The Everyday Pinup Girl

My Vintage Vanity Part 1

2013-01-07T11:41:00.001-08:00

This is a sugar bowl. I love that it has magnolias on it.

Some of my favorite vintage items are vanity items. I remember going to my Aunt Shirley's house and playing in her glass powder container with giant puff. My Aunt Donna also always had lots of glass bottles of perfume and lotions on her vanity and in her bathroom. My mother's vanity too, was covered in jars and bottles and while the vanity now resides with my sister and the bottles and jars have all long since been disposed of, I am still enthralled by glass canisters of lotions and big powder puffs. So, I'm going to share with you how I manage to give my vanity this feel without actually having to own any vintage vanity items. (I mean I do own many vintage items but here is how I fake some of them.)

I love the brand Tocca for perfume and lotion. The actual jar shown here is how the sell their lotion... I love it, it's so creamy and light that a little goes really far and the smells are just decadent. Also, I get a lovely glass jar- that I can fill with whatever I want when I'm done with the lotion. Also, the round box next to the glass jar is the box it came in... which I filled with my Lush foot powder (so my feet don't sweat in my stocking.) I simply bought a cheap drugstore powder puff for about $3.50 and voila!

I did a similar thing with my regular body powder using a sugar bowl I thrifted from a local junk shop. Sorry, I'm not one for vintage plastic- I think they look a little cheap for me... too dimestore. I like the luxury of glass and the vintage one's online were exorbitantly priced and mostly plastic, the shapes reminded so much of a sugar bowl that I just went to my local thrift shop and snapped one up for about $2.50. Cleaned it up really well, dumped the the powder inside and bought a drugstore powder puff.

A few years ago I found a lovely bathroom vanity set on clearance at Anthropologie. A three piece set of a water cup "Eau" and soap dish and a covered jar shown to the left in unglazed white porcelain. They are in an elegant Art Nouveau style. Very '20's and 30's.

I keep cotton balls in the "Beaute" jar, my jewelry on the soap dish (as if I'd put soap on it! HA!) and my makeup brushes in the water cup "Eau." This on my vanity paired with my Tocca perfume bottle hearkens back on day long past of luxury and style. It certainly beats plastic containers, plastic bottles, and plastic pump top items with ugly pictures of legs and such on them.

Modern Vanity and jewelry fits right in with my Vintage watch.

My perfume is Giulietta by Tocca and my makeup
brushes are a combination of Victoria's Secret and
Sephora's store brand brushes.

The jewelry pictured is: a vintage watch from the 1930's that was my Aunt's, a Tiffany's Palomo Picasso heart ring in silver that I received for Christmas and my Tiffany's necklace that I received for my birthday. Tiffany's is always welcome in my book, vintage or not, jewelry from this classic store doesn't lose it's value and is always in style, plus I feel that it added to the class of my photos. I have lots more vanity items that are garage sale finds and I'll share those in a later post, most of those however, actually are vintage items and I wanted this post to be more about how I fake vintage.

Twice Baked Shepherd's Pie Potatoes

2013-01-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I was watching Paula Deen... who I am in love with, and I saw her husband making Deluxe Twice Baked Potatoes with Shrimp. I haven't been able to erase it from my mind since. I'm obsessed. Unfortunately, the boyfriend doesn't really enjoy shrimp... so I decided to take a recipe he DID like and roll it into Mrs. Deen and her husband, Michael's magnificent looking recipe.

Things you'll need:

4 large baking potatoes baked (I prick mine with a fork, rub olive oil on it and bake it at 350 for about an hour)

1/2 cup Sour Cream (I also added a tbsp of Mayo but it isn't necessary)
milk for texture
1 green onion
2-3 Tbsp. butter or margarine

Meat Mixture:
Approx 1lb hamburger/ground turkey (I had 1.23 lbs so I just made an extra ramekin of Shepherd's Pie)
1-2 cups beef stock
2-3 tbsp. flour
1/2 small yellow or spanish onion diced
2 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
Tabasco, salt, pepper, and garlic to taste (Trust me on the hot sauce!)
1/2 cup favorite veggies

6-8oz. Cheddar Cheese (I used both shredded and deli sliced because I had both in the fridge and I'm lazy)

Step 1:Bake the four potatoes after pricking with a fork and rubbing in olive oil in a 350 oven for approximately an hour. When they are cool enough, cut a trough in the top and scoop it out into a bowl. (Paul Deen's husband taught me that.)

Step 2: Cook hamburger and onion in pan using beef stock to keep it from sticking (I use really lean beef), then add 1 tbsp. flour at a time until you have a gravy going (add more stock as needed.) Then once you've got a nice brown gravy in your meat add the Worcestershire sauce and salt, pepper, garlic and Tabasco to taste. (I used 1 tsp salt, 3 tsp garlic, 1/2 tsp pepper, and 3 good shakes of Tabasco.) Tabasco and Worcestershire Sauce go together like peas and carrots. OH MAN! You can also add 1/2 a cup of veggies if you desire. I added 1/2 cup frozen peas.

Step 3: Make mashed potatoes. I add about 2 oz. shredded cheddar, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2-3 tbsp. butter, 1 green onion chopped and mix it with a mixer using milk to thin it to the texture I prefer. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Step 4: STUFF IT!
Fill potato 3/4 full with meat mixture, then stack some cheese (I used 1 slice of sliced deli cheese but you can do whatever you want), lastly, go ahead and pile on the mashed potatoes and top with some of the remaining cheese. and place in a greased baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy! BE CAREFUL THESE PUPPIES GET HOT!

Now for the food porn...

I was able to make two ramekins worth of Shepherd's pie from the extra potatoes and meat mix.

These were so good that boyfriend devoured 2 of them... Let me know if you try them!!

Stocking and Thigh Highs and Tights, OH MY!

2013-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Stockings and Thigh Highs and Tights, OH MY!

Many modern women do not know the difference between the different hosiery, so today I'm doing a special little lesson in Lycra education.

Fishnet Pantyhose

Pantyhose

(Also known as Tights in the UK) are sheer, close-fitting legwear, covering the body from the waist to the feet. (Thank you, Wikipedia) Serving as a combination of "hose" and panties.

Tights

(In the United States) tend to be thicker or even opaque versions of pantyhose

Leggings

Basically they are tights that do not cover the feet- great for greaser events if they are VERY opaque.

Thigh Highs

These are the stockings made with a stretchy material that (supposedly) do NOT require garters to hold them up. Sometimes they have a rubbery plastic inside the top to
"grip" them to the thighs and almost always have some form of extra elastic at the top of them.

Stockings

Much like thigh highs but with formed feet and no elastic at the top. They must have a garter belt or garters to hold them up. They come in many colors and styles and are the way women were wearing them until the 1960's. These are my favorite even though during performances I will usually opt for pantyhose or fishnets.

**Fully Fashioned Stockings**

These are stockings which are sewn up the back creating a seam... however today most are one piece of fabric with a mock seam up the back. They also come in both Cuban and French heels, which are a reinforced section on the heel area. The difference between the two is in the shape on the heel, Cuban heels have a rectangular detail on the heel and French heels have a triangular of pointed detail on the back of the heel.

Here is my personal opinion on each:

Pantyhose/tights are great for performing in and for giving a complete reshaped contour of the body. Good for wiggle dresses, when it drops below freezing, and they cover up cellulite in the upper reaches of the legs and buttocks... and in some cases the stomach as well. Bad for sexy stripteases (where everything is coming off), hygiene (they hold heat and moisture to places that don't need either), and enticing men - they don't notice them.

Thigh highs are awesome in theory but they have never worked out for me, if your thigh is NOT the same size as your knee then they probably won't work for you either. They tend to create a weird indent in the thigh on anyone who isn't a Victoria's Secret model and if you are overweight- don't even consider them because the will be the bane of your existence.

Stockings are my favorite- when purchased in the right size they are alluring and sexy and fun. They do keep your legs warm but provide "air" in the upper area of your body, they are not hot, itchy, and they do not run easily (unless you have sharp talons). I've had stockings last me up to 3 years being worn at least 4x a month and washed by hand before they got a run in them. Quite often they peek out of clothing and everyone men and women alike are intrigued and drawn to the site of them. They do not provide reshaping however and garters can cause strange lines under very tight clothing so keep that in mind.

**On a closing thought, I find many people confuse garters and garter belts and I, myself, quite often refer to my garters... when in fact I'm referring, in actuality to my garter belt's straps. Garter belts go around your waist and have tabs/snaps/straps that connect to your stockings to hold them up and garters are pieces of fabric that are either elastic or tie around your upper leg to hold your stockings up (tying them around your leg is old school... like Marie Antoinette and George Washington old school.) For a long time women would attach their stockings to straps attached to their corsets or girdles, but in the early 20th Century the garter belt was invented and it spurred women in the 1920's to do away with corsetry all together and opt for shorter hair and skirts.**

Jeepers, Creepers, Where'd you get THOSE peepers?

2013-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Jeepers, Creepers! Where'd You Get Those Peepers?

Today I am going to do a review on false lashes. I happen to know more about false eyelashes than your everyday gal- since I wear them ALL THE TIME. Before reading this you should be made aware that they are addictive and once you go big you can't go back!

Some EXTREMELY long eyelashes of mine

I use strip lashes as they work the best for me. I've used many brands and I'm here to tell you that the two that stick out are Makeup Foreverhttp://www.sephora.com/ and Mattese http://www.rickysnyc.com/.

Makeup Forever has AMAZING eyelash glue hold-wise BUT the application can be messy and it stains clothes (I dripped some on a black costume skirt and now it looks like it came out of Monica Lewinsky's closet.)

I have two sets by Makeup Forever. #25115 are pink at the lid line and about half-way down the lash they become black with little decorative tips.

http://www.makeupforever.com/products/eyes/artistic-false-lashes/artistic-eyelashes-25115.html

#25116- are a dark heavy black feathered lash- great for when you need to look dangerous.

http://www.makeupforever.com/products/eyes/artistic-false-lashes/artistic-eyelashes-25116.html

I find that Makeup Forever's eyelashes are very high quality- great for multiple uses (I reuse them for MONTHS) easy to apply but not as easy to trim, especially the feather ones as cutting the inner tip dramatically changes the effect of the lashes. I would recommend just starting on the inner corner of the eye and extending beyond the lash line if need be- don't trim them at all if you can avoid it. Their eyelashes cost between $10.00 and $22.00 a set.

On to Mattese Eyelashes.

These are my favorite. They are inexpensive (between $7.00- $14.00 a set)

however not all of them come with eye lash glue. I have so many pairs of these I don't know where to begin but I will share two of my favorite lashes they make.

This set is very Marylin Monroe and I wear these for regular appearances in and around the city. They are clearly false lashes and I really love them. They provide a heavy lidded look and give that smoldering temptress her bedroom eyes.

http://www.rickysnyc.com/beauty-makeup-products/false-eye-lashes/lashes-party-11.html

Me wearing Mattese lashes

These lashes are super fun- though can be a little uncomfortable if they are put on wrong- they are stiffer than some of the other models. I am wearing these in my profile picture both here on blogger and in my pinup set on my facebook page.

http://www.rickysnyc.com/beauty-makeup-products/false-eye-lashes/lashes-party-13.html

I find that Mattese's lashes are a little more cost effective and last just as long (they even have VERY similar styles to Makeup Forever) for me they are easier to get as there is a Ricky's on every other corner here in New York City but you can always order them online from Ricky's (which if you don't know about Ricky's, it's a Mecca for drag queens, strippers, burlesque dancers, and rockabillys.) They carry both natural and crazy lashes... though I say, go big or go home- everyone knows that your eyelashes are not that long or full or well curled so you may as well live it up.

As far a glue goes- buy a tube of both clear and black from DUO (it's the best glue I've used.) I rarely use the black but it can be great if you are doing a jet black eye or very dark makeup near the lash line however, I suggest using the clear until you are a lash master.

How to put on false lashes:

Before you begin put your eye makeup on. It's easier to adjust eye makeup once the lashes are on rather than attempting to create a look from scratch- that's my opinion everyone is different, only experimentation will help you.

When you pull the strip off the plastic mold remember to pull from one end (not the middle, you don't want to accidentally put a kink or break in your lashes) and smoothly peel them off their holder. Even though it is sticky you must still use glue, even if they say they are self adhesive, you must still use glue- the tacky stuff they use to stick it to the plastic WILL NOT hold it to your eye.

Put a very thin strip of glue on the part of the eyelash you are placing above (for the top and below if you are using bottom lashes as well) your lash line. Allow it to get tacky BEFORE putting it on your eye. You have to let eyelash glue cure before attaching it to your eye.

Once the glue is ready (anywhere from 30-60 seconds or so for me) start on the inner part of your lash line where you want the lashes and gently press them on (I use the handle of a makeup brush to hold it place) and follow the lash line all the way across the eye to the outer corner. Starting from the inside of the eye and moving outward gives you more control on where the lashes are situated and allows you to decide if you need to trim them and which end you should trim from. Hold it in place a minute and then if they are satisfactory do it on the other eye. Voila! Beautiful false lashes!

Don't be afraid to wear big lashes, or colorful lashes. They are fun and easy to wear and once you know the tricks can really bring an outfit to life- a femme fatale, an innocent anjenu, a doe-eyed sock hopper, or that smoldering temptress we talked about earlier.

Liebster Blog Award

2013-01-03T13:32:00.001-08:00

The Liebster Blog Award

My fellow blogger at 2aussiemammas

has nominated The Everyday Pinup Girl

for a Liebster Blog Award!

The Liebster Blog Award is given

to up and coming bloggers who

have less than 200 followers.

“Liebster” is German for “favorite.”

Here are the rules of the award:

Each person must post 11 things about themselves.

Answer the 11 questions the tagger has set for you.

Create 11 questions for the people you’ve tagged to answer.

Choose 11 people and link them in your post.

Go to their page and tell them.

Remember no tag backs!

Eleven Facts:

1. I love pickles.
2. I have nightmares about dinosaurs.
3. I hate Katy Perry... and I love Katy Perry.
4. I can make damn near anything from scratch.
5. I love to use my stand mixer and sewing machine.
6. I suck at frosting cakes.
7. My favorite band is No Doubt... still.
8. I love patent leather. I just love shiny things.
9. I have 8 piercings.
10. My favorite thing to eat is Tacos. I can literally eat them for every single meal.
11. I hate movies that take place in space (with the exception of the Fifth Element because more than half takes place on Earth) ... it's inexplicable but I have no attention span for it.

Eleven Responses:

1. If you could change one event in history what would it be?

Marilyn Monroe dying from an overdose. I think she has more fabulous things inside of her to do yet.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Last month... because I got overwhelmed by Christmas.

3. What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I moved to New York City and then 6 years later I decided to go on one of it's stages and strip.

4. What do you consider the three biggest drawbacks of your personality?

I waver in my decisions, I get easily overwhelmed, I move on from things too quickly.

5. What do you consider the three biggest positives of your personality?

I'm positive, diplomatic, and flexible.

6. What was your relationship like with your parents when you were growing up?

They were definitely my parents as opposed to being my friends but we got along well. I got all the time a girl could ask for to be a kid.

7. What movie could you watch over and over?

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. I do watch it over and over and I can't explain it so don't ask... also Empire Records, Hidalgo, and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

8. What is your idea of the perfect 24 hours?

Massage in the morning followed by a champagne breakfast, then getting my hair and nails done and meeting up with some of my girls for crafts/drinks/lunch, then going to the theatre dressed to the nines with my beau and going to a lovely dinner and dancing afterwards... followed by some naughty after hours entertainment at a burlesque club and then at home too.

9. Have you ever had a supernatural or psychic experience?

Yes, I have them all the time.

10.What is your view on the death penalty?

I think that life in prison is far more cruel than the death penalty.

11. Why do you blog?

To share my knowledge and thoughts about the things I'm interested in.

Eleven Blogs

1. http://the-dandy-life.com/

2. http://shimmypolediary.blogspot.com/

3. http://nastycanastaburlesque.blogspot.com/

4 . http://veronicavintage.wordpress.com/

5. http://apinupextraordinaire.blogspot.com/

6. http://missmagpiemusings.blogspot.com/

7. http://pinup-life.blogspot.com/

8. http://thepinupsweetshoppe.blogspot.com/

9. http://planetpinupshop.wordpress.com/

10. http://www.ladyofvintage.com/

11. http://peekaboopointe.blogspot.com/

Eleven Questions

1. What is your favorite place to shop online?

2. Favorite perfume?

3. What is something you regret?

4. Describe you dream vacation.

5. What are your thoughts on booties?

6. Paris or Rome? Why?

7. What is your favorite meal?

8. How do you feel about Vegetarianism?

9. What was your favorite book when you were a kid?

10. Coffee or Tea?

11. What is the most disgusting thing you've ever eaten?

Beauty in the Kitchen: Cocoa Coffee Face Mask

2013-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

As part of my 2013 resolutions I'm going to attempt to keep up with my blog. I realize that I suck at staying on task and it's a shame because I have so many things to share with the online pinup community. So, today we begin the new year with a lovely face mask that you can make with the stuff in your refrigerator.

THE COCOA COFFEE FACE MASK

I found this recipe online a few years ago though I no longer remember where I got it from but I've adjusted it and become married to certain ingredients so I guess it's my version now. This recipe makes about 2-3 masks for the face or can be doubled for a mask for your body if that is your desire.

2 tablespoons espresso or finely ground coffee

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa (not hot cocoa mix...)

4 tablespoons PLAIN greek yogurt (I use non-fat because that's what I eat but you can use full fat)

1 tablespoon honey

I find that fresh coffee is preferable to coffee grounds but you can use either. I put the dry ingredients together first and mix them.

Then add in your Greek yogurt and honey. I use Greek yogurt because it make a thicker, less messy paste. If you are using regular yogurt mix it 1 tbsp. at a time until it's the consistency you want. I like mine like cake frosting. That way it doesn't drip onto everything I own.

Smear it all over your face and attempt not to get it onto EVERYTHING. I know my picture is low quality but I couldn't resist showcasing my amazing chihuahua wanting to be in the picture. My hand is preventing her from actually licking my face... this face mask is NOT meant for puppy ingestion... in fact it's toxic to them so do not feed this face to any animals. No matter how badly they want to eat it.

Let it dry... (It takes about 20-30 minutes- but you should know... I cheat and sit in front of a fan. Ha Ha Ha!)

DON'T SCRUB IT OFF! The coffee granules could scratch up your face so please just hop in the shower and rinse it off using your hands. You can also soak a wash cloth and let it sit on your face to loosen the mask but I'm no non-sense and just bypass extra work by taking a shower. There will be no photo of me in the shower.

This should make your skin glow, ( please ignore my acne... a lot of candy, cookies, cake and chocolate happened in the last month and has wrecked havoc on my face... hence why I'm putting a face mask on it) the caffeine in the coffee and cocoa powder brighten the skin. If you use this on your body it can also combat cellulite- not permanently, sorry. Caffeine stimulates blood flow and that can reduce the appearance of cellulite and puffiness.

My face is super soft, less puffy, and my skin is tighter and firmer and I'm about to put some moisturizer on it to protect it.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Vintage Boozehound: Rum

2012-07-28T06:42:00.000-07:00

Rum, the drink that makes us think of Pina Colada's and Bahama Mama's. This liquor is the star of the tropical drink scene and for those of us the profoundly dislike sugary sweet drinks rum seems to be off the table.

Bat Symbol at the Bacardi Factory

Recently, I traveled to Puerto Rico, Bacardi Central. I tried a sugary cocktail and immediately regretted it. It was more like a slushy and it made me sleepy. So my next drink was a Mojito- not too bad, better than the ones here in NYC with two thousand half crushed mint leaves that constantly get in my way. I decided to ask my lovely boyfriend if he wanted to tour the Bacardi factory, he thought it sounded fun so the next morning we decided to head out via taxi.

Hospitality area of Bacardi Factory in Puerto Rico, designed
in the 1960's

Upon pulling up we were ushered to the hospitality area where we signed up for the English Speaking tour which started in 20 minutes and were given a batch of free drink tickets. The bar was empty so I moseyed up and asked the bartender, "Do you have a drink that doesn't involve a daiquiri, punch, or Cola?" He said, "You can mix it with club soda." Ew! I thought, but it was a free drink so I might as well try it and I heart club soda so it can't be that bad. So I perused all the flavors. Limon, Coconut, Melon, Green Apple- blah blah blah... wait, Torched Cherry? Rock Coco? What are these?

I chose Torched Cherry. It was like a Cherry soda. No joke. Without the brown stuff. It was probably the most delicious thing I drank in a very long time. It smelled so good and tasted so refreshing. The Man decided to have a Rum Punch (meh) then he tried my drink, and the look of surprise on his face was PRICELESS. "That's really good!"

Then it was time for the tour. I learned all about rum and how it's made and how Bacardi invented the process by which we now enjoy modern rum. The reason we have light rum is because this rich guy was bored and decided to tinker around with the process of distilling rum. I'm pleased to announce that I've never been more pleased with a the product of someone's boredom. I learned about the bat symbol and how it came to be part of Bacardi. They had bats in their first facility and they would constantly chase them out of there, but Mrs. Bacardi brought up the suggestion that they have a symbol on their labels since many people at the time could not read and this would ensure to them that they were getting Bacardi's rum. So they chose the Bat and now it's the most popular rum in the world.

I created this post not to teach everyone about Bacardi, but to revive an interest in this classic liquor. It was VERY popular in the 1950's, and for any pinup party rum should make it's appearance but modern tastes don't always coincide with vintage cocktails. This is just a way to spark interest and conversation about this under-utilized gem and encourage you to head down and grab a bottle. Cheers!

Curlers

2012-07-27T15:24:00.004-07:00

I'm in the middle :) I used a dry/wet set for this

Ok. I've been really busy- so busy I haven't even booked a show BUT I do have news, I now live with a man. With that said I'm trying to come back and be better at my bloggery. So let's talk about the most vintage hair item that can be found everywhere- CURLERS!

Vintage Table Top Bonnet Dryer

Which curlers should you use? Wire curlers? Foam rollers? Flocked rollers? Velcro rollers? Soft Rollers? Rag Rolling? Ack! What's best for my hair? How should I use them? So very many questions! I would say, flat out, that it's kind of a trial and error situation. I would suggest asking your hair stylist and then going with their suggestion first but opening yourself up for experimentation, you can even make an appointment with them and ask them to show you how to set your hair. I'm not familiar with every form of rollers but I will share what I do know.

Types of Rollers:

Bonnet Dryer

Velcro rollers are best for curly hair as a tool for controlling the curl. My hair is pin straight and the velcro rollers are a joke for my hair- wet set or not.

Wire Rollers are great for most types of hair but especially for hair when it doesn't like to dry for hours on end. I use these with a setting spray and a bonnet dryer. (These are cheap at hair supply store, or you can really invest and buy a standing dryer.)

Foam Rollers are the most commonly seen and the can be the most frustrating, they need 8-10 hours to dry, minimum, without a dryer. with a dryer it's still a very long wait- 45 to 60 minutes (at least this has been my experience.)

Hot Rollers are good for most hair types but you have to experiment between the different types of hot rollers and the different settings this will require about 10-20 minutes to heat up depending on your set and anywhere from 20-40 minutes to completely cool off.

Personally, I use a combination of curlers.

Now, you need to determine how much time you actually have. If you are planning on eating pizza and watching Casablanca before you tuck into your canopy bed in silk P.J.'s then I'd do a full wet set. If you planning to zip home after a burlesque show and have 15 minutes to set your hair before catapulting yourself into bed then I'd do a dry to wet set (this is also great for maintenance during the week if you want to keep your curls.) And if you have an hour to get ready before work then I'd do a dry set.

For my wet set:

Traditional Foam Rollers

First you need wet hair with a setting spray/gel combed through it. I use a Chi spray cut with water, it's just a little something in the hair to hold it. Then I towel dry it so it isn't TOO wet (sometimes foam rollers take A LONG time to dry) towel dry it and then if it's a little too dry when you are rolling it up just spray it with some water.
Then you put in your rollers. I use foam rollers around the top of my head and wire rollers on the very top. (This makes it more comfy for sleeping.) Make sure you don't put too much hair in your roller, the piece of hair should not be wider or thicker than the roller. This is key! I use smaller rollers on the top of my head and let them get fatter as they creep towards the nape of the neck. The only way to really understand the best set for your head is experimentation. I start with my bangs and travel around my head, then I do the next layer down and then the next. This is much easier if you have layered hair.

For my dry to wet set:

Wire Rollers

Take your dry hair and create your part where you want it. Then take your setting spray and just mist your dry hair until it's damp and then roll it. Then either let it air dry if you have the time (1-3 hours) or sit under a dryer (less than an hour, depending on your hair.)
*Wire rollers dry much faster than foam. If you have the time during the day you can do the whole head in wire rollers and sit under an at home dryer and use a dry/wet set I would not, however, suggest sleeping in them.

For my dry set:
I spray my hair very lightly with the Chi spray and water mix while I heat my hot rollers. I allow them to heat for at least 15 minutes, mine are old (from the early '90's) and are velvet flocked,. These are great because my fine spiderweb-ish hair will catch and stick to them but they also make ceramic ones and I've never used them...mostly because I already have a set that works for me so I never bothered buying another set. You need to always use a substance between your hair and any heat tool. Otherwise you are going to have fried frizzy hair. It also helps guide and control the hair onto the curler and hold the curl after it's been removed from the heat source.

I go ahead and spray it with a styling spritz once all the hair is up and then go about my day until the rollers are totally cool (about 20-30 minutes.) Ta-Da! Now it's ready to style.
.Next I pins for all, properly setting your hair, brush it out! washing secrets etc... victory rolls, finger wave best books to get the look you want.

If you do not have rollers then you can use a small barrel ceramic curling iron (remember your heat protection/curl setting spray you don't want to damage your hair) and then pin the curl next to the head and spray with hairspray (leave all these in for about 10 minutes or so- until your head is cool.)

Now that you've set your hair, choose a style and go to town!

Reconstruction of the Female Form

2011-06-16T15:39:00.000-07:00

So, my little backseat Betties, it's time for a quick breakdown of lingerie! ONE OF MY FAVORITE TOPICS! Since we already covered stockings in a previous post we're going to stick to more traditional lingerie. :) Specifically reshaping lingerie, I am not including bras or panties or lycra shapewear here. We can cover those later but these are going to be more fun!

Girdles, Merry Widows, and Corsalettes

What's the difference?

Girdle by Kiss Me Deadly

A Girdle is a form of shapewear used to firm the tummy and buttocks. It can come in many formats from a roll-on mesh skirt with garters to a more corseted look with boning and zipper or eyehooks. I have included a photograph of a vintage one that I own (I bought if from SHAG here in Williamsburg) and another photo of my favorite one from Kiss Me Deadly, a UK lingerie company

A Merry Widow by What Katie Did Lingerie

A Merry Widow is not necessarily shapewear. It does mimic a corset in that it shapes the stomach and bust and it covers the torso but only to the waist and may or may not have garters attached. They do not cover the hips and can be likened to a bustier, they usually zip shut and are not incredibly adjustable. I have one from Frederick's of Hollywood and it doesn't really shape me all that much. Here is one by What Katie Did LIngerie.

Me wearing a Victoria's Secret Corselette

A Corselette covers the entire torso serving as a bra and usually has garters that are attached. I wear mine with a wiggle dress that has a completely sheer top and no one's the wiser, plus it's a lot less clothing to have to deal with. I realize some people would only wear them in the bedroom... but wears the fun in that?(pun intended) It may or may not have eye hooks or a zipper. Here is me wearing one by Victoria's Secret in a photo shoot.

Corsets and Waist Cinchers

Waist Cincher by Vamps and Tramps

A Waist Cincher is a corset for your waist. It may come directly under the bust or merely around the waist and may. It may or may not lace up, it may or may not have boning, it may or may not have garters BUT they do shape the stomach area. Typically they don't support the bust. If you like the one on the right you can buy it at Vamps and Tramps Clothing. I personally am seriously digging the models hair.

Dark Garden Corsets

Corsets are one of the oldest forms of shapewear. Lacing up the front or back or both (usually the back laces up) and having a rigid piece of boning in the front, known as the busk. They can be decorative as the one I'm wearing is or waist-training meaning that they are worn constantly to shrink the waist and once the waist attains that shape a smaller edition will be sported. A real corset can shrink the average waist up to 4 inches... some people can only lace it to three others can lace it super tight and lose 5 inches or more off their natural waist. Everyone is different. Sizing corset can be difficult and you should check your sizing with the manufacturer/designer. Some of my favorites are Dark Garden Corsetry, Corset Story, Orchard Corset and Etsy. I personally don't recommend EBay for this adventure... Typically if you have a 30" waist you'd buy a 28" waist corset... so when laced there is space in the lacing (which there should be) and you're waist is 2"- 4" smaller. BUT ONCE AGAIN, check with the manufacturer- not all corsets can handle that, nor all people for that matter.

Dita Von Teese in a Corset

Lacing them is another huge point of contention, mind you there IS a correct way to do it. I'm putting Orchard Corset's video regarding lacing yourself into a corset at the end of this post. Also, remember that (especially if you are performing or wearing a corset long-term) only YOU or a PROFESSIONAL should be tight-lacing you - if you are tight-lacing, other people should not be lacing you into a corset as they may lace you too tightly and tie off the ribbon where you can't untie it. However, anyone you wish may unlace you...

WWII style Sweetheart Rings Make My Heart Race

2011-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

WWII Sweetheart Rings by Fancy Sexy Me and I am in serious lust for these bad boys. They are delicate looking and in my opinion very clever, being able to worn individually (photo to the right) or together (pictured below.) Stacking so that the heart is protected and encased by the clasped hands... OH SO ROMANTIC.

According to the blurb about them they are sweetheart rings inspired by WWII when soldiers would give these to their girls stateside so that their love could be felt over the vast seas between the two. I told you it was romantic. They are available at SHAG in Williamsburg Brooklyn if you are a local and can also be ordered online from SHAG or through the original designer's site fancy sexy me http://fancysexyme.com/. These make me want a Naval Officer- or perhaps just one to kiss in the street...

Jean Harlow in Red Headed Woman 1932

2011-06-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Red Headed Woman

First off, I LOVE this movie. It was made before the MPAA developed decency rules and the rating system so it's chock of full of early and mid 1930's promiscuity, which Jean Harlow was renowned for. Consequently it is also full of awesome costumes, which I have taken upon myself to share with you. This movie is rarely shown but so far is my FAVORITE Jean Harlow flick. You can buy it at Turner Classic Movies website or rent it through netflix as I did on the Forbidden Hollywood Collection. I'm posting this, not to review the movie, but to show you the look of the 1930's and how it can be translated into everyday wear.

First thing to note is her hair- this is a classic fingerwave and done properly can last for many days sometimes even up to a week. You tube has videos to assist you, there are books on vintage hair (which I will be reviewing a little later in the week) and many states require this skill to become a hairdresser- if you feel like spending the cash go get your hair set professionally. I always suggest the latter to start off with paying close attention, asking questions, inquiring how you can maintain it at home and how to set it yourself. You'd be amazed at the information hair dressers want to share with you and a good one wants you to be happy with your hair. Long hair poses a slight issue but at the time the ladies would just pin it up in the back to make it look short. This was when America was still coming out of the 20's when page boy haircuts and bobs were all the fashion.

Second, I would like to point out the fur trim. I know, I know, fur is bad! I don't personally support the fur industry but I do have a fur coat that was my Great Aunt's and have been given vintage furs as gifts. I don't really want to encourage you to buy real fur trim but to each his own. Thrift stores, EBay and other furrier's are great places to find both vintage and modern, both fur and faux fur trim for your coats, capes, gloves, etc. High end fabric stores will also likely have quite a faux fur and real fur selection that you can altar yourself for custom fittings. Your imagination is the limit here. Every fur piece Jean Harlow wears in this film detaches from the coat or cape or hat that it's attached to, it's rather impressive. If you look at the image to the left you'll notice the very long and fuzzy fur on her hat and cape- well, that fur on her cape is actually attached to the top of her gloves, of which she has on two pairs, one fingerless and opera length and the other pair short day gloves worn over the fingerless ones with the fur attached creating a couture look.

Third, take a look at the structure of her clothes. Note that they are actually structured and almost mimic an art deco feel- they are a little more angled yet form fitting. No wonder clothes from this era are hard to find in good condition, I would never have wanted to take any of these OFF! Quite often recreating this is simply adding some buttons to a pencil skirt and ruffle or a large bow to full sleeved jacket. Her hats are also well thought out and usually match her outfit completely- along with her gloves- in both textures and structure. They are angled or have the same fur type and more than likely are the same color as well, though because it's black and white we may never be too certain with that. What I find so intriguing about these outfits is that this was in the middle of the Great Depression so most of America wasn't wearing these styles, they were wearing cotton gowns and leftover clothes from the late '20's, but these fashions will be more fun to imitate.

The make-up is standard 1930's, a smoky lid with a darker lip and probably false lashes or least plenty of mascara and high thin Vaselined eyebrows. Here is a web page showing how women wore their make up in the 1930's 1930's Makeup Guide. Jean Harlow was known for her bedroom eyes and her platinum blonde hair as well as her very attractive frame.

Consequently, most of the shots of this film cut off at the legs so you can 't really see her shoes, but whenever they did pop into frame they were lower heeled (maybe 2-3 inches) and usually had straps with a slightly triangular or gently pointed toe. Here is an example of a 1930's shoes. Also, this blog has some great photos from LIFE magazine displaying many 1930's celebrity's shoes. http://glamourdaze.blogspot.com.

Jean Harlow was taken from the world too soon at the age of 26 but her memory lives on in her films which, for the era in which they were made, really pushed the envelope regarding women's sexuality. I have to say though, I wish I could have seen what she looked like with red hair, because I'm 72% certain that they dyed it even though the film is in black and white. If you haven't seen it yet then check it out, she's a diabolical maven of deceit in this film and she's definitely a woman you love to hate.

Your Calling Card

2011-06-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

Calling cards were traditionally a way to let people know that you had stopped by their home while they were out. You had "Payed a Call" and then they could keep track of who had come to visit and reply in kind by visiting you, obviously this was before telephones and answering machines... and text messaging.

The modern equivalent is the "Business Card" but when you meet a new person- do you really want them to contact you at work? Or even to know where you work? Here is where the calling card comes in handy... it's simply a card with your name and for the modern pinup girl, her email address. I would leave my telephone number off of it because it's a lot easier to avoid any unwanted attentions via email than a stage 5 stalker blowing your cell phone. It is a personal as you allow it to be and frees you up to present it as many fashions as you can create. It can be a business contact, a new friend, a potential baby sitter/pet sitter, a hot man that you want to meet up with later or even just a way to network with people who are interested in the same activity as you. With your calling card your email address provides facebook/myspace lookup information, the proper spelling of your name (and what your name is in case they forget or misheard you) and a way to contact you. It's also classy, in my opinion. You don't have to do the awkward number swap- just hand them your card and smile, if you want them to have your number then write it on the card- TRUST ME they will remember you.

Etsy is a great place to find handmade and beautiful cards and at an affordable price. My roommate recently bought herself a set as she is a freelancer in film and a blogger of fashion/books/and personal style and she loves them (Champagne and Chiffon). My friends and I always talk about getting personal cards- not to promote our business or career ventures- but to promote ourselves. Here are some links to some of the dealers on etsy. I really like the cards at Paper Chased. Remember, you can put as little or as much information on your card as you wish- and what a lovely way to create a memory of you to a complete stranger that stays with them.

Pikake Press
Shop Inviting
When It Rains Shop
Paper Chased

Step Right Up! Come and See the Amazing Sideshow!

2011-06-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

Recently I've finished reading American Sideshow by Marc Hartzman. It's a lovely book chronicling the sideshow in it's heyday in the late 1800's through today. Broken into three sections: The Golden Age, The Silver Age, and the Modern Age of the sideshow. Sideshows traveled throughout the country with circuses and carnivals showing marvels to the masses that had never before been seen. The arrival of these performers, animals, and oddities was a treat for the whole community, bringing the rest of the world into their small communities. There are still traveling sideshows throughout the country the Jim Rose Circus, the Brothers Grim Sideshow, and of course the only remaining stationary sideshow in the United States Coney Island USA's Sideshow by the Seashore.

Brother's Grim Sideshow Photo

Yesterday, I actually attended the Sideshow by the Seashore and was very pleased to watch fire eating, climbing a ladder of swords, the human blockhead, the electric chair, an diminutive escape artist and bevy of other performances in a rotating one hour show along with a museum upstairs. If one of these comes to your town or you are in New York City and can make it to the Sideshow at Coney Island it is certainly worth the $10.00 entrance fee. There is also a museum upstairs for an extra dollar and film for an extra four dollars- in true sideshow spirit. Also, remember to bring some extra cash to tip the performers- this is how they make their living and between rents and NYC living expenses every dollar counts! Supporting this dying American art form is a real chance to step back into a time when the world was only limited by your imagination and an opportunity to experience the awe and excitement that our grandparents did.

Coney Island Circus Sideshow Poster

Pinup Self-Defense: How to Properly Slap Someone

2010-12-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today I am having a rough day. A co-worker of mine is a chauvinistic idiot and I've been fantasizing about slapping him (for years) and since I actually took a stage combat class I know how to properly sock someone in the jaw, without breaking my fingers on those lovely vintage rings. So here we go, "Pinup Self-Defense: Lesson 1."

#1. Keep your cool. If they know you are about to knock them into next week chances are they will prevent you- if they can. Reveal nothing, you are a stealthy tigress... don't forget.

#2. Delicately remove your glove from your right hand if you're a righty and your left hand if you're a lefty (this is important as you want the maximum damage.) Place it in your other hand (vintage gloves are expensive and pretty and you didn't buy them just to loose them in a street fight.)

#3. Widen your stance- balance, balance, balance... this is KEY! Particularly if you are in 5" heels- as I usually am.

#4. Make eye contact- you want to see the shock, anguish, and hopefully pain when you unleash the beast. And you want to have very straight aim- a missed face slap is the worst.

#5. Aim for the fat part of the cheek and keep your fingers pressed together (much like a paddle)- not so painful for them or you, however it makes an amazing sound! It'll crack and quite frankly we want that dramatic noise so that everyone in earshot knows that someone just slapped a total jerk who deserved it.

#6. Relax your shoulder and swing from it rather than your elbow - body mechanics- gotta love 'em. You don't want to injure yourself- you are injuring them. Get a good swing going as well, if you would like to rear back past the side of your body and throw your hip into then go right ahead.

#6. After you slap them, egress. Quickly. Use the silence and shock to get away.****

****If the person is as big a jerk as I would like to assume they are- you may be in for an all out brawl, so have your purse ready to beat them over the head, your heels ready to crush their feet and be ready to potentially be arrested- because it's totally possible. (Don't blame me if you slapped a Sheriff's Deputy and are going to prison- you have to weigh whether or not it's worth it- sometimes... it is worth it.)****

It's always a good idea to know how to do things properly and with style... this also extends to fighting. Besides, when you have that vintage classy sexpot look everyday you should really know how to defend yourself.

'Tis the Season

2010-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I just put up my Christmas decor and brought all the sweaters and egg nog because the season 'tis here. After putting up the tree and putting out the candy bowls, trimming the wreath and listening to carols it was egg nog time. And by egg nog I mean bourbon with splash of egg nog and milk in it (I use low fat milk so I don't overdo the high fat egg nog). I have a pair of lovely Budweiser flutes, I know it sounds strange but it's true, with the Clydesdales on them in their holiday regalia. The nog looked lovely in them.

Now is the time of year when many people will be in our homes, and to make them feel welcome it's important to have little things for them to enjoy. Bottles of wine, champagne, beer, and other spirits are a lovely addition to having guests over, and quite frankly can make it more bearable for everyone depending on the guest. As most of you who have watched Mad Men know- nothing beats a good bourbon in the house. I would suggest, for those of you who have no spirits, that you purchase a couple of staples. A good mixing rum (I just use Captain Morgan Spiced Rum), vodka (3 Olives is a great mixing vodka but I prefer Grey Goose as vodka is my favorite spirit) , and well known Whiskey or Bourbon. I prefer American- so a Jim Beam or a Jack Daniels are good choices others prefer Scotch or Irish Whiskey- MacCallan and Jameson are good options in that department. You should also keep a selection of mixers: Club Soda, Tonic, Ginger ale, Cola and Diet Cola. This way everyone can make SOMETHING that they would like to drink.

It's been my experience that women will gravitate to the vodka, low in calories and when paired with a club soda will not stain your clothes or teeth (remember this on New Years because nothing is worse than an expensive vintage dress with an expensive vintage on it that will NOT come out) and men will gravitate to the whiskey/bourbon. If you are stocking top shelf, it's in your best interest to play bartender/hostess otherwise your may find yourself with a Don Draper crawling across your living room with your irreplaceable vintage lampshade on his head and having to buy several bottles more just to get through the rest of the season.

As for treats, make things that are easy and not covered with gloppy frosting or filled with drippy cordials... while these may be delicious the chances of them being dropped on a vintage pillow or a throw that can't be laundered are astronomically increased. Also, they are just messy- if you make treats like that then package them up in a bag for people to take home so that the powdered sugar/sprinkles/frosting/syrup doesn't adorn you, your house, or your guests. It's also a lovely treat to send people home with a little something. Later this week I will post some delicious no-fuss no-muss dessert recipes for your holiday parties. So head to the store and then cozy up with a nice egg nog 'cause baby, it's cold outside...

Product Pinup Reviews

2010-11-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

"LUSH" SKIN

The first product I'm going to review are the massage bars by Lush.

First of all, I LOVE THEM. Many of them are Vegan and all of them are less than $12.00, most run about $9.95. They come in many shapes and fragrances (and some are even lickable, mmmmmm) and many have glitter in them (2 specifically, SHIMMY SHIMMY and GLITTERBUG, and I use those on stage). I have two at the moment.

I have the TUCA TUCA massage bar and the SHIMMY SHIMMY massage bar. Neither leaves a heavy fragrance on the skin for long and the skin absorbs both rather quickly- within 10 minutes. Make sure you "melt" it enough so it slides on easily and have a nice little tin for them (I use a vintage sugar bowl from an antique shop that I keep on my vanity.)

TUCA TUCA:

Smells like violets! "We blend seductive violet absolute with fresh rose petal infused cocoa butter and a hint of vanilla for a gorgeous floral bar."

I love it! Put in on after the shower by holding it between your hands for a few seconds (it gets slick FAST) then rub it everywhere! My skin is super soft and has a subtle fragrance about it, it hasn't stained anything (so far, but the purple TUCA TUCA writing on it does put a weird gray color on your skin until you rub it in REALLY well). It has radically changed my rough elbow situation- which was a great travesty but is now a soft and supple lovely elbow- which no lotion had managed to give me, and when you wear elbow-length gloves you should have nice elbows.

Cost: $7.95 a bar

To Buy the TUCA TUCA massage bar at www.Lush.com

SHIMMY SHIMMY

I use this on stage in lieu of body glitter- since they don't make it in a gel anymore and the sprays all smell like vanilla (hence why strippers leave a "trail of glitter and vanilla body wash" -it's the vanilla scented spray glitter). It's vanilla (ha ha ha- can't escape the vanilla/glitter pairing), lavender and Clary sage scented and leave great quantities of pink glitter on your skin. It says "a light glow" but I find that it's a bit more than that- and I love it. I would not personally use this to moisturize my skin because of the sheer volume of glitter in it it can be a little scratchy but it's so great for glittery skin that I don't want them to change a thing. (Just a note: GLITTERBUG, which was mentioned earlier, has purple glitter in it and is Neroli, Rose, and Vanilla scented.)

Cost: $6.95 a bar

To Buy the SHIMMY SHIMMY massage bar from www.Lush.com

Perfectly Poised Party Dip

2010-11-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Ah! Now for my very first entry... since it's Holiday Time I think I will put down my "Perfectly Poised Party Dip" Recipe. This is what I take to every single holiday event this time of year. It's delicious, cost effective, and is very little effort- so I can commit to curling my hair rather than cooking. This is always a hit, always the first dish gone, and everyone always thinks I spent a LOT of time on it. So on my stress scale of 1-10, 1 being sipping a cocktail and listening to smooth jazz and 10 consisting of going to do ANYTHING at the DMV, this ranks a 1. This dish can be made last minute with stuff that's usually in your fridge. Feel free to jazz it up and play with some spices but really you can't go wrong with a 3 ingredient recipe. Showing up with a dish like Martha Stewart and hair like Greta Garbo definitely makes you an everyday pinup.

Holiday Onion Dip

Ingredients

1 cup Vidalia Onions chopped
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Cheddar (or if you prefer another cheese then get to experimenting)

Mix it all together and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Serve with a
box of crackers (I use Townhouse). If you are going to a large party (10+ people) make sure that you double the batch.

Prep Time: 3 minutes.
Cook Time: 20 Minutes
Stress Scale: 1 (cocktails and music)

The Everyday Pinup's Lips

2010-11-24T08:21:00.000-08:00

The one thing every vintage vamp needs is a great lipstick and a great lipstick tube. My favorite place to get vintage lipstick tubes is on ebay and in antique stores. They aren't very expensive- anywhere from $2.00- $12.00 and make putting on your lipstick in public a much more provocative event.

First, let's talk colors and brands. I'm a fan of red lipstick. I have so many shades of red that it is truly ridiculous, but today I'm going to talk about 3 only (for now).  From least expensive to most expensive:

1. Retro Red by N.Y.C. Color $0.99 at drugstores
       Nice smooth color, needs to be reapplied after a while and tends to bleed, so you'll pay in vigilance    what you saved in cash, but it's a nice feel and for less a dollar can be worth experimenting with.

2. Russian Red by M.A.C. $15.50 at www.maccosmetics.com
        Matte finish red with a lot of blue in it. Very neutral color and a great one to have around in general. Looks good on most skin types doesn't require a lot of babysitting and doesn't bleed very much at all. Very dry so get a lip gloss with it.

3. Moulin Rouge by Make up Forever $19.00 at www.sephora.com
       MY FAVORITE! Smooth and velvety. Does not bleed very much at all and is satiny enough that lip gloss is just icing on the cake rather than a necessity. Is a deeper berry red than Russian red.

Now that we've chosen a lovely lipstick, let's get that bad boy into one of our recently purchased vintage lipstick tube.

#1. Clean out any old lipstick in the tube, do not actually use vintage lipstick unless it's BRAND NEW, you would hate to get small pox because you decided to use some random human beings old lipstick.  Freeze it and then dig it out (it's easier and less messy this way.) Clean it in hot soapy water (do not use the dishwasher).

#2. Take the lipstick you want to put into your vintage tube and freeze it. You want a deep freeze on it so put in the freezer not on the door.

#3. After a couple of hours (I put it in at breakfast and then do this when I get home from work), take the frozen lipstick out of the freezer. Twist the lipstick all the way to the top and using wax paper gently rock the lipstick back and forth until it comes completely out of the tube.

#4. Make sure your vintage tube is twisted all the way to the top. Take your newly freed lipstick and using a lighter/match barely melt the bottom of it. (BE VERY CAREFUL OR YOU COULD FIND YOUR SELF IN A PUDDLE OF LIPSTICK). Place it inside the tube and then twist it back down. If you heated it a little much just pop it back in the freezer for a bit (standing upright).

Now, your lipstick is as unique and amazing as you are and everyone will envy the pretty girl with her pretty lipstick tube and rosy pout.

Welcome All!

2010-11-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

My name is Dixie Rising and I am a Jill of all trades. I am a burlesque dancer and pinup model in New York City who also loves to cook, shop, experiment, and share all of my adventures. To read about my burlesque adventures check out my other blog The Adventures of Miss Dixie Rising, to explore the wonderful world of the "Everyday Pinup" then stay in your seat because you've come to the right place. This blog will primarily focus on fashion, beauty products, hairstyles, and doing things the "old fashioned way". I love DIY projects and anytime I can share a secret of how to make yourself more glamorous without having do anymore than you usually do and without breaking the bank, you bet your lucky stars there will be an entry here about it. From personal experience, expensive things feel even more luxurious when you didn't have to forgo your mortgage to pay for them. So, read on you classy dames and enjoy your time on my blog.