And The Oscar Goes To...

Well well well! Another bunch of award shows are done and dusted, all capped off by the ultimate ceremony, The Academy Awards. These days, we tend to look at who is best dressed rather than who won best actor, but we're all magpies! I just cannot help looking at all those sparkly dresses and glamourous jewellery - though Daniel Day Lewis' triple whammy had to at least get a nod from us - bravo!

So I thought I'd bring you  a selection of vintage and not so vintage Oscar outfits. Mainly so we can all swoon and sigh over those couture gowns, whether it's on 1950s Grace Kelly or this years Best Actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence. She may have taken a wee tumble, but in that Dior dress, who could blame her, how much fabric?!

We go back to the 1954 Academy Awards to Best Actress winner Audrey Hepburn for her role in Roman Holiday. This Givenchy gown completely defines the era with it's nipped in waist, full skirt and sheer lace overlay. Absolutely Stunning.

Sticking to Best Actresses, this 90s baby pink spaghetti strap Ralph Lauren gown worn by Gwyneth Paltrow became iconic overnight after she won her award for Shakespeare In Love in 1999. Oh spaghetti straps. Oh the 90s!

Strappy dresses weren't the new kid on the block by any means, Grace Kelly who won also won Best Actress in 1955 for her role in Country Girl donned them in this Edith Head dress. The mint green colour is slightly unusual for the era but it compliments her trademark blonde locks perfectly. The elbow length white satin gloves scream Hollywood Glamour.

Best Supporting Actress Anne Hathaway was championing this seasons' pastel trend in a simple satin column dress by Prada with Tiffany jewellery. Her newly cropped hair compliments this dress beautifully, making it more edgy than girly princess.

As far as memorable Oscar dresses go, we cannot write this blog post without putting the spotlight back on 2002's Best Actress Halle Berry. This Ellie Saab gown, with strategically placed embroidery, caught the attention of the fashion world instantly. All hail Halle.

OK. So we're still in the 21st Century here at The Vintage Fair, but Reese Witherspoon wasn't. In 2006 she won Best Actress for Walk The Line and all eyes were on her and this 1955 Christian Dior gown proving that classic shapes and fabrics will never, ever date. 

I found this photo of the 1948 Best Actress Loretta Young really interesting. I've never seen such a huge, flouncy dress on a 40s celebrity, or at all. I'd love to know what colour it is and I suspect the fabric may be taffeta? If anyone knows anymore about this dress I'd love to know. 

We can safely say that we are looking into the future of fashion with this fuschia Marchesa gown on Fan Bingbing. It is from Marchesa's A/W 13-14 collection and it is no surprise that this ever fashionably forward Chinese actress gets to be seen in it before anybody else. Personally I see a bit of Vivienne Westwood in this dress...anybody else?

From the future to one of the first. Mary Pickford won Best Actress in 1929 for her role in Coquette (though there is scandal surrounding this supposed fixed win - ooh err). The finger waves are typical of the era, in fact, this haircut made front page news! The dress is just beautiful, with a wealth of detail. 

The best dressed from this years awards has to go to Jessica Chastain. Tumbling Vivien Leigh style waves and red lipstick transformed her into a real life Jessica Rabbit. The embellished custom made Armani rose gown was accompanied by vintage Harry Winston diamonds. 

This years red carpet was awash with bling, embellishment, sequins, beads, metallics. But nobody will ever, ever get one up on Grace Kelly from the 1954 Awards accompanied by Clarke Gable. Complete with fur stole, elbow length satin gloves, pearl necklace and a flawless hairdo this is a picture of what the Oscars is all about. Showstopping elegance. Now, just because I can, I'm going finish this post with a few very special vintage Oscars' photos for you to nose at, I found many on the blog Vintage Everyday.

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The Swinging Sixties Are Back: Pastels

Two huge trends on the horizon for this Spring/Summer stem from that favourite fashion decade of mine, the 1960s. Say a big hello to the first of these with the prim wardrobes of the elegant early 60s.  With Hitchcock hitting our screens soon, 60s leading ladies should be our go to for style inspiration with pretty pastels, twin sets, lace frocks and cat eye sunglasses. The catwalks were awash with 60s prettiness.

Oscar De La Renta - Christopher Kane - Oscar De La Renta

Tata Naka

For some Hitchcock glamourous outfit ideas, look to the beautiful Grace Kellly and for a more recent revival of the style look no further than the women of Mad Men as they grace the new decade with some serious style.

Here are a few ideas to get you into the Spring spirit, a lace dress as a base can be embellished with a multitude of prim accessories. 

Cat Eye sunglasses: ASOS

Blue Jumper: New Look

Nude Lace Dress: Ted Baker

Vintage 60s clip on earrings: Etsy

Embellished Floral Collar: Marni

The next trend comes tomorrow. Can you guess what it is?

Gina x

Vintage Icon: Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly, one of the most beautiful women who ever was. A classic beauty from Philadelphia who initially struggled to make it as an actress but ended up as Princess of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier in 1956. Her style is famous for its simple elegance and she is used as fashion inspiration to this day with Kelly-esque ensembles walking down runways year after year. Despite the simplicity in her wardrobe, Kelly created trends and acted as a fashion leader so much so that she was named in The International Best Dressed List 1960 and has been ever since.

 Her acting career was comparatively short at only roughly 6 years before she married. One of the people who was distraught at the end of this career was Alfred Hitchcock who cast her in his films Dial M For Murder, To Catch A Thief and Rear Window. It is said that all of his lead actresses after Kelly were based upon her blonde waves and striking red lips; the definitive Hitchcock Blonde.

Kelly with Hitchcock (L) and James Stewart at the premiere of Rear Window.

But let's talk fashion. Crisp cotton shirts, perfectly tailored cropped trousers, tortoiseshell sunglasses, dresses with nipped in waists and modest scooped necklines all worked together to create her effortless elegance. She never had a a hair out of place, looking as neat and perfectly turned out at all times and never in anything that could be considered bad taste. 

In a simple shirt dress with her husband Prince Ranier of Monaco. 

Working a Pussy Bow blouse in 1955 at The Cannes Film Festival

A slick back bun and lace that echoes her wedding dress.

Grace Kelly championed the bags of Hermes. She was often seen with what is now called the Kelly bag covering her first pregnancy bump. Hermes were delighted and quickly renamed the bag after her. This was the first instance of naming accessories after a famous face but began a series of named bags, such as the more recent Alexa Mulberry satchel after Alexa Chung or Mulberry's Del Ray (Lana Del Ray). 

Wearing the same shirt dress from above.

The photo above is one of my Grace Kelly favourites. She was one of the first celebrities to wear sunglasses at all times, in rain or shine, indoors or out and those tortoiseshell frames are still a fabulously glam and on trend accessory to this day.

Earlier I mentioned the wedding dress. Anyone who watched the most recent Royal Wedding will have coo'd over Kate Middleton's stunning McQueen gown. There is no doubt in my mind that the design was inspired by Helen Rose's original for the Princess of Monaco. Long lace sleeves, demure neckline and veil, figure flattering waist and a prom style skirt that Kelly was often seen in.

 Here are a few picks from the high street to inject some classic simple style into your wardrobe.

Freshwater Pearl Necklace £85 from John Lewis

Kelly-esque tote bag £35 from Warehouse

Long cream satin gloves £20 Beyond Retro

The shade Grace Kelly actually wore from Estee Lauder ("Princess Grace")

1950s lace evening dress £200 from Rokit Vintage

Tortoiseshell cat eye sunglasses £12 from ASOS

Kelly Brook faux fur coat £69.99 from New Look

Low heeled bejeweled shoes £65 from Office

All of this comes just in time for the festive season. Go classic Hollywood this year to your office party to stand out from the crowd in all the most elegant ways.

Gina x

The Pussy Bow Blouse

While we were at The York Vintage Fair we noticed that our fashion forward traders all seemed to be cottoning on to one very retro trend that comes back on to the catwalks year after year. The pussy bow blouse. The blouse began life in the 30s and "bigger the better" appeared to be the rule of thumb, just like Grace Kelly in the photo to the left.



The majority of the pussy bow blouses you'll find at our fairs and in vintage shops will be from the 70s. This was the decade when the blouse had it's heyday when paired with big bell bottomed trousers. And not just on women! Think Bowie and Mick Jagger and those ruffled shirts.  Often known as a "Secretary blouse" it's not a shock that the cast of Mad Men are often seen in pussy bows and that they look elegant teamed with a pencil skirt or became features on many 70s dresses.

Here are my favourite blouses from our fairs, not only can the classic cream blouse bring vintage sophistication to your wardrobe, experimenting with prints and colours brings your outfit up to date. Of course, you can find countless variations on the pussy bow on the high street, but the neck lines are often lower and don't quite have the same retro look to them.

We hope to see you in Birmingham or Loughborough this Saturday 6th October! Will you be wearing your pussy bow blouse?
Gina x