Here is the last set of photos from my photoshoot with Geoff Larkin.
In this set I am modelling another outfit I created for myself. As you know I love a good playsuit! This fabric was one of my Mood finds from my trip to NYC in April. I absolutely loved this super 60s style print and instantly imagined using it for a very vintage look. Enjoy!
On August 12th 2014 at age 89 legendary actress of stage and screen Lauren Bacall passed away.
Lauren Bacall started out as a fashion model in the early 1940s and even graced the cover of Vogue at the age of 17. In 1944 she had her big break into the world of film when she was cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in the war/romance adventure To Have and Have Not. During her screen test for the film Bacall became so nervous she pressed her chin to her chest to keep it from quivering and lifted her eyes upward at the camera. This seductive pose became known as “The Look” and was her signature expression. In 1945 the power duo of Bacall and Bogart tied the knot and went on to star in many more movies together. In 1953 Bacall shared the silver screen with legends Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe in the classic golddigger film How to Marry a Millionaire. Bacall’s career spanned several decades and she was actively working in film and television right up until she passed away from a stroke earlier this month.
Femme fatale forever she will be. That look, that smokey voice and the attitude she exuded lives on forever in her photos and film work.
I have a little treat to get you over hump day! It’s the second set of photos from my collaboration with Geoff Larkin. Styling by Tamakhi.
“I’m a girl from a good family who was very well brought up. One day I turned my back on it all and became a bohemian.”
-Brigitte Bardot
Brigitte Bardot is one of my ultimate style icons and inspirations. While Marilyn is undoubtably the queen of the blonde bombshells I would say personally that I am even more inspired by the golden haired goddess that is Brigitte Bardot.
Bardot was a French actress, model, singer and sex symbol in the 1950s and 1960s. She starred in 47 films (including And God Created Woman and Viva Maria!), recorded over 60 songs, was featured in hundreds of magazines and wrote 5 books. Bardot is also considered one of the first and most liberated women of post-war France and in Simone de Beauvoir’s 1959 essay The Lolita Syndrome Bardot was referred to as a ‘locomotive of women’s history’. In her later years Bardot become a strong voice for the animal rights movement and in 1986 she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation for the Welfare and Protection of Animals.
When I look at images of Brigitte Bardot or watch her films I am always struck by a beautiful sadness in her eyes. There is a darkness behind her light; a smouldering beauty that is at once so complex and yet effortless. Her captivating appeal is so much more than her physical appearance and extends to her movements, her expressions and of course her beautiful french tongue. If you enjoy watching foreign films I recommend you check out a few of my personal favourite BB movies, Two Weeks in September and The Vixen.
I recently had a wonderful photoshoot with the talented photographer Geoff Larkin. We got a lot of awesome shots in a couple different outfits so I will slowly be releasing photos from that shoot over the next few weeks! The first set features a dress and bandana that I made out of this beautiful red floral fabric I bought when I was at Mood in New York City back in April. I fell in love the with colours and designs in this print and knew I needed to make a pinup dress with it. I kept the design pretty simple to keep the focus on the pattern but added a little pinch at the bust for a bit of sex appeal. Enjoy this photo set and stay tuned for more from Dolly and Geoff!
Once again the lovely and talented Laura Desiree dominated the stage in her Rock n Roll Red Fringe outfit created by me! This time it was at the Toronto Burlesque Festival’s opening show where she strutted her stuff before a packed house of burlesque enthusiasts and performers. Since the last time I blogged about this outfit we added another piece which is the flowing red satin skirt with fringe detail from waist to hip. I love what the skirt added to the overall outfit and I think it finishes the look perfectly. Check out these wonderful photos from photographer Ruth Gillson of the gorgeous Laura Desiree at the Toronto Burlesque Festival!
One of my favourite vintage trends for summer is the two piece playsuit! The term ‘playsuit’ is usually used to refer to a garment that combines a top and shorts all in one (also known as a ‘romper’) or a top and pants (also know as a ‘jumpsuit’). You could also use the term ‘playsuit’ to refer to a combination top and bottom that are made from the same fabric, or combination of fabrics, also known as a two piece playsuit. The bottoms on a two piece playsuit could be pants, shorts, a skort or a skirt.
The two piece playsuit speaks to a time when quality and custom clothing was more common in fashion. Nowadays most of the clothing we buy is mass produced in factories overseas and is cheaply made and not meant to last. In the 1940s, 50s and 60s when you were likely to see this kind of playsuit set they were often made by tailors, local designers, and from home-sew patterns and included fun matching details that made the separates a completely co-ordinated outfit. To me the two piece playsuit is not only very convenient and practical (who doesn’t love co-ordinating separates?) but it also looks elegant and super sweet!
This is the final set from my Bettie Page inspired Striptease photo shoot that I will be posting on this blog. The last few images. which feature a helpless Dolly in bondage, have been deemed too racy to post here but fear not! If You Fall Photography and Classically Curvy are currently working on a gallery show of the full Bettie Page set! Stay tuned for more info and for now please enjoy these final shots!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Photos by If You Fall Photography
On Sunday May 25th 2014 at age 85 legendary pinup model and photographer Bunny Yeager passed away.
Being a pinup model herself for many years Bunny Yeager had a unique perspective as a pinup photographer. Many of the models she photographed enjoyed working with her because, as a woman, she would not exploit them or make them feel uncomfortable during shoots. In 1954 she met Bettie Page and took many of her most popular photos during their time together including the jungle shoot featuring exotic live animals. Bunny, like Bettie, was a seamstress and designed and created many of the bikinis featured by models in her photographs. Bunny was also the original queen of the selfie! In 1964 Bunny turned her series of self-portraits into a book called, “How I Photography Myself”. She released many more books of her photography during her lifetime and had her work displayed in galleries world-wide.
Bunny is an inspiration to any woman working in a male-dominated field. She was bold, brave and talented beyond belief. We have truly lost one of the great legends, but her spirit will live on eternally in her photographs.
CLASSICALLY CURVY 