Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty

I'm long overdue for a book review post! I used to do them fairly regularly, but between work and other obligations, the idea of reading for pleasure has definitely fallen by the wayside. That's why I couldn't be more thrilled to finally review this absolutely enchanting book – Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty.

Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty is a true delight. It's filled with photographs of sirens of the silver screen, as well as vintage makeup ads and even some contemporary references. It's the kind of text you can leaf through at your leisure or study with intent. The book's gorgeous layout alone would be enough for me to thoroughly enjoy it, but it's filled with tons of helpful tips from famous movie icons and beauty experts, too. Some of them might be a bit too dated even for the most dedicated of pinups to embrace, but surprisingly, many of mirror today's trends (i.e., contouring, using products you'd find in your cupboard for beauty treatments, etc.).

One of the passages I love most is actually in the introductory section:

Today, of course, 'vintage' has become the most wonderfully eclectic kind of umbrella term – to be embraced in whichever manner you chose. We can even mix styles and eras – why not? Vintage style is all about cherry-picking looks and techniques from the past and incorporating them into your own life. How you wear them is entirely up to you – it's your style, after all. 

This really speaks to me, as I've never liked the idea of feeling restricted when it comes to fashion or beauty. I love taking a little bit from all different kinds of styles to come up with something that's uniquely mine. Above all else, I think fashion and beauty should be fun, and while there are some "rules" that I like to follow because I think they make me feel my best, by no means do I think those are always going to be right for other people. And while I think vintage beauty regimens might have been a bit more strict than what we have today (maybe simply due to the sheer variety and the increased access we now have to find it), there are definitely parallels between those guidelines and the ones we tend to follow now.

Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty also proves that everything is cyclical. The ultra-thin eyebrows that women sported in the 1920s came back into fashion at the beginning of the new millennium. Highlighting and contouring were practices favored by Marlene Dietrich and Sophia Loren, and we all know how popular those have once again become. And while I think there was too much emphasis on correcting one's features that might be outside the "accepted standards" of beauty at that time, Instagram and YouTube beauty vloggers are forever astounding us with the transformative nature of makeup.

Personally, I'm not good with retro hairdos, and although I'm decent at doing vintage-inspired makeup, I know there's always something to learn. Of all the retro beauty books I own, this was definitely one of the most enjoyable (and least daunting) to read. If you want to start including some of these tips into your beauty routine – or if you simply want to be dazzled by some lovely photos – you can find Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty here!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To read some of my previous book review posts, click here!

Do you have a favorite vintage beauty trick? Or are there any beauty or vintage style books you think I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

Commuters

You might remember my dear friend, Henry, from other posts here on my blog (like this one from last fall or this springy set of photos). Henry moved to New York City and is now out on tour, so I don't get much of a chance to take photos with him anymore. But he happened to be home for a weekend in September and I was lucky enough to spend a fabulous day with him. We went to a really good estate sale, did some vintage shopping, had a delicious lunch, and then took these photos on my cute little street. As I get older, I seem to get more selective with the people I choose to spend my time with. But spending an afternoon with Henry is always an absolute delight. I just wish we could see each other more often!

In an effort to utilize more of my existing wardrobe – rather than constantly buying new stuff – I decided to remix this Mary Blair commuters print dress from Pinup Girl Clothing for the fall. One of my favorite way to get more use out of my dresses is to layer a top or a sweater over it. It works especially well with tops that look a bit too short with jeans, but a regular-length tee can work just as well if you roll up the bottom hem and tuck it into a wide belt. Ta-da! Your dress becomes a skirt, and no one will ever know!

Outfit Details

Jenny Dress in Mary Blair Commuters Print: Pinup Girl Clothing

Vintage hat: Jane Vintage (online store here)

Black boatneck top: Target

Heels: Aerosoles (similar)

Belt: from another dress

This month has been hard, but it's also been filled with some good things. I'm getting to work from home this week, Thanksgiving is almost here, and I feel refreshed and ready to get back to blogging. :) I may not love all the snow outside today, but I'm definitely looking forward to the holidays!

Have a great start to your week!

Minty Fresh

Fall may be officially upon us, but I'm still basking in the last bit of warm weather while it lasts – and spending as much time outside as possible. I bought this vintage dress months ago from Shermy, but it was just slightly too small at the time (sob!). Luckily, I was finally able to zip it up a few weeks ago... and immediately celebrated my victory with some ice cream.

It's nearly October (and today marks exactly 1 month until my birthday!), so I'm eager to start doing some fall things this weekend. It's supposed to rain for the rest of this week though, so if I'm stuck inside (which honestly wouldn't be the worst thing – it's a great excuse to stay snuggled in bed), I'll save the apple and pumpkin picking for later. I'm mainly just looking forward to taking time to breathe and enjoying the season.

Outfit Details

Dress: vintage (similar)

Charm bracelet: vintage (similar)

Heels: ModCloth (similar)

Boater hat: similar

Purple Plaid

Finding a cute vintage dress in my size is always a treat. I love a good plaid, especially in a colorway like this, and any vintage dress with oversized pockets and a matching belt automatically has me swooning. I usually like my skirts to be a little fuller, but I think this will be a great summertime go-to. This dress also provided the perfect backdrop for this adorable sparkly heart brooch from Match Accessories – which I've been wanting to show off forever, but I never had the right dress for it. Is it weird I feel sort of accomplished when I finally put together the perfect apparel pairing?

In other news, I'm slowly getting settled into my new routine and surroundings. So is Pumpkin, though I feel incredibly guilty leaving her alone all day while I'm at work. She's used to being around people most of the time (since both my parents and I were working from home), and I know it can't be easy for her to adjust to all of these changes. It's not easy for me either, but I'm sure it's more confusing for a little kitty cat. I know things will sort themselves out in good time... but patience is not a virtue I often possess, truth be told. Just another thing I need to work on...

Outfit Details

Vintage dress: Simply Vintage/Stutterin' Mama

Heart brooch: c/o Match Accessories (other colors here)

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Boater hat: similar

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Rosette

I'm feeling sort of indifferent towards Valentine's Day this year. Don't get me wrong; I really enjoy the kitsch of this particular holiday, and any excuse to eat a lot of candy and celebrate the people you love is always great. But I don't really know what (if anything) I'll be doing – other than perhaps going out for brunch with my best friend – and I feel neither bitter about nor excited by February 14th. I guess I just have no expectations, and maybe that's okay. If it ends up being a delightful day, then that's wonderful. And if it's not, then I won't be disappointed. Managing my expectations is actually a goal of mine this year, and there's no better time than the present. This all sounds sort of depressing, but it isn't meant to be. I actually just feel sort of content about the whole thing. Whatever will be, will be (a rare sentiment for an anxious, sensitive person!)... and if nothing else, I will have Reese's peanut butter hearts. So that's enough of a reason to rejoice.

This dress (which actually might be more of a nightgown?) is a vintage find I snagged from one of the clothing swap + sell groups I belong to on Facebook. If you're trying to hunt down a specific piece or are a vintage-lover, I highly recommend seeking out some of these groups, since oftentimes items are listed there before eBay or Etsy. I'm honestly not 100% happy with this outfit (i.e., I wish I could find my nude slip and wore a different cardigan), but I like that it's a bit dreamy and romantic, and it's a bit of a departure from what I've worn as of late. The rose brooch is also vintage, and reminds me SO much of my late-Grandma (peach was her favorite color, and for whatever reason, the pin immediately spoke to me). Wearing vintage pieces already makes me feel like I'm carrying a bit of the original owner(s) around with me, and I love the idea of being able to wear someone's history and continue it by giving a piece new life. And being reminded of someone you love while wearing a vintage piece is even better!

Outfit Details

Vintage dress/nightgown: Facebook group

Brooch: Sweet Bee Finds

Cardigan: ModCloth

Hair flower: similar

Heels: similar

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Autumn leaves

As much as I try to deny it, fall is slowly turning into winter every day – which means that I'm savoring it for as long as possible. My friend Henry and I took these photos early last month, but I hadn't had a chance to post them 'til now. Henry recently posted a photo of his awesome necktie on his Instagram, and I realized that it would coordinate with this new-to-me vintage dress pretty perfectly! So we decided to have a day of antique-ing and photo-ing in our matching outfits before he moved away to New York City. 

The leaves are pretty much all gone now, and I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week(!??!). November has really flown by. I'm not really looking forward to the freezing cold weather that winter in Rochester always brings, but I am excited for things to come, like the holidays. And the fun outfits that happen around that time. I think next month may be entirely filled with Christmastime apparel... I hope you can stand all the holiday cheer! ;)

Outfit Details

Vintage dress: from Kate

Heels: estate sale store

Brooch: vintage

Have a great day!