Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Silver Belle: My New Year's Eve Eve Frock

The weather here has been so snowy and un-conducive to outfit posts that don't show me wearing a parka and ski pants that I am resorting to posting a "stock" photo of me taken earlier this year. Let me explain: We had decided to head to our favourite restaurant for a classy but lower key dinner on New Year's Eve, but it turns out we waited too long to make reservations for dinner on Dec. 31st, so we're celebrating New Year's Eve a night early tomorrow night (hence the New Year's Eve Eve bit).  The way things are now, we'll probably just stay home in our pjs on the actual NYE; anywhooo, since I am not risking whipping my coat off in the freezing winter snow tomorrow night to show you my dress, you will have to take my word on the fact that I shall be wearing my heavenly Able Grable Vintage Baroness frock for the occasion! In case I don't post again before NYE, HAPPY NEW YEAR, darlings!!!



I Can See Your Tracks

The music of Laura Veirs is mesmerising, but all I can say about this video: OH DEAR!....I mean DEER!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Lobster Love

Speaking of vintage inspirations in the modern world...a while back on my (now almost defunct) Facebook page, I had commented on the fact that I had noticed shock popster Lady Gaga wearing very Schiaparelli-Dali inspired accoutrements, most noticeably a huge silver lobster headpiece (by Philip Treachy?) that seemed to fuse Schia's lobster dress, Dali's lobster telepone, and Schia's love of avant-garde hats.  Today, I saw that my favourite milliner, Frollein Von Sofa has created her own AMAZING Schia-inspired lobster hat (third image below).  All I can say is: WAAAAANT!!  Gaga, get a clue...this is how it's done!





Monday, December 27, 2010

The Kirsten-Carole Connection?

I'm probably going to get flamed for this one, but while I'm on the subject of modern couture with vintage appeal, I can't help but drool over Chanel's recent offerings.  More to the point, I gotta say that a certain Ms. Kirsten Dunst seems to have visually morphed into a modern day Carole Lombard of sorts with the aid of some drop dead gorgeous Chanel gowns of late.  Let me just say that that might be where the comparisons between Kirsten and Carole end.







Thursday, December 23, 2010

Holiday Spirits

Well, my lovelies, time to head offline for a day or two.  HAPPY HOLIDAYS!  Remember, "a dry martini you always shake to waltz time"!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Beautiful Bay Blanket Coat

Blanket Coats

OH, I could use a warm blanket coat right now.  This pattern from Wearing History would be ideal!  Maybe it's because I'm Canadian or because I used to work for the HBC, but I especially love the Hudson's Bay fabric used in the hooded coat at left below.  This pattern is much chicer than the shapeless Bay blank coat hipster actress Rachel Bilson was snapped wearing.






Turn On the Heat

Feeling winter's chill? "Wiggle and wobble and warm up the hut"!

Monday, December 13, 2010

The King's Speech

Hoping to see the film The King's Speech this evening. Since the snow I had ordered arrived last night, I think I'll wear my newest vintage knitted dress (the only one in the aforementioned estate lot of knitted dresses which is not going into the shop....I believe it's a 1930s cotton boucle with metallic flecking). I'll probably have to wear a different pair of shoes, though, as I'm still searching for the right galoshes. Forgive my frizzy hair.  I was out snow shovelling and my "toque" gave me flyaways that I just cannot seem to tame, especially without flattening out my natural waves (any suggestions?). sighs!
















Sunday, December 12, 2010

Dreaming of a White Christmas

After a day of baking, snacking, and watching White Christmas, I'm off to see the holiday window displays at the Hudsons Bay in Downtown Toronto, even though it's not as snowy out as I had hoped.  Since my outfit (which is a bit of a departure from my usual style) will be covered up by my coat, thought I'd snap a quick indoor pic.  Not sure I'm going to bother taking night-time photos of the displays, so nicked an image of one from the 'net.

1950s white faux fur bolero: antique mall
1940s plaid dress: Dear Golden
Booties from forever ago
1940s feather quill pin: estate sale


Love Lace

Some may think black lace is too "Morticia Addams," but, as Kay Francis and other 30s starlets have shown, it can be chic, elegant, and mysteriously alluring. I'm planning to list some 30s lace cocktail dresses and gowns shortly, but I am trying to decide which I want to keep for myself to wear this holiday season, so stay tuned....


Gown sold by Hemlock Vintage





Thursday, December 9, 2010

Knits on Ice

Knitted ice skating dresses and accessories are the perfect combination of warmth and adorable-ness!!

Knitted Ice Skating outfit pattern image: Iva Rose

1940s Boucle Skating Dress: The Kaliman

1930s Knitted Ice Skating Ensemble: Cemetarian




I Wish I Had a River I Could Skate Away On

One of my favourite winter activities is definitely ice skating.  One of the benefits of growing up in the cold snowy north was the fact that I actually learned to skate on outdoor frozen ice!  Nothing beats that feeling of graceful freedom I get from gliding across a glistening frozen rink.  Since moving from a more temperate part of Canada, where outdoor ice skating was a scarce luxury, I am looking forward to the idea of skating on the local river when it gets a bit colder here.  In the mean-time, I thought I'd post these adorable images of "Ice Skating Fashions" from LIFE, circa 1939.






Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A Guy What Takes His Time

As a point of comparison (or contrast) related to my last post, here is Mae West's famous rendition of "A Guy What Takes His Time."

Back to Blogging/Burlesque

Hello, dear bloggers!  After a much needed and generally much enjoyed respite from the world wi(l)d web, I am happy to report both blog and shop are back up and running.  What have I been up to while I've been away? Well, for one thing, at my mother's insistence (!), we saw the movie, Burlesque!  I'll spare you a detailed review of the film for now, as my brain is still not fully off vacation mode, but off the top of my head, I can say that it was a campy film, but rather enjoyable in a Broadway-meets-MTV awards kind of way.  I liked the nods to Cabaret and so forth. I didn't like some of the costumes or dance numbers.  I *did* like Aguilera's rendition of "A Guy What Takes His Time," not to mention her hair, pearl ensemble, and feather fans employed for this number (see below for a teaser pic).  After viewing the film, I can't help but wonder: what exactly IS burlesque?  Is there a universally accepted definition or are there various meanings?  Have the key facets of burlesque changed over the past century?  IF you've seen this film and want to weigh in on it, please do post!  Okay, I'm off to catch up on my blog roll reading!!