Kali by Tara O. Photos, shot at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia. Dress by Bettie Page Clothing.

While at Viva Las Vegas last month, I did two great photo shoots. The first was with the lovely and talented Tara O., who was a blast to work with! Tara’s full of energy and ideas, and knows exactly how to direct inexperienced models like me. She’s also great at finding amazing settings and angles that most people would never notice, let alone consider.

Las Vegas is known for its dazzling variety, but the color, texture, and mood diversity reflected in the photo sets surprised me. Someone unfamiliar with the Vegas Strip wouldn’t know that these shots - representing both the tropics and an art deco world reminiscent of Metropolis, among other places - were all taken within the same several-hundred-foot radius!

It was difficult to narrow down my wardrobe choices, but I finally settled on my new Trashy Diva Doris dress in black cotton voile (purchased on sale from JBR Clothing, with whom this blog is now affiliated!) and Bettie Page Clothing’s Surprised! and Captain pencil dresses.

Kali by Tara O. Photos, shot at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia. Dress by Trashy Diva.

Kali by Tara O. Photos, shot at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia. Dress by Bettie Page Clothing.

Kali by Tara O. Photos, shot at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia. Dress by Bettie Page Clothing.

While I love all the shots from this experience, the deco-tinged images taken at the MGM Grand are my favorite; something about the vibrant red of the Surprised! dress, the unexpectedness of the setting, and the beautiful hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia joined to create something uniquely fabulous.

Kali by Tara O. Photos, shot at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia. Dress by Bettie Page Clothing.

I will share the excellent photos from my shoot with Angela Morales very soon!

The Grace dress from Laura Byrnes Black Label looks amazing with late 1950s/early 1960s paste jewelry.

Hey guys! The lovely Vanessa just posted my piece on accessorizing vintage-inspired fashions with real vintage items to the Pinup Girl Clothing official blog. In the article, I’ve included items from my period jewelry and accessories collection that look great with my Pinup Girl Clothing fashions! Hope you enjoy it.

The Clairol Color Carousel was the most interesting fashion/beauty-related attraction at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair. Bill Young’s Nywf64.com has cool content related to the Carousel, including ephemera actually distributed at the Clairol pavilion. Take a peek at mid-60s hair and makeup culture!

“For Women Only! Take a ride on the Clairol Color Carousel. See yourself as a blonde, a brunette or a read head! Your friends will ask, “Does she… or doesn’t she?”

It’s come to my attention that Mr. George Knightley of Jane Austen’s Emma fame is now authoring his own advice blog, titled Letters to Mr. Knightley! With help from colleagues and friends, he’ll be dispensing his wit and wisdom on life and love to the denizens of Highbury, the Internet, and beyond. Here’s a man I’d trust with any problem!

Mugging it up in my Deadly Dames Vamp Top, El Dorado Club Filigree Bat Necklace, and great hair and makeup by Rosetta Garcia.

Over the weekend I attended my first Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, an amazing excuse to head to Las Vegas and hang out with my new retro fashion friends!

In addition to hanging out with pals, I was able to take part in two wonderful photo shoots (more on those in the coming weeks) and buy some gorgeous clothing!

My favorite buy of the weekend was my Mode Merr Fitted Peasant Blouse in Hawaiian Print plus Perfect Skirt in Black. The skirt’s stretch gabardine was thick enough to support without adding bulk or stiffness, and the high waist and extra-hippy cut was perfect for my crazy pear shape (wearing 2x, my waist: 32-33″, my hips: 48″).

The peasant top (wearing xl, my bust: 42-43″) wears so seamlessly with the skirt that it looks like a dress! I hope to pick up the Flirt Skirt (circle style with unique rick-rack trim) in the same fabric very soon!

Mode Merr Fitted Peasant Blouse and Perfect Pencil Skirt.

With sizes through 3x and absolutely unique and adorable retro styles, there’s something for almost everyone in the Mode Merr line. Like Heartbreaker (which cuts and sews on order), Mode Merr’s production team produces their garments in small batches; designer Angela told me that she hand-cuts every piece herself to ensure quality. Thanks again, Angela, for your kind, personalized service at Viva!

I was also excited to preview some of the new Pinup Girl Clothing offerings at the Viva Car Show on Saturday (thanks, Joe and Stephanie!), and ended up purchasing an Audrey pleated circle skirt in black (the new, longer style from the Pinup Couture line) and a mega-fresh Dixiefried bustier top in the yellow-based tropical print colorway (which isn’t yet available on the PUG website!). I got both in size xl; the Audrey skirt tops out at that size and the bustier in 2x – while a teense more comfortable in the waist – was wayyyy too freakin’ big in the bust.

Dixiefried bustier and Pinup Couture Audrey Skirt.

The Dixiefried bustier is short, but fully lined and boned to keep it firmly in place. The cut is flattering and the ruffle on the upper edge contributes to harmonious cleavage. When worn with my Mode Merr Perfect Skirt and Deadly Dames velvet belt, the effect is stunning!

But that’s not all! I was also able to snag a pair of Hollywood Stiletto Sildes from ReMix Classic Vintage Footwear, the Stop Staring! Billion Dollar Baby Dress in red (for half retail price – thanks, Alicia!), and two vintage dresses. One was an early 1960s black lace cocktail dress (from Lane Bryant, of all places!), while the other was a gorgeous white silk piece with a bright floral print. Both must be cleaned and altered before they’ll look just right, but I know they’ll turn out perfectly!

More about my Viva outfits and photo shoots to come, so stay tuned!

Dixiefried bustier and Mode Merr Perfect Pencil Skirt.

Stop Staring! Billion Dollar Baby Dress.

White silk vintage dress.

Hair and Makeup by Ruby Collins, Grace Dress and Masuimi Shrug both by Laura Byrnes.

Those who’ve lived there will tell you that the “Berkeley Paths” quickly become an important part of life in the hills of Berkeley, California. The Berkeley Path Wanderers Association website presents maps, photos, and stories about the quaint pedestrian passthroughs that zigzag those hills.

Where did these beautiful footpaths come from? According to the Berkeley Paths history page:

Berkeley ‘s population grew rapidly in the early part of the century due primarily to the growth of the University of California, the extension of the Key System rail line from San Francisco in 1903, and the influx of refugees following the 1906 earthquake and fire. Traction companies were formed and bought large areas of undeveloped land in the hills to the north, northeast and south of the University campus, and platted residential lots which were sold individually to home-builders.

These new Berkeley neighborhoods (developed before the automobile became the common mode of transportation) included Claremont (1900), Northbrae (1907), Thousand Oaks (1911), and Berkeley View Terrace (1926). Due to the slope of the northeast and southeast hills, upper lots were relatively inaccessible. Pathways served as pedestrian transportation routes linking hill residents to rail lines, parks, schools, and as short cuts for neighborhood residents.

Some of you already know of my inordinate fondness for the Orchard Lane Steps, part of the path system off of Panoramic Way. It’s less than a block away from Memorial Stadium, just around the southern outside edge of Strawberry Canyon on Panoramic Hill. When I lived in Corner (yes, all the rooms have names) at the Alpha Omicron Pi House on Prospect, I had a full frontal view of the Orchard Lane Steps. The Bancroft Steps – which connected the end of Bancroft way to the stadium parking lot/Panoramic Way/Prospect above – was our daily route to and from campus from our house.

I’ve meant to share these for a while, but everything seems to get in the way.

Trashy Diva 40s Dress in Olivine Floral.

First, Trashy Diva’s 40s Dress in Olivine Floral, Doll Dress in Slap ‘n’ Tickle, and Honey Dress in Fuchsia stretch satin. I’ve had the 40s dress for nearly a year, but the others are new.

Love the fit of the Doll Dress, though the Honey is a wee bit big in the armscyes and waist. My current measurements are 44-32.5-48″, and I’m wearing size 16 in both (and size 18 in the 40s dress; the Olivine Floral version ran small).

Next, vintage 1950s! I recently purchased a deep aqua and lavender floral cotton dress (label: Carol Brent) from La Rosa Vintage on Haight in San Francisco. I paired it here with a “Luxelon” acrylic lilac cardigan from Relic Vintage (label: Designer Originals), also on Haight.

On the same day, I bought a lovely blue lurex and black taffeta cocktail dress (label: Rite-Fit Dresses) from La Rosa Vintage. I’m showing it here worn with a belt by Igigi. Not sure about the sizing on these pieces, but the waists measured 32.”

Trashy Diva Doll Dress.

Trashy Diva Honey Dress.

Vintage cotton dress.

Vintage cotton dress and lilac cardigan.

Vintage blue lurex and black taffeta cocktail dress.

Last, my new Deadly Dames Troublemaker Dress in white and black. Big in the waist, but otherwise a fine fit. I’m also including two recent shots of my Deadly Dames Pirate Dress. Yes, I took them in the ladies’ restroom at Trader Vic’s. I was having a lovely day (that got even lovelier that evening at Forbidden Island in Alameda), and I felt wonderful.

Deadly Dames Troublemaker Dress.

Deadly Dames Pirate Dress.

Deadly Dames Pirate Dress.

There’s been a ton of local Emma productions hitting the stage this spring, from Folsom, CA to Salt Lake City to Fort Wayne, IN, to Windsor, Ontario! Some of them involve the Michael Bloom adaptation.

I’m posting the latest news on my Twitter feed, but here’s a roundup from the last month or so…

• The Seattle Star’s “Another approach to the classics: Emma at the UW” – Michael Bloom’s Emma performed at University of Washington through 2/26/2012
• The Salt Lake Tribune’s “Austen’s turns of phrase on Pioneer Theatre Company Stage” – Pioneer Theatre Company’s Emma (Jon Jory) opens 2/17/2012 in Salt Lake City
• Broadway World piece on Pioneer Theatre Company Emma
• Examiner.com’s “A fool for love: Jane Austen’s Emma coming to Pioneer Theatre Company”
• The Actors’ Workshop presents Emma (scroll down) many evenings from 2/9-3/4/2012 in Folsom, CA (MyLincoln presents dates and times)
• The Folsom Telegraph’s “Emma brings Jane Austen’s work to Folsom stage”
• The Westerly Sun’s “Flock Theatre presents Jane Austen’s classic Emma“ – Opens in New London, RI, on 2/10/2012 as part of the Shaw Mansion Series
• Theday.com on Flock’s RI Emma
• The WIndsor Lance’s “Super Sweet: University Players presents Emma” – University of Windsor in Windsor, ON, presents Emma through 2/12/2012
• The Windsor Star’s “Emma: From the page to the stage” and “Evil Emma well-meaning”
• Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette’s “Values-rich Emma adapts to local stage”
• Cherry on Top Theatre presented Emma in Sacramento and Placerville, CA, last month
• 2010 Michael Bloom Emma stage performances
• Recent Emma stage adaptations (at Emma Adaptations Pages)

Kim Novak as "Madeleine" views the fictional "portrait of Carlotta" at the Legion of Honor's Gallery 6.

Yesterday was our Greater Bay Area Costumers’ Guild Falling for Vertigo: A Toast to Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco event. We had a wonderful time attending a guided tour of the Georgian portraiture at the Legion of Honor (an iconic Vertigo filming site), a nod to the fictional “portrait of Carlotta” that appeared in the film. Afterwards, we visited historic Fort Point, the location where “Madeleine” throws herself into San Francisco Bay, to explore the Civil War-era fort and behold the spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. Our day ended with drinks and dinner at the Presidio Social Club (and for some of us, the Top of the Mark).

Thank you to everyone who supported the event! Everyone was impeccably dressed in their 1950s and 1960s day wear! Vertigo costumer Edith Head would’ve been proud:

A portion of our group at the Legion of Honor. Everyone wore greens and blues, it seemed - how very Judy of us!

Kali at Fort Point.

I wore my teal Bettie Page Clothing Rita dress with a vintage fur hat and cashmere/fur coat from the early 1960s. Oh, and a vintage faux-patent leather purse!

Our Vertigo Locations:

• GBACG’s Falling for Vertigo event page
• Vertigo Then & Now – Basichip.com’s before and after images of various San Francisco locations used in the film
• San Francisco’s Legion of Honor Museum was our primary location
• Lights! Camera! Action! Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo at the Legion of Honor
• Maps and driving directions to the museum – Limited street parking is available
• Public transit (Muni) options
• Free parking and free park admission are available at Fort Point, which is not too far from the museum
• Official Top of the Mark website
• Getting to Top of the Mark/Mark Hopkins Hotel/Nob Hill

Vertigo and Costume Links:

• GBACG’s Falling for Vertigo event page
• Vertigo Screenshots – Useful images presented by Alfred Hitchcock Fans Online
• Vertigo at Wikipedia
• Vertigo at IMDB
• My Edith Head article
• Edith Head Papers – Presented by the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research
• Edith Head and Kim Novak – Information and an interview with Kim Novak on the costuming in Vertigo
• Designing Women: Modernism in Hollywood Costume by Sandy McLendon – Includes a section on Edith Head’s designs
• Saul Bass on the Web – A tribute to the artistic genius of Saul Bass, Vertigo’s title designer
• Women’s Fashions of the 1950s – Presented by Costumegallery.com
• 1950s Costume Links – At Thecostumersmanifesto.com
• Pinup Girl Clothing – A variety of midcentury-inspired women’s clothing
• Bettie Page Clothing – ready-made women’s fashions based on designs from the 1950s

Hell Bunny Olive Dress in vibrant mint green.

I was impressed by the adorable Hell Bunny brand sundresses some of my friends were sharing on Facebook, so I decided to buy one three of my own!

Since a wide selection of Hell Bunny clothing isn’t readily available in my neck of the woods (California), I purchased my dresses from Sirens & Starlets, a UK Ebay Store that came recommended by a fellow pin-up style fan in New Zealand. Even from far across the pond, S&S delivered promptly (within ten days) and with excellent service.

Best of all, the dresses fit perfectly and look amazingly cute! I purchased the Olive (mint green), Vanity (black, white, and red), and Motley (black and white) in UK 18/2x, as that is what seemed to best suit my 44-33.5-49″ measurements. Since these styles all feature an elasticized back, there was some concern that they might be too big in the bust.

Hell Bunny Vanity Dress.

While I could probably size down without trouble (my waist measurement matches the xl size according to the fitting charts), it wasn’t necessary. For the Hell Bunny dresses that don’t come in plus sizes (I’m looking at you, Kiki dress!), it’s comforting to know that the XL size is there for me to try.

My next Hell Bunny purchases will be the Kiki dress – a black tropical-print halter – and the turquoise May Day dress.

The cotton fabric is light and crisp, perfect for warm springs and hot summers. I’m planning on wearing these three in Las Vegas come April, which should be pretty warm! Even though it’s still February, north-central California’s weather has been mild enough for me to wear two of my new dresses with cardigans!

Hell Bunny Motley Dress in black.