1940s meets Moulin Rouge

I'm a bit of a francophile, and I long to have a fabulous Paris themed novelty skirt or dress.  I discovered this 1940s blouse with little cafe tables, wine bottles and chairs.  It also has names of famous French cafes like, "Moulin Rouge," "Cafe' Paris," "Cafe' Royale," "Les folies Bergere," etc all over the top.  I'm posing in a place called 'Neon Alley' which hosts many retired, vintage neon signs from around the country.

Outfit Details:Black feather fascinator: handmade gift from a friend

 1940s French novelty blouse: Ebay

1950s cat brooch: Florence Antiques

underbust corset: Ross

1950s charm bracelet: Etsy

1950s turquoise skirt: Vintage Treasures

Backseam bow stockings: Ebay

teal and aqua spectator shoes: Miss L. Fire

XOX, Hannah

1945 Home Notes

This weekend,  I modeled in my first boudoir shoot for a photographer friend. I can't wait to see the pictures, although I probably won't be sharing them here, unless they are relatively tame. :)  Later that night, we celebrated my husband's birthday by throwing a huge 40s themed cocktail  party.  We had 26 people show up, which made for a fabulous night. I'll share some of the pictures later this week.  I wanted to share one of my favorite sweaters, which my M-I-L knitted me from a 1945 pattern.  We snapped some shots in front of the State Mental Hospital's nurses' quarters, which were built in the 40s and abandoned in the 1990s.  They are supposedly VERY HAUNTED.

Outfit details: Scalloped sweater, knitted from original 1945 pattern

vintage lovebird brooch: Estate sale

Assorted Bakelite: Antique stores, Ebay, thrifted

Red pin up pencil skirt (modern): Ebay

back seamed heart stockings: Ebay

navy ankle boots: Poetic License

XOX, Hannah

Snow Bunny

  Today we planned to drive up to Lake San Isabel to take some photos.  We had to wait around for a plumber because our basement had flooded.  After lunch, we got on the road.  The snow was a lot deeper than I anticipated and we ended up getting stuck in a parking lot.  Thankfully, some kind people stopped and pulled us out.  Do you ever feel like the universe is conspiring against you?  Lately I feel like each step I take to get out of my rut; getting out of my house, forming new connections with people, and generally being more positive end up causing some debacle or catastrophe.  It's my job to shake it off and not let the negativity stick.  It's fucking exhausting, but I'll be damned if I let it stop me from moving forward and being happy.  I'm going to kick 2015's ass!

Outfit details:

1940s Nordic Cardigan: Swish Vintage

1950s white lace blouse: Ebay

1950s gold snowflake brooch: Estate Sale

Vintage Navy Gloves: Estate Sale

Deadstock 1960s Maverick Jeans: Vintage Treasures

Black Rabbit fur trim boots: Ebay

Happy Sunday!

Tales of Tomorrow

  Many years ago, while perusing one of my cool, older brother's British import music magazines, I came across a fashion spread influenced by the iconic 1968 film Barbarella.  I fell in love with the look, and filed 'retro space girl' as a costume I wanted to attempt someday. Campy, vintage sci-fi and B rated movies hold a special place in my heart.  Along with the lurid covers of trashy pulp fiction novels from the era, the female characters, while highly sexualized,  were often bold, brazen, ass kicking heroines.  This was really one of the few places that females were portrayed as anything other than a love interest or a damsel in distress.  
  Big hair, mod boots, and laser guns, f*ck yeah!

Outfit details:

Early 1960s silver dress: thrifted

underbust corset (modern): Ross

Laser Blaster: Ebay

Silver Steve Madden boots: thrifted and spray painted

Sputnik headband: made by me

Anne Francis in Forbidden Planet, 1955

Fashion designer Edith Head with her design 

for the Venusian Womens' Home Guard, 1953 

Moon bridal hat by Bettmann, 1956

Dyna Sputnik, 1958

1950s Air Vornado Advertisement

Worlds Within, 1950

Barbarella, 1968

Waking the Dead

  The blog posts have become a bit infrequent as of late.  I've been having what I lightly refer to as a major freaking life crisis! :)  I was enrolled in several online classes this semester so that I could apply for a nursing program, full time next fall. I had started this process after my eldest son was born, ten years ago.  I had loved the classes then, and it seemed like a practical, responsible decision.  In fact, even though my plans were put off for many years so that I could stay home and raise my babies, I always planned on pursuing nursing, and never bothered forming a plan B.   A couple of weeks into my classes,  I fell into a deep depression.  I loathed my classes, and couldn't fathom the idea that this was my future.  In fact, I started questioning everything in my life.  I realized how unhappy and unfulfilled I have felt, and how many of my decisions were based on the needs of other people and not the desires of my heart.  I dropped my classes and am doing some major soul searching to figure out my next course of action.  I started seeing a therapist, and have been journaling, and making long lists of things that I feel I need to explore.  I have literally been putting my life on hold for a decade.  It's time to be bold and maybe a little selfish.  We are only given one life and it's up to us what we make of it.  So here's to the death of settling, falling into old patterns, and not living up to our potential.

Outfit details:

1950s wool wiggle dress: estate sale

1950s black and red corset belt: Copper Alligator 

1940s black bird veil: antique store

black and white backseam thigh highs: Ebay

shoes: Poetic License

Ouija board brooch: Wacky Tuna Vintage

xox, Hannah

Czech me out

  This August, my husband and I were flown to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to give  a presentation at the Iowa State Preservation Conference.  We left on a Thursday and returned on a Sunday, so we had a bit of time to explore the city.  One of our best friends, Jenny, drove 5 hours from Minneapolis, MN to spend the last two days with us.  After a bit of aimless wandering, we got a recommendation to head to Czech Village, also called New Bohemia, or Newbo.  My only regret is that we didn't find out about it sooner.  Newbo is an arts district filled with restaurants, bars, and tons of cool antique shopping.  We discovered a darling little vintage shop called, The Copper Alligator.   Unfortunately the shop isn't listed under vintage clothing, but rather "costumes" so I almost missed out.  There are tons of affordable treasures packed in this shop and it's totally worth checking out.  I left with a sundress, THE BEST kitten themed apron, and some 40s ties and tie clips for my husband.  I'm sure there the dress and apron will make an appearance here eventually.

The shop is next door to a little Czech bakery, and across the street are a couple of really good antique stores including Treasure Chest Collectibles and Czech Village Antiques.  Wade bought a WWII Czech military jacket that fits like a dream, and some Czech civilian patriotic pins from the same era.  Next we headed down to Mad Modern, a vintage furniture shop specializing in mid-century modern.  I have to admit, walking into Mad Modern made me sad....in a really good way.  I was sad that we were flying home, and couldn't take any furniture with us.  Luckily, there was a small section of clothing, ties, purses, etc and I found a fantastic navy dress.  

Outfit details: 

Navy 50s dress: Mad Modern

WWII Czech pin:  Czech Village Antiques

red bow belt: Ebay

assorted Bakelite bangles: thrifted & Ebay

vintage leather lace-up boots: Ebay

1940s telephone cord purse: Ebay

Manitou Springs Penny Arcade

  This Labor Day weekend, we tried to take advantage of all our favorite summer activities that were winding down for the season.  We saw a movie at the drive-in theater, went swimming at the pool, and headed up to the Manitou Springs' Penny Arcade.  The arcade is one of my favorite places in Colorado, and I love sharing it with my own children.  The arcade is filled with antique pinball machines, skeeball, derby races, peepshows, 1950s Love Testers, photo booths, and plenty of automated fortune tellers to keep us entertained all day.   A lot of the really old games cost between a penny and a dime, hence the name "Penny Arcade."  You can also buy fresh salt water taffy, cotton candy, and chocolate truffles. 

Outfit Details:

Early 60s Toni Todd novelty colonial farm print dress (with rooster weather vanes, of course)

matching belt and hair scarf (not pictured): Estate Sale

Assorted Bakelite bangles: Ebay and thrifted

1950s poodle brooch: birthday gift

Green 40s inspired t-strap wedges: B.A.I.T. footwear