"Vintage" Hair we go!

Vintage clothing is becoming more popular in your day to day outfit but no outfit would be complete without the hair to match. Hairstyles have differed over the years, from the short bob to the extravagant beehive to the skinhead and so on. Yet every style is still as big today as it was in yesteryear. Let's take a wonder down memory lane to either awe or cringe over the hairstyles throughout time. 

1920's

Bobbed Cut : Think Louise Brooks! Short cut with clean cut fringe.

Eton Cut : A shorter version of the bob, the hair was slicked down and curls were created on either side of the face. It also exposed the womens ear.
Finger waves : These were to create a softer appearance compared to the hard bobbed cut. 

1930's

Half up-do : Very Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind.

Pin Curls : Soft waves created using pins, the curl fits so it frames the face. Probably the oldest form of curling.

1940's

Wavy hair : The most timeless, sophisticated hairstyle there is, still used today. Such an effortless style that still leaves you feeling glamorous.  

Victory rolls : This hairstyle was worn by all sorts of film starlets, and still is one of the most recognised vintage hairstyles. The rolls were supposed to acquire their name from the fighter plane maneuvers of World War II.

1950's

Bouffant : Hair on the top of the head is raised to create a more fuller effect. Also know to be 'puffed out.'

Short fringe : Most fringes of the 50's were short and curled, this was achieved by cutting the fringe just above the eyebrow. 

1960's

Beehive: The most famous hairstyle of the 60's, this look is distinctively hive-shaped backcombed and lacquered mountain of hair.

Pixie cut : Twiggy's signature look. Short hair was popularized with geometric and asymmetrical cuts. 

Hair flips : Carried on from the 1950's, the bouffant got a lot bigger in size and could now be flicked at the ends to create a curl.

1970's

Wavy, feathered hair : This look was popularized from the TV programme 'Charlie's Angels', it involved hair being flicked into small wings at the temples. 

Straight hair : Throughout most of the decade, girls wore their hair long and straight, which was carried on from the later part of the 60's.

1980's

The Big Perm : Permed hair became very popular in the 80's, and was seen on both men and women throughout the country. It allowed hair to achieve your desired volume.

Crimping : A must have for any teenage girl was to create crimped hair with the use of a ridged iron

+ I do not own any of these photos

How things have changed

Nowadays everyone wants to be skinny, we can blame the press and the media for that. The celebrities are all size zero and little girls are bought up with super skinny role models, and to be honest it doesn't even look good! Can you believe that about 50-60 years ago, everyone was trying to put on the lbs! Just look at these advertisements, it's almost amazing how much time has changed. 

Curvy girls were seen as glamorous. And in my opinion, it still could be like that! 

photo:london media

I love this advert 'Come on and enjoy life,' I mean who wants to eat a lettuce for lunch anyway?! Besides, the jolly ones are always the curvy ones!

+ I do not own any of these photos

Retro me: flapper girl

When people think 1920's, the first thing that springs to mind is Flapper Girls. "Flappers" were young women that swore, drunk, danced and dressed in ensembles that at the time were frowned upon, or considered taboo. These past "rebels" helped create the turning point of women's fashion for years to come. The style was inspired by the geometric forms of the Art Deco movement. The key looks of the "flapper girl" can easily be replicated for you to copy today!

Basque Dress

photo: rambova.com

The basque dress became a popular design in 1923, and was worn by many flapper girls. The designs consists of a three tiered skirt, low waist line and the several rows of shirring underneath the upper tier. The flapper basque dress is very slimming and flattering for the female figure. 

Drop Waist

photo: fashionwiki

photo: shop ruche

The dresses in the 1920's were designed to hide the womanly shape so the drop waist was the perfect style to create that popular boyish figure. Most skirts contained pleats or ruffles to the design for decoration.

Bobbed hair

photo: vintagedancer.com

The most popular hairstyle of the 1920's; The crop. Hair had been transformed from the long locks of the Gibson girl to the daring bobbed hair. Styles included 'The Shingle' cut and 'The Eton' cut.

Cloche hat

photo: pinterest.com

To compliment the change of hairstyle, you need a good hat to match. And that's what the Cloche hat did, with the introduction of the bob came the small Cloche hat that fit shapely around the head the same way as the hair structure. 

Beads

Long pearl necklace's are a must have accessory for a 1920's Flapper girl. They're the classic and timeless piece that stemmed from this decade. The long beaded necklace is a sophisticated best and will top your outfit off with the added touch of glamour.

Stockings

Women's legs started to receive more attention than ever before in the 1920's with the hemlines getting shorter more flesh was on show, which introduced the Stockings.  Stockings were made from silk, wool, cotton and synthetic rayon and they wore worn in beige, ivory or pastel colours. Flapper girls became more risque with their stockings, they started to roll them down to mid calf. 

Short Skirts

photo: pinterest.com

Short skirts in the decade were midi skirts to us nowadays, yet this style was very risque as the hemline were shortened to above the knee. The skirts came in all sorts of different styles, such as pleats, long column plaid skirts and handkerchief hem chiffon skirts.

+I do not own any of these photos

Dream lovers

Isn't love grand? The 50's and 40's seemed like such a romantic time, the boys picked you up from your house (after the dreaded meeting of the parents) and took you on a date. Drive in, dinner, movie theater, dancing... and so on. Yet maybe some would say too romantic, the popularity of engagement rings around that time must have been sky high! Anyway I have gathered up some lovely photographs I have found this week that truly do represent 'love and romance' back in the good ol' days. Enjoy!

New York City, 1957

photo taken by Brassai

Drive in theatre, Los Angeles, 1949.

photo by J. R. Eyerman—Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

On the beach in the 1950's

A couple dancing in their kitchen, 1950s

A couple lying in a small boat together, looking up at the sky, 1942. 

photo by David E. Scherman. United Kingdom

Couple on the subway, New York City, 1946. 

photo by Stanley Kubrick

What decade are you?

Take the test, and find out what decade you are!

What is your favourite type of music?

a) rock and roll

b) new romantics

c) jazz

d) big band

e) disco

f) blues

g) british invasion

Who's your iconic woman?

a) brigitte bardot

b) madonna

c) greta garbo

d) rita hayworth

e) debbie harry

f) katharine hepburn

g) jean shrimpton

What song would you be most likely to dance too?

a) rock around the clock - bill haley and the comets

b) wake me up before you go go - wham

c) the charlston

d) boogie woogie bugle boy - the andrew sisters

e) night fever - the beegees

f) in the mood - glenn miller

g) twist and shout - the beatles

What's your favourite film?

a) singing in the rain

b) E.T

c) the jazz singer

d) casablanca

e) star wars

f) gone with the wind

g) psycho

Who's your iconic man?

a) james dean

b) michael jackson

c) rudolph valentino

d) humphrey bogart

e) robert redford

f) fred astaire

g) john f kennedy

Favourite fashion style?

a) teddy boy / poodle skirt

b) skin heads / new wave

c) the dapper gent / the flapper girl

d)  utilitarian / "New Look"

e)  hippie / punk rocker

f) london drape / hollywood glamour

g) mod / the mini skirt

Who's your favourite duo?

a) dean martin and jerry lewis

b) jason donavon and kylie minogue

c) flanagan and allen

d) humphrey bogart and lauren bacall

e) morecambe and wise

f) laurel and hardy

g) john lennon and paul mccartney

if you chose mostly (a) you should be: from the 1950's!

Think dreamboats and petticoats! Full circular skirts and slim drainpipe trousers are on the check list of your favourite clothes, and stars like Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry are on repeat! 

if you chose mostly (b) you should be: from the 1980's!

Big, permed hair, crazy mullets and huge shoulder pads are what you're looking for! With styles like preppy and new romantic, and the music so cheesy and electro you can't help but move. The decade of excess, it was bold everything!

if you chose mostly (c) you should be: from the 1920's!

The 20's were all about the new levels of affluence, everything was unique due to previous years. Jazz music highlights the decade, with the famous dance move 'The Charlston,' people were becoming brand new versions of themselves. Drop waist dresses are a must, and a cloche hat to match every outfit. 

if you chose mostly (d) you should be: from the 1940's!

The 1940's was a patriotic decade, and that was epitomised in the fashion, cinema and music throughout. The clothing was very masculine, pant suits or tea dresses were worn everywhere and the music became bigger; big band and swing became popular.

if you chose mostly (e) you should be: from the 1970's!

How groovy! Bell bottoms, tie dye galore and an overload of stuff in your hair. With music along the likes of The Jam, Sex Pistols and The Specials and fashion style trends such as Punk and Skinheads both the music and the fashion were protested against the government.

if you chose mostly (f) you should be: from the 1930's!

The decade of Glamour! The whole world became influenced by Hollywood, and it's stars. Clothes became more sophisticated with butterfly sleeves and the outlines became more feminine compared to the boyish look of the 1920's. Blues music is a must on your playlist!

if you chose mostly (g) you should be: from the 1960's!

Bold eyes and beehives. Mop tops and Jukebox! The 60's was the big change, in all aspects of life. It was the decade for the youth, music and fashion became younger. Hemlines got shorter, and things began to swing!

+I do not own any of these photos

"Mrs Biggs"

I've recently just started watching ITV drama series "Mrs Biggs" on the new channel ITV encore, and good god I'm hooked! The series stars Sheridan Smith who plays Charmain Biggs and Daniel Mays who stars as Ronnie Biggs, the Great Train Robber and the true story of the ups and downs of their lives on the run. Set in the 1960's, the Great Train Robbery is one of the most famous crimes in British history. I'm more than half the way through the series, having just watched episode 3 out of 5, and find it very entertaining! I do love a good ITV drama. 

(the real Charmain & Ronnie Biggs)

"Mrs Biggs" is on ITV Encore at 9pm Wednesday evenings, or if you have missed the first 3 catch it on ITV player. Be sure to do so, its a must!

+ I do not own any of these photos

Feline frenzy

The suns out (occasionally) but at least its out for longer than a couple of hours, so that gives you an excuse for HOLIDAY SHOPPING! And a must have on the checklist is always sunglasses, and why not go retro with 'Cat eye' sunglasses, a major key look in the 1950's, just watch Grease! Or just watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and copy Holly Golighty's look. So whilst skimming for my own holiday clothes (can't be helped) I found some lovely, affordable sunglasses just for you, all to be bought on the good ol' high street. 

NEW LOOK

Limited Black and Gold Cat Eye Sunglasses

£9.99

TOPSHOP

Simone Fine Cateye Sunglasses

£16.00

FOREVER 21

Mod Cat Eye Sunglasses

£6.00

ASOS

ASOS Flat Top Cat Eye Sunglasses

£12.00

BOOHOO

Annie Cat Eye Metal Sunglasses

£12.00

RIVER ISLAND

Black patterned Cat Eye Sunglasses

£13.00

With all these retro styled frames, they will bring a definite vintage feel to all your summery outfits.