Hair Experiments

Sometimes, it's fun to experiment with new things. 

 Like today, I tried a new setting pattern for a 50s swept back hair do.

 It certainly wasn't a perfect first try but you have to start somewhere.

I'm convinced that with more practice, I can do better.

Although I do quite like the way this side view looks. It was fun trying out something new.

 I paired my new do with a new 3/4 circle skirt and black turtle neck. I was going for a bit of late 50s early 60s glamor.

To add to the glam factor, I accessorized with my great-grandmother's vintage brooch and some sparkly lucite earrings.

What new hair style have you been dying to try?

Costume College: Thursday

Most people wear as much sweatshirt material on their person as possible while flying. I prefer a cute early 60s dress.

Alas, I did not get any pictures of me frolicking around in the airport or garment district in this dress so I wore it again on Sunday with my new petticoat for some pictures!

Fabric: quilting fabric ($5.50/yd)
 Pattern: Simplicity 4326
Year: early 1960s
Notions: buttons
First worn: August 2012
Wear again? Yes! And I'll probably sew with this pattern again! It's a great shirtwaist dress pattern and fits me wonderfully! With a different collar, it could easily work for 50s too.
Total cost: ~$20

I know sewing garments with quilting fabric is a big no no, but I just couldn't resist these cute little 50s/60s girls!

I wore my new crinoline and was super poofy! I do not recommend a crinoline for air travel though.

I paired this dress with a velvet vintage black belt.

Thursday night at Costume College was also the Carmen Miranda pool party. I didn't get any shots but here are a few from around the web.

From Lady Carolyn

Me and Lauren M. She had a great fringed white dress and butterfly turban like the one at the end of this post. I wore my Mexican blouse and my new Wearing History Rita shorts. These shorts will be getting their own in depth review post later but they are so awesome! At least there's still enough summer left to enjoy them properly.

From Val of Time Traveling in Costume

Me and Ginger. She also went 40s with a fabulous vintage chenille cape.

The Red Suitcase

Remember how I was drooling over this suitcase Amy Adams has in The Muppets?

Well, my husband very sneakily bought this one for me on etsy. Eeeep! It came from a darling little vintage etsy shop called Grand Manner.

I fell in love with this one! It was in great condition and look at the lining!

It's got roses woven into the fabric. And look, there's a little bag for holding small things and ties to hold your clothes down.

I couldn't resist tucking a few of my vintage dresses in there to see how the looked.

Cuteness!

Vintage and Knitting

I finished another knitting project from A Stitch in Time Vol. 2! I decided to go with something a bit more simple this time around and knitted a beret! I wasn't exactly thinking about what I could wear this with when I picked out my color of yarn but it happens to go great with this vintage dress.

This dress is something I haven't been able to fit into for a while but I put it on this week and it makes me feel amazing! No supportive undergarments needed.

I just pinned the beret onto my curled and brushed out hair and it looks super cute.

This pattern called for the hat to be knitted flat and then sewn up the back. My back seam was really ugly but the bow covers it nicely.

It was quite simple to knit up. Just knit stitches and the decreases made a lovely swirl pattern on the top.

And can I just say that it is really hard to photograph the back/top of your own head!

I hope the weather cools off so I can wear this beret again before summer hits. (It's knit out of wool.)

My computer has been acting really weird the last couple of days and I think it may be on it's last leg. I'm going to try and use it as long as it will last but if I disappear for many days, it probably kicked the bucket. I get facebook on my iPhone so feel free and pop over to my facebook page to stay up with all things Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart.

Pattern Love

Remember the great mail order patterns I got a while back? Here are some more patterns from that stash.

Sailor top! Score!

The sleeveless dress reminds me so much of 30s beach pjs.

As does this maxi dress!

Speaking of maxi dresses, I love this one too!

I adore the pleated skirt on this dress.

This dress looks chic and comfy.

These skirts are right up my alley!

Boxy jackets are not really me but there's still some potential here.

I think this is my favorite jacket pattern out of the lot. I love the collar and the pockets!

Mail Order!

One of my good friends gave me a whole bunch of cute vintage patterns that were found while thrifting! It appears that they were the pattern collection of one Mrs. Herman Schelling. I don't know anything about her except that had great tastes in fashion and was a 20 1/2 or 22 1/2. Oh, and she subscribed to a mail order pattern company.





I told you that she had great fashion sense! And I still have tons of more patterns from her.

I can't wait to make some of these lovelies up!

Fashion and Film: The Help

Last night my husband begrudgingly took me to see The Help (2011). It was a good movie (even he said so by the end!) An emotional drama set in the early 60s, The Help tells the story of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan an aspiring writer who sets out to tell the stories of the African American maids in Jackson Mississippi. With all the forces of a deep routed hierarchical system against her, will she succeed in finding women brave enough to tell their stories? If so, can she find a publisher? If so, what will the cost be to Eugenia and the women in her book? Will it make any difference? But don't worry, there's heaps of comedy to lighten the mood!

Eugenia generally has a more casual wardrobe but she does wear an evening ensemble when the occasion calls for it.

Celia has an adorable fun wardrobe. What is cuter than a yellow romper wit white piping?

She also looks great in pink and frills.

Aibileen and Milly are usually shown in maid uniforms but these girls sure work it when they dress for church!

Hilly is the "evil" character. I do love a devious brunette! It's so anti-stereotypical. And this dress is just darling! As the head of the Jackson it-girl click, she has some fabulous ensembles. Doesn't this dress look like Colette Pattern's Chantilly dress with a couple bows attached?

Yummy! I think I may need to keep my eye out for a nice pink rose print!

Hilly's mom was one of my favorite characters. She is very hilarious and is a bit over the top.

There are tons more late 50s/early 60s style dresses in this film but I couldn't really find very many pictures of them. Guess you'll all just have to go out and watch it!