Beige for burlesque

Well, that subject doesn't sound very exciting, does it? Hopefully all these outfit posts aren't getting too monotonous - I know it can get a bit that way with nothing else in between. I have some other posts planned but I'm chipping away at them slowly, trying to get my brain in the right space for them.

So, for now, another outfit post shall have to suffice! I wore this when I went to see Oh Crumbs! at Gluttony, an excellent burlesque show put on by my friend Clara Cupcakes, and her partner in crime, as it were, Miss Jane aka Milk and Cookies. I can't remember the last time I laughed as hard, or for as long, as I did that night. Lots of cheering, too.

My hair is getting quite long...but still not long enough! My stern face is telling my hair to grow hair, grow. I really love the collar on this dress, too. Maybe it's more greige than beige? Hmmm.

Last week Savers had a 50% off sale (clothes, accessories, etc.) so, of course, I had to go! I didn't see this dress on my first go around the store but, before I went home, I made sure to go back just to double check. And I saw this on the rack. It's got a couple of holes and I'm not into florals or neutral colours for an entire dress, so I just wasn't sure. But I tried it on and it looked pretty great so, at $5, I figured...why not? I really like it with these rust-coloured tights. I tried pairing it with some brighter tights but these worked best. Nice and Autumnal, no?

Oh, and the colours on this Supernatural badge just went so well with the dress. (The badge is from PeppersPins on etsy). I have a few other badges from her shop, but this one is probably my favourite.

Hopefully it won't be too long until I get the more in-depth posts done and back into a somewhat regular blogging schedule!

Two Vintage Suitcases

I had this post set up for when I was meant to be away and it's been sitting in my drafts since my plans changed. As I'm off on a short trip over the weekend and part of next week, I decided to publish this post and hopefully I'll have a lot more to post about when I get back!

I love vintage suitcases. There is something inherently charming about them, I think. Wondering who owned it before and where they went with it. Looking at the dents and scratches and so on. Solanah's guest post inspired me to post my own (much smaller) 'collection'.

These are my two vintage suitcases, one of which I was given as a gift, the other I happened upon in an op-shop whilst looking for books.

The first one was found in an op-shop - as I said, I went in looking for books and nearly didn't look around the whole shop. Luckily, I did and I found this lovely little thing sitting on the floor and promptly picked it up to buy. I'm currently using it to store some of my Barbie collection - it's the perfect size for all my childhood dolls.

I love the little witch silhouette on this one.

The bigger suitcase below was given to me as a gift from my dad's partner - she'd had it since she was using it in the 1950s. (The photos were also taken on my newest camera before I'd read the manual so I didn't yet know how to control all the settings properly.) This one is home to most of my coats.

I honestly can't imagine travelling with this, except maybe on a road trip, because it's so heavy. But gorgeous.

Who else loves and/or collects vintage suitcases? (Not sure I'd exactly call myself a collector, yet - I'll wait until I have a third or maybe a fourth.)

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

The photos of Gjon Mili

Hello, lovely readers! I must apologise for the silence here over the past week. I've been sorting out things for a trip I'm going on in less than a couple of months and in the midst of making plans, booking things and queuing up posts for while I'm away, I completely forgot about posting while I'm still here! For now, here is a post I've had saved in my drafts for one of those 'rainy days' and I will be back to regular (by my standards, anyway) blogging, soon.

I was searching through the LIFE archives for a photo I could use for the cover of a mix that I made (I was searching for photos related to 'dance') when I noticed these gorgeous photos by Gjon Mili of a Caribbean dance contest in the 1950s. (The captions on all of the photos are taken directly from the LIFE Archive pages & the photos all link back to this source.)

Two unident contestants dancing dancing in Caribbean dance contest, New York, NY, US, 1950

Two unident contestants dancing dancing in Caribbean dance contest, New York, NY, US, 1950

I think this one (above) is my favourite - I wish I could find more information on them.

Two unident contestants dancing dancing in Caribbean dance contest, New York, NY, US, 1950

When I decided I should look at more of his work I found all of these gorgeous stroboscopic images - it's clear that he was fascinated by movement and capturing it in his work. What I love most is that it's evident not just through these images below but through the ones I showed above as well.

Dancer Gene Kelly showing off his balletic grande jetee in this stroboscopic studio study, New York, NY, US, 1944

Stroboscopic image of ballerina Nora Kaye performing a pas de bourree, New York, NY, US, 1947

Stroboscopic image of model lying on back & dropping arm w. hand & fingers in relaxed position during sleep, New York, NY, US, 1943

It was also pleasing to find out he was responsible for one of my very favourite photos...

Professional dancers Willa Mae Ricker & Leon James show off the Lindy Hop, New York, NY, US, 1943

And I thought I'd finish off with a cat photo...

Gjon Mili's cat Blackie being hugged by nightclub entertainer Maune de Revel, New York, NY, US, 1946

It was quite difficult to not include every single photo that I found of his, I must admit. Not only are the stroboscopic images somewhat hypnotic but the lighting in all of his photos is quite exquisite. You can see more of his stroboscopic images here and a quick google search will bring up more of his other work, as well.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

You Spin Me Right Round #2

I'm finally getting around to posting the second part of my record collection. Today, I bring you my picture sleeve 45s (though I do believe 7" is the term more used, now, referring to the size rather than speed) - some were bought because the covers were neat, others because I love the song.

This was one of the 'this cover is neat' buys - I loved her hair and the simple graphic layout. I was pleased to find out she is an Italian pop singer I'd never heard of as I'm quite fond of Italian pop music of the 1960s (such as Rita Pavone, Mina, Adriano Celentano, et al) - the songs on this EP are in Italian, English and German I think.

This was another 'neat cover buy' which then inspired one of my musical interlude posts once I listened to the record. I still haven't hunted down more of their music, yet, but I do love what I've heard. I suppose it fits in with the folk revival of the 50s/60s that I love quite a lot.

I only enjoy a handful of Belafonte's recordings but I think he had a gorgeous voice (and face) and this pink cover with yellow and white writing is incredibly pleasing to me, aesthetically. 

I like The Mills Brothers a lot. That's the only story I have for this one.

I love the endearing goofiness that many early 60s vocal group record covers seem to have. Maybe goofy isn't quite the right word but there's something about this that tickles me. I don't mind their music, either.

This one belonged to my uncle's first wife...somehow it ended up in my mum's collection and I slipped it into my own collection a few years ago. (Mum doesn't mind...I've done this with a few of her records, now.)

Now I think this one is definitely on the goofy side of things...

A Swinging Safari is one of my favourite pieces of music and I just have to giggle at this cheesy cover. 

This is an EP from Toldi Maria and all I can find out about her is that she's Hungarian. She seems to have a site but it's all in Hungarian...I picked this one up because I loved her hair/dress/guitar. And ended up enjoying the songs a lot. Unfortunately it has that ugly brown tape on it...luckily it seems to be coming away without ripping the cover!

This is one of my all-time favourite finds in terms of the cover. I've always loved hearts so I snatched it up as soon as I saw it. The songs are pretty cute, too.

How amazing is everything on this cover?! I'm coveting her hair and all of the furniture. A great '80s tribute to the '60s, I think. The song is cool, too.

I'm not keen on the '88 remix of Downtown but I do love the cover.

Again, the top two were bought for cover design (songs are great, too) and the bottom two were bought because they are two of my favourite songs.

And I thought I would end on another prized possession: my signed Wanda Jackson 45 from when Wanda did a signing after her concert here a few years ago. A fantastic experience.

Once again this is some but not all of my collection of picture sleeve 45s. You can see some more in this flickr set but I've probably got at least 20 or 30 more than what is pictured in the set, as well.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Keen on red and pink

When I went in to town the other day, I took the opportunity to wear the pink pants I mentioned in this post...they're not exactly what I've been looking for but they're very close! I had a lot of fun trying them on with different tops - for now I like them best paired with this red sweater. I felt like this was a little bit Emma Peel and a little bit Ann Margret.

Outfit details: scarf - ?; 1950s sweater - etsy; belt - Valley Girl; pants - op-shop; shoes - KMart.

Red and pink is one of my favourite colour combinations.

Usually I won't comment on my non-smiling face and I will certainly never apologise for it but this particular facial expression is the result of trying not to squint with the sun in my eyes. It is so incredibly difficult to do! Next time I'll just wear my sunnies or find a better spot to take the photos. I've also just noticed it looks like I've got a kookaburra sitting on my shoulder...

When I was out I got some photos done in a photobooth. Sadly, the price is up to $8 so I'm not sure if it will be a regular occurrence though I would like it to be.

Oh, and be sure to take a look at the guest post/interview I did for We Heart Vintage.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Silver Screen Sunday {The War of the Worlds}

As you may have noticed in my latest 'finds' post I bought myself a copy of the 1953 The War of the Worlds. I then promptly watched and fell in love with it. I am by no means a sci-fi aficionado but I do love 1950s and 1960s sci-fi films (even though I sometimes forget which ones I've seen when the plots/titles are very similar...oops) so this was right up my alley. Plus it's in glorious Technicolor.

The War of the Worlds directed by Byron Haskin, 1953

Oh and there are some pretty cute outfits, too! Which is why I'm posting about the film here.

I don't like wearing brown all that much (or at all, really) but I loved this outfit that Ann Robinson wore at the beginning of the film. I especially love the contrast detailing on her turtle-neck sweater. I also love the casual clothes that Gene Barry (who is quite the dish) wears in the movie, too.

There were some great western-styled fashions in the square dance scene! Looks at these shirts!

And there was so much plaid. I approve!

You can't see it too well but check out the print on that pink dress! I couldn't tell if it was of bows or stylised butterflies.

Ann Robinson's blue and white square-dance outfit was very cute. And I love the yellow and black plaid shirt the fella in the front is wearing.

I love the pale pink number in the background. This was the only decent shot I could get of it, unfortunately.

I loved Ann Robinson's make-up in this, especially her pink lipstick as I'm looking for the perfect shade of pink to adorn my lips at the moment. I went out to find one the other day but forgot and bought comic books instead. Hmmm.

This blue dress is probably my favourite piece from the film - unfortunately this is the only decent shot I got of it! I think the blue looks lovely with the brown of her scarf tucked into the pocket and her brown loafers, just barely visible here. I'd also love to do this as a costume one day...especially as I'd wear the dress anyway.

You can read my general review of the film at The Sofa Cinephile - I'm not sure about doubling up on posts like this but I feel like it might be a nice way I can focus on the clothes of the film as well as other elements without either post getting too long (though I've just realised how wordy my other post is...eep!). It probably won't be too often that I double up on posts but hopefully it's not annoying.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x