The Husband!

Here is the husband, after a long day at work! The suit jacket and tie are off and it is martini time on the deck! Well, I like a dry martini and he prefers Ketel One and tonic with lime.

I have been with this man since I was 19 (he was 23)! We have been married since 1996 and each day I find more and more reasons to love him!

The "Un-Vintage" Side of Me-New Pic Added 6-10-10

After visiting the amazing, Temperamental Broad's blog earlier today, I am inspired to show the "Un-Vintage" side of me too. I have to say that Ms. Temperamental looks gorgeous in anything, vintage or not! I love her style, period!

As for me, I know I say "I wear vintage all time" and I do indeed, but there are times when I cannot or when the occasional calls for something different.

Whenever I go to a VNV Nation show, I wear more of a gothic-influenced style. Think gothic girl meets Betty Grable or Vampira. I love VNV Nation, Informatik, The Cure, Decoded Feedback, Angels and Agony, Suicide Commando, Sisters of Mercy, Razed In Black as well big band and Lady Gaga.

(Here I am having a beer with the husband. This is the style of clothing I wear for going to see VNV)

When I go to Colorado for skiing, I adapt there too. On days I go into town, I will wear my cat eye sunglasses and eyeglasses but I will put on a Lip Service mini plaid skirt, black leggings, wrap hoodie, and combat boots. However, when I go to the high country of Colorado in summer, I will wear my usual vintage. I just can't pull off rayon dresses and platform heels in the snow!

(This is me in a Breckenridge, Colorado pizza joint in January 2010)

When I ski, I will wear ski gear, albeit with red lipstick and cat eye sunglasses.


Here is me ala 'DC professional.' I had a few business meetings with clients that day and needed to wear 'conservative business lady' attire.

But, when all is said and done, I am truly a vintage girl at heart!

Vintage Pic of the Day

Here is Dad (middle) and two friends, circa 1958/1959, wearing their Norwegian Defence Force/Coastal Artillery uniforms.

To this day, all Norwegian males must join the NDF (Norwegian Defence Force) when they turn 18. They are also required to serve at least two years.

My Dad has some cool stories from his time he served his country. He emigrated to the United States in 1965 and became a US citizen in the late 70s. My father says he was born in Norway and he is proud to be an American.

I love you, Daddy!

Vintage Jewelry Spotlight- Moonglow Lucite!

Here is me, wearing a vintage, 1950s necklace made with green moonglow beads. I bought this piece from a vintage boutique in Lower Manhattan in February 2007. When I saw its intense green color flashing under the store lights, I knew I had to have it! Until I bought this necklace, I had never seen, let alone heard of moonglow before. After being introduced into the world of vintage lucite/plastics, I became hooked! I began searching eBay for anything moonglow. Over the last few years, I have collected items like my baby-pink hued, beaded necklace and bracelet set, a pair of olive green ball earrings, a 14mm pearl-white beaded necklace, a luscious cherry red, bead necklace, and a thin, tangerine orange bangle that still has its 29 cent price sticker still intact on the inside.

So, what is Moonglow? It is a form of lucite that first gained popularity in the 1940s and 50s. Moonglow gets its name due to its moon-like shine and schiller when light hits its surface. It has a moonstone, almost cats' eye look that seems it has its own inner light.

Moonglow lucite was made into earrings, bangle bracelets, beads, buttons, and man-made cabochons that were set into earrings and brooches. Moonglow came in many colors ranging from bright sunshine yellows, bold blues, radiant reds, soft pastels to deep emerald greens. Although moonglow was primarily fashionable during the 40s and 50s, it continued to be used in jewelry until the 1960s.

So, how was it made? Moonglow is comprised of acrylic resin and of heat-set plastic. This process was called "thermosetting." Unlike today's comtemporary plastics that feel hollow and insubstantial, vintage lucite, especially moonglow, has a nice weight to it. It feels strong and cool against the skin.

So, where can a vintage girl buy herself some moonglow? Websites like eBay and Etsy are chock-full of moonglow jewelry! The prices range from an average of $14.00 to $40.00 USD. I have found many auctions and online sales featuring necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and sets. I could go nuts buying more moonglow myself but have already amassed quite a collection as it stands. What I do need is a nice red, 40s/50s handbag! I am still looking for the "one."

Anyway, if moonglow jewelry is your 'cup of tea' and/or you are looking to start, I wish you happy hunting!

Essie Nail Polish In Forever Young Review

I am wearing Essie Nail Polish in color "Forever Young." The color is a true red that is neither cool or warm. It has a certain brightness but overall this is not a garish shade. Forever Young is a classic, vintage red that is a good staple for any vintage girl.

This .5 ounce bottle retails for about $8.00 USD. Whenever I use this polish, I apply two coats which cover nails well. I do not have any streaking or thin spots. I apply a top coat of Seche Vite and let nails dry.

If I keep my nails super short, as seen above, I find this polish will last a couple of days without any chips. However, if my nails are longer, the polish tends to rub off and chip quickly and I will need to re-do nails after three days.

Overall, Forever Young is the quintessential, 1940s red that will flatter most vintage girls. The only drawback is the easily-chipped formula. The color is pretty but the formula falls flat.

I am still on the hunt for the perfect retro red that will last longer that Essie.

Have any of you girls found that "holy grail" formula? Please share!

Saddle Shoes!

Here is me, wearing a pair of black and white saddle shoes I bought from Muffys.com in 1999! I think I paid around $80.00 USD. These were vintage 50s deadstock and for 11 years, I have worn these many times and they are still in great condition! Not only are these shoes super cute, they are amazingly comfortable. I often wear my saddles on days when I need a 'break' from high heels. I think these shoes go great with pencil skirts, circle skirts, a-line skirts, rayon dresses, capri pants, and rolled up jeans!

I loved these shoes so much that I bought another pair of saddles from Muffy's. I ended up getting a 1940s pair of brown and white saddles! I recently visited the website, and saw that the prices are still great and the stock looks like it has gotten even bigger! The store owner, Muffy, is a doll and she has a true passion for all things saddle shoe!

Here is the link:
http://www.muffys.com/modern_traditional.html

MAC Neutral Eyeshadows

Eyeshadows from Left To Right:

Row 1: Vanilla, Motif, Crystal Avalanche, Pen n' Pink (discontinued), Yogurt
Row 2: Orb, Honesty, Copperplate, Phloof, Omega
Row 3: Kid (dupe for MAC Pro Sculpting Powder), Patina, Vex, Urban Decay Baked, Gorgeous Gold

As the title of this post indicates, all of the shadows here are MAC except for the Urban Decay shadow in Baked.

You can purchase this 15 eyeshadow pan palette at most MAC stores and online. It retails for $14.00 USD. This palette uses the corresponding pro palette refills version ($11.00 USD) of MAC's usual, single-packaged eyeshadow ($14.00 USD). Each refill has a little magnet on the back. Simply place the shadow into the space and it will stay put. Also, when your individual shadow is empty, just pop it out.

Anyway, this neutral collection of shadows is what I use to create various 1940s eye looks. The MAC shadow in Kid a fantastic dupe for MAC Pro's bone sculpting powder. I use this along with MAC's angled fluff brush in 168 to bring out the contour of my cheek bones. I do this before I apply my blush. (I am going to do a full tutorial on this later this week).

My favorites from this palette are Vex, Motif, Yogurt, Vanilla, Kid, and Copperplate, and Orb,