Mode Merr 20% off Sale

I just got a notice that Mode Merr is extending a 20% off sale to June 15th (use the code happiness). So if you were thinking about picking up the perfect rockabilly skirt, now's the time to get on that!

And remember, sizes run up to a size 46" bust and 49" hips!

Radio Dismuke- 20s & 30s Streaming Music

I haven't posted about vintage music for a while, so here's a quick blurb about an online streaming radio station I discovered a while back called Radio Dismuke. They stream 20s & 30s popular music and I have discovered quite a bit of tunes to use for my hot jazz vocal trio Bootless Betties, that's for sure!

The man who runs it is incredibly knowledgeable about the music and has a discussion forum for 20s & 30s music lovers to communicate and post questions about the music (which he often answers himself). There is also a blog, although it is not updated very often. However, it has a listing of other resources for music of the same era so it is worth a look-see.

I listen to the station through Live365 (I find it is more work friendly). So to save you a step, you can click on the link below to take you directly to the Live365 station. FYI- click on the yellow play button to start the station and there is always a short commercial at the beginning. ENJOY!

For Radio Dismuke, 20s & 30s popular music, click here

The Art of Manliness

I have discovered a new blog for vintage loving men and it is pretty sweet. It is called The Art of Manliness, dedicated to "helping men be better husbands, better fathers, and better men. In our search to uncover the lost art of manliness, we’ll look to the past to find examples of manliness in action. We’ll analyze the lives of great men who knew what it meant to “man up” and hopefully learn from them. And we’ll talk about the skills, manners, and principles that every man should know."

Now this may seem to be a bit macho on the surface, but in reality this is a great site run by a husband and wife team. It has tons of helpful tips and funny articles, such as Finding Your Calling Part I: What is a Vocation to How to Survive a Shark Attack. I really enjoyed the article on How to buy a Used Car and it was extremely thorough.

I highly recommend visiting this site whether you are of the male persuasion or not. It is chock full of vintage and retro goodness and has nifty pictures throughout the site. Have fun!

What's On Sale- Large Vintage Swirl Dress

If you are addicted to Swirl dresses (and who isn't?) this dress is pretty sweet. It is a tad bit more expensive than the items I usually post about, but it is new with tags and in excellent condition. A special thanks to Yesterday Girl for tipping me off to this awesome dress's existence. And yes, those are embroidered cowboy hats.

Vintage 50's Blue Swirl Cowgirl Dress (Large)
Bust* 42"
Waist*29"to about 35"

$95

Movies to Inspire

I go through stages of inspiration for my hair accessories. My last big inspiration was movie musicals, specifically the movie Singin' in the Rain. The hair clip on the right named Broadway Melody was inspired by the scene where Kathy Sheldon (Debbie Reynolds) sings Dream of You towards the beginning of the movie, right after she meets Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly).

Here is a picture of what Kathy was wearing that just made me go gaga and I HAD to create something. I know the girls aren't wearing feathers, but the movie is supposed to be set in the late 20s, so I went with a more flapperish style based on the color scheme. Plus, most of the clip uses vintage millinery and jewelry, so I didn't fret too much about a litral translation. I suppose that is the point of being inspired, right?

I have a few tried and true movies that I put on when I am in a creative slump. Some I watch for specific time periods, others I watch for the visual impact they give. You'll notice quite a few are modern films set in a different era. I find it helps to have the color to reference, but I do often watch black and white films and documentaries.

I thought it might be fun to start a list, plus add more titles as people comment. Here we go:
An American in Paris
The Cat's Meow
Down With Love
Elizabeth
Funny Face
The Great Gatsby
It (with Clara Bow)
Kiss Me Kate
Marie Antoinette (directed by Sophia Coppola)
Moulin Rouge
The Notorious Bettie Page
On the Town
Pretty in Pink
Singin' in the Rain
Some Like It Hot

Of course, pictures and screen shots help too. One of the best websites I have found for this is The Costumer's Guide to Movie Costumes. Not only do they provide decent pictures, they also give links for costume studies and exhibits.

So, there is the preliminary list of my creative inspiration films. I'm sure I left a few out. I can't wait to hear about more from you!