New Art Deco Calling Cards

For those wanting to get some lovely business cards or cards with your information about your website and blog (I call them calling cards) I can higly recommend Zazzle!

You can choose between any of the thousands of existing layouts or make your own. I decided to make my own and designed these little beauties.

You can edit them to your hearts content, add your own images, choose between many fonts and add/remove text as you wish. I got them printed on regular white cards at 99 grams, since they have a black background, but you can choose many different paper types and weight.

The pictures are a little blurry since they are screendumps.

In an earlier post I had another design printed which had lovely Art Deco flowers printed on them, but with the same font, which is my favourite.

I will have them in my little Volupté case, which holds my cigarettes, mirror, compact powder and rouge. All you need to carry with you (your gentleman of choice will light your cigarette for you and take care of any champagne cocktails you might wish for).

Darhling

xoxo

Lovely Unmentionables

I have been searching forever for a satin or silk teddy. Now a teddy is a sort of camisole with legs, which combines the need for a silky chemise to make a smooth base under clothes and knickers in one. It's advantages is a smooth siloutte which stays put. A little tip: The suspender belt goes on underneath but the legs of the teddy, which is in the style of French Knickers that won't catch on them.

If you are getting a teddy to wear under clothes, and not just for sleeping in, get one that doesn't have too much fabric in the dropped waist. That will defeat the purpose of a smooth siloutte under your clothes. There can either be a little elastic or a little string you tie in the waist.

I am not sure when teddies got invented but they were very popular during the 40s but lack of silk and ration on clothes put a damper on the prettiness of unmentionables!

Oh and of course, it doesn't hurt they look awfully pretty!

Until today I haven't found teddies I like without them costing an arm and a leg. I stumbled across them on the New Look site! 

 

This mint green beauty is a mere £7!

This cute floral teddy is just £6.

The mint green one has slightly more fabric in the waist, but still not too much. The floral one is perfect since it is straight, without excess fabric at all.

Now, hurry up Mr. Postman, I want my teddy!

Darhling

xoxo

The most famous perfume during WW2 - Soir de Paris

I started reading Land Girls again and in the very beginning I was struck by how one of the three main characters was described to wear this Parisian, exotic scent. So I did a little investigation and found the back story on the perfume, which was very much real and part of womens lives in WW2.

I have found out you can buy it at The Imperial War Museum in Kennington, along with many other vintage inspired treats, so I must remember to pick up a bottle when I go there, the next time.

In the year 1929, Borjois Paris developed a perfume called Evening in Paris perfume. This is perhaps one of the most recognized and celebrated perfumes all over the world.
It became an instant success and was perhaps the favorite fragrance during the World War II era. Even now this charming fragrance is a reminder of wartime stories, dance halls, seamed stockings worn by the women in those days and of course the GIs.

This fragrance was re-launched in limited edition with the name of Soir de Paris. This classic perfume is as evocative as it was when it was originally launched. To give it a yesteryear charm in the new age it has been universally repackaged in a stunning glass bottle in the shape of a crescent with a striking cobalt blue color. This is truly a timeless classic and it is a rare find making it a romantic, classic yet modern-day fragrance.
People have kept old bottles in stock even when the labels have come off it. The Evening in Paris perfume bottle has a metal dauber and it measures 2 1/2" tall. The brand name of the manufacturer Bourjois is printed on the bottom of the bottle.

Evening in Paris is a testimony to the 1920s and the daring lifestyle of that era. The glittering nightlife and the flappers fashion, combined with the heady perfume of luxury was the right time to indulge in glamour and luxury with the Evening in Paris perfume. In the 1950s, Evening in Paris was known as the perfume worn by maximum number of women all over the world.

Re-launch Of the Perfume after Sudden Disappearance

However by 1969 this perfume known as Soir de Paris, completely disappeared from the market. It is now available for the first time after 1969 in the US. The fragrance can be described as light a classic eau de perfume which has a rich floral bouquet and blended to a slightly woody base. The perfume is available in a 1.6 ounce glass bottle spray. This most famous fragrance in the world is back again and is as evocative as ever.

Base Notes and Fragrance Selection

This heady and famous fragrance was previously owned by Chanel, and was again reformulated in 1992 by Chanel perfumers to give it a new lease of life in the modern day of perfumes and fragrances by matching it to the fragrance trends prevalent today. It is a sweet, creamy and smooth fragrance with a slightly woody base note. It can be described as  romantic at heart, and is a classic scent which has been upgraded with a little more hint of sweetness.

This fragrance has a blend of flowers which include the strong Ylang Ylang, the distinct scent of jasmine, the exotic Turkish rose, smooth violet, sweet peach, creamy vanilla, smooth musk and strong bergamot. The Eue de Parfum spray atomizer is one hundred percent authentic and it is the original fragrance of the most popular fragrance of the world, Evening in Paris.

Article by Kwintessential. 

Darhling

xoxo

Visiting the Queen at Sandringham

.. Well almost, she wasn't in when I made a spontaneous visit.

It was a beautiful and sunny day and we opted for the ticket to see the house, gardens and museum and I loved every bit of it! The weather was perfect and I regretted to not take a picnic hamper with me. We started out with a stroll through the front part of the gardens, following the yellow brick road. We found the plaques the Queen had put up in honour of her dogs and one of them read 'A gentleman among dogs'!

There were several English-Danish links to be made, there was a huge tree that was planted by a Danish Princess in the late 1800s and several paintings of Danish royalty graced the walls of the house.

The guide through the house was relatively short, but I could well imagine Elizabeth when giving some of the radio speeches to the public and if Margaret ever went wild on the grand piano..

 

Here I am, lounging in front of the house.. 

We visited the lovely little church later on and strolled through the back gardens and tried to hop across a fairly large pond on the little flat rocks.. but it got a little .. eh rocky!

The museum was wonderful and was packed full of pictures and stories of the family and a lot about the period through WW2. I have to say, both Elizabeth and Margaret looked so glamorous and elegant in the pictures from the 40s.

I would definitely recommend visiting Sandringham, but wear flats and plan for a whole day, as there is much to see! We didn't make all of it, but I am sure we will be back.

I was wearing my favourite Victory sweater and wedges from Rockit Originals and HeyDay swing trousers, so comfy and very stylish.

Please visit the Sandringham website and plan your day.

See you soon.

Darhling

xxx

All things pink!

All things pink are always a favourite of mine! Today I wore a pink dress by Bettie Page Clothing with a white box jacket over. I liked the jacket being a little less for fitting than the very curvy dress.
Tan patent leather Louboutin kitten heels and a rose colored Chanel bag completed the outfit.

I recently purchased these lovely 'Ballerina' ruffled knickers from What Katie Did! So feminine, fun and flirty!

Now a girl's life couldn't be complete with flowers, chocolate and chatting on the phone!

Accessories are also very important. My two favourite ones at the moment are the headband and my Chanel bag.

Life wouldn't be complete without music, so of course I have a pink iPod with matching headphones.

xoxo

Darhling

Diamond Jive dancing in Brixton

So my darlings, I have been away for much too long, I apologize.

This was from my night out yesterday, dancing jive in Brixton. I have only been to one class and two nights in Tulse Hill, but the teachers are beyond friendly and teach me stuff every time I go. The regular dancers also picks up us un experienced girls and make us feel like Ginger Rogers. Ehh, if she jived that is!

I wore a stunning leopard sarong dress with matching bolero from Vivien of Holloway. The material is super soft and perfect for dancing in, the sarong split made sure I could move and still not flash anything inappropiate!

I also attempted to do my first roll, my hair is impossible to work with, it is very heavy and thick, but I am proud of this one, even though you can see a bobby pin.

xoxo 

Darhling

A faux French evening full of debauchery

Last night was the Yes we Can-Can evening and my first visit to one of the New Sheridan Clubs functions. I had SUCH a great time, the people are absolutely wonderful and friendly and I talked to so many! There was araffle for the members and I was holding a ticket for the Curate, of course I was the very first winner, so I guess it means I have a lucky touch! There were parlor games and even an arrogant and very sexy french stand up comedian..

It was held at The Punch Tavern on Fleet Street and it is a very gorgeous setting! Mirrored walls, painted glass, warm lights and a lit fireplace too.

It was decorated with French flags and onions everywhere!

There was a french themed menu too and of course lots of special cocktails and absinth.

On the right, the two chairmen are being honoured with a big giant pink cake (it had a special name) and it tasted very yummy!!

Me with two of the lovely chaps..

As ususal I apologise for the horrible picture quality when I attempt to take an outfit picture, but here I am! Black and white striped chiffon blouse with puff sleeves, black pencil skirt with leather piping. Seamed stockings and my new favourite shoes! Dark purple suede t-bar shoes that makes me teeter on my toes!

I had such a great and very late evening, made it home with lots of ballons, so my bedroom are now filled with red, white and blue balloons!


xoxo

Darhling

Art Deco calling cards

I wanted to repost this, I simply love my simple calling cards from zazzle.co.uk. You find the business card template you wish then the design of it and add whatever lines and info you want on the card and move it around according to your taste!

Front

Back

xoxo

Darhling

Book : The New Look; The Dior Revolution

I just recieved my copy of The Dior Revolution by Nigel Cawthorne and I love it! It is filled cover to cover with amazing photographs and stories from Hollywood, war-time and of course the history of Dior - The man and the business.

"Christian Dior was arguably the most important fashion designer of the twentieth century. One of a handful of designers who dominated 20th century fashion along with Coco Chanel, Paul Poiret & Yves Saint Laurent. His career was launched in 1947 with his very first collection, in which he introduced the “New Look“. Featuring rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and very full skirt, the New Look celebrated ultra-femininity and opulence. After years of military and civilian uniforms, sartorial restrictions and shortages, Dior offered not merely a new look but a new outlook. While the House of Dior is still a thriving business today, Dior’s untimely death in 1957 left the fashion world without a great dictator of style. Christian Dior designed under his own name for only a decade, but his influence will be felt for many years to come." - Black Cat Books

My favoroutie parts are where it is described how the dresses were made, how special Dior undergarmets were required to give the Dior shape.

"Your own shoulders plus padded hips" - Vogue

What the book will be most helpful for is to be an inspiration for my own Dior style. I cannot afford or even find genuine vintage pieces, but I can sew and style clothes to give the appearance of a Dior model.


xoxo
Dior Darhling

Norman Parkinson at Somerset House

The amazing fashion photographer, Norman Parkinson, was an icon in his field. He took some of the most beautiful and classic pictures especially in the 40s and 50s. Somerset House are having an exhibition with some of his photographs and it is completely free. 

Until 31 January 2010

Terrace Rooms, free admission

An exhibition to celebrate the publication of Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour

One of the great pioneers of fashion photography and a decisive influence on subsequent generations of fashion photographers, Norman Parkinson is famous for redefining glamour in fashion as something far more spontaneous and modern than it had ever been before him.

A lavish portrait of his long career from the 1930s through the 1980s, Louise Baring's Norman Parkinson: A Very British Glamour was published by Rizzoli in October 2009. To celebrate the publication of the book, a selection of portraits from the Norman Parkinson archive are on display at Somerset House. 

Opening Times
Open daily - 10.00-18.00

xxx

Darhling