And The Winner Is...

Becky Lou from Australia!!

Thank you to everyone of my dear readers who entered my anniversary Pin-Up Cosmetics give away! All of the entries were put in my vintage ice bucket (shown above) this morning and one lucky lady was selected. To celebrate my anniversary I asked what was your favorite post, and it was great to read your selections. I am looking forward to year number 2 and have some great post ideas ready to go!! Thank you all for your support and comments!

Our winner, Becky Lou's favorite post was the video about 1930's future fashion predictions.

Vintage Finds of the Week: Aprons

I love to wear vintage aprons when I'm cooking and cleaning. One should feel as cute as possible while doing chores or baking those cookies! Great to wear if you are hosting your own BBQ this summer too! For my Etsy vintage finds of the week, I have discovered some real adorable ones. I want them all! Above: Super Cute Blue Gingham Apron- $7-withinamileofhome
Fran's Pretty Polka Dotted Party Apron-$10-Dress Your Drawers

Summer Floral Print Vintage Apron-$10-tracinicole

Peek-a-boo Red 1950's Half Apron-$12-Sugar Shorts

Last Day To Enter!!

The Pin-Up Cosmetics give away ends today at midnight!!

Go to the original post to enter!

Newly Listed This Week!

I've listed some great vintage patterns this week in both my Etsy shop and at femmefatalevintage.com. Start sewing ladies! These are some cute looks!

Vintage McCall's 5380 Misses Blouse Pattern 3 Looks 1960 Bust 34- $5.00

Vintage McCalls 6724 Vintage Slim Dress Pattern with Smocking 1963 Bust 34- $6

Simplicity 7694 Vintage 1968 Pattern Misses Nightgown in 3 Lengths with Panties 34-36 -$5

Simplicity 1171 Vintage 1950's Pattern 2 Blouses V-Neck Peplum Bust 34-$5

Grosgrain: Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Ice Cold Lemonade

Edited by Clutch 22


Compiling this week's round up of posts hit closer to home for me. I think we can all relate to the times where stress builds up and blocks inspiration. Reading each of these individually was the exact refreshment I needed (hence "lemonade"), especially with my birthday coming up next week - total outfit planning mode.

So what's in the mix? Alixrose and Decline Designs offer personal style inspirations, Fasshonaburu teaches us how to get our budget-shopping on at high-end boutique sales, hkShoeGeek talks harnesses and Fashion Consciou$ inspires by reviving the culottes trend (so cute on her).

Links à la Mode : June 25th

• 39th and Broadway: Ever wonder who really determines how your clothes fit? An interview with a technical designer


• alixrose: You have the perfect outfit, but whats the one thing that can keep it from becoming fabulous?


• A Typical Atypical: A deep dive into the reasoning behind shoe obsessions


• Awakened Aesthetic: Affordable ways to bring urban fashion into your decor without getting tacky


• Bonne Vie: When Bloggers Unite - The Hotel Max Edition


• Decline Designs: Defining Your Personal Style - Having "Go-To" Outfits


• Fasshonaburu: Digging through a high end sales to find purchase-worthy pieces, and tips on how to not go over budget


• Fashion Consciou$: Fashion Flashback - Return of the culottes


• Fashion Pulse Daily: The evolution of the gladiator to the "mandiator"


• Freya: A little gown guide for your summer wedding


• hkShoeGeek: Harnesses - A collection of favorites for every style and price range


• Idiosyncratic Style: A guide for casual wedding attire


• Independent Fashion Bloggers: You just don't compare...


• Retro Chick : Mary Queen of Charity Shops - Now it's all over, some final thoughts


• Shoe Daydreams: Are you on board with the latest trend - Over The Knee boots?


• Tatiana Supports the Arts: Indie Designer Spotlight - ALEX&RA, designed by Alexandra Cipparone


• The Bare Skinny: Not everything has to be black and white - inspiration for adding color to your wardrobe


• The Coveted: Shu Uemura's inspired lashes


• Unfunded: Respect your elders - Rock the vintage!


• Work Chic: Chic hosiery options if you still have to wear them in the summer heat!

Fashionable History: Swimwear By Decade- 1930's

In the 1930's sun bathing became more popular as an inexpensive recreation. Athletic swimming and synchronized swimming was also popular. The suits reflect the need to show more skin to the sun and be more streamlined for water sports. Belted maillots were popular with boy cut legs or slim skirts. The exposed v-back was invented and a few daring ladies even exposed their midriffs with the first bikinis. The suits above are from a 1930's catalog. I love the red and white striped one on the right!
Jean Harlow striking a pose. Her suit is very glamourous for the time and shows a lot of skin.

Beach athletics. Notice her V-back and belted waist.

Claudette Colbert looking gorgeous in a simple white classic belted maillot.

This summer my "Fashionable History" segments are on swimwear by decade. To read about the 1920's click here.

Mid-Week Inspiration: Riding in the Rain

Silly me, I did not jot down wear I found this photo. All I know is that I love it! It has inspired me to ride my bike and look fabulous dispite the lousy weather we've been having. Earlier this month I got my vintage Raleigh tuned up with a new basket to hold my purse. But due to the constant rain, I've only got on it twice! I will just have to learn how to ride while holding an umbrella.

Vintage Finds of the Week: Pic-nic Time!

I've been dreaming of daycations and pic-nics in the park. For my Etsy vintage finds of the week I have found some terrific items to make it happen! I just need to add a nice bottle of wine, some cheese and crackers, my sweet fellow and I'm ready to go!

Above: The sweetest pic-nic basket and the ultimate essential with plates and a cloth!

Vintage Burlington Picnic Basket-$50-Ottertales

This is the purse I would bring! So cute!

Daisy-Mae Vintage Tote- $30- Which Goose

The dress I would wear...seems appropriate and I love gingham!
Orange and White Gingham Vintage Halter Dress-$125- theVINTAGEdress
Extra plates!
5 Orange Melamine Plates- $18-Faith and Franny

Keep you jam or beverage cold- pre cooler style!
Cottage-Style Pic-Nic-Pal at Nestbox Vintage -$39-Nest Box Vintage

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!

The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife: Give Away! Give Away!

One Week Left to Enter!

There is only one week left to enter my Anniversary Pin-Up Cosmetics give away! Bobbins and Bombshells turned 1 this month and the contest ends next Monday June 29th. Go to the Original Post to see the rules and enter!!

Newly Listed Items Of The Week

I've got some great new items listed in my Etsy stores, Femme Fatale Vintage and The Sparkling Cocktail. Two wonderful vintage hats with veils and some handmade accessories to top off any outfit! These items can also be found on my site http://www.femmefatalevintage.com/.

Black and White Gingham Rose Hair Clips with Black Button -$16

Charcoal Grey Crochet Lacy Fingerless Gloves with Pink Rose Shell Buttons -$50

Red Hot Burlesque Vintage Half Cocktail Hat with Sequins and Netting Veil -$30

Raspberries and Creme Vintage 1950/60s Velvet Petals Cocktail Hat w/ Veil and Bow-$37

Weekend Events and Links a la Mode

The official start to the summer in NYC is celebrated with the Coney Island Mermaid Parade! Hopefully the sun will come out for tomorrows festivities. I won't be able to make it this year but I've been several times and it's a hoot! I will be able to catch up on my blog reading this weekend from my fellow Independent Fashion Bloggers. This week's links a la mode are below.

Have a great weekend!

Fashion Potluck

Edited by Dramtis Personae


This week’s Links á la Mode it a fashion potluck, a hodge podge of politics in fashion, interviews with fabulous designers, bloggers, and photographers, flashbacks in to our fashion past, and great shops and designers to check out. I couldn’t make rhyme or theme of the collection, so just sit back & enjoy some of the best the Independent Fashion Bloggers had to offer this week!

Links à la Mode : June 19th

• A Typical Atypical – Thrifting – how to thrift with success – a step by step introduction for thrifting newbies



• Awakened Aesthetic – Ever have those utterly feminine, against-the-trend days? From lingerie to accessories, Jennifer Nicole goes ethereal



• Bonne Vie – Parasol Party Review



• Breakfast at Saks – Es Trella



• Denimaniac – Best Denim Shops Denham



• dramatis personae – Plus-Sized Eco-Friendly Fashion: A Myth?



• Fashion Matchmaker – Awesome giveaway, enter to win a beautiful, summery Love Quotes scarf!



• Fashion Pulse Daily – Get the summer blues by entering for a chance to win a pair of Current/Elliott boyfriend jeans!



• Felicia Sullivan – Interview: Entrepreneur and CEO at 24, Lindsay Phillips on Interchangable Flip Flops, Manufacturing in China, and Discovering Your Ideal Business Partner: Your Mom!



• in-mode.com – 4 weeks. bikini. ready. (week 1).



• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Get Real: How to Beat Blogging Perfectionism



• Individual Chic – Best bras for big girls



• Meilily – Fitness Shoe Skepticism: FitFlops & MBTs Glorified Platform Sandals & Sneakers?



• Pursed Lips Magazine – Documentary Teaches Never Let Our Daughters Model



• Retro Chick – 5 Ideas for Summer Days Out



• Style Symmetry – Seven Question Interview with The Clothes Horse!



• The Bare Skinny – Fifty Fierce Shoes for the Rocker Chick



• THE COVETED – Tye Died



• The Demoiselles – From the Birds: A Body Mantra



• the nerdlings – Men Have Style Too: Adventure Through The Photo Lens



• Unfunded – L.A. Fashion Market Wrap Up

Fashionable History: Swimwear By Decade- 1920's

In the 1920's swimwear started revealing the body more then ever before. The modern maillot was invented. The adrogynous athletic tank style of the maillot suited the fashions of the 20's as women became liberated from long skirts. Even though they were made in wool jersey and often worn with little booties these suits are the forerunners of the suits we wear today.
This picture is tiny, but the girls here "jazz" up their suits with flapper hats!

Although this pic doesn't actully show swim suits, it is too adorable not to share. Parasols were
your best sun protection back then.

I love these ladies!

They have it all, decorated maillots, parasol, hats, and musical instruments.

Adorable!

My "Fashionable History" segment this summer is Swimwear by Decade. Last week was the 1900's. Next week, 1930's!

Mid-Week Inspiration: Esther Williams

Is it obvious I'm ready to go swimming? I've been posting a lot about vintage swimsuits, beach accessories, and the cover up I'm making. It's time to hit the beach! If only I could be as graceful as the lovely Esther Williams is here in this photo. Beautiful!

Vintage Finds of the Week: Day at the Beach

I love vintage swimwear and all of the essential bathing accessories. For this weeks edition of Etsy vintage finds I have put together an outfit for a day at the beach or the pool.

(Above) Vintage 1950s Alexa of California Black Floral Cotton Bathing Suit-$48-retrotrend

Vintage Sarong Wrap Blue Hawaii-$45-GoodEye

Vintage 50's Rubber Swim Cap Turquoise with Flower Accents-$30-FireGypsyVintage


Vintage Summer Fun Beach Bag-$22-auroramae

Vintage 1940's Colorful Carved Wooden Wedge Scene Heels from the Philippines-$18-TeaAtHomeWithOlivia

My Projects

I finished the crochet fingerless gloves! I am pleased with how they came out and will be putting them up for sale soon in my Etsy store, The Sparkling Cocktail. I added beautiful rose painted shell buttons on the side. I'm going to start a purple pair next!

I have also finally started to make the romper and bathing suit cover up from the vintage pattern I bought last March. I bought some white cotton pique, one solid and one with red flowers for two cover ups. I also picked out some white swiss dot for the romper. The red and white stripe is for contrast piping. I will continue to show you the progress I make, so stay tuned!

Cleo From 5 to 7

I just spent the afternoon watching the Agnes Varda film Cleo From 5 to 7. It is the story of a young French pop chanteuse, played beautifully by Corinne Marchand, waiting for the results of a cancer biopsy. Filmed in 1961, in real time, during 1 and half hours of her day as she faces her fears and questions her existance along the streets of Paris. I held on to this film for a while, afraid I would not be in the mood for a sad movie. I wish I hadn't waited so long. The film is beautiful not only for it's growth of the main character but also for it's wonderful glimpses into what people really wore and drove in 1960's Paris. Cleo's clothes are delightful, as well as her loft like apartment, complete with a swing! This is existentialism at it's most fashionable.

Here is a youtube snippet to enjoy:

Pin-Up Cosmetics Give Away Reminder!

Go to the original post to enter! Deadline June 29th!

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Happiness is being a free bird…

Edited by Jennine of IFB & The Coveted

Oddly enough since we moved over to the editorial selection, I’ve never selected the links, and I really have to tell you choosing this week’s roundup was tough, so many great links, I had a hard time picking!

Well, here we are in the midst of summer, this year you can’t click twice without hitting a blog giveaway, as we’ve got great giveaways on Style Symmetry, Fashion Hippo and The Coveted, and if that’s not enough, IFB has a couple of great links to more contests. Whew. And while ‘free’ doesn’t always mean stuff you don’t have to pay for, it can also mean free as in stuff you can’t pay for, Decline Designs takes inspiration to two free spirited cinematic heroines with vivid imaginations, Brick My Lane will add rock and roll to your dancing feet, and free minded bloggers 39th and Broadway, Curvy Fashionista and Pursed Lips question the fashion industry.

Links à la Mode : June 11th

• 39th and Broadway – What the end of an era of fashion excess means for the industry


• BRICK MY LANE – How to give shoes a rock’n'roll edge using simple DIY ideas.


• CUTEMESS – How Trevor the horse and an Australian Kangaroo Paw flower came to rest on a Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dress.


• Debutante Clothing – Interviews celebrity favorite vintage costume jewelry maven Carol Tanenbaum


• Decline Designs – Defining Your Personal Style, Part Three: Using Your Inspiration


• Dirty Dirty Laundry – KABLUEY! Check out my venture into the world of blue monochromatic fashion.


• Fashion Grail – Love the way Chloe Sevigny perfectly combines the elegance of a scalloped Chloe blazer and cut off shorts.


• Fashion Hippo – Three lucky readers will receive this tee as a prize. Loved by Kate Moss and many other celebrities. Ends June 18th.


• Hong Kong Fashion Geek – Update your look for less – Resort 2010 looks for recessionistas


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Giveaway sites for freebie junkies.


• MissRedLips – In Defense of Brooches


• Pursed Lips Magazine – The CFDA Fashion Design Awards Promotes their Photoshoot, with None of the Women Nominees. Is something fishy?


• Retro Chick – Mary Queen of Charity Shops – The Review


• Style on the street – Alison Stephens, the new it model


• Style Symmetry – Vintage Snakeskin Bracelet Giveaway!


• Super Kawaii Mama – Meet Aleshia Brevard. A Vintage Style Icon you’ll never forget!


• The Capitol Fashionista – Fashion Nostalgia: The Beautiful Covers of British Vogue


• THE COVETED – The perfect giveaway for vintage lovers… win at Rice & Beans Vintage.


• The Curvy Fashionista – The State of the Curvy Community Panel Discussion at Full Figure Fashion Week


• the nerdlings – The photo shoot started off well. But words were spoken that shouldn’t have been spoken and everything else just descended into chaos.

Newly Listed Items Of The Week

I've got some great new items listed in my Etsy stores, Femme Fatale Vintage and The Sparkling Cocktail. Get ready to knit and sew for fall, or dazzle them with handmade accessories. These items can also be found on my site www.femmefatalevintage.com.

1960 Vogue Knitting Book Magazine $8.

Vintage 1969 Simplicity Blouse/Skirt/Pant Pattern. $6

Handmade Upcycled Vintage Rhinestone Flower Ring. $13.

Handmade Red and White Gingham Rose Bobby Pins. $12.