Re-createThe Great Gatsby

With the release of the much anticipated film 'The Great Gatsby', which I am yet to see, so many people are falling in love with the 1920s fashion. The glitz and glamour of the 1920's is eye-catching and unique. Here's how you can achieve it.

Hair
Short hair and finger waves were popular...

Here is a video from cherry doll face on how to achieve the Great Gatsby hair look without having to chop off your locks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKxFUAK7ilc
Check out her other videos too she is really good.

Make-up

Before the roaring 20's nice girls just didn't wear makeup. It was often associated with promiscuous women and those on stage. Lets take rouge (now called blush). It was messy to use until the compact was invented. It was made easy to apply and transport and socially acceptable. it soon became fashionable to wear but not like we do today. Instead of dabbing it along the cheekbones they would apply in in circles on the cheeks.

Lipstick in a tube was invented in 1915 and was made easy to apply to that a lady could touch up often. Stencils were introduced to create a perfect line. On the top lip the lipstick went over the lip line and shaped like a cupids bow. On the lower lip, it was applied in an exaggerated manner. On the sides, the colour stopped short of the natural lip line. On the lower lip is was applied in an exaggerated manner and on the sides it stopped just short of the natural lip line. The most popular choice was red but you often see photos of women wearing very dark lipstick.

Ok so mascara looks a little different now.
Eyes were kept dark, lined with smudged liner and then mascara. Eyelash curlers were invented in 1923 and used for a more dramatic effect.
Here is a 1920s makeup tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEdUmByxx7w

Fashion
This is the era where women started to wear more comfortable clothing and first started to abandon the restricted clothing of the past. From 1925 the public passionately embraced the style closely associated with the roaring 20's. These style continued to characterise fashion until 1932.
    
The cloche hat, the dropped waist and the straight line chemise characterises the flapper style. Skirts were shorter and pleats, gathers or slits were added to skirts to allow more motion...

Here is a link to a few shops on etsy selling 1920s originals...
https://www.etsy.com/uk/search/vintage?q=1920s&view_type=gallery&ship_to=GB

Make do and Mend.....Beauty

If you can get away with going natural then do. Natural hair is so beautiful. You could try lemon juice but be warned this could leave your hair dry and brittle if you use it often. Honey is a better option:

Continuing the Make do and Mend theme this week, today we will look at how we can be beautiful on a budget. During World War 2 clothes were rationed. As clothes were lacking that somewhat sparkle, women resorted to emphasising their hair and makeup to make themselves look more beautiful. Lets see what they did....

                                                Hair
      Conditioner:
Try a tablespoon of olive oil. I know it sounds gross but I have tried this one myself.
-Thoroughly wet your hair,
-Rub 1-2 tablespoons of the oil through your hair massaging into the scalp,
-Wrap your hair in a towel for 20-30 minutes and wash out with a shampoo. (You may need to wash it a couple of times
It gives hair a glossy, healthy shine and gets rid of any unsightly dandruff. Plus the shine will last longer than just 1 wash.
       Lightening natural hair:

      -3/4 cup of honey and 1/2 cup of water,
      -apply to the hair
      - wrap in a plastic wrap, (clingfilm or a shower cap will do)
      - Leave for around 8 hours (so probably overnight is best)
-wash out.
       To darken hair

-I have heared that soaking hair in black tea for 15mins,
-wash out.
- Repeat over the next couple of weeks and you will start to see a difference.

I would not advise these natural ways to lighten and darken hair if your hair is already coloured.
(a vintage styling post will be at a later date)

Skin
     Everyone's skin is different. I personally have very sensitive skin so face wash is the one thing I splash out on once a year and use the salon Dermalogica. But there are some thrifty ways to getting glowing skin if you wish to try them. such combinations as face cream mixed with sugar and also green tea mixed with honey and sugar. Here is a site that gives 4 different combinations for homemade natural facial scubs....

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Basic-Homemade-Facial-Scrub

     Occasionally we all get that dreaded zit. Don't dash to the chemist for those expensive spot creams. A great and of course cheaper alternative is Witch Hazel. Witch Hazel is good for the skin in general as it is a natural astringent. It cleanses and refreshes the skin, gently tones, it does not remove the essential oils in the skin leaving it dry, and temporarily relieves the skin of minor irritations such as cuts, scrapes, insect bites and of

 course zits. Again be careful when using different things on your skin, if you have very sensitive skin like I do.

Makeup

      As makeup ran thin during the war, women resorted to using such things as beetroot as a lipstick, charcoal as eyeliner and charcoal when mixed with a little petroleum jelly used as a mascara. I'm not saying it is a good idea to use these things now especially charcoal on the eye. However, consider what makeup you use. Can you use less so as to make it last? Can you buy cheaper brands?
      To cut down on makeup of course, it is essential that you treat your skin well. Wash your face properly and moisturise regularly.
I have found it beneficial to have 1 day a week when I don't where any makeup. It gives your skin a bit of time to breath.
For some vintage make up tips check out these:
http://glamourdaze.com/category/1940s-makeup

So have a go at trying some natural ways to make your self look beautiful with the make do and mend attitude. Let me know what you think.

Make Do And Mend

It is such a well know phrase and the 'make do and mend' way of life is becoming ever more popular. As the cost of living goes up we are all starting to feel the pinch. But there are ways to live the high life on a budget. So, throughout the week we will look at different areas of life that we can make do and mend without feeling hard done by...

Today, then, lets look at how you can make do and mend your way to that fabulous wardrobe. My favourite style is definitely that of the 1940's and 1950's but these simple rules will work for any era even a modern style.

Recycle and Reuse

Don't just throw away your old clothes, recycle and reuse them. Making small alterations to the fit can save you a fortune. If the trousers are too short for you alter them into cropped trousers or shorts. If they are too long alter the hem to the right length. The difference between a £2 spool of thread and a £30 pair of trousers will keep you happy and help you develop important skills.

What if something has torn or there is a stubborn stain? Ask yourself "can I use the material for something else?" "Is there a nice trim or buttons on this item that I could use on something else?" or "can I add some trim, beads or buttons in a decorative way to hide the stain?" Also don't forget to take proper care of your garments to ensure that they stay looking their finest. (Frugal ways to care for garments will be a post at a later date.)

Have a look at this great website:
http://www.make-do-and-mend.org/
I stumbled across this the other day and have learnt some new tips ans tricks myself.

Charity Shops
Don't be shy of rummaging through charity stores. Some of my favourite clothes are from charity stores. You can pick up some great quality items from really low prices and you are giving to a good cause. Don't just look for clothes that you would wear though, look out for things that have for example a lace trim or some pretty buttons that would go with an item you already own. Be sure to check it is the right price or you could find yourself spending more than you want.

So have a go at making do and mending your wardrobe. You will be surprised at what you find and create.

A Very Vintage Life For You

Vintage is all the rage. The fashions, the music, the whole way of life. This Blog is about everything vintage. There will be recipes, fashion, history, music, events, things for around the home. Basically anything that relates to vintage. Let me know your vintage stories and the things you like and I will try to include posts about those things.

 

So welcome to a vintage life.