Author: Michelle

Michelle’s Etsy picks of the week – shoes

Hi all. I apologise for my lack of posts this past week, but I have been pre-occupied with some personal matters, so felt very uninspired. But, I am back with some pics of some of my current Etsy favourites this week. Today I am focussing on shoes from the 20s, 30s and 40s and there some amazing examples for sale at the moment.

I do adore shoes from the mid to late 30s but find it somewhat difficult to obtain them in my size (8.5) so I am forever looking, looking. However, during my daily searches I always make a note of the beautiful examples I find so that I can show others. I hope you enjoy these lovelies…and maybe some of them will fit you.

* All items link back to their original source on Etsy

1930s shoes / 30s oxfords / Contrast Stitch shoes    1930s shoes / vintage 30s heels / Art Deco    vintage 1930s 30s heels / 1930s rare designer glam sliver stripe heels / Sliver Tinsel Tree

Shoes 1939 Vintage Wedding Shoes Worn 1939 Suede And Leather Deep Plum Burgundy Color       1920s Dress Shoes in Black Silk with Silver & Rhinestone Trim    Vintage 1930s Shoes Brown Suede Orange Leather

Let Yourself Go - Early to Mid 1930s Gold Silk T-Strap Dance Shoes 7.5/8    1930s Black Patent Leather and Canvas Walking Shoes RED CROSS CLASSIC Brogues Oxfords    Vintage 1930s Heels "Good as Gold"

Rare 1930's Art Deco Women's Suede Lace Up Oxford Heels Size 6 1/2 - 7     1930s 40s Peep Toe BABYDOLL BLUE and PINK Slingback Ankle Strap Heels Sz 6.5    Swing Dance - 1940s WWII Green Reptile Leather Slingback Swing Shoes 8/8.5

vintage 1940s leather suede Jitterbug dance shoes     Vintage 30's 40's Red Peeptoe Perforated Buckle Shoes     Vintage White 1940s SPRING FASHION Mesh Peep Toe Cut Away Pumps Nurse Shoes

1920s-1930s Navy T-Strap Selby Arch Preserver Shoes     1920's Black Suede Deco Shoes Size 6 1/2-7N     vintage 1940S heel by Delmanette navy blue peep toe suede shoe

vintage rare 1930s burgundy plume Rag Time swing dancing shoes    Sharp 1940s Vintage Sport Walking Tie Shoe in Tan Suede and Mesh 9 and one half inch inside measurement    1940s women's shoes -- eggplant purple suede pumps -- XXS 4 5 6

SALE/ SALE 1940s pumps / black mesh peep toe 7 AA    1940s Green Suede Shoes EMERALD Green and GOLD GODDESS Peep Toe Slingback High Heels    1940s Black Suede Shoes - WWII - Pin Up - Sexy Secretary - USO - Shoes

 

1920s & 30s Australian fashion magazines

For all our Australian followers, we hope you had a wonderful day off, celebrating life in this wonderful country of ours by doing the things that us Aussies like to partake of in summer. Whether it was going to the beach, attending a bbq or picnic or  just hanging out with friends having a few drinks. Hope your day was grand and here are some lovely vintage Australian Home Journal covers and Home Budget inside pages from the 1920s and 30s to inspire you.

      

image of Australian Home Journal Needlework Supplement 1st October 1936

 

Farewell to my dear friend Paulie…

It’s been a hard week for myself and SF co-writer Sharon Davis. One of our dearest friends passed away very suddenly on Monday January 23rd at the young age of 32. Paul Verevis was my swing dance partner in a performance team for many years, fellow committee member for Perth Dance Society in the past, my Balboa partner and most of all; one of my closest friends.

Paul was liked by everyone who met him, not only here in Perth but all over Australia and the globe. He was one of those people who exuded happiness, warmth and joy, which is a rare thing these days. He was also a great dancer and loved the swing dance scene and all the friends and opportunities it brought him over the 10 years that we knew him. I’ve never known such a kind, generous, caring soul who was so full of fun and life and I will miss him terribly. Always smiling and joking around and never afraid to make fun of himself. I am so very glad to have had the time with him that I did.

I’ll never forget you Paulie. Love you always oxoxo

Below: Paul and I filming a dance sequence for the short film, ‘Swan Song’ in 1940s attire, 2005

1930s Hair Styles

My interest in vintage hair began when I was a child, as I have always loved the 20s, 30s and 40s, but I actually began styling my own hair in vintage styles back 1999 when I started swing dancing. I have also run vintage hair workshops many times in the last 12 years. The 1930s softly waved and curled feminine hairstyles are my favourite and I drool over old pics from the time. I have a short middy cut myself so I can wear a 30s look when I want to. Sadly, ladies today don’t have the benefit of being able to go to the salon on a weekly basis to have their hair ‘wet set and styled’ as they did back in the day. The ‘beauty salon’ certainly was a different place back then. I once read in an old hairdressing magazine that around 50% of a salons’ business (from the 20s to the late 50s) came from ‘setting’ hair alone. Today it’s all about cut and colour.

    

Most of the waved and curled 30s styles required sculpting and constant upkeep. So wearing a hair net to bed with pin curls, wavers clips or rollers to maintain it was just part of every day life for ladies of the day, unless of course, you were lucky enough to have hair that waved or curled naturally and easily. Husbands and boyfriends back then certainly were used to seeing their ladies in curlers regularly. Was just part of life.

Women that could afford to go to the salon on a regular basis usually went for a ‘wet set and style’, which would last up to a week if you protected it while you slept. For those of you new to vintage hair speak, a wet set involved having your hair pin curled or finger waved in the style you wanted while the hair was wet, then sitting under a hood dryer for an hour or so at the salon, until the hair was completely dry. Then the hair would be brushed out and combed into the style required by the hairdresser. Certainly a lengthy process, but worth it for a week of hair that retained its style. This was a common practice right up until the 1960s in salons. Many ladies of the day (like my Nana and Grandmother) who weren’t flush with money, learned to style and set their own hair at home in the 30s, 40s and 50s for the most part and went to salon once a month.

    

Tips for 30s waves:
 What many people don’t realise is that finger waves were actually designed to enhance, tame and smooth the waved, curly tresses of those lucky enough to have them. The waves and curls were stretched and moulded into the looks in the pics shown. But for those like myself who have dead straight hair (ugg) – I was given some invaluable tips a few years back from a lovely ex-hairstylist named ‘Lily‘ who is now in her 90s. This is how told me she used to set waves and curls for her straight-haired clients in the 30s:

– wet set hair with setting lotion under a hood dryer (or overnight) to give yourself a good curly base to work with
– THEN brush out the tight curls, smoothing the hair and relaxing it a bit
– use a styling comb to sculpt the curls on top and sides of your head  into soft waves and ridges and clip them into place with wavers (so much easier when the hair is already curled). It’s all about the sculpting.
– sculpt the smaller curls so they are softer around the back of your head/ears etc using the comb and your fingers. Spray on some hairspray to set.

So – curling first, drying, THEN waving for us straight haired lot! 🙂 For years I wondered why trying to achieve soft finger waves was so much harder with straight hair … simple, because they were designed to beautify curly hair! So, salons of the day had to come up with techniques to help out the straight-haired gals like to me achieve these amazing styles too. Information has just been lost over the years as the older generation pass away. Anyhoo, here are some great style to inspire you. My fav 30s ladies are Carole Lombard, Myrna Loy and Ginger Rogers.

     

    

       

    

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