Vintage Scream Queens

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would post some vintage scream queens....including Vampira vs Elvira - which one do you like better?  I'm leaning towards Vampira...

Vampira

Elvira

Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween

Alexis Carrington's Many White Hats

I think Joan Collins is...er....was a very beautiful woman.  Frankly, I am a little creeped out that from the neck up she looks just about the same as in 1985, but we won't go there.  My older sister and I used to gather together to watch Dynasty.  I loved it because I was pretty young at the time and spending time with my super cool teenage sister was such a treat.  We loved the clothes and the cat fights - oh so much drama!  Alexis always had the most wild outfits and loved to wear hats.  I am surprised how many of them were white - pretty strange twist for the "bad girl".  Check it out...

 

Cilla in the 60's

 I have always been fascinated by Priscilla Presley's 60's style.  For me, I think she encapsulates the mood at the time.

Throughout the 1950's. women had been constrained both physically and aesthetically by fashion.  Dior's cinched waist, large skirt silhouette was the standard of the time and did not leave much room for function or personal expression.  The way the underpinnings and clothing literally controlled a woman's physical movement reflected women's place in society - you were meant to play your role, remain weak, and take orders.

The social and political changes in the 60's, and the rise of youth culture, opened the door to creative thinking when it came to appearance.  The removal of the corset and crinoline allowed physical liberation of women's bodies which coordinated with their potential to become more active in society and the social movements of the time.  A true time of liberation.  We see wild prints, crazy hair and makeup, and an overall visual explosion in fashion.

Priscilla and Elvis met in 1959 when she was 14.  They dated for 7 years and wed in '66.  She transformed from a girl to a woman in the spotlight of the media and found her way through many looks.  Beyond her journey into womanhood, the context of the liberation of the 60's played a big role in her overall style - take a look.

1959

Early 60's

Elvis makeover

1966

Early 60s

Mid 60s

Late 60s

Late 60s

Our Vintage Wedding

Now that the wedding is over, I can't say that I miss the planning!  It couldn't have been better - a truly lovely gathering of friends and family, all with a vintage touch.  Our theme focused on our love of international travel and each table represented a favorite place.  I spent hours in thrift stores trying to find vintage travel guides.  My grandmothers were with me every step of the way - one's ring and one's dress.  I expressed my love of all things vintage through our dress and decor.  Our photographer, Jenny GG did an excellent job.  Here are some highlights...

I finally got a drink! 



My beautiful sisters Susan and Molly



Sake ceremony



Vintage dress for dancing from my friend's store - Empire Vintage

 

Centerpieces and cakes (coconut cream cake and chocolate orange - Madre's Kitchen)



60's Eyeliner

I continue my quest to master the perfect 60's liquid eyeliner job.  How did they do it?  These photos really make it look easy and effortless.  You really can't have the shakes in anyway - i.e.; no coffee before lining thy eyes!

 

Edi Sedgwick

Marlo Thomas?

Twiggy

Glam Rock Etsy Treasury

This one was really fun to make - enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ca690e963448eefe20d96c7/ziggy-stardust

Dusty

My husband and I have a term that encompasses all things earthy, western, brown, and 70’s – “dusty”.  The term “dusty” covers quite a bit and can be applied as a descriptor for people, styles, and elements of pop culture from the 70’s, as well as, the rebirth of the western-DIY-wilderness-pioneer -chic  which has surfaced in places like Portland, Seattle, and New York in recent years.


Dusty in the 70’s

There was a weird obsession with “country” in the 70’s.  The sphere of country was vast in that it included all things western, southern, pioneer, and the back-to-the-land.  In addition, pop culture at the time did not seem to make distinctions between the different factions of country as seen in TV shows like the Duke’s of Hazzard  or movies like Smokey and the Bandit– you have Southern friend hicks styled as western cowboys. 

This certainly qualifies as "dusty”.  

Dukes of Hazzard



Smokey and the Bandit



Allman Brothers



John Denver

In addition, you had the Earth Shoe-wearing, sprout eating, pure country types like John Denver which was almost a hippie-western crossover.  Throw in the popularity of spaghetti westerns (which border on psychedelic), shows like Little House on the Prairie, and the rise of Southern Rock via Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers, and we are literally covered in dust.


Dusty in the 10's
Over the last few years, in urban communities like Brooklyn, Portland, and Seattle, interest in all things made by or with your hands has dominated the style scene.  This sensibility has lead to a hearkening for a simpler time, a more analog time, a time when craftsmanship was valued above mass production.  We see this reflected in places like artisan food movements, boutique brewing and distilling operations, the DIY and vintage fashion movement, gardening and food-raising, the new wave of folk rock bands, etc.  Low and behold, we have a new era of ”dusty” . 

Bands like Spindrift, Fleetfoxes, and the Moondoggies pull from the 70’s folk and southern rock sensibility. 


Moondoggies



Spindrift



Fleet Foxes






Beardos are everywhere and the men’s fashion in particular has a beatnik-meets hippie- meets southern rocker mix.  People are driving 70’s “super-vans”, if not their bikes.  Almost everyone I know is raising their own chickens and trying to move off of the energy grid.  No, the dust has not settled, but instead, it has reformed itself in a new era.





Super Van



Dusty Hipsters