Posts by Jaynie Van Roe

Celebrating Dior Celebrating Femininity

By Jaynie Van Roe, 15 March, 2012, 1 Comment

In the February (2012) issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Meenal Mistry looks at the 65th birthday of Dior’s New Look.

Spring's New Look

Christian Dior's New Look In Harper's

Perhaps my favorite quote is this:

But why now? Does 2012 look like 1947? We’re not quite postwar (and it’s hard to tell when we might be), but there is a sense of women craving a bit of optimism and maybe a trace of tradition. “We were delighted to see the retro femininity,” says Lane Crawford fashion director Sarah Rutson, who cites Jil Sander and Prada as particular favourites. “With so much uncertainty in the world, to have that sense of lightness just seemed so right.”

“Dior said that the forward thrust of the hips was a way for women to advertise their childrearing abilities, so he was certainly tapping into the emergence of the baby boom,” says Timothy Long, the costume curator at the Chicago History Museum. “But there’s no surprise that that whole idea of hyperfemininity is going to continue.”

PS I’ve been meaning to post this for awhile now, but my scanner was not playing nice. Ugh.

Make A Mata Hari Headdress

By Jaynie Van Roe, 14 March, 2012, No Comment

Catherine, founder of Kiss Me Deadly lingerie, shows how to make a Mata Hari Headdress.

Mata Hari Headdress & Lingerie From Kiss Me Deadly

Mata Hari

This glamorous craft idea can be easily modified to make other styles, including one like Lana Turner wore in MGM’s Diane, a period piece made in 1956.

Pearl Headdress Lana Turner Wore In Diane

I found this lovely DIY project idea via this post at A Tad Too Much Tan For Taupe; and the photo of Mata Hari is from Mata-Hari.com.

Ready For The Oscars?

By Jaynie Van Roe, 23 February, 2012, No Comment

Via Collectors Quest, free DIY Oscar party printables in elegant black and white from Twig & Thistle!

Black Paper Oscar Statuettes

Oscar Party Ballot Printable

Who Doesn’t Love Rhinestones? Especially When On Sale!

By Jaynie Van Roe, 3 February, 2012, No Comment

Authentic vintage glamour with this rhinestone bracelet by Betsey Johnson. This pretty bracelet, part of Betsey’s Iconic Mesh Bows Collection, is now on sale — half price! Sale found via Shop It To Me.

Betsey Johnson Rhinestone & Chain Bracelet with Mesh Bows

Elmer Gantry: A Reason To Get Up In The Morning

By Jaynie Van Roe, 31 January, 2012, No Comment

I just discovered that one of my favorite films, Elmer Gantry (1960), will be on TCM today, Tuesday, January 31, 6:00 AM (ET). I’m going to be up to watch it because I haven’t yet purchased the DVD.

Starring Jean Simmons and Burt Lancaster (who won an Oscar for his role as Elmer Gantry), this is a powerful film about faith and fanaticism, foibles and fairness — but above all, it’s character-driven story about human character. It’s the best combination of issues to chew on and characters to consider, long after the film is over.

I love those sorts of stories.

Shirley Jones Seducing Burt Lancaster

In terms of fashion, the spotlight is on Shirley Jones (who also won an Oscar for her role of Lulu Bains) in classic lingerie, most notably visible in the scene in which Lulu attempts to seduce and shame Elmer. (Click the link to watch!)

What may have begun as the vengeful opportunistic act of a lover scorned (deflowered and left to prostitution) is quickly shown to be more complicated, exposing more than unfinished business but unrequited feelings between the two.

It’s brilliant stuff, really. Not what many may expect from the Shirley Jones they remember from The Partridge Family or know from musicals (although I cry every time I see Carousel).

But if you watch Elmer Gantry, this is precisely the sort of thing you learn to refrain from. For Jones’ performance as Lulu (as layered as anyone else’s in the movie), should teach you to look beneath the surface, what you think you know. The perceptions of “who and what Shirley Jones is” that the viewer brings to this classic film is, in this case, a layer of experience that only adds to this film.

Lessons Of Love In Weddings

By Jaynie Van Roe, 15 December, 2011, No Comment

In 1953, Marilyn Monroe was getting married — on screen — a lot. First in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and then in How To Marry a Millionaire. While the films played around with the ideas of gold digging women trying to marry men for money, both films centered on the notion that the best laid schemes of mice and ~~men~~ women are often run asunder by true love.

In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn delivers the punch about men and women to a disapproving father who doesn’t want his son trapped by a gold digger. As Lorelei Lee, Marilyn says, “Don’t you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn’t marry a girl just because she’s pretty, but my goodness, doesn’t it help?”

Jane Russell & Marilyn Monroe At The Alter

But in How To Marry a Millionaire, it’s Lauren Bacall’s character who is taught about love.

As Schatze Page, Bacall and Cameron Mitchell (playing the role of Tom Brookman) share an attraction. But it’s an attraction Schatze doesn’t want. She knows from prior marital experience that marrying a “gas pump jockey” for love isn’t a good investment. By the end of the film, Schatze just can’t go through with her wedding to the older wealthy man — she loves Tom!

Lauren Bacall, Betty Grable & Marilyn Monroe At The Alter

But the trick is on her, as Tom is uber wealthy — wealthier than the older man she left at the alter. This Schatze and her friends discover when they are eating at a diner and Tom pays the bill.

I’m guessing most of you know these films; they are not only classic, but wildly popular and shown on TV quite often. The main reason I write about these films is that a friend of mine is getting married and we’ve been talking wedding preparations. (Rather non-stop, actually; such is the way it goes with an engaged friend lol) During a recent discussion about wedding invitations, the subject of vintage wedding invites came up. When I showed her these invites with the classic cans tied to a car motif…

Vintage Styled Wedding Invites

I swear, she looked just like the cast of How To Marry A Millionaire making their discovery at the dinner!

Shock At The Dinner

In a good way, I assure you! Such instant shock and delight!

(…Though we aren’t sure if they will pass with the Mother of The Groom yet. *sigh* Weddings are a lot of work! Neither of these films covered those issues. *wink*)

PS Weren’t sheer floral lace wedding dresses popular in 1953!

Bacall's Sheer Lace Wedding Dress

Wrap Up The Savings: Turbans On Sale

By Jaynie Van Roe, 15 December, 2011, 1 Comment

Love turbans? They are great to pull out and wear this holiday season — not only glamorous, but who needs to worry about “hat hair” in cold weather when your turban stays on at the party? Right now, there’s a sale on Norma Kamali turbans: Buy one at $65, or get two for $115.

Of course, I’m partial to the gold lamé? How about you?

Designer Norma Kamali Turbans

The Red Shoes

By Jaynie Van Roe, 14 December, 2011, No Comment

One of the things about no longer being a paid columnist and being an independent fashion blogger is that you no longer have the discipline of writing on a schedule. That, folks, explains the irregular frequency of blogging. Feast and then famine — and today’s a feast. *wink*

Apparently I also lack discipline in other areas — like shoes. Finding vintage shoes may be difficult, but finding just the right pair of shoes to go with my vintage pieces is too much fun! Especially when I find shoe sales online!

One Day Shoe Sale At Macy's!

So I’m twirling away a day off, shopping for shoes online… Hey, I’m saving money! Not only with the sale, but by making sure I can — and will — wear all the outfits in my closet! *wink*

Giani Bernini Shoes, Marcela Comfort Flats, In Red

You’d think, as many times as I’ve watched it, I’d have learned something from The Red Shoes (1948):

Boris Lermontov: “The Ballet of The Red Shoes” is from a fairy tale by Hans Andersen. It is the story of a young girl who is devoured with an ambition to attend a dance in a pair of Red Shoes. She gets the shoes and goes to the dance. For a time, all goes well and she is very happy. At the end of the evening she is tired and wants to go home, but the Red Shoes are not tired. In fact, the Red Shoes are never tired. They dance her out into the street, they dance her over the mountains and valleys, through fields and forests, through night and day. Time rushes by, love rushes by, life rushes by, but the Red Shoes go on.

Julian Craster: What happens in the end?

Boris Lermontov: Oh, in the end, she dies.

Classic Maltese Cross Bangle On Sale

By Jaynie Van Roe, 14 December, 2011, No Comment

The Large Cross Hinge Bangle Bracelet by Betsey Johnson is a classic big black bangle bracelet with a big Maltese Cross — and it’s on sale for just $35.99. (Sale found via my Sale Mail Alert from Shop It To Me.)

Betsey Johnson Black Bangle Bracelet Wih Maltese Cross

The Here’s Linking To You, Kid Vintage Glamour Link Round Up

By Jaynie Van Roe, 8 December, 2011, No Comment

Check out the Bobbed-Hair Bimbos! Too charming!

Visit Hollywood homes at Christmas time, 1946.

Since vintage fashion lovers are familiar with auctions, check out this auction story from 1877.

Foundation garments, especially bras, are the foundation of any wardrobe, so check out A Slip Of A Girl‘s contest where she’s giving away five signed copies of bra fit expert Ali Cudby‘s book. You know Barbara Stanwyck was a believer in finding a proper bra fit!

Barbara Stanwyck: Discreet But Visible Bra Beneath Sheer Blouse

Here's Looking Like You, Kid