beauty classics and favorites

 Today I wanna introduce you some of my favorite beauty products -

 great quality for a good price and real classics.

Oil of Olaz was invented in the 1950s and still is a bestseller. I have tried a million skin creams and always came back.

REVLON Colorstay is the one and only really longlasting foundation for everyday use and perfect when you look for a vintage matte look. I recommend a beautyblender to apply.

Vaseline is such a multitalent and was a secret weapon for make up artists in old Hollywood. I use it for everything. Just give a small amout on your lashes every evening before you go to bed, you will be very happy with the result. It is perfect for foot care and soft elbows, too.

When you prefer a 1940s inspired eye make up with pale eyeshadows and a thin black eyeliner, then check out these three products, I buy them again and again to create that natural look: MAC Vapour Eye Shadow, MAC Quarry Eye Shadow and this great liquid eyeliner, that looks like a nailpolish: LAKME Insta-Liner. You will find it on ebay or in Indian shops. It is cheap, easy to handle and lasts a year in daily use.

Now it´s time for the real beauties:

Do you use body powder? You shoud. There is nothing better for hot summer or party nights and under shapewear. Try the  famous Italian brand BOROTALCO. You will love the fresh fragrance and the feeling on your skin. Apply it with a huge powder puff to feel like a diva.

La Bella Nussy was the first waterproof mascara, invented for stage actresses in the 1930s. It still comes in the paper package and in a tube. I´m using it as kind of a topcoat on my lashes and I´m addicted to that special fragrance too.

Sweet Georgia Brown is a middle hard hair pomade. It works for every hairstyle and again, it smells like heaven.

Penaten Creme was invented in 1904 for baby care. I recommend it for irritated shaved skin, it works wonders over night.

And last but not least THE translucent powder: COTY Airspun. It sets your make up perfect, is a jewel in your bathroom and like a perfume for the face. Go for it!

happy pink new year!

Happy new year to everyone in Blogland! 

We had such a fun-tastique New Years Eve party with our poker gambling friends - a night full of laughter and happiness, and complete authentic 1950s party decoration: the garlands, the dinnerware for the old school buffet and the party hats.

 I wore a dice and the boys could choose one of those:

But now the everyday life is coming back. 

January and February are the most depressing months for me, so I couldn´t resist to buy that neon pink wool when I first saw it. I made myself an oversized turtleneck to fight the upcoming greyness.

wool neck: made by myself

dress: Bernie Dexter, years ago

faux latex leggins: Arrogant cat

Do you like the fancy wall art of my childhood idol Nina Hagen in the background?

 

My new wedges fit the colour of the wool nearly perfect, so does my brooch...

umbrella brooch: 50s vintage, ebay

bambi clip ons: 50s vintage, ebay

traditional costume silver bracelet:  christmas present from honey's mum

And there is another pink thing I love right now: my new hair tonic "Southern Rose". 

It smells so nice and gives so much shine to the hair. It has a permanent place next to my bathroom mirror now.

PS: I felt so happy when I opend the christmas present from my BMF (best male friend): 

OMG - a Dolly Parton concert ticket! 

It waits now on my kitchen radio to get converted... I plan to wear my pink cowboy boots then, of course.

blue dogs and red slippers

 

Last friday we visited the exhibition opening from my talented friend YUTI and made some pics backstage. I wore my new great Vivien of Holloway Swing trousers, St. Nicholas (Honey) brought me, a 50s silkscarf from American Vintage in Hollywood and my new 40s scottie clip ons. You better have a closer look:

closer?

Aren´t they funny? I don´t know what they are made of, I think an early plastic, handcarved and handpainted ... I had to give them a new home - and they came from America in their original box. I love the 3D effect, the pale blue colour and the crabby face of the scotties.

The countdown for christmas is on, so I wanna show you my tree. I decorated it with some of my red glitter slippers I collected all over the world... hope you girls love it and you will have chilly and cozy holidays!

 

bittersweet symphony

 

 
The year started with a concert of honeys band and it nearly ended with one. In January I was so weak because of a massive mononucleosis infection that I could just sit in a corner for a while, but this time it was such a blast: I did a Glam Rock make up for the boys, danced my ass off and chanted loud and proud with the audience. But I had some silent moments too, thinking of this bittersweet year.

I have fighted daily with the aftereffects from the infection and found some great alternative medicine for it, lost very old friends and discovered new ones, lost my photo-project and started a new art-venture and drawing lessons, lost my job and found a new one... the big lessons I have learned is: health is the most important and everything can change in a blink of an eye, so better LIVE FOR THE MOMENT!


So I did last night. Honey made some pictures in the backstage room early in the morning:

crepe de chine blouse: 40s vintage, fleamarket find

Square dance skirt: Partners Please by Malco Modes 

(worn without the matching petticoat), 60s vintage, etsy

leopard boots: Miss L fire

pink lipstick and nail polish: YSL

Have a closer look to the sweet 50s jewelery set, found on ebay.com 

and I really love the lace bordered collar of the sheer blouse...

Enjoy the Advent season with your loved ones!

Follow the swan!

This week started with a swan. 

For a ladie's night at my home, I filled my 40s pink swan with little roses 
and used it as centerpiece for the table. The ladies loved it! 

On tuesday it was time for a little comedy show after work.

I wore a plain 50s felt dress without petticoat, but gave attention to the details: 

50s grey gloves, 50s silver lurex evening bag...

  

60s aurora borealis clip ons with matching necklace and a 50s lipstick red velvet hairpiece.

Friday we went to the Dios de los Muertos ceremony of the Mexican community in Berlin.  

The huge altar for the dead was very touchy and beautifully made.

My outfit was insprired by my beloved Frida Kahlo and people really loved it. 

Some took photos and called: "HOLA, HOLA FRIDA!" One Mexican lady even made me a present: 

her Frida wood brooch! See it next to my 50s silver mexican mother of pearl pendant. Isn´t she cool?

And I met Frida herself.

carnations and ribbons in hair: Walmart, Nevada

earrings: my mum bought in Istanbul

cardigan: Freddies of pinewood

skirt: 50s vintage, ebay

tights: Falke

The next day my very talented friend, the painter Stephanie Nückel, had an exhibition with other artists from New York. She photographed and painted my younger self many years ago. I couldn´t believe this young lady with Bettie bangs was once me... the impression in my face says everything.

(BTW: my 50s felt dress got pockets!)

With a bunch of artists from the exhibition we had some drinks at the bar of the Kater Holzig restaurant.

 I admired the decoration and so, that fun-tastique week ended with a swan, as it started.

 

autumn everyday wear

 

Last thursday was a public holiday in Germany, traditional time for the super big Ostbahnhof fleamarket. Went there in my office clothes, because the night before I stayed at my best friend's beautiful home. In the garden there's a huge chestnut tree. I collected some of its fruits right away untill the pockets of my skirt were full... so autumnally!

The thing on my head is a velvet bow headband from the 80s, found on the fleamarket last week.

 I really love it this time.

My jewelry was all green, one a my favorite colours, especially in colder months. The ring, the clip ons 

and  the brooch are all vintage from the 50s. I found this galalith souvenir brooch once on a 

fleamarket bargain bin for 50 cent. It was nearly white, all the colous were rubbed off.

 I restored it by hand with a tiny brush and breathed new life into the sweet little wine queen 

on her cliff "Drachenfels" and the Rhine again.

Back home with my findings, a 40s jacket, a 50s dress, a 40s brooch, two 50s hats and a little 50s poodle fingurine - I was more than happy. The sun was celebrating with me and painted this shadow picture on my living room floor.

 

I found my new 50s skirt on ebay France. It´s more a summer skirt but I wear it with a straight petticoat warming my legs. The belt is a 50s original too and he still forms aperfect waist. The flower print is so gorgeous.

Sadly, the time for pink flowers is over. 
On my vanity table now standing these Chrysanthemes, the flower of the 30s.

The next day in my lunch break I visited the incredible art of the photographer Eugenio Recuenco.

My favorite picture from him is Cinderella:

found here

If in Berlin, you have to visit the exhibition in the CWC.

This is a snapshot from me with another picture of him: 

The sweater is a cashmere vintage 50s one from Santa Cruz, CA.

 I love his pale pink softness, the pearl buttons and the pastell grossgrain applications. 

How do you look in everyday autumn life?

real Californian treasures

40s style dress: Tara Starlet

grey leather gloves: 40s vintage, my grannies

tights : Falke

shoes: Molly Holly

The other weekend we joined a private atelier-party of an upcoming artist in Berlin Wedding. 

Time to wear one of my treasures from Moro Bay California, but have a closer look on my accessoires:

hairflower: 40s vintage, Gina L. All that trimmings, CA

lucite clip ons: 50s vintage, ebay US

As promised, I wanna show you one of the happiest moments in my vintage-collecting-life: finding this shop!

We stranded in Moro Bay by accident and had a little going-around-expecting-nothing-walk, honey was lost in a vintage-record-store and while strolling around alone I got enlightened, but look by youself:

 

I was so excited seeing this unique collection of true vintage trimmings, silk flowers, lace, velvet leaves, celluloid fruits... I was in heaven! And the owner was like a mother to me... you HAVE to go there, when you´re in CA! Your imagination of creating new styles or pimping high street clothing will go wild, believe me. I spent too much time and money there, but I regret nothing! 

Back home, I decorated my home with some of these beautiful treasures. They will make the girls in my upcoming vintage-photo-project very, very happy:

 

white 40s velvet flowers, leaves and pearls for a bridal style in one of my wallvases

 

a blue 40s feather bird in one of my 50s smoke consumers

 

a 40s pink feather fan next to one of my 50s deer figurines on my vanity table 

 

 

the 40s silk hair flower from my last post lives next to my 40s framed dry flowers  

 

And last but no least, okay, I got some more treasures, the incredible 40s celluloid cherries. They remind me of the opening scene of "Pin up Girl" starring Betty Grable. Some of them are a bit cracked by the years and the light, but I dont care. "Made in Germany" the label says - so I had to bring those pretties home. Now one of my china scottie dogs watches over them.

Check out Lina's ebay store and make yourself happy!