Shopping for Happiness....

"Happiness is never an accident. It is the prize we get when we choose wisely from life's great stores"

A quote from IRENE DUNNE'S father, who passed away when she was quite young. And pretty powerful.

Apparently, the wardobers for Irene Dunne in the film THE AWFUL TRUTH knew how to shop for happiness (and didn't have to duck PETA members) when they dressed her in this fantastical, luxe fox fur coat for this scene in the film....

I don't care how animal rights you are, those fox would be dead by now and daaaayum, thats too old school glam-fabulous to be angry over!!!

~Ang

laundry

living in an old building in an "eclectic" older neighborhood has its perks to be sure.

doing laundry today.....if you've seen the movie BARFLY with MICKEY ROURKE and one of my favorite actresses, FAYE DUNAWAY, you've met the folks living next to the laundry room. yep. not BUKOWSKI, but HIS neighbors. seriously. i have yet to call the cops.....meanwhile, enjoy this tribute to the film and TOM WAITS

~ang

ps, what the heck happened to Mickey Rourke's FACE????

i never needed to see this site (which should rather read, i am now totally addicted to this site), AWFUL PLASTIC SURGERY. i feel pretty. i realize this is a serious digression from vintage, but it can be argued that Mickey himself IS vintage, and Faye Dunaway has worn some pretty killer vintage inspired stuff in films like BONNIE AND CLYDE. so its all good. please don't smack me Mickey.

saturday night cocktails.

its boozin' time! if its not for you, sad indeed. i promise you won't be able to get through this montage of Thin Man films (featuring the ever-handsome and dapper William Powell whom I would like to marry thank you, and the glamorous yet cheeky Myrna Loy) highlighting their alcohol-related high-jinks without pouring yourself a stiff one...

would that i could be so fashionable after a few or few too many!

~Ang

oscar grace.

its hardly news that the oscars take place this weekend, and it is to be expected that at least a few major starlets walking the red carpet will be sporting designer vintage pieces. i'm still waiting for my shot at dressing a starlet, but for now i'll have to be content watching and hoping the mere mention of "vintage" by the media will send people hunting online! or to my shop.

in 1955, however, it was not at all expected that an actress would wear vintage (imagine! liz taylor in a flapper dress? audrey hepburn in a worth gown? wouldn't happen). that said,

grace kelly's dress worn while accepting her award in '55 was actually a year old, designed by edith head and worn to the 1954 premier of the film she won the award for, "the country girl".

there's something charming about her wearing the dress twice in a day and age where gowns are often not even purchased by actresses for the event, but are loaned out by designers as advertising. in a throw away society the importance of buying and wearing vintage takes on a whole new meaning!

~Ang

MARLENE DIETRICH, In The Round

..........I'm in love. Not exactly with MARLENE DIETRICH, though she was an amazing beauty and rumor has it she showed up once to FRANK SINATRA'S place whilst he was in the middle of a poker game and merely looked at him, he left the table to join her in the boudoir, and then she left. That's Rat Pack era hot. Digression....I haz it. Anyway......got my lamp today, and I am smitten. Behold.

Click to get to Paul's store on ETSY, and see his other creations! It heats up and SPINS! Marlene, in lingerie, spinning through glorious 20s & 30s designer paperdoll ensembles.

This lamp brings together the sentimental happiness of my childhood spent watching spinner Christmas tree ornaments on my Grandmother's Christmas tree, as seen here (and going for some big bucks on eBay, no less)...

and my love of glamorous chicks/vintage apparel.

Marlene! Paperdolls! Vintage dresses! The glamour of smoking! Heat-up spinner dealies! Atomic lighting! I'm spent from the gid. Check out Paul's other lighting creations and enjoy. And dig some Marlene while you're at it.

...~Ang