This week has been a bit wacky for me, but I’m hoping that the weekend will get everything straightened out! lol. I managed to do a bit of sewing this week, and hopefully there will be more this weekend–so photos next week are in order!
Here are this week’s links, but be sure to not forget the massive list of links you all contributed to earlier this week! I know I’m planning on a couple hours to sit down and browse them more thoroughly.
A lovely roundup of vintage cycling outfits–I love the sweet sportswear!
Super Kawaii Mama goes step-by-step through her daily makeup look–loads of great tips!
I love what Sarai cleverly did with one of her patterns to create a sweet playsuit
[ be sure to click for the large version to read the description! ]
My vintage image for this week is from May 1947. The extended shoulder style of sleeve has been routinely showing up in all my sketches for the past couple months. I think this is partially due to my love of the 40s (this sleeve style was quite popular then), and a unconscious realization that shoulder interes is again becoming acceptable within the fashion world. I think after the 1980s and “linebacker” shoulder pads, most people were hesitant to do anything that made the shoulder line look wide. It’s starting to creep back in on the runways, and I must say I kind of like the shoulder emphasis (though not necessarily in the modern incarnation; the 1940s style I’ll take instead!). Of course, since the dress on the right has stripes, that makes it even better! lol. Have a lovely weekend, dear friends–and see you in June!
Handbag: vintage; thrifted (it was marked free! so I took it!)
Earrings: Etsy
Bracelet: Gabriel Brothers
Miss Bumble Bee! That’s how I will forever think of this outfit. lol. Had another dratted appointment with the doctor yesterday (I swear I’ve been to the doctor’s office more in the past 6 months than I have in 6 years!), so I wanted to wear something cheery and bright to offset the fact that I rather hate going. I actually wore this Tuesday as well, but I liked it so much, I did something I rarely do and wore it again the next day! hehe.
Yes, that is a fish hanging on the wall behind me. It’s Sailor Husbands from when his ship went on deployment several years ago. He bought it at one of the stateside ports they stopped in before going overseas. My mother in law told me that if I wanted to marry her son, I had to take the fish–which was being stored in her garage–and actually hang it in our apartment! hehe! So it’s now in our family room, over top one of the bookcases. Goes well with my eclectic/curiosity shoppe style decorating!
What outfits or particular garments have been adding some delight to your daily outfits this week? Bonus points for photos!
Oh my, oh my, oh my! You all are so fantastic–I have spent a good chunk of time this morning going through all your lovely blogs you posted here! Do be sure to check them out, if you haven’t already. Links galore! Thank you for responding to my little request with such enthusiasm!. Now on to the purpose of this post…
I recently received an email from a lovely gal who had a question about creating a healthy vintage look. She explained that she does the “classic vintage” makeup: black eyeliner, red lips, neutral eye shadow, etc. While this look is very striking (and certainly the most recognizable of the vintage looks!), she said she that sometimes when she sported the look, it was too severe for her coloring: she felt that it pulled all the natural blush from her face!
Which got me thinking that it would be good to share some of the tips I emailed her, with you all! I definitely love the look that classic 1940s makeup tends towards, but like some, I’ve struggled with balancing the high contrast colors with my naturally pale skin. So here are a handful of tips that I hope will be helpful!
[ part 2 ]
Powder: Like many fair gals, I tended towards using a light setting powder over my foundation–usually a translucent or similarly light shade. The downside is that over an already pale foundation (I am usually one of the first couple of lightest shades), it makes me look even paler–sometimes freakishly so! I have started using a setting powder that is a shade or two darker–usually somewhere in the medium range. It still sets my powder, doesn’t make my face unmatched to the rest of me, but keeps from washing my coloring out. I still keep a translucent powder on hand for things other than my face (like setting foundation/concealer over scars).
Bronzer: Bronzer has become my BFF in the past six months! It sometimes has gotten a bad rap in the vintage community (for good reason: it tends to be very dark and looks too modern with many vintage looks), but I think if you find the correct shade for your skin tone and use it properly, it can add a lovely, healthy glow to your face! Currently, I’m using a generic bronzer I found at Ulta last year; it’s very light and has a bit of shimmer to it. I have also spied some fantastic shades in Wet ‘n Wild’s line up, and of course a trip to your favorite makeup counter (or a recon mission to Sephora!) would be a good bet too. It blends well with my natural color, but adds a sunkissed look. I apply it with an angled blush brush right underneath my check bones, contouring my face a bit, and blending up to the hairline. A smidgen applied to the temples and forehead with a fluffy blush brush, and a dab underneath my lower lip (for an added pouty-mouth look), usually does the job! The trick is applying it where the sun would naturally add some color to your face, and using a light touch.
Blush: I always use blush when I use a medium to full coverage foundation, or a vintage look. Everyone needs a blush with a different undertone; I usually go for ones that are a light, peachy pink. Applied to the apples of the cheeks (and blended into the bronzer, if used), it adds another little bit of a “natural glow”.
Eye Shadow: One of the most popular 1940s or 50s looks uses a pale base (white or slightly off whites seem to be the most used), a dark neutral (usually taupe or browns) in the crease, with a highlight color below the brow. I use this as a basic guideline for my daily look, but have found a few things that help warm the look up. For a base, I use a warm cream or a very pale pink matte; currently this is M.A.C.’s Yogurt shadow. Over that, I will use a bit of a medium pink, mauve, or rose in the crease before the taupe/brown. Layered underneath, this really looks quite like a natural, rosy blush to your eyes–very flattering! Then the darker crease color is applied and blended well with the pink/rose/mauve. For the highlight, I always use a cream or pale pink-based highlight. White just doesn’t work on me! My favorites are Rimmel’s Moonstone and M.A.C.’s Naked Lunch. These shadows have a bit more color to them, and thus don’t pull as much out of my face!
Lips: You know I love a good, red lip! But some days–especially if I feel my makeup contrasts a bit too much to suit a strong lip. So I’ll tone it down a bit with a lighter red or dark pink pencil layered under red lipstick. This won’t work on every shade of red, but I’ve found with many of the blue-based lip colors, it is a great way to add some pink or soften the red.
I know many of these tips are probably old hat for some, but I hope they were helpful for others!
I hope you all won’t mind if I don’t post anything terribly interesting today. I’m very tired after several late nights the past few days (staying up to keep Sailor Husband company while he finished writing and editing a 25 page research paper!), and don’t feel terribly awake or witty today. Rather, I think I’d like to catch up on emails and comments, edit some videos for my YouTube channel, listen to some audio books and podcasts, and spend a good chunk of time sewing. I bought fabric this weekend, and it’s calling my name…
However, I have a little task for you! I have lately been trying to go through my comments and visit all your lovely blogs (and be bowled over at the amazing, talented bunch you are!!!). I’m so awful about visiting blogs listed in the comments; mostly because I often don’t have the time, and they’re scattered across so many posts. But I’d love for this to be a formal “show my your blog!” post; so go ahead and comment with your blog’s url–I’d love to see it!
Hello, my dears! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. We’re still in the midst of the long, holiday weekend here, and I’ve been enjoying spending time with Sailor Husband and doing some pattern drafting!
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I was going through some files on my computer, and came across a stash of pages I had scanned from some of my vintage magazines, so I thought I’d share a couple of my favorites with you! These are from April 1950, and embody one of the looks I love most from this point in the decade: a soft, romantic, feminine look. The lady-like colors, details and draping–I would just love to own a vintage dress like any of these! (Or make one…) The bolero-dress has stolen my heart though: I love the cut of the jacket and the textured lace bodice. And the matching belt. Belts that match the dress fabric kill me… they really do. One of the many things I love about vintage styles!
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We won’t even go into the shoes at the bottom right hand corner of each page. Or the fact that the second image has my idea of perfect summertime footwear. If only I weren’t 59 years too late! lol!
