Pincurls for Medium-length Hair

Or maybe I should title this post, "Remember to set your hair before you mix your drink." 

Last weekend Wild Kat and her family stayed overnight at my house.  You know the scene; adults sitting with feet propped up in front of the campfire.  Kids running blindly with sparklers in hand.  And a few glasses of Sailor Jerry going down smooth. 

"Wait!  You could set my hair!" she cried.  Out came the spritz bottle, comb and pins.

So Wild Kat and I headed into back into the kitchen...

This is my basic pin curl set.  I did a tutorial a couple years ago and still like this simple set.  I don't set nearly as many curls as you'll find in the vintage hairstyle books.  I use bobby pins and only criss-cross them when necessary.

There are twelve curls (four across, three down) set across the entire back of Wild Kat's head.  The curls down the center row alternate direction, left and right.  All the curls on the left side of her head are rolled forward towards her face.  And the same on the right side. 

I placed three pins on each side of Wild Kat's head, above her ear.

And there are four or five stand up pin curls in her bangs.  I like a little extra height here and these won't get smooshed when she sleeps. 

After Wild Kat was all dolled up, we headed back out to the campfire, visited with Sailor Jerry until 2:30am, discussing children, local politics and religion.  Very therapeutic. 

The following morning, after Wild Kat had done chores for me (I think I like having a clone), she brushed the curls out into a soft wave. 

Wild Kat's hair was 3-4 days old and had some product in it.  We spritzed it with water as we set each curl, and she slept on it. 

Typically I do a full wet set (straight out of the shower) and use gel to help hold.  Followed by hairspray and pins where needed.

Wild Kat pulled her bangs back and pinned up a few rolls.  This is a simple, easy set that takes about 15 minutes to set the night before and 15 to brush out in the morning.  No sleeping on rollers.  No standing in the bathroom feeling your arms go numb from holding up the curling iron.  The soft curls can be left loose or brushed and pinned into many different styles.  Give it a try!

Help! 911 My crinoline is in need of repair!

Okay so this may not be a real emergency but it's still a real issue. Perhaps you are able to snag a crinoline for $5, but the elastic has seen better days and the top portion has some snags/holes? This may still be wearable but putting it through the washing machine? Not so sure about that one. On a trip to the not so local fabric store I grabbed some swimsuit lining, elastic, and lace trim.

 My crinoline was previously trimmed with a velour ribbon, but decided trying to marry new white materials and vintage cream calls for some lace. First I carefully cut around the edges to make myself a "pattern piece" and removed the elastic. I kept the velour ribbon intact so as not to undo any gathering aka make more work for myself. Lay out the "pattern piece" and cut one piece on the fold, leaving a seam allowance.

I bought a slightly larger, soft backed elastic to eliminate any discomfort /rolling. There are a number of ways to put this back together.
 I decided upon this order, 1. attach elastic  2. sew french seam on side seam of lining material
 3. attach lining to tulle, right sides together, and

 4. attach lace trim.

Done!

Now to finish that skirt I started for Symco, to wear over my "new" crinoline.
Happy sewing gals!

The Symco Shakedown Experience

Symco Shakedown #4 was bigger and better than ever!

I seriously need to consider taking the week before and after Symco off . I probably forgot about ten different things I was going to pack (which makes me think I should make a packing list for next year's shakedown NOW), but still had lots of fun. I was trying to finish a skirt for the pin up contest but ran out of time. Fortunately, my friend came to the rescue on Thursday and loaned me his mother's Mexican skirt from 1943!

 With the Buick packed to the gills we set off for Symco Thursday evening.

Our arrival at Symco Thresheree Grounds.

Let me just say in my defense I am packing for glamour camping or glamping. Which means a whole separate suitcase just for makeup and hair accessories.

Had to steal my vanity mirror from my Wildcat since I forgot my mirror!
Buick is a beauty too!

 I do believe Midnight Maniac and lots of other gals packed this way too, since there were loads of cute gals crawling the Thresheree grounds.

Our home away from home...next year a vintage camper I hope!

Friday evening calendar signing.

So what was new this year?

The fabulous Francesca Alfresca!

Well first off they had a burlesque show on Friday evening. It was my first time and I loved it!
My favorite performer was Francesca Alfresca. She had a cute balloon act and a sexy matador act.

The fashion designer in me LOVES this costume!

Maybe Daddy-O will be lucky enough to get his own private rendition some night. *wink*

Saturday was the big day. This year I accepted BoPeep's invitation to help with the pin up contest and it was a lot of fun. Those girls all brought their A-game this year!

The gorgeous gals all lined up for their time on stage.

My job was to keep the girls in line backstage...literally. Also to make sure they were looking their best before stepping out in front of the crowd.

Whew all done, now to get to work!

After the contest I went with a group of the calendar girls (including Miss Symco) to their photo shoot for the calendar. While trying to stay out of the photographer's way, I did my best to make sure they looked perfect. Some of the girls thanked me for helping out (the best compensation I could get). Those gals were beautiful on their own but with no mirrors available you want someone to make sure you makeup is perfect and your skirt is fluffed just right! My group of girls drew a big crowd everywhere we went.

A photo shoot in front of one of my favorite vintage campers. (Daddy-O was drooling over the Caddy too.)

Such fun, next year I will bring a survival bag. I got sunburned and only had a Mountain Dew (yuck!) until 3 in the afternoon. I took a short nap and then had some fun taking pics until the sun set.

Posing on Jerry's Ford after a meal, nap, and wardrobe change.

Then it was time for the bands.

Here is my one beef with the Shakedown. Too many great bands playing at the same time and no room to dance! Lil' Red and the Howlin' Wolves rocked the saloon Saturday night, and they even played "Johnny got a Boom-Boom" (yes!)  So to sum it all up, I am looking forward to the next Shakedown already, but need the time to catch up on my beauty rest.  I can't wait to see what next year brings!

PS.  Daddy-O was crowned Miss Symco (and got a sweet cut from Chuck the Barber), there were two flame throwing shows, bought some great vintage items, took pin up shots of my new friend Sam, and lots more that you missed out on if you didn't go to Symco!

Aw, rats! For your hair...?!

For the Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest, I decided to donate wool hair rats for the contestants' goodie bags.  Wild Kat was skeptical, and admittedly they look like nasty drain clogs.  But for the girls who take the time to play with them, the pay-off is huge!  I took a few photos on my first try with these and came out with fabulous Victory Rolls.  Prepare for awesome bathroom pics with bad lighting and dorky expressions.

I used clean brown wool (from Derby) and carded it into small handfuls.

Using the rat like a roller, I started at the end of my bangs, wrapped the hair around the rat and rolled it down towards my scalp.

I did the same with the section above my ear.  The wool really gave the curl stability.  I only used two pins per curl, and they felt very secure.  I made sure to tuck the wool far enough into the curl so it wouldn't be seen.  And I fanned out the end of the roll to create a nice shape.  All followed by lots of spray!

This is by far the best luck I've ever had with Victory Rolls!

Because the wool matches my hair color perfectly, it virtually disappears inside the rolls.  It adds volume and a solid foundation in which to anchor the bobby pins.  And so my sheep have done it again!  Now I'm off to the pasture to say thank you!

Proud to sponsor...

...the Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest!

Be sure to set aside the weekend of August 10-11th to attend the Symco Shakedown Traditional Hot Rod Show in Symco, Wisconsin.  Don't be confused; it is not a rat rod, art car show. These are cars that would have been seen cruising the streets of America pre-1965.  'Traditional' is the key word here.

But the cars are really only half the story. The show grounds are known as Unionville, a reconstructed small town complete with general store, blacksmith, sawmill and operating saloon.  The saloon and dance hall will be thumping both days with rockabilly music. Two stages for your listening enjoyment, playing until 11pm both Friday and Saturday nights. The Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest will be held in the bandshell on Saturday morning at 10am. Mini-bike drags are scheduled in the dirt track immediately following the pin-up contest. Vintage engine raffle to be given away Saturday at 6pm. Also, vendors and swap meet will be running all day, both days. And last but not least, on-site camping is available.

Last year the pin-up contest was a blast!  Hosted by Lolita Haze, twenty-three contestants took the stage.  Our very own Wild Kat was lucky Number 7, complete with gorgeous Victory Rolls and handmade dress from a vintage Vogue pattern #8728 (more details here.)  I wasn't quite brave enough to take the stage, but Peachie and I played our parts behind the scenes. 

All the contestants looked great, but only the top twelve were featured in a Miss Symco Pin-Up Calendar.

First place went to Sweet Pea.  She is featured on this year's promotional card and will be returning to crown Miss Symco 2012.  This year we have thirty girls registered to compete; a few familiar faces from last year and a whole new cast of beautiful women eager to get a shot at that calendar! 

So if traditional hot rods, rockabilly music or pin-up girls sound like a good way to spend a weekend, get yourself over to the Symco Shakedown!  And be sure to stop by and say hello to the Hometown Victory Girls!

Check out facebook for both the Symco Shakedown and Miss Symco Pin-Up Contest pages.

Marilyn Monroe Hairstyle for long straight hair

Toying with the idea of getting my haircut like Marilyn Monroe has not tickled Daddy-O's fancy. "Don't you like Marilyn Monroe's look?"  "Yes, but I like your hair long".  So what's a girl to do? A test drive, yes that's it. I'll show him how cute it will look. After pouring over hundreds of Marilyn pics on Bing late one night, I rolled up my hair. I rolled it up as usual except the front bang I rolled it back instead of forward.
On a side note my camera has recently bit the dust, so until it gets replaced there will not be any pictures BUT I do have a video for you! Please keep in mind this is the first time I have a) used our video camera, and b) edited a video. So please have fun chuckling at me!

In the end I decided not to cut my hair. If I can have the versatility of Marilyn one day and long the next, why cut it?

Have fun trying this style gals!

Vintage-inspired swimsuits

Arghhhh!  Swimsuit season already?!  My poochy waistline and cottage cheese thighs aren't quite ready for the bright lights of the summer beach just yet.  But this spring is showcasing several swimsuits that combine the vintage look from the 1950s with the slenderizing Lycra of today!

Lands' End has always carried a casual, conservative style.  This Sweetheart One Piece Slender Suit has low leg openings and plenty of ruching across the front to hide imperfections (translation: it's okay if you're still finishing off your child's Easter candy).

Another nice style from Lands' End is the Tunic One Piece Slender Suit.  If your worried about the gathers adding bulk (which they do and that's good for those of us who need a little help "up top"), this one has a smoother front.  And the little wrap skirt is a classic detail. 

And, of course, the iconic Esther Williams does some great suits styled after her Hollywood movies.  Her Classic Sheath comes in a whole palette of colors (including metallic) and prints such as polka dots, cherries, gingham and stripes.  I personally own one of these and believe me, they really hold everything in place!  She even offers a two piece with a full-coverage bottom.

For those of you who want something a bit more saucy, you may want to check out this Velvet Leopard suit by Dixiefried.  Again sporting the little front skirt, this suit bumps up the attitude a bit!  Sold by Pinup Girl Clothing, their website carries a large selection of swimwear that brings out the inner bombshell.

ModCloth offers a wide range of vintage-inspired suits as well.  This unique two piece, Plaids and Lasses, offers a full-coverage bottom and removable neck strap. 

Another cute suit from ModCloth is their Kicking It on the Coast one piece.  Classic style in a fun repro print. 

So the take away here is that pin-up style, comfort and modest coverage can easily be found altogether in one suit.  No longer does "sexy" immediately translate to a swimsuit comprised of small triangles and long strings.  All of us mothers with battle scars across our midsections can thank Marilyn Monroe for making famous the white one piece halter suit!

That girl's got style!

I met Collette at last years Symco Shakedown, and instantly fell in love with her style. She is always reinventing her self and pushing the limits, which I love. I had a chance to interview Collette and here's your introduction to this pinup delight!

HVG-How/when did you get into the rockabilly style?

Collette-I knew of the pinup and vintage style, but didn't know it actually had a name- Rockabilly. My best friend introduced me to the lifestyle and I adapted some of the style to make it my own- I identifiy more with the psychobilly culture, I'm all about skulls and funky colors. My look has more of an edge to it, but still stays true to vintage roots. I am self taught when it comes to MUAH (make-up and hair), I used to watch my mother putting on her makeup when I was a little girl. I would see her transform and watch how something as simple as makeup could change her whole mood and outlook. She would smile and feel beautiful. I knew then that I wanted to help other girls look their best and feel good about themselves. It doesnt matter how you look, its how you feel.  I have done a few photoshoots, where I had my MUAH done and honestly, I would always end up changing it up because my day to day looked better than what was done for a shoot. That was when I decided that I was not going to let anyone else do my MUAH. I had gotten so many compliments that I decided to start offering my services for makeup and hair. I have worked wtih several photographers and created some out of the box looks. I appreciate traditional pinup style, but the looks I have created for my clients have more of an artistic feel.

HVG-What's the best & worst comments you've gotten on your hair?

Collette-I have been stopped more times than I can count by people who just want to tell me that they love my hair- the color, the style, the accessories. I do get some negative repsonse, mostly comments about the pink colors I use, but I am who I am, so I let it slide.

HVG-What's your favorite hair accessory?

Collette-I love bows, the bigger the better. I make most of my own hair accessories, I do wear hairflowers, but they always have a skull or bat in the center.

HVG-Where do you get your inspiration for your hairstyle?

Collette-I see many different elements of hairstlyes I like, from a faux-hawk, to victory rolls, pompadours. I take the pieces that I like and try to incorporate it into my hairstyle, all depending on the day and my mood.

HVG-What is your must-have hair product?

Collette-I can't live without aerosol hairspray. Not the cheapie drug store stuff  ( fine when you are in a pinch) but the higher end salon aerosol. Try and buy the best you can afford, you can really tell the difference. The salon hairsprays have a better hold and brush out easier .

HVG-What is your favorite lipstick/beauty product?

Collette-I love doing makeup, it's my passion. As far as lipstick, I normally use lip gloss, as I am not a huge fan of color on my lips. However, I always take time on my eyes. I use Bella Terra mineral eyeshadows, because the pigments are deep and the shadow lasts all day. The color pallet is extensive, from neturals to bright glittery shades. As far as my favorite beauty product, I would have to say my MAC primer and foundation. Drugstore brands are okay, but once you use a quality foundation, you will never go back to buying your makeup at a drugstore again. The higher quality foundation helps achieve a flawless finish and look. Your pores won't be clogged, your skin won't be as oily, and no breakouts. As I said before, try and buy the best you can afford when it comes to something you are putting on your face or using on your hair.

HVG- What are music are you playing in repeat right now?

Collette-Right now, I have Johnny Got a Boom Boom by Imedla May stuck in my head. I listen to all genres of music, I am a fan of punk and rock. I listen to music when I'm getting ready- its a staple

May her rockin' style be an inspiration to you.
You can find out more about Collette at http://www.facebook.com/collette.pitzer

Peek-a-boo Pin-Up Towel

I think we can all agree that no self-respecting 1940s farmhouse would be complete without an embroidered towel in the kitchen.  For years I've contemplated those Days of the Week sets.  You know the ones with kittens or pigs or silverware doing adorable things like laundry and ironing.  I haven't embroidered for many years, and this project allowed me to dip my toe in the water without committing to seven towels (or the assumption that I would swap out said towels every day).

Over Christmas I came across an article in Country Living's holiday magazine, talking about sprucing up your powder room for guests.  They showcased a few unique hand towels which led me to this. . .

. . . my pin-up girl towel.  I found a piece of tightly woven cotton that I think used to be a duvet cover of some kind (it had snaps and ties along one edge).  Obviously salvaged from another project, it had the perfect blend of worn but not worthless.  I cut a piece 16" x 34".  I hemmed the edges and added red rickrack to the short ends.

The pin-up design I sketched myself.  Her body and posture is loosely based on a Petty pin-up I found, but I changed her hair, dress and added a wooden spoon.  All the embroidery is done using a simple outlining stitch with French knots for eyes.  I make no bones about my skills being exceptional, but they will serve.
 

Now the really fun part of this project was her dress.  I used a piece of 1940s floral and sewed up a skirt which is attached only at the waistline.  A little flip of her skirt reveals her panties underneath!  To make her panties, I laid down a piece of fine mesh netting, embroidered the red stitching over the top to secure it, and trimmed away the excess.

After a bit of searching I found the Apron Lady, EllynAnne Geisel, who contributed her expertise and pieces from her personal collection to the Country Living article on vintage linens.  Go to her blog to see the original 1950s peek-a-boo towel that I was inspired by.  Ms. Geisel has a treasure trove of linens that would make any girl swoon!

For a tour of my kitchen, visit here.

So I suppose I could make another six towels to complete this set, but I have new fabric for kitchen curtains.  That is next up on the To Do List.  My little gal here will have to hold up for more than just Friday!

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