Favorite Trends of Summer ~ Blush

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.

Modcloth for the Rack

Modcloth for the Rack

fashion style    2:55 PM   

I don't normally shill, Fashionable Reader, but I do like Mocloth. I also think, in the main, they are overpriced. However, currently they are having a sale, so I'm lying up a little under the weather and thought I might poke about and pick a few Retro Rack favorites.

Bathing Suits

Why I like it: black and white check, bow detailing at the neckline brings attention up to the face, side rouching and linear seam detracts from chest size, halter top shows off shoulders.

Why I like it: just look at that color? So good. It's like a cocktail dress for the beach. Halter top shows of nice shoulders, rouching hides chub, long full front seam allows for larger bust.

 Why I like it: gingham, I do love gingham, halter top shows of nice shoulders, rouching hides chub, I'm a little concerned by the angled sides and the short front seam allowing enough room for the bust, but I might risk it for this suit.

Why I like it: red with white dots, so cute, seaming is very flattering, boy short bottoms are comfy (and require so much less shaving), nice thick supportive straps, white edge at neckline to draw attention upward to the face, very 1930s look.

Dresses

Why I like it: dark black lace detailing at the neck drawing attention up to the face, higher neckline giving Rack lots of room, darker lace over the chest area with lighter blue and less lace down the bottom again dividing and drawing attention away, seams in the hips allowing for volume. Not in love with the cap sleeves, but . . .

Why I like it: black peter pan collar and cream color gives innocence to shorter skirt length, detailing at the neck drawing attention up to the face, higher neckline giving Rack lots of room. Wide belt and lots of picks over tummy to hide all sins, shorter length made sweet by blue ruffle.

Why I like it: cross front but not a warp, pegged high and enough to cover the Rack, very vintage and muted color pallet, design of dress nips in at lower ribs normally smallest part of the body so worth emphasizing, sash detail, nice full skirt not too long would look adorable with flats.

Why I like it: what you thought there wouldn't be a steampunk pick? And steampunk for a hot day? Practically impossible to find.

Skirts

Why I like it: A-line is a practically perfect shape for anyone, adds volume to balance out the Rack but not too much to make a lady with hips too hippy. Teal is a nice unexpected choice, pair with a black top to keep attention down towards the legs, again, great with flats.

Why I like it: Such a cute pattern, I have thing for anything equestrian, a little fuller than an A-line but still not too much volume, and pockets, I love pockets!  Again a nice pattern draws attention down away from chest, pair with a brown top to keep attention towards the legs, again, great with flats.

Why I like it: a pencil skirt with a fish tail and in cherry red? What's not to like?

Others

 Why I like it: Ladybug nail art, see Blameless.

Why I like it: The only top I chose, a pussy cat, not sheer, with half length sleeves. So flattering, slimming, feminine, and minimizing. Modcloth has it in other colors, but I like of like the turquoise.

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

Finger Waves

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.