Frankie's Tiki Room - Las Vegas

If kitschy culture, cool drinks and amazing atmosphere is your style, get off of The Strip and head over to Frankie’s Tiki Room in Las Vegas. This cozy bar is covered in bamboo, carved tiki gods and thatched roofing. Some of the best tiki artists in the world contributed to the incredible island decor that covers every inch of the walls, chairs and bar. Tiki Bosko,  Leroy Shmaltz and Tiki Ray are just some of the many talented artists who helped bring Frankie’s aloha spirit to life. Top it off with tropical sounds playing in the background and vintage Hawaiian movies behind the bar and you’ve got ambiance that carries you away to an Polynesian paradise. Oh... and let’s not forget about the drinks...

The strength of Frankie’s drinks are measured in cute little Shag-like skulls - however don’t let their cuteness fool you!! Drinks such as the Kahiki Kai (my favorite and only two skulls), the Thurston Howl (four skulls) and of course their killer Zombie (a whopping five skulls - and they aren’t kidding) are all original creations and can be served in collectible tiki mugs. Frankie's is all about the details - right down to their headhunter swizzle sticks. If you can’t make it to Vegas any time soon, but want a little piece of Frankie’s in your home, you can purchase their mugs and prints in their online store.

Frankie’s is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Located just west of Las Vegas Boulevard at: 1712 W. Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89102

www.FrankiesTikiRoom.com

702-385-3110

Travel Retro

If you want to take your retro experience one step further, why not plan a vacation around the kitsch, the cool and the swank of yesteryear? Travel Retro is a unique vacation destination website featuring the best of vintage Americana that has been revamped for today's modern traveler while preserving nostalgia from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. 

Travel Retro hunts for lost gems such as revived motor courts, vintage cabins and motels that were once vacation spots all throughout the American roadways. You can book and plan your travels right through their website for the ultimate retro experience. Their site and service is very unique and has a tremendous amount of interesting potential. I look forward to seeing their listings grow and their services expand. Their growing website will soon offer lodging, dining, attractions and a social blog for the retro enthusiast. Can you say pin-up girl road trip? ♥

www.TravelRetro.com

Why I Love Pan Am

Believe it or not, I don’t love everything just because it’s retro or vintage inspired. I look for quality, authenticity, glamour and anything that makes me swoon with delight. Some try nicely but fail to take flight, however ABC’s new television series, Pan Am, soars in my book. Here are some of the reasons I love Pan Am - and it’s much more than its gorgeous, vintage flavor.

1. Gal-Pal Friendships: Pan Am focuses on four main stewardesses from various backgrounds - and they are all fabulous in different ways. But the best part are their friendships. They are comrades. They help each other out. They like each other.  It’s so refreshing to see a group of women who care about one another rather than being jealous, catty, back-stabbing competitors. These are gals you want to spend time with and go shopping with and confide in. These are girls that will have your back.

2. The 3-Ss = Strong, Sexy, Smart:  The Pan Am girls are not just airline waitresses. They are educated, strong, confident women who have charm and class - and some sass when they need it. They know how to use their sex appeal to their advantage. They embrace their femininity and work with it instead of flaunting it, belittling it, hiding it or turning it into a negative. They are the whole package and they take pride in themselves and their work. The show is set in 1963 - a time when the world was rapidly changing but the term “sexual harassment” didn’t yet exist as we know it. These characters are authentic to the period, yet easy to admire.

3. It’s Just Cool: Who wouldn’t want to jet-set all over the world meeting handsome diplomats and famous celebrities? Or sip cocktails after shopping all day in exotic locations? And who wouldn’t want to do all of these fabulous things set in the backdrop and style of the early 60s? It’s just plain cool the way cool was meant to be.

4. The Clothes: I’ve saved the best for last... My husband says I have a “girl-gasm” every time the Pan Am gals step off of the plane in their street attire. I ooh and ahh and covet their handbags, shoes and of course their amazing outfits. I’ve determined that 1963 is my era of choice - from the hair styles to the dresses to the quintessential red lips. I love the progression from the 50s. There was class and style, yet it was slightly less conservative than the decade prior. When I talk about swooning, this is when it happens for me. I’m also glad this show is on Sunday nights. Pan Am’s fabulous clothing inspires me for the week ahead and gets me excited about glamour even on a dismal Monday morning. I would love to be an extra on this show just to wear the gorgeous costumes.

Summary: If you are looking for a well written, interesting show with intriguing characters and gal-pal friendships authentically set to a retro time period, Pan Am is the show to watch. Bon voyage!

To get the Pan Am look visit these websites:

• PinUpGirlClothing.com - for gorgeous outfits and also PUG model, Erin Cummings was a guest star!
• Heartbreakerfashion.com - Heartbreaker has a very early, 60s feel to their beautiful dresses.
• PanAmBrands.com - You can actually have a Pan Am bag (modern version!)

The British Retro Invasion

Dolly Dagger

England is a beautiful place known for its rich history, poetic authors and royal family. But did you know there is a retro scene happening in full swing there? The UK is home to incredible vintage inspired clothing designers, gorgeous retro websites and fantastic events that make me want to grab my passport. I thought I’d take some time and share a sample of the fabulous from overseas:

Vivien of Holloway: Check out this UK designer's flare for the 50s with her signature halter dresses, bombshell bridal wear, and swing dresses with a cinched waist.

Dolly Dagger: This online boutique carries some of the US favorites such as Bettie Page Clothing, but they also have a wide variety of adorable swing dresses unique to any other sites. Accessories, shoes and plenty more retro goodness can be found here.

Tara Starlet

Tara Starlet: I’m in love with this mother/daughter design team who truly knows how to bring the glamour and sophistication of the 40s and 50s to life with their unique, starlet creations.

Glamour Bunny: A little wiggle goes a long way and that’s just what you’ll find when you visit this designer’s website! Their selection is still small, but the girls are gorgeous - just like the wiggle dresses they model.

Vintage Life Magazine: A vintage Vogue style magazine for lovers of style, fashion, hair and makeup from the 1920s up through the 70s all in one beautiful layout.

Milkcow Magazine: Rockabilly, pin-up, music, cars, burlesque... Milkcow is a glossy mag that covers the grassroots lifestyle of the retro scene in the UK. Their website is rich and detailed with a directory of events, hip happenings, tattoo artists, bands, music and much, much more. If you are heading to the UK and retro fun is on the itinerary, this is definitely the magazine and website to visit.

The Vintage Mafia: With the tagline,  “Always well dressed, but not always well-behaved,” the Vintage Mafia is a group of six lovely ladies out to liven up London’s vintage nightlife. Beginning on November 5th, they’ll have their own night club evening at The Ric Rac Club with over two floors of dancing to music from the 30s through 60s!

Are you ready to board the plane yet? If only we could take Pan Am... ♥

Jet Setting with Pan Am

Travel has changed tremendously. Sky rocketing gas prices, extensive security check points, long lines and expensive fares make air travel less and less desirable each year. Gone are the days when getting to your destination was just as exciting as arriving there.  And unless someone is hopping a short flight for a quick business meeting, most passengers forsake style for comfort. But now there is a way to take a little get-away every day and look cute while doing it.

Pan Am Brands now offers vintage-inspired Pan Am travel bags with their classic blue and white logo design. Travel, laptop and even gym bags are available to retro up your day and add some vacation dreaming to your wardrobe. And if you want to spot your suitcase quickly at baggage claim, check out their luggage line - this decade’s version is complete with wheels.  I can’t make up my mind which bag is my favorite (I’m leaning toward this “Originals” hat-bag), but to carry a mini, messenger or even a diaper bag with this unique bit of kitsch is sure to get you noticed. Bon voyage! 

Above is a replica of the bag Pan Am gave to their First Class customers on flights to Europe.

Visit Pan Am Brands or
Get Go Retro for a wide selection of choices.