Happy Birthday Jayne Mansfield

Yesterday was the lovely Jayne Mansfield's birthday and if she were still with us she would have been 80 years old, but tragically she died in a car crash in 1967. But I'm not here to dwell on her death, we are here to celebrate one of the original blonde bombshells of the 20th century. 

She had a fairly short lived acting career, despite picking up a Golden Globe and a Theatre World Award in the 1950s and her films are not really what makes her name live on today. The woman was a sex symbol and played a leading role in Hollywood's celebrity culture alongside other big names like Marilyn Monroe. Alongside her acting career, Mansfield worked closely with Playboy and shot her first cover for the magazine in 1953 and continued to be on numerous covers of the publication which really boosted her profile (as well as Playboy's!).  Playboy even published her statistics at an impressive 40D bust 21 inch waist and 36 inch hips. Wow.

And it is quite obvious why her career was still at it's height even after her heyday in motion pictures and on the stage. Her famously cheerful good looks and incredible body made this girl a house hold name. In 1955 she even "accidentally" dropped her bikini top down at a press conference and Hollywood's media went wild! This wasn't the only "accidental" revealing of her famous bust and she soon received a backlash of negative publicity over these stunts. At a celebratory dinner for the actress Sophia Loren, Mansfield stole her thunder by wearing a dress so low cut that she revealed one nipple - this situation was even more awkward since Mansfield was seated next to Sophia Loren! Meow!

What Jayne Mansfield did for the lingerie and swimwear industry in the 1950s was fairly amazing! It is thought she was responsible for the design of the push up bra and the plunge bra, after all, everyone wanted that enviable cleavage. The choice of swimwear shifted from the pinup style one piece to the bikini which she helped to popularise. So here you go guys, Mansfield in some awesome undies! I particularly love the swimsuit/skirt/dress combo in yellow - genius idea!

Now because (if you haven't noticed) I'm obsessed with the rise of Summer 2013 this week I couldn't help but take a wee nosey at what vintage inspired swimwear is on offer this season, and this is just a small sample of what I found...

Ditsy Daisies Kelly Brook

Monochrome Plunge Principles

Hot Red ASOS

Lovely in Leopard For Luna

While I was doing a bit of research I found this adorable video of Manfield on What's My Line? where blindfolded contestants have to guess who the celebrity is. She lives up to the "dumb blonde" facade here but looks stunning, and her handwriting is beautiful!

Happy Birthday Jayne

Love The Vintage Fair

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Vintage Style Icon: January Jones

 

She's on the cover of April's Glamour Magazine in a monochrome two piece by Mr Louis Vuitton looking ever so retro and seriously sexy. The Mad Men star rocketed to fame as well as the best dressed lists when she took on the character of Betty Draper. Granted, Miss Jones took her time to find her fashion feet, but it wasn't long before she brought a hint of Betty Draper to the red carpet and became a modern day screen siren.

This 2011 Golden Globes red carpet moment made us all stop and stare, but those Veronica Lake style waves and red lipstick are what makes this 21st century dress really stand out a mile.

January's Style evolution definitely takes inspiration from her work on Mad Men, plus her role in X-Men: First Class was based in the 1960s. But it might never have happened as apparently Betty Draper wasn't meant to exist:

"There was no Betty in the pilot when I auditioned…I read for Peggy two times—it was between me and Elizabeth Moss who eventually got the part. At the end of the scene, there was a casual mention that Don was married. Matt went home that night and wrote two scenes that featured Betty. I auditioned a couple of days later, and he made me a verbal promise that the character would grow. I took the part on faith.”

Thank goodness for that eh?! We couldn't help but have a little look at a few of Betty's fashion moments while we were on the subject. Plus, you can see exactly where Jones is getting her red carpet ideas.

But it's back to reality with more red carpet glamour from our style icon actress in a cobalt blue wiggle dress. More in the style of her co star's character Joan, the shape is still very elegant and reminiscent of a late 1950s silhouette.  

Now this is as though Betty has been papped on her way to dinner with Don. It's 2009 and January is starting to prove to the fashion world that she's got what it takes to make some very very good wardrobe decisions! 

In city shorts on a cold Paris day, the 1960s are alive and well in the form of this bouffant and contrast shirt. She switches her 50s red lip for a nude pink and winged eyeliner to further channel the swinging 60s. And completely ahead of time might I add. A fashion forecast. 

So. Want some vintage glamour in your Spring wardrobe? Lucky for you this season is championing this exact style and it all begins with the dress. So here are 4 of our faves

Pretty in pink at Ted Baker

Maxi glamour at Topshop

Authentic 50s florals at Rokit

60s shift at Orla Kiely

LOVE YOU
Gina x

Vintage Icon: Edie Sedgwick

As fashion goes mad for mod, and with breton stripes as popular as ever, I can't quite get Edie Sedgwick off my mind. Edie lived a whirlwind of a life, and died tragically in 1971. However, she made a lot of noise on the music, art and fashion scene especially when she was hailed as Andy Warhol's muse. Edie was the IT girl of the moment, a classic socialite whose inheritance money was splashed on on booze and drugs creating the addiction that eventually took her life.  But I'm more interested in the "factory girl" and the ballsy and beautiful girl from Warhol's photography and films.

Sienna Miller played Edie in the film Factory Girl which gives a sort of insight into her lifestyle, though some would say it's rather inaccurate it's a beautiful film despite it's inevitable tragic end. I particularly love Miller's performance, she captures Edie's presence incredibly well, plus there is a striking resemblance, see below.

Sedgwick inspired a generation of girls to cut off their hair, experiment with heavy make up and free their legs! This pixie crop, doe eyes made up in true mod style, the huge dangling earrings and the ever present cigarette were Edie's trademarks as well as her endearing, kooky personality. Here are some of my favourite images of Sedgwick, Warhol's "superstar".

The girl's petite frame was made for the Quant style mini dresses of the era, which she wore in abundance, never afraid of showing too much leg, clad in opaque tights or not. Glamorous accessories were also key to her look including chandelier earrings and luxurious leopard print coats. The video below shows how confident, honest and charismatic Edie was, but perhaps also how innocent and vulnerable she was too. 

Taking inspiration from this style icon of the 60s, we look to capture some of that "superstar" in our own wardrobes, minus the pop art idol at our side. 

Breton jumper Mango

Opaque tights Tights Please

Factory girl replica earrings Steve Sasco

Eyelashes by Katy Perry in Oh My!

Magic Ink Eyeliner by Benefit at John Lewis

Leopard Print Coat Vera Moda

Wireless lace triangle bra Topshop

I shall leave you with an interview from the Merv Griffin show in 1965 with Warhol and Sedgwick. She's wearing the cutest little lace collared jacket and talks the entire time! "What is art anyway?" 

Gina 

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The Beauty of the 1920s: Louise Brooks

Today I found some film online that I simply had to share with you. It is some of the "earliest colour film you will ever see" from 1922. I'm not going to say anymore, you just have to watch it.

Incredible...right?

Ever since watching this film I've been going mad for 1920s photography and the beautiful models, bodies, prop and fashion styling.  Who better to put the spotlight on than the face of the roaring 20s, Louise Brooks, the woman who made the bob haircut infamous. Brooks was American born in 1906, seventeen silent films and eight sound films later she retired in 1935 and despite her short lived acting career, she made a huge impression.

Then how is it that Lulu, as she called herself, and her unsuccessful acting career become the face of the roaring twenties? During the next few years she began writing about film and making some close friends in the process, whether this part of her life mixed with her other work as a courtesan is unknown. Then during the 20th century, various Louise Brooks 'revivals' occurred, historian Henri Langlois even declared "There is no Garbo, there is no Dietrich, there is only Louise Brooks!" And therefore it's fair to say her career, image and life are firmly planted in the "icons" box despite a large amount of her films having been declared as lost.

 Louise Brooks developed a reputation for being sexually adventurous, and apparently had a one night fling with Greta Garbo, who she described as being a "tender lover"! Well, despite her decisions to occasionally bat for the other team, she later said that none of her lesbian affairs meant anything to her. And while searching for some Brooks footage to show you, I found this scene from the 1929 silent film Pandora's Box where she dances with a female co star while seductively watching a young man in the corner of the room. Quite possibly one of the very first portrayals of bisexuality in cinematic history? I'll let you ponder that one. But definitely fitting for what we've just learned about Brooks personal life.

A very interesting woman all in all, sadly she died of a heart attack aged 78 but you can find out more about her Hollywood life in her book Lulu in Hollywood and one of her rare interviews in the documentary Looking For Lulu. And let's be honest, we just want to look at some pretty pictures don't we? So I'll leave you with more gorgeous images of this beautiful woman.

Gina 

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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

Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane

To celebrate 50 years of The Rolling Stones the BBC have gone Stones crazy with interviews, documentaries and concerts. Crossfire Hurricane (Part1) was broadcast on Saturday night, a 'rockumentary' that "provides a remarkable new perspective on the Stones' unparalleled journey from blues-obsessed teens to rock royalty." But here at The Vintage Fair, we can't stop swooning over these snaps from the mid 60s of those very stylish boys.

The band formed in 1962 and during the early years there wasn't much difference between their on and off stage style, they weren't flashy. Nonchalantly posing for the cameras, the young Stones boys look dapper in fitted blazers, skinny trousers and cuban heels. Shirts were smartly buttoned up to the top and colours were kept muted and neutral such as navy blues, burgundy and dark greens. I especially love the big double breasted coats with big lapels.

I don't know about you, but Mr Keith Richards has stolen the fashion title just from these pics, this man could rock a paisley scarf. Not to mention his style conscious girlfriend Anita Pallenberg. 

Mr Mick Jagger, with his liquid hips and beestung lips makes quite the impression in a skinny black tie and leather waistcoat. 

It's safe to say that the 60s style this band epitomised is timeless. They wouldn't look out of place on a Topman advert as the high street is constantly inspired by this styling. Not only the high street but other bands appear to be inspired by this iconic look too, check out the gorgeous boys in The Heartbreaks, The Crookes and the wonderful Vintage Trouble  - who we'll be seeing more of on the blog soon!

We have gathered together some vintage and some of the high street's 60s inspired clobber for the boys. The burgundy velvet collar on that Topman tweed blazer is fabulous, lovely stuff. 

Paisley Scarf: Jasper Conran

Velvet Collar Jacket: Topman

Skinny Smart Trousers :Topman

Vintage Peacoat: Rokit

 White shirt: Burton

Chelsea Boots: Dune

Gina x