How I do my hair!

Hello everyone!

Since it has been a while since I've done a post about my personal vintage style, I thought I should do another post on my hair and how I set it. Especially because it is a bit different from the last hair post I did; my hair is longer than it was and I am using 1¼" pink rollers, rather than 1" black ones.
I didn't use any products other than Pantene shampoo & conditioner and Tresemme hairspray.

 Front view
I rolled them all backward.

 Left side

Right side

Back view

 Carefully unravel...

Right view with the rollers out

Left view with the rollers out

Back view with the rollers out

 Brush!
If you have an idea of how you want your hair to look, keep in mind it may have ideas of it's own. If it's being temperamental, just let it do what it wants and work with it.

When I like the way a wave or curl is moving, I hold it with a clip and spray.

Then I remove the clip when the hairspray is dry or when I'm finished styling.

Spray!

And done!

Happy rolling!

Ivy

Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen Exhibit

Hello!

This past week, I went to an exhibit featured at The Trout Museum of Art in Appleton, Wisconsin with my mom and brother. This exhibit featured several articles of clothing and accessories from Katharine Hepburn's film and theatre career and personal estate, spanning from the 1930's to the 1970's. Including a few pairs of slacks; a major part of Katharine's signature look.

I had a wonderful time at this exhibit and loved all of the items collected and preserved. Seeing the wear on some of the pieces and repairs made on them, quite possibly done by Katharine herself, was quite special. Being able to get close to the garments without being restricted by glass was so nice, especially when you're interested in historical and vintage clothing and sewing like me.

Since I was at a museum, I chose not to take pictures for the sake of respect and preservation. However, I did scan the pages of my exhibit brochure and took some pictures of my Katharine Hepburn inspired ensemble. Here are scans from my brochure.

Here are some pictures I found online of my favorite dresses in the exhibit. You can find pictures of most of the costumes that are featured on Pinterest.

 

A very pretty dress Katharine wore in Stage Door, 1937

 

 A gorgeous black dress worn in Adam's Rib, 1949

A stunning wedding gown worn in The Lake, 1933

A beautiful dressing gown worn in State of the Union, 1948

When I saw this magazine on display in the exhibit, I was happy to see that her makeup on the cover kind of resembled my makeup for the day!

via Pinterest

Here is what I wore to the exhibit:

Hat: Thrifted (flower accessory from Forever21)

Cardigan: Target

Blouse: Forever21

Slacks: Homemade by me

Shoes and bag: Target

Photos taken by my brother.

If you ever get a chance to see this exhibit, I highly recommend it!

Ivy

I'm Sewing, Sewing and Sewing.

Hello reader,

 

This September has gone by quickly. It's been full of organizing, cleaning and sewing. I've mostly been hemming pants for my mom and brother, but I did make a fantastic navy blue skirt for myself out of my Simplicity pattern #3688. I desperately needed a blue skirt. I have light brown, black and light grey. I consider a navy blue skirt a staple in vintage fashion and any vintage gal needs one in their armoire! Don't you agree? Here is a navy blue polka dot blouse I bought recently at Forever21 (along with a sleeveless navy blue blouse with bow). It has a bit of a peplum effect, so naturally, a skirt would look best. But I realized I didn't have a skirt to match. So, I got out the pattern, started tweaking, adjusting, and this is the finished product. I think the skirt turned out pretty good. Here are the photos. (P.S. note the mums, a true sign of fall!)

 

 

Have you sewn anything lately?

 

Ivy

 

DIY Shelf Project

Here is my latest project!

It's a really cute shelf but needs some love.

 

The sides are so pretty, it has an art nouveau and art deco look combined. It's about 21" wide and 22½" tall.

 

Here is the before...

 

 

... and after!

 

 

 

It looks much more chic and feels a lot lighter and fresher.

My small hobnail pieces fit perfectly.

 

Although different shades of white, the magazine basket I painted last year matches really nicely!

 

I think the shelf and magazine basket are post-war era, because I found some magazine baskets with similar lines in the Sears Roebuck catalog from Spring 1946. My basket is about 14½" wide and 19½" tall.

 

On to the next project!

 

Ivy

My First Beaded Purse + Adorable Sewing Patterns!

Hello dears!

Last Saturday, the 1st, I went to a holiday open house at some antique shops. When I was there I picked up some nice items, which I will show you all! The first is a really pretty beaded handbag. It has only a few beads missing on the strap. This being my first beaded purse, I don't know the much about them. But I think the price is good for being at an antique shop. There were other beaded bags there that were also really cute and would have bought, but they were a little pricey. Here is the bag I purchased.

Isn't the design so pretty?

 

 I'm going to see how long this 'Nobility' brand zipper has been around,

it could help date the purse.

 

The other items I bought are all really cute sewing patterns!

 

Definitely late 30's, the puffed sleeves are outrageous!

Super adorable schoolboy fashions that my future son would be wearing at all times.

1940's Pajama Pattern?! Rad!

 

This last snowsuit one reminds my Mom and I so much of my maternal grandpa.

 

 

Happy December!

Ivy

My Remington Rand Typewriter

Hello, dears!

I thought I'd share a nice possession of mine, a 1940's Remington Rand typewriter. I obtained this typewriter from a lovely elderly woman named Evelyn. (Not my great-grandmother, this is a different lady.) I was at her house with my dad, brother and grandparents because she was going to be living in the nursing home with her husband. She feared her family wasn't concerned about her belongings and thought they might just throw them away. So, she invited us over to look at some of her things in the basement, see if we wanted to purchase anything before it all would go. There was a plethora of books, painting supplies and lots of other items in the basement. After being down there for about an hour scouring, I found a case, a heavy case with a key. I opened it up and saw a vintage typewriter! I knew it was at least from the 1950's by the way it looked. And the (most likely) original case to go with it? Awesome! I asked her if she'd sell it, and she said yes. I believe the price was between 5 - 10 dollars. I did some research on it, and found out it was most likely post-WWII, and I noticed some like mine currently priced around $400 online. I haven't gotten my typewriter looked at by a professional, so any information I've read or seen could be inaccurate. I don't know how I'd consider the condition, all I know is it works. Right now I don't feel the need to have more information. I like it just the way it is, and don't want to profit from it. Like I said, it's a possession, not an item I'm trying to turn over to make money off of. If it's worth $400, hooray for me. Right now it will live a simple life with me and my crazy family! Here are some pictures of this little dear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you have a typewriter?

Have a nice day!

 

Ivy