Pretty Link Roundup {July 19th}

Happy Sunday, my lovely readers, how are you all on this sizzling July day? On this end the weather has momentarily mellowed a tad. Chalk dust grey skies are awash with powder puff-esque clouds and the mercury is sitting at 20° instead closer to 30°, as it has been for some time now.


{Cloudy summer days (such as today) can provide respite from the heat and a chance to unwind with your thoughts, just as I like to imagine this lovely woman was doing as this photo was being snapped. Image from What Makes The Pie Shops Tick's Flickr stream.}


This week was one of those that brought with a series of somewhat odd occurrences, from a splitting migraine that would not let up for two days to the issues with the toilets in both of our loos occurring within a day of each other! Nevertheless, it wasn’t a completely bad week; I was still revelling in the jubilant spirit of my birthday the previous Friday, and have been having a simply wonderful time today playing with one of the b-day gifts my husband gave me (a “Simpsons” version of the classic board game Clue).

Between rounds of trying to determine “who did it, in what room, with what weapon”, I thought I’d take a break from sleuthing to compose this week’s Pretty Link Roundup. I’ve encountered so many fantastic blog posts this past week it’s almost hard to shortlist them! From a very useful diagram that you can take with you to the hairdresser’s salon of a “Middy” style cut to peek inside Sophia Loren’s stunning 1960s home, this week’s links are such to include something of interest for most everyone! Be sure to swing take a gander at the video clip in the limelight as well, it’s ten minute clip from a lovely gal who shows you how to achieve some absolutely gorgeous 1940s hairstyles.


♥ ♥ ♥


* A Jolly Good Show – The Chap Olympiad 2009: Fleur takes on a tour of the impossibly fashionable Chap Olympiad, a yearly event hosted by Chap Magazine in which participants gather to share in their mutual love of sophisticated style while participating in the most delightful grown-up version of a sports day one has ever encountered.


* How I found the wedding dress I will wear tomorrow: The impossibly lovely, sweeter than the day is long Solanah (who got married yesterday) shares the heart warming story of how she chanced upon her vintage wedding dress for a mere seventy five cents.


* Vintage camping themed week: This past week the Glamorous Housewife has featured a marvelous selection of posts centred around the theme of vintage related camping. As someone who has always enjoyed a good trek into the wilderness and who collects Girl Guide related items (which often pertain to camping), I really enjoyed all of her posts on the subject.


* One Bag’s Story: How To Restore Patent: Have you ever wondered how best to bring a patent pleather (not genuine leather) bag back to life? If so, be sure to check out this post from Christa over at Fashion Preserve on the subject.


* The “Middy” haircut: Common throughout the 1940s, the Middy style cut was a practical, layered look that allowed wearers to create a variety of styles. In this post from the Lisa Fremount Pages, you’ll find a diagram of the Middy which can be taken to your hairdresser, if you wish to replicate this timeless style on your own head :)


* What a way to go: Karyn highlights one of the absolute most beautiful vintage travel trailers I have ever seen! Done up (both inside and out) in a gorgeous shade of aquamarine, pulled by a classic card, and filled with old school pieces this stylish classic camper is out-of-this-world cool!


* Modern Fashionista Travel with Vintage Luggage: The Capital Fashionista has rounded up a delightful selection of vintage (and retro) pieces of luggage that are such to appeal to anyone who enjoys traveling in vintage style.


* It’s not all feathers and netting: Fascinators have gained in popularity greatly over the past few fashion seasons, but no everyone who admires these sophisticated little hats/hair accessories is a fan of nettings and/or feathers on you caps. If you prefer a different sort of fascinator, be sure to check out the lovely selection in this post.

* Vintage Nightwear: A history: Queens of Vintage peers into the history and glamour of old fashioned sleepwear.


* Madeleine Vionnet at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris: Daisy Fairbanks Vintage highlights some of the unbelievably stunning haute couture dresses and photos on display as part of the Madeleine Vionnet museum display which will run until January, 2010 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.


* Sophia Loren’s Vintage Italian Masterpiece: “Luxurious” seems like an understatement when it comes to describing the Time Life photos in this article of Italian actress Sophia Loren’s phenomenal villa from the 1960s.


This week’s Youtube clip comes via Nicandjethro, and is perfect for girls with longer hair as it features a very useful how-to that can help you master a detailed, beautiful forties updo. That said though, I think many of the general techniques can be applied to medium and shorter styles as well.

{Pinup hair tutorial for Victory Rolls and a 1940s updo}




Time to get back to the ever-stylish Ms. Peacock (played in this version by Marge Simpson), but not before I wish each of you the loveliest of weeks ahead – I hope that both my own, and yours, will be serene, enjoyable and worry-free!


*PS*


{The box from a 1949 version of Clue – or Cluedo as it was known then and is still called in some countries – from the pages of Pete’s Cluedo fan site.}

Did you know that Clue was first released in 1949? Wouldn’t it be positively amazing to come across an original version from sixty years ago?