The Singing Starlet - Jennifer Keith Quintet

One of the perks of moving back to Las Vegas is discovering retro happenings around town. In a city filled with “more is more” (or “less is more” in the case of most women’s nightlife apparel), it is refreshing and exciting to find a sweet songbird who embodies class and style of a bygone era. The Jennifer Keith Quintet is a must-see for any retro enthusiast - or anyone who just enjoys beautiful talent. 

Perched on a stage surrounded by dazzling, glass crystals in the center of the Cosmopolitan Hotel’s Chandelier Bar, Jennifer Keith belts out classic songs into her vintage microphone as she dances around the stage pausing briefly to strike a perfect, pinup pose. She resembles burlesque beauty, Dita Von Teese, but her soul and sound are reincarnated from classic female singers of the 40s and 50s such as Peggy Lee and Rosemary Clooney.

Her quintet is led by none-other than the swing king himself, Mando Dorame of Royal Crown Revue -- the swing band that launched a retro revolution in the 90s. The Jennifer Keith Quintet performs once a month at the Cosmolitan Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd. and also regularly tours throughout Los Angeles and other cities.  You can also sample her album, Jenny is Her Name, and purchase her music through CDBaby.com. This singing starlet is vintage Hollywood glamour at it’s finest and one not to miss.

www.JenniferKeith.com

Listen to "Jenny is Her Name" at CDBaby.com

Royal Crown Revue www.RCR.com

Modern Day Crooner - Irby Gascon

Retro girls love to swoon, swing and sway to classics such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and rockabilly king, Johnny Cash. Sadly, these greats are no longer with us, but the musical imprint they have left behind has opened the door to modern day rockers who can capture a bit of their essence. One person who conjures up the sounds of the past is singer, Irby Gascon. He can croon, he can rock and retro girls are sure to swoon when he belts out ballads from the 40s and 50s.

You can sometimes find Irby dressed as young Elvis cruising around Hollywood in a pink Cadillac giving tours of L.A.’s hotspots to visitors through Tribute Productions, the celebrity impersonator company that he shares with his lovely wife, Bella of MrsBellasDolls.com. Or maybe you’ll see him (you most definitely should see him) performing at the glamorous, 1920s style Cicada Club with his swing band, Zoot Suit Revue. He also performs parties, corporate events and red carpet affairs.  Irby is amazing. I hope one day he’ll record his beautiful voice to share with you here, but for now you’ll have to track him down at one of the local L.A. events. Lucky for you, he’s playing this weekend!

For more info on the event visit the EPNS Event Website

This Saturday, June 2nd from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m., Irby will be singing Blue Hawaii style in the San Fernando Valley at the Tarzana Cultural Center. Come out and enjoy a Rock-A-Hula Luau with us (yours truly will be there too!). Have drinks at the Tiki Bar, play games, participate in raffles and best of all Irby will be singing all evening. He’s performing as a huge favor to me, so take this chance to experience one of today’s best retro crooners and have some fun too!

To book Irby, contact him through www.TributeProductions.com
View Irby as Young Elvis on Facebook
Visit Bella at www.MrsBellasDolls.com
To see Irby this weekend, visit the EPNS Luau Event webpage

New Year's Fashion Picks

2012 is just around the corner, but the gorgeous fashions inspired from the 1940s, 50s and 60s are always a glamorous choice to celebrate any new year. Here are my top picks for this New Year's Eve. Enjoy!

I'm in love with the new Juliet cocktail dress by Heartbreaker Fashion. It's feminine, sexy, yet very elegant in a classic black satin draped with lace. The cut is ultra-flattering and the lace adds the prefect touch of drama. 


www.HeartbreakerFashion.com

Here's another black satin dress, but this one wiggles and hugs every curve and strategically covers one shoulder leaving the other one with just a peek of black velvet. It's a sexy siren dress by the glamorous Stop Staring Clothing line. 


www.StopStaringClothing.com




Another gorgeous, wiggly number is this purple Masuimi Max Dress by Pinup Couture. The deep plum color is rich and the black lace bust-line frame gives added style and glamour. You'll definitely turn heads in this figure hugging dress!


www.PinUpGirlClothing.com

Let's not forget about shoes! Here is a fabulous pointed red stiletto found at Unique-Vintage with a large bow accessory hugging the heel. Who wouldn't want to dance the night away in this?

www.Unique-Vintage.com

Ginger’s Jewelry Box - Cocktail Rings

I am so excited and pleased to announce that Retro Girl’s Guide has teamed up with jewelry designer, Laura Cornelius, to bring you a fabulous line of vintage inspired cocktail rings called Ginger’s Jewelry Box. GingersJewelryBox.com has dazzling hand-beaded jewels that you might have found in your grandmother’s jewelry box. They are glamorous, sparkling works of art that will turn heads and make a statement when you sip your luscious cocktails.

Remember going through your grandmother’s jewelry box and playing dress-up in her fabulous costume jewels? Did you ever wonder where they were worn on her big nights out on the town? Was she sipping a martini or taking in a show or hosting a soiree? Sparkly, dazzling statement rings had a life and story of their own.

www.GingersJewelryBox.com

With names like “Margie Takes Manhattan” and “Gertrude’s Gimlet,” GingersJewelryBox.com’s modern reproductions have new stories to tell, new martinis to sip and new memories to create. And best of all they make me happy. Just looking at them sparkle on my finger makes me feel like I have stepped back in time to attend an elegant affair. They are fun, kitschy beautiful pieces of nostalgic jewelry that recapture a bit of grandma’s glamour. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

As a Grand Opening special, we are offering a 20% off coupon code this week. Enter FABULOUS20 at check out for your discount.  XOXO

www.GingersJewelryBox.com

Step Back in Time at the Cicada Club

Photo by the talented Katie Reihman

If you love to pull out your finest vintagey frocks, display your biggest baubles and take your fancy footwear for a twirl, you must visit Maxwell DeMille’s Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles.  

The Cicada Club is a retro girl’s dream. From the moment you walk through the grand entryway of the 1928 art deco Oviatt Building, it feels as if you have been transported back in time. An opulent chandelier dangles over the dance floor setting the perfect ambiance of dazzle and mystery. The sweeping staircase frames the sides of the orchestra stage whisking you up to another level of drama from a time long ago. The upstairs walls are draped in a golden fabric leading you back to swank, cozy bar, smaller dance area, lush seating and a beautiful grand piano that you can imagine Louis Armstrong sitting down at to play a tune.

We had the pleasure of attending their special Swingin’ 60s Halloween Party and it was unlike anything I had experienced before. The guests were authentic to the period - from dressing in 60s attire to mimicking favorite characters from that classic era. And there was no real median age. Twenty, thirty and forty-somethings were swinging away to Dean Mora’s Orchestra on the dance floor right next to couples in their 70s and 80s - everyone dressed for the event and all appreciating the moment. It was magical.

The Cicada Club is open most Sunday evenings. Dinner reservations secure you a table around the main dance floor and near the band - usually a 40s style swing band. If you are just in the mood to sip cocktails, it’s generally a $10 cover charge with seating available on the second level.

www.cicadaclub.com