Vintage Link Love for July 2014

Oh, July, sweet, beautiful, soul satisfying month, can it really be that you've come to an end once more? Do I actually have to wait for eleven of your peers to pass me by before we get to embrace once again? *Le sigh* Don't end, don't leave me yet, I love you too dearly, too passionately, too wholeheartedly.

You will though, for time always marches onward and there's nothing I, a mere mortal, can do to change that fact. Best to just roll with the calendar's predictable punches and savour August, akin to July in so many ways anyhow, as much as possible, for when it ends, so too will summer begin to vanish here on Canadian soil. And that, more than July's own departure, is something that I'm just not ready to have happen quite yet.

What a fun, fabulous month this July was! From my 30th birthday on the 10th to sublimely warm nights with whisper-like breezes a moon like a gigantic pearl in the galaxy's glitziest cocktail ring to a lovely look at some of my personal reading habits, both online and off, as with so many of its predecessors in years past, I adored this July.

Over the course of the month, many stories caught my eye in various corners of the web and today, as we soak up these last few precious hours of July, I'd like to share another round of engaging, lovely, entertaining (mostly) vintage related stories with all of you here today. Pull up a lawn chair, pour another glass of strawberry lemonade, and sit a spell while you browse these wonderful posts.

♥ 50 Classy People From The Past Who Remind Us What "Cool" Really Means!: Like art and beauty, we all know that cool is, at least to a degree, entirely subjective, but there's no denying that certain folks do excel at looking, and being, as suave, chic, or mysteriously alluring as the day is long and the group here definitely nails it on that front.



♥ Jem, the Truly Outrageous, Triple-Platinum '80s Rocker Who Nearly Took Down Barbie: Child of the 1980s that I am, grew up with both Barbie and Gem, the former of whom I was always a bigger fan of, but that doesn't mean that I didn't rock out with Jem sometimes, too, especially care of her popular TV show. This fascinating post from Collector's weekly takes a gander at how one teased hair fictional power ballad rocker almost usurped another during that wild, toe tapping music fueled and more-children's-toys-than-you-can-shake-a-tiny-plastic-microphone-at era.



♥ 1940s hair and makeup looks based on your face shape: I'm a huge believer in the importance of what hairstyles and makeup looks that are flattering to your face shape can do for one's self esteem and overall appearance and never tire of vintage takes on the subject, such as this charmingly lovely 1940s one from Glamour Daze's excellent vintage make-up guides site, which features some of the era's most beautiful leading Hollywood starlets as examples of various face shapes.




♥ Princess Margaret opens the Kelowna Floating Bridge: I absolutely adore it when Tony sends me vintage related links that he thinks I'll like (I always do!) and just about squealed with vintage Canadiana adoring delight when he recently shared this short YouTube clip of Princess Margret at the opening ceremonies of the floating bridge, which for decades (until it was replaced in 2008 by a new, sadly no longer floating, bridge) spanned Okanagan Lake connecting West Bank/West Kelowna with the bustling city of Kelowna.



♥ 8 fashion rules to break right now: Though geared towards, and highlighted with photos of, modern day fashionistas, I wholeheartedly feel like this list from Harper's Bazaar applies every bit as much to us vintage clad ladies as well.



♥ 40 forties fashion images: Carve out a few minutes (if not right now, than asap!) and settle in to enjoy reading and savouring the vintage images in this stellar look from Marie Claire at 1940s fashions sported by vintage celebrities, models and real world ladies alike (which I discovered via my dear friend The Glamorous Housewife's Facebook page). It is, in every sense of the words, a true feast for the vintage loving eyes to behold!




♥ Short vintage hair: Though long, flowing locks, expertly curled, or precision styled updos are often associated with ladies of the past, not every yesteryear gal rocked rolls, waves or waist grazing lengths by any means and this beautiful photo filled post from Rochelle over at Lucky Lucille does a marvelous job of highlighting that fact and no doubt providing oodles of inspiration for those who might be thinking of chopping off some hair soon themselves.



♥ Twenty 90s fashions trends that I miss: We had a story (see second entry in this post) about the 80s, so it's only fitting we have one about the 90s as well. Though, for many of us, it really doesn't seem that long since this decade and its iconic fashion styles wrapped up, it has been 14.5 year already since we, quite literally, partied like it was 1999, and as such we're entitled to get a bit nostalgic about that era's styles, if so inclined, which this post's author recently did (and I get every now and then myself, too).


♥ Vintage playsuits and rompers - 1940s history and photos: With summer still (thankfully!!!) going strong and at least a few more weeks of roasty-toasty weather left, there's plenty of time still left to keep on rocking vintage playsuits such as the examples in this lovely post from the Vintage Dancer.





♥ 20 Signs You’re Succeeding In Life Even If You Don’t Feel You Are As someone who is perpetually (far!) too hard on themselves, I can't begin to tell you how much this Life Hack post (which I first caught wind of via my wonderful friend Daffny, from the blog A Vintage Nerd, on Facebook) resonated, comforted and de-stressed me - at least for a little while. I can't recommend reading it highly enough, as I can all but promise you, you'll walk away feeling better about yourself and the direction in which your life is going once you have, too.



♥ 10 Great Spooky Vintage Cartoons to Watch This Halloween: Before you hurl a jack-o-lantern at me for posting about Halloween already, take a moment to stop and think that we are but a mere three months away from the return of the spookiest, most sensationally fun holiday of the year. Chances are, if you're like me (a massive fan of the day), you're already thinking about your party, costume, decor, menu, and what you're going to be watching come October 31st. In the case of the latter, this fun list of ten classic, campy, and/or hair raising cartoons is sure help set the tone for any All Hallow's Eve celebration.



♥ Pajamas to the Beach? Ladies in the 1930s did it in style!: Just as playsuits and rompers were integral parts of many women's mid-century summer wardrobes and are pieces that find favour with vintage loving gals today, so too were beach pajamas once a highly fashionable, glamorous way to stay cool and look sensational during the hottest months of the year. This delightful image filled post from Blue Vintage Velvet's blog does a great job of celebrating the beauty and perpetual appeal of this wonderful type of vintage garment.






{All images throughout the list of links above come by way of the post that they are displayed directly beneath the write up of here. Please follow the links provided to learn more about these images.}

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Alright, July, I might not like it, but if you must depart, I understand. We'll meet again, same place, same time, next year and catch up like the immensely dear friends we've always been. Until then, I'll treasure your memory in my heart and think of you especially often during the freezing cold, snow capped days of January.


For now though, it's time to cheer on August's arrival and all that this fabulously warm, beautiful eighth month of the year holds in store for us. Barbeques, beach visits, yard sale sales, road trips, picnics, sundresses, and lots more lemonade are all the name of the game and they certainly help make waving good bye to July a touch easier.


Here's to an amazing, fun and sunshine filled August for each and every one of us!!!

*PS*

My unbelievably talented and equally lovely milliner friend Tanith Rowan is currently hosting her first ever giveaway on her blog in which participants from around the world have the chance to win one of her sublimely gorgeous handmade hats (from her online shop). Pop on by today and enter at once - her hats are true works of art and would look amazing in any vintage or modern fashionista's wardrobe alike.