Who's That Girl?

Can you guess who this is, and or when it was taken? Good luck!

Update, photo was taken 1955 and is Joan Collins.

GlamourScoop - Meet Stevie of Glamourdaze

Grab a coffee, tea or water and sit back, relax. We've got our interview lined up with Miss Stevie of Glamourdaze. Another on-line vintage friend who you just must get to know a wee bit better.

We became infatuated with the variety and quality of her video productions, on just about anything a girl could imagine. Just this morning I got an email from U-Tube, telling me that Stevie had just posted another fabulous piece on the Birth of Nylons.




But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

Stevie currently resides in Ireland and also is the master operator behind the Vintage Make-up & Beauty Guides as well as her GlamourDaze blog.

 A little background on Stevies vintage efforts:

I started Glamourdaze in 2009 with 'nothing more than a dream!' No seriously, I always wanted to see a sort of virtual haven for vintage fashion and beauty enthusiasts online, but never found a site which I felt really achieved this - so I decided to do it myself.

Though it is exclusively women's fashions and beauty that I explore, I do feel that Glamourdaze is of interest to all genders and ages. It celebrates and helps to preserve glamourous eras that are not fully understood or appreciated. While many blogs attend to the ' oohs' and aahhs' of a particular fashion period and other sites are probably more academic than Glamourdaze - I like to get into the minds of women of those bygone days and learn what made them tick.

The launch of vintagemakeupguide.com back in December 2011 has proved a great success. Make-up and beauty styles as actually taught to women from those glamorous eras.

The blog Glamourdaze will be glamourdaze.com very soon, where I can really develop my vision for an online fashion and beauty archive.

The Fashion Film Archive, hosted by Youtube will have it's own dedicated section on this site, where visitors can easily navigate through our videos.

So do bookmark that new address! If you are a feed subscriber - you'll still get the updates anyway -  er ... I hope!

I also plan to launch a dedicated 1920's site called Flappergasted.com, which will be an extension of the 1920's section on Glamourdaze. It's all go and I'm exhausted just thinking about it!

Stevie of Glamourdaze

Where/how did your interest in vintage style, vintage clothing and collectibles begin?

I've always been interested in the early 20th century era. The fashion gurus of that period from the Callot Sisters, Paul Poirot and Chanel through the Edwardian age up to the 1920's - to the great designers of the 1930's and 1940's like Elsa Schiaparelli and Dior.

Really -  they are hard to beat for sheer imagination. In some ethereal way they captured not only the essence of feminine beauty, but the emerging emancipation of women, which in my mind hasn't been matched since. Even the 1960's styles were in some way a re-invention of the 1920's. When I go to a vintage fair - I always feel like I'm going on an adventure. A simple brooch or make-up compact from a bygone era - represents a woman's aspirations and dreams from another time. How could anyone resist that?

Two flappers from 1929 by Clifford R Adams.

How did the name 'Glamourdaze'come about?

Very boring answer to this one. I just made it up on the spot.' Daze' being a good description for me when I'm trying to research.

I love watching your videos. Do you have a background in film?

I've been tinkering with film and video editing since I was very young, so that's my background - not very academic - simply lots and lots of hours learning and loving the craft.

What era's are your favorites to find footage of?

Personally - the 1930's. You have a better chance of finding early kodakolor film which is gorgeous.
Fashion featurettes were becoming more common by the 1930s. I also think that this decade was a very exciting one - and is under appreciated. The influence of Art Decoratif was at it's height by the beginning of the thirties.You can see it in all the glamorous Hollywood films of that time.The sets and women's gowns were outrageously extravagant.

The early 1930's still had that 1920's look, albeit with lower hemlines and a generally more conservative look. The mid 1930's was all very South American influenced, with exotic turbans, loads of make-up, and more colorful fabrics for evening gowns.Footage from the late 1930's is often thought to be 1940's, as you see the emergence of wide shoulders and slimmer hips - very Schiaparelli!

Glamourdaze may not be the Getty Library or Pathe, but it is amazing what one can find which is fashion related in seemingly unrelated vintage reels. You just have to be enthusiastic and expect to find something.


What has been your favorite museum show you've seen or vintage fashion related event that you attended recently?

The Assembly Rooms & Fashion Museum in Bath, England. You can see some examples on their website http://www.museumofcostume.co.uk

Ambassador Hotel in 1929. The Hotels famous Coconut Grove niteclub was all the rage at that time.

I know you like the glamour in swimwear. What are some of your other interests?

I have a particular interest in the make-up styles of these eras, and of the development of cosmetics. It's like browsing in a ye olde sweet shop! One of the reasons I set up Vintage Makeup Guide.com. The Cloche Hat has also always fascinated me. I don't think that there is any other fashion item which so clearly defines an era.




What styles/era's do you think define you  and your personal best?

Probably the 1920's. I was definitely a Flapper in a past life! It was an exciting time to be alive. There was so much hope after the horror of the First World war, and women everywhere were shaking off the chains of oppression. But of course it's really all about the clothes!

Do you tend to gravitate towards any specific designers?

Everyone talks about Chanel, but for me it's Schiaparelli. She was untouchable. Every woman will admit a liking for the almost Edwardian grandeur of a Dior dress. But Schiaparelli was - well - a woman! She knew what women wanted to wear. She also had empathy for women on low income and was always advocating economy wardrobes, and giving good advice on making your wardrobe stretch throughout the seasons. Her advice might come in handy in these recession days.


How do you think the vintage market is different today than it was a decade ago?

The Web has really helped vintage fashion fans from all over the world, unite and share their love of fashion and beauty. It's very much about sharing for me at least. I guess that's why the blog started and then the film archive.

 How do you think the vintage market will look a decade from now?

Such a good question. I feel it will be always be a great niche market, with the odd item falling into the mainstream again, like the cloche hat has done, thanks to Angelina Jolies coquettish hats from the film The Changeling. I imagine there will be simply thousands of vintage fashion blogs, with virtual museums appearing online. With CGI now becoming interactive, I can see women being able to actually step into an Avatar like realm of their favorite era.

What book are you currently reading?

Schiaparelli (Universe of Fashion) - you can get it on Amazon.
Not bad - but I would love to get hold of a copy of her biography ' Shocking' which is rare enough.


What are some other sites or blogs that you visit regularly?

I adore Lisa Freemont Streets youtube channel and blog. Also Classic Retro Glamour [also on youtube]. In blog land - I suppose some of the vintage queens like Jitterbug Doll, The Fedora Lounge, Hollywood Noir Makeup (she has a great youtube channel too), Diary of a Vintage Girl, Letters from the Homefront (with the amazing Baroness Von Vintage - she has an amazing wardobe and great taste and looks - one of my fave blogs). I've just discovered From me to You - a unique fashion and style photography blog. The list goes on and on and on and on ............not to mention GlamourSplash!


How do you organize your day?

I get up and say thank-you and then wing it from there on. That just about does it for me.


What is your single most useful tool for business?

I havent really got a single one. Since my biz is online I have come to really need a number of applications. I use Namecheap for domain registrations, Hostgator for - well - hosting, Wordpress for the site platforms, and Ithemes Builder for the wordpress themes. I have to highly recommend them - they have a great forum with extremely helpul people on it. Blogger are also great to get up and running with. And of course -  the almighty Google cloud. How did we manage without it?

Thanks Stevie for sharing with my readers today. One other small surprise, Stevies Zazzle store.

The first result of Stevies artwork which she's selling now in her Zazzle store. This piece features the famous Sisters G - otherwise known as Eleanor Gutchrlein and Karla Gutchrlein. Stevie says she'll be doing several of these style flapper portraits in the future - featuring other ' sister's acts from the era.

That's all folks!

Swimwear in Advertising

These ads from Camay are from the late 1940s. I wanted to share them with you as the illustrations are just too darn cute. Take me away!

Vintage Swimsuit Decor For the Home

Here's a recent twist on vintage swimwear decor for the home.Garnet Hill is offering these cute percale sheets for your bed or a shower curtain for your bath. Fabulous right?

Vintage Swimsuit Percale Bedding

 "Our retro bathing beauties are printed on a bright white ground of percale to create a vintage look that goes swimmingly with solids. 200 thread count combed long-staple cotton. Fitted sheet is fully elasticized for a better fit. Imported."

Garnet Hill Vintage Swimsuit Shower Curtain

"Synchronize your bath's look with retro bathing suit motifs, borrowed from our percale bedding and printed on a white shower curtain. 100% cotton. Buttonholes for hanging."

Look also how they've used actual vintage swimwear to hang on the wall. Not framed but on a hangar, (and please not a metal one.) But it's a cute idea, and I love the print they have created. Another tub I want a good soak in!

1949 - 2 Piece Swimsuit with Hat

1949

Have a fabulous weekend all!

Spanish Collection from Cole of California 1955

Spain -Cole of California - 1955

 1955 Cole of California

You madden the male animal in your braided maillot bull black notched with furious red. Superb, skin tight Lastex. From Cole's Spanish Collection. $17.95

 1955 Cole of California


I've always love the Spanish toreador look, and Cole embraced it during the mid 1950s. Another favorite designer who embodies Spain, of course, is Balenciaga.

 Moschino Spring/Summer 2012

I am pleased to see Moschino embracing this look for the 2012 collection. What do you think?

1934 Jantzen Swimming Suits Outdoor Advertising Sign

1934 Jantzen Billboard

They just don't make em like this anymore. I found this fabulous old black and white photograph on line at the Duke University Digital Collection library and was just enamored. It's May 1934 in Atlantic City NJ, all the gentlemen are dressed pretty warmly. But look at the Jantzen billboard. Please enlarge the picture to view because it is quite distinctive. Note how the billboard is built structurally with the Jantzen typography sign of the 1930s seemingly floating, as are all 3 of the Jantzen red diving girls. Also noteworthy, this is when Jantzen was branding 'swimming suits' rather than bathing suits, and Molded Fit. I've not seen a use of the 3 diving girls in a repeated pattern like this before, pretty darn cool!

Fly With Me to See Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly in High Society 1956

It happened again. I get just a tad bit distracted from what I originally was going to write about because I come across something that I want to share with you. And it's happening in Australia, Melbourne to be exact. Just another reason why I really need to go. Someone, please send me a plane ticket!

The Bendigo Art Gallery has a show up called Grace Kelly Style Icon.

On view March 11 - June 17, 2012

Erwin Blumenfeld (1897–1969) Grace Kelly leaning against a gold frame from the 1955 photo shoot for Cosmopolitan magazine

From the website:
When people think of Grace Kelly (1929-82), one of the most photographed women of the 20th century, what they usually recall is her beauty and elegance. She rose to fame as an actress in the 1950s, starring in films by Hitchcock and others. Her image was cultivated by the movie industry, which fed cinema-goers' growing appetite for pictures of glamorous stars through magazines and newspapers.

Grace Kelly: Style Icon will highlight the spectacular wardrobe of Grace Kelly and examine her glamorous Hollywood image and enduring appeal. The exhibition features dresses from such films as High Society as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar in 1955. It also explores the evolution of her style as Princess Grace of Monaco, from her extensive wedding trousseau to her haute couture gowns of the 1960s and 1970s by her favourite couturiers Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy and Yves St Laurent.

The exhibition will be on display exclusively in Australia at Bendigo Art Gallery. Grace Kelly: Style Icon is organised by the Victoria & Albert Museum, London and the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco.

One of the gowns on display is the iconic Grecian knockout, designed by Edith Head, which Kelly wore to the academy awards when she received an Oscar for Country Girl in 1955. Talk about Red Carpet!


OK, if that's not enough there look to be some fabulous Grace Kelly Exhibition Experience packages. I'm talking seeing the show, going around vintage shopping in a chauffeur driven car no less. Or perhaps the Grace and winery tour?


Who's up for going?


Have a fabulous week everyone!

When a Cherry is a Berry on my Orange Sunflower Seed Bread

A bit off topic but I do sometimes like to share my food discoveries with you all. This morning I looked in the kitchen and decided to try a new recipe for Orange Sunflower Seed Bread. I don't typically like orange flavoring in most food, but this bread sounded scrumptious, I had all the ingredients on hand, and my tummy was hungry.

It came out very good, not too sweet and the sunflower seeds gave it just the right amount of texture and roasted nutty flavor.

Orange Sunflower Seed Bread

3 Cups all purpose flour
1 Cup sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 Cup orange juice
4 tsp grated orange peel
3/4 Cup milk
1/4 Cup butter, melted
3/4 Cup roasted shelled sunflower seeds (I used non salted)

Heat oven to 350º
Grease 9 x 5 x 5" loaf pan

Sift dry ingredients together. Combine egg, orange juice, orange peel, milk and melted butter; add to dry ingredients, mixing well. Stir in sunflower seeds. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or until toothpick put in center comes out clean. Cool on rack 15 minutes before removing from pan.

Wait until bread is completely cooled before slicing.
For easier slicing, coarsely chop sunflower seeds before adding them.

After making it I took a slice and used some Cornelian Cherry Preserves we recently purchased. The preserves were made with just fruit and sugar, but we didn't see the fine print that it still had the seeds! so  took some time yesterday to rescue what I could and drained the cherries from the preserves and took off as much of the fruit as I could. The cherries are small and have a larger pit like an olive. I managed to salvage about 3/4 of the jar. Who wants pits in their preserves?

Which all led me to look on line where I came to discover that the cornelian cherry is not a cherry at all but the fruit of a dogwood tree, so a dogwood berry. Cherry or Berry, I really like this preserve and suggest you try it along with this recipe for orange Sunflower Bread. Happy Friday!

It's a Halsman but is it a McCardell?

Philippe Halsman

Who is she, anyone know? I'm kinda of curious about this photo. It's stamped on the back and was taken by Philippe Halsman. I'd bet that is a Claire McCardell swimsuit she's wearing. Claire launched what was called the Diaper Swimsuit in 1942. I want to say this picture is earlier that the 1950s attribution it's given. So maybe identifying the model would help. Anyone?

1914 Bathing Beauty Repro Poster Art

Isn't this beautiful? It's a poster reproduction of a 1914 bathing suit clad beauty. I found it online, of course, over at PosterPrintShop. The piece measures 12" x 18", is priced at $21.95 with FREE shipping. A partial a description from the page:

"A BEACH SIDE SWIMSUIT BEAUTY AS ONLY COLES PHILLIPS'S IMAGINATION CAN BRING TO LIFE.  SHE'S A LONG LEGGED LASS IN A BLACK WOOL SUIT WITH VIRTUE PLUS FASHION ON HIGH AND ADVERTISING MENNON TALCUM POWDER AT THE BEACH.   THIS FAIR SKINNED BEAUTY IS MAKING THE BEACH BUMS SWEAT BIG TIME AND HER MAID IS READY TO PROTECT HER FROM THE MUSCLE BOUND SWEETHEARTS WHILE THE CAPE HIDES HER FAIR SKIN FROM THE SUN.   NICE STRONG PHILLIPS COLORS ALTHOUGH THERE IS NOT MUCH SHOWING ON THIS GAL WITH THE HEAD TO TOES BLACK WRAPPING."

According  to Mr RD Jones from PosterPrintShop:

"The original piece was by an artist named Cole Philips, very well known for his knock out beauties and his most famous "fade away girl.

This PosterPrint was brought to life from a 1914 Mennen's talcum powder advertisement. The original is quite scarce as it was used as a back cover ad so most did not survive without much dirt or damage or both".

Another piece for my wish list...

But wait, there are many more  vintage swimwear posters to choose from too, perhaps you'd like something like this Deco piece done by in 1924 by Vanity Fair house artist "Fish".

Oh lordy, off to make some room on my walls.

1940s Playsuits, Skimps and Topalls from Joset Walker & Carolyn Schnurer

It's June 17,1946. LIFE magazine reports the following:

New Brief Skirted Sports Outfits Threaten Popularity of Shorts.

For sunbathing and playing near but not in water, these new short play dresses are as cool and comfortable as shorts but more flattering.
 
The shortest skirts every seen anywhere except on  little girls and ballerinas, threaten this summer to become more popular than short for active sportswear. For young girls and women who like to play tennis, badminton, ride a bicycle or loll in the sun, two New  York designers, Carolyn Schnurer and Joset Walker, have made new playsuits which they calls "skimps", "topalls" or play dresses. Whatever their names, they are really variations of the classic two piece. The old playsuit usually consisted of a top and shorts in one piece, which could be worn either alone or with a separate skirt. In the 1946 Playsuits, the one piece part of the outfit is a top-and-skirt, which can not be worn alone but must be worn with a pair of pants or shorts, preferable matching. Mostly made of cotton with pleated or circular skirts, they are good for sports, but too heavy for swimming.

 Black "SKIMP" by Joset Walker, 1946, is exactly like a street dress except that skirt is 8 inches above the knee. It has sleeves, a small collar, with button and pleats down the front.

Wrap Around "TOPALL" from Joset Walker, 1946, is like a brief sleeveless kimono. Only the belt keep it in place. Outfit with matching shorts cost $25.00

 Checked cotton, green on black, is used for this play dress with white per pan collar, short pleated skirt and matching pants.$15.00 in 1946. (no designer attribution given)

Plaid cotton in red, black and white is used for this little dress that buttons down the back. Carolyn Schnurer calls these outfits "skimps".

I share these with you today as I thinks there some great info here and the fact that Joset Walker is featured is always a plus in my book.

Because Girls are Curvier Than Men

All of these fun images are from Ladies Home Journal Christmas Edition December 1970. We scanned a small selection to share with you today.

1970 crochet cap

Remember these?All those fun glittering close fitting crochet caps, just perfect over your long billowy tresses. Two braids entwines with gold ribbon complete the face framing.

1970

The Peasant Treasures - along gold knit dirndl dress is gathered at the neck by a drawstring. Full sleeves are elasticized at the wrist, in rayon and nylon metallic jersey by Anne Fogarty. $70.00. The laced up silver belt is by elegant, shoes by Donald Brooks for Palizzio. the scooped neckline silver dress is covered with a flurry of gold and white dots. The ankle length skirt ends gypsy-style with a flounce at the hem. In Trevira and Lurex knit by Jack Bodi for Concept VII, $80. The silver slippers by Charles Jourdan.

Cybill Shepherd 1970

And Cybill was making a definite appearance. The ad is actually for a Clairol underarm shaver. Because Girls are Curvier Than Men. HA!

1970 Clairol Ad

Here she is again in yet another ad for Clairol just a few pages back from the first.

1970 Sauna shorts

This ad towards the back made me smile, Sauna Shorts! Doesn't say what awful material they are made from, but they inflate! And they could be yours for only $9.95!

Cybill Shepherd

And finally just because ya gotta have some swimwear, we wrap it up with a picture of Cybill in a bikini. Happy Friday everyone, have a fabulous weekend!

Hello Glamour 1959

 This image is from an article called "Look Beautiful at Home" from a 1959 issue of Ladies Home Journal. The article states that you can even sew this at home!

This very glamorous pajama fashion can be made for under $8.00. It is black-and-white cotton bound with cotton braid. The one piece trouser-shirt combination is topped by a gathered overskirt. Pretty with accents of red. Vogue Design 9898. One piece slack suit and skirt. sizes 10-16.

I did find an image of the pattern on the vintage pattern wiki, but no links to any sources where one may find this particular pattern. Just my luck. Anyone have one???? I feel like lounging, err, looking beautiful.

Mini 1963 Time Capsule

I've been scanning some ads 'n things from some old magazines I found this weekend on one of my treasure hunts. These particular ones are from McCalls March 1963.

Catalina 1963

Fashion action starts when you wear these western cotton knits. Taos denim jacket $7.98 and britches $5.98.

BRITCHES! There's an old fashion term you don't hear used too often, especially with the likes of Catalina. 

And here we have one from Maidenform, makers of bra's, girdles and swimsuits. This one is called the Chorale, comes as a girdle or pantie just $6.95, with long legs $8.95. All styles are available with or without back panel.

1963 'Chorale' Maidenform Girdle

Controls you comfortably, with 'never spread' panels that stretch only up and down never sideways.

Just what every girl needs! Bust seriously, having the proper foundation is very important when wearing vintage clothing. It helps to make everything fit appropriately. My sister Jody of Couture Allure has done a fabulous informative blog post on the subject of having your vintage clothing fit correctly with the proper foundations.

We'll be having fun with these scans all week, be sure and check back ya hear!

No Thanks!

Advertisement for Sucaryl from Abbott Laboratories, July 1960 McCalls Magazine

Today I'm sharing an ad from 1960 with you because it has a fabulous swimsuit in it, right? Right. But the message is deadly in my opinion. Be careful when consuming things like this with additives that have yet to be proven healthy. This particular product Sucaryl is still being produced and sold but has been banned in the USA since the 1970s.

According to the website Center for Science in the Public Interest:

This controversial high-potency sweetener was used in the United States in diet foods until 1970, at which time it was banned. Animal studies indicated that it causes cancer. Now, based on animal studies, it (or a byproduct) is believed not to cause cancer directly, but to increase the potency of other carcinogens and to harm the testes.

Ugh is right. Don't fall for it people. Stay healthy. Try and eat foods as natural as possible. Less additives the better. Go organic, grow your own food. This is one gals opinion.

Early Norma

This is an early image of Marilyn, perhaps when she was still known as Norma Jean. Sweet!

More Bounce to the Ounce

I was tickled to find this Pepsi ad, More Bounce to the Ounce from 1951. Isn't it fun? And to add more interest, I spy the Gilded Lily swimsuit from Cole of California represented in the ad. Wondering if Cole had a relationship with Pepsi, anyone know?

1951 Cole of California 'Guilded Lily' 24 karat Gold Swimsuit ad

And then to top it off I found another color wave, in the same suit. How cool is that?

And the gorgeous Janet Leigh in the same suit. Hubba hubba. Happy Thursday all!