Vintage Rose

Inspiration: Vivien Leigh - when beauty is a handicap.

2012-02-27T17:47:00.005+01:00

That Vivien Leigh was a stunning lady is a hardrock fact you can't deny. We all know her in her golden role as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the wind. Vivien was born in British India as Vivian Mary Hartley. She grew up in a wealthy family. Vivien was a woman that knew how to get the things she wanted. And that wasn't any different with the role as Scarlett. Hollywood was in the midst of a widely publicized search to find an actress to portray Scarlett. David O. Selznick watched her performance in her films 'Fire over England' and 'A yank of Oxford'. He thought of her to be excellent, but she was in his opinion 'Too Brittish for Scarlett O'Hara'. Vivien wanted the role so bad, and while she stayed with Laurence Olivier in Los Angeles, she tried at the same time to convice Selznick that she was Scarlett O'Hara. Completely dressed as Scarlett, Leigh inveigled an introduction to the producer, David O. Selznick, through his brother, Myron, who announced: 'Here is your Scarlett.' The rest is history. Gone with the wind was a hard movie to finish. They were way over budget, and it exhausted Vivien Leigh, which ended in hysteria and many tears. She began to yell at people during tempests of psychosis.

{ Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh }

Vivien was - in the opinions - of her co-workers and friends a very sweet lady with a dark side aswell. She could be very sweet, but a real vixen, too. You didn't wanted her against you is what some said. Vivien suffered from Bipolar disorder, and she was literally draining men empty due to her nymphomaniac behaviour which was a symptom of the Bipolar disorder. Her husband Laurence 'Larry' Olivier also had to deal with her extramarital-affairs {including a notorious public fling with Peter Finch} with aplomb, or perhaps it was merely an exhausted sense of relief.

Finch said many years later when Vivien passed away: 'I loved Vivien. But once she set her sights on you, you were a gonner, mate... her affection was lethal. Sex was a sickness with her. It was not only a powerful stimulant for her, but as addictive as any drug. I was a young man then, and it was like Christmas every day - but poor Larry. Poor Larry. She must have been killing him.'

Her need for regular and prodigious sex became increasingly urgent as she grew older, and her emotional episodes became more acute. Vivien was also plagued by insomnia. When she wasn't tired, she wanted Laurence to sit by her all night. Laurence didn't suffer from insomnia, and it drained his energy within no time. But no matter what she suffered from, she always found the strength to work. Vivien earned the reputation of being hard to work with, and she was also diagnosed with Tubercolosis in the midst of the forties. Bipolar was quite uncommon in her day and the only treatment she received was shocktherapy.

Vivien died on the 8th of July 1967 because of Tubercolosis.
Even though Vivien wasn't the most sweetest actress back in the day, I believe that she is a very underrated actress, as people always looked at her beauty, and almost never further than that. Vivien worked hard for the things she wanted. And I admire that. Vivien was lauded for her beauty and sometimes she felt that it sometimes prevented her from being taken seriously as an actress. Vivien was considered the most beautiful actress of her day, and the directors emphasized this in most of her films.

When asked if she believed her beauty had been an impediment to being taken seriously as an actress, she said, "People think that if you look fairly reasonable, you can't possibly act, and as I only care about acting, I think beauty can be a great handicap, if you really want to look like the part you're playing, which isn't necessarily like you."

George Cukor commented that Leigh was a "consummate actress, hampered by beauty",and Laurence Olivier said that critics should "give her credit for being an actress and not go on forever letting their judgments be distorted by her great beauty." Garson Kanin shared their viewpoint and described Leigh as "a stunner whose ravishing beauty often tended to obscure her staggering achievements as an actress. Great beauties are infrequently great actresses — simply because they don't need to be. Vivien was different; ambitious, persevering, serious, often inspired."

Leigh explained that she played "as many different parts as possible" in an attempt to learn her craft and to dispel prejudice about her abilities. She believed that comedy was more difficult to play than drama because it required more precise timing and said that more emphasis should be placed upon comedy as part of an actor's training. Nearing the end of her career, which ranged from Noël Coward comedies to Shakespearean tragedies, she observed, "It's much easier to make people cry than to make them laugh."

To me, Leigh was both beautiful and a great actress. She inspires me to carry on, even though you are struck by a mental illness, and achieve the things you want the most. My absolute favorite movie is - to everyone's surprise - not 'Gone with the wind' but 'A streetcare named Desire'. She had to play a depressed woman, and this was her easiest role to portray, as it came very close to the person Vivien was, but at the same time it was a very hard one to portray as many said that she never stepped out of this role. She took the movie personality home and her depression got worse. In this movie you see a bit of Vivien herself and the emotions she portrayed were very real!

We'll meet again..

2012-02-24T12:01:00.000+01:00

Mr R and I actually have only backstage pictures of us during our shoots. Because I haven't modelled for a long time with a co-model, I came up with the idea of making pictures together using the self-timer. It was freezing at the very old station of Beekbergen. It's one of the stops the steam locomotives of the 'Veluwsche stoomtrein maatschappij' { Trans: The Veluwsche steam locomotive firm } uses when they travel from my hometown city to the city 'Dieren'. Have a look! It's a moving museum! And really worth taking this trip if you ever come to the Netherlands.

Mr R and I checked up on some old stations and ended at 'Beekbergen' near my hometown. We have quite a few, but they didn't looked thát pretty. Luckily for us; the steam locomotive wagons were there. You had to walk on the property of the people who live in a little house what used to be a little station house, but they let us be. Luckily for us we were the only ones walking on the platform, so we could shoot in silence. The forecast predicted bad weather, but the gods were kind and it only rained and hailed when we were sitting in the car - freezing though.

We had a lot of laughter, as I constantly bursted out in laughter when I had to look in Mr R's eyes!
But we sure booked some good results, and I am proud of this serie.

Two rusty gold signs hanging on the little stationshouse. { A chocolate factory ad of Droste and a coffee advertisment of Douwe Egberts}.

{ Two more ads. The first about the coffee brand Douwe Egberts again, and the other one is a tobacco ad. }

And here are our photo's:

We'll meet again,

Don't know where,

Don't know when

But I know we'll meet again some sunny day

Keep smiling through,

Just like you always do

Till the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away...

It had some doing to give the photo's the right atmosphere, but I think I nailed it if I say so myself.

Photographer: S.Elf-timer

Model: Lindsay Lane

Male model: Robin Peterman

Retouche: Lindsay Lane

Vegetarianism and veganism in the forties

2012-02-21T20:34:00.002+01:00

I was a vegetarian myself for a couple of years and luckily I had understanding parents who let me be one, but from what I've read and heared, some of you aren't that lucky and are being forced to eat the typical Christmas or Thanksgiving meals each and every year with family. Celebrations where meat is being exploited the most. Being a vegan or vegetarian is a huge topic for years now, growing only bigger and bigger as time pass by.

Though I am not a vegetarian - anymore - but do care for the wealth of animals - I have been doing some research on vegetarian meals dating from the forties, for a couple of months now. Well .. it probably wouldn't surprise you if I tell you that it's terribly difficult to find any recipes, even though vegetarianism dates back to the late 1700 - which will surprise many people as most of them think it all started as a phenomenon of the 1960's. But various groups and individuals throughout history have practiced vegetarianism for several reasons: health, spiritual, economical and environmental reasons.

Vegetarianism and Veganism in the Twentieth Century.

Food innovations aside, vegetarianism was swimming upstream. A poll has been held in 1943 reported that there were living 3.5 million vegetarians in the United States. Most likely this number was overblown, since the science of polling was inexact in this era. Press coverage of vegetarianism waned in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The future looked sad for vegetarians, as the appetite for meat increased. Worse: most of the people living in the US did not crave soy burgers. But again, vegetarian advocates did not stop convincing people to replace sirloin with soy. Opportunistic vegetarians observed people waiting in long lines snaking around buildings to get their food rations. World War II had ushered in meat shortages and food rationing.

Each family was allowed 28 ounces of meat a week. Tuesdays and fridays were meatless days. Vegetarians responded quickly to this and spoke out! Secretary of agriculture Claude Wickard assured vegetarians that a special rationing plan would be worked out for them. The statement was in response to the efforts of Symon Gould, secretary of the vegetarianism society of New York, who urged the government to take vegetarians into account under any rationing plan. Gould and the society sent a resolution "so that all registered vegetarians and non-meat citizens, for religious, hygenic, or medical reasons, will be assured of the proper nutricional quantities of protein substances in view of their surrender of their rights to any meat rations which may be enforced by regulations".

Adolf Hitler has been regarded by some as a vegetarian. It has been theorized that his diet may have been based on Richard Wagner historical theories which connected the future of Germany with vegetarianism. Hitler believed that a vegetarian diet could both alleviate personal health problems and bring about a spiritual regeneration. Hitler also said: "One may regret living at a period when it's impossible to form an idea of the shape the world of the future will assume. But there's one thing I can predict to eaters of meat: the world of the future will be vegetarian."

But Hitler's vegetarianism has been questioned by many as well! In the book, The Mind of Adolf Hitler, it is said: "If he (Hitler) does not eat meat, drink alcoholic beverages, or smoke, it is not due to the fact that he has some kind of inhibition or does it because he believes it will improve his health. He abstains from these because he is following the example of the great German, Richard Wagner, or because he has discovered that it increases his energy and endurance to such a degree that he can give much more of himself to the creation of the new German Reich."

In 1943, Marlene von Exner became Hitler's dietician and reportedly added bone marrow to his soups without his knowledge because she "despised" his vegetarian diet.

The word 'Vegan' was founded in 1944 on 1st of november by Donald Watson (2 September 1910 – 16 November 2005), as he and some friends started the vegan society. It's the oldest vegan society in the world. For many vegan's, the 1st of november is still an important day, as this is the date for the celebration of 'World Vegan Day'. The Vegetarian society, by the way, was founded on the 30th of september 1847 to "support, represent and increase the number of vegetarians in the UK".
Watson's journey to veganism started at the young age of fourteen, at the farm of his uncle George. He said:
"I was surrounded by interesting animals. They all "gave" something: the farm horse pulled the plough, the lighter horse pulled the trap, the cows "gave" milk, the hens "gave" eggs and the cockerel was a useful "alarm clock" - I didn't realise at that time that he had another function too. The sheep "gave" wool. I could never understand what the pigs "gave", but they seemed such friendly creatures - always glad to see me"

When he saw a pig got slaughtered, he found out what it's purpose was and his life changed for good. At the age of fourteen he became a vegetarian as a New Years resolution in 1924, and in the 1940s, after learning about milk production, he became a vegan.

Watson:
"We can see quite plainly that our present civilization is built on the exploitation of animals, just as past civilizations were built on the exploitation of slaves, and we believe the spiritual destiny of man is such that in time he will view with abhorrence the idea that men once fed on the products of animals' bodies".

Click here for an interesting interview with Donald Watson .

Luckily, for most of us, we live in 2012! We now have the choice to become a vegetarian or a vegan without any difficulties. Or atleast; the difficulties the people in bygone era's had to face! Any of you, vintage lifestylers, that are a vegetarian or a vegan? And, you have some vegetarian or vegan specialties that you cook every so often? I am eager to hear!

© Information:
Wikipedia
Sins of the flesh: a history of ethical vegetarian thought.

Cock your hat - angles are attitudes.

2012-02-17T11:47:00.001+01:00

I am what you call a 'hat person' and I've always been one! Even as a little girl I always wanted a hat on me head. Hats are a big part of the 1940s look, and the hats of that era played a big part in me loving the forties so much { but ofcourse not hats alone! }. A couple of days ago, at a particular evening, I was bored to death. Doesn't happen to me very often, but when I do I feel the urge to be creative with my hands!

I had a couple of fiddling tutorials bookmarked, and decided to work on my own beret in early forties style. Ofcourse forties, what else? Anyway, I took the materials and started to work. I planned to make some sort of a 'stick up beret'. See below.

People who are befriended with me on Facebook already saw the picture. But here it is!

I would love to promise a video tutorial, but we all know how bad I am in keeping that promise. The first I have to make is a hair tutorial, and the second is a wartime felt jewellery tut. So what I am gonna do is, I will write it down here with text only { how boring!!}.

You can use a wide variety of fabrics { and decorations }, but I prefer to make berets from felt or either wool. If you don't want to use these materials, you can also use old sweaters or old t-shirts.

But here goes!

Things you'll need:

One yard of fabric
Needle and thread
Elastic - which I didn't use by the way!
Safety pin
Sewing machine { optional }
Pencil
Scissor
Embellishments { optional }

What you'll have to do!

First you have to draw to perfect circles that are about 16 inches in diameter on the piece of fabric that you have chosen.
Cut those two circles out.
Sew the right side of the circles together {inside out}, all the way around, but leave a four inch gap.
Turn the beret right-side out, and sew all the way around the hat about one inch from the edge. Leave the gap open.
Take a length of 1/2-inch wide elastic and thread it through the gap in the fabric all the way around inside the seam. It is helpful to fasten a safety pin to the end of the elastic and slowly pull it through.
Try on your beret and fix the length of the elastic so it fits your head comfortably. Tie the elastic in a knot and cut off the extra elastic.
Stitch up the gap in your beret by hand
If you want you can embellish your beret with feathers, or the stick up like I did, beads, embroidery or whatever you fancy.

Workshop 'shaving with straight razor'.

2012-02-15T22:18:00.000+01:00

For the { male } Dutchies amongst us there's now a workshop shaving with straight razor given by my friend master barber Jan and 'manandshaving.nl'! For more information see below. I am very proud to say that my photo's are used for the website. I made those photo's on the Italian days in Rosmalen of Robin who got a free shave from authentic barber Jan! And yes, his skin was oh so smooth!

Click here for the website { Which is written in Dutch I must admit! }

Soon a little mini shoot of me and Jan will also be published online! Can't wait to see them myself.

Winter portraits by Jerry Zandwijk

2012-02-14T18:01:00.003+01:00

Well, we can't say here in the Netherlands that it isn't a severe winter! Our land was covered with white snow the past few weeks, the ditches and lakes were frozen, and many little children were skating on ice for the very first time. My generation has never been able to skate on nature ice; the winters were just not strong enough! I am brave enough to tell you that I have never in my life skated on ice. I am at the age now that I won't even try it! I am too afraid to slip under the ice! Therefore, I am not at all a winter person. My wardrobe is almost never winter-steady with an exception for some garments here and there. Ofcourse, I love to sit inside with a blanket on the couch; warm at the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa and a book, watching snow fall down. Like a fairytale! But then, when you have to walk your dog at some certain points of the day - on the only kind of shoes you own: heels - that fairytale falls to pieces soon enough! And I look quite the joke.

{ Wilhelminaplein, Haarlem, 1940 }

{ Wilhelmina square, Haarlem, 1940 }

{ Friesland, The Netherlands, 1940 }

{ The Dutch mother Queen Emma van Waldeck-Pyrmont pouring over her fear for snow and went outside with her daughter Wilhelmina. Wilhelmina { later Queen Wilhelmina } never went on winter sports - which was usual for the royal family - as mother Queen Emma was too scared something would happen to her daughter }

Now, I realised I don't have winter photo's of myself, and what a coincidence it was when my friend and also photographer Jerry asked me to shoot some winter portraits, and to have a nice day ofcourse as we haven't seen eachother for over 2 years! It was really cold but I was willing to set a foot outdoors cause it's always fun to hang around with Jerry! We shot some nice results and went to see the wild pigs after!

© Photo's: Jerry Zandwijk

As the days pass I am very glad to see the snow is dissapearing, and the temperature rising! I am longing for warm summer days where I can sip my cocktail in the garden under the shadow of our big tree in the garden whilst reading a book! Oh, don't we all long for summer days?

Oh, before I forget it! I can't leave the little piglets out can I? They were just too cute to be true! Their little curious snouts sniffing at my glove! Ahh, I melted!

Happy Valentine's day, me lovelies!

2012-02-14T00:08:00.002+01:00

I've got two lovely presents from Mr.R, some virtual flowers, cards and wishes from fans .. so I can't say that I haven't been spoiled on this day! And it's not even 0:15 as we speak now!

Anyway, do some of you celebrate it? Or are you on the line that thinks it's one helluva commercial day? If you celebrate it, I would love to hear how you've spent or gonna spend it with your love!

Hugs and kisses,

How I got into my vintage lifestyle...

2012-02-07T16:41:00.014+01:00

Coming to think of it; I never really talked about how I got into the vintage lifestyle that I am living now for more than a couple of years. I am getting this question alót, but I never gave a concrete answer as it's quite a long story and is very tiresome to tell this over and over again.

What I noticed here, on Blogspot, is when people write about how théy got into the vintage lifestyle that, most of them were gothics, punks, cybergoths, rockabillies or whatsoever, before getting a complete transformation into an elegant creature from bygone era's. This counts for me aswell. I was a cybergothic { with neon fake dreads and matching outfits, listening Industrial music day and night and all that comes along with it } before I turned into a walking time machine. Though, I must admit that the love for the thirties / forties - and back then the fifties aswell - was always present. As a young girl I loved to watch black and white movies with glamour girls of the silver screen, such as Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable and ofcourse Marilyn Monroe; wishing it was me on that screen. I dreamt of being as beautiful as they were.

{ Jean Harlow, Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable }

And speaking of this; it was Marilyn Monroe who gave me a little push in the vintage direction. I am a booknerd, I love to read {auto}biographies and it happened that in 2002 I read a biography about Marilyn Monroe. To my big surprise I noticed that this actress and I had alot in common. She was the world's most sexiest and most beautiful woman alive in the fifties, yet she had such an extremely disfunctional image of herself. Mind you: it's the latter we have in common, not the looks unfortunatly. She had stage fright, was extremely insecure about herself, scared to fail, a control freak, she couldn't sleep with a closed bedroom door, she was diagnosed with BPD; she had the ability to "be apparently competent" that often leads loved ones and professionals to trivialize her profound suffering and to deny the appropriate recognition or care required by this painful and persistent illness. Marilyn was a fighter. She suffered from alot of trauma's from her past, and always had to fight her demons alone. The loneliness she felt was devastating. Dealing with people who see you as a sex symbol, someone who had it all: a career as a model and actress, good looks, money, people laying at your feet, and whatsoever more ... but she never saw it herself. She was fragile underneath her pretty mask, she played a role not only in front of the camera, but also in real life. People underestimated her intelligence alot. Who knew Marilyn, or those who are well informed about her, know that she was quite intelligent and was always eager to learn more. All of the above mentioned, and many more, I could - and still can - reflect on myself.

After that book I created a bigger interest in Marilyn: read every book I could, watched all the movies of her that I could lay my hands on, read her interviews, watched movie fragments of her. She was my 'style icon' and an example for me to expand my femininity - which was in my cyber period a bit on the rudimentary side. Just like Marilyn, I've always tried to refine my features day in day out - which resulted in many hours in front of a mirror.Throughout the years when having hard times it made me felt good to read about Marilyn, and when I was in the clinic in May 2011 they usually saw me reading in a thick book about her life. She gave me many inspiration with her looks. And she still does.

Marilyn's life in a nutshell; this movie fragment is really worth watching but beware as it's really a saddening movie fragment!

Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did.

In 2005 I learned more about 'Pin up'. While searching for the retro look I came across paintings of Alberto Vargas. Around this time I started to dress more retro, but with long hair reaching at my tailbone it was hard to create the proper period look. It was especially the fifties that interested me the most. I started to dress like the pin up girls on the paintings, but I had so much more to learn. In 2005 I also did my very first pin up photoshoot with Rob Heemskerk. A friend of mine that tried to experience as much as he could with his camera, and called me his muse. Once placed on social networks, the photo's appealed a couple of photographers who were álso interested in shooting pin up themes and that's where the ball started rollin'. A couple of years later the modelling work became my source of income and I limited my modelling to pin up only.

{ Paintings by Alberto Vargas - click to enlarge }

{ Paintings by Gil Elvgren - click to enlarge }

As we all know; pin ups meant a great deal to the soldiers fighting in World War II. They were even painted on the noses of warplanes throughout the war. It has always been a dream of mine to be painted on the nose of a Supermarine Spitfire. Now, that will never happen, but the dream has come out only a little! My pin up photo's are mostly bought by modern day soldiers, fans of pin up, or re-enactors. They make it happen that a little bit of pin up from back in the day comes alive again!

{ Pin up nose art on a P-47D Thunderbolt. }

{ Nose art on the Supermarine Spitfire - ofcourse I couldn't leave my favorite plane out hey! }

In 2008 I expanded my modelling career by modelling 1940s glamour portraits and staging the life of the forties. In 2009 it became my lifestyle and from then on I only wore clothing from the 1930s or 1940s. I totally lost my interest for the 1950s throughout these years. Not only my clothing, but also my manners, home decoration, and whatsoever, are fitting my forties lifestyle. And so, here we are! The 1940s feels to me as 'coming home'. When discovering this world I found my identity at the same time. It's a huge passion of mine and I think you, my regular readers, feel the same about this!

{ Photographers: Time machine studios, Robin Peterman, Rob Heemskerk, Martin Philippo. Click to enlarge }

Now, how did y'all end up in the vintage world? I am eager to hear!

Latest and lucky pursuits.

2012-02-06T16:41:00.001+01:00

I bless the gods of vintage, as I am very lucky in finding great vintage forties or repro forties clothing. Not only do I find it, I also won a suspender skirt from a giveaway I Love Vintage held! I received the package very quickly and I am over the moon with it. It makes my body look slim, it fits perfectly and is also very comfy.

I have always craved for a suspender skirt, but never came across one. Well, how great is it that I won this give away? I think it's marvelous. So whilst listening Connee Boswell I made some photo's of my latest pursuits.

My favorite shoes of my favorite era; forties platform heels. It's extremely different to find real vintage forties platforms in my country, and if you are a regular reader of my blog you know that these kind of shoes passed in review very often. I could only drool over the expensive shoes at either Etsy or Ebay, untill I saw the above repro's at the Marktplaats.nl and I knew I had to have 'em. I am now the proud owner of these fabulous shoes, and they make me feel as if I am walking on clouds!

The picknick basket I got from my friend Natalie when I picked up a forties china set she had for me, when I was on my way to Zevenaar for a party. I like it alot! And is ofcourse a good prop for a picknick vintage photoshoot!

Photo's of my photoshoot with Martin Philippo

2012-01-31T23:50:00.004+01:00

It was a blast to work with Martin, and I am utterly satisfied about the results. Especially with the outcome of the photo's that are inspired by a painting of Alberto Vargas called 'Memories of Olive'.

The uncensored versions can be found at my Modelmayhem.

Hat from 1944

2012-01-22T15:39:00.001+01:00

I went thrifting at the local flea market - held every month - all by myself. Unfortunatly I came at a time when it was extremely crowded. Me and many people is a no go. However I spotted a hat! I knew it had to be from the 1940s. I've became quite skilled in dating hats, and the owner of the stall could give me more detailed information; it was from 1944. I was thrilled and bought the hat for the very cheap prize of €4,50. That's a real steal!

I am very much in love with this hat, and it's still good enough for wear!

It has cute flowers at the back:

I also bought a vintage marine blue woollen cardigan with a floral pattern. Pictures of those later on!

How do I prepare myself for a photoshoot...

2012-01-20T15:24:00.017+01:00

The lovely Lady In Black wrote to me at the comments of my backstage photo's, that she hoped that I will write a post about my preparations before I have a vintage photoshoot { This lady is a marvelous model herself by the way! }. And I am more than willing to. It might be unfair of me to say this, and by the by who ám Í to say this; but when I search the internet for inspiration I see many girls calling themselves 'classic vintage models', while they are totally wearing the wrong dress code { Think e.g a forties photoshoot, kitten heels, shoes with the scary pointy noses, latex nurse outfits, and plain straight hair etc. You get the point}. Now, I don't want to offend anyone with this, and everyone should do as he or she pleases. Please also keep in mind that I am *not* talking about modern retro { or modern 'pin up'} modelling. I might be a big nag about this as I am also the one who's always yelling at the television when she's watching movies about the forties and all the girls have sixties updo's and wear the wrong clothing, e.g also sixties. But once again; I am not here to offend anyone. If your happy, I'm happy!

However, I am rambling a bit out of border here. What I wanted to say is, I'd love to share tips on how to pose and my preparations before having a vintage or pin up photosession.

◦ A few weeks before my photoshoots - and this might sound creepy to most people - I leave out all the bread because of the carbohydrates. No more words on this. Let's move on.

◦ I make sure I pick a few themes with the photographer and find the best clothing that fits that theme. Props in that matter are véry important, especially with pin up modelling. You run quickly out of poses, and that's where props come in.

◦ I make sure I treat my body well, no more alcohol { I quit drinking anyway }, go to bed early to avoid bags - as big as the White Cliffs of Dover - under my eyes, I smear my body with Nivea for a peach soft skin and so further.

◦ A little bit of nervousness is healthy. It means it keeps you sharp. If you are not nervous, you are most likely working on the automatic pilot and all your expressions or poses come out the same, ór you are super duper confident - and that means I am very jealous of you. For me, nervousness usually steps in the night before the photosession. What I'd love to do is treating myself to a little home spa. I take a facial steam bath with lavender, I take a hot bath with candlelight, different kind of herbs in the tub, whilst reading a book, or if I don't read: cucumber on my eyes. Facial mask does well, too, or I do other things that makes me feel calm.

◦ Because I want to expand my facial expressions as much as I can, I often practice with my own camera. Taking tons of pictures of me, me and ... yeah, me. And, no, I am not diagnosed with narcissism if that's what your asking. The reason why I do this, is to see how I look with certain expressions. I look, I judge and learn. It works! You háve to know you face and body angles to get a good shot. Me, for example, has to watch out that I don't become a neckless monster or a huddled clot. My neck, unfortunatly, is not the longest of necks, so while posing I have to keep in mind that I actually do háve a neck, somewhere, and that it needs to be seen. A picture without shape or neck is a waste. I am quite a petit girl, certainly not the tallest with a measurement of 5'3", and it's important that you elongate yourself as much as possible, but make sure you keep the posing natural.

◦ On the day of the photoshoot, I love to get in the mood for the role I have to portray. While doing my own hair, make up and clothing; I listen to my favorite music of the 30's or 40's.

◦ Coming to think of the above: I prefer to do my own styling. I know what looks best on me, and I know the hairdo's, make up and clothing of the twenties, thirties and forties. { I say '20s/'30s/40s, as this is my area and expertise and these are the only three era's I sport }. In my career as a model I've seen many mua's or stylists go wrong on the styling. If I do it myself, I am sure that I pull off the look { hear her brag, bla bla bla }. Thus, on every photo in my portfolio I chose to do my own styling.

◦ Keep in mind that the photographer doesn't care if you have a more voloptuous, rubenesque body or if you are skinny. He just wants that one good shot. I have to be fair ... this is something I have the most problems with, so I have no right of speaking here. I am always thinking: Does my body look fat?, do I have lovehandles?, are their any wrinkles?, do I look like a joke? etcetera, etcetera. Albeit not really a huge problem, for it also keeps you aware on how you pose.

◦ Last but not least: what I think is the most important thing during a photoshoot, without any doubt, is the connection between you and the photographer. If there isn't any *click* { No pun intended }, it ain't gonna work! Feeling comfortable in the presence of the photographer will make the pictures only come out better. In my previous years I had weird experiences with photographers; a photographer who was jealous when I did a photoshoot with other photographers, ofcourse we have the pervs, and a photographer that started to stalk me after a photoshoot; albeit these incidents were, in a way, experiences I learned from. I can now see who's a worthy photographer to model for and who's not. I never gave these 'bad' photographers credits for the photo's they made, I never used them. Also make sure the photographer has no problem with you bringin someone along. As long as that person doesn't interrupt the photoshoot ofcourse. And, pssst, they can come in really handy when you need an assistant!

This year 2012, will be my year concerning modelling. I can feel it. The ball started rolling long time ago but since a short while people are actually buying my photo's, and I have many nice photosessions ahead. For example yesterday: my friend Natalie came up with the idea to pose for photographer Edmund Messerschmidt; she dressed up as Audrey Hepburn and me as Marilyn Monroe. This is the only exception that I make to do a photoshoot in fifties style. Edmund Messerschmidt will make the photo's for his calendar. I am also in discussion about a pin up calender with Robin Peterman, and I have been asked by many photographers through ModelMayhem if I was interested in vintage photoshoots .. and hell yes I am. Talking about ModelMayhem, I've updated it again. More pic's to come! Add me if you are on it, too!

My Blogspot will soon get a fresh new look with totally different colors than what you gals and guys are used of me. I will also write a post on how I got into pin up modelling, where I get my pin up inspiration from, and what it means to me to be a pin up model!

I hope I didn't came off too harsh in my first alinea. I really didn't meant to sound mean or whatsoever, and did not want to offend anyone. Please remind that! But above all, I hope you guys liked this post and can use it in the future when you model for a photographer!

Backstage photo's { Photoshoot Martin Philippo }

2012-01-18T18:53:00.000+01:00

Some backstage photo's shot by Mr. R who escorted me to Noordwijkerhout. It was a pleasure to work with Martin, and this will not be the last time we will collaborate! Both our heads are always filled with fancy pin up themes! Inspiration enough I daresay!

As for my ensemble: don't be shocked! ... I wasn't doin' a 1980's photo session! Don't get confused by my oversized blouse. He came in really handy for one of the themes - the Vargas painting we had in our mind to portray. Since I only needed to be photographed from head to waist; I couldn't care less what happened below the belt hence that sloppy look. Their cute fuzzy doggy wanted to go on photo, too! Isn't he adorable? I wanted to take that little one home with me!

I made a selection of the photo's this very morning, and I am really curious how they will turn out!

Photoshoot: Martin Philippo

2012-01-16T22:00:00.003+01:00

It was the second time that I had the chance to work with this amazing and utterly sympathetic photographer! A chance that I never want to miss. Our first photo session made my dream come true: a photoshoot next to a Supermarine Spitfire.

This time we had a wide variety of theme's, but ofcourse all within my street of interest: Pin up!
Pin up is a subject Martin is very specialized in. Mr R. would escort me on my journey and would shoot some backstage pictures aswell, and came in very handy when one had to lift up her leg way too high for the pelvis to handle { No I am not that gracious thing I claim to be! }.

To get in the mood, Mr R and I listened to music from the forties in the car. We hit the road at 10 'o clock and arrived 10 minutes before 12.00 'o clock. We were very hospitably received, and after tea and coffee we started to work. When we had a little break, and for me time to change clothing; Yvonne { Martin's wife } treated us with a délicious scone! Martin and I had several themes planned; all very excited! I won't reveal much yet, cause the pictures will show when I have them online, but here's a teaser!

All in all I had a great day! Martin and Mr R had aswell if I may believe their words!
What do you think of it? Do I make a great Miss February?

© Photography: Martin Philippo

Model: Lindsay Lane

Health tips from the '30s and '40s part 1.

2012-01-13T11:17:00.002+01:00

I've always loved playing around with homeopathic home, garden & kitchen remedies. Only with small ailments ofcourse, as with severe ones you should always see a doctor. The human being has always tried to fight discomforts, ailments, and diseases. Thus throughout the ages; many remedies and solutions reached the modern age. Herbs often take a central role in this. Ofcourse hygiene and nutricion in achieving health are worth including. Because they formerly made good use of what nature had to offer, our grandparents facilitated their lives.

Here's a small grip of my health tips collected from the bygone era's.

Black pepper is a good remedie for the first upcoming signals of an ailment. A mixture of black pepper and honey works very well against a sore throat. However, you have to use freshly ground pepper, approximately one/eighth teaspoon.

Tea from olive leaves works really well against a high blood pressure and lowers the sugar from the blood.
When you make tea from the leaves of walnut, you have a remedy for skin diseases, aswell for indigestion, diabetes, or jaundice. Externally it can be applied as follows: Make an infusion of walnut leaves in a hot tub and use it for acne, sweaty feet, thrush or rash to come.
Passion flower can be used by making tea of the leaves. You can use it for insomnia, nervous disorders, anxiety and high blood pressure.
Violets are colorful flowers to cheer a salad. They contain lots of vitamin C and A. Not only the flowers, but you can also use the leaves.
Dried orange peel are, just like dried lemon peel, an anti stress-/headache remedie. Just keep sniffing on the dried peels!

The tomato can be used as a mask for facial skin. The juice from the tomatoes, mixed with lemon juice and glycerin are a suitable beauty lotion for your hands.

Approximately 1500 grams of salt in a full bath stimulates the metabolism, thus also for deep organs. It also hydrates your skin, and helps reumatic patients build a higher resistance.
Nettle tea lends a hand to stay boss over hayfever.
In cases of cystitis drink tea, made from the leaves of the strawberry plant.
Garlic helps the memory to continue to function properly.
Headache after a heavy night with lots of alcohol? Next time make sure you eat an apple before going to bed.
Stung by a mosquito? A ointment of honey and baking soda helps prevent itching or pain.
Painful menstruation is caused by obstacles in the normal blood flow. A strong brewed tea of chamomile with a lot of ginger, reduces the pain.
Suffering nightmares? Drink warm chamomile tea or a glass of cognac before going to bed.

A hot bath, with a cup of vinegar in it, is doing wonders for stiff muscles.
Rub scar tissue well with wheat germ oil.
If you want to stay slim, stop eating after 20.00 'o clock.
Drink to lose weight, every morning a glass of boiled water with lemon juice and salt. For me, this really works.
This works against wrinkles: wash the face and neck every evening with the broth from the needles of the silver fir.
Cucumber juice is, just like cold tea, a good replacement for an expensive tonic. Your face feels renewed.
Dark hair shines if it's rinsed with water and some vinegar. Blonde hair shines when it's rinsed with water and lemon juice.
Afraid to grow grey? Wash your hair with vinegar water.
Long hair is easier to comb after washing it when it's rinsed with vinegar water.
Yoghurt is a marvelous anti-tangle remedie for you hair.
You can prevent hair loss with strong chamomile tea, and also rub your hair twice a week with kitchensalt.

Who doesn't dream of pearl white teeth? Brush them twice a week with kitchen salt.
Pretty teeth stay intact when you avoid food with white sugar.
Teeth plaque dissapears when brushing with strawberry juice. Brush, leave it for a minute and then rinse it with just water.

Stay tuned for part 2!

Open air museum Arnhem

2012-01-11T23:35:00.003+01:00

Despite my pneumonia { for which I have heavy medication at the moment } we decided to visit the open air museum in Arnhem on my birthday { I turned 25 at the 10th of January - geez I feel old }. If you love history .. this museum is the place to be!

The Dutch Open-air museum captures the history. In authentic buildings, objects and true stories. They take you on a journey through time. Of two centuries ago until very recently. There is plenty of life in the museum. On the farmyards, in the farms, houses and the mills, the farmers café and shops.

Here are some photo's.

An old Dutch farm home where the people lived with their stock of cattle in 1901. You could've felt the atmosphere pretty well, and inside this little farmhouse even the way it used to smell was present.

Farm house from 1900

Council house from 1900

My dear Steve..

2012-01-09T14:48:00.007+01:00

Mostly this blog is about vintage. But, as my about me page says, I want to write some autobiograpical reflections too. Write down things that are happening in my personal life ... well ... I don't do that very often as it's everything but interesting and some things are just too private.

I know that many people are not waiting for whining or heavy loaded posts. But sometimes one gets emotional over a big loss in her life and she needs to write it down. Share it with others whom suffered such a huge loss. My days are still soaked in mourn and it's effecting my daily doings, still. It makes me ill and I am not ready yet to pick up my life. The feeling of his loss grew bigger due to the holidays. Christmas, new years eve and also my upcoming birthday .. I've wanted to spend it all .. with him.

In my life I've had to miss many persons and eventually I built a fence around me; blocked the feelings of missing and loss out of self protection. Until the passing away of my dear Steve; that was a new kind of missing for me, something beyond all the empty feelings I've felt throughout the years. The fact that someone who you love so much isn't physically around you anymore, is devastating. And there's nothing you can do about, which is ten thousand times more devastating.

Steve loved my vintage way of living and my vintage appearance. He supported it in every way. He became enthusiastic about it himself, too. He even wanted to learn the lindy hop so he could go out dancing with me. He told me about the lives of his family in the forties - and in particular his grandmother whom he loved só dearly. He learned me all about history.
He was so proud of me and my vintage photoshoots. Even carried one of my Spitfire photo's in the inside pocket of his coat at all times showing it to his little one or just to everyone and their mother. The photo was so worn out at the end that he wanted a new one. I never got the chance to give it to him. But on the day I said goodbye to his body, I put the exact same photo in his coffin. It's with him till eternity now. In the clinic he gave me a little wooden heart and said that I should take it how I wanted it. In return I gave him a little silver victorian key which he attached to the necklace with a gemstone his daughter gave him. It stood as a methaphore that hé won the key to my heart. He never took it off and he's buried with that little key ( and the stone ofcourse!). I put so much comfort out of that thought.

Every photoshoot I have .. I think of him. His supportive way of talking, his encouragement, his enthusiasm for everything I did. White butterflies are the symbol of a deceased loved one, and, before I had my second Spitfire photoshoot two months after his death, I asked him out loud if he would be there. That same day while I was on the set, posing, a white butterfly landed near the Spitfire and me and sat there for a while. Watching. Coincidence? Maybe. But for me it was not. I just knew from that very moment, even though he passed away, he was still encouraging me! ... And despite contrary feelings I just knew that he never left me.

As Steve would joke ( for he loved to tease me ): Oh I just came to watch that beautiful Spitfire. The beautiful girl is just a great addition! And then he would laugh. His wonderful characteristic laugh that everyone knew, that everyone loved so much, and which we still hear when we think about him.

I miss this Geordie so sorely.

You showed me how it feels

To feel the sky within my reach

And I always will remember all

The strength you gave to me.

Your love made me make it through

Oh I owe so much to you

You were right there for me.

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life

I'll keep a part of you with me

And everywhere I am there you'll be

Cause I always saw in you my light my strength

And I wanna thank you now for all the ways

You were right there for me, you were right there for me

You were right there for me for always.

Lover come back to me

2012-01-07T00:00:00.002+01:00

It took a while before I could publish them, as the photographer is an awefully buzy man, but here they are:

© Photography: R. Peterman

It was a lovely experience to do this photoshoot! Sometimes alittle hard to concetrate due to screaming little children, or children who poke you while your posing, and ask their daddy-o's if "that lady is real"! Also did I got alot of questions if I worked there! But beside those little pet peeve's, it was such a nice day where I met my online friends Dick Carlier and Jurgen de Boer also who were also shooting there with models, and ofcourse did I met master barber Jan Heideman who works at the museum, and with whom I had a little mini-shoot aswell! That one is still under construction, and will be published as soon as possible!

Just like the Airborne museum, this one is also a museum you just cannot miss when you are in the Netherlands. It's in the city 'Utrecht', and that city is just a pearl on itself. I love that city! One of my favs.

Inspirational for 2012

2012-01-05T12:10:00.003+01:00

© Images found on Google.

Please claim if yours.

© Collages made by Lindsay Lane.

Airborne museum

2012-01-04T11:39:00.003+01:00

I love museums and I go often whenever I get the chance. Museums can also be a good spot for photoshoots. With my interest in the past and thus World War II aswell, I love to visit museums that have something to do with both mentioned. If you love the forties and want to live as close to it as possible - within boundaries - you have to know your history. With scarlett red cheeks I have to admit that, even though it's so close to my howetown, I've never been to the Airborne museum. I knew it was there, always wanted to visit it, but somehow it never happened. Just before new years eve, Mr R and I decided to do something educational, and suddenly the Airborne museum 'Hartenstein' in Oosterbeek popped into my head. Mr R was as enthusiastic about that idea as I was. This museum gives a beautiful presentation about the battle of Arnhem. Hartenstein, now the home of this museum, was used by Major general Robert Elliot Urquhart ( a British soldier ) as his headquarters.

( This picture was taken immediatly after the battle of Arnhem, 1944 )

Source

Hartenstein nowadays

With the Mini Cooper we hit the road on our way to Hartenstein. I was excited, finally a chance to visit it! And boy, it was worth the visit. This museum offers you a wide range of history. And looking at those uniforms, badges, defence equipment, which were no replica, and walking into this former headquarter was a weird feeling. You were thrown back into history (leaving out all those screaming little kids).

Me, being very interested in the RAF ( No, no, not only because they have the Spitfire! ), had to have these badges and emblems on photo!

Piece of original wallpaper which says:

"Never surrender. Fuck the Gerry's.

1st Airborne division."

(Beneath are written the scores of the killed or wounded Gerry's.)

Left: RAF pilot | Right: Welfare biscuits

Bonnie Parker?

And Clyde Barrow?

This museum also offers you to walk into the footsteps of a paratrooper.

You start by walking into a Douglas C-47 plane ( a troop carrier) which trembles when you walk through it. Through little windows you can see paratroopers get dropped. When you walk out of the plane you are stranded in the battlefield, where you can see shadows on the ground of planes flying above you, where you can hear bombs and voices of the soldiers, see graves with wooden crosses of fallen soldiers, etc. The museum did really well.

In this last part you end up in a war-torned street. And it was this part which was amazing to shoot some photo's.

It was dark, thus quite a challenge to take photo's. But Mr R's camera and himself did very well - if I may speak so freely.

"Watching paratroopers in the sky".

Which reminds me of a piece of the beautiful song 'Band of Brothers' from Colony 5:

"Avenging Angels with parachutes as wings

It's time to make the artillery sing

A million men that must suffice

The game afoot, they've cast the dice

Those things are precious are only saved by sacrifice."

This museum is totally worth the visit when you live in Holland or ever planning to have a vacation here.

Christmas, totally forgot to post about it!

2012-01-02T20:24:00.002+01:00

First and foremost do I want to thank everyone for their lovely words concerning my last post! It was very touching to read on my networks or to hear people say that they really thought that it was me who really deserved a very happy 2012. I really shed a little tear. While watching the fireworks, I also shed a tear, shot a beautiful and colorful rocket in the air for my dear Steven. I hope you all had a great turn of the year! Any new years resolutions? Or are they already forgotten?

Then:
I completely forgot to post a postlet about my spent Christmas time! Like I spend my Christmasses with family and that didn't changed this year. Mister R. was with us aswell.

We all know that a recession is going on lately .. but when you look at our Christmas tree, surrounded by pretty presents, you'll ask yourself: What recession?

I was spoilt with many presents such as vintage jewellery, a rural lantern, reproduction 'kastvazen' { typically Dutch pottery; translated as cabinet vases }, which were very popular in a 30s and 40s household, a milk chocolate Mozart liqueur, a beautiful tealight which I can hang on the wall, a retro radio cookie jar and the biggest package, given by Mr. R. contained a beautiful little English cottage floral patterned seat for behind my sewing machine table or vanity table.

The second day of Christmas, I spent it at Mr R's house. We cooked a nice dinner, drank some Glühwein at the fireplace, and watched some movies. The food was excellent.

2011

2011-12-31T15:14:00.001+01:00

This year, 2011, was my year - the year of the Hare - according to the Chinese astrology.
And hell yes it was my year, but not a good one at all. I started to believe that my life was one helluva big Murphy's law. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong. The most terrible thing that could happen to me, happend: I lost the love of my life, Steve Lockie, due to a heart attack. I am still suffering from the deep and painful mourn - which made me want to let go of life myself every so often. This year was also the year where I started to use medication, and which was also the year where I got included into a clinic. A painful year, but so many people catched me up, tried to pull me through, and one of them - Robin - never left my side, was always there to help me, took me on trips to make my mind go somewhere else for a little while. He, and so many other generous friends and family members made it possible for me to be with the family of Steve when they had their memorial held in Stanley Durham. They made possible for me to say goodbye to him in the country where he was born: Newcastle upon Tyne, too! The warmth and love of the Lockie family is enormous, and together we will see this through. The loss of this wonderful man is extremely painful, and I will miss him until the end of time. But we are all in this painful situation, and we help eachother to stay strong.

Due to depression the booze was welcomed alittle bit too much by my throat. Depression also made me neglect myself, hence the fact there weren't so many outfit posts at the end of this year. One had to find willpower to get dressed every morning, roll in the curlers before going to bed, color the lines of her face, and put on a smile while there was nothing to smile at all. I want to thank my friends for being so patient with me, as I wasn't only neglecting myself, but also my social contacts - terribly. It was hard for them to get in touch with me, and sometimes my phone was just off for weeks. But they are still standing next to me, and that makes me proud. Proud to have such lovely friends, which I tell them every so often. That I think about them often, and that I didn't forgot them! Same counts for my family aswell. Even though it was hard to swallow that I am a victim of mental illness, they were there for me. Standing by my side, fierce!

One friend particular do I want to thank; my Mexican friend Spike Valentine. Always staying in touch with me, how hard that might've been. He was just there for me, when hard times were aiming for me. Giving me advice, complimenting me by telling me that I am the most beautiful woman the world has ever seen, almost every single day in our friendship.

Also do I want to thank my Irish pal Paddy for emailing me words of strength every now and then, with the most beautiful phrases. Aswell for being there with me at the memorial of Steve in Newcastle together with Robin, and to come over to Apeldoorn to spend some time together. Now that was a most enjoy-able day! He knows the situation I am in very well, and helps me with his own experiences to make me stay strong.

Can't leave out in this writing that I am lucky for having a fine man as a therapist, whom I see every week. Helping me through all this. Who I trust, and who is really willing to help me instead of giving me the feeling that he's just listening to my blabla for an hour because it's what he's gets paid for. Together we walk the path to a better life for me. If he can't help me ... then who can?

Did good things happen? Yes, ofcourse! Small things, but good things! I found the most amazing antique and vintage things you can imagine! Shoes, clothing, hats, furniture, jewellery .. and what have ya! I had loads of nice photoshoots - two of them made a dream come true: posing next to the ever so beautiful Supermarine Spitfire! Not to forget my wonderful vacation to Prague with Robin! Oh how I loved it there, what a beauty that city is! I could stay there for months - if it wasn't my cat whom I missed so much! I have met many new 'online' friends all over the the world who are aswéll reaching out their hands to help me, who want to show me that I am someone, and who make me shy every so often with lovely compliments. This year is also the year where people want to actually buy my photo's, that I get recognition for what I am doing as a model. The year where I won lovely giveaways through Blogspot, and also the year where I got a bit wiser in my choice of picking people who I want to have around me as my friends. I quit being so naive around people, and I aswell stopped my miserable whining over a lousy copycat who copies me for years now; stealing my identity, creativity and concepts. Giving attention to such people only makes it worse, is what I learnd. { This was, ofcourse, the last little whine ... ssssttt! }.

I learned alot from Steve Lockie, who made me see that there are people who can be trusted, who showed me the bright side of life, and I want to take all that I learned from him into 2012. And even though he is no more, I still want to thank him for all the beauty, warmth and love he gave me. For the things he learned me, and for being there for me, calling me every single day to make sure I was ok .. or to just have a lovely chat. He took me out to do nice things together, and he showed me that he understood me. I wasn't alone anymore. Our relation was a one of a kind. A strange but strong one. So intensely deep and passionated, that even with the knowledge now that it wouldn't last long, I would still do it all over again!

Do I have new year's resolutions? No. But I do want to see things change in 2012!
I am quitting alcohol - as I am terribly ruining my body with all the symptoms from this. I will aswell try to be more reachable for family, friends and people in general. I also want to do more nice things with friends, instead of being so tired and let the depression win. I want to eat more healthier, pick up my favorite sport; archery, and ofcourse keep on going with photoshoots! I also want to post more outfit posts, the promised hair and felt tutorials, and such! More important: is there anything yóu guys want to see more on here? Please let me know!

All in all it was a rough year. But one hopes that a Hare will do better in the year of the Dragon!

And now! I want to wish every one of you a very

And that all good things may come your way!

A Merry and Bright Christmas to one and all!

2011-12-23T09:55:00.000+01:00

Any plans you gals and guys have on Christmas day?

Lots of food and presents with your beloved one, family and friends?

Tell me all about it!

Famous movie stars pasted up upon the wall.

2011-12-20T23:32:00.005+01:00

It was not very uncommon for women in the 1930s or 1940s to pin photo's of famous movie stars upon their wall. Movie stars were differently worshipped than moviestars of the modern day. They were considered real treasures. However, like I already said I do want to make my bedroom as authentic as it can be. So far so good, but ofcourse there were some photo's of big glamorous movie stars missing, around my vanity table mirror!

Because my mind is one big mess due to medication but also a buzy schedule and alot of stress; I did not only left a beautiful copy of poor Jean Harlow { one of my favorite movie actresses } in the copy machine, but also the book itself where the copies came from! That's typically, and always, Lindsay! Forgetting things! Suffice to say I want to bang my chaotic head against a wall - hard! But I do had a few copies I came home with though, and transformed them into a somewhat more steady photo instead of a loose sheet of copy paper.

Behold the result:

You can see some famous portraits like my all time favorite Ginger Rogers, but also Madge Evans, Betty Grable, Germany's sweetheart Lilian Harvey, Merle Oberon and Anita Page. I also copied Mary Pickford, but hey, she's gone too! Oh dear me, where's that head of me lately! In the reflection of my mirror you can also see my messy cherry wooden bookcase filled with aforementioned things in another post like old whiskey decanters from the thirties, old photo's, some of my hats and vintage shoes, books about bygone era's and my brides basket filled with wartime felt jewellery. On top of that bookcloset, my Singer sewing machine from 1902 is showing off!

More and more my bedroom turns into a room where I can feel safe, get my privacy and quality time after hard days, and is becoming day by day a true timewarp. I might get a bit obsessed by turning this bedroom of mine into a little so-called 'fantasy' world for me to hide when things are getting rough. When you step into this bedroom you smell the authentic smell of L'Air du Temps soap and perfume { 1948 }, and hear scratchy songs from the 30s and 40s playing. Ofcourse the only thing out of place is my laptop with a huge extern screen attached to it which usually has Photoshop opened, Blogspot, or - yes, so not vintage at all - World of Warcraft!

My last weekend was rather buzy. I had a Christmas photoshoot of which one photo has been picked out and printed, to send to my friends and fans. I am not done yet with writing Christmas cards - oh the time lack of time! I had a shitload of photoshoots last month and here are a few results { many more upcoming }:

Another result from the Bedtime Stories photoshoot - more will be upcoming!
The photo's has been shot by Robin Peterman.

Aswell two results with my Singer sewing machine! Gee, I love that thing!
The handtinting retouche is done by me - all photo's have been shot by Robin Peterman.

I have a few more pin up photo's upcoming aswell! And concerning the Christmas photo: it will be placed here, too, when time's ready to wish you all a very merry Christmas! I promised to stop being so narcissistic, to place my shoots on here all the time. The fact is, my blogspot 'website' is finished but I am too lazy to expand my portfolio there. So far only three photoshoots are on there! In the 'Elsewhere page' I did, however, placed a link to that website!

Recycle store pursuits, Zutphen was my savior!

2011-12-15T15:44:00.007+01:00

Last weekend, Mr R. and I went on a hunt at recycle stores throughout the country. Things aren't going really well, mentally, and thus I really need some absentmindedness to forget the state I am in. Recycle stores do their job really well. We've been thrifting for nice things to decorate my own little place! However, it was hard to find a beautiful ceiling lamp to my likes, which at the same time had to fit my vintage interior, my cherry red walls and dark wooden elements.

Finally { READ: finally!!} when we visited one of the two recycle stores in Zutphen, I found me one which was at the same time a very cheap one, too, after all these days of thrifting! The recycle store opened at 14.00, and we arrived pretty early on a working day, so we took some lunch at a bakery in Zutphen first { Hell they make some good lunch!}, and then prepared ourselves for thrifting. Thank god for navigating systems these days, otherwise we would've never found these recycle stores, despite the fact I know Zutphen by heart. I've worked there.

The goodwill recycle store called 'De Zutphense hand' was very, very cheap and I found me a beautiful little sidetable for only €5 aswell.

On the photo you can see a vase I got as a gift from Mr. R for the Dutch traditional holiday 'Sinterklaas'. I actually don't celebrate it, so it was quite a surprise. The vase has beautiful flowers { and birds } decorated on it, and luckily I had the same kind of flowers to put in the vase. You can also see the old books that I found at the recycle store in the farmers town: Twello.

A collection of poems from Tennyson. I am not sure from what time this book is, although the adhesive label has the year 1926 written on it!

A book from 1937 by Guy Hamilton, a murder story called: The mistake of superintendant Quild.

And a book by Arthur Schendel from 1946 called 'The old house'.

These books won't only function as decoration, for I am really planning to read these old books, even though Old Dutch is quite hard to swallow. Beside these old books, I also found a book about silent era movie actresses. It's a book from 1987 - as old as I am. I am planning to copy a few of the pictures - for example Jean Harlow and Lilian Bond - to pin them on the wall around my vanity table mirror.

Also did I found a golden cake-server! I collect cake-servers from by-gone era's. They are beautiful as decorating pieces!

Then the lamps. I am a big sucker for vintage oil lamps, and wanted to find me as many as possible.

We found this lovely lamp in my hometown for a fairly cheap prize!

As for my ceiling lamp:

A nice floral patterned lamp with frills! The color matches my dark wood perfectly!

Ofcourse let us not forget that one of my most beautiful finds - and furthermore an advanced christmas present from Mr. R - is my Singer sewing machine from 1902! This takes place on top of my cherry wooden bookcase { A bookcase filled with vintage shoes, old family photo's dating from the victorian era till the 1930s, old whisky decanters, and my collection of 1930s and '40s hats! No books! }

These are the photo's for now! Soon a couple of other pictures of my space will be published online.

But first a new recent photo of me in old Hollywood style, shot by Robin Peterman:

More of these upcoming!

That's all!

My Singer sewing machine

2011-12-12T17:39:00.002+01:00

Who doesn't love them? Compared to the { somewhat more practical } sewing machines of the modern day era, they are so beautifully decorated, and with beautiful round curves! I've always wanted them, and I have the luck that these Singers aren't really hard to find. But I never knew when to buy one.

When Mister R. and I were scooping around in many re-cycle stores throughout my region { believe me, we went into allooottt of re-cycle stores, oh I love it! } for some old lamps { Yay, got me a beautiful vintage oil lamp for on the wall, which is almost exactly the same as my floral vintage oil lamp on my night stand. }, but also véry old books dating from the 20s' to the 40s. Just for decoration! I also got me a very old cake server - but all those things in a upcoming post!

My Singer sewing machine has the serial number with the single prefix 'K'. The complete serial number is 'K546637'. There is a website who has all the serial numbers of the Singer sewing machines ever made.
If you scroll down the list and look at the 'K' you can see that my singer is dating from 1902! My heart skipped a beat. Having such an old piece of antique, is just néat! Ánd it's still in working condition! Am planning to use it even though I also have a modern day sewing machine!

Buzy...

2011-12-08T16:17:00.002+01:00

...with a blogspot website! I made this 'website' in addition to my portfolio!
This will be only a temporary 'website' until I have my own domain. I have been fiddling around with HTML and Photoshop CS5 for two days and nights now, to make it not look like a blogspot template - they are so boring! The website is already online, but not quite finished yet, and that is why I wait publishing the link here. Little perfectionist I am teehee! { Maybe if you are a good Sherlock, you will find it! }/ However, unfortunatly Blogspot does not always do what I want it to do, so probably I can stick another night and day to it. The website, ofcourse, will be plain and simple { Helloo, it's still Blogspot! }.

The website will contain tips, tricks and secrets on how to be a vintage model. It will also be updated with my latest photo's of photoshoots { instead of always showing them on here, which makes me look like a narcissist! }, publications, and also the idea to make little movies together with Mr. R has been thrown up; those will be on that website, too!

Due to many requests of private individuals who want to buy my photo's; I decided to work on a little shop together with Mister R aswell! We have our first buyers already! Also a calendar is upcoming by the way! A little dream come true.

Just so you know what I am up to! :)

Moving to a bigger place!

2011-12-07T00:51:00.002+01:00

Yay! I am moving to a bigger place! And that also means that 'decorating' comes around the corner!
Many know that not only my outfit is from a bygone era, but my lifestyle is, too!
I am very much into interior design, and when I was little and couldn't sleep, I loved to moodboard inside my head and decorate houses. Now it's for real!

My plan is to decorate everything as much as I can after the thirties and the forties.

The 1940s was a two-part decade concerning interior design!
House design during the WW2 included earth toned colors exterior, while interior featured sophisticated and neutral shades like pearl gray, beige, chocolate and taupe - but alongside saturations like cherry red or fuchsia. When the war was over there was a resurgence in nostalgia for the past, and interiors were decorated with floral wallpapers and mixed influences including English revival and Art Deco.

Many people struggled financially and emotionally in the period of WW2. Materials were not in the forefront, and thus the interior needed to be simplistic in nature. Furniture was typically made from dark wood, and closely resembled to furniture of the 1930s. Colonial was all the rage and wooden furniture with floral fabrics were in vogue!

{ Source: Goodweeks.com }

{ Source: Retroplanet }

I am very excited to start this 1940s interior mission! I have finally enough space to store all my stuff, such as my sewing machine { and my dozens of shoes ... }! Ofcourse photo's will on here when finished!

Car gallery Brummen

2011-12-05T17:08:00.010+01:00

This weekend - despite feeling not so well - Mr. R and myself went to a car gallery in Brummen near my hometown. I am not really a car person, I don't even have a drivers license { want to get me one eventually, mind you }, but generally? No, cars are not my cup of tea! Unless, yes, unless they are from the thirties or the forties. Even before my deep passion for the aforementioned era's I was esthetic about those kind of cars! In Brummen - a small place in the Netherlands - has a car gallery where two men collect and sell all kinds of cars - especially those cars which are real collectors items. Yep, I saw some helluva nice ones I tell ya!

{ Some pictures made by : Robin Peterman }

Preview: Photoshoot at the Railway museum.

2011-12-01T15:29:00.001+01:00

I was ever so excited when I fínally received a result from my photoshoot at the Railway museum in Utrecht, and thus I wanted to share it with you. This preview sounds promising for the rest! Which I, ofcourse, will share aswell!

Photography: Robin Peterman

Model: Lindsay Lane

Location: Railway museum - Utrecht

Christmas Dress

2011-11-30T18:50:00.002+01:00

The weather is getting colder, heaters are on, the trees are bare, and that tells us not only that winter is arriving but aswell that the Christmas days are getting near! I always love to pick an outfit wáy before Christmas steps in, and this time I found me a vintage dress in a recycle store. It was the first thing my eye fell on and I knew immediatly that it would be a great dress for Christmas. I will celebrate first Christmas day at my mother's and the second day of Christmas at Mister R's { Robin } place. We will cook a nice Christmas dinner together, and afterwards drink Glüwein at his fireplace.

Talking about that fireplace; Mister R and I have a Christmas shoot planned - called: Santa's little pin up girl.
I am very looking forward to that shoot. My creative brain is running around mad times and I can see the total atmosphere already! { Which also brings me to the fact that I want to point out for photographers that my modeling page has been updated with text and measurements! Go check it out. }

Now, behold my dress!

My second find at the recycle store was a book from the 1950s full of tips for fiddle-ing; like sewing, crocheting, knitting and so much more! I've searched a book like that for ages. It's a pretty thick book, and can't wait to start in it! Especially now the weather is so cold and I prefer to stay indoors; fiddling.

Felt wartime jewellery

2011-11-22T21:25:00.002+01:00

As I made no secret of it; I like to fiddle some creative things.
This time I had a little project going on with the famous felt wartime jewellery.

The most famous wartime jewellery piece was ofcourse the sweetheart brooch.
But soon the scarce materials used for jewellery were legislated against. Only wedding rings, cuff-links, identification bracelets, and studs were allowed for manufacturing, and even then ónly under licence. Jewellers, however, could still sell second-hand jewellery, and you could imagine that the newspapers were full of advertisements offering good prices for old baubles. Those who had enough money, always had their pre-war jewellery to fall back on.

Now, with the lack of jewellery DIY jewellery became all the rage. Magazines came out with ever so inventive ideas to make your own jewellery. With the rationing of clothing, women usually had only but a few dresses and weren't able to buy new ones. DIY jewellery became a part to make sure that it looked like as if a woman wore a completely new frock. Even before the war, button holes were a popular way of cheering up a ladies suit or dress, which had been worn to boredom.

Buttonholes were made from a wide variaty of materials, for example colored beech nuts and suede flowers, wool flowers, raffia, oiled silk or felt. The above example are buttonholes made of felt. Another idea for DIY jewellery were acorns, with a little twig attached. Remove the nuts and let the cups dry, then enamel them inside and out with bright colors, and when dry, bunch them together attractively.

I decided to fiddle around with some felt, and started to make some brooches to cheer up some plain old dresses I have hanging in my closet. I loved scooping around in a Crea art shop searching for the right materials. While making my wartime felt jewellery, I wore at the same time a 1940s cardigan I found on Europe's largest fleamarket. I am over the moon with it, and most important of all: it's warm! The buttons are beautifully carved edelweiss'. And yes, the edelweiss is my favorite flower!

Me cutting out leaves.

Cutting out red little felt petals

Place them in position with a clothes pin, and also for the glue to dry properly.

More of them.

Bunched together and attached to a broochpin.

I am planning to make many more of these to spice up my boring black dresses, especially those florals that you can attach to the collar of a dress, as Phyllis Calvert shows in the advertisement above! I can't wait to scoop around at a hobby store again and stock in many felt colors, etcetera! I just love those autumn days when it's too cold to go outside, and to fill your day to fiddle around with materials accompanied by a big pot of autumn storm tea!

Castle Staverden

2011-11-21T21:58:00.004+01:00

Castle Staverden known as maybe the prettiest castle in the Netherlands. Today I had a little mini shoot there, and with the fog hanging low around here in the Netherlands for a couple of days now, it had a somewhat eerie atmosphere. Trying to stay as professional as I could, I faced the cold with bare arms, no coat, and peep toe shoes. While posing, I luckily forgot the cold.

Castle Staverden, laying in the small town Staverden, is about a century old but due to it's longer history it's permanent called 'castle' instead of landhouse. Castle Staverden is one of the oldest posession of count Gelder { since 1339 dukes} who probably already had a public garden in the 12th century. Castle Staveren was loaned out in 1400 by the dukes of Gelderland under the obligation to keep white peacocks and peacock feathers to make the helmet of the Duke. The ancient tradition of the white peacocks was restored by father and son s' Jacob. The peacock feathers are now presented annually to the Commissioner of the Queen in Gelderland.

Staverden castle still has the layout from 1907. Even interior components such as fireplaces, paneling, staircase, stained glass, wall and floor tiles are from that era. On the esplanade is a great service building from the 19th century. During the renovation of Castle Staverden this coach, which includes stables and coach-houses, was not adjusted. The coach house is built on the foundations of a 17th-century predecessor. The barn area is completely preserved with horse boxes, racks, name plates, tiles and brick pavement. The gardener's house and orangery probably date from the 19th century, too.

{ Me after the mini shoot craving for a hot cuppa tea }

The castle seems to have it's own ghost too! Leonora also known as 'the black lady of Staverden' died of a broken heart after the death of her husband, and rumors say that she is still wandering through the castle. The parents of Leonora wanted her to marry Zweder van Wisch. But Leonora's heart belonged to someone else; a simple farmer called Herman. When her parents died before the marriage with van Wisch was arranged, she couldn't be more happier. She quickly married her beloved Herman, but not for long. Van Wisch killed Herman, decapitated his head, and Leonora was shocked by the scene she saw. She fled to castle Staverden to live with a family member. Leonora became depressed, and she didn't allowed herself to see any positivity in life anymore. Her life excisted only out of feeding the snow-white peacocks and looking out of the window, crying, as if she hoped Herman would enter alive. In 1353 she blew out her own candle and died of a broken heart.

Luckily I didn't knew about Leonora when I visited the castle today - yeah yeah I am a scaridy cat, I know. But knowing about Leonora's 'presence' would've gave the castle, which was surrounded by fog, a double dosis of an eerie atmosphere. However, here are a few results I like the best of the mini shoot:

Dress: Heyday! | 1940s Shoes: Found in a vintage store in Newcastle | 1930s Hat: Fleamarket find | 1950s Gloves: Fleamarket.

Photography: Robin Peterman
Model: Lindsay Cillessen
Dress: Heyday!
Location: Castle Staverden

And by the by: soon my shoot, which I had at the railway station at Utrecht, will be published aswell!
Also do I have a photoshoot next week with a photographer I have worked with before; Martin Philippo. We will work out one of my favorite Olive Thomas paintings, painted by Vargas when she was still working for Ziegfeld. Looking very, very forward to it!

Oh mirror mirror

2011-11-16T16:30:00.008+01:00

After weeks of turmoil I finally have a 'free' day today, so I thought it was time to let my creativity run wild. As many of you know I work as a model, but I also like to make tons {ok bit exaggerated} of selfportraits. I don't do this out of narcissism, but purely to practice my looks, posing and ofcourse I try to get a good eye for photography, which is not really lacking, if I may speak so freely.

Modeling and photography have been two of my passions eversince I was little. Making self portraits is also a way to show my creativity and the timewarp world that I live in. People who shoot selfportraits are usually not called 'photographers' but more likely they will be named as 'artists'. And that's how I like to see myself aswell. It all started with my favorite Art Photographer: Darla Teagarden. She made the most stunning selfportraits with a cheap ass digital camera and beautiful self made props. If she could do it, why couldn't I? Nowadays she's a bit better geared up and her work becomes more and more beautiful. Hopefully my monetary situation will allow me to get myself better gear in the future aswell. However, because I make so many photo's, and especially self portraits, I thought I'd had to give a name to it, and I came out with 'La Rose Photography'.

Due to my free day { my one and only for this week }, I felt the need to shoot again before the turmoil will step in again and me having barely some free time for myself. These portraits below are the outcome of my creativity of today! I am learning, and learning and learning, but ofcourse need to learn more. Well now, I have a great tutor aswell, my friend Robin - who teaches me little things here and there. Stunning photographer as he is. Within time I hope to provide better pictures for the future.

Stay tuned, as I will have a mini shoot this upcoming weekend with the dress I won at Heyday's giveaway. Yes, the Daisy Chain Fleur dress, and no those won't be selfportrayed!

The Prague pursuits

2011-11-11T16:05:00.002+01:00

As I mentioned in my post below, I found me some very nice vintage pursuits in Prague.
First I found the hat at the beautiful boutique 'Art Deco Gallery' and a matching dress at a little basement store called Laly. You can image I am very twitterpated with both of 'em!

Well now, it's time for me to travel to Brabant with my little dog. I will be visiting Europe's largest fleamarket held in the Brabanthallen at 's Hertogenbosch upcoming Sunday! Ever so excited!

My time in Prague

2011-11-10T02:12:00.005+01:00

My oh my, what a beautiful country the Czech Republic is!
On the 3th of November my travelling companion and me left the Netherlands for a relaxing vacation in Prague. We couldn't choose a better place to find the relaxation we both needed so much!

We left the Netherlands at 10 'o clock in the morning and arrived at 20.30 at our Hotel { The gallery hotel Sis }. A nice and clean hotel with a lot of facilities and treatments; e.g a spa. We ordered some local beers, and hopped into bed a couple of hours later, both very tired of the long journey we made.

That following morning we decided to walk around in Prague and enjoy the beautiful architecture; took some breaks in cute restaurants or café's to lunch and have a drink.
When the evening came we stumbled upon two exhibitions; one of Salvador Dalí, and the other exhibition was about one of my favorite artists: Alfons Mucha.

Our first dinner was a typical Czech meal and it was lovely! They know how to prepare meat and bread dumplings! Ofcourse we ordered Absinthe aswell. You know, that green, very strong, 70% alcohol drink you need to set a fire? The waiters were quite apalled and amused that a young lady such as I could drink more than one glass of Absinthe.

The second day of our stay we went on vintage hunting for me. Before we left for Prague I found me some nice adresses on the web. The first we found was Art Deco gallery. My oh my; my eyes fell out of their sockets. This lady sells so many beautiful stuff; I could hang there for hours scooping between the vintage she's selling. E.g: Hats, furs, gloves, umbrella's, women and men's clothing dating from the thirties and forties, glasswork, furniture, belts, laces, costume jewellery, collector´s objects and rarities, designed items of lifestyle from the period Art Deco, and handbags to name only but a few. However, she knew what she was selling as she was a bit on the pricey side. My eye fell on a brown little forties hat. The kind of hat I always wanted to have in my hat collection. My travelling-companion, always a star in haggling, managed to get the hat a little cheaper.

We found all of the stores I wrote down, but unfortunatly Bohemian retro was closed.
I didn't found much in the other stores, until on our penultimate day I had the feeling I had to go back to a little basement shop Laly. The weird coincidence was, that I indeed found a beautiful matching 1950s dress, I over looked at the first time. Again it was haggle'd, on provide if we'd signed the guestbook! Why, sure!!

We also went to the famous bridge of Prague and a torture museum with the real tools they used in the medieval times. I found it extremely interesting, though it scared me a bit how cruel people were at the time!
On that brigde we also have been filmed for national television! My few minutes of fame in Prague!

On the third day we went to visit the castle of Prague. We had to pass two soldiers who stood guard. You know, those who are not allowed to move their heads to left or right. They both had me in their vision, and their eyes didn't let go of me for one single minute. Everywhere I went, their eyes followed me - without moving their heads. I felt flattered and went on photo with one of them. The cathedral at the castle was breathtaking beautiful, big, and spooky.

We also went to the wax museum, and the royal summerhouse which was unfortunatly closed. We sure could've made béautiful pictures at the house and the royal gardens.

I love it how Prague understood my forties look - compared to the Netherlands. In almost every restaurant we've dined they complimented me on my look, and told me that I brought them back to the past, and they also played some Ray Charles, Sinatra and thirties and forties music for me.

I had an amazing time and I could really use this vacation.
Now, enjoy the photo's!

At the Salvador Dalí exhibition:

At the Mucha exihibition; enjoying his raw kind of photography and soft colored paintings.

Us enjoying a typical Czech meal:

And Absinthe La Fée Verte:

At the torture museum:

The guard who didn't took his eyes off me once - except for the photo's!

The Wax Museum.

The royal summerhouse

Lucky winner

2011-11-08T14:46:00.000+01:00

I am the lucky winner of the beautiful Daisy chain Fleur dress giveway Shona of Heyday! was having.
As you can imagine I am over the moon with it!! I can assure that this dress will be worn a lot and would be used in photoshoots, too!
Isn't it a darling dress?

Want a such a beautiful dress yourself?

Then make sure to visit the website Heyday!

Prague and the Spitfire photo's

2011-11-01T23:54:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for Prague to celebrate a well deserved - if I say so myself - vacation.
I'll be back the 7th! Really looking forward to it! One can really use a vacation. Even though the Czech Republic will be a little colder, the forecast predicted that it will stay dry, and that's what matters! We have many things planned, and I 100% certain I will be havin' a helluva good time!

For now I'll leave you with the photo's of a recent photoshoot I have done.
For the second time I have posed with my favorite warplane; The Spitfire.

Enjoy!

Photography inspiration: Dora Kallmus.

2011-10-31T18:53:00.006+01:00

This might become a new feature on Vintage Rose - if I can keep it up that is! I want to try to {self} portray photo's of models and photographers from the Golden era or before that, that inspire me to the bone. Often when thrifting the world wide web for inspiration, I stumble upon great sources.
I am not the person that copies the work of others unthinkingly. I advocate creativity on every aspect available. One should always stay at his or her own signature, give things their own twist. But portray something that lies hidden deep in the past, is a different story. With that I try to let history re-live. Yet, even though I will portray photography of bygone era photographers, I wíll give my own twist to it. Just like the portrait of Gloria Swanson a long time ago, but again, with my own twist { and different feathers }!

Anyway; this time I stumbled upon a female photographer which photographers skills left me speechless. And thát doesn't happen to me that often. I am talking about none other than Dora Kallmus. I found her on the net when I was looking for silent era photographers.

Dora Kallmus was an Austrian-Jewish fashion and portrait photographer who went by the name Madame D'ora. Dora, born in Vienna in 1881, came from a respected family of Jewish lawyers. In 1905 she was the first woman to be admitted to theory courses at the Graphische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt { Graphic Training Institute }. In that same year, Dora became a member of the Vienna Photographic Society. In the year 1907 she opened a studio together with Benda in her place of birth, called Benda-D'ora studio. Their gallery was so populair, that they opened another studio in Paris in 1924.

In Paris, Madame D'ora became internationally known for her society and fashion photography throughout the 1930s and 1940s. She worked for example with; Josephine Baker, Tamara de Lempicka, Maurice Chevalier, Colette, Niddy Impekoven, to name only but a few.

But when the Germans invaded France, Madame D'ora fled to a convent in the country side. Dora returned to France in 1946 and re-opened a studio.

Dora died in 1963 in Austria.

Now, one portrait Madame D'ora took, spoke to me the most and that one I wanted to {self} portray immediatly. Facebook friends already saw the photograph pass by, and me totally lyrical about it.
But before I am gonna show you my portrait; let me first introduce you to some work of Madame D'ora! Hopefully you like them as much as I do!

This is the portrait that spoke to me the most:

And here's mine:

As you can see; there are a few slight differences. I chose for a different face expression. A more serene one. My excision is different aswell, as are my hands. Nonetheless, I do hope you people out there like my self portrayed photograph, inspired by the wonderful and talented Madame D'ora!

I want to wish everyone a happy Hallowe'en!

2011-10-30T21:24:00.000+01:00

Happy Hallowe'en / Samhain dear readers;

With loads of treats, apple bobbing and pumpkin pies or soup!

Lovely give away from Heyday!

2011-10-30T18:15:00.000+01:00

Due to the reach of 400 followers, Heyday! is having an amazing give away!
It's the lovely Daisy Chain Fleur dress!
Now off you go and check out the The Heyday! giveaway!

Italian days at Rosmalen

2011-10-27T17:06:00.013+02:00

On the 22nd of this month I went to the Italian days to meet barber Jan for the second time, where he was trimming and shaving people together with his fellow barber Pieter, with their mobile barber salon. Jan put us on the guest list, so luckily we didn't had to pay for the ridiculous entrance costs. The Italian days were all about food, lifestyle, culture and art. To me, Jan was actually the only interesting thing for me to see, as I saw barely anything Italian on those days, as weird as it is.

She who's always the model now played the photographer, as my friend Robin was the cliënt of barber Jan. Barber Jan is specialized in authentic shaving. Some of the open blade razors he uses are 100 y/o. He's very serious about his expertise and tells you all you want to know in a very passionated way.

Enjoy!

Soon Robin and Jan will be working together professionally in a studio to provide some professional photo's for Jan his website and advertisement. I, ofcourse, will be assisting, and perhaps model with Jan for a second time. Jan and I have modelled for Robin before in my photoshoot at the railway museum; soon to be published. But first my Spitfire shoot on which Robin is still working on.

Dutchies: If you are interested in an authentic shave, you can find Jan at the railway museum in Utrecht where he has his own barber salon with all the trimmings.

http://www.janacts.nl/

Latest hat find and my Mary Lane coat

2011-10-25T22:08:00.002+02:00

Before talking about hats and coats; I want to thank everyone for their lovely and concerning words about my baby boy Figaro. Today he got his first pill { Tolfedine } after a very heavy Tolfedine injection yesterday. It had some doing to make my cat swallow it, as many of you who have or had a sick animal probably are familiar with. The vet showed me how to do it, but ofcourse they can always do it better than oneself ;)! Eventually it worked. And it seems that Fig is on his way to recovery. He loves his recovery pate, and is a bit more sparkling than a couple of days ago; even though he sleeps alot but that, ofcourse, is understandable.

Last sunday I went to a fleamarket, and found me this amazing forties hat I wanted to share with you. The saleslady was a very stiff lady who made haggling very hard as she was aware of what she was selling. Yet we managed to get the hat cheaper than he actually was, even though it wasn't thát much, really. But I have to say that it's worth every penny. I am smitten with it!

As you can see, my hair's been chopped off again. Very content with it.

---

Two weeks ago, again on a fleamarket, I found me a beautiful royal blue vintage coat. I love to do some research on my finds, and so I did with the coat. The coat is from the brand "Mary Lane" and dates from the '50s. As usual I go to the website TESS, where you can search on the brands name and get information about it. This is what came out:

I aswell found some nice advertisements about the brand Mary Lane !

My coat doesn't have a care label, which means that my coat 's been made before the '60s, and the brand label is hand-sewn.

Not the best of pictures, but I had a rather heavy morning due to my training. I was cold and tired and this doesn't really give you a good view on the coat, but you can be sure you'll see him pass by every so often on this blogspot.

Veterinarian and Rose's lounge.

2011-10-24T23:31:00.005+02:00

Yesterday when I came home from a visit to the fleamarket, I found my little baby apathic on the ground with a huge saliva loss. It became worse; later in the evening he started to lose salive with blood in it. I checked on him every so often, and stood up this morning very early, calling the veterinarian. They were quite buzy, but with the described symptoms they said it was better to come by today, and so I did.

It seems that my sweet baby Figaro swallowed some sort of poisoning substance, probably outside as he is an outdoor cat { even tho he prefers to be lazy and stay indoors close to me }. It resulted in a severe inflammation throughout his body which expresses itself by his little tongue slowly dying and rotting away. The vet showed it to me. He gave my sweetheart a painkilling injection, painkilling pills for two weeks and some sort of recovery pate which we have to heat up only a little in the microwave, combine it with water and make pulp of it, so it's easier for him to consume. My vet couldn't guarantee me that he will stay alive, and I am devastated by that answer, even though he immediatly admitted that most cats recover from this inflammation.

You should know that my cat is éverything to me. All my cats are ofcourse, but Figaro in particular. He's always near me. Where I am there's he, and vice versa, and he keeps me company at night, comforts me when I am sad, loves attention from me and me only, purrs like an apache helicopter, and néver even scratched his nails in someone's skin. I love him to death. You can imagine I am terribly worried.

Please cross your fingers for me that he wíll recover. He just have to, and I hope he will be as handsome again as he is on the photo's below, instead of looking like a skinny old male cat, while he's only four years old.

http://www.katten-fotografie.nl/

After this heavy visit to the veterinarian, Robin and I went to Arnhem for a little bit of shopping and some relaxation in a beautiful lounge bar called Rose's lounge in the late afternoon. One of my favorite lounge bars where you can have dinner and a good dance, too. It's beautifully decorated with baroque chairs and sofa's, a fire place, and chandeliers! In short; the ambience is marvelous. We took place at one of the sofa's and we ordered a tasty and fruity white wine for me, and a Desperado for Robin and delicious stuffed and marinated olives.

Robin ordered an Espresso and I stuck to my wine.

I have some amazing news to tell you aswell. My facebook friend Florian asked me if I was interested in modelling for the clothing brand Vecona Vintage, which is run by Florian's girlfriend Janet. { Make sure to click the link and behold the beautiful stuff Vecona Vintage has to offer us.} The photoshoot will be photographed by the German photographer Jean-Paul Kowitz this upcoming spring. *Click* here for some beautiful photographs he took of Florian and a stunning lady - I am hooked by the style of his vintage photography! I am really looking forward to it. Not only because this will be my second collaboration with an international photographer, but my first time for a clothing brand, and it will be marvelous to meet Florian in person, finally. Well, that's some good news innit?
Very, very looking forward to it!

{ Oh by the way? I found me two beautiful hats at the fleamarket last sunday! One of them, a hat from the forties, still has it's original pearl hatpin! I am smitten with those hats. }

Prague

2011-10-20T16:07:00.009+02:00

The day before yesterday my friend and I booked a vacation to Prague from the 2nd 'till the 7th of november. One can really use a vacation between all the busy stuff I am doing lately. I've never been to Prague, and just like I always do when I go on vacation or a city trip { For me it's been a while ago when I went on a vacation or a city trip to clear my head with all it's turmoil - and Newcastle upon Tyne wasn't a vacation mind you! } I do some research before visiting the country in question. I love countries with history, architecture, nature - all in one. We go by car, so we are pretty mobile which I find a huge asset.

Prague has amazing architecture, many jugendstil buildings which I love so much. I am not the kind of person that loves to go to countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy or any other warm country where everyone and their mother of the Netherlands goes to, to sunbathe on the beach and eat fries from Dutch chips shops which you can find on every corner. I want to séé something of a country, sniff culture, and not bump into other Dutch people with every step you take, and hear our rather ugly language. That will take away my vacation-feeling immediatly. Don't get me wrong; I do want to visit the aforementioned countries, but not those most famous touristic spots, thank you!

I voted for Prague instantly when my friend suggested it, due to the vibrant history. I've seen some stunning pictures pass by when I did some research on the country, and ofcourse I wouldn't be me if I didn't do some research on vintage shops, too! My Facebook friend Florian suggested a few shops aswell { Ahasver and Art Deco gallery-Mili }, but I found more to my likes!

◦ Laly
A little basement shop in a center of ancient Prague near the old town square.

◦ Bohemian Retro
Is known to be the best vintage shop in Prague next to Art Deco gallery.
Bohemian Retro has clothing from the '20s to the '80s, and is definitly high on my list for a visit.
It's like a cozy inviting closet stuffed full of vintage.

◦ Bric à Brac
Looks like this little store has many trash to sell, but from reviews .. I've read that they can be quite expensive with stuff you don't expect to be expensive. When you see this shop from the outside, you want turn a 180 degrees, as this store doesn't really looks inviting from the outside, but it's the inside that counts, and it's worth a visit, too, I think.

◦ Phase 2
This seems to be a must-stop-boutique. This boutique is also called thé vintage boutique to visit, with top brands such as Gucci and Prada, sold for rock bottom prices.

There are probably so many more, but I have these on the top of my list, as are the two Florian pointed out to me. Beside all these boutiques; Prague offers alot of good-will stores and recycle stores aswell. I think we won't get bored a single minute. I am very excited to go to Prague, and already did some autumn shopping so that I won't catch cold in the Czech republic while thrifting and enjoying the architecture - and ofcourse the cheap booze, too! I found me a cute 1940s jumper of the brand Setterhouse, and a bolero with military buttons, oh and a teeny tiny milk jug { as tiny as my index finger} decorated with roses on the edge, from the 1930s - to store my bobby pins in. I came home with alot of fleamarket and recycle shop pursuits lately, and many of them didn't even got a post. Will do them all in one very soon! I found me some swell hats aswell .. more than I ever expected actually, and will visit another fleamarket upcoming sunday again, not to forget that I will visit Europes largest fleamarket in Brabant, the Netherlands aswell next month. Oh, the addiction!

However let's cut the rambling! Any of you who live in the Czech republic maybe can recommend us some swell places to go to, or some vintage shops I've overlooked? One would love to hear!

Please claim if one of these are yours.

Movie Review: De bende van Oss

2011-10-18T14:44:00.007+02:00

Translated: The Gang of Oss.

This film set in the 1930s is based on true facts. Eversince I've read about the movie in a magazine I wanted to see it. And where can you watch this film better than the place it's about? Exactly; Oss itself. My friend Robin lives in Oss { Oss is a place in the province Brabant, the Netherlands } and took me to the cinema to watch De Bende van Oss last saturday. Ofcourse I went in style.

The movie is about Johanna van Heesch { a cafe propietor } who wants to change her life and quit the criminal gangs of the town of Oss in the 30ties of the 20th century. The harder she tries, the more she is involved. From the beginning to the end the movie does not loose it's tension and excitement. The film has a dark atmosphere, and the locations are well chosen - which were recognizable for the people living in Oss. You can feel through the whole movie that the Great Depression was going on. The casting is great, and they put much effort in the wardrobes of the actors and actresses.

For his film, director André van Duren changed a couple of historical facts; some characters are pooled from multiple figures, some even imagined. Events that took place over several decades where compressed into a shorter, clear time frame - but the basic of his film is correct. In the 1930s, when the Netherlands groaned under financial crises; was the poor and industrial Oss in grip of a loosely organized gang. This collection of surely, burly guys earned a bonus of classic shadowy things like extortion, fraud, prostitution, and robbery. This gang was also very brutal against the military police { called 'The Marechaussee' }, who were sent from arrogant Holland to sort things out in Oss.

Linchpin in De Bende van Oss is the equally beautiful and fragile as manipulative Johanna {Sylvia Hoeks}, who goes through life with the nickname "Johanna the slut". And that's not for nothing: this woman supplements her meager income as a pub landlady with a job as a prostitute. Johanna wants nothing more than to escape the grimy life they lead, and when her husband Ties {Matthias Schoenaerts} comes home after a stay in prison, she tries to persuade him the right path to go. But as is often the case, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. While Johanna tries to escape her origins; the unscrupulous gang leader Wim {Marcel Musters}, the grubby insurance agent Harry {Frank Lammes} and the overly naive cyclist Jan {Benja Bruijning} make her fall deeper into troubles than she already was.

Because the focus is on the lone woman among all those dangerous men director Van Duren added also an emotional layer - where the question whether she will manage to survive until the last minute brings up some tension. Sympathize with Sylvia Hoeks character is not always easy, due to her character who is often too cold and impenetrable. On the other hand, it's nice that Johanna is not a simple noble victim, and that she has shadowy sides, too, and sometimes makes very bad decisions.

Rate: 8/10

However, I have no clue if this movie is going to be a hit outside the Netherlands, but maybe it will be download-able with the subs of your country. But for those who are curious, I will add the trailer which is worth watching. { And for those with a hawk eye; you probably already spotted the photo of Jean Harlow at the mirror }.

Teaser of my photoshoot with the Spitfire

2011-10-13T00:50:00.002+02:00

When the photographer sent this photo per mail to me, I was very enthusiastic and loved it to bits.
I've already experienced what a great and fine photographer Robin is to work with { See the RAF widow shoot }. However, I am alittle bit nervous at times, for he photographed so many professional models for well known brands such as Oilily, and what else have ya out there.

This photo emphasizes - again - what an eye and talent for photography, detail and graphic design this guy has. That he's a perfectionist comes in terribly handy concerning his work, but not so for me as I am very eager, and above all way to impatient, to receive the whole shoot - at once. Isn't possible ofcourse, so I have to behave and wait patiently for the rest of the photo's.

Thus, not only a teaser for you people out there, but for me aswell.

{Click for enlargement}

Oh how I love to pin myself up next to a Spitfire. No better said: I just love to do pin up modelling. Always had been my forté, but growing enormously in other 'vintage' themes, too, lately.

However; stay tuned cause the rest of the photoshoot will be posted on here, too. But not only for that! Robin and I have much more for you upcoming, as we did a photoshoot at the railway museum, where we also met some lovely online friends, ánd I got the oppurtunity to model in a very old barber shop from the twenties. The man working there as a barber was so period-perfect and asked us if we liked to shoot in his barbershop with him. From what I saw ... it were great results! I surely could use a new hair cut ;)! Curious who this barber is?

Go to: *H E R E*.

Robin and I have much more in the planning.

Don't you just love it to have a private professional photographer shooting you all the time?

You sure won't hear me complain, darlings!

Click for my Calendar.

Fleamarket finds

2011-10-12T20:00:00.002+02:00

It's a hardrock fact that I am addicted to visit fleamarkets {and ofcourse come home with pursuits}, and I do so very, very often. I've grown a skilled thrifter, and it seems that, talking about fleamarkets, luck is on my side. In the past few months I came home with amazing loot concerning vintage: shoes, bags, gloves, hats, fur collars, you name it and I came home with it.

Here are my latest finds;

Hat: Fleamarket find | 1950s laced gloves: Fleamarket find | Fur collar: Fleamarket find

Photo's: Lindsay Lane

Editing: Lindsay Lane

Let me be quite frank with you; I am probably one of the biggest animal lovers you've ever met. But then why the fur? I am strictly against wearing fur, especially fur nowadays. Many of the teenagers who buy new coats and jackets with a fur collar do not know that it's often made from real fur; mainly rabbit fur.
Wearing vintage fur has been - and still is - quite the subject in 'vintage blogging land'. Many will tell you that they do wear vintage fur, as it's been so old already, but that they would never wear modern day fur. The same counts for me, too. Do I wear that fox fur collar with a clear conscience? No. I even caught myself petting it, as if it's still a real life fox, whispering 'sorry' when I wore it for the first time today.

The thing is, wearing vintage fur is quite a grey area. Everywhere in the country are hanging vintage collars, coats or stola's as guilty secrets in the back of the wardrobes, passed down from grandmothers who wore mink and sable in good faith long before we started talking about animal rights. Recycling an old fur collar or coat means that no animals have to die today to satisfy our desire for this particular 'vintage' look.

At the fleamarket in my hometown was a stand with so many antiques, including fox, stoats, and mink collars, but to be honest ... they shocked me. It was very confronting see-ing them draped around a mannequin with their little paws and heads dangling down. These were very, very old you could tell, and are the typical thirties and forties items. They would suit my look perfectly. But thóse collars I just cannot wear. These are a bit too confronting for me.

My fleamarket days are certainly not over yet, as I will visit one in Brabant upcoming sunday again! Yay!

The peacock feathers.

2011-10-11T22:10:00.006+02:00

Ahhh, yes, peacocks. Eversince I was a little girl I adored those giant birds with their beautiful colors, feathers and elegant posture. The feathers intrigued me and that never stopped.

As if it was meant to be, the peacock feathers were a popular decoration in my favorite era's; the '20s, 30's and '40s. But the peacock feathers weren't only popular in these era's! It's a wanted decoration for decades!
Peacock feathers have been a symbol of beauty, wealth, and in ancient times: re-birth. Peacock images could be found on early christian tombes art, and were a popular motif in ancient Rome and Byzantium.

The peacock found it's popularity near the end of the 1800s in Western visual culture.
Around the same time a group of English artists and designers - known as the aesthetics - were inspired by the designs of other cultures like that of Japan and the Islamic world. Ofcourse the peacock was one of their prevailing symbols of movement. Their credo was 'Art for art's sake'.
Rich ladies of the Victorian era often carried a fan decorated with the peacock's feathers. Oh, how beautiful!

The peacock feather didn't lost it's popularity throughout the years and continued as a favored motif in the Art Deco era. Peacock feathers became a favorite decoration for headpieces and hats, and also popular items on photo's of silent movie actresses, like Gloria Swanson and Louise Glaum below.

I've been searching for a beautiful full bouquet of peacock feathers to create the Art Deco atmosphere for a long time, but everytime the 'bouquet' was very poor, too less of those beautiful colored eyes at the end of the feathers or whatsoever more. My dear friend Robin told me that he had quite alot of {old} peacock feathers in his shed, and brought them along for me. I was over the moon! The bouquet was seriously HUGE - I had no idea that those birds had such huge feathers. I was very impressed.

I mean, look at them! I am not joking if I say that the feathers are almost larger than me. They are definitly larger now that the vase stands on my some-sort-of-vanity-table.

I would LOVE to have them displayed in a victorian vase like my example below. It's just thé perfect { late } victorian vase with perfect colors that will match the hues of the feathers. But yeah, thrifter as I am, I will be visiting a fleamarket { Yes .. again } in Brabant the Netherlands this upcoming sunday! Who knows what one will find!?

But hey, they look great next to my roaring twenties vanity table set, too!

{ Handmirror, brush and tray belong together and got them as a gift in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The pocket comb, also from the twenties, with ivory teeth has been in my possession for a long time already, just like the powder box - of which the mirror has been broken, but it has it's original powder in it.}

Superstition?

It seems I have to take it for granted that peacock feathers bring nothing but harm judging from the legends and myths. The peacock feather has an evil eye at the end. Hera, the wife of Argus from the Greek mythology, had the hundred eyes of Argus preserved forever in a peacocks tail after his death. Never bring peacock feathers into the house for decoration, as they bring no luck whatsoever. It is also said that the peacock can foretell rain, signalling it's approach by a harsh crying call, and dances to it when the rain stepped in.

Luckily I am not superstitious!

The summer sun is fading

2011-10-06T17:02:00.014+02:00

... as the year grows old, and darker days are drawing near.
Yes, summer is officially over. Europe knew a couple of hot days the past week { Atleast the Netherlands had a lovely temperature of 27 degrees, and I believe Britain aswell! }. I've been in nature loads of times to exploit the lovely weather - which came godsend. It's so unreal see-ing the autumn leaves falling on the ground around you, while the weather made you think it was midsummer!

However, we could enjoy this weather for merely a week and now the rain, wind and dark days got on board. I am not keen on autumn, besides the beautiful color palette nature offers us. I always like to walk in the forest to smell that typical autumn-ish scent, and watch the beautiful colored leaves hanging on or falling from the tree! Ofcourse it's also lovely if you don't have to set a foot outdoors and you can snuggle up underneath a blanket, surrounded by burning tea lights and a big steaming cup of tea in your dainty hands! For me preferably tea such as *plum harvest herbal tea*, which is the most quintessential tea for autumn and winter. With it's rich mix of plums, cinnamon, and apples; makes a cup of this tea almost a must have for chilly days! Or what about *Spice nut mate herbal tea*? This herbal tea fits the bill as a great tea for colder days. Ingrediënts such as cocoa, spices, and nuts brings the mind the rich taste of fall. It's perfect for a 'wake-me-up' in cold and dark autumnal mornings. Or perhaps my favorite? *The Ginger Bread Cookie* tea! This tea is naturally sweet with that typical Ginger bread cookie flavor which screams 'autumn', and is a lovely tea for when you are looking at the fallen leaves drop on the cold ground.

Anyhoo; I am not here to talk about tea or the beautiful side of autumn. It has a draw back for me, too!
I always remain to be so uninspired if it comes to my forties autumn/winter wardrobe. It's always a sad happening when I have to let go of my floral frocks which will be hidden in the back of my closet, waiting to be worn again in the next spring/summer.

I know for a fact that many of you are jumping for joy to wear the warm tweed suits, woollen dresses, winterhats, woollen thights and oxfords or ladies brogues. I'm always a bit jealous of you, gals, who can put together such a lovely autumnal or winter-y outfit. No, with me, my inspiration deserts me. Ofcourse I have my tweed suits, brogues and long forties trousers, but I just don't really líke the autumn/winter wardrobe. And I guess that's my problem, don't you think?

However, these pictures extend brainfood for some inspiration concerning an autumn and winter wardrobe.

◦ A couple of ladies in powder blue woollen winter dresses ◦

◦ Winter coats and dresses ◦

◦ Winter coats and suits ◦

◦ Woollen bolero and skirt ◦

◦ Woollen clothing of the forties ◦

◦ Winter corset ◦

◦ Winter undergarment ◦

◦ Forties knitted stockings ◦

◦ Winter hats ◦

◦ Autumnal colored hat ◦

◦ Autumn-y colored felt hat ◦

◦ Steady winter shoes ◦

◦ A wide variety of winter shoes in all kind of shapes and colors ◦

Hopefully this post will inspire some of you, too, who also have difficulties with pulling together an autumn or winter wardrobe.

Now it's time for a hot cup of tea, as it's really cold and windy in the Netherlands today!

Toodle-oo!

My hairdo of today's day

2011-10-05T19:33:00.000+02:00

I actually wanted to create a different hairstyle, but unfortunatly the ponytail {which I wanted to tie with a ribbon} in the nape of my neck was not good enough, so I decided to let my hair loose.

Instead of this:

If it's yours; please claim it!

I went to this:

Something different:
I will - again - be less active on this blogspot. However, I want to try to write one post per week instead of daily. Véry busy times are coming my way; I will have to follow a training for my Emotion Regulation Disorder, and I will aswell follow a training to cope with my psycho-trauma's. These both trainings will be held once a week, and I will have to pay my psychologist the weekly visits aswell beside those trainings. I have a few new shoots planned, too - which theme's and date's you can find in the calendar section.

Not only this; but I felt the need to create a personal website where I will post all my modelling photo's, and where you can keep up to date of what my shoots will be, too.

And best for last: I will finally go on a vacation!! I am so excited as I haven't been on a vacation for many years - apart from city trips. And my sad trip to Newcastle upon Tyne -which I do not see as a vacation.

Toodle-oo

A precious gift

2011-10-04T19:24:00.002+02:00

A couple of days ago my online friend Hans said to me that he had some '50s stockings in his possession and asked me if I was interested in having them. I answered with a resounding yes, ofcourse. I must admit that these stockings are my first vintage stockings.

However, I will not wear them. You see, Lindsay and stockings are an absolute no go. I always tear them immediatly, which results in me buying stockings ever single week, over and over again. No .. these stockings will not be worn. It's funny tho, the difference between stockings from the '40s and '50s that it seems that they are alittle bit stronger than the stockings or tights of today. However, they are not elasticized whatsoever, so you have to wear them - ofcourse - with suspenders. And they bag as the wearer stands up, just like these if I wouldn't wear them with suspenders.

I am not only wearing my new 'old' stockings on this photo, but also a dress I got as a gift from Robin in Amsterdam, when we were about to meet my friend Paddy.

I've always fancied seams on my stockings. Not only because this is period-perfect, but I just like them anyway. Usually I drew my own seams with a brown-ish eyebrow pencil, but since I am on meds which gives me jazz hands, my seams are an utter fail with every attempt. I am a perfectionist, and I want my seams to be as straight as possible. Don't you?

Before the 1940s, a woman would never leave the house bare-legged. Actually, it was considered inappropriate to leave the house without a pair of silk stockings, unless you were at the beach. Once nylon was invented, stockings began to be made from that instead.

Stockings were nude and sheer, but alittle bit darker than the skin tone and had seams at the back of the stocking and heel, were they were sewn together. During the war, all the the nylon and silk went to the war effort, and stockings became very scarce. It was hard for women to keep a pair around for a long time. Stockings easily snagged and tore. Women began to wear their stockings only on special occassions and fought over any that might were available for purchase.

The forties was a time of make do and mend. Women started to stain their legs with brown household items like gravy browning, coffee, and cocoa powder to give the impression of wearing stockings. Soon enough leg cosmetics were born that gave the legs a tan color. Ofcourse the first versions stained easily for example on the womens dresses or ran off in the rain. After these, better versions of leg cosmetics were found which were in liquid, cream or powder that was mixed with water. Famous brands such as Max Factor got on board. Some women also began to draw their own seams on the backs, often enlisting a friend that could help drawing the seam.

When the war was over, nylon stockings came back and women went right back wearing them attached to garters on girdles or garter belts.