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{ Monthly Archive } March 2010

Elie Saab Fall 2010: Top Picks

My favorites from The Elie Saab Fall 2010 ready-to-wear show. Gathering and drapery in all the right places, a classic palette of black, charcoal and maroon,with splashes of black lace and fur thrown in. Very glamorous. And then there’s those sequinned gowns – oh god! Breathtaking, and those unusual cuts remind me of Wentworth gowns from the 1920s, and of this gown that Virgina Mayo wears while singing Daddy-O in A Song Is Born (1947).

Categories: On Catwalks
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Mad Men Yourself

On the theme of Mad Men, Jo I don’t know if this beats your Mad Men Barbie dolls (can anything really beat Mad Men Barbie dolls?), but this is pretty awesome and a fun new way to procrastinate – MadMenYourself.com!

Here’s me in the Mad Men world, what do you think? I wanted to do you, Jo, but I think you will want to Mad Men yourself. It’s fun to do, great animation!

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And here’s Juani (for those that don’t know, that’s my dance partner, the dashing Argentinian Juan Villafane):

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Hahaha, what fun!! Jo and Alice, you have to do yourselves and post it up!!! And anyone else in the swing scene you can think of!

Categories: Clothing
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Mad Men: Barbies

Yeah. I want these. How amazing are the clothes for these dolls?!!

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Press release:

STYLE ICONS “MAD MEN” AND BARBIE® JOIN FORCES AS LIONSGATE, AMC AND MATTEL LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE BARBIE DOLL COLLECTION

Season 3 DVD Hits Stores March 23rd and Will Include Collectible Sketch Drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Dolls

March 10, 2010 – New York, NY – Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate® (NYSE: LGF), and AMC announced today the launch of four Barbie® Collector “Mad Men” dolls available to consumers July 2010. Designed by Barbie designer Robert Best, the “Mad Men” Barbie doll line features key players from the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency: creative director and leading man Don Draper; his wife Betty Draper; Sterling Cooper partner Roger Sterling; and bombshell office manager Joan Holloway. Today’s announcement marks the first licensed doll line in the Barbie Fashion Model Collection, a signature silkstone collection within the Barbiebrand known for featuring couture quality fashions and accessories.

The “Mad Men” Barbie Collector doll collection embodies the “Mad Men” series’ couture fashions and accessories, and its iconic 1960s style and aesthetic. The series, which is produced by Lionsgate and airs on AMC, has made history with its multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Awards by chronicling the lives of the men and women of Madison Avenue advertising in the 1960s. Season four of “Mad Men” premieres this summer.

Gracefully molded of Silkstone®, a material that resembles the look and weight of porcelain, each doll is stylized in iconic costumes from the series, and comes with accessories true to their show counterparts. Don Draper wears his classic, polished red-lined suit and comes accessorized with a hat, overcoat and brief case; Betty Draper’s classic look is captured with unparalleled detail, from her faux pearl necklace to her; Joan Holloway looks chic in a purple skirt suit and perfectly styled coif with her staple accessory – a pen necklace; and Roger Sterling is looking dapper in his monogrammed shirt.

Fans can get exclusive collectible sketch drawings of the “Mad Men” Barbie Collector dolls when the Season Three DVD hits stores on March 23, 2010 as each DVD set will include one of the four character sketches. The Mad Men: Season Three DVD contains all 13 episodes of the season and is also loaded with hours of special features including extensive commentaries and innovative featurettes that examine the historical events that shaped 1963.

The Barbie® Fashion Model Collection “Mad Men” Barbie® dolls will be available for a suggested retail price of $74.95. Available at BarbieCollector.com, amctv.com and select retailers.

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Categories: Celebrities
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Anthropologie Swimwear

Retro-styled bathing suits now at Anthropologie!

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Categories: Clothing
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Alexander McQueen Retrospective Part 3: Spring 2002

In tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen, I have been posting a retrospective of past collections, from a SwingFashionista perspective. The best of Alexander McQueen for retro-loving folk. May he rest in peace. In part 3, my top picks from the Spring 2002 ready-to-wear show. More to come…

Categories: On Catwalks
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Nina Ricci Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear: Top Picks

My favourites from the latest Nini Ricci show…

Categories: On Catwalks
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High End Vintage Winter Coats

A wonderful selection of vintage coats from VintageTextile.com:

Categories: Clothing
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Alexander McQueen Retrospective Part 2: Fall 2002

In tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen, I have been posting a retrospective of past collections, from a SwingFashionista perspective. The best of Alexander McQueen for retro-loving folk. May he rest in peace. In part 2, my top picks from the Fall 2002 ready-to-wear show. More to come…

Categories: On Catwalks
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Kirsten Dunst for V Magazine

I’ve never been a huge fan of Kristen’s, but I did like her in Bring It On and Spiderman. However, after seeing this editorial, I might have to change my mind. What a starlet! Mario Testino did a marvelous job of shooting her and stylist Nicola Formichetti did an outstanding job of making Kristen look like a vintage movie star.

Images from Radar Online

For a review of the clothing, check out Tom & Lorenzo blog!

Categories: Celebrities, In Magazines
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Olivia de Havilland

Remember this photo of Dita’s stunning hair that I posted a few days ago? Well I just stumbled across an image of Olivia de Havilland sporting a similar ‘do in the late 1940s, and had to share. If anyone knows how to create a look like this, please do let us know!

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You probably know Olivia de Havilland as Melanie in Gone with the Wind. She was a fairly serious actress in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, and often played in period pieces. She also happens to be Joan Fontaine’s older sister. She is still alive today (she is 93 years old).

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Categories: Celebrities, Hair, Vintage Photos
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Harper’s Bazaar – Bonnie and Clyde

“Bonnie Parker (October 1, 1910 – May 23, 1934) and Clyde Barrow (March 24, 1909 – May 23, 1934) were well known outlaws, robbers, and criminals who, with their gang, traveled the Central United States during the Great Depression. Their exploits were known nationwide. They captured the attention of the American press and its readership during what is sometimes referred to as the “public enemy era” between 1931 and 1934. Though known today for his dozen-or-so bank robberies, Barrow in fact preferred to rob small stores or rural gas stations. The gang is believed to have killed at least nine police officers and committed several civilian murders. They were eventually ambushed and killed in Louisiana by law officers.”  – Wikipedia

That being said, check out Harper Bazaars latest spread:


Love me some pleated pants and a Tommy Gun!

For information on the clothes and where to buy them, check out the full editorial on Harpar’s Bazaar.

Categories: Accessories, In Magazines
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1940s Patterns with Full Sleeves

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Categories: Clothing
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The Lovely Lina Romay

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Lina Romay was an actress and singer in the 1940s and 50s, with Columbia and MGM. Though she was born in New York, she was daughter to the Mexican Consul to New York City and was typically cast as a Latin American beauty. She sang with Xavier Cugat’s orchestra in the early 1940s. You may have seen her singing with the band in the Fred Astaire/Rita Hayworth flick You Were Never Lovelier (1942) or in Stage Door Canteen (1943). In the clip below, she could be singing about herself…

Categories: Celebrities, Vintage Photos, Vintage Videos
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High Waist + Wide Leg = Brilliant

Great trousers from Mango a few seasons back…

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Categories: Clothing
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AMAZING hair…

Wow, Dita, wow…

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Categories: Celebrities
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Alexander McQueen Retrospective Part 1: Fall 2001

In tribute to Lee Alexander McQueen, I am going to post a retrospective of past collections, from a SwingFashionista perspective. The best of Alexander McQueen for retro-loving folk. May he rest in peace. To start, my top picks from the Fall 2001 ready-to-wear show. More to come…

Categories: On Catwalks
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Katherine Heigl in Vintage Style

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Categories: Celebrities
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Vintage Shopping: SamayaLingVintage.com

A round up of my favourites right now at SamayaLingVintage.com:

Categories: Clothing
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Excited about London

I’m in Belgium right now, relaxing a little after Swingin’ in the Rain, and tomorrow I fly to Ye Old London Towne for three whole weeks! Those familiar with my travel schedule will know that this is an astonishingly long time for me to be in one city. Hoorah! My to-do list involves things like going swing dancing, seeing burlesque shows, eating Indian food, maybe see a show on the West End, visit V&A, and of course, SHOPPING!  Friends have been sending suggestions (if you have any more, please post a comment!) and here are four reasons why I’m excited about London:

1. The Blitz Party

This is a monthly event, and there is indeed one on while I’m in London, but sadly it’s all sold out. Oh well maybe next time – unless anyone knows how to weedle me a ticket? *wink wink nudge nudge*

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2. The Wam Bam Club

With the Wam Bam Belles! The lady in blue in the first photo is my drop-dead gorgeous friend Hayley, can’t wait to see her!

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(Above: photo by Ruth Roxanne and Patricia Board)

3. The Bees Knees

These two ladies have been giving 1920s Charleston a good name around London for years now, and I’ve been admiring their costumes from afar. Maybe I’ll get a chance to meet them or see them perform.

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(Above: photo by Ruth Roxanne and Patricia Board)

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4. Top Shop!

Really, need I say more?

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Categories: Clothing
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Rock That Swing Festival, Munich Germany February 2010

So what’s rockin’ the wardrobes of Lindy Hoppers right now? Here’s a glimpse at the styles seen at the Rock That Swing Festival in Munich, Germany a few weeks ago. Classes by day, dancing and shows by night. Rocking my socks off with their ensembles, as usual: Laura Keat & Jeremy Otth, Vincenzo Fesi & Isabella Gregorio, Nicole Rochelle, Moe Sakan, Pontus Persson, Max Pitruzella, Remy Kouame, William Mauvais, Jessica Lennartson and mi amor Juan Villafane. Photos by Marcell Bendik.

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Categories: Events & Festivals
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