My first outfit of the day! Hurrah! Here's what I wore today, mostly because I could. This skirt isn't 100% finished as there are more trimmings I'm planning on adding but it's in a wearable state and I love how it feels! I finished hemming it yesterday which I did with the machine because there will be trim over the top of it so I figured it wouldn't matter.



Apologies for the picture quality - the camera is having issues so the pictures were taken with an iphone. Not great.



Top: h&m
Skirt: by me, fabric from fabricrehab.co.uk
Shoes: a gift from my mother-in-law (first time worn and unfortunately they were rather small which meant I had to buy some shoes whilst out in town. I couldn't walk and my toes are now bleeding and blistered)
Hair flower: Belle Blossoms
Snood: Red Dress Shoppe

At the moment I'm very much into embroidery. In the past, I've not had the patience for it, but when you're ill and can't get out of the house very much, all those slow crafts become immensely appealing! So I decided to use Casey's Circle Skirt Sew Along as an opportunity to try out some embroidery. So far I've only got the waistband done as it's coming on ever so slowly but I really like it!



I've gone for a vaguely south of the border feel (to liven up a British winter) with this skirt which is reflected in this design and my main embroidery for the skirt which is going to be amazing - at least I hope so! All I can say is thank heavens for the flickr group Hoop Love!

Labels: 1950s, crafts, embroidery, sewing

Whilst I'm finishing up the odd project to post here, I thought I'd share some lovely images from Christmas catalogues. They all came from Wishbook Web. I really wish I could order from these catalogues now! Just imagine being able to choose anything from them - and at those prices! *swoon*

This is a great little film and has long been one of my favourites. Okay, it's not outstanding but it's still rather underrated. It follows a naive young woman surrounded by a group of 'vicious cats' who are all rather more sophisticated than her and know that another woman is attempting to sink her claws into her husband. Plus there's Glenn Miller. So it's basically a musical version of The Women! Okay, that's not completely true but there are parallels to be made.

And of course this, like the 1939 classic, has wonderful costumes!




In the opening scene we have the Glenn Miller Orchestra playing People Like You and Me. The adorable Marion Hutton is singing (with the Modernaires and my favourite, Tex Beneke) and I love her hair and outfit! She's filled with so much pep. In the last shot, you can see the buttons on her slacks. So cute!





In walks Lynn Bari, dripping with glamour and worldly wisdom. She's covered in so many spangles that she positively glitters. You get the feeling that anyone this sophisticated can't be a good character.





Then we have Bari's antithesis in the form of Ann Rutherford, one of the most adorable creatures to ever grace the silver screen. She's charming and very much the all-American girl in her white ric-rac trimmed dress.




Next up she wears a sweet dropped waist dress.






Whilst Lynn Bari is again glamorous and sparkly in the same scene. I love the matching flowers on her dress and in her hair. So sparkly!




In the next few scenes, we meet the rest of the orchestra wives. They are all outrageously glamorous, absurdly so, especially the wonderful Carole Landis. Lynn Bari is again thrown into the mix and, next to them, she looks positively sedate, although incredibly stylish.








Yet again, we have more absurd glamour as the ladies ready themselves for bed (Carole Landis' outfit again is incredible - she's wearing incredible wide legged culotte trousers with that bolero!) and Ann Rutherford is lent a lovely little nightgown.






More of the girls. Although Ann Rutherford is now wearing something slightly more grown up, she's still in much simpler attire than the others, who are ridiculously overdressed for a card game.








Lynn Bari again, in another magnificent gown. By the way, she is dubbed by Pat Friday in this film and Pat's singing is just sublime.





For a scene or so, everybody is in their night attire. Looking amazing. Just look at Carole Landis again!





Ann, meanwhile, is wearing a sweet little dress with matching hat and gloves. Darling!





Cut scene and she's now wearing probably my favourite outfit of the lot, this polka dot full-length playsuit. The other girls hang around in fancy negligees, as is their wont.







Here she is back in her hometown with all her old friends, but she seems rather out of place now in her twinset and pearls. I think she's jaw droppingly beautiful here!







Then we have the penultimate scene in which Marion Hutton finally reappears! Yey! She looks so adorable. And check out that turban on Mary Beth Hughes! Also, Cesar Romero has far more chemistry with Ann than did the fella who was playing her husband but never mind.







Gratuitous Marion Hutton spam! Her dress is lovely though.






Ann reappears in chiffon and lace, all smiles for a happy ending!







And for a bonus, here are a couple of shots of the guys. They're definitely stylish in this film! Real zoots.

Labels: 1940s, inspiration