Wet Set

Hello everyone,

what´s a girl to do if her shooting has been postphoned, but her hair is already wet set with foam rollers over night? Well, in my case: I took some photos of the setting pattern and the results ;-)

Excuse the photos not beeing the best of quality, I just took them quickly with my mobile phone...

Let´s see the bright side: By the time the shooting is beeing done i already know that I master this look ;-)

On Thursday I will leave for a vacation in Bruges/Belgium and I look forward to all the fun shootings and project I have planned for the time I am returning. Yay!

Places I need to go to in Stockholm....

Hello everyone,

it is barely another week until I finally go to Sweden again (yay yay yay) and I can barely think of something else! It´s a little bit of Retro Wonderland - only that they are not aware that it is. So here are things I totally NEED to include into my travel schedule (and if you ever make it there you shoul keep those in mind). Considering we have been to almost every museum we are trying a few new things this time...

Tiki Room 

Yes, Stockholm has a own Tiki Bar and sadly I have never been there as of yet! But this might be the year!!! While alcohole is very expensive in Sweden, so I am sure this will not be an exception, how could I resist? There used to be a Tiki Bar in Düsseldorf but it closed some years ago. So imagine how much I look forward to re-visiting a Tiki Bar. The usual cocktail bars are just not the same thing!

Ghost Walk

I hope it won´t rain when I am in Stockholm because I booked the Stockholm Ghost Walk and if the weather is shitty they cancel. I would really love to find out about Stockholms spooky history! So far the only thing beeing scary about Stockholm is that way too many exes of mine live there. ;-) Think of me on the 20th October and cross your fingers the weather will be fine.

Burlesque Festival

I made a little happy dance finding out that I will arrive just in time to see the Saturday evening show! The announcement says:

Octbooberfest is back with a twirl and support for breast cancer research when the Tassel Twirling Championship will crown a new champion. Followed by two unmissable sets of Swedish and International stars compered by the incredible Laurie Hagen who will mesmerise and entertain you throughout the show. 

Fancy Chance (UK/US) - Lolou D'vil (Fin) - hosted by Laurie Hagen (UK) 

Octbooberfest Annual Tassel Twirling Championship (Cancer fund event) - A'dora Derriere (Aus/UK) - Apathy Angel (US) - Fräulein Frauke (SWE) - The Great Leo (Bel) - Knicker Kittens (Swe) - Lady Francescca (Swe) - Lady Lou (Aus/Ger) - Les Femmes Brachiales (Ger) - Miss Diana (Rus) - Peggy de Lune (UK) - Ruby Luscious (Swe) - Wrong Note Rusty (Can) - Yvette Les Fesses (Swe)

Sounds like me and John gonna have a loooot of fun! I still try hard to find a dirndl for Octbooberfest, but will probably have to consider another option.

Södermalm Shopping Marathon

Well, this is not an official event, this is something I pretty much made up myself (and it´s nothing new - I do that every year. But I love it so much I mention it anyway;-) It includes me running through the entire Södermalm district visiting at least 20 of the 30 vintage clothing stores there (or as many I manage to visit before John starts to cry). You want to go to the capital of Second Hand? Stockholm is your perfect destination!

Marions Gastro Diner

I just discovered this so I cross my fingers that I don´t forget going there. It´s a retro style bowling place and the food looks delicious, too! Usually John and me only bowl on his Xbox, but I am very tempted to try it in real life (and grab a milkshake and a burger!)It is definately something were we could spend a rainy afternoon :-)

I just remembered that I have a book on retro lifestyle in Sweden so I will check that out and possible add more destinations to my list ;-)

Oh, on Sunday I actually have a shooting, so hopefully I can add new photos to the blog soon.

Herr Mann the puppy strikes again

Hello everyone,

yesterday I had a lovely evening at the Nomi Burlesque"London Import" Show. It is very unlikely for me and John to stay up long, but we stayed until after 2 in the morning and completely over slept the day. I have no idea how we shall fall asleep again in an hour to get up tomorrow morning...

Anyway I got a lovely new photo from my shooting with R. Scneider Digital pictureworld featuring my little puppy today...

I´m wearing a vintage suit that I got off ebay reeeeeally cheap two years ago or so! More pictures will follow soon!

I am about to plan more shootings, so if you´re interested in taking my picture - just let me know :-)

What Katie Did SS12

Hello everyone,

oh my god! I haven´t bought anything of their last new line yet (the Fonda!!! wowza!) and again there are beautifull new WKD things! Sheer yet modest about every piece has my name tag on it. Yes, I´ll happily take it all in every  variation!!!! (well, given that I could afford that... buhuuuu :-( )

I love how it is sheer, but sort of modest, how it is sexy, but not cheap! In other words.... It´ll take forever but I hope to save up for it (some day!!!)

Things of beauty!

Hello everyone,

the new year started and I haven´t blogged for 10 days. Why? Sick and busy. It only took over two weeks to overcome the horrible cold I was having. And busy, busy work days in addition to that!

Well, but I won´t bore you with how busy and sick I was... I rather show you.... Some things of beauty!

I went to Stuttgart last weekend for a lovely Dirndl Shooting and I spent the night with the lovely and beautiful Ms. Lili Marleen! Technically we´ve known for 6 years or so - but only over the Internet. Considering how long we´re pin uping (and she: burlesque-ing) around we are Germanies Pin up Grandmas. It really was a great stay! And I hope to see her again soon!

Little me in big Stuttgart

 Enjoying a huuuuuuuuge and yummy breakfast in the Grand Cafe Planie, a verrrrry beautiful place!!!!!

 I attended my first fleamarket this year. I went over it once - found nothing. When I left I spotted this freaky green hat. I guessed it would be darn expensive, but asked for the price anyway. Only 10 €!!! Iam not sure it will actually suit me and I have nothing to go with it, but that was a bargain too good to resist!!! The sales lady said someone remarked to her he/she has seen Marlene Dietrich wearing a similar hat in a movie! If anyone knows the movie, please point me into the right direction! Would love to see. 

You just spotted something yellow? Those are ear rings one of my fantastic work mates gave to me. Have I lately mentioned that I have the worlds greatest work mates in my day job?????

Minus having been sick a great start for the year!!! :-)

so...um.... un-retro :-)

Hello everyone,

Pyjama Day at work.... I stole John pyjamas as satin negliges are not really work appropriate... Here I show of the pompoms of his house shoes.... And no... I don´t wear oversized things in my daily life. Actually I exchanged it for a dress before it even was lunchtime.

Pyjama Tag auf der Arbeit.... Ich hatte mir einen Pyjama von John geklaut, da meine Satin Negliges irgendwie nicht für die Arbeit angebracht gewesen wären.... Hier präsentiere ich die Bommeln von Johns Hausschuhen.... Und nein.... im täglichen Leben würde ich nie so schlabberige Klamotten tragen. Eigentlich habe ich mich schon vor dem Mittagessen wieder umgezogen und bin in ein Kleidchen geschlüpft.

In daily life I just bought this on ebay. Will need a slip for underneath.

In meinem normalen Leben habe ich gerade das hier auf ebay gekauft. Jetzt brauch ich nurnoch ein Unterkleidchen.

Pin up Girl Hot Roller Set

Hello everyone,

this is Day4 of my vacation and as I was bored today and coloured my hair yesterday I thought "Hey, let´s make a hot roller set and snap some photos!!!". So here is a little tutorial :-)

So... For the total noobs:

Big hair rollers=volume, so I mostly use the on top of my head.

Medium rollers: wave, so most of the time I use them at the sides.

Small rollers: curl. I mostly use them at the bottom as this is also the section where my hair starts hanging out the soonest.
For protecting your hair you spray on a setting spray designed to protect your hair from heat. Before rolling it. I took a rather light one today, but there are hardcore ones around ;-) If you have naturally poker straight hair it also doesnt hurt to give your hair some overall hairspraying once everything is rolled up.

Once you unroll, it all looks rather eeeeeeek! No worries. some good brushing does the trick.

Height and Volume on top, Wavy sides, curly ends and please ignore the left over colour on my skin ;-)I put in a light streak yesterday, but Iam not sure whether I like it. Possibly I will colour over it once I have made up my mind....

spring is springing - my heart is singing

Hello everyone,

despite the grey clouds in front of my window it is undeniable... Spring is here! We had a lot of sunshine lately and the first blossoms are peeking out! I sold some of my old stuff on ebay and bought some new things... Note my colour patterns. All turqouise, blue and colourfull! Spring, Iam so ready for you!

8 € on ebay
9 € on ebay
50€ in the Vivien of Holloway sale <3 I dream about getting a petticoat in a matching colour! And I have to find a cardi or bolero so I can wear it to work.

Tales full of mystery

Hello everyone,

I got my first wonderfull photos from the shooting with Tim Feldeisen today. I´m sharing a few favourites already, but there is more to come...

Don´t you just LOVE the location??? It was so much fun to shoot there together!!!

red and silver

plus the answer why I can never be a hand model. I have scares on my fingers from cutting bread.

Vintage Hairstyling vs. Style me Vintage - Two hairstyling books in comparision

Hello Retro Styling enthusiasts,

when I heard that a new vintage hairstyling book was about to come out I was torn. For one thing I knew that it would be hard to live up to my personal styling bible "Vintage Hairstyling" that I bought in two editions and both where worth every penny. On the other hand, the newly published "Style me Vitage" was only 10 British pound, so I thought I give it a try. So this is a review for everyone that has one or the other and wonders which one to get - or is not having any of them and considers a buy (or and addition to the X-Mas wish list).

Let´s start with the pure facts:

on top: Vintage Hairstyling - Retro styles with step by step techniques by Lauren Rennels: 34 different Stylings, Price 36,95$

below: Style me Vintage - Easy step by step techniques for creating classic hairstyles by Belinda Hay : 11 different stylings, Price 9,95 British Pounds

First thing coming to mind is that "Style me Vintage" is more handy as it is smaller and book bound. More practical to take along and lay open while the binding of "Vintage Hairstyling" is less stabile. Plus "Style me Vintage" is cheaper in price, even if you have to import both of them like I have to. However "Vintage Hairstyling" has waaaay more stylings.

If you are a styling novice a introduction of the tools you will need is crucial for you. I remember my first attempt to get curls in my hair. I had one of those curling irons with a brush head attached. NEVER BUY ONE OF THOSE UNLESS YOU HAVE VERY FINE HAIR. My hair kept getting stuck and the $%"!%!" thing was of no use. In "Vintage hairstyling" you get a thourough instruction what sort of curling iron you can use for what, all you need to know about using heated curlers, pincurls, rollers and whatever comes in mind. "Style me Vintage" gives a rather short description with not so many pictures, so it is more aimed to those that "know their stuff" than "Vintage hairstyling". If you are not a pro about hair and need details about all the things to use, including the right pins, brushes and combs for the purpose you definately need "Vintage Hairstyling".

The instructions: "Style me Vintage" asumes that you know how to do pin curls and use curling irons and hot rollers. There are written descriptions, but most styles do not have detailed photos as to where the hair is curled forwards, backwards, etc. "Vintage Hairstyling" does this before it even get to the stylings. There are (positively!!!!) pages over pages on how to do good pincurls, how to correctly curl with an curling iron and which technique has which effect. When it comes to the instructions for the actual hairstyles it has arrows in the pictures that shows you in which direction it was curled, something that is very important to archieve the wished effect. Also is has way more detailed photos for the stylings than "Style me Vintage". Don´t get me wrong some instructions in "Style me vintage" are more detailed than others, but "Vintage hairstyling" is very very detailed throughly, so there is not so much space for any doubts.

Both books have in common that the photos are beautifull and the layouts are both very nice!!!

What is left to say is what is intended for who?

"Vintage Hairstyling" is a book for everybody: The Styling novice that has no idea where to start to the expert that still wants to learn a trick or two. It costs more but it is worth every penny. There is a wide range of styles and a lot of instruction how to archieve which effect. In any case it is a must have for your bookshelf. I´d even say: Get both editions as there are different ones in edition 1 and 2. Both books feature easy and more sophisticated styles.

"Style me Vintage" is more for those that are experts. There is no instruction on how to do pincurls, to handle a curling iron, what to use when etc. If you already know your stuff and just want a book with a few basic styles this is for you. I could imagine that stylists working for tv or movies get a good use for reference out of it. Not for absolute novices. The styles are more basic.

Back from the country of snow

Hi everyone!

it is true. We survived the minus degrees and the snow in Stockholm. However we didn´t take that many photos this time around. It was so cold, that I wore way too many layers to look cute anyway. ;-)

We did a fair lot of shopping - to our convenience we were located right in the middle of Södermalm which is THE vintage shopping district of Stockholm. This was sure an advantage to me. (Hence there will be more photos of the little treasures I hunted down, than of myself). We also went to some museums again and we got to see the frozen sea... Funnily whenever a ship passed through the ice pieces started to move like jelly. I think John filmed that so maybe there will be a short clip of that.... For the moment I present you a photo of me wrapped in 3000 layers of clothes standing at the frozen sea looking sort of... cold cause I actually was ;-)

We kept warm consuming lots of hot beverages, cake and shrimps...

I know that there are some ladies that wanna check out my bargains, so here we go... (Photographed in the green vintage suitcase that I picked up today)

It truely sucks when your favourite make up brand is only available in Sweden. However it is a good excuse to buy a damn lot of it when I´m there ;-)

A red dress & mexican mini-petticoat bought at "Beyound retro". The tiny tiny mexican hat and the Tiki statue are from a antique shop named "Loppmannen" located at Skeppars Karls Gränd close to the Royal castle.

I bought me a swedish book on vintage in order to learn more about interesting local designers from the past. It never hurts to learn something new. The magazine is again from "Loppmannen", the hat is a H & M bargain and I grabbed the little 60s repro dress at "Myrorna" for about 6 €.

I bought a politically uncorrect vintage coat at Beyound Retro. I wasn´t sure wether to buy it, as it has fur on it, but as it was reduced and John kept telling me how great it looks on me I took it (after all the animal providing the fur is long long dead). HOWEVER.... while I took notice there are cute little eskimos on it and ice-bears I didn´t really pay attention what the little Eskimos are actually doing.... Hunting little seals!!! I was really creeped out when I realised. I bet I will actually never wear it...

I also found a hat with a mourning veil at Emmaus Second Hand. John thinks it suits me, but he refuses to make me a widow so I could actually wear it.... ;-)

We were sort of frightened wether we would actually get back with our plane as many flights between Stockholm and Duesseldorf got delayed, however we were lucky and it went off in time and arrived early enough for us to catch the airport shuttle...

So now we are back. We arrived this morning between 1:30 and 2 and I was so tired I passed out almost immediately...

At last I will post a picture of John with some suspicious looking yellow ice-fountain in the background. We did a lot of speculations what the deal with the yellow ice is... I´ll leave you alone with phantasies of how the canalisation may have exploded or a giant that badly had to pee. We will never find out the truth anyway... It wasn´t us for the record.