s dress on Etsy for sale. Close, but no cigar for me. I'm gonna keep searching, but these are still lovely.

First dress from Audrey's Closet; second dress from Love Train Vintage

Oh, Jabot! A Little Saturday Morning Vintage Necking Part II

By the way, Bonniesknitting on Etsy sells some 30s style scarves if you like the 30s ascot look, but cannot knit! Her cloches are also amazing (more on that at a later point...she's doing a custom one for me).

Oh, Jabot! A Little Saturday Morning Vintage Necking

I'm off to a Christmas Bazaar this morning. Apparently there's a vintage and antiques table (fingers crossed there are some nice bits and baubles on offer). Worst case scenario, there's sure to be some stellar baking. I leave you with some images of one of the things I love most about the 1930s: vintage necking (no not THAT kind of necking, you naughty kittens. I'm talking JABOTS and ASCOTS. Just in case, though, I've re-posted a link to one of my favourite Busby Berkeley numbers, "Pettin' in the Park" here..;) ...actually, Ruby Keeler's scarf is really gorgeous in the opening bit). Oops, speaking of naughty kittens, I know I am not being as good about sourcing images as I should. Tee hee...forgot where I got these from...

What to Wear for a Deco High Tea Part TWO

Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions regarding what I might wear to a place like the Windsor Arms for high tea. I know I had said "no more self portraits for a while," but I decided maybe giving some concrete choices might help you help me finalize what I'll wear? The knit suit was option #1; Option #2 might be my Bee's Knees dress (posted about earlier). Option #3 would be a very special frock I've just ordered from Able Grable if it arrives in time. Option #4 is this 1930s dress, with my $5.00 1930s chapeau? Oh, I'm so confused!







Music I'm Listening To: "Edyth's Beauty Salon" from Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day soundtrack

What to Wear for a Deco High Tea

Okay, now for my next activity plans: Just heard the Windsor Arms hotel is an amazing place in Toronto for high tea in a late 1920s deco setting. Have a peek and give me your thoughts: What should I wear if we go? What would a woman in the late 20s or early 30s wear to an afternoon tea in winter time? Would the knit suit be appropriate (i'd wear dark knickers this time)?







The dining room looks pretty swanky too. Maybe we'd go for dinner instead....but yet again, I ask: what to wear? HELP!

Amelia Review

Well, I FINALLY got to see AMELIA, the Amelia Earhart biopic. While I doubt it's going to be an Oscar contender, I'd give it a 7.5 or 8 out of 10. Hilary initially annoyed me with her feigned accent and attempts to hold her mouth in the same way as Amelia. I think they even modified the look of Swank's teeth to have the sort of gap toothed smile Earhart had. However, as the film went on she really owned the role and definitely came to embody the real deal, both physically and in terms of carriage and personality. I found Richard Gere sort of dull and flat, but Ewan McGregor was as handsome and charming as ever.


If you are going in expecting an epic blockbuster filled with f/x and drama, like TITANIC, you will be disappointed, although I found some of the flight scenes gripping (what a bone-rattling experience vintage flight was!); personally, I never expected it to be anything other than a biopic, and I think the film did a very respectable (but maybe sometimes too subtle) job of trying to highlight Amelia Earhart's pluck, independence, and influence on generations of women (both pilots and none). For example, the director liked to briefly show little girls staring admiringly at Amelia from the sidelines.


Of course, the cinematography and costumes were lovely, but I also like how the movie highlighted the financial difficulties facing women explorers who did not have independent means and the effects that this larger historical reality had on Earhart's own public identity and relationship with her manager and husband, Putnam. (I would have liked even more on just how unconventional Earhart would have been seen as in relation to the gender status quo of her day, but there were subtle gestures in that direction through dialogue and background details).


All in all, while I found some of the attempts to "psychologize" Earhart's motives for her wanderlust and her resistance to marriage and commitment a bit oversimplistic (example: having Earhart come out and say, "my father is a drunk. He's always disappointing me" when Putnam asks why she's so loathe to commit) or something to that effect, all in all, this was a very enjoyable and interesting film. Even though we all know how Earhart's story ends, I found myself really emotionally involved in the climax.