Spring is here. And that makes it a perfect time for a fresh new look. New as in old. As in from 1970.
These 8 shoulder, or shorter, length hair styles were designed by top stylists from leading New York salons back in the 70s. Hair Salon Kenneth, The Crimpers Salon and the Salon at Bergdorf Goodman. These vintage hair cuts could just be that point of inspiration for reinventing yourself this coming season.
1. Above style is called the Fluffy Flip. A shoulder length pageboy cut set on electric rollers. Ends are then lightly teased with a brush.
2. La Belle Epoque is a turn-of-the-century style, an up swept medium-short cut. Curls are set on tiny rollers and pulled out with fingers.
3. Coco, the famous Chanel hairdo, so girlishly feminine with eyebrow length bangs, was revived by Katharine Hepburn in the musical comedy Coco in 1969.
4. Chanel #2 is the same medium short cut as Coco. Set with hair swept back behind the ears and ends flipped forward.
5. The Serf is a helmet bob hair cut to curve naturally into a smooth pageboy style.
6. Suzy is another version of the helmet cut, curls set and brushed into a swirly tousle once the hallmark of model Suzy Parker.
7. The Top-Knot is a Bergdorf Goodman style. A medium length cut partially knotted in a two-way ponytail for height without teasing.
8. Back Ringlets is the same cut as the top-knot, this time swept back behind the ears and pinned. Ends are covered at the nape with a curly wiglet.
Occasionally i sell vintage treasures in my shop that i regret a little. Or that i did list for sale, but was secretly hoping nobody would buy it so i could've kept it. Sometimes i have something and i think it's just time for it to move on to a new loving home. I can't keep all the goodies to myself.
All of the above is true for this vintage book from the 1960s, A Paper Zoo - A Collection of Animal Poems by Modern American Poets.
I sold this book almost a month ago, and i truly hope the new owner loves it as much as i did. As i still do.
Before i shipped it, i scanned a few of my favorite pages. These type of illustrations is why i love to make illustrations myself (yes i do illustrations, no i haven't found the time to do so in a long long time).
I love that it is a poetry book for children, but that the poems aren't specifically written for children. The poems were selected by Renee Karol Weiss and the amazing amazing (intentionally double amazing) illustrations were done by Ellen Raskin.
In the book's afterword Renee Karol Weiss explains that she found that young children will respond to the very best in art. As a kindergarten teacher she mixed Bach and Beethoven, and Roualt and Picasso in with more typical classic childrens music and images. She did the same with American Poets, mixing them in with childrens nursery rhymes.
The poems in A Paper Zoo were selected with the belief that the young child could enjoy them and continue to grow with them.
Being a new mother i like this way of thinking and i will definitely continue to try to expose my little boy to art both specifically aimed at kids, and 'grown up' art as well. For now i'll save these images with the poems for him to enjoy. He has a couple of vintage lions on the walls of his nursery, so i think the page with the lion poem will be perfect to print and frame! Ellen Raskins art just screams out to be admired. Marvelous mod orange and green drawings, great to view from a little distance and so much detail to discover close up.
As a little girl i was taught how to knit by my mother. Just a few basic stitches. I could make a scarf, and i think i once made a basic dress for one of my dolls. But that is over 30 years ago. I do know how to crochet and made many crocheted items in the past number of years. When i look at these knit fashion photos from the sixties, i think i should really dust off those knitting needles and get my skill up.
The orange dress above features one long cable running down each side from neckline to hemline, front and back, for a long casual sweater look. Yes please!
Or this long coat made of mohair and tweed yarn combined. Casual loose line, decorated solely with a large ribbed collar. Elegantly matched with gray gloves and satin scarf. I say, perfect now that the weather is turning a bit colder!
And the shirt suit on the right is very Mad Men as well. A hip length jacket with a shirt collar, knit in a novelty ribbed stitch. Buttoned cuffs and slits at the sides.
How comfy is this gorgeous wool tweed coat with matching scarf for upcoming wintry days. Patch pockets, three-quarter sleeves and leather buttons.
Or what about a sweater dress of mohair in wonderful fall colors? Made exactly like a sweater even to the ribbed cuffs, neckline and hem and the grosgrain ribbon binding down the front.
On another note, when did we ladies stop wearing those wonderful hats?
Coming November, E! network will air a new reality show with iconic designer Diane Von Furstenberg. House of DVF.
The series will follow the designer as she searches for the first-ever DVF Global Brand Ambassador.
I'm a big fan of Von Furstenberg, so i'll be watching. Plus i have an interview with her.
...
Oh yeah, i wish!
I should clarify.
I have an interview with her in one of my vintage teen magazines from the 1970's.
From Princess to Designer - Diane Von Furstenberg.
Here is an excerpt from the interview.
"Diane Von Furstenberg is a business phenomenon. In 1970, when pants were THE fashion, she began a company with one basic item - a print wrap dress. ... Today (ed. this was in 1977), she presides over an empire that manufactures dresses, cosmetics, a fragrance - "Tatiana," and fine jewelry. She also licenses 12 other companies to manufacture her designs in costume jewelry, fabrics, furs, handbags and leather goods, lingerie, patterns, raincoats, scarves, shoes, sunglasses and eyewear, tops, umbrellas and rainhats!"
"Question: After you made the decision to go into business, how did you go about it?
DVF: I had an idea and i worked very hard to promote it. People told me it was impossible. But i had this idea in my head and I wanted to prove it could be done. When i first started, I did everything. Designing dresses and fabrics, invoicing, typing, packing shipments, carrying suitcases of things to the factory in Italy, supervising operations there, bookkeeping, working out all the details. The business started in a small, modest way. .."
"Q: You are the only designer who is also the fashion image of her company, advertisements frequently use you as the model. How did that happen?
DVF: I didn't plan that. Although I wear my own clothes, I design them with other women in mind, too. But I always have my own tastes in mind when I design anything."
"Q: Since you predicted the trend from pants back to dresses, do you have any other predictions? What's in the future for fashion?
DVF: Today, women are more intelligent, more aware of themselves. They want clothes that show who they are - show their minds and bodies. I think it's important that whatever you wear should be an accessory to yourself - YOU are important."
"Q: With so many things demanding your attention and time, how do you stay organized?
DVF: Everything in my life is planned. Sometimes I take a few hours or a whole day to relax and do what I want. But I usually spend that time planning ahead!"
"Q: What would you tell teens who want a career in fashion?
DVF: To be prepared to work - even fight - for an idea. There were several people who were amused when I proposed a simple, easy-to-wear yet flattering wrap dress in an exciting and original print right in the middle of the Jeans Era. I was also warned that American women would not buy a fabric which had to be dry cleaned or hand washed. I'm not being smug - I merely want to point out that even the fashion experts sometimes make mistakes ab out what women want to wear. Don't go against yourself. Don't fight what you are or try to look like someone else."
In current times, House of DVF premiers November 2 on E!
These mod childrens fashion illustrations come from a vintage Dutch sewing magazine from the early 1970's.
I think the outfits are just too adorable and i love the color schemes used.
Makes me itch to get my sewing machine out and start making some vintage style clothes for my baby boy!
I think i recognize these first two as the work by Dutch illustrator Ans van Emden. She was mentioned as one of the magazine's contributors, but the images weren't signed, so i'm not completely sure.
And because it's almost Halloween, here are some wonderful illustrations of childrens dress up costumes from the same magazine. Halloween isn't celebrated in the Netherlands, so these costumes were designed for the Carnival celebration that is held each year in early spring.
This is the work by Loes Dirksen. I don't know any more of her work, but these pages were signed with her name.
Home decorating in the 1970's was all about using color. And if you went for it, you went for it. Crazy Amazing, or Wonderful Amazing. You be the judge.
Brush-On Paint Design in Yellow.
Forget about decorating with wallpaper, pictures and mirrors. Open your eyes - and your mind - to painted wall designs, as designer Lawrence Peabody did here. Notice how the free-form supergraphic on wall flows right onto the conversational seating arrangement. (originally posted this photo over on my previous blog ismoyo.com)
Living in Purple and Red.
The couch and wall covering have been done in the same color scheme of purples and reds. The patterns of circles and stripes make that the sofa does not visually disappears into its background.
Suspension space savers in Orange and Pink.
Wooden shelves held together by chains surround the vanity table. Shelves are painted orange to match the wall covering and carpet.
Wicker dinner in Pink.
Have a seat. If you can find the chair that is. Wicker table and peacock chairs painted in hot pink to match the rest of the interior.
Color it Green.
Floor to ceiling posts and overhead beams, painted parrot green, bring architectural interest to the room. Roll-up shades on windows and in front of shelving, continue the strong vertical impact. Green metal dining set by Meadowcraft on shaggy rug.
All images found in vintage home decorating books and magazines from the 1970's from my personal collection.
Want your own vintage magazines? I can't keep them all to myself, so i have some listed for sale in the Mod and Mint shop on Etsy.
