Pretty Link Roundup {June 20th}

As if striving to drive home the very topic I was waxing poetically about on Monday, the weather this week has hopped like a frog in a lily-pad pond between rainy/drab and hot/bright-as-a-new-penny. Yesterday night was magical though. The sort of perfect, not-quite-dark-yet evening that you wish you sit in a comfy deck chair and soak into the very pores of your soul for the rest of time. I had to pop out to the post office and grocery store, and was so glad to have errands to run, as waiting for buses gave me a chance to relish the beauty of a (temperature-wise) perfect mid-June evening.


{Whenever I look at elegant 1946 Life photo on myvintagevogue’s Flickr stream, I’m struck by how intensely, serenely relaxing the fading sunlight looks as it ripples across that little pool. This same feeling washed over me at dusk on Friday in the perfectly 22° air.}

On the blog front things have been busy as a hive of bees here this week! Chronically Vintage now has its own domain name (but will remain on the Blogger platform). You can read more about how my husband surprised me with a url as a gift here, and for details on ensuring you’re able to continue receiving the feed for CV, please take a moment to read this post.

From around the blogsphere I’ve lassoed up a fun array of links that span everything from packing for a holiday to a peak inside a vintage Fredrick’s of Hollywood catalogue – ooohhh la-la! :) Make-up tutorial fans take note, this week’s clip comes via a talented UK make-up artist who does a thoroughly good job of showing you how to achieve the sultry, heavily lined eye look that Sophia Loreen often sported early on in her famous career. I hope you all enjoy these links - don't hesitate to share your own terrific finds in the comment section.


* Dustbowl Dames: Darla takes an insightful look at how fashion evolved out of the flapper-era and into what it became during the Depression ridden world of the 1930s.

* The Lucy Fashion Chronicles: If you’re a fan of TV’s most entertaining redhead, be sure to swing by MissRedLip’s fab blog for the first installment of an ongoing series devoted to Lucille Ball.

* How to Thrift with Success: A Typical Atypical offers up four handy tips when it comes to getting the most out of your thrift store shopping experience.

* Rose McGowan by Ellen Von Unwerth: Modern day Hollywood starlet Rose McGowan dons some intensely gorgeous vintage looks as she posses for photographer Ellen Von Unwerth, as highlighted on Blond and Red’s lovely blog.

* Holidays ahoy, how to pack only the best and not the rest: Mademoiselle Robot lays out her best tips on how to efficiently pack for just about any trip. A perfect read if you’re planning a summer getaway!

* Vintage Mommy and Me Dresses: Growing up did you ever have a miniature version of one of your mother’s dresses or outfits? I can’t say as though I did, but I do recall a charming set of three floral print aprons my mom sewed for herself, my sister and me. If you’re a fan of matching outfit for moms and daughters, pop by Couture Allure for a selection of vintage ads featuring just this kind of look.

* The Collins Girls Annual 1958: Though largely out of fashion these days, for decades upon decades “annuals” were a common element the magazine and publishing world. In this post on I Luv Retro, readers are treated several absolutely charming pages from a copy of the 1958 Collins Girl annual.

* 1964 Fredrick’s of Hollywood catalog: With a cover page that confidently proclaimed “Get that marry a millionaire look!” you know that whatever follows in this vintage 1964 catalog is sure to be fantastic! Check out six pages of old school FoH style via this post on Found in Mom’s Basement.

* Wardrobe Staple: Beach Coat: Not the biggest fan of caftans or muumuus, but looking for something more stylish than oversized t-shirt to wear as a beach or poolside cover-up? If so Curve Hugger may just have the vintage answer for you, a beach coat! For lots of info, images of sewing patterns, and pretty photos surrounding this once commonplace item of clothing, be sure to check out this cool post.


Revered even to this day for her seductive, exotic Mediterranean features and sophisticated style, Sophia Loren’s face is as timeless as the Italian culture she hails from. If you’re looking to recreate her sexy, alluring look, be sure to watch this week’s video clip from Youtuber pixiwoo.

{Sophia Loren inspired make-up tutorial}



What’s mother nature up to in your neck of the woods? As June tumbles onward, I’m predicting less rain and the advent of far more humidity than I care to even think about (Amazon rain forest eat your lush, verdant heart out, Toronto has you beat no questions asked when it comes to humidity :D). Before the “melt like the Wicked Witch” days kick in though, I’ve got my red nail polish tipped fingers firmly crossed that we’ll have many, many more evenings that were as gorgeous and serene as last night was.

Wishing you each the best and prettiest of weekends!

Pretty Link Roundup {June 14th}

This post began its life on Saturday, but I must confess to falling asleep quite literally with my laptop alongside me on the sofa yesterday evening. While I cannot call the day immensely exhausting from a physical standpoint, I think I was worried into slumber over money and the fact that earlier in the day darling husband and I had returned from the bank whereat we paid our income taxes in full (it’s the first time either of us has had to pay, and boy howdy, was it a hefty chunk of change to dole out in one go!).

I perked the evening up by making my (very North American-ized) version of chicken and mixed vegetable yaki udon (with perhaps what might be called a slight French hit thanks to a little pat of butter I used to enrich and thicken the sauce, of which I prefer their to be copious amounts), that hit the spot wonderfully, but I think helped lull me to dreamland as well. I awoke this morning perhaps no less consumed by thoughts of finances (story of my life for...well, ever! ;D), but ready to continue hopping to and fro among some of my favourite blogs, looking for all sorts of vintage goodness to share with you.

Immersed in an online universe centred around the bygone days of earlier times it’s tremendously hard not to shake off at least some of one’s worldly woes for a little while. Escaping to – or perhaps more aptly, peeping in on – the past is great joy of mine and a huge part of what drives my love of vintage. No matter how dreary, rough, fantastic, ordinary, strange, or “taxing” the day is, I know that the pursuit of vintage images, fashion, music, films, decor and the like will always transport my heart and soul to a relaxing place that is full of mystique, allure and beauty.


{Was life truly any less carefree in the 40s or 50s? Who’s to say for sure? One thing is certain though, the majority of magazine photo spreads – such as this jolly balloon filled beach scene – would have you believe that it was. Image via Party Perfect’s Flickr stream.}

And on that note may I present to you this week’s roundup of diverse vintage links, spanning everything from Wizard of Oz inspired red heels to movie ads from the thirties. I really hope you enjoy them!


* Quick Vintage Up-Do: Every hair style I’ve ever seen Atomic Mama sport looks nothing short of fabulous, and in this post her speedy vintage do is absolutely no exception. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking for an awesome vintage style in mere moments.

* In Praise of (Vintage) Shorts: With summer’s heat bearing down on us it’s time to shake off long pants and don some shorts. In this article Lizzie of the Vintage Traveler takes a journey through the subject of vintage shorts, complete with a lot of history and lovely images featuring these pint sized trousers.

* Bathing Beauties (Volume 2): Betsy eye for beauty, timeless style and immensely wearable pieces is a joy to behold each week in her blog posts, such as this terrific piece full of summer bathing suits that tickle her fashion fancy.

* A Return to Vintage: Some Like It Vintage observes the excellent point that in times of financial troubles and/or world crisis, a return to the art of good tailoring, investment pieces, and timelessness over quick flash-in-the-pan styles often appears on the fashion scene.

* It’s all about the Betty’s: The mid-twentieth century is peppered with marvelous stars who had more than just lovely bodies and faces in common, some of them also shared a common moniker: Betty, as highlighted in this lovely post by Darla.

* Come Fly With Me: The first time I flew on a plane I was 14, I was not entranced by the world of sky travel as a child, and I have a small pocketful of less-than-glamorous airline stories, and yet there is something so immensely appealing to me about the styles and aura that surround vintage airlines hostesses and the yesteryear world of aviation. As such I just about squealed with delight when I saw this image packed post on the subject vintage air travel from Moonspinner of Dust Jacket Attic.

* 30s Film Ads: Images of quirky, charming, and absolutely delightful black and white movie advertisements from the 1930s are on the bill in this cinema themed post.

* Hosiery Fashion Timelines: The older I get (ok, at a month shy of 25 I don’t think I’m quite out to pasture yet, but nevertheless...) the more I find myself in love with hosiery. Giddy about denier and pattern, hue and material, tights and stockings alike, it’s always a pleasure to encounter an article on the subject of this wardrobe staple, such as this lovely one from Glamour Daze.

* There’s no place like home: Arrive wearing a pair of sparkly, glitter encrusted red shoes and chances are people anywhere will instantly think of the footwear Dorthy wandered around Oz in. This fun post gathers a slew of glistening crimson heels together into one spot, making it even easier to agree “there’s no place like a shoe store!” :D

* Wardrobe Staple: Shirtdress: Teaming with photos and interesting facts (plus styling tips), this post does a wonderful job of highlighting and displaying the subtle, ageless beauty that emanates from the humble shirtdress in all its past and present iterations. (And for more on the subject of these practical yet deeply pretty frocks, be sure to see Miss Ruby La Mour’s post on the same topic.)

This week the video in the limelight comes care of LadyMakeup1, and features a handy-dandy tutorial on how to emulate the make-up style that Lucile Ball sported throughout the I Love Lucy series. So fun and adorable!

{I Love Lucy Makeup}



When you jump into the online cosmos of all things vintage, how does it make you feel? I hope that as I do, you find tranquility, enjoyment and inspiration as the days of the past do their best to make the present world better, brighter and more joyful for those of us who admire them so dearly.