Flappers, and Speakeasies, and Gangsters! Oh my!

Back In Time For New Years Eve

"Let's prohibit prohibition!"

In every history class you've had or any television series and movies you watch with the 1920s backdrop, an image of creativity, spirit, violence, elegance and prohibition is vividly painted in our minds. So what not relish in its beauty by ringing in the new year by partying like its 1922.The Roaring Twenties was a decade of flappers, jazz, fashion, and gangsters. When I say gangsters, I'm not referring to the guys in rap music videos, I'm talking about the legends of the jazz age; Dutch Schultz, Al Capone, or Jack "Legs" Diamond, etc. As F. Scott Fitzgerald puts it: 

"The restlessness approached hysteria. The parties were bigger. The pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher, the morals were looser, and the liquor was cheaper; but all these benefits did not minister much delight."

What I love about the fashion in the 1920s is that it reflected the rapid movement and change of society. Its iconic style has stayed with us throughout the decades and with movies and television shows like Boadwalk Empire, Downton Abby, The Great Gatsby and The Artist, 1920s style has definitely made its come back on the runway and into our closets.

 

 Then

 

Now

 

My 1920s New Years



Hello There Sailor! A Pin Up Halloween!

For women, finding a Halloween costume can be difficult, especially if you don't want to show all your goods or you're plus size like me. That's why I just make my own! This year I decided to go as a 1940s Sailor Pin Up girl, and it's not hard to tell that I love everything retro. I made the sailor hat and gloves and paired it with a vintage dress I already owned. Then with some pin curls, my favorite matted red lipstick, dotted tights, and a pair of black pumps, I completed my D.I.Y costume.

Today's Outfit: A Day at the Antique & Vintage Flee Market

The Outfit

Black Motor Jacket: Target

White tunic/dress: H&M

Skinny Jeans: Express

Embellished Ankle Boots: Target

Pocket Watch Neckless

Art Nouveau Poster Bracelet: Head House Books

 Coach Tote Bag

Red Printed Silk Pashmina

 

    I can write a Senior Thesis on the many reasons why I love Philadelphia but for today and time's sake the reason I give to you is the fact that things like Antique & Vintage Markets happen here. It was wonderful, a bunch of small vintage/antiques shop owners and even other people with things to sell set up booths and tables to let vintage lover's, like myself, buy some great stuff you won't normally find in a normal store. From vintage advertisement prints to antique furniture, this market had it all.

Feeling Retro In October

    Although my home town is very bland, living in New Hampshire has its perks. For instance, the beautiful scenery and colors of the fall season. Today I was feeling a little retro and wanted to celebrate the season with some pumpkin carving and baking like a 1950s house wife.

The Outfit:

• I decided to try out the all denim trend and paired my new denim button down with my favorite pair of skinny jeans
• Simple black flats from Payless
• And for the hair I did a retro Rosie the Riveter inspired up-do, complete with a bumper bang and a mustard yellow bandanna

    

Belated Birthday Gifts!

My birthday was June 22, but my lovely Aunt from Philadelphia just came to visit and just gave me my belated birthday gifts. Needless to say, she definitely knows what I like! 

 One of the gifts I received from her was a box filled with one hundred postcards with different VOGUE covers through out the history of VOGUE Magazine

 Next I got a beautiful bracelet which is decorated with different vintage advertizement posters. I saw this in a bookstore/cafe near South Street in Philly and my Aunt remembered that I really wanted it.

 She also got me another bracelet and coin purse from one of my favorite stores, Ten Thousand Villages. All of the items they sell are handmade and come from all around the world. Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to their selling markets. All through fair trade. The beaded bracelet was created by artisans from Bali through a nonprofit organization called Yayasan Mitra Bali. The kitenge coin purse is made by artisans in Tanzania.

D.I.Y Vintage Button Necklace!

Feeling crafty and don't want to spend a lot of money on a great statement necklace? Go to your local craft store or even see what you have laying around the house to make your own vintage style necklace! 

What You'll Need

1. Hot glue gun
2. Jewelry chain
3. Needle & thread
4. Old vintage buttons
5. Piece of craft felt 

Directions

1. Take the sheet of crafting felt and lay it down, then begin to arrange your assorted buttons into a formation you like.
2. Once you know where you want each button to go, take the hot glue gun and glue each button to the craft felt. After it is dried, cut around the edges so there is no exposing felt.
3. Now take your jewelry chain and sew each end to both of the ends of the felt/button piece. 
4. Now you have your very own vintage necklace to add something special to your next outfit.

Notes:

• Pick a dark piece of felt, preferably black or a dark navy blue.
• You don't have to stick to only buttons to be on your necklace, make it your own! Add other charms or cameos you may find in a craft store.