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

Happy Holidays!

Wishing you a fabulous holiday season! Much love from, RGG & GingersJewelryBox.com ♥!

RGG Holiday Gift Guide

Kitsch Bitsch on Zazzle

Here are some of fun retro finds for the holidays to give either as gifts or keep for your fabulous self. Enjoy!

♥

• Dry Divas Shower Caps: If you are looking for a unique gift to give the retro girl who wants to keep her curls fresh, check out the very vintage looking shower caps by Dry Divas. www.DryDivas.com

• Bettie Page Calendar by Olivia: Who wouldn’t love see beautiful Betty every month? The perfect gift for the Bettie fan in your life by the ultimate pin-up artist. Olivia's Calendar

• Faux Fur Glamour Coat: Wrap yourself up this holiday season in luxury with Stop Staring’s gorgeous retro inspired coat! Faux fur cuffs, black patent leather belt... swoon! StopStaringClothing.com

• Incoco Nail Polish: I haven’t used traditional, wet polish since I discovered the wonder of Incoco dry, press on nail polish. No mess, no fuss, and it actually lasts for two full weeks. Incoco gives you the perfect French tip, fun patterns and beautiful colors. It’s a gift that any retro girl will appreciate. www.Incoco.com

• Ritual Bath: Retro girls love being pampered. Why not give a bath line filled with “a little spirit?” Ritual Bath is a natural product line that’s illuminating, refreshing and best of all it works. I use this line religiously and can’t say enough good things about it. www.RitualBath.etsy.com

• Lolita Girl Clothing: If you are wondering what to wear this holiday season, stop on over at LolitaGirlClothing.com for gorgeous bombshell dresses (and psst! She's having a 50% off sale on Friday, December 16th!) www.LolitaGirlClothing.com

• Hand Painted Accessories: Shoes, bags, vintage accessories all hand painted and customized by Brown Magic Paint Co. by El Chucky for beauty queens everywhere.

• Besame Cosmetics: The ultimate glamour girl gift... red lips! The beautiful, vintage packaging of Besame is enough to make any retro girl swoon. Fill their stockings with a kiss. Visit Besame or shop at PinUpGirlClothing.com

• Date Night at Disneyland: Download the sweetest, 1960s CD for your Disney enthusiast. Date Night at Disneyland on Emusic (only $5!)

• Tiki Farm: If you are looking for a unique gift for the guy in your life, how about a little island love in the form of a tiki god? Tiki mugs add the perfect amount of kitsch and whimsy to any bar. www.TikiFarm.com for all things tiki.

• Dungaree Dolly Handbags: Girls love handbags and retro girls will love a bag by Dungaree Dolly! Polka dots, leopard, bows...  All stitched by hand by designer, Dolly! www.dungareedolly.com

• Plasticland: There’s something for every retro girl and guy over at the kitschy shop, Plasticland. From dresses, to accessories, to home decor and everything else in between, you’re sure to find a unique gift for even the most difficult to shop for. My favorites: this adorable, pink cuckoo clock and these kissing poodles salt and pepper shakers. www.shopplasticland.com

• Cards & Accessories: Send a little bit of elegantly designed kitschy snark this holiday season and visit the Kitsch Bitsch on Zazzle for all of your retro needs. Neck ties, thank you cards, party invitations, mouse pads, holiday greetings and even postage stamps are just some of the fun things you'll find by the clever Kitsch Bitsch.

• Cocktail Rings: Give the gift of glamour this holiday season with a vintage inspired, granny chic cocktail ring from Ginger's Jewelry Box. These hand-beaded rings are full of personality - like "Helen on Wheels" and "Margie Takes Manhattan." Visit www.GingersJewelryBox.com or Etsy shop, www.GingersJewelBox.etsy.com

• Hostess Aprons: The holidays are a time for parties and celebrating. Hostess aprons are the perfect touch for your festive soiree. HeavenlyHostess.com has a beautiful selection of half aprons, full aprons and matching mits. Also visit, Suburban50s on Etsy for more retro aprons and vintage patterns.

• Retro Lingerie by Voluscious: If you are looking for a bit of retro inspired spice with a side order of kitsch, check out indie designer Kayla Rich-Martin and her line, Voluscious. Sexy ensembles in fun patterns such as comic book heroes, leopard, tiki, cherries, classic monsters and much more. www.Voluscious.etsy.com

• Retro Sunglasses: Keep the sun out of your eyes in style with retro sunglasses found at Unique-Vintage.com. (And go ahead and check out the dresses... you know you want to!)

• Lucky Lou Tiki Shoes: Gorgeous, retro inspired and completely hand-carved, you’re walking on art in Lucky Lou’s. The perfect one-of-a-kind gift. Visit www.luckyloushoes.com

• The Flower Tiki: And to go along with the new, tiki shoes how about tiki hair accessories? These custom, handmade hair pieces are perfect for the pin-up in your life. Visit The Flower Tiki on Etsy: www.TheFlowerTiki.etsy.com

• Margarita Bloom: A delightful stocking stuffer is Margarita-Bloom’s retro skin care holiday line, Tinsel, Bell and Holly Wreath Cinnamon Sugar Scrub. Beautifully designed and oh-so yummy!! www.Margarita-Bloom.com

• Vintage Inspired Wall Clock: If you are looking to turn back the hands of time, why not look up (on your wall, that is)? This starburst wall clock by Chaney is a retro find.

• Vintage Hair Styling Book: If your pin-up girl is looking for a how-to book on vintage styles, get her this book, Vintage Hair Styling, by Lauren Rennells for step-by-step techniques.

• Sew Retro: If you know a DIYer (Do It Yourself-er), then this retro sewing book is just thing to make their spirits bright this season. www.sewretrothebook.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!)

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

Becoming Marilyn - Leopard

Lorelei Lee

My favorite Marilyn movie (and possibly one of my favorite all time movies) is Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I love the gal-pal loyalty, the perfectly timed lines and last but not certainly not least, the incredible clothing. My favorite outfit from the movie is the one Lorelei struts onto the cruise ship in - a tight, black wiggle dress. A leopard scarf strategically drapes backwards over her neck and the fabulous matching leopard muff takes this basic black dress to over-the-top amazing.  Why not recreate this glamorous look today?

SpAZooie, found on the handmade shopping site Etsy, features beautiful, modern day muffs. How luxurious, sophisticated and oh-so-snuggly on a cold night out! They have leopard like our girl, Lorelei, but they also have so many other gorgeous colors - Marilyn would be proud!

SpAZooiE on Etsy

Heartbreaker Shrug

Here’s another easy, instant-glamour piece by Heartbreaker Fashion aptly named - the Glamour Shrug. I own this cute little number and it’s the perfect way to transform an ordinary outfit into a Marilyn-worthy ensemble. I ordered it just because it reminded me of that memorable moment in the movie!

And here's one more Etsy shop recreating iconic, vintage looks by hand. This leopard capelet by 2SwansNest is a beautiful recreation of a 1960s pattern. Stunning!

2SwansNest on Etsy

The best thing about about shrugs, scarves, muffs and capelets is how they work for everyone. It doesn’t matter what size or shape you are, these accessories add instant glamour to anyone. And they are very Marilyn!

www.SpAZooiE.etsy.com 

www.HeartbreakerFashion.com

www.2SwansNext.etsy.com

Becoming Marilyn - Niagara

This week the much anticipated movie, My Week With Marilyn, debuts in theaters. It’s a true-life tale about one man’s memorable week spent with the iconic bombshell during her filming of The Prince and the Showgirl. In honor of the movie’s launch, they are hosting a sweepstakes to “Become Marilyn” (to enter, visit the official Becoming Marilyn Sweepstakes Facebook page).There’s only one big winner to the contest, but we retro girls can “become” Marilyn right now! All this week I will be featuring something special in honor of the beautiful woman that we all love, admire and miss. 

To start the week off here is a gorgeous dress by Dixiefried on PinUpGirlClothing.com that is directly inspired by Marilyn’s sultry outfit from the movie Niagara. They offer the dress in several colors - red, black, hot pink and white as shown here by the always stunning, Doris MayDay. You’ll wiggle your way into the hearts of many with this number!

www.PinUpGirlClothing.com

www.MyWeekWithMarilynMovie.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

Unique Vintage Halloween Event

I'll be here today! Come by and say hello... I'll be in a bright yellow and blue Heartbreaker dress ♥

Noteworthy Retro Happenings

Haunts and happenings and sales, oh my! There are several fabulous things happening over the next few weeks that are worth marking down on your calendars. 

♥ 

And since there are so many amazing modern-retro designers, events, sales, websites and much, much more happening out there, I created a Newsletter to showcase a regular listing of these special items and occasions. If you subscribe to the new Retro Girl’s Guide Newsletter, you’ll get future listings delivered right to your inbox. And if you have a special event or a retro news nugget worth sharing, please submit it and chances are it will be included. How cool is that? Now on to a sampling of the fun... 

Bob’s Big Boy 2nd Annual Car & Bike Show 
Vintage cars, pin-up girls and Bob’s burgers! Enjoy an afternoon hosted by The Pin-Up Magazine and all of the lovelies in their pin-up pageant. 
Where: Bob’s Big Boy Broiler - Downey, CA 
When: Saturday, October 22nd 
Time: 11 am - 4 pm 
Cost: $5 entry 
Contact: The Pin-Up Magazine on Facebook 


Audrey K’s Halloween Costume Contest & Girl’s Night Out 
Show off your cute costumes for a chance to win a $25 gift card to this fabulous boutique! 
Where: Audrey K Boutique - 3414 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank, CA 
When: Friday, October 28th 
Time: 6 - 9 pm 
Contact: www.AudreyK.com 

Lolita Girl Clothing Extravaganza Sale 
Gorgeous clothes on sale, swingin’ tunes, munchie foods and drinks to sip... sounds like a perfect Saturday! 
Where: Lolita Girl’s Showroom - 8 Whatney, Irvine CA 
When: Saturday, October 29th 
Time: 10 am - 4 pm 
Contact: www.LolitaGirlClothing.com 


Unique Vintage Halloween Haunt
Get your vintage-inspired Halloween look with costumes from the roaring 20s through the swingin’ 60s at this event hosted by The Ellen DeGeneres Show and Good Day L.A. 
Where: Unique Vintage Boutique - 2013 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank CA 
When: Saturday October 29th 
Time: 1pm - 5pm 
Contact: www.Unique-Vintage.com 

Cicada Club's Swingin’ 60s Halloween Costume Party 
Come dance the night away as your favorite 60s character at the art deco Cicada Club in downtown Los Angeles. 
Where: Cicada Club - 617 South Olive Street, Los Angeles CA 
When: Sunday, October 30th 
Time: Doors open at 6:00 pm. Showtime at 8pm 
Cost: $50 a ticket presale by Sunday, October 23rd. $60 after or at the door. 
Contact: www.CicadaClub.com


PinUpGirlClothing.com’s Autumn Garage Sale 
PinUpGirlClothing.com’s gorgeous goods are deeply discounted at this one day event. Enjoy the sounds of rockin’ performers such as La Cholita and say hello to your favorite PUG beauties while shopping your glamorous little heart away! 
Where: Courtyard Marriott - 700 West Huntington Drive, Monrovia CA 
When: Saturday, November 5th 
Time: 10 - 4 pm 
Contact: PinUpGirlClothing

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... ♥

Thank You!

It's been a little over two months since Retro Girl's Guide launched and it's already been an amazing experience - all thanks to you! In this short time I have met the most wonderful women Twittering interesting tidbits, Facebooking sweet comments and sending introductions via email. I have discovered beautiful clothing, darling accessories and so many whimsical websites. And the people behind them are inspiring, intriguing and down-right impressive. I have even made some new friends on this retro road-trip of mine.

I was thrilled to have my 3,000th visitor stop by here at RGG and I absolutely adore my  incredible Facebook friends who make sharing retro finds especially fun. I love my little corner of the web and I look forward to featuring more fabulous discoveries in this new wave of modern nostalgia. Thank you all for embracing this site and loving retro culture as much as I do. This is just the beginning... ♥

XOXO,
Retro Girl

Kickstart Some Retro Projects

Being a project starter, business owner and overall creative person, I like to lend a hand to other hopeful endeavors whenever possible. Here are two projects from the entrepreneurial fundraising site, Kickstarter, filled with retro flare that I would love to see blossom and come to life.  One is a hard-cover book about two of my favorite subjects, Halloween and pin-ups featuring photography by amazing artists such as Miss Missy. And the other is an independent film set in the 1940s with a guest feature from the beautiful Mrs. Bella. Both projects have a lot of heart, soul and retro flavor.

Halloween and Spook Pinups - Book

Here’s what they have to say about their project:

photo by Miss Missy

Combining commissioned and submitted photography, we will blend cheesecake pinups and cheesy costumes, horror and beauty, vampires and zombies, ghosts, ghouls, and more devil-may-care ladies of darkness and delight! We are breaking the mold of ultra-glossy, paper back books that you keep hidden under your bed. We are creating something vividly beautiful that will be richly printed on thick, luscious paper and hardbound. Our book will be an 8.5" x 11" book so richly detailed, it becomes a part of your annual Halloween decorations. We will be exploring the range of Halloween from cheesy to gore. We will be exploring the range of pinups from colorful seamless backdrops to detailed sets to outdoor scenes.

Visit their Kickstarter Funding Page


Curse of the Phantom Shadow - Film

The Dick Tracy style Plot:

Curse of the Phantom Shadow Cast

The year is 1948 and the United States has a new enemy, The Phantom Shadow. This dark figure has diabolical plans for captured scientist, Dr. Hammond, and his War Department weapons of mass destruction. Upon the Phantom Shadow launching a treacherous missile attack on key locations in the United States, the government takes action. There is only one man to call, Agent 236, an elite government agent. Agent 236 has been dispatched to launch a rescue.

Visit their Kickstarter Funding Page