The corset fashion show a few months back not only inspired the waist cincher, but as well to have made a reversible skirt with pockets! Laurie patiently worked with me, and my silly choice of fabric which was chosen purely to match my shoes, as this dress no longer fits me. Here is what she produced. Lovely.
The greatest appeal to the design of this skirt for me is the vast adjust-ability of the waist. Check out how to put it on. Tie and tie, it just may fit forever! Simply genius waist fit.
I have plans to make a sun top and a hat using vintage patterns with this fabric to match. Now to find the time…
I should probably start wearing nylons or stockings, but frankly they bother me and when I wear them I feel extreme irritation and like I could punch somebody in the face. Either way how un-pinup-like of me.
Speakeasy Photos
MUA: Alyssa Plough
Hair:Self
Swimsuit is a Ross find from a few years ago. Poetic License heels. Skirt made by Laurie Tavan
Asian Dress 1
I made a threesome purchase of Asian dresses from OLL Facebook group, yes I know after I said I would only buy in person. I could not pass up three for $60 deal. They fit like a tight glove, and therefor will not be practical for anything save taking pictures lest I bust a seam. Sad face, they would have been cute for dancing. Shane has concluded it ought to be a sin to store vintage garments folded up, because we cannot get some set in wrinkles out of the silk!
Speakeasy Photos
MUAH: Danyelle “The Hair Maverick” Johnson
Perspective
Has life ever laid you out on your back, leaving you wondering what the hell just happened? That’s what it could look like. I wish I looked that good when life lays me out. Isn’t persepctive and angle everything when you sit out to do a second take on your life?
Get low, on the ground to be exact. Now twist. I’ve talked before about camera angles and body positioning can do to much to flatter the body, or make it look worse than imagined in real life. I still have not nailed perfect posing and posture and most of what we shoot are throw-aways. You all see about one twentieth-forieth if what we shoot.
I love music, and the songs I listen to can shift my perspective about life’s choices as well. A friend of ours recently referred to listening to Country music as if someone is emotionally dry humping him. I have to agree that it can evoke emotions, as meant to in this tradition of storytelling so close to my heart. Big Band Swing era music tells some pretty risque stories. For the life of me, lover of Country, Big Band, and Southern Rock music, and yet local Rockabilly bands grind on my nerves! Or are they Psychobilly? Sorry guys, I tried listening to one band scheduled to play Mass while processing three photo shoots’ material, and I thought I was going to crawl outta my skin. I cannot stand it to even listen and hear any message. Early Rock-n-Roll ruckus? Noise, irritating noise. I am entirely nervous about having to be around this music twelve hours at Midnight Mass. They ought to have booked Lost Dog Found, in my opinion, but what do I know? I prefer Country and Big Band, Country in particular. Right now, Sam Hunt who may be noted as Southern Rock in the tradition of Colt Ford’s recent fleet, has me squirming in my chair in a different way. Southern Rock in a way that…listen to that sexiness on Spotify and you may get what I’m talking about. I don’t care what the feminists say, chauvinism can be hot. I mean, have you heard Chase Rice‘s “Ready Set Roll”? Raw male honesty best heard off the radio, “Get your little fine ass on the step. Shimmy up inside.” Men I adore in my family would lovingly say similar. I endearingly receive these words and understand the heart behind them. I get it, and goofy as it sounds in those words I hear a message of genuine fondness. Tone or delivery trumps actual words, right? Psychologize or condemn me, but this is one of many oddities driving my life.
I’ve heard tell that a woman reaches her sexual peak at the age of thirty. I must be feeling the climb, because most of those songs on Sam Hunt’s top five should not be that sexy, but I experience them that way and suddenly hear a man’s singing voice on the air waves differently. Never ever moved me before, and I dated a musician. He told me he’d never sing a song for me since his voice was for God, and it didn’t phase me because the fact he had musical talent had nothing to do with my affection for him, to me it was just something he did and whatever don’t bother me talking about it. I’d rather sit with your soul and listen to you talk out your thoughts than take your God song. Keep what is yours, I will not ask for it. Anyway, have other women experienced such a shift at this age? Curious to hear about it, do tell.
Speakeasy Photos
MUA: Alyssa Plough
Hair: Self
Dig my authentic 1940s vintage heels? Racks Boutique in Midtown, baby!
Bullet Dress Floral
Miss Midnight Mass 2014 has my head immersed in the dichotomy of good girl vs. bad girl and what sets each apart. I definitely find a real difference in posing and attitude in facial expression far more convincing than outfit. However, there’s no denying what an outfit can do for a gal. They say a person forms their opinion of you within the first ninety seconds of meeting. I had thought to wear one outfit during the day and change into another for evening. Shane thinks I should ditch the car show element and show up in the late afternoon, fresh for the pageant. I am determined to make the whole day. When I meet this crowd, I need to be full blown in my look all day. That’s twelve or thirteen hours! So I’ve been wondering with thoughts such as, can you make a circle skirt look bad girl? Do I need to rip a slit up between these color blocks to pull it off? Pants look “bad girl” but car shows tend to be populated by men, who in my experience prefer a lady in a dress. My closet newly evaluated, I am certainly a circle skirt fan with zero wiggle dresses and only two sarong style, which Shane has informed me is fun island-beach, not bad girl. I definitely have a dichotomy of good vs. bad girl within. Managing that is a dance. I am still learning how to dance with myself within that dichotomy. Preparing for this pageant is masaging out true colors. I wonder the inward battle the other nineteen experience as they approach a similar challenge to own one or the other, good or bad. I’m certainly a mix, preferring to lend heavier to the good.
Feminine, comfortable, what more can a gal ask for in a dress? I simply love Bernie Dexter, but these are sample dresses that I believe did not make it to production. I’m sure you can find similar on her site should you take an interest. I dig the vintage hat and gloves paired with the dress in the first image. Mid-century sophistication is so attractive. Accessorize, ladies! The first photo I got the hat at an Antique Fair in Folsom and gloves on OLL, the shoes authentic vintage as well from Racks Boutique in Midtown Sac, 1940s to be exact. The sandals in these pictures I found at Burlington Coat Factory.
Speakeasy Photos
MUA: Alyssa Plough
Hair: Self
Bullet Dress Red
I finally have a dress made to wear with my bullet bra! Well, I actually have two dresses now of the same design but different fabric, both by Bernie Dexter. Most of my dress wardrobe is by Bernie Dexter. I very much enjoy her designs, but more importantly the fit. Which is why I am developing this theory to shop by designer or seamstress who has similar body type as yours to achieve the best understanding of fit, same reasons I love Cassandra Cadillac so much. She gets my body, and it shows in her work. I was a bit disappointed that the skirt on this dress is A-line and not a circle, which would be prettier for dancing. That being said, these are lovely and most comfortable for daily wear to feel feminine and at ease! I received many compliments when I wore it downtown for fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Speakeasy Photos
MUA: Alyssa Plough
Hair: Self
I am on Instagram now as well! Still trying to figure it out…
Happy Independence Day, USA!
Favorite Fourth of July memories seem to harvest out of the teen years. Have I mentioned I worked at In-N-Out? Celebrations are better savored when it is known you may not get to have them. A few months back I was pretty thrilled to find this forty-eight star flag at the Folsom Antique Fair. I bought this Tara Starlet skirt, careful they run small, off another gal on OLL Facebook group. The beads were Gigi’s. The sailor shirt below I purchased used off a pro dancer friend, she wore it in a performance, but I totally dig it to wear any time! Burlington Coat Factory for the shoes.
Speakeasy Photos
MUAH: Self
Perhaps more lovely Independence Day celebrations are in my future.
Bad Girl or Good Girl?
Upcoming Miss Midnight Mass pageant is casting ten “good girl” and ten “bad girl” contestents, who falls where is up to the organizers. I’m not so sure I make such a great “bad girl”.
What do you think?
Good Girl
Miss Midnight Mass 2014 may choose me to be in their top twenty to compete in person. If selected, they also will cast me as one of ten “good girls” or “bad girls”. I think I make a pretty good “good girl”.
What say you?
Drum Roll, Please
Miss Midnight Mass 2014 pageant has been cast, and I am
B…b…bad girl! I am so thrilled to be among the twenty lovelies in this pageant! Now to settle on an outfit….
Develop
I’ve been sorting our pinup photos for some time now, but time I learn to develop our images. I’ve been playing with available functions featured in SmugMug lightroom. Here are my first attempts. Amazes me how different images can become with post-production.
Speakeasy Photos
Styled by Laurie Tavan out of her personal collection Daze of Laur
MUA: Self
Hair: Five days old by Danyelle “The Hair Maverick” Johnson
Dad’s Bop Entry Photos
I made mention of some vintage prom dresses acquired in anticipation of a pinup contest requiring contestants to wear authentic vintage gowns. Since the contest never occurred, and we were required to submit photos previously not published, I thought to share my photo entries here. Put them to use.
Above is my dad’s truck, Roger Driver, which I thought to be appropriate given the name of the event. I am wearing a Stop Staring play suit, put on my own makeup, and my mom french braided my hair. Below I am wearing authentic 1950s vintage frames acquired at the Sacramento Antique Faire, authentic 1950s vintage Simplicity dress acquired on OLL, and Irregular Choice Shoes. I sit upon a family heirloom chair with Nonnie’s authentic vintage table at my side which is topped with pieces from her collections as well as some mid-century magazines procured at the Sacramento Antique Faire. MUAH: Danyelle “The Hair Maverick” Johnson. I chose these images for this collection based on the variety of hair and wardrobe styles, as well as presence of vehicles, as the weekend was meant to be focused on classic rides.
I figure a car pageant entry would not be complete without an image of my own ride. Unique Vintage dress and authentic vintage head topper which belonged to GiGi. MUAH: Self
Speakeasy Photos
Oh, and I just received news that I have been selected to participate in Miss Midnight Mass 2014 alongside nineteen other lovely ladies. Will I be cast as a good girl, or a bad girl?
Vintage Prom Part 1
I purchased this dress with hopes to participate in a pinup contest requiring the contestants to don a vintage prom gown. Shopping online, I decided to play it safe and order three. This is by far my favorite, though some of the lace needs to be re sewn and I ought to press the satin sash. I spent time creating photos to submit photos to the contest, perhaps I should now post them here. Tremendous efforts are made to put on events, and having one canceled brings renewed appreciation for the events that are a success. You must have planned a birthday party at some point in your life, imagine guests by the hundreds or even thousands, that party requires a team. Though I must admit, my family appreciates the downtime a canceled event provides. I think my kids are a bit young to appreciate most car shows or dances, and while I look forward to the day they enjoy such activities, I am grounded enough to discover family fun that speaks to my littles and meets them as they are, and as we parents as we are. Preschoolers are exhausting.
Speakeasy Photos
MUAH: Danyelle “The Hair Maverick” Johnson
Shoes:Racks Boutique of Sacramento
Necklace: costume jewelry given to me by my Nana before she moved back to TN.
