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White Diamonds

By Jaynie Van Roe, 7 December, 2011, No Comment

This post is inspired in part by those annoying commercials for brown “chocolate” diamonds (yuck!) and the passing of Liz Taylor. Too many people, in my real world, still only remember Liz from her White Diamonds perfume commercials. Yes, that means they recall the old Liz, the “fat” Liz, but they also are thinking of her in terms of the large more gaudy jewelry too.

White Diamonds Ad

When Liz launched White Diamonds, it was the end of 80s — and big hair still ruled. At least for the ruling class, the rich and mighty as shown on the small screen in shows like Dynasty. Big jewelry was required to balance out that hair and to show the opulence. But that is not the imagery I have in my mind of Liz…

Elegant Elizabeth Taylor

No, I recall the more elegant Elizabeth Taylor. One who’s jewelry was more refined, simple, and was in proportion not only to her hair, her wardrobe, her figure, but her person. She was the exquisite stone to be set off — not covered-up — by what she wore. It’s what we’d call a more classical look.

The Simple Elegance Of Liz Taylor

The great news about this is that with such demure proportions, nearly any fashionista, going for vintage glamour or not, can afford to have diamonds like Elizabeth Taylor.

Liz Taylor Wearing Chandelier Drop Earrings

White Gold Chandelier Drop Diamond Earrings

And you just know that with all of Liz’s glamour, she’s wearing sweet little diamond drop earrings or diamond studs — even if we can’t see them!

Elizabeth Taylor Glamorous In Red Dress & White Fur (Are Diamond Earrings Hiding There?)

Elizabeth Taylor: Natural Elegance

Image credits: While gold Chandelier drop diamond earrings like Elizabeth Taylor wore from Seven Seven Diamonds.

Lombard: Twentieth Century Fox

By Jaynie Van Roe, 21 November, 2011, 1 Comment

A simple — but heavily image laden — review of Twentieth Century (1934); Carole Lombard at her comedic and lingerie-wearing best. First in a bra and step-ins aka tap pants, then in the classic 1930s glamour gown.

Carole Lombard In Bra & Tap Pants

Carole Lombard 1930s Glamour

Beauty & Hair Tips From The 60s and 70s

By Jaynie Van Roe, 19 November, 2011, No Comment

Hair and makeup artist Lexi DeRock has a book helping you get the looks: Decades of Style: A Step-by-Step Hair & Makeup Guide – 60s & 70s. Plus, now through Thanksgiving, she’s giving away one copy a day! She’s also giving 50% off and free shipping to the first 50 people who ask for it!

Decades of Style

Sometimes You Just Can’t Get That Authentic Vintage Look

By Jaynie Van Roe, 3 November, 2011, 1 Comment

Sometimes you just can’t replicate the look — not on my budget, anyway. Exhibit A: Peggy Hopkins Joyce.

Peggy Hopkins Joyce

On the back of the vintage photo, the reasons why most of us can’t get this look: “Peggy Hopkins Joyce, star of Earl Carroll’s Vanities of 1923 wearing a $6,000 gown of rhinestones and chinchilla and her million and a half dollars in jewels”.

Description Of Fashions

The seller offers this history on Joyce:

Famous mainly for being famous — and for marrying and divorcing (or merely dating) a dizzying array of millionaires — blonde-bobbed Peggy Hopkins Joyce (born Marguerite Upton) had been in the Follies and Earl Carroll’s Vanities when the famous illustrator James Montgomery Flagg directed her in a series of short subjects in the 1910s. She would descend on Hollywood at intervals in the 1910s, 1920s, and early ’30s but managed mainly to prove that she was no actress. Her most notorious film appearance was also her last, playing an internationally famous gold digger in International House (1933), a hodgepodge Paramount comedy in which she earned top billing over the likes of George Burns, Gracie Allen, and W. C. Fields. The latter supplied the film’s biggest laugh and most notorious moment in a scene that has to be seen to be believed, but which included the suggestive discussion of the whereabouts of a cat. Her life an endless series of tabloid headlines, Peggy Hopkins Joyce is believed to have been the inspiration for the character of the mercenary Lorelei Lee in Anita Loos’ twice-filmed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. One of her contemporaries perhaps best summed up her appeal; said nightclub hostess Texas Guinan: “Peggy Hopkins Joyce should not be buried like other folks, or cremated, or anything like that, but just be put into Tiffany’s window to sparkle forever.” ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Hair Extensions, 1932

By Jaynie Van Roe, 29 October, 2011, No Comment

Sheila Terry, with her trademark pre-code bad girl sneer, photographed by Elmer Fryer to promote Scarlet Dawn. Notice her long braided hair that serves as jewelery or an accessory.

Sheila Terry's Braided Hair Extensions

From the back of the photo:

Sheila Terry belies her Irish name by going exotic…She will next be seen with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in the First National picture, “Scarlet Dawn.”

Photo via.

Cloche, But No Cigar

By Jaynie Van Roe, 20 October, 2011, No Comment

Miss Rayne wanted a felt cloche hat, but couldn’t find one… So she took matters into her own hands and transformed a 1980′s wide brimmed hat into one! Spectacular!

1980s Hat Transformed Into Vintage Cloche!

You Can Leave Your Hat On

By Jaynie Van Roe, 29 September, 2011, No Comment

If you really want to wear fascinators or other vintage hats, check out these tips on wearing hats! (For other hat styles and periods, also see my other posts: 1960s hairstyles with hats and, for cloche hats and other flapper looks, this post on bobs and guiches!)

Rita Hayworth: Netted Hat & Animal Print Muff

Ruffled, Almost Elizabethan, Collars

By Jaynie Van Roe, 27 September, 2011, No Comment

I don’t normally cover period films or fashions, but when I found this Ralph Lauren Blue Label Ruffled Infinity Scarf in my Shop It To Me Sale Mail Alert, I couldn’t help but think of Ruff Elizabethan collars.

Ralph Lauren Blue Label Ruffled Infinity Scarf

What a wonderful way to add volume and texture to any little white blouse!

Here’s another modern, yet more traditional, take on these large feminine collars — a creamy dreamy one in muslin and pearls by by MaggieGlynn.

Modern Elizabethan Collar Muslin and Pearls by MaggieGlynn

Ralph Lauren’s Ruffled Infinity Scarf could also help you achieve Marlene Dietrich’s ruffled look of in Angel (1937).

Marlene Dietrich in Ruffles in Angel

Or this rare ruffled look of Katharine Hepburn’s.

Katharine Hepburn Rare In Ruffles

Of course, if you’re Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, you could make your own out of paper. *wink* (Link & photo via.)

Isabelle de Borchgrave Cardboard Lace Collars

Win Designer Shoes Or Handbag

By Jaynie Van Roe, 20 September, 2011, No Comment

This week, you can win your choice of a designer bag or shoes in Shop It To Me’s contest!

To enter:

Step One: Join, if you haven’t already.

Step Two: Tell your friends via email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. using the link here.

(Get an extra entry for tweeting too!)

Shop It To Me Designer Contest

Why You Might Find Yourself With Visible Panty Lines

By Jaynie Van Roe, 11 September, 2011, No Comment

At A Slip Of A Girl, an incredible tutorial on how to avoid visible panty lines — which includes basics about clothing construction and fit over the decades.

When You Want Seams On Your Stockings, Not Your Behind