fashion for faith in four colors: 1920s

Showing posts with label 1920s. Show all posts

Monday, September 3, 2012

Favorite Trends of Summer ~ Blush

fashion style 11:42 AM

So, Fashionable Reader, is it now September and despite the hot weather Fall is in the style air. Autumn is my favorite season, clothing wise. Tights and leather? Cute jackets? Boots? Equestrian everywhere? Sign me up. And this blog will start to swing to reflect that affection shortly.

But it was a lovely Spring/Summer season, full of soft colors and structured retro silhouettes. And I fell deeply in love with a few of the color pallet trends. So before we leave the hot sun, I wanted to reflect back on some of my favorites. Some of which will probably stay in my wardrobe to pair with those very same tights and boots. And I'm going to start with this post all about . . . blush.

Some classic vintage takes from Chanel & Lanvin.

1925 Coco Chanel The Museum at FIT; 1937 Jeanne Lanvin The Metropolitan Museum of Art

And some more modern romantic twists on the color.

Some retro takes:

Elie-Saab-Couture for Fall 2012; Dress from Rusty Zipper

I will admit to being a little afraid of looking naked, because this color is close to my own skin tone, here are some options if you are like me with regards to fears of this color.

And here's one vintage and one modern way to wear this color.

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Finger Waves

fashion style 11:39 AM

On more than one occasion I have been asked about finger waves, Fashionable Reader. Be warned, it really does take a lot of time. Sadly, I have never chronicled them step-by-step on myself, but what follows are a few photos from a session I did some years back, and here's a good blog on the subject.

Marcel wave, tighter and stiffer; finger wave looser softer. The one can often relax into the other.

You really need the right tools and the right person, soemone who knows hot to do it. Then you have to sit for hours. And in order to keep it for the length of an event, sleeping with your head wrapped in a silk scarf very still is the only way. Honestly, I don't know how those ladies in the past did it every day!

So, I have a young lady who kindly does my waves for me, but here is a look at the process. And here is someone else's blog describing basically what happens. The important thing about finger waves is to get the correct clips. My girl likes the vintage banana ones, sort of like those big plastic ones from the 80s only smaller. They yield a very tight wave, more like a Marcel then a finger.

Bellow you can see that the top part is finger waved while the bottom is pin curled. It's impossible for me to sleep in the wave clips, but I can sleep on the curl clips.

And the final look, slightly brushed out.

These days my hair is shorter, and I'm less stressed about getting it perfect, and I sleep on it without as much care to fly always, frankly I don't have much time. But, there it is.

Here is a youtube version for longer hair using more modern clips it results in a looser look, like this:

And here's a post on my favorite hair style ever, a 1940s look for the Hugo Awards in 2010 done by the amazing Kat in Melbourne, Aus.

Retro Rack is also on facebook where I post additional images and fashion thoughts.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Lust Objects ~ Black & White

fashion style 12:51 PM

The scent of Fall is in the air, Fashionable Reader. At least as far as the runways are concerned. I've been feeling the black and white as a result.

1940 pinupgirl; 1927 You Rang, M'lord?

1960 The Victoria & Albert Museum The heels were made by Wedgewood.

1912-1913 Jean-Philippe Worth, Nasjonalmuseet for Kunst, Arketektur og Design

Character Corner

And now for the main character in the upcoming Parasol Protectorate Abroad series I give you several dresses. Prudence is fond of black & white.

For Prudence daytime: