Man Style

Lately I've been thinking how men's retro fashion kinda gets neglected in the bloggersphere compared to women's fashion. Even though I am not a man myself I still tend to like male fashion from bygone eras better than I like most of the male fashions we see today. So I thought I would share with you my five favourite man fashions though out history:

1. The Georgian Era 1714-1727

The wonderful age of ponce and finery: curly wigs, dainty heeled shoes, stockings, frills, embroidery and walking sticks...I just love how flamboyant and blatantly over-the-top and swishy these outfits were. Two great films that really showcase these fashions are Orlando 1992 and The Draughtsman's Contract 1982. It all just looks so funny and uncomfortable that it makes you want to laugh! Although it's nice to see that there was an era when men's fashion was just as impractical as the women's!

Scene from Orlando

The Draughtsman's Contract

2. The Victorian Era 1850s-1900

I have always had a thing for men in period dramas, particularly Victorian as they just look so dashing and neat. I particularly love the facial hair of the 1800s, the dark colours, the tweeds, the shiny shoes and the fabulous top-hats. I honestly think top-hats are one of my favourite things in the world! Two of my favourite films set in Victorian England are Sherlock Holmes and The Young Victoria.

Jude Law as Watson. Watson is very stylish in the new film

 The Young Victoria

*sigh*

3. The 1920s

You can really see how 1920s fashion equates with the end of the war in both women's and men's clothing. I like that for men it was still quite formal but also more light hearted and comfortable using lighter colours, suits in white and navy, stripes and boater hats. There are plenty of films around set in the 20s but my favourite two would be Brideshead Revisited 2008 and Singing In The Rain 1952.

Brideshead Revisited

Singing In The Rain

4. The 1960s

Now I'm sure it was a given that I like 60s men's fashion but I actually more than like it. I think it is just the coolest. I love how in the 60s men's clothing was super colourful, textured, shiny and frilly, things that you tend not to see in other eras of men's fashion. That long shaggy hair, the tailoring, the velvet and the paisley, it was just very flamboyant and very sexy.

Brian Jones yeah baby. Tailored pants are like, divine!

The Hendrix Experience, again super stylish guys.

And lets not forget these strange people

5. The 1970s

Ok so the 70s were just a bit tougher than the 60s and experimented more with androgyny. The music generally got louder and punk surfaced. I also obviously have a bit of a thing for the 'bad boy' image haha. Some of my favourite 70s moments include Mick Jagger in eyeliner, Ziggy Stardust, and Punk.

Mick Jagger in the film Performance 1970

Ziggy Stardust

New york Dolls and The Sex Pistols

Anyway I'm kinda ending on a rough note though this has been a journey of refinery haha. Don't even get me started on the 1990s and 2000s pants so low that your showing your undies look!

High pants are just fine thank you very much

Something to be said

I'm excitied because I have re discovered the joy of reading.

image

I this is due in part to two things

a) I am officially finished studying literature and

b) Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close is an incredible read.

In my experience you only really stumble across books that rip though you once in a while and I have to say that this was the first book this year that I didn't want to put down. It is also the first book I have read for pleasure in a long time. Then I saw this image on tumblr and was immediately drawn to the comparisons between Safron-Foer's novel and The Bell Jar and also Catcher In The Rye (I know! Totally the Lit student in me!). All three novels are set in New York and are all novels that greatly moved me. There must be something about the setting of New York that lends itself to great writing?

Anyway many thanks to Charlotte for recommending it to me.

Top 10 Award

Kaitlyn from Born Late very kindly awarded me the Top Ten award. Thanks Kaitlyn! Born Late is a very lovely retro blog and I definitely recommend you have a look-see.

This is what the award entails:

- Thank the person who tagged you and link to their blog

- Put the Top 10 Award logo on your blog (here's the original size)

- List your top ten favorite cosmetics

- Choose ten bloggers to tag, link to their blogs, and let them know about their award!

Here is my list of favourite cosmetics *all cruelty free/not tested on animals!*:

Favourite cosmetics by the wild one on Polyvore.com

1. Lush Karma Komba shampoo bar. I love Lush because they make vegan products and they smell & look soo good. I also like these shampoo bars designed to minimise packaging.
2. Lush Seanik shampoo bar.
3. Natio blush. Blush is the one thing I wear almost everyday because I have such fair skin.
4. Face Of Australia Lip Quentch Mousturising Lipstick. Lipstick is the ultimate glamour item for me.
5. Face Of Australia lipliner. I always use lipliner with lipstick because otherwise it goes all smudgy.
6. Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser. Ok Sukin are a GREAT brand. They are vegan, organic and cheap to buy plus their products smell great and feel really nice to put on. I always need to use a cleanser!
7. Sukin Hand and Nail Cream. This is amazing. I love putting this on before bed and it's not greasy.
8. Lush R & B Hair Moisturiser. I went through a stage last summer of having really dry hair.
9. O.P.I Lilac nail polish. O.P.I as far as I know don't test on animals.
10. O.P.I Red nail polish. Red nail polish is just a classic and I'm all about classic!

Now I invite these lovely bloggers to participate if they so wish:

Liza  @ Hello Beautiful Street
Emma @ Emma's Picnic
Jess @ You've Got the Silver
Kelly-Marie @ Harem of Peacocks
Miss Peelpants @ Get Some Vintage Appeal
Krystal @ Krystallee
Smashingbird
Dolly The Bird @ The Knack and How to Get It
Summer Baby

Project Restyle

As I mentioned in the last post, yesterday I got a chance to finally make something to contribute to Project Restyle. A few weeks ago I found this retro dressing gown for one dollar at a clearance sale. I got it because I thought the colours and the pattern were nice, but as a gown it was practically unwearable.

*before*

So I decided to shorten the sleeves and the hem and make it into a shift dress!
When I sat down to sew I discovered that the zigzag button on my machine wasn't working however, luckily enough the fabric was so synthetic that I knew it wouldn't fray, so I just stitched up the hems! I also discovered that it had a pocket and when I looked inside I discovered it had a little woolen tassel that used to be attatched to the zip, so I put that back on too.

This is how it turned out.

*after*

I think it might make a nice little summer dress.

Anyway you can check out what other creative folks did for the challenge here!

Also just wanted to say how much I appreciate all your comments.
Thanks for taking the time to spread the love!

Etsy collage: 70s jumpsuit

I haven't done an etsy collage for a while so I thought I'd have a look around and found this cool 70s outfit.

Though I don't do online shopping myself, because if I did something tells be I wouldn't have any money, I have visited the RaggedyThreads shop a couple of times to have a browse and they have really great things, mostly 70s hippy/boho in style. I just love this jumpsuite so much. It's very Charlies Angels meets Jane Birkin. Tre sexy I think.

bluebutterflyvintage

RaggedyThreads

VintageDarling

I'm also quite excited because today I finally made something for the Project Restyle challenge which I've been meaning to do for ages. But sadly I'll have to wait to share it with you as my camera has been hi-jacked for the day.

Anyway hope you're having a great week. I had this song going round my head so I thought I would post it haha. Good Morning Starshine!

Sunday inspiration

Today the winter sunshine is making me happy.

I love you by the wild one featuring chain bracelets

1. I am in love with the jeans and sneakers look at the moment.

2. Red, the greatest colour in the world in my opinion.

3. Grace Coddington on the cover of Vogue 1962. Ever since I saw The September issue I have loved this woman because she seems very down to earth dispite working for US Vogue, not not snobbish or model-like at all.

4. No-pants Ringo. How I wish I was these ladies.

Happy Sunday!

images: 1, 2, 3

Black Velvet June

I've been slightly obsessed with black velvet lately. I just can't get enough of it. It all started when I found a beautiful black velvet dress in a thrift store a couple of years ago. There is just something so magical about black velvet and the way it's so luxurious and yet grungy at the same time. I like the way it glitters in the sun.

The Season is also quite beautiful at the moment, the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, most of the trees have lost their leaves and the city seems to be covered in orange and brown leaves.

outfit: top, skirt and boots thrifted

Kitty doesn't like winter much despite his fluff, he doesn't like the rain. Luckily there was none of that today.

Oh Florence

I love her so.

Style Crush: Jackie That 70s Show

Since they started playing re-runs of That 70s Show on tellie I keep sitting there through half the show thinking "Wow Jackie's clothes are amazing!" Her outfits are always so colourful and interestingly put together plus they are super super 70s authentic. I love how she does high waisted jeans with big chunky jackets and pretty boho blouses and skirts and my personal favourite is this amazing denim three quarter length jump-suit (in the second and third last pics down the bottom) with really baggy flared bottoms which she wears with knee high boots.

denim jump-suit = awesome

Haha Jackie really is annoying though!



Hope you're having a great week!