Portraits of a Criminal, Vintage 1920s Portraits from the Sydney Police Archives

So in love with the melancholic grit of these 1920s archive photos from the Sydney Police Archives. Many of the photos are featured in a book by Peter Doyle entitled City of Shadows: Sydney Police Photographs 1912-1948. (Early birthday gift, pretty please?)



Image Credits: Sydney Police Archives
Via: Wolf Eyebrows & La Boite Verte

Vintage Movie Thursdays | Charlie Chaplin "The Kid"

A little clip from Charlie Chaplin's first full length movie released in 1921 "The Kid" featuring Jackie Coogan.

Vintage Streetstyle | Real Style + Fashions from the 1920s

You have to wonder, what was she thinking when this moment was captured on film? A woman of obvious beauty and wealth posed inside a car in the 1920s. Where is she going? What is her name? Why did she choose to wear what she's wearing?

These are the thoughts that run through my mind when perousing vintage photographs. Every one of them has a story to tell.




I've been on a bit 1920s/1930s kick lately (Boardwalk Empire...slowly getting through all the episodes during break). I hope you enjoy these lovely photos! Click on them for credit and larger versions!

"Prohibition" Fashion + Costume Design from HBO's Boardwalk Empire

I must confess, I mostly watch Boardwalk Empire for the beautiful clothes the women wear (although the show is shot exquisitely!). Every time I see a scene in the dress shop or even the lingerie and robes worn by the ladies in their homes my heart goes all a flutter.



The costumes were designed by John A. Dunn and crafted by Martin Greenfield using the Fashion Institute of Technology's 1920s tailoring books as their main source of inspiration. (Yay for vintage inspirations!) A few pieces are rented from a vintage shop in Albany, NY (Daybreak Vintage Company).



In an interview with Esquire magazine (Sept 2010) costume designer John A. Dunn is quoted "I developed the feel for each of the characters. We all wanted it to be very, very accurate and specific to the period. So, I limited myself to the fabrics of 1920."



Credits: Costume design information from Boardwalk Empire Wiki. Read more on John A Dunn's interview with Esquire Here.

Image Credits: Behind the Scenes of Boardwalk Empire, Men's Fashion on Esquire.com, Boardwalk Empire on IMDB.com

6 Silent Screens Stars You've Probably Never Heard Of

I do realize the title of this post is a bit of a pun and it wasn't intentional, but I had a bit of a giggle about it so decided to keep the title name.

Anyhow... I was perusing for some hair ideas for this year's Halloween costume (I'm going as Betty Boop!) and happened upon all of these silent screen star actresses I had never heard of but were all so lovely I just had to share.


Perhaps November will be Silent Movie month and I'll finally get around to watching movies before the talkies.

Style Icon: Clara Bow

"I feel much older than that. I feel as though I had lived a long, long time. That is because I have suffered so much, and suffering makes you feel old inside, just as happiness makes you feel young even when your hair is white." - Clara Bow (age 22) - February 1928



Are her outfits not amazing? I would wear every single ensemble in these photos! I love all the collars most especially! And the bow details, the lace, the pretty grid design on that one dress... I adore the fit of the clothes as well, form fitting in all the right places, loose and romantic in the other.

For a lovely article on Clara Bow, read "My Life Story" as told to Adela Rogers St. Johns for PHOTOPLAY Magazine in 1928.

10 Vintage Beauty Advertisements from the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s

Don't you just love vintage advertisements? Not a sullen girl in sight! All pretty smiles, dreamy far off looks, and of course I love some of the cheesy copy.



Image credits: Baldrich, Calber Cosmetics (c) 1922, Auguste Bonaz Hair Combs (c) 1923, Pepsodent Advertisement (c) 1945, Winx Waterproof Mascara (c) 1920s, Lustre-Creme Shampoo (c) 1940s , Maybelline Cosmetics (c) 1930s, Camay Soap (c) 1947, Tangee Cosmetics (c) 1929, Drene Shampoo (c) 1937, Vintage Kotex Ad (c) 1940s