Betty White's Teen-Age Dance Book

Today lovelies, I simply MUST show you this!! It's a real hoot!
Betty White's Teen-Age Dance Book:

No, not THAT Betty White...although that would have made it even jollier! No, apparently, this Betty White was a dance teacher in New York in the fifties. The edition of the book I have is from 1958, and unfortunately in quite bad condition. But nevertheless it's still a great read and actually has some fantastic information in it! It tells you anything you could want to know about going to a dance from what to wear and how to act, to the actual dances themselves! It's a treasure trove for a vintage fashionista who also loves to dance! Here's some scans:














Here's a fun clip I found on Youtube!



As for the party itself, Betty suggests you be sure to do 'a last minute checkup for needles and an adequate supply of records'. And to also 'keep a supply on hand of more sentimental, croony numbers as conversation pieces. After all, your friends will want to sit down once in a while.' It also reminds you to have a place 'where girls can leave their wraps'.

I may post a few more of these dances later on, as I think they're terrific!

xx
DollyBird

Quadrophenia.

I remember the first time I saw Quadrophenia. It was on HBO one Saturday night when I was about 10ish. I'll be honest and say that I didn't really 'get' it then. All I knew was that they 'looked' cool....especially Sting...even if he couldn't dance!
Here's an article I've scanned from my 'Circus Raves'magazine from March 1974, about the band, the album, and Mod. As usual, you can click the image and magnify it to read the article!









Here's The Who from 1964 when they were called The High Numbers and played The Railway Hotel. I can just imagine Jimmy in the audience!

What's Goin' On--17-23 January, 2011

Here's how the week's shaping up so far in London...


19 January:
WRECK IT UP
93 Feet East
150 Brick Lane
London E1C 6QL
Expect the finest Reggae tunes from the 60s to the present day with the best Djs in East London, tip-top rhythms, rewinds and versions galore. The crew are guarenteed to get the party swinging for your dancing feet.
7-11pm
FREE ENTRY
****Dolly Says: "Never been to this particular night, but 93 Feet East is a great venue. It's right in the middle of Brick Lane, so if it sucks there are loads of alternate pubs and clubs to pile into and stumble out of!"




20 January:
Roll and Tumble R&B Club
The Blues Kitchen
Camden Town
London, United Kingdom
London's new weekly home of hot vintage R&B sounds takes launch...
DJ's confirmed for 20th January
Ben Olins (Fabulous Cellar, Stag-O-Lee)
French Fred (Reggae Shack, Boom Shacka Lacka)
Alice Fowkes (All sorts!)
Scott Charles (Lucky 7)
Snakester (Hidden Charms, Naked Fez)
Michael Jemmeson (Jukebox Jam)
Jamie Parr (Pork and Beans)
Liam Large (Jukebox Jam)
9pm-2am
Entry: 3
****Dolly Says: "Firstly, The Blues Kitchen is a great venue...WAAAYYY better than that horrid 'Oh Bar' that was there before! I've been to some 'soul' and 'mod' and '60s' nights there before and they can be a bit hit or miss. However, several of the DJs for the night, mainly Jamie and Liam, lead me to believe this has to be a winner! Good luck to them...and hope this night lasts until I'm back in the Smoke."


As per usual, my lovelies, I'll add as I'm told!

Oh, and just to let everyone know, it's time to begin preparations for Le Bespoke 7!! Easter Bank Holiday Weekend 22-25 April! http://www.newuntouchables.com/

GAAAAHHH!! No Saturday Post!!

Had a busy day today and now busy doing a dye job and making some different sized rats for my hair. In other words, no time for a post today. I will however leave you with some pics of a few of the women in my family and their lovely hairdos...and sometimes don'ts.

VINTAGE BOW TIES!!!!

My dears, I don't know how to explain why your beloved narrator has managed to accumulate a large collection of bow ties. They just seem to find me! As this is a random post day....or at least it was an hour ago, I'm a bit late posting today...I thought, 'Hmmm. What's more random than a girly with a bunch of men's clip on ties?'

So here they are. The ages range anywhere from the late 1940's to the early 1960's, they're all clip-ons, and they're all loverly! Several of these belonged to my grandfather. The extra tiny bow ties and the itty bitty clip-on tie were my dad's when he was a little boy in the very early 1950's. I've been searching for more of the kiddle ties, but they seem a bit harder to come by.





















Update on getting my real size back...Two weeks ago, I couldn't get any of my trousers buttoned. Today I can get them buttoned without too much effort, so I'm probably back down to a 0 at the mo. They're still a bit too tight to wear though. I'm determined to wear them two weeks from today!!

Dolly xx

1960's Fashion Print: A Sourcebook

Today, moppets, I want to tell you about a darling little book that I think is smashing! I picked up 1960's Fashion Print: A Sourcebook By Marnie Fogg at the Beatles to Bowie Exhibition last year at the National Portrait Gallery. And I'm awfully glad I did!

It has gorgeous graphics and gives historical background of many print trends for the dacade. There are the expected Liberty prints, Marimekkos, Bibas, and Puccis. But what I enjoyed most was seeing prints from some of the less common names who gave the 1960's their style and identifying looks.
Here are some scans of my favourite prints from the book!

'Melooni'-Isola for Marimekko


'Tulip'-Alexander Henry Fabrics


Art Deco print by Natalie Gibson


Psychedelic flower print for Hardy Amies

Overall, the book is great. It gives a good feel for why certain patterns were important in the decade as well as which designers were using what type of print. I wish there had been a bit more focus on kitsch fabrics, as those are my personal favourites, and a little less time spent in the last chapter on Zandra Rhodes' feather prints. They're perfectly lovely, but not several pages worth of lovely.
I used this book to get some ideas when I was sorting out the colour palette of my final collection, so it was definitely worth the £16.99 I paid for it. I would suggest it to anyone who collects or reproduces garments from this period.

Anyone who wants to order one I found some on Amazon from between $12.95 and $16.47!

Love, loves!!
DollyBird

Come On Get Happy!!!

Hi dee ho, my little cupcakes!! I've officially been stuck in the house for a week. Bloody snow. Not that it isn't lovely LOOKING out there, but the old Mini isn't going to make it out of the driveway again until June at this rate! Anyway, I've been trying to think of something sunny and happy to post and last night while watching The David Cassidy Story on VH1Classic, it came to me like a blinding ray of light...or maybe it would be more fitting to say it hit me like a gigantic block painted bus.
The Partridge Family!




At the beginning of the 1970's, the show and it's stars were all over the place. Imagine Hannah Montana times six! The show itself ran for only 4 years, 1970-1974, but my goodness the network got their money's worth! Here are some pics along with some scans of a few of my Song Hits magazine articles from '71 and '72, and a few clips from the heyday of this fab show!









Click and Enlarge To Read the Articles!
July 1971.



January 1971.



May 1972.





There, now the cold weather doesn't seem half as bad!!
Hugs!
Dolly