RIP to the great Burt Reynolds

So sad to just hear of the passing of Burt Reynolds. He defined what it meant to be a "man's man" for an entire generation. Many a teen girl ( and boy) caught sight of his famous bear skin rug photo and became an adult...Burt will be remembered for many different film roles from Deliverance to Smokey and the Bandit to Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. 

Rest In Peace Burt (and thanks for helping to keep mustaches in style, no one wore it like you.)

Happy (Belated) Birthday to Lucille Ball!

Happy belated birthday to Lucille Ball! Actress, comedian, and producer Lucy is and was a true Hollywood star! 

Before becoming an actress Lucy worked as a model. No denying this beauty!

Her classic look, very arched brows and her "red" hair!

What a smart and capable lady Lucy was, without her we would have no Star Trek!

So many girls try to emulate her classic lip shape!

Probably my favorite sketch from her hit show "I Love Lucy".

Mad Men Countdown: Trudy Vogel/Campbell

Hi there all! I know it has been a hot min. since I posted anything but the busy season of my year has started what with conventions, car shows, and other life stuff getting in the way. But today I have another of my favorite outfit countdowns from the fabulously awesome show Mad Men. Am I the only one who is still OBSESSED with this show? I am on my literal 12th re-watch of the series.

I feel poor Trudy gets overlooked in alot of situations. She is in constant struggle with her place in her home and in her life. She wants to be the perfect little house wife who holds dinners, attends company functions, does charity work, makes babies. For the most part she really succeeds in all this,  except for the baby part. Though she does work that problem out eventually. Trudy is stylish in that old money sort of way but never over the top like Mrs. Jane Stirling who positively oozes jewelry and opulence. Stuck somewhere in the middle Trudy is a perfect example of a woman of her time, I think she is the exact middle of the road when it comes to young people of means in the 1960s.

Now onto the countdown:

Pretty in Peach:

Never let it be said that Trudy Campbell doesn't know style. This is right on par for the changing world of the 1960s. Great punchy color with a classic up do. The beading on the neck and sleeves are definitely heading in the direction of the 70s.

She is just a peach!

Jackie-O Chic:

This is an iconic look for the 60s, pill box style hat, skirt and jacket combo is perfect with a bright pop of color.

 Memorial Day Sweetness:

Trudy was already on my Mad Men Holiday Looks countdown for this adorable marigold colored dress.

 1970's Mama Drama:

You think that 1960's Trudy would be caught in this blue ensemble? This is about as modern as it gets when the show is in its final seasons. Notice her hair style changed very significantly-this is all 70s sleek glamour.

 Derby Day Darlin':

Peter and Trudy shine at the Stirling's Derby Day Party. This is what Trudy was groomed her whole life for. Be the perfect wife, look cute, dance well, be witty....she has it all!

More Derby Day fun!

JFK Dress:

Unfortunately for the country and for the Stirling family the assassination of President Kennedy put a damper on wedding plans. This is a gorgeous outfit in a color that just pops off the screen. Her coloring here is mimicking everyone's down cast mood. 

 Surprise Party Dress:

Love this look! Though the print is busy and definitely heading the way of the 70's trends Trudy is still feminine and lovely. Note these drop earrings!

Moving Forward:

This is best Trudy has ever looked. She ended up, in my opinion,  the best off from what we can see. This is what she always wanted. Her family. This is a pure glam look that is going to be en-vogue for most of the next decade.

Say what you want about Trudy Campbell, she was a strong willed and clever person who helped her husband further his career and build her family into what she always longed for. I have no doubts that Trudy, while not a central female character on Mad Men, is perhaps the most modern of all the women whose story we get to see.

Costume Screen Tests for Famous Films

Check out some of these vintage costume screen tests! 

Audrey Hepburn posing for the film Sabrina....the caption card says "different blouse".

Marlon Brando doing a test shot for A Street Car Named Desire.

Check out this look that almost became Dorothy's in The Wizard of Oz.

Elvis Presley poses for shot for "Jail House Rock"

Clark Gable is almost unseen in this dark shot for Gone With the Wind.

James Dean stands moodily for a screen test as Jett.

Marilyn Monroe posing for a costume test for To Be Spotted.

Debbie Reynolds in a close up hair test for Singin' in the Rain.

Joan Crawford looks bored in this shot. A test for The Best of Everything

Betty Davis poses for a screen test of this outfit from All About Eve, with hand written notes.

Throwback Thursday! Cate Blanchett as Katherine Hepburn

Happy Throwback Thursday my vintage glamour guys and dolls! Today we are looking at the ever elegant Cate Blanchett in her role as Katherine Hepburn in the 2004 film The Aviator.

Kate and Howard play golf. She complains that people call her "outdoorsy" when she prefers the term "athletic".

The Aviator is a biographical drama about the life of American tycoon and innovator Howard Hughes. This sometimes problematic genius is shown from early adult hood into his later life, wining and dining starlets like Ava Gardner to Jean Harlow to Katherine Hepburn.

This soft almost creme colored suit gets alot of screen time.

Hepburn, played by Blanchett, dates Howard seriously until his OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) tendencies worsen to the point of breaking them up. Even after their split he still tried to keep her name out of the paper when she starts an affair with Spencer Tracy.

See what I mean about draping over the scene? Cate is all arms and legs in this. 

Kate and the whole Hepburn clan; loving her sport coat here.

Cate just drapes herself over the scenery in this film, you get the sense of luxuriousness in her style.

Another great comparison photo.

A great side by side of  Katherine and Cate.

If you haven't seen this film, please do so. It is full of highly detailed sets, characters, and costumes. You can more about the film here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Aviator_(2004_film)

Movie Review Monday: Stepford Wives (2004)

Hi there all! I know it has been a hot min. since I did a movie review but I finally have caught up enough that I can get this one under way. First off let me say that the 2004 version of Stepford Wives gives me life like no other movie can. It is a highly satirical and comedic take on the original horror/suspense film, which suits me just fine. I have seen the original and I like it but the pacing can be slow for my taste. Some of you are no doubt wondering why I am reviewing Stepford Wives, since it isn't an old film, nor is it set in a vintage era. It does, however, offer some great style based in pin up and reproduction clothing. Now lets get into it...and as always Spoiler Alert!

The matron of the town of Stepford is Claire. Pin curled hair, vintage set bodice with flower accents....

Faith Hill gets some fabulous outfits as one the of wives.

Every wife is always dressed: hats, gloves, jewelry....this is at a book club meeting.

Our main characters the Eberharts, Joanna who was a high powered successful TV executive and her husband Walter who worked for her.

More wives at the book club.

Joanna's final reveal at a ball held in her honor.

Joanna makes a few friends when she firsts arrives in Stepford. Bobbi is an angry, sloppy, fantastically good writer. She and her husband end up in Stepford to try and save their marriage. 

This is Bobbi's transformation after her "Stepford" makeover.

After Joanna was attacked at an awards show she is fired from her dream job and suffered a bit of break down. She is given electro-shock therapy and Walter decides she needs a new life. 

Another of Bobbi's new outfits to go along with her clean house!

The wives at a pick-nic and hoe down.

Photo still for promotional use.

At first Joanna resists any change to her lifestyle and attitude...

...but after a fight with her husband she tries to live the Stepford Life.

A last shot of the wives as they get ready to "exercise"


The Stepford Wives is in my opinion a great satire of the classic "American dream", but it just shows that the only perfect people aren't people at all. They are robots! Some people find the metaphor here a bit heavy handed but to me that is part of the fun. It isn't subtle, but it is played for laughs. 

Movie Review: American Hustle

First off let me say that I love this film. Not only is it a fun and entertaining dark comedy about a con man and his best girl pulling off one of the best scams of all time, it reeks of style and charm. The 1970's are put on full display (along with Amy Adams' cleavage) with a colorful mixture of suburban house wifery to velvet suits, to pompadour hair to full on disco glamour....American Hustle is one of my favorite period themed films of all time. Also, please check out the soundtrack!

Based partly on a true story about the Abscam scandal in the 70s, Hustle has a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Christian Bale, who plays con artist Irving Rosenfeld, transforms himself from leading man into an over weight, middle aged loan shark with the comb over of the century. I was shocked at first, but as Amy Adams' character, Sydney puts it "he was who he was, he didn't care". 

Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn Rosenfeld

The wife and the lover confronting each other on the big night out. Both of them are showing some real 70's disco glam here. Deep cut dresses down the front and back were very popular, as was that tight ringlet curl we see on Amy Adams.

Even the supporting cast are given their own unique style and personality. Jennifer Lawrence turns in a great performance as Irving's unhappy house wife, Jeremy Renner is solid as the New Jersey Mayor who knows you have to do some back door dealing to do what is right for your people, and Bradley Cooper turns in a stellar performance as Richie the FBI agent trying to make a name for himself.

Going out dancing, Richie is sporting some serious open shirt goodness, with scarf of course. Check out those lapels. 

Messing up Irving's elaborate hair do...I don't think we see Sydney in anything that isn't low cut. The guys here are both in 3 piece suits. 

Rosalyn causes a stir at the party by flirting with the gangsters.

FAB.

Bradley Cooper's Richie is seen perming his hair, which yes, men did.

I love love loved this paisley jacket, which on screen I thought was smoking jacket but it is actually a tuxedo jacket.

Jeremy Renner next to his "real life" counterpart.


If you want to read more about the REAL Abscam scandal and the real people that American Hustle is based on you can go here: http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/american-hustle.php

What do you think about 70's fashion? Yay or Nay?