Remembering Hugh Hefner

No matter your thoughts on the controversial life of Hugh Hefner, one thing you can say is that he had a long lasting effect on popular culture. Born in April of 1926, Hef as he was known, was born to middle class parents who were both teachers. He described them as "Midwestern and Methodist". 

A Bunny inspecting a key, which was the membership identifier for the Playboy clubs.

Writing has always been in his blood and he was a military writer during World War II.Through trial and error, and several attempts at raising enough money Mr. Hefner eventually founded and ran Playboy Magazine in 1953, with Marilyn Monroe on the cover.  

Not only was his magazine and clubs popular from the 50's, 60's, and 70's but he also ran two popular late night television shows Playboys' Penthouse (1959-1960) and Playboy After Dark (1969-1970).  Many people credit him as one of the loudest voices for the sexual revolution that swept the nation in the mid to late sixties. 

He is named for an award called the Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Award, created by Christie Hefner, which was created "to honor individuals who have made significant contributions in the vital effort to protect and enhance First Amendment rights for Americans."

He also funded a class at The University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts called "Censorship in Cinema". He was also a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community and fought for equal rights saying, "fight for all our rights. Without it, we will turn back the sexual revolution and return to an earlier, puritanical time."

Edit: Forgot to post pictures of my blue bunny suit!

Cherries!

This pin up gal just bought herself some cherry brooches and a pair of hair clips! I can't wait for them to get here!!!

Aren't they cute?!?!

The Carolina Renaissance Festival is Upon US!

Hi there all!

So are you ready for some serious Vintage Goodness? Vicki Vegas will be appearing for her 9th season at the Carolina Renaissance Festival, pics below so you know it is me!

Black and Yellow and Red, not my usual  color combo!

Getting photo bombed, oh well. 

Shouldn't have to mention but I made this gown myself!

Vintage Inspiration: Amy Winehouse

Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was a British singer and song writer whose career and life was frought with drama and soul. Her look helped relaunch a love for vintage looks mixed with modern style. Winehouse favored looks from girl groups like The Ronettes. Her beehive hairdo and wild winger liner may look like a parody of the fashions of the 1960's but Winehouse was spot on. 

Personally, she was always an inspiration style wise. She wore what she liked and didn't care about what other people thought....Rolling Stone's editor Joe Levy tried to sum up her eclectic style:

"Just as her best music drew on sampling — assembling sonic licks and stylistic fragments borrowed from Motown, Stax, punk and early hip-hop – her personal style was also a knowing collage. There was a certain moment in the '90s when, if you were headed downtown and turned left, every girl looked like Bettie Page. But they did not do what Winehouse did, mixing Bettie Page with Brigitte Bardot and adding that little bit of Ronnie Spector."

Want to learn more about Amy's iconic look? Take a peek at this make up tutorial done by Valli O'Reilly who knew Amy personally and worked as her makeup artist. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Lq2RNABTc

Want to learn more about Amy Winehouse check out her website here: http://www.amywinehouse.com/

Mad Men Countdown: Peggy Olson

This secretary turned copy writer was often the butt of jokes about style and fashion but once Peggy came into her own she had a solid, self assured style that I would kill for! Let's get onto the countdown:

First Day Downer:

Poor sweet Peggy Olson on her first day at work. I almost forgot how young she looked in the first season and since her transformation was so gradual it catches me off guard. Study little sweater with what looks like a wool skirt.

 Fling in Green:

Though this outfit leaves alot to be desired, it is still kinda cute in its own way. The seafoam skirt is adorable but not great for office quickies....those yellow pumps with this? just no

 Never Left Out:

Once becoming a copy writer Peggy becomes determined not to be left out of "out of office meetings". She over hears that the boys plan on taking Playtex executives out to a burly club and she plans on showing them what for! This is gorgeous, and either bought that day or borrowed. 

 Easter Pinks:

Perfect in pink for Easter, Peggy finds out that Father Gil, whom she had a bit of a flirtation with, knows about her unplanned pregnancy (see the seafoam comments). This is gorgeous to our eyes but is slightly old fashioned for the time period. 

Fun group of shots in the Easter dress.

 Pink and Green Gown:

After leaving SC and ending up working her tail off at CGC Peggy shows up to an award banquet in this stunning green and pink evening gown. I love the bow accent and the embroidery.

 Yellow Bow:

This is office wear at its finest. She wears this yellow top quite a few times, with a jacket all you can see is the bow, but when the jacket comes off you can see all the criss cross detailing. Peggy tends to favor bows and details around the neck to mimic men's ties. 

 Pant Suit Of Doom:

For real though, I love this. Peggy is in the office on a weekend, in PANTS. This is probably one of the best and eye searing outfits she has ever worn. Clearly the 70's are on their way. I bet some of you have pictures of your mothers/grandmothers standing in a kitchen smoking a cigarette in something just like this. 

 The Hokusai Dress:

After having her office delayed several times Peggy worries about her place in the new agency. She feels forgotten and expresses this to Roger Sterling who tells her to get it together, that she has worked hard to get where she is and to go in there and show them who is boss. Which she does in this fabulous outfit. Joan once told her to "stop dressing like a little girl" and Peggy definitely had a Catholic school girl look for a long time. No more!

From frumpy secretary to serious executive to confident working woman Peggy Olson experienced, in my opinion, the most style growth over the entire run of the show. Her hard work and dedication to her goals saw her benefit the most at the end of the series.  What are some of your favorite looks for Peggy Olson?

Happy Birthday to Greta Garbo!!!!!

Happy Birthday to the incomparable Greta Garbo, born September 18th, 1905 died in 1990. This silver screen siren entranced generations of fans with work from 1922 to 1941. This academy award nominee hails from Sweden where her good looks, charm, and ingenuity landed her a Hollywood career. You can read all about her films and her personal life in the book Garbo: Portraits From her Private Collection  by Scott Reisfield and Robert Dance.

You can check out her website here: http://www.gretagarbo.com/Offical_Website_of_Greta_Garbo/Home.html

Lip Shapes Through The Years

Want to get your vintage pout on but aren't sure what era you want to shoot for? Have no fear, Vicki is here with the best lip looks from the 1920's to the 1970's! Ok let's dive right in:

1920's or the Bow Look. The 1920's saw the rise of superstar Clara Bow whose makeup routine sparked trends across the world. Though she was not the first to sport super thin brows (to help make her face look more expressive) and a small demure lip shape, it was because of her success that this look became mainstream. The bow lip shape is a somewhat exaggerated shape, that cuts the corners short, and emphasizes the cupid's bow on the top lip.

This is a pure 20's look, small mouth with large expressive eyes.

Clara Bow.

The gorgeous Anna May Wong, breaking some serious race barriers in the 1920's.

1940's or Lips For Our Troops. The 1940's of course saw the rise of World War 2 and entire countries of women ended up out of the home and into the factories. Gone were the elegant styles of the 20's and 30's and in came head scarves, jump suits, and women who...for lack of better phrase, dressed like men to work like men. In counterpoint to what society saw as the "de-feminization" of women were lipstick colors that hailed patriotic names like the famous "Victory Red". The lip shape became slightly fuller and far more natural. 

An early invention which gained popularity well into the 50s was matching your shade of red to your hair color.

Gorgeous ad for Red Magesty lipstick.

Rita Hayworth rocking a very natural lip shape.

1950's or the VaVa Voom Lip. The 1950's saw the end of the war and men coming home to women who had, while being patriotic with their red lipstick, had lost some of the sense of femininity while working in factories. The 50's answer to that was the overly soft, overly girl looks of the 1950s. Lip looks here started to the other way and become full and pouty. A new thing became matching your nail color and your lip color!

Check out this vintage ad where her lips and nails are the same color.

Marilyn Monroe was famous for her lip shape. She and her makeupartist Whitey would apply multiple layers of lipstick then a homemade gloss, over and over again. He even would put white powder on the center of her bottom lip to make it seem fuller.

I just love this over the top look, with that signature pout. Still from The Seven Year Itch.

1960's or Nude Lip Look. The swinging 60's saw a bevy of different looks from preppy to flower-child and everything in between. One look that seemed to have dominated the last half of the decade was the nude lip. Paired with bold and dramatic two toned eye makeup the nude lip popped up on celebrities and socialites, political wives and college students. 

Jean Shrimpton was the it girl for the 60's.

Aretha Franklin rocking some serious 60's style. 

You start moving away from reds into more shades of baby pink, nude, and coral.

Twiggy, circa 1960's.

Diana Ross working a nude lip with some full lashes.

1970's or Thin is In. The 70's saw a backlash in the makeup world for lipstick. Lips became passe and the new thing to do was cheeks. Like all trends, lipstick didn't die in the 1970s...it just started playing second fiddle. Lipstick shades started to broaden in the mid to late 60's with companies like Biba making colors like burnt orange, black, etc. The 70's were a time of color experimentation, and the introduction of metallic into mainstream lip trends.

A selection of lovely ladies from the 70s. Notice Farrah's fabulous bronze metallic lip shade. You can really see that the cheeks have started to take center stage.

Debbie Harry on the cover of Cosmo 1978.

So, what lip look is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section below!

XOXOXO Vicki Vegas!

Adobe Spark!

Hi there all!

So I have been playing around with Adobe Spark and I have to say I absolutely love it! I made two cute banners that I hope to put up here. If you need a Vicki Vegas banner (for any old reason) please shoot me a comment!

Mad Men Countdown: Joan Holloway/Harris

Hi there all, this is the second installment in my Mad Men Countdown series....this time we are covering my all time FAVORITE and personal inspiration....Joan Holloway/Harris. This curve-tastic bombshell is the epitome of sass. Her strong personality and even stronger sense of style is a constant throughout the series. Though she does eventually end up embracing the more mod styles Joan tends to dress for the body she has, not the popular body type of the day. So without further ado....onto the countdown.

The Harassment Dress:

No one can talk about Joan and Mad Men without talking about this horrible meeting she and Peggy endured. I love this bold pink, even though she is perfectly covered up she can't help but be overly feminine. It is who she is. I love that these are both perfect examples of dressing two professional women, they couldn't be more opposite.

Mod Sailor Dress:

I honestly can't remember why or when Joan wore this dress, however it definitely fits the Joan model of form fitting, plus brooch, plus scarf detail. The color and bold pattern however have a very mod feel to them.

Blue Bombshell:

Joan is always been a bombshell, but this dress makes her look like a movie star of the period. She could be a bond girl. I love that they tend to dress Joan in jewel tones, which denotes not only her sophistication but her age as well.

Two Way Glass Dress:

The only woman in a room of women who knows that they are being watched and she takes the opportunity to give the men (especially Roger) a bit of a show. This is classic Joan. Tight, Brooch, That amazing gold pen pendant. Joan is a lady who lives to match. 

Loved her passive aggressive smoke blowing at the bitchy Belle Jolie lady.

Pink/Purple Scarf Dress:

Once again Joan is in her office armor. The Mad Style blog had/has a great theory about Joan in purple and that it tends to signal some sort of emotional crisis in her life. Even though she might not be wearing scarves like she used to, the detail at the neck is very scarf like.....she was once quoted as saying "Men love scarves...."

The Flashback Black:

This hot little number is a stunner. This is pure 1950's vavavoom! This is a very important flashback, we see that Roger has bought Joan a gorgeous fur coat....which mirrors a later scene where Joan sleeps with a Jaguar executive to secure an account and her future as a partner.

The Accordion Dress:

People might ask why I call this one the accordion dress....if you haven't seen this episode Joan and her new husband Greg host a little dinner party where to break up the awkward Joan is put on the spot and plays the accordion. Roses become a theme for Joan during her marriage, here they are bright and open but in later episodes her dresses with roses tend to be brown, like her love and marriage have withered.

The Present Dress:

Roger asks Joan to wear this red dress at the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce Christmas party...."The one with the bow in the back, that makes you look like a present...." This is classic Joan all the way....

Dark Green Pants/Jumper:

The last we see of Joan is her beginning her own production company out of her own living room. We are on our way into 1970 and here Joan is finally embracing the styles of the late 60's early 70's. Once piece jump suits are going to become staples of the period. Here Joan has cast off what she once thought she wanted most (a wealthy man to take care of her) and started working for herself (finally)


Those are the top looks for Joan Holloway/Harris....who should we do a countdown of next? Comment Below!