Oh, gosh, what have I been up to? All of this heat makes the days melt together.
Taking the dog on long walks in the August heat to get zucchini tacos at El Chilito.
Listening to John Waters read his new book “Role Models” on my iPod everywhere: on the bus, on long walks, and passing endless hours at the DMV. In this, Waters recounts nearly everything, from his friendship with Leslie Van Houten and her life in jail to the brand and color of the pencil that he uses to draw on his signature pencil thin moustache. In honor of John Waters, I created a sundae this week called “Pink Flamingo,” which includes two tiny toy flamingos, pink sprinkles, and a Fingerstache temporary tattoo. So far only girls under 8 years of age have ordered it, which I think is kind of funny.
This is important: You must know about the Harlem James Gang! Snappy dressers, magic acts, catchy songs, and THE most handsome men I’ve ever seen! I hope they plan to come to Texas sometime in the future… but for now I’ll be jealous of all y’all who get to Huff with them.
Speaking of other male performers that I’m smitten by, I hope everyone was cheering for Prince Poppycock’s performance on America’s Got Talent yesterday.
In other reincarnation/timetravel news, I recently found out (via Darla Teagarden’s facebook feed) that my MOST favorite song from when I was a kid was not originally by Trout Fishing in America, as I had previously thought, but written in the 1930s and sung by a British radio and variety entertainers, Sovell and Wheldon. Warning! It’s a tongue-twister song that will be stuck in your head for days. Proceed with glee:
“Proper Cup Of Coffee” sung by Scovell & Wheldon 1934
Favorite filmstill I snapped this week: Marlene Dietrich, 1935 with teacup and upside-down heart kiss curls.
Prince Poppycock’s Striptease at Dances of Vice – be sure to watch until the end! Yow!
Fresh purple daisies pinned in my hair – Whole Foods Market
1930s raspberry sorbet dress – bought at Andrea’s insistence – good choice!
Black pointed shoes
For my 28th birthday, we attended a showing of The Thin Man at the Alamo and then went out for fancy cocktails at East Side Show room. Meghan from Sugar Tooth Bakery made me Red Velvet Cupcakes and they were divine!
This is Tony, my birthday twin. I am 3 hours older than he is! We always try and run into each other on our birthdays.
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!
Last week I watched Prix de Beauté (1930) with Louise Brooks. This film was planned as a silent, and Brook’s voice was dubbed by a French actress. I suppose one could refer to it as a “Creaky Talkie.” Brooks plays a secretary in a paper, her boyfriend is a typesetter. They fulfill the typical Parisian fare: eating in cafes, bathing on beaches, and beat up on their nerdy friend/sidekick. Along with being a story about a beauty contest, this film examines Brooks as a trapped bird guarded by an angry boyfriend.
One motif that occurs over and over is that his hat shields her face from the camera. He is possessive. We can tell by the way he greedily grabs her face. He also won’t let her sing in public. Here, he grabs her face again.
Of course, Louise won the prize of Miss France and went on to gagne Miss Europe. Her boyfriend was so angry!
This film had a lot of kisses, so stay tuned for pt 2 next week!
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!!
Returning the gaze.
I think he is wearing a dressing robe, from the silky collar and the funny print. Also, this is Joan Crawford (I can tell by the eyebrow).
Red Headed Woman (1932). I love this movie because she kisses so many people!
Red Headed Woman (1932)
From Battle of the Sexes (1928) This was a VERY very lusty scene.
Black/White polkadot earrings – little bows from craft store
1970s(?) ruffle blouse – thrifted
Man’s bow tie worn untied as necklace
overalls from Urban Outfitters via Buffalo Exchange
Pointy flats are Bellewether’s originally
I put a second coat on my manicure – I love it! I’ve worked two really intense days at the Toy Store and it hasn’t chipped at all. I’m sold. Tonight Belleweather and I are going to see “Night Nurse” at the Alamo. I’ve seen it before on the PreCode DVD collection but never on the big screen!
1930s lingerie blouse with peach and cream lace – Antique Mall in PDX
Overalls – Urban Outfitters by way of Buffalo Exchange
Striped stockings
1940s shoes – Magpie Vintage, PDX
This is my Mary Pickford face.
I love these stockings. I feel like a crazy cartoon spider when I wear them, because they elongate my (already) long legs. These 1940s shoes are quite cartoonish, as well. They are a size 10AAA, which means loooong and skinny, just perfect for my Ozarkian feet. This isn’t quite mentioned in polite society, but most girls birthed at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains are often born with large flippery feet so that they might become gifted in creek hoppin,’ peach tree climbin,’ and other activities that involve truncatin’ the g. Oh, and they also remind me of this LOVELY photo of a Storyville Prostitute.
Since I obviously cannot get out of this 1930s chorus girl niche that I’ve grooved myself into, here are some more inspirational screen shots of the gals doing what they do:
Top Left: Screen cap of Dancing Lady (1933) with Joan Crawford in the center. My second favorite element of 1930s chorus girl movies is stopping the frame and photographing the rehearsal tap dancing outfits because they are so varied and interesting. Sometimes it’s a blouse and shorts, sometimes a onesie, sometimes a very short dress.
Bottom Left: Of course, in the final performance, the ladies all wear identical outfits. I like this little tuxedo suit number, it’s quite charming. This photo is from It’ll Take the Snap Out of Your Garters!, one of THE best vintage resources on the planet and run by one of my most favorite sassy ladies, Amy. Please pay her a visit if you’ve never seen her blog. You will be overwhelmed (in a good way).
Here are two large-scale embroideries that I’ve been working on lately. They are a mixture of 1910/1920s original embroidery patterns (that I got from Angeliska for my 27th birthday) and 1930s film stars. Helen Kane is used as the base to make the Sob Sister’s face.
Sob Sister 10 inches x 10 inches
hand embroidery on vintage pillow ticking, pastel
Tea’s Too Hot
8 inches x 10 inches
hand embroidery on vintage pillow ticking
When I watch movies, I always take pictures of the kissing scenes!!
Unknown, 1930s
I’m pretty sure this is James Cagney
Oh so sweet! Lookit their chicken dinner and her apron.
Face Smoosh!
Unknown, 1930s
Pearl and green glass earrings – made by my sister
Vintage lace collar
1930s Velvet Dress – Buffalo Exchange (I added the buttons)
Striped stockings – www.sockdreams.com
Shiny mary janes
My flapper afro is slowly coming back… This is how I fluff it up… by running my hands in small circles until it puffs up.
Flapper/Afro Inspirations:
Allene Ray
Probably one of my most favorite photos, ever.
A very coquette photo of Alla Nazimova Madge Bellamy From some ukulele sheet music I have, called “Brown Eyes, Why Are You Blue?”
Joyce Compton in 1925
Navy beret that I sewed pearls on. I got the idea from Karin of http://www.blog.lilyofthevalley.se when she did the same!
Orange paper flowers
Pearl/Glass earrings – made by my sister
Vintage navy jacket – Austin clothing swap
Green belt – Decades Vintage, PDX
1930s flame colored dress – ebay
Remix vintage shoes
I bought this dress on ebay with the original intention of cutting out the pattern and using the shape as a projection screen as part of my MFA thesis. It’s difficult to capture on film, but this fabric is absolutely luminous and glossy – it burns with so many colors! However, the projection idea proved too obtuse, and luckily, was scrapped. The dress remained, quiet, in my closet. The first strange thing I noticed about this dress was that the piping around the pockets and sleeves is the sweetest color of periwinkle. But, I’ve never ever even thought to pair periwinkle with orange, but I think it looks quite lovely. I also like how the breast pockets look like folded envelopes! One thing I wish I could change about the dress is the length. It has a full zipper, like that of a house dress, fancy as though this fabric may be. It was probably a glorified dressing gown. We just got these paper flowers in at my work. I had a fun time today moving them from my hair to my blazer and back again. I got them in almost every color so brace yourselves to see some in the next few posts. My remix shoes are still pleasing me with every time I wear them! These got a little beat up in the back when I rode on my bicycle. Now my favorite! The sleeves! These are the kind of poofy sleeves I draw on all of my cartoon girls:
I think in this image I was literally chanting “Puffy sleeve! Puffy sleeve!” in a muppet voice.
The first time I wore the dress, Halloween, 2007: I was posing as a living mannequin inside and outside of Decades Vintage Clothing in downtown Portland. I started out in the window, but I am too tall for most people walking by to notice. When people made eye contact with me, I winked at them! When I posed outside, two men pulled on my fingers to see if I was real. I held a dish of candy and whispered Enjoy when people took a piece. One woman yelled the loudest I’ve ever heard in real life. Her friends laughed at her. Two business men tipped me.
Favorite filmstill I snapped this week: Marlene Dietrich, 1935 with teacup and upside-down heart kiss curls.
