Moving- Bah Humbug

I am in the process of moving to a historic little apartment complex (downgrading in size), but a beautiful location next to several quaint little shops and weekend events.

Movie Night: ~Cadillac Records~

Looking for a fun movie to watch instead of doing chores, I watched Cadillac Records on Netflix (on instant, so go watch!). I have been meaning to watch it for awhile now.

The movie is based around the history of Chess records, the founder Leonard Chess, and the talents of Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, and Etta James. The movie is narrated through the eyes of Willie Dixon (played by Cedric the Entertainer). For more info about the movie or cast visit the IMDB.

Now for the fun stuff (the pics, of course :)

All the ladies are stunning in the movie. I especially loved Gabrielle Union's hair. While I believe that Beyonce had the best make-up! The redhead (Isabelle Allen) at the beginning of the movie had the best suit and hats! (I also adored her hair...she is only in two scenes). While I found Muddy's man-finger waves (I am not sure what else they would be called on men) adorable, I found Brody's hair boring. It looked like his hair does normally, and not true to the period.

Unfortunately, I could not find more clips on the movie. I loved several of the "background" stars to have interesting attire and hair. Oh well, have fun!

Sadly there were not that many hats featured in the movie, but the ones that make an appearance are fab!

Dita Channeling Betty Draper

It would appear from a pic of Dita at a book signing event, that she is channeling Betty from Mad Men. In the episode "Souvenir" when she is in Rome, and the two men are trying to pick her up at the cafe.. What do you think? Additional pics of Dita's look can be found here. Dita's hat kind of hides the upside-down "U" type bun updo, but you can see enough that they look pretty similar.

Can't Find A Bonnet - Try This!

A month or so ago, I was at Sally's Beauty Supply, and I came across bonnet dryers (about $50) and then seen an attachment for "standard" hair dryers for about $10. I have only tried it a few times, but it seems to work well.

I had to pin the front part a little so it would fit my head better, as it tends to want to cover my face. I think that if I sew in a piece of elastic around the edge, it would fit better and probably dry more efficiently. I really like this attachment, but I wish it was designed a little more efficiently so it would stay on my head a bit better. It works pretty well for drying roller sets (sponge/perm rods that are set wet the night before) that have not finished drying overnight. The end that attaches to a blow dryer fits really well, but can occasionally slip off. It works on my Conair blow dryer, similar to this one:

My hair is VERY damaged but super fine, so it takes about 30 minutes to dry hair that is 75% dry, and about an hour to dry hair that is 50% dry. Just for reference, it takes about 7 (yes, 7!) hours for my hair to air dry. That IS how damaged my hair is! Oh, btw, the picture shown along with the link, is the exact attachment that I bought. Additional attachments and actual bonnet dryers can be found here.

Rating: 7/10 mainly b/c of the design.

I've Been Awarded!

My very first blog award! Awwwww. I am so pleased that Heidi of the blog Ketty chose to give me an award for being a glamorous blogger. Thank you so much Heidi for choosing me among the other great bloggers :)

The rules are as follows:

" Give this award to 10 glamorous bloggers that you love; link them in your post; and let them know you awarded them."

I am sure that most of you are already familiar with them, but here are the 10 blogs that I wish to award are (in no particular order):

1. Vintage Starlet

2. Vixen Vintage

3. Come to C-Dot

4. Berlin Hair Baby

5.Lisa Freemont Pages

6. Casey's Elegant Musings

7. Not Quite Vintage

8. Screen Siren

9. The Scarlett Rose Garden

10. Strawberry Koi Vintage

Viva Vintage: Find It, Wear It, Love It!

I recently picked up this book, and thought I would give my thoughts on it.

This looks like a great book for someone (like me) just getting into the vintage scene or looking to jazz up their life with some frills (also, like me). One of my favorite things be it blogs, books, etc... is visuals, especially pretty pictures (which is why I add so many). This book has several real-life pictures (not ONLY cartoons) of vintage styles by decades (20s-80s, but NOT in great detail...just a brief review) which I found helpful for being able to mildly distinguish between eras (I can already do this to a degree).

This book is no way intended for vintage guru's (though they may enjoy reading it), as much as it is intended for those who are interested in starting to dress vintage or incorporate a little bit of vintage aesthetics in their current wardrobe.

It does contain helpful links to vintage shops and websites, and it also contains brief info on becoming a vintage seller.

Land Girls (2008)

Ever since I first seen some screen shots of Land Girls on another blog, I have been in search of the movie, but I couldn't find it :( Luckily, my wonderful fiancee Lauren knew I wanted to see it, so he found it for me to watch in parts on youtube!

Here is the first part (10 total).



Here is a synopsis from the youtube uploader:

"It's 1941. World War II continues to rage across Europe. The young men of England have been called to the front to fight. So, back at home, a new regiment is formed, and an army of England's young women are dispatched across the countryside to pick up the slack. Collectively known as "The Land Girls," three beautiful women (McCormack, Weisz, and Friel) answer the call, arriving at a farm in Dorset, where they meet handsome and volatile Joe (Mackintosh). Tragedy and passion is revealed as the girls form close friendships with each other and with Joe."

Click here to get complete list! I am probably going to start watching in a few days as I have been busy with finals :P

Dream a Little Dream

The Stuff Dreams are Made of... Dita's house

These are some pics I found on the web of Dita's house! Could you imagine living here?

Oh No She Didn't!

Do you think she gets weird looks when she tries on vintage hats in second-hand stores?

Since I have become more involved with reading blogs on my computer (wasting most of the day away day dreaming about gorgeous vintage finds), I have started doing something I NEVER thought I would do in a million years: I tried on vintage hats!

At first, I was a bit squeamish (I think some of you may know what I am talking about), and I was unable to place hats so they looked good, but with slight adjustments, I fell in love. Now, when I enter second hand stores, I immediately go for the hats, gloves, then clothes.

While geting all googly eyes over the hats and begin trying them on and making proper adjustments, I will sometimes catch a glimpse at someone staring at me. I usually get two reactions:

1. They give me that squeamish/grossed-out look, like how could I try on something that hasn't been washed...worse if the hats have fur!

2. They will make it a point to tell me how much they love the hat and how it looks on me.

So my question, do you think Dita gets weird looks when she tries them on in second hand stores?

Just Give Me One Day!

Please!

Can I stay for just a day, an hour?

Apparently this is the hotel (in London) Dita is staying in as she tweeted these pics on 11/27/2009

The "epitome of Hollywood Regency," she said.

Lovely, isn't it?

This is the Way to Mad Men Yourself

Berlin Hair Baby's You Tube tutorials are fantastic. I especially LOVE her Betty Draper in Rome hair tutorial. I found her channel after looking for a tutorial on True Blood's Queen Sophie. I especially like her hair tutorials because she has medium length hair that is a few inches longer than mine, so I can more easily follow/attempt her tutorials than those with longer hair. Additianally, her tutorials are fun to watch, and she makes you feel like your watching a friend give you a lesson on hair tips :) Visit her blog for additional pics/upcoming tutorials/further explanation of the tutorials.

As always, click on the video to watch it on her channel!

This look would be a great choice for holiday dinners and time with family and friends.

A Hairy Dilemma

I want hair like Dita...it looks good all the time. The past few weeks I have been fixing my hair like Dita's in the first pic...like a "slight" pageboy in that after I take out my rollers (sponge or perm rods), I brush it so that it curls vertically on the sides and horizontally in the back. Unfortunately, I have bangs that are growing out and can be difficult to style...bah humbug!



I stopped by Sally's beauty store a few weeks back and for a rat (hair bun) to attempt faux bangs. To my dismay, my bangs are too short and my hair so thin that I have to wait awhile longer to attempt these cool faux bangs that Dita sports often. I have to admit that they feel weird having such an "unnatural" bangs, but I will attempt them in public before too long.

Below is Dita's inspiration for doing the faux bangs, Carmen Miranda! SHe looks so lovely in this picture. I recently watched two movies she had a small role in: A Date with Judy and Down Argentine Way. Both are fun to watch, I love her heels in both movies. Unfortunately, she didn't sport the bumper bangs in either movie...maybe the next movie I see her in...

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...Why You Ask?

Plus Size Holiday Look Books!!!!

This time of the year is my fav for new (and old favs) in fashion because we (curvy gals) get our own Vogue-like pictorials on plus size stores websites.

• Lane Bryant's Holiday Look Book (out now) features most of the things I love about the holidays ~feminine details, jewel tones, holiday decorations, and old Hollywood like glamour.
• Skorch (finally back) features (more accurate plus size women 14-28, unlike other stores/mags) in beautiful clothing, and every page (other than and sometimes including) like other "printed" magazines on most stands. By the way, each month a new magazine with beautiful women is featured with the newest fashions. This is the HG (Holy Grail) of plus size magazines...I am SO glad they brought it back!
• Plus Model Magazine is very similar to Skorch and was my HG while Skorch was away :) The online mag shows beautiful women in breathtaking photos selling products. I think I like Skorch more because it seems easier to navigate than PMM. It also has tips and interviews for plus size models or those looking to get into the biz.
• Avenue has their own looks book that seems geared toward more mature ladies, but the photos and beautiful nonetheless.
• Additionally, look at your fav (and others) for great holiday inspirations.
  

Mad Men's for the Birds

I think most of us are in love with Mad Men. The styling on the show is superb, and leaves you wanting more...

I recently came across this crazy talented curvy designer Jasmine Elder who is the designer of Jibrionline from Etsy. Her JIBRI Flapping Grace Dress is something to be desired. It reminds me of the fashions from Mad Men (I hope by saying this, I am not offending her). The dress is soo dreamy and the model wearing the dress kinda reminds me of Joan Holloway and what she would wear. The price is a little steep at $250, but it looks like an investment piece that you could get a great deal of wear and glam out of...

Finally, those birds add so much character to the photo and looks like a plus size Vogue pictorial! Great job Jasmine!!!

~ Dita's Beauty Secrets ~

Dita, how can we all be bombshells like you?
You'll write us a book on step-by-step techniques?
Thank You!

Dita tweeted awhile back that next year (around fall 2010) her beauty book will be coming out. ..her new book is now on Amazon with a release date of October 16,2012, and it is called Your Beauty Mark: All You Need to Get the Hair, Makeup, Glow, and Glam. 

She often tweets her beauty tips, so go follow her and get as much advise as you can before her fab book comes out so your ahead of the game! I don't know about you, but I can't wait :)

Tweeted "Secrets" by Dita:

~ General Beauty Secrets ~

• A quick sweep of powder, lipstick/gloss, sunglasses, and a simple chignon is all one needs to be chic at the airport! takes 15 minutes.
• She "Loves '40s nail, '50s eye, and fluctuate between '30s, '40s, and '50s hair. But, '40s is my fave era."

~ Face ~

• Favorite foundation is L'Oréal True Match in N1.
• "I'm a concealer snob (Cle de Peau for yrs!) BUT Maybelline Age Rewind Double Face Protector is changing my mind!"

~ Lips ~

• She "love[s] red lipstick with fab packaging. YSL, Dior Rouge Bingo, and Guerlain Excess de Rouge.
• She likes Mac's Ruby Woo and Russian Red lipsticks (matte), Dior's Bingo Rouge.
• I own vintage lipstick tubes and refill them with my favorite color, Russian Red by M.A.C.
• First I put the lipstick into the freezer and then into the tube.
• New favorite red lipstick alert: Make Up Store brand Matte lipstick in ‘Devil.

~Nails~

• Red nail polishe favs: Essie Fishnet Stockings and Mac's Rougemarie.

~ Perfume ~

• (wore for a long time) Quelques Fleurs, but now likes Dior's Passage No. 4, and she now has her own perfume line.

~ Hair ~

• Her black hair - Garnier Blue Black

I am going to update this page as she adds more beauty secrets.

Do you know any of her beauty secrets I can add (possibly with a source)?

*Here is a fantastic interview with Dita where she spills on several of her fav beauty items :)

Inspiration or Mistake: Kirstie Alley

Kirstie Alley:

This woman obviously likes color! Good for her. I love to see Kirstie rocking the maxi dress. She shows how plus size gals can rock a modern trend! I have personally been wearing the maxi dress and cardigan combo for a few years, and I love it. It is a great way for a PSS to feel feminine and sexy ;)

I think she has become synonymous with why you shouldn't be fat in Hollywood: because no one wants anything to do with you, for instance:

Sometimes it seems as if they (the media) try to find the most unflattering shots of Kirstie to sell their magazines on how she is "too fat" or "only has 4 years to live."

I personally feel that Kirstie is a gorgeous woman large or small. I personally am shocked that plus size retailers don't fight to snatch her up to model their clothing.

Yes, as curvy gals, we have DC (double chin) moments, our clothing loves to cling to each and every "thing," and, like every woman, we have bad days where it seems that any and everything we put on looks and feels like crap!

I feel that Fat Actress was a mistake for her, and I think this may be why plus size retailers choose not to use Kirstie to model for them, and why magazines pick on her about her weight. There are other plus size women in the media who don't get half the exposure about their weight as she does.

Lately in tabloids I have been reading headlines like "4 Months to Live," "Who'll Die First," and other lovely headlines. This makes me sick as I am guessing that these headlines (about dying) are untrue. There are several women as large as Kirstie living longer than "4 Months."

With all of the pics, it may be hard to decipher which are good among many of these 'costumes.' In many pics, her main faux pas seems to be her undone hair! If she put a little more effort into fixing her hair and applying a little makeup to brighten her features, I think she could turn herself around and become a role model and inspiration for other PSS (plus size sirens)!!!

What is your take on her style?
Are you inspired or embarrassed by any of her looks?

Is there another PSS (plus size siren) you wold like to see featured? Leave a comment below!