1920s mod?

Am I missing something here?

http://fashion-style.wark.biz/how-to-rock-a-1920s-mod-hairstyle/

Knitting: 4ply and a big sigh

Just a quick  knitting update to show you what I'm working on this evening.  I've just finished a project in a very cheap chunky yarn (King Cole Magnum) and have resolved that, once I've used up the remaining acrylics in my stash, I'm NEVER using artificial fibres again. 

To me they look cheap when knitted up and really don't benefit much from blocking.  Blocking can cure a million knitting sins but not with acrylic yarn.  I think the problem is exacerbated in chunkier acrylics too as they don't have the required weight to create that vintage look I'm going for. Sigh.

Still, this will do fine for work days until I can be bothered to rekinit the pattern in a decent yarn and the vintage shell buttons are nice.  Ho hum.

Ugh, it flares too much at the waist, it curls at the hem and the crochet is too loose. 

On the needles is a wool/acrylic blend yarn but as it is a blend and only 4-ply, it seems to be OK so far.

The jumper is a pattern from the original "A Stitch in Time"and is very simple in a waved rib.  I have so far completed the back and about a quarter of the front.  Everything is going to speed up now that I have moved past the mind numbing rib.

the back

detail and a cat's paw...

The book

The original

 Anyway - back to Downton and my knitting.

I can resist everything, except temptation.

Bugger this no spending lark, I'm just not good at it.  you see, the thing is, I work right slap bang next to Spitalfields Market and on a Thursday lunchtime it is the vintage / antique market and well...the rest is obvious.

I visited today trying to hunt down some reasonably priced vintage black crochet gloves.  I have several cream and white pairs but really want a dark pair.  I'd dye some but thats a lotta dye for a very small item.  hmmm...

Aaaaaanyway.  lookit wot I bought:

Pretty little hankies - did people buy these as decorative items or clothing? 
They are too good to actually be used for blowing ones snozz on.

A length of very pretty emrodered fabric that I will use as a belt on a 30s cardigan I have yet to knit. 
Now, to decide which colour from this I'll knit the cardy in...

Haircombs! Diamante hair combs! With all the stones intact!

And a length of French lace, great condition, god knows the date - I think 50s.

I'm happy now. 

Is it wrong that shopping makes me happy?

Whatever!

Unlikely style icons - working class glamour

I watched a Poirot again, no great shakes, I watch A LOT of Poirot and have previously posted about my love of Miss Lemon and especially her famed red cardigan.

I was thinking though, as I watched it, about unlikely style icons.  I have a lot. 

Lets start with my icons of working class glamour...big hair, heavy make up, tights clothing and lots of sparkle.  All hail the soap divas.

Pat Butcher:

Oh Pat, Pat.  I almost wept when this brassy blonde left our screens this year.  Yes, her look was stuck in the 80s but she really was the Queen of statement jewellery and, along with a penchant for leopard print and pink eyeshadow she really brightened up my weekday evenings.

dangly earrings and bright lipstick...phwoar

not just a camel coat, a camel coat with a huge fur collar!

Red leopard print, that's right RED leopard print.

the perfect 50s style head scarf

 Bet Lynch

All hail the queen of leopard print.  If you are looking for a fierce, animal print clad diva then Bet is it.  Big 60s beehive, tight leather miniskirts - its a late 50s early 60s working class look that wouldn't be out of place on a Rockabilly pin up.  Feast those peepers:

Who doesn't love a leopard print fur, right?

Curls and a flower in the hair, awww. Admit it, all you can see if the cleavage.

Another leopard fur

This looks a lot like a 50s beachwear pose to me, love it

Mine's a pint, ta love.

Elsie Tanner

Another Corrie great here, and sadly one that pre-dates me.  I have to get my fill of Our Else by googling. By 'eck is it worth it though.

More fur, gotta have fur.

Piontu boobs, gotta have pointy boobs

A suit, a fur, gloves, pearls...

Look at that waist!

I'll be back soon with another instalment.  ;-)

Look what I've got

Yep. I finally got one of the pin curler things everyone got sent free to review last year. I missed the freebie as I was not blogging at the time. Eejit.

I can already tell I'm going to love this though.

I wanna play with it now but I'm at work.

A little shopping splurge

Goshdarnit! I had been so good, two weeks of buying nothing but a knitting pattern and some yarn and then, kaboom, I get the urge to splurge. Well, I didn’t go too mad, but still.
Yesterday I went for a wander round the local vintage shops in my area, starting off at the car boot sale (nothing) and then the usually painful experience of Beyond Retro, Dalston. Sigh. “Beyond Retro” - by that they mean “almost entirely 1980s apart from one ripped and stained 50s ballgown with a 22inch waist”. Sigh.
Still, I had the shopping bug and was determined to find something, and here it is.

 

The most perfect little shrug. I’m not sure what fur it is (I think it might be mink as it is dark and fairly soft yet dense) or have any idea of the date but I assume 50’s. It is very well made, fully lined with a rich chocolate brown floral sprigged silk satin and featuring arm loops to hold the garment on and give it structure. There are also two shallow lined pockets, one still full of confetti from a wedding its owner must have attended.

Aside from being a little squashed from its journey (all Beyond Retro clothing seems to have been highly compressed in damp conditions before arriving on the shop floor – I assume their bales of clothes travel over by sea) it is in mint condition, no rips, bald patches or devils dust, and it fits me perfectly on the shoulders. Just the thing for the upcoming party season.

I’ve done a little digging into the company in an attempt to date the item and it seems that Douglas Moore furs is still going in Renfrew, Ontario. This article from 1972 talks about the family who took over the company in 1960 but doesn’t give any earlier info. I’m thinking of dropping them a line though, out of interest.

I also picked up a couple of little berets for winter. A plain black one of no vintage whatsoever (HOW did I not have one of these already) and the most ridiculous carpet bag effect piece. How I’ll wear I do not know. I just couldn’t leave it in the shop. It has the Union Made logo too, and looking at Millinery Union labels I peg it at mid-late 50s. Still, its a pretty universal look (I mean, really, it looks Tudor, right? :-P)

does anyone here have any more knowledge of dating furs that they can share?

Eyebrows.

Humph. Harrumph.

I spent an entire hour reshaping my eyebrows last night and can barely see a difference.

Thinner, perhaps?