Today's Vintage Look

This is my outfit today. I am wearing a 1930s rayon repro dress from Tramp Clothing. I bought it from Red Dress Shoppe online about 4 years ago. I am also wearing a a pair of 1940s repro wedges from Ayers Allen. I did not feel like wearing heels today due to the rain. I have no idea why I look so serious. I am in a good mood today! Really!

Here is an upclose look at the dress' detail. It is has a black background, white flowers, and touches of green.  The upper back of the bodice has a keyhole design and there is a waist tie (ties in the back like an apron).

The green moonglow necklace and silvertone and crystal earrings are both 1950s vintage. I bought the necklace in Lower Manhattan in 2007 and the earrings were found in a antique mall in Deerfield, Florida. I paid 7 dollars for the earrings and the necklace was around 30 USD.

My hair is in rolls again today. I have to wear a scarf when venturing outside because the rain refuses to go away!

The husband and I!

This is me and the husband out last night. I did my hair in rolls and added two flower clips on the back of each roll. The husband wore one of his suits (it was a work day so he was already dressed appropriately). I was wearing a black and red Stop Staring dress with a beaded cardigan.

When I got home the gym yesterday afternoon, I planned on making dinner at home. But as the husband was leaving his client's site around 6 pm, he called me and suggested an impromtu evening out. He simply wanted to treat me! It is times like this that remind me what a wonderful man I have! I have been with him since I was 19 and married to him since I was 21! Next year, we will celebrate our 15 year anniversary! I am truly a lucky gal!

Architecture of the Space Age! Dulles Airport

Located 10 minutes away from my house, is Dulles International Airport. The main terminal's design reflects the spirit space age, the Atomic Era, and the Eames style that was so typical of the late 1950s and early 1960s. For years, I never really appreciated the architecture or even noticed. All I seemed to care about was getting to my plane or getting my luggage. As I began a trip out west to Colorado earlier this year, I walked towards the security/TSA area and I looked around. The high, glass windows and the sculpted gray concrete walls made me feel like I stepped back in time. I can just imagine all the vintage passengers, decked out in their best. The ladies with their white day gloves and pill box hats elegantly walking to their gate. The men, wearing trench coats and hats, clutching a leather briefcase, making their way to New York for their important business meeting.

Here is a little history of the airport:

Due to the expanding population in the Washington, DC region after the end of the second war, Congress passed the “Washington Airport Act of 1950.” The act paved the way for federal funding and support of the construction of a second airport in the area. The main airport, located within sight of the Nation's capital, was opened in 1941. It was called “Washington National Airport.” However, since 1998, it has been 'officially' titled the “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport” (but locals still refer to it as “National”).

After the initial proposals fell through, the current airport site was eventually selected by then-President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958. As a result, the town of Willard was torn down and construction began. Near my office, there is Willard Road. This is road cuts through a commercial area with lots of businesses and fast food places. The actual town has been long gone and the road''s moniker is the only reminder of its existence.

The civil engineering firm of Ammann and Whitney was selected as the lead contractor for the airport's construction. The main terminal was designed by Finnish architect Eero Saarinen. Saarinen created a swooping ceiling design that invoked images of flight and grace. The airport was named “Dulles International Airport” in honor of the late John Foster Dulles. Dulles was Eisenhower's Secretary of State from 1953 to 1959 (Dulles' death). In 1962, the airport was dedicated by President Kennedy on November 17, 1962. Its original name changed in 1984 to “Washington Dulles International Airport.”

So, if you ever fly into Dulles, try to take in the architecture and style of the main terminal. It is very unique and very vintage!

The Genesee Mountain House! Honoring Eames Era Architecture!

If you ever visit Denver, the Front Range, or the surrounding areas in Colorado, there is a funky house just west of Denver perched high on a mountain side that overlooks Interstate 70. Next time you are in the Genesee Mountain area, look up and behold one of the state's most famous landmarks.

Whether you call it the “Sleeper House,” “George Jetson House,” “Flying Saucer House,” or the “Clamshell House,” the white concrete home with its sleek, Eames era architecture, captures the imagination. The ellipitcal design was created in1963 by architect Charles Deaton. The house was later featured in the 1973 Woody Allen film "Sleeper."

For many years, the interior of the house was unfinished. I was told by local friends that the inside was trashed. Windows were broken and birds had added to the mess. In 2003, entrepreneur John Huggins bought the home, renovated the interior, completed the unfinished areas, and added a large addition that had been designed by Charles Deaton before his 1996 passing. Moreover, Charles', Charlee, was commissioned to design the interior.

When I was in Denver about two years ago, I was watching the local ABC News affiliate and they did a story about the Genesee house. The local story also included a tour of the home and let me tell you, it was pure Eames-era heaven! A few years after John Higgins bought and repaired the home, he sold it to a local Colorado business man. He is the current owner and he was featured in the news story. He lives there with his cat, Puff. The new owner has maintained the early 60s interior design look and feel. I would love to have a tour of this house!

Retro Kitchen Dreams CAN Come True! - Elmira Oven Works

Behold the North Star Oven from Elmira Oven Works! This is not a vintage oven. It is a modern repro. I want it. Now. I just need to win the lottery.

Anyway, I found out about Elmira when I was in my doctor's waiting room a few years ago. I was flipping through Architectural Digest and when I saw an advertisement promotion featuring the North Star series of ovens, fridges, ranges, splashbacks, microwaves, and dishwasher covers; I wanted to run out and found the nearest showroom that offered all those retro kitchen goodies.

Like I said, if I had the money, I would totally re-do my 80s era kitchen. I would replace all the appliances with robin's egg blue wares. I would replace vinyl flooring with black and white tile. Then I would put on one of my vintage aprons and never leave. I would bake and cook all day. Who needs to go to work when I have a dream kitchen to play in?!

Here is the website:

http://www.elmirastoveworks.com/northstar.aspx

Here are the colors available:

http://www.elmirastoveworks.com/northstar.aspx?src=ranges&sub=colors

What do you think? I say "drool-worthy" for sure!

The Brow Post!

This is me after graduating high school in 1993. I was 18 and I had bad eyebrows. I mean, just look at them. It is like Ronald McDonald and Joan Crawford had a secret love child and then left it on my parents' door step in a basket. Then the brow child grew into a college-bound girl hellbent on using poorly colored eyebrow pencils from Maybelline. Not only were the girl's brows terribly colored, they were too dark and uneven. I am not sure, but I think she looks turse? No! Wait! She looks surprised! I cannot tell. Those darn brows are confusing me.

Anyway, that 'bad brow girl' grew up and matured when she discovered the world of professional eyebrow tinting. Long gone were the mornings spent trying to get brows to look even and properly pigmented! I said goodbye to cheap pencils and brows that washed off at the pool or beach.

Even though my hair is a natural shade of auburn, my natural brow color is pale blond. My brows are so blond that when I got sunburn on my face as a child, my brows looked white. Yeah, THAT pale. Like I said, I spent tortuous years penciling in brow color in the hopes of bringing life to my face but I just ended up looking like a girl with no clue. Enter the esthetician.

In the summer of 1999, I was in summer session at my college. I was about to complete the requirements for my Bachelor of Arts degree and one day I heard about salon tinting for eyebrows.

After learning about tinting, I was in my local mall one day and I walked into a JC Penney salon. I asked if they offered tinting and waxing and the girl behind the reception desk said 'yes' and also stated they had a cancellation and asked if I was interested. I excitedly answered "yes" and I was led back to the esthetician's area.

The esthetician was a lovely, sweet older lady. As she prepared the dye and then applied it to my brows, I was giddy with the prospect of no longer being a slave to pencils. After 10 minutes or so, the esthetician wiped the tint off and rinsed my brows with damp cotton rounds. Then, my brows were waxed. Like tinting, I had never been waxed before. Let me tell you, the pain and sound of that linen strip yanking away the hair and warm wax was quite, can we say, unique? (Ow!)

After the twinge-worthy experience of the wax, the esthetician told me we were done and kindly handed me a mirror to see my new brows. Even though the shape of my brows were amazing, the color was another story. THEY WERE JET BLACK! Due to my shock and kind heart, I did not say anything. I politely said thank you and gave the lovely lady a tip and left. I drove home in tears. When I got home, my husband looked at me strangely and asked if I was "playing with my pencils." I cried. What had I gone and done to myself?! At this point, I actually missed those yucky pencils!

Over the course of two weeks, my brows faded into a nice shade of brown and eventually, they returned their previous state of pale, white blond. I contemplated going back to pencils again but something inside me told me not to quit. I found a brand new salon by my house and I called and asked about tinting. I was informed that they offer both tint and wax and I made my appointment. After my appointment, I slowly looked into the mirror, and to my amazement and delight, my brows looked perfect. The color was a medium brown and I felt like a million bucks as I walked to my car.

I love getting my brows done professionally. It saves me time when it comes to doing my makeup every day and I do not have to worry about my brows washing away at the pool and/or beach. On weekends, all I have to do is wear lipstick, a little mascara, and some foundation and I am out the door!

A while back, the lovely and fabulous Brittany of Va-Voom Vintage did a gorgeous tutorial for brow shaping. You should go check it out! And if you need tips on tinting, I am here to help.

Here is what you need to know about tinting services:

1. Find a good salon that offers esthetician services, especially brow services.
2. Understand your skin and hair. If you hair is dark, your eyebrows should be one to two shades LIGHTER than your hair color. If you hair is light, go one to two shades DARKER. Brows and hair should not match. It looks too flat.
3. During the few days before you tint and wax, do not use anything with AHAs or salicylic acid (acne creams/gels) in it. When the esthetician uses the wax, your skin could get very irritated! Wait to use AHAs and/or salicylic acid a few days after you are waxed.
4. After your brows are waxed, let your skin breathe! Your brows and surrounding skin will be red. This is normal. You can dust on a light mineral or loose powder but do not use full makeup. Clinique makes a powder that helps with redness. This is good.
5. At the end of the day, after your appointment, you can use a soothing gel like Murad's Recovery Gel (available at Ulta and Sephora). You can also use aloe vera gel.
6. In the days after your waxing, be sure to wear sunscreen and a gentle moisturizing lotion (remember, use nothing containing AHAs or salicylic acid)
7. A couple of days after your wax, expect a little skin flaking and peeling. This is normal. This is just your skin's natural reaction to having a layer of dermis taken off along with the hair. If the peeling is annoying, use a gentle moisturizer.
8. Between salon appointments, you can use an eyebrow pencil or marker. MAC's brow crayons and Anatasia of Beverly Hills' brow markers (avail at Sephora and Ulta) are both great products to maintain your lovely tint. Be sure to use a clear brow setting gel (clear mascara is great too) to keep brows groomed and color looking good all day.
9. Once you get your brows tinted and waxed, you will need to have them done every 5 to 6 weeks. If you are out in the sun a lot, you may need to get them done earlier since sun fades hair/brow color greatly.

I hope you girls find these tips useful! If you have any questions, please ask!

I Decided to Get "Bettie Bangs"

After much 'back and forth,' I decided to go ahead and 'bite the bullet' and get Bettie bangs again. I posted about this topic a week or so ago. After having my hair cut in a Middy, I discovered that my 4-6 inch bangs were not cooperating. I was experiencing a lot of difficulty when it came to trying to make my bangs/fringe look good. The rest of my hair styles like a dream, but those darn bangs refused to play nice! I found myself taking too much time getting ready for work in the mornings due to my bang/fringe's 'mood' so I decided to go to my stylist this past Friday afternoon for a quick bang trim and viola: the Bettie bangs that I had for almost 4 years came back.

I realize that having Bettie bangs limits my styling options but I am okay with that now. Part of my reluctance was the idea of restricting my styling flexibility but since I have the shorter bangs, I am indeed happier because I have one less section of hair to style. All I have to do is blow dry my bangs and I am done. No pins, no curls, just done. Yes! And, If I want straighter bangs, like in the above photo, I just use my flat iron. And if I want shorter, rounder bangs, I simply use a round barrel bristle brush as I blow dry. Today I did a shorter, more rounded look:

I feel confident now about keeping my bangs short. It is easier and takes less time.