.
1920s
Lingerie Inspiration
Vintage lingerie makes us swoon in delight! It’s no wonder there is so much of it around nearly 100 years later: beautifully crafted, it’s delicate but strong, and it makes the wearer feel extra naughty knowing she has these secrets hiding beneath her smart dresses! There are so many different types of underthings to consider, [...]
Erotica Inspiration
Here’s a bit of NSFW eyecandy, featuring French postcards, photos of Ziegfield girls, and girls from naughty stories.
Storyville Photos & Music (NSFW)
On May 29th, Vintage Vivant will present an evening of Hot Jazz, sex and sin inspired by Storyville, vintage lingerie and secrets of the boudoir. Before we get to the eyecandy of inspiration posts, we present a little history lesson about New Orleans and it’s infamous Red Light District. In the early 20th century, photographer [...]
Easterbunny Hijinks
Well, kittens – the Bunnyhop Bash was a blast and a half! The Easterbunny himself was there! We all ate too much candy, guzzled giggle-water, and did the Bunnyhop with Fatbottom Cabaret! Best Easter Sunday ever? Yeah, we would say so! Check out the fabulousness and hilarity from the photobooth! Your loving hostesses in our [...]
Bunny Hop Bash!
This Sunday, April 24th at 9pm, please join us at The Swan Dive for The Bunny Hop Bash, featuring The Fat Bottom Cabaret and Djamberry Caravan. The ladies of the Fat Bottom Cabaret will be donning bunny ears and hoppin’ their way into your heart, while Djamberry Caravan will swing well into the evening. We [...]
Eastertime in Flapperland!
It’s no secret that Easter is kind of a big deal for your hostesses, so imagine our delight when we deduced that the next Vintage Vivant fell smack dab on Easter Sunday! Could it be anymore perfect? To our way of thinking, there’s no better holiday (save maybe New Year’s Eve?) to show off your [...]
The Golden Photobooth
Wowie wow-wow and double shazam, cats! The photos from last Sunday are just so amazing, it’s hard to even know where to start – every single one is just so gorgeous! I’ve chosen a heaping handful of absolute faves here, but they’re all so fabulous, be sure to check out the full set over at [...]
Gilded Lillies
Our eyes are still half-blinded from the dazzle of so many gorgeous creatures flitting about like gilded butterflies under the soft light of Swan Dive’s crystal chandeliers. Once again, everyone turned it out in fine style! Sugar-daddies and jazz-babies alike jitterbugged and lindy-hopped to the Eastside Dandies, who really are just the eel’s hips – [...]
Sponsor Spotlight
Some of you have been inquiring to Vintage Vivant headquarters with pleas for wardrobe help for the Paper Moon event. Fear not, unclothed masses! Today, with the help of Amelia’s Retro-Vogue & Relics vintage store, we have put together several looks from the 1920s, 30s and 40s using a simple black dress. You at least own [...]
Talking Machines – Phonograph Documentary
Greetings modern anachronists and fellow phonograph enthusiasts! I have an exciting documentary to introduce to you. Bison Grass Films from the UK is making a film about modern-day phonograph collectors and creators. They are traveling this spring through the UK, Australia, Japan and the USA to find collectors & the like to interview. I am [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt. 21
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Forbidden kisses: captured through the gauzy curtains. Captured between gentlemen. Marlene Dietrich in a tux and top hat, Morocco (1930). Queen Christina (1933) starring Garbo as the queen. Queen Christina, also. Lean over that fruit bowl, baby girl! A kiss between servicemen, in [...]
Phonograph Girl Tattoo
After seven months of appointments and healing time, my phonograph girl tattoo is finished! What began as a chalk sketch in 2008, quickly became the cover of #4 of my zine This lead to a sharpie sketch by Nick, and eventually, ink to skin. Video Describing the First Sitting Video Describing the Second Sitting Nick [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt. 20
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! This week’s theme is passionate, uncomfortable kisses The kind where the teeth clank together. Where faces are obscured by the light. Wherein hands clasp backs of necks, And noses press into noses, And the smells of fish dinners, of champagne, comingle And the [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt. 19
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Welcome to this week’s series: the awkward third. Here is a typical awkward-third-party on the dance floor who are looking at the lusty couple. Can we take this out to the veranda? This is the ultimate voyeur shot: the guard on the left [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt. 18
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Don’t muss Ms. Davis’s hair, she’s watching! Now, that’s better. Cowboy kiss from “Two Fister” (1927) – notice gun pointed at enemy. A kiss from behind the curtain (Unknown movie).
Kissing Film Stills, pt. 17
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! These stills are from The Love Trap (1929), one of the first films to use sound. This was an incredible movie – the first half was all silent with a musical score that punctuated the action. It also had only a few title [...]
Bathing Beauty
Now that it’s nearly 95F every day, I’ve started working on my 1920s bathing beauty inspiration board. In a hot place like Austin, it’s always wise to wear a bathing suit under your clothes at all times, because who knows when an impromptu pool dip at an unlocked apartment complex may be in order? Sometimes [...]
Flapper Dance Steps/Repetition
These two stills are from the chorus girl opening scene from “The Love Trap” (1929). Directly after this scene, the stage manager calls Mary (in the patterned bow) to the front to show everyone how she does the dance. He then says “If I ever catch any of you dancing like this, you’ll all be [...]
NYC, pt. 3 – Wit’s End
I have literally been planning a trip to NYC for years now in order to attend a Wit’s End event, hosted by the lovely Diane (left). I have been dreaming of starting my own 1920s themed night here in Austin, and Diane has been very kind and helpful about giving me pointers. Photos by Don [...]
May 5th, 2010
1920s cloche hat – Avalon, PDX, Oregon 1930s repro bow blouse with kittens drinking out of tea cups – Jitterbuggin on etsy 1950s dress worn as skirt Obviously I can’t get enough of these striped stockings Brown/Black Tstraps from Target I have a very small head (my mother always laughs at me) but it’s quite [...]
April 23rd, 2010
German glass bead earrings – made by me 1920s onesie as blouse – from Uncommon Objects, ATX 1970s Sailor Pants – Military Supply store, Seattle Green Greta Shoes – From Remixvintageshoes Here’s my spin on a 1930s Chorus Girl outfit – I’m ready to dance! I love this color of peach – and the garment [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt 12
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Jean Harlow’s sultry kiss behind a waterfall in Platinum Blonde (1931) Jean Harlow and Clark Gable in China Seas, 1935. I’m really smitten with capturing the woman looking on while her beau is embracing another lady. It’s so sad! Caution: there is a [...]
Kissing Film Stills, pt 11
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! This is the excessive kissing and lustful embraces installation of our 50 part series on preCode kisses. Sucks to you, Mr. Hays. Lustful grabbing. Excessive shadow kissing. Neck craning lustilly. This is a surge of kissing! Make it stop!
Kissing Film Stills, pt 10
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!! Bonjour tout le monde! Je suis en Paris this week but I shall keep you up to your ears in kissing film stills, nonetheless! Louise Brooks pulling back from an embrace. I think that’s a balloon she’s holding! A kiss captured among decomposing [...]
