Style Crush: Rita Hayworth

Just as I did last week in preparation of WWII Weekend this weekend, this week is another of my favourite old Hollywood starlets that was big during the 1940s, Rita Hayworth.

It's amazing the transformation Margarita Cansino did to become Rita Hayworth.  Especially considering that all she wanted out of life was to be loved.  If you're unfamiliar with her tragic story, I suggest reading this really interesting piece.  I won't delve into it here since this is more so about her style than her love life.

She looks so carefree and happy in the casual outfit beside Orson Welles.  She's such a knockout even in something as simple as slacks and a blouse.

Look at that hourglass figure!  Her waist was so tiny.  To me, this is more attractive than some girl in only a yard of stretchy fabric.

It's almost hard to believe she's not a natural redhead.  It looks so becoming on her with her skin tone.  Her hair style is a major note of envy for me.  The curls and waves are just so fabulous-especially the front bit!  I've gotten my trained to do that swoopy/wave in the front like hers, but that's the closest I've got to emulating her style.

This is one of my favourite photos of her.  I think it really epitomizes old Hollywood glamour and beauty.  It's easy to see why she was pinup of choice during WWII.  They even handed out photos of her to the soldiers for morale.

WWII Weekend, Flashback 2012

Okay, really, if you haven't noticed how excited I am by now, there's something wrong with your vision.  But in case you happened to miss everything, I am so beyond excited for WWII Weekend this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

So as more preparation and to continue getting ready, I am going to share with you photos from last year.  It was a tough decision for me to share some of them, as they include my ex-boyfriend, whom I met at the event.  But some of the photos are too pretty to not post, and meeting him was a special part of the event for me at the time.

This vintage green wiggle dress is what I wore on the first day I was there, Saturday.  I love the way it hugs my curves perfectly.  The photo above was the first time I met Scott.  He was leaning against the jeep at his camp and I remarked to my mum how I thought he was attractive.  She came up with the ruse of asking for a photo with him as our meet-cute.

The pink floral dress I wore the second day I went, on Sunday.  Scott and I spent the whole day walking around and inevitably got our photo snapped by many passers by.  The above two photos are taken by a gentleman who wanted us to pose by a Jeep.

I love this car so much.  I hope one day to have a beautiful old car like this.  But I would definitely have white wall tires.

Old military Jeeps are also so sexy.  I even got to ride in one last year.  Nearly burnt myself, but it's not easy to shimmy into the seat when your dress is that tight.

I even was lucky enough to sit in this beauty.  I guess dressing up pays off.  Even though for me it isn't so much dressing up, as much as wearing my normal attire.

A candid shot of me fixing my hair in the mirror of a Jeep.  How awesome is the name of that plane?

Another beaut of a car.  I just love the silhouette of the cars back then.  Well, I suppose any from the 1950s and before.  Those are the sexiest to me.  Yes, even the Model Ts.

See?!  This one has even got the white wall tires!  So pretty.  The photo below is a little bittersweet for me.  I still love it because it's so beautiful and it's a candid.  We were listening to a beautiful woman singing "At Last" by Etta James and it was snapped without us knowing.  I was then shown it on Facebook.

From another angle and in colour.  I still really like this one as well.

Last year they even had a gorgeous statue of the infamous V-J Day in Times Square photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt.  This is one of my absolute favourites, as I am sure it is for a lot of other people.  I was even gifted the poster by Scott when we were dating because he knew how much I love it.

I'd love to re-create it this year.  Maybe I can find myself a sailor and get the guts to do it, even though I won't be wearing white...

Only 4 more days!  The rain better hold off or else!

My Week According to Instagram

This week has been a hot one for sure.  Thankfully my mum carried down my two window AC units and put them in for me.  Or else I would be completely wilted.

It's so hard to believe that in one week, even less than one week, WWII Weekend will finally be here.  In case you haven't noticed by the amount I've talked about this- I'm really excited!  My outfits are all planned out all the way down to the accessories and now all I need to do is play the waiting game until Friday.

1-2. Last Sunday's outfit.

3-4. Photoshoot after church.

5. First time shooting a rifle. 75 yards and a bulls-eye, not too bad...

6. My great-grandfather, Norman Perley Knowlton, WWI.

7. My grandfather, Warren R. Beitler, WWII.

8. My great-uncle, Adrien 'Bud' Hilmer Knowlton, WWII.

9. My patriotic outfit for Memorial Day.

10. And the details of said outfit.

11. Fred K. Johnson, 1941.

12. Harry Bickford, 1917 or 1918.

13. Fire pit and s'mores, the perfect way to end Memorial Day.

14. Norman Perley Knowlton, WWI.

15. My great-grandmother, Winifred Coffin (nee Johnson) Knowlton.

16. Wednesday's outfit mixed florals.

17. Details of my outfit from Wednesday.

18. Ginger Rogers was this week's Style Crush.

19. Major hair envy over Rita Hayworth's luscious locks.

20. Vintage black one piece swimsuit.

21. Shared this outfit post via Instagram.

22. Thursday's outfit, apricot wiggle dress.

23. My attempt at re-creating Rita's hair.

24. UK Being Human v US Being Human, UK wins for sure.

25. Vintage nurse's uniform.

26. Vintage green and white one piece swim suit, bullet bra built in!

27. Boho-chic for Friday's outfit.

28. Shared this post on Instagram.

29. Had a dream of Jay Baruchel as a sailor. That's a good dream.

30. Happy Birthday, Marilyn! (1 June 1926)

31. Saturday's feathery outfit.

32. Rita hair turned out better the second time around.

33. The pretty roses in my garden.

34. Since I can't be at Comic Con right now, watching Fanboys will have to do.

Another reason I'm excited for next weekend, besides the obvious, is that my cousin Kathy and her husband Mark are coming down for a wee visit.  And when I say wee, I mean wee.  They are arriving Friday afternoon, going to WWII Saturday, and then heading back to Maine Sunday.  Talk about quite a ride for just a short period of time!  Either way, I'm happy to see her again.

Apparently my sleeping mind is as excited as my waking conscious for WWII Weekend, because Friday night I had a dream about Jay Baruchel in a sailor uniform.  He did play one briefly in Night at the Museum 2: Battle at the Smithsonian so that's where the image came from.  But why it sprung into my unconscious mind, I don't know.  It's certainly got me on a Jay kick though.  I had to watch Fanboys because I'm bummed about missing Comic Con in Philly (Norman Reedus is there!) and then I watched Tropic Thunder.  Jay is just so adorkable.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Black and Blue Do Go Together

These photos were taken right after I cut about 5" or so off my hair.  It's amazing to see how bouncy and springy the curls got with my hair this short.  It actually is past my collar bones when pulled straight but up to my shoulders after the roller set.

I feel like I already need another haircut since these photos were shot.  But I'll hold off a bit because I don't want to make it too short.  I like to hold onto some length.

I remember this day was a very hot, early spring day.  That day is nothing now compared to the heat that's making its way to stay.  I'm nervous about the weather next weekend for the big WWII event.  It almost always rains at least one of the days for a little.  I think I'd rather deal with the heat than the rain though.  At least with some anti-humidity hairspray I could hope my hair would stay nice.  Rain would otherwise just kill it.

I've been eagerly awaiting next weekend all year now, as some of you know.  The past couple of weeks Ive been slowly whittling away my outfit choices and have finally now settled on the three I will wear.  Now I'm just picking out the hats, gloves, handbags, and jewellery that I'll wear.  I think I've got it pretty much all sorted out.

Outfit Details:

vintage dress, vintage hat, belt, handbag {thrifted}

wedges {eBay}

vintage jewellery {Grandma Charlotte}

I've also been playing around with hair and makeup; trying out techniques that venture away from my norm.  I usually do curl sets and vintage inspired makeup, but I really want to be authentic for the event.  So I did some research into the type of makeup and styles.

I got especially nervous when it came to my hair.  I've been fine doing my hot roller sets and finger combing the curls loose.  But the idea of taking a brush to them freaked me out because I know how crazy my hair can get.  I finally bit the bullet one night and brushed out the curls I had put in earlier the day.  After the initial shock, the hair sort of settled down with some finger combing.  Then I put the rollers in again the next day and brushed it out straight after taking them out.  The result got even better.  But then I think I got a little heavy-handed with the hairspray and it ruined the soft Rita Hayworth effect.  So I'm going to try again tomorrow with not quite so much hairspray.