Tag Archive | Fashion

Love Is In The Air💕

Feb15

It’s that time of year when love is on everyone’s mind.

Vintage Valentine Card

Valentines Day is here! 💕

Vintage Valentine card

Valentine’s Day originated from a Christian celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine. It is recognised as a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance.

Vintage Valentine Card

Valentines developed in Roman times with Saint Valentine who was put in prison for performing weddings for soldiers, who were forbidden from marrying. He was persecuted under the Roman Empire, but before his death he restored sight to a blind girl and wrote her a letter that was signed Your Valentine.

St Valentine

My house is decorated, dinner is booked and gifts are wrapped. Now I just need to organise my outfit. I couldn’t find a dress I liked for the occasion so I decided to create one for Valentine’s Day.

I have a red dress that I purchased some time back but never seem to wear. I also purchased a panel of vintage Valentine images to sew on the dress.

Red Rockabilly dress

Panel of vintage Valentine images

Steps:

1. I cut the panel in half and sewed the edges

The panel cut in half

2. I decided to make the dress into a skirt. Simply, cut along the waist line and sew to tidy up!

The dress made into a skirt

3. Next I pinned the panel to the skirt. You can place the panels anywhere you prefer, on the skirt.

Front of skirt

Back of skirt

4. Next, I sewed the panels onto the skirt

Final product- front of the skirt

Final product- back of skirt

Your other option is to make a 50’s style skirt or dress out of Valentine fabric, but I couldn’t find anything that I really liked so when I found this Valentines panel online I knew that is what I really wanted to use.

Valentines outfit

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentines Day and it was spent with the one you love!

Featured Image:

Vintage Valentines Card

Back soon…..

Ridiculously Retro Xx

Pin it here

Jan8

My brooches were starting to overflow out of there storage boxes and it was getting harder to find the right one everyday. I needed a new option.

I needed a clever idea to make it easier to locate the best brooch to compliment my outfit. Instead, I created some of my own and here they are!

1. Display your brooches on a mannequin torso

This is a great idea to display your collection, for both function and as a decor item. The only issue is it only works for brooches like this….

… where you have a pin going into a safety head. It does not work for pins like this…

with a straight pin and seperate clasp.

2. Display brooches on your favourite cushion

Grab your favourite cushion and pin on your brooches. This allows easy access again! You can leave it on your bedroom chair as a display.

3. Display brooches on a retro foot stool

Attach your brooches onto a retro foot stool and once again it allows easy access and looks great. Of course the foot stool will not be able to be used as it’s intended use anymore! Also, this idea will only work with safety pin brooches!

4. Display your brooches in a vintage suitcase

Line a suitcase with a pillow or fabric and foam. You can attach the pins and it is a great designer piece to display your collection. If your suitcase has a thick lid then do the same to the lid. This allows for double the storage for your collection. Maybe you will need to buy more!!

5. Display your brooches on your pin board.

Get a cute fabric pin board that will allow you to display all your brooches. I will be doing a future blog on how to make a vintage style pin board, so keep your eye out!! This idea will only work with safety pin brooches.

6. Display your brooches on a scarf

You can hang your scarf on a hook or a vintage mannequin head. If you have a large brooch collection then you can use more than one scarf!

7. Display your brooches on a vintage wooden ladder

Image from Pinterest

This particular image displays earrings, but you could easily use it for brooches! They have just attached chicken wire to the back of the ladder. Another idea would be to staple fabric to the back of the ladder and attach your brooches to the front side.

8. Display your brooches in a tackle box

This box is available at any fishing shop! I think this is a great idea to keep my brooches safe in and allows easy access. And you can just keep buying more boxes as your collection grows!

9. Other ideas

  • Buy or make dividers for your drawer
  • Attach them on a lampshade
  • Attach them on an old clothing item and hang it on display
  • Glue strips of ribbon to a pole and hang off the wall & attach brooches
  • Attach brooches on an old soft toy and place it on display

The possibilities are endless……

What ideas do you have? How do you store or display your brooches? I would love to hear about it.

Back soon….

Ridiculously Retro xx

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Dec19

Christmas time is here again! It’s my favourite time of year – all the parties, carols, church, decorations, spending time with family and friends, eating, holidays, shopping, Christmas shows and the anticipation of opening presents on Christmas morning. While many cultures’ celebrations may differ, for example some people will celebrate on Christmas Eve while others on Christmas Day, essentially Christmas is just the most wonderful time of the year!!


Christmas Morning

I just love to decorate for any occasion, but especially at Christmas time. Every room in my house holds Christmas decorations, along with my verandah, front yard and fence. Although living in a rural area means we don’t get a lot of traffic going by, we still decorate mainly for the pleasure of ourselves, friends and neighbours. It takes days to put up all our Christmas decorations but we love it!

Top – My beautiful tree & huge elf

Middle – Huge reindeer

Bottom – Snowman (not as huge lol)

I have a few vintage items around the house and on my tree, but I am always on the hunt for more! I am currently in search of a vintage angel tree topper and more illuminated plastic moulds for the garden.

Top – Illuminatedgarden lights

Middle – Nativity scene in wood & china

Middle bottom – Santa with china hands & face

Bottom – Plastic Santa wall blow mould

I’ve also collected some modern decorations with a retro feel. There are some really stylish retro style Christmas decorations that you can find in many retail outlets!

Top – Myer Elf and Reindeer

Below – Kmart Large Flamingo 

Every year we try to find new streets that have houses decorated with lights and ornaments. There are more and more people each year decorating their houses which, as a family, we love to visit.

Above: houses with lights

Our family traditions also include attending our local Carols by Candlelight, and attending church on Christmas Eve.

I love to dress up in festive clothing on Christmas Day. I have a few Christmas dresses and skirts that I wear to parties, Carols and any chance suitable during the Christmas season!

Above – Hell Bunny Blitzen dress

Above – Hell Bunny 50s Noelle Snowflake Dress (that I refurbished into a skirt & top)

Above: also wearing my vintage Santa brooch

Featured Image

Do you enjoy the Christmas season? How do you celebrate? I would love to hear.

Have a wonderful Christmas Day!!

Back soon….

Ridiculously Retro Xx

Trick or Treat

Oct18

Halloween is celebrated in a number of countries on the 31st October. It is a time in the liturgical year that we remember those that have departed, also known as All Saints Day, a time of both celebration and superstition.

Image: some of my decorations

Halloween was believed to originate with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This is where people would light bonfires to ward off ghosts.

Image: Samhain bonfire

Halloween is one of Americas favourite holidays and has evolved into a child friendly, community-based event. Popular traditions include scary house decorations and families dressing in costumes to roam the neighbourhood to trick or treat.

Image: Trick or Treating

America’s tradition of ‘trick or treating’ is believed to have come from early England’s All Souls Day parades where poor citizens begged for food, and were given soul cakes in return to pray for the families dead relatives. This replaced the tradition of leaving food and wine for roaming spirits.

Image: soulcakes

In Ireland, they believe that a young woman should hide her ring in mash potatoes on Halloween night to bring true love from the diner who found it.

Image: Irish girls learning to cook

In Scotland, fortune tellers recommend that a single woman should name a hazelnut for each of her suitors, then toss it in the fireplace. The nut that burns to ashes rather than exploding will be her future husband.

Image: Scottish Fortune Teller

The tradition of dressing up for Halloween comes from European and Celtic times. Winter was cold and nights appeared early, and spirits were believed to roam the streets. People believed if they left their homes wearing masks the spirits would not recognise or attack them. Also, to stop ghosts entering their house they would put bowls of food outside.

Image: Celtic Halloween mask wearing

Today, Halloween in celebrated by people dressing up and going trick or treating, making jack-o’-lanterns, decorating their house with scary objects, lighting bonfires, celebrating at parties or visiting haunted attractions.

Image: House decorated for Halloween

Australia is getting bigger each year with celebrating Halloween with more kids now trick or treating, more parties & celebrations and more people decorating their homes. I have been decorating my house for many years now, since my daughter was young and I have hosted a few Halloween parties! I also like to dress up on the day. Many of my favourite labels have been releasing new shirts, skirts, dresses and brooches each year

.

Images from top to bottom:

1. shop.dangerfield.com.au – silver web dress

2. sourpussclothing.com – Vixen Ben Cooper striped monster mask swing skirt

3. sourpussclothing.com – Vixen Ben Cooper sweetheart trick or treat dress

4. hellbunny.com – Harlow 50s dress

5. hellbunny.com – Haunt 50s dress

Do you celebrate Halloween? Send me photos of your outfits and decorated homes. I would love to see them.

Image: my Happy Halloween sign

Back soon….

Ridiculously Retro xx

Women getting their points out there!

Sep19

The bullet bra was actually created in 1939, but unfortunately WW2 put these plans on hold as women were needed to fill more traditionally male jobs and roles. Women joined nurse corps and the armed forces so that more men could be sent into combat.

Advertisement for women in WW2

Image: wikimedia.org

After the lean years of WW2, women were getting their curves back in the prosperity of the post-war boom. The trend promoted an hourglass figure. They characterised round hips with belted jackets and a cinched waist and prominent breasts with bullet bras.

Very pointy bullet bra

Image: flywheel.netda-ssl.com

Bullet bras became popular due to actresses like Marilyn Monroe and Lana Turner, who was nicknamed the “Sweater Girl”

Marilyn Monroe wearing a bullet bra

Image: static.boredpanda.com

Sweater girl Lana Turner wearing a bullet bra

Image:Wikipedia.org

The bullet bra put breasts centre stage. Bullet bras allowed women to add a cup size to their busts. The bra emphasised bras with its axis perpendicular to the breasts, and featured spiral stitching that emphasised the cone shaping. It had a cone centre on the nipples.

Bullet Bra stitching

Image: rebelcircus.com

With the onset of television advertisements, this allowed for promotional opportunity and was a huge part in the bras popularity! Fashion and glamour became a huge part of women’s fashion choices in the 1950s.

Advertisement of bullet bra

Image: i.pinimg.com

The popularity of the bullet bra declined in the 1960s, due mainly in part to the new feminist philosophy.

It was reintroduced to the fashion world in 1990, by pop singer Madonna who began to wear bullet bras as outerwear as designed by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Other celebrities such as Katy Perry and Amy Winehouse adopted the bullet bra look on occasions in modern days.

Madonna wearing Jean Paul Gaultier Bullet Bra

Image: Top left: I.pinimg.com / Top right: nowthatslingerie.com /

Bottom: howfashionworks.com

What do you think of the bullet bra look? Let me know, I am interested in your opinions.

Blog was inspired by my sister❤️

Back Soon…..

Ridiculously Retro XX

Rockabilly Handbags

Jun20

Handbags have been recorded in history since 14th Century. A handbag is essential to fashion as we all have something that needs to be carried around with us. Even men carry man bags today. 


In the 50s there was a rise in designer handbags such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Hermes. Bags come in all shapes and sizes and designs and trends change over time.  Some great labels for rockabilly handbags are:

  • Sourpuss
  • Banned
  • Break Even
  • Alchemy
  • Dangerfield
  • Princess Highway
  • Super Floozy
  • Bettie Page
  • Juble-Umph

This is my Juble-umph handbag. It is my everyday handbag

You can also get some really cool bags that are shaped like an item. They can make an outfit “pop”. I like to wear a matching brooch or a skirt with similar theme. These can be purchased online or at your favourite rockabilly store. 

Top left: red lips shaped bag/ Top Right: Strawberry shaped bag; Left Bottom: Bodice shaped bag/ Right Bottom: Red love heart bag

I love this Dangerfield cane love heart bag. It has plenty of room in it

Top Left: Apple shaped bags/ Top Right: Paris Perfume shaped bags/ Left Bottom: Milk Carton shaped bag/ Right Bottom: Lipstick shaped bag

 

There are many varieties of cane vintage bags. Though over time they do become brittle and break easy. I have had a few others that I used at the beach and they broke over time, so do take extra care.

Vintage cane bags

You can get modern handbags in a retro style. 

Princess Highway retro style red handbag

Princess Highway retro style black handbag

This is a new flamingo handbag. I picked this up at a vintage show. I wear it with my flamingo rockabilly skirt

This is my Hell Bunny Bee Handbag. I have the dress that matches this outfit too. I wear them both together

 

If you are really lucky you might be able to score good quality vintage handbags. These can be purchased online, at a charity store, vintage show or garage sale. 

Top Left: Vintage green apple bag/ Top Right: Red vintage small circular bag/ Left Bottom: Vintage Brown clip bag/ Right Bottom: White crochet bag

Left Top: White glomesh bag/ Right Top: Cowhide circle bag/ Left Bottom: Small brown leather vintage backpack/ Right bottom: Gold glomesh handbag

Top Left: Vintage small circle coin bag/ Top Right: Vintage Brown clasp bag/ Bottom Left: Vintage Crimson Cane Bag/ Bottom Right: Vintage Small Leather bag

 

My next handbag I want to purchase, is a lucite handbag. I am on the look out. Yes I know that I have already got enough handbags, but one more wont hurt…..will it!!

The purchase of a vintage handbag means that you are purchasing quality, style and a piece of history. 

What is your favourite rockabilly handbag? Send me some photos of your handbag. I would love to see them!

Back soon…….

Ridiculously Retro   Xx



Featured Image: http://www.myvintage.co.uk




Work Wear Retro Style

May19

Clothes for work can be retro, stylish and professional. Here are some of the outfits that I have been wearing to work.

Left: Green jumper with black pinafore, matching green flower, opaque stockings & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Red overcoat, Dangerfield cherry Jumper, black rockabilly Skirt, opaque Stockings & Mary Jane Doc Martens


Left: Navy Jumper, nautical skirt, opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Black peplum top, black & white polka-dot skirt purchased from Nikky B’s, black hair flower, Wheels and Dollbaby cardigan & black loafers


Left: Vintage houndstooth overcoat, vintage houndstooth skirt, red Jumper, black opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Dangerfield cardigan, black pencil skirt, opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens


Left: Dangerfield swan dress, Jean Paul Gaultier overcoat, Natasha Marie flower hair clip, black opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Vintage zebra print overcoat, Danni Minogue jumpsuit & Doc Martens.


Left: Black jumper, Dangerfield flamingo Skirt, white flower head band & loafers. Right: Noni B chain jacket, green turtleneck, green flower, black pinafore, black opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens


Left: Hell Bunny “Lacey Swallow” 50s Skirt, black jumper, black double rose hair clip. Right: Black & white polka-dot dress, Jean Paul Gaultier overcoat & Tuk kitty Mary Jane shoes.


Left: Dangerfield button front corduroy dress, green turtleneck, green flower hair clip, black opaque tights & black gogo boots. Right: Vintage crimplene overcoat, Dangerfield navy slip dress, opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens


Left: Dangerfield slip dress, black turtleneck, black opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Dangerfield pink circle dress, Jean Paul Gaultier overcoat, pink flower hair clip, black opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens


Left: Banned Apparel “Doll” skirt, orange T-shirt & orange hair flowers. Right: Rockabilly flamingo skirt, Dangerfield turquoise cardigan, turquoise hair flower & Jean Paul Gaultier denim jacket


Left: Vintage crimplene pink dress, Jean Paul Gaultier overcoat, pink flower hair clip, opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens. Right: Black pinafore, red jumper, red hair flower, opaque tights & Mary Jane Doc Martens


I use a vintage beauty case as my briefcase for work. It adds to my retro look, plus it is handy as there is plenty of room.

 

I like to mix and match vintage items with retro items and labels such as Hell Bunny, Dangerfield, Princess Highway, Revival, Banned Apparel, Sourpuss, Wheels and Dollbaby, Voodoo Vixen, Natasha Marie Clothing, Kitten D’Amour, etc. In vintage items, I love the look of Crimpelene outfits, especially for work. They never need ironing and they are quite warm for winter.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my outfits. Send me photos of your retro work outfits. I look forward to seeing them.

Back Soon…..

Ridiculously Retro  xx