Rosie the Riveter Part 2

via wartimefashion

So here I am again in war time attire, it's funny how cutting your hair opens up a whole new scope for style - and it is such fun to wear! Anyway I like this style because it is practical, comfortable clothing and yet still super sexy. I got these overalls a few weeks back and have been wanting to share them ever since - and they just happen to be perfect war time attire.

I also found this wonderful tumblr wartimefashion full of inspirational pictures of women factory workers and magazine ads during the war. The 40s was an incredibly fashionable era considering that it was a time of hardship and ration. The "Make Do and Mend" concept is also a fantastic thing to ponder nowadays when we live in a society obsessed with buying 'new' things. It was ideas like this and the woman power of collective effort that really helped win the war.

Outfit: all thrifted (who am I kidding!?)

Ha er yeah just ignore the fact that I have no muscles...."WE CAN DO IT!"

You can check out this video if you want to try out this Rosie scarf look yourself!

Hope you're having a swell week :)

I can do it!

Today I am channeling 1940s war-time worker women like Rosie the Riveter.

Headscarfs like this are great when you can't be bothered putting in any effort (which is me like all the time) or if you haven't washed your hair...you just make a little pouff or curl at the front if you don't have a fringe and tie it on up.

Rosie the Riveter

Outfit: cardigan, scarf, boots and jeans all thrifted.

Shorts & Inspiration

I got these cool paisley pouffy shorts the other day and they are really fun to wear. It's like wearing a really short skirt but without the constant fear of it riding up. Oh yeah and I cut my hair too...big change for the good!

Anyway  here's some of my favourite retro-carefree- inspiration for the week. Enjoy:

1, 2 unknown ,3,4

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.