My Middy Haircut

Its been a long long time!

I am embarrassed to say when the last haircut was – well that is the last “real” haircut… I have hacked away at it myself a few times, as my hairdresser found out yesterday. Consequently it was long, heavy and difficult to style.In order to be true to the vintage styling ethos I required a vintage haircut. Thanks to the wonderful world wide web this is very do-able.

Enter the Middy…

This haircut was devised in the 40’s for Hollywood actresses. It is basically a blunt cut layered style, that has an exagerated U shape in the back.

The beauty of it is that you can choose whatever length you desire, its easy to adapt.

This is the second Middy I have had, I felt very confident this time as I know from experience that it is great if you regularly curl your hair. It makes the curls fall nicely and because its not too heavy they stay in well.

And it doesnt look too strange un-styled.

So off i went to my hairdresser – armed with the above diagram.

I went for a longer version of the “femme fatale” cut. Instead of 4 inches on the side and 6 inches at the back, I have 8 at the side and 10 at the back. The other layers were adapted to this length also.

This is the finished product un-styled. Sorry about the AWFUL photo, no makeup and bad light.

UUURRGGH.

And here it is curled and fancied up for the rugby world cup game between USA and Australia. Every kiwi was an American for the night.

So girls, if you are considering going for the Middy, I hope this is helpful. feel free to ask questions.

Makeup splurge…

I was doing so well.
No Auctions for ages. Then i stumbled upon these little beauties.
I am figuring I can claim them as a business expense, i will use them in my presentation of vintage makeup. i love the 1950’s mascara – in a little tube with a brush.
I also love the makeup/cigarette case – it fits my Besame lipstick perfectly!

And look at my fancy business card holder… much nicer than cigarettes.

The Madge Bellamy makeover

I had the great good fortune this weekend to be involved in the production of a music video for the Wellington band “Porcelain Toy“and their new single; Monsters.

The video takes cuts from the 1932 movie “White Zombie” and superimposes the band members into it, to take the place of the lead actors.
White Zombie starred the darling of the 1920’s, Madge Bellamy.

Madge was born Margaret Derden Philpott in 1899.

She starred in a number of movies including Lorna Doon, and was typecast as an innocent, however a strong will contrasted this screen image and led to disagreements over roles by the late 1920’s. After the role of Madelaine in White Zombie she had some work however her career ended in 1943 with a bang… literally.

In San Francisco in 1943, Bellamy was accused of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting at her wealthy lover, Stanwood Murphy. The incident generated much publicity. The facts of the case remain somewhat cloudy. Shortly after the shooting, Bellamy was quoted as saying, “I only winged him, which is what I meant to do. Believe me, I’m a crack shot”. Some show business references state outright that she shot him. But her defense attorney, the legendary Jake Ehrlich, contended the actress never hit Murphy despite firing several shots at him at close range, and Ehrlich described that as proof that Bellamy had merely intended to scare her lover. (source – Wikipedia).

Leimomi Oakes and I took the lovely Elizabeth De la Rey and turned her into Madge..

Leimomi made an amazing reproduction dress (she also got me the job.. will forever be indebted to you Leimomi) and after her hair was sprayed a zillion times and her makeup applied with a trowel the transformation was complete.
It wasnt difficult, Elizabeth is stunning, sweet, very funny and was a dream to makeup.
After 2 x 4.30 am starts ( the hair was more of a sculpture than a hairstyle) and shooting for 10 hours a day everyone got sillier and sillier – which made for great fun and great photos.

Just watch her with that gun…

Are you a lady??

Calling all young ladies….

Mandi from
A La Mode
Photographic
Boutique,
Miss La Belle and myself
– The Vanity Case, are
launching the
“Frockabilly Finishing School”.

Where young ladies will learn many skills that will ensure that they are never short of style, grace and poise – or a young man’s phone number..

Of course I will be drawing upon the many lessons learnt in the last few years of vintage living and breathing, as will Mandi and Grace. Mandi has a brand new, breathtakingly cute studio in Petone, PERFECT for pin up shoots. She has a makeup bar and will sell Besame products.

To open the studio and celebrate the launch of Frockabilly, there will be a;

Full Swing – Wellington’s Vintage Dance Company, will start off the proceedings with a bang, then after Mandi has cut the ribbon and celebrated the winning of her photographic awards there will be a glove peeling workshop by the amazing Burlesque Queen..Miss La Belle.

Various hilarity will ensue and I will present a workshop on Red Lipstick application….

So there is really no excuse not to come, there is something for everyone.
Now.. the exciting part…

We are looking for “The Face Of Frockabilly”.
If you are a young lady, preferably in your teens we are looking for YOU. Its easy to enter – either rock up on the day, looking your glamorous best, or pop into the studio any time to have your photo taken.

If you are successful you will win a host of prizes – including a photo shoot from A la Mode and a hair and makeup makeover and free products from The Vanity Case. And of course you get to be the face of Frockabilly!

( beautiful photos in this post taken by Mandi BTW..)

Introducing..Chip and Dale

I was walking past the Salvation Army shop and these two were looking out at me. They came home with me for the grand total of $1.

I collect these Japanese ceramic animals, especially the ones with the real animal fur, and these two little critters will look fab on my vintage bookcase with all the rabbits.

Pride of place is my ceramic pink piggy bank, one of the ones that you have to smash to get the money out. Its a wonder any of them survived at all!