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!

Vintage Goodies

The day of the Saw VI release me and Dallas went to a local thrift store and each found a great hat...she stole one I was going to buy. I ended up with a great little pillbox hat with quaint bow on the back, sadly the netting is all torn :( I also found a lovely pair of nude gloves :) They are a polyester and stretch to fit my PSP (omg - I love that girl) hands. We walked around all day strutting our stuff with our lovely hats (and my gloves). Yes, we got several looks and comments.

Yesterday my hunny took me to the same thrift store, and I found a perfect pair of velvet-like black gloves that stop about 2-3 inches below by elbow. I am on the look out for a pair of opera-length gloves (preferably in black).