Time for a change, on my hair that is!

Most of you know that I am a vintage hairstyle enthusiast. On most days, I almost always wear a vintage coiffure or some variation of yesteryear's 30's, 40's and 50's dos. However, that is becoming increasingly harder to achieve with the long length of my hair, as I've let it grow out for the past few years and it now reaches the upper part of my mid-back.

I have been looking over some of my favorite silver screen starlets' locks, including the beautiful tresses and coiffures of Carole Lombard, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis, Hedy Lamarr, Vivien Leigh, Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Lauren Bacall, and Elizabeth Taylor. I was also inspired by the cuts of vintage gurus like Casey at Elegant Musings and Ashley from Lisa Freemont Street. After perusing all these gorgeous dos, I decided that it was time for a much-needed change. I wanted something that allowed me to more easily manage and achieve my favorite vintage hairstyles like victory rolls, pageboy styles, pompadours, skullcap coiffures, continuous rolls and the rocket. I was wary of having my hair cut in such a way that would allow me to carry out these styles simply because there really isn't any stylists in this area who specialize in vintage hairstyling. Luckily, I finally came across a wonderful book that has been out of print, Daniela Turudich's 1940's Hairstyles, which contains authentic 40's haircut diagrams for stylists to use when cutting hair.

So, since I have a clear picture of exactly what I'm wanting and a diagram to achieve that, I'm taking the plunge on Saturday and getting a middy plus cut! The cut I've chosen will layer my hair to about 4.5 inches in length, leaving it stopping right above my shoulders, with a flattering slight U shape at the bottom, which works perfect for vintage styling but still allows for modern styles when needed. Since I have naturally curly hair, I think this length will work perfect for wearing natural or in hot rollers. My hair is currently about 5 inches past my shoulders at the moment, so that means I will be having roughly 4 inches cut from my length.

Betty Grable. Image courtesy of Coluna da Sal.

Hedy Lamarr. Image courtesy of Fan Pop.

Elizabeth Taylor. Image courtesy of Elizabeth Taylor Collection.

Rita Hayworth. Image courtesy of NNDB.

Vivien Leigh. Image courtesy of All Posters.

Bette Davis. Image courtesy of Silver Screen Suppers.

Carole Lombard. Image courtesy of FMO.

I'll be sure to post again after I've gotten the cut with my new look. Wish me luck!

XOXO, Crystal

I'm back from vacation, rejuvenated and refreshed!

I finally made it back from Myrtle Beach and took a few days off afterwards to just spend time with the family and take it easy. Now that I'm back, I will share some details of my trip and our Independence Day holiday with you!

The weather at the beach was perfect while we were there and it didn't rain a bit. It was even not as humid as I had planned on it being, since I used to live in that area years ago and remember how hot and muggy summers can be there! Our hotel was wonderful and we enjoyed quite a bit of sun, sand, the ocean, and the pool in between shopping and sight-seeing. Dinner the first night was at the wonderful Johnny Rockets inside Broadway at the Beach. We were lucky enough to catch the new Pirates Voyage show which was spectacular as well as see the beautiful Sky Wheel on the boardwalk at 9th Avenue. We took a lovely late-night stroll along the tree-lined and lighted streets inside Market Common and enjoyed the lighted fountains. On our last day there we also made sure to play a round of miniature golf at Captain Hook's, then went to the boardwalk and saw a spectacular fireworks show outside Landshark Bar & Grill. One of the highlights of the trip was getting the chance to shop at American Vintage which is inside Barefoot Landing. I was able to pick up a few items from there that were fabulous! The crowds weren't nearly as bad as I thought they would be and we had a great time. My family and I plan on trying to go back next summer if at all possible.

I hope you enjoy taking a peek at the photos from our trip. Stay tuned for more details, as I've got photos to share from a classic antique car show that we attended before our vacation, as well as some gorgeous vintage and antique finds that I was lucky to come across!

The view from our balcony room

Gage body surfing

Gage in one of the many pools at the hotel

Yours truly and Gage waiting for dinner at Johnny Rockets

Fabulous figurines housed inside American Vintage

A gorgeous classic car inside American Vintage

One of many planes on display inside Market Common

One of many water fountains inside Market Common

Gage playing in the fountain

One of the tree-lined and lighted streets inside Market Common

Captain Hook's ship

The Landshark Bar and Grill

The Sky Wheel at 9th Avenue pier

Preston and Gage celebrating Independence Day

Yours truly caught laughing at something (though I can't remember what)!

Pretty sparkles and lights!

XOXO,
Crystal

Vintage, Antique and Reproduction Birthday Goodies!

This past weekend was my birthday, and my family took me out Saturday for a day of antique and vintage shopping in Hendersonville and Asheville, NC. I had such a wonderful time! We enjoyed the Main Street Side Walk Antique Show and lunch at Mikes on Main, where I had a delicious grilled ham and swiss on wheat with sweet potato fries and a peanut butter milkshake! Last, but not least, I stopped by Honeypot, Vintage Moon and Hip Replacements in Asheville where I picked up some beautiful vintage finds! I hope you enjoy looking at all my wonderful birthday goodies I came across!

Jukebox inside Mike's on Main that played great 50's hits!

Just one of the many apothecary shelves inside Mike's on Main

Lunch sign inside Mike's on Main above pickup counter

Antique Biltmore Dairy sign inside Mike's on Main

Antique Coca-Cola sign inside Mike's on Main

Antique Coca-Cola sign inside Mike's on Main

Some Fraggle Rock stuffed animals for sale at Dancing Bear Toys

Antique compact I picked up at the Antiques show

Antique brooch I picked up at the Antiques show

Antique brooch I picked up at the Antiques show

Antique earrings I picked up at the Antiques show

Antique turtle figurine I picked up at the Antiques show (I love turtles!)

Antique watch I picked up at the Antiques show

A vintage skirt I picked up at an area yard sale near my home on the way to NC


A Trollied Dolly dress I picked up from Hip Replacements


A vintage dress I picked up from Vintage Moon

A vintage crinoline I picked up at Honeypot


A vintage dress I picked up at Honeypot

XOXO,
Crystal

I Want Wednesday

Wednesdays feature items I've come across lately that I'd love to have, be it vintage couture, household items, a musical selection, a perfectly arranged coiffure, and everything else in between!

I want...

An antique cocktail set for entertaining guests with lavish parties!

I have some plain old glass cosmopolitan glasses, but they aren't vintage and don't have cute little designs on them like these.

1950's Libby cocktail Cosmos dessert cordial glassware set from The Vintage Green

I want...

More vintage clothing that features suspenders.

I only have a few vintage pieces which have suspenders, but I'd love to find some more, especially a pair of shorts and a pair of wide leg trousers, as mine are all just skirts.

1940's/1950's deadstock cotton seersucker high waisted pinup shorts with suspenders from Butch Wax Vintage

I want...

An uber-feminine and completely girly day dress!

I would love to have a cute full circle dress like this with a petticoat or two underneath, preferably one pink and one white!

1940's/1950's vintage day dress from Vintage Blue Moon

I want...

Yet another tattoo.

I'd like to find a mermaid tattoo similar to the ones below to have inked on either the middle of my back where there's still free space, or wrapped around my torso. I think these would work well with the beach and sailor pinup girls I already have on each of my shoulder blades.

Image courtesy of F Yeah Tattoos

Image courtesy of Sweet Ash Thoughts

My first bikini pinup tattoo on my left shoulder blade, which is about 4 years old.

My newest sailor girl pinup which is on my right shoulder blade which is about a year old.

And last, but not least, I want...

To see Adele in concert!

I was so excited to hear that Adele was going to be coming to my area this month, and on my birthday no less! Sadly, I didn't find out until after tickets had already sold out. Unfortunately, she had to cancel the tour due to laryngitis. Maybe I'll be able to catch her again next year!

Image courtesy of Couture Arabesque