As promised, my little rosebuds, here are pics of the stash of my mom's old chokers that I found at my Pappy's yesterday! But first, a little pic of my mom and dad on their first date in 1971, which was around the time she would have been wearing these lovelies!...I wish she still had the necklace she's got on in the photo...it's absolutely brill!
I found this necklace as well, under the pile of chokers....
...as well as a half full bottle of Vanda 'Captiva' perfume that had also belonged to mom!....
I've tried looking up 'Captiva' as well as Vanda, the company that made it to find out more about it...no joy. Must not have been too popular or made in mass quantities for any period of time. Anyone who knows anything about either the company or the perfume, let me know!
Right, my dears! I've been helping my Pappy with his spring cleaning all day and just got home and did dinn-dinns. While making room for things in the guest bedroom, I was cleaning out a drawer in what was my mother's dresser in the mid '60s through the early '70s. Under an old newspaper, I found a mound of what looked like fabric trim and ribbons. My mom came in just as I was lifting the pile out and said, "Oh my god, look! It's all my old chokers!!" That's right kids. Late sixties Boho Gothic at it's best! EIGHT of them!...plus a super '70s silver fringe necklace and a little bottle of the perfume my mom used to wear back then, 'Captiva'! I'm too tired to stay up and photo my new lovelies, but I promise to post some pics tomozzzzzz!!!!
I love a train ride! So when my mom's best friend suggested that we go on one (on a restored deco passenger train, I was well up for it. So a week and a half ago, we loaded on a bus...yeah, one of those that retirees take to Atlantic City...and made our way to North Carolina to catch the train. Now, before I get into the story, I'd like to first point out that over all I really did have a good time and one shouldn't take my snide remarks as evidence of a bad time.... Now that's out of the way, I can tell you that the trip was somewhat of a cluster-'you know what'. We firstly had to get to the bus pickup at 5ish in the morning. Then the bus went way out of the way to Johnson City to get a number to put on the bus. We stopped in North Carolina for breakfast....several busloads of old people all at once at a cafeteria is not only a bad idea, it's downright criminal! We then had to sit around and wait for ages for EVERYONE to get back on their invidual bus so that we would all leave together and therefore arrive at the train station at the same time...yet another bad idea! In the end, we finally got to the station around 10:30ish...keep in mind, that we could have driven on our own, left around 8:30 and gotten there at the same time! But I digress... Because we all got there at the same time, finding your car was utter chaos! We finally found ours, the Piedmont, got settled in, and the trip started. The car was fairly nice. It could easily have been nicer. It's unfortunate that men were the obvious masterminds behind all of the referbs. Technically it was acurate, but it had no soul. No atmosphere. Not even the club car. They played bad, MODERN, bluegrass music. I was left wondering why there couldn't have been some swing or at the very least some country music contemporary with the era..... It was a drizzly day, but that didn't really matter. The ride was beautiful. The mountains were just beginning to bloom. My mother, famous in these parts for her wildflower knowledge as well as one of the largest collection of rare wildflowers in the region, narrated the trip pointing out what was what. When we finally stopped to get out, there was no time to enjoy the kayak races that were going on as we were behind schedule and had to load back up almost as soon as we'd gotten off. We got back to Bryson, NC in only enough time to get right back on the buses, which meant no looking around at the town and having a cheeky look round the shops. All in all, it was more bus trip than train trip, but I'm glad I went.
Black Knit Beret-H&M (£6) Peter Pan Collar Blouse-Forever 21 (around $35) Embelished Pink Sweater-Vintage 1950's, my Mama D (free!) Cropped Leopard Print Jacket-Forever 21 (around $40) Gloves-Vintage 1950's, Beyond Retro Cheshire Street (£5) Grey Pinstripe Pencil Skirt-Vintage 1960's, Thrifted (25 cents) Shoes-Burk's Outlet ($15) Purse with Umbrella Holder and Umbrella-Vintage 1940's, my great grandmother (free!)
Ok, so I'm going to get back on schedule, my little lilypads, I promise! And to get back on schedule, I'm going off schedule and posting my usual Sunday London event post on Tuesday!
Here goes! The things I'd be attending if I was back in the Smoke...and hopefully I will be soon, as my visa came last week. Now all I've to do is find a jobby job!!
7 April: Live & Let Jive Ronnie Scott's 47 Frith St London, United Kingdom Get hip to the tip, lads and ladies! EVERY FIRST THURSDAY it’s time for KAI’S LIVE & LET JIVE – your monthly 40s & 50s party featuring queen of the vintage vocals Kai Hoffman and her fabulous felines Kai’s Cats! Featuring tunes by ‘King of the Jukebox’ Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five, Kai’s jazz-based boogie shuffle, rhythm & blues is sure to float your boat - so grab a cocktail, dig that jumpin’ jive and dance the night away! You can dress up or dress down, drink champagne or have a burger plain, be frisky and get risky with Kai’s Cats! Sponsored by Vivien of Holloway – the best of 40s & 50s reproduction clothing making the world a more glamourous place. 6pm-3am JIVE CLASS at 8pm and LIVE BAND at 9:15! ONLY £5/£8 after 11! Dinner/table reservations 02074390747
8 April: Double Shot O' Soul The Drop below The Three Crowns 175 Stoke Newington High Street N16 0LH Get your soul kicks from the stage and from the 45s! At the new venue, new format Double Shot O’ Soul there is live music from THE UNIVERSAL (http://www.myspace.com/theuniversaluk) and THE DECCAS (http://www.myspace.com/thedeccas), followed by DJs Smart Phil & Mickee spinning the best music ever made: think Tamla Motown, Stax Records, northern & club soul and more to keep you dancing all night long. 9pm-4am £5 entry
I've a little rant for you today, my loves. Lately I've noticed a disturbing trend...maybe you've picked up on it as well. In the past few years there's been an upsurge in remakes. Now I will tell you that, in my opinion, there really is no GOOD remake. I mean let's be honest, either the original was amazing, classic, and utter perfection...in which case, a remake will NEVER be as good...or the movie was crap the first time around and will only be double crap when put in a modern format (at least the original can be watched from a pop culture slant and be somewhat interesting.) But more importantly what peeves me off most is that it seems once an uncalled for remake is made, the original is rarely if ever shown again. Which means there is a whole generation coming up who never know how amazing the original is...or that it even existed in the first place. Today, I give you my top 10 movies that should never have been remade:
10. Arthur (1981) For number ten on my list, I've chosen the latest travesty. Granted, I've not seen it...I don't need to. Don't get me wrong. I adore Russell, son of Camden's favourite loud drunk "The amaaaaazing Ronnie Brand" (Camdenites will understand!) He's insanely funny and times were when I looked forward to new episodes of Ponderland with bated breath. But he aint no Dudley Moore.....and Helen Mirren aint no John Gielgud...and heaven knows this Greta Gerwig person sure as all heckfire aint no Liza Minnelli. The original was perfect in every way. Moore plays the most adorable drunk in the world. The first minutes of the film are comic GENIUS and I almost pee my pants every time I see it: "You're a HOOKER??!!"
9. The Stepford Wives (1975) When this classic was remade in 2004, I grimaced. How can you take a film that revolves around the new gender roles created out of the women's lib and bra burning era of the 1970's out of the 1970's? The depth of the plot becomes MIA. The reason the first version resonates is the fact that it was written and filmed in the era when many, if not the majority of the population, were still frightened of strong women with careers outside the home. It was relevant then, not so much now....although a lot of fervent libbers out there would no doubt challenge me on this. But even they can't deny that times have changed ENORMOUSLY in 36 years. So much so that the remake of this film is as soul-less as the Wives themselves.
8. The Parent Trap (1961) One of THE best teeny bopper movies Disney ever made. Hayley Mills is absolutely perfect as the two sisters separated as babies! She's so darn cute! Not to mention the woman who, in your beloved narrator's opinion is the most beautiful woman ever to grace film, Maureen O'Hara, as the mother. Again, there is a reason that this film worked in the time it was originally made. It was the beginning of the sixties and the American family was quickly eroding...and as in The Stepford Wives, it terrified most people. In other words this is just another example of a "times they are a changin'" movie that doesn't resonate as loudly when it's set almost four decades on. Plus, there's just something lovely and golden about this movie and that should never be messed with...especially not with the likes of someone I refuse to name in the twin roles.
7. Cape Fear (1962) There should be a rule that once a role is played by Robert Mitchem, it should be a crime punishable by death to let anyone else play the same role...the same should go for Gregory Peck. The two actors play the cat and mouse emotions of the two main characters as if they were born to. The suspension of disbelief is so great in this film that within the first half hour, I detest Robert and am terrified for Gregory. The end scenes in which Cady (Mitchem) has finally trapped his prey are honestly the most breathless of any thriller I've ever watched. And it doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, I still fall into yelling at the screen as if Gregory Peck could actually hear me! My heart nearly jumps out of my chest every time! The remake didn't affect me at all.
6. Mildred Pierce (1945) Not that Kate Winslet isn't lovely, but Joan Crawford is someone that NO ONE can ever hold a candle to...and this is without a doubt Joan's masterpiece. Not only that, but once again the driver behind this film is the newly strong, self made woman who came through WWII keeping herself as well as the homefront together at all costs. I don't even think I need to offer any more explanation on this one, other than to say that I think Faye Dunaway as Joan in 'Mommie Dearest' said it best: "Don't fuck with me, fellas."
5. The Little Princess (1939) Shirley Temple's most beautiful role. She is so believable as Sarah Crew, just the right amount of precociousness and innocence. The rest of the cast is flawless as well and none of the remakes of this film have had the chemistry or the warmth of this version.
4. Alfie (1966) Even if it was originally played by Terrance Stamp on the stage, you'd almost think that Alfie was written explicitly for Caine. Michael Caine IS Alfie. The role made his career and he made the role. Jude Law is a hottie, but compared with Michael Caine, he's mojo-less.
3. Freaky Friday (1976) Another case of Disney messing with it's own perfection....and again with 'she who shall not be named' in the lead role. I don't know what the studio was trying to prove in the 90's but they really should have left well enough alone. The original is amazing and, well, it's Jodie Foster for cryin' out loud! Who could ask for more? And as usual, the time period only adds to the charm of this film.
2. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) While Johnny Depp is definitely in my top 10 for hottest men ever....and he is kind of creepy-hot in the remake...there is no Wonka like Gene Wilder. I found the remake a bit too surreal and unbelievable. The original has it's Dali-esque moments, but you have no trouble believing that Mr. Wonka's factory could indeed exist. And the characters are much more loveable.
1. Hairspray (1988) This was my FAVOURITE movie growing up. Really. I can still recite the entire film from beginning to end including the soundtrack and do all of the dances. However, I never made it more than 30 minutes into the remake. And I'm a huge Travolta fan, so that's saying a lot! Not that it's his fault the movie's so bad. Honestly you can't expect a man like John, no matter how good an actor to simply put on a dress and some make up and take on a character made famous by a the lovely Divine...a man who made his name in drag...and eating dog poo, but I digress... The original cast is spot on, as usual in John Waters' films. Divine, Ricky Lake, Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono, Waters himself, Ruth Brown, Jerry Stiller, and my favourite, Pia Zadora, make the film a star studded classic. Another Waters signature is the superb soundtrack. Not an annoying musical like the remake, but REAL music from the era. And above all, the lack of TRUE campness in the remake just left me looking for the remote. But I guess the most important thing about the original for me is that it cemented my love of the 1960's as a kid and consequently, I guess you could say that it played a major role in my career path and who I am as an adult. Thank you, John Waters!
Right! So I really enjoyed posting those great men's clothing ads yesterday...so much that today I wanted to share some more adverts from many of the same publications. The music mags featured ads geared toward the girlies as well. For todays postie, I wanted to share some of the lovely mail order wig ads I found!
Another blogger I follow said the other day that when she finds ads like this she wishes she could just send the money off to the address and get a lovely brand new whatever it was they were selling! I wish that about these wigs and falls! I want just about every one of them!
And the NAMES!....'Tigress', 'Gypsy Love', 'Darling New You', 'Fonda'....Terrific!!
Hey shortcakes! I've been posting several things lately from my collection of early 70's music magazines. In the process I've stumbled on some hilarious adverts for a company called 'Eleganza' and I have to share them with you lot!! The clothes are officially pimp-alicious and I for one love them!!
Can I get a 'Bwow Chicka Bwah Bwooowwww'?.....
If 'Things Happen When You Wear Eleganza', I have a feeling I know what kind of things those are...
