History Podcasts!

This weekend is World War II weekend at Reading’s Mid-Atlantic Air Museum – one of my favorite weekends of the year! I’ll be driving out Friday night and enjoying the festivities on Saturday and Sunday. It’s about an hour drive to the airport so I’ll have some time to kill getting there. This is perfect for podcast listening! I listen to A LOT of podcasts and I thought for this week I’d give you guys a short list of some history shows that any vintage loving babe needs to listen to.

Number one for me is You Must Remember This. Karina Longworth takes a look at the golden years of Hollywood and really does a deep dive into actors, actresses, and events that shaped film history. I particularly loved the “Many Loves of Howard Hughes” episodes, but there are so many good ones!

Next up, The History Chicks with Susan Vollenweider and Beckett Graham. As the name suggests these ladies discuss famous women throughout history in hour plus long episodes. They do a great job delving into each woman and sharing her life and role in shaping history. Blog favorite, Audrey Hepburn was a recent two parter – worth a listen!

Stuff You Missed in History Class is my go to for a quicker history lesson. This is a two woman team, Holly Frey and Tracy V. Wilson, that pick a topic and assembles 30 minute or so episode on it. It’s got everything from biographies to war to inventions! And with so many episodes to choose from, you can listen for hours!

The British Museum came up with a great way of telling history using artifacts in their holdings. A History of the World in 100 Objects tells the history of humans through the objects found in various times. It is fascinating the pieces chosen to explain one era from the other. Definitely one to look into!

Finally, some spoooooky stuff, My Favorite Murder. Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff take us through the history of creepsters and serial killers in an entertaining hour plus long podcast. This is a must for any crime history buffs! Who knows, maybe you’re a murderino in the making!

There you have it – 5 podcasts to check out for history lessons while roadtripping, or whenever you’re in the mood for some good audio time traveling!

Stay beautiful!

Paris Je T’aime

I have always loved Paris – it’s one of my all-time favorite cities (London probably coming in at number one – but that’s neither here nor there). I had some other ideas for today’s post, but thought in the after math of the fire we could stroll down some Old Hollywood Paris for some happier moments in the City of Light. So here are my top 5 Classic Cinema films set in Paris:

• I’m starting with An American in Paris – because it just embodies that love affair so many expats have with the city. It’s bohemian, it’s beautiful, there’s music, food, dancing! Seriously, what more could you want? Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron dancing their way through post World War II Paris and right into my heart! Besides, who doesn’t like a good Gershwin musical, no one that’s who!

• Audrey Hepburn movies set in Paris could really just be a list on its own. From Sabrina (my favorite movie ever) to Paris When it Sizzles (a movies Hepburn didn’t like but loved filming) there are so many to choose from! For this list I’m going with another musical, Funny Face which pairs bookshop-budding-philosopher, Hepburn, with fashion photographer extraordinaire, Fred Astaire. A great montage of the city comes during “Bonjour Paris!” when the leads and Kay Thompson wander around the city seeing the sights.

• Midnight in Paris is not classic Hollywood but it does love Paris and history so we’re putting it on the list! Who doesn’t want to time travel to Paris in the 1920s!? Plus a spot on caricature of Hemingway! This film is truly a love letter to the city that influenced so many artists. Guaranteed to make you jump in a plane and see the splendor for yourself!

So French!

• Another musical and more Leslie Caron – Gigi come in at number 4! The Broadway production of the piece had starred Audrey Hepburn (seriously can’t get away from her – she is Hollywood’s version of Paris) but eventually Caron was offered the part. Vincent Minnelli and Cecil Beaton created the glorious production and really brought Collette’s tale to life on the screen. And don’t forget everyone’s favorite French accented song, Thank Heaven For Little Girls! (I know you read that with an accent – don’t lie!)

“Let’s blow this popsicle stand!”

• Finally, the 1939 adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Hara. It’s a tale we’re all very familiar with but I still think this is one of the best versions. O’Hara really shines in the part as does Laughton in truly wonderful special effects makeup. Some changes were made for censorship purposes but the production really holds up!

There you have it – some films to bring back the joy of Paris to anyone who’s hurting a bit after this crazy week!

 

Stay Beautiful!

Vanderbilts, Mountain Escapes, and More!

As mentioned in my last blog I was recently in Asheville, North Carolina. While there I wore some cute clothes, bought some cute things (see last blog), and did a whirlwind tour of the city. I didn’t know much about the city before heading there, but my sister and I looked up some things to do and we found some really cool places to explore. One of these really touched my vintage loving heart – Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilt mountain getaway. After last spring’s visit to the Gilded Age summer cottages I needed to check out this home! So, my sister, aunt, and I ventured out for a day at the Biltmore, which I thought I’d tell you about here.

This is the face of a man who needs a mountain escape!

Biltmore is the “largest privately owned home” in America and when he was alive its owner, George Washington Vanderbilt II referred to it as his “little mountain escape.” (Some people don’t understand the concept of size, I suppose). To construct this “little” home Vanderbilt bought up 700 parcels of land, mostly from poor communities who were “glad to sell” and named it Biltmore after the town of De Bilt in the Netherlands where his ancestors originated. Construction began in 1889 after hiring blog favorite architect, Richard Morris Hunt to design it. This was such a massive undertaking that a “woodworking factory and brick kiln, which produced 32,000 bricks a day, were built onsite.” The house was constructed using 1,000 laborers and 60 stone masons as well as a 3 mile long railroad to bring supplies to the sight. Must be nice being the youngest Vanderbilt, geez. Opening night was Christmas of 1895 which involved family, friends, some sweet clothes, and champagne! Poor George wasn’t going to last much longer though. After a botched surgery in 1914 he died suddenly leaving his widow to sell some of the land and figure out the future of the estate.

It’s just a small project, no worries!

The next generation of Vanderbilt’s, mainly George’s daughter Cornelia, began opening the home for tours in the 1930s. This move was to help the town of Asheville during the Great Depression as a means to garner tourism for the town. This seemed to work, but unfortunately Cornelia’s marriage did not. She left Biltmore for New York leaving her ex-husband and sons living in the home. By the 1950s, under the direction of Cornelia’s sons, William and George. By 1963 it was designated a national historic landmark, and rightfully so. This place is enormous and beautiful! According to historian, Rachel Carley, “Biltmore has four acres of floor space and 250 rooms in the house, including 35 bedrooms for family and guests, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and 19th-century novelties such as electric elevators, forced-air heating, centrally controlled clocks, fire alarms, and a call-bell system.” Let’s just say it took us hours to see everything, but it is well worth it. If you go there’s a delightful winery on the property where the dairy used to be! The best part is they teamed up with costume designer, John Bright, who worked on Downton Abbey and a number of other period dramas, to recreate Vanderbilt clothing from photographs for their “Vanderbilt House Party” exhibit. It really brings the place to life! It is a must see if you’re in the area!

Stay beautiful!

Hip Replacements Store Review!

Finally all my traveling is done, for the time being at least. Back to our regularly scheduled vintage! I’ve had a few things I wanted to talk about, but I think I’ll back track through some recent travels before I go to other topics. So let’s start with where I was last week – Asheville, North Carolina. Now if that doesn’t sound vintage to you, boy are you in for a treat! There are two things that I’ll be discussing here. This week, a really awesome shop I discovers, next week a flipping mansion! So, hope on to your hats, we’re going shopping!

I mean just look at the sign!

Asheville is a hub of creative types, history, and charm. You really need to go if you haven’t been. I was there for a bachelorette party, but would go again in a heartbeat. Besides having amazing places to eat, drink, hike, and see, they have some awesome shopping. My sister and I were in a shop where I noted to a saleswoman that a piece looked retro. That was my golden ticket because she said, oh, if you’re into retro you have to head to Hip Replacements. And was she ever right! So, we headed the two blocks over to the shop.

Need to see this band!

It was retro/repro heaven! Not only is it a killer store but it’s owned by a rockabilly musician, Kip! His band, Pleasure Chest played the night before – I am SO BUMMED I missed them by a day! (Don’t worry we’re bffs now so that wont happen again.) From their about me, Hip Replacement has been “known as Ashville’s dressing room since 1995, we have a classy little shop for guys and gals specializing in independent designers curated with nostalgia of yesteryear.” And they deliver! We only had a few minutes to shop but I managed to snag a Glamour Bunny dress off the sale rack that looks totally 40s babe and I am in love! My sister snagged a cool Hawaiian button up for her boyfriend and we were so happy with our experience! 

This dress though!

More Asheville antics next week – be sure to check out the shop or their website and stay beautiful!

Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend

So, one more Oscar’s post for you all. Everyone knows the Marilyn Monroe-made-famous saying, “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” and with red carpet jewelry we see just that. Sparkles. Sparkles. Sparkles. There was one piece that caught my eye and I needed to know more! Lady Gaga’s stunning necklace was a show stopper and it’s history turned out to be even more so. I thought maybe a Tiffany’s history was in order, but that’s a little daunting, so instead, the history of that necklace is our first installment. Let’s go!

Just look at that!

So, as I mentioned in the opening, Lady Gaga was wearing a Tiffany diamond necklace. Not just any Tiffany necklace, mind you, the Tiffany yellow diamond necklace. Discovered in 1877 in South Africa it is the largest yellow diamond ever uncovered weighting a whomping 287.42 carats! The estimated price tag is roughly 30 mill, but it’s considered priceless. Chump change, amirite? After purchasing it, Charles Tiffany had his gemologist study it for a year before cutting it. That guy, or I should say kid because he was only 23 when undertaking this daunting task, was George Kunz. It was later set by fancy French jewelry designer, Jean Schlumberger. It was so impresssive that it was on display at the Chicago World’s Fair – this is some stone!

“This old thing?”

Why do we care about this necklace? Well, I’ll tell you – this was the same Tiffany’s necklace that was used in advertising for Breakfast at Tiffany’s! Yes, none other than blog favorite and personal spirit animal, Audrey Hepburn, was one of 3 people to ever be granted permission to wear this piece. (Rightfully so, I should say!) Hepburn wore the necklace in 1962 as part of the advertising campaign for her latest film. The woman before her, Mrs. Sheldon Whitehouse, wore it to the Tiffany ball in 1957. After that it lived in the vaults, aside from one sarcastic ad in the New York Times saying it was on sale in 1972 – no bidders of course. Until Gaga it was spending some time on loan to the Smithsonian, rocking it’s priceless title and pop culture fame.

“Bury me in this.”

There you have it, the most priceless of Tiffany’s necklaces got a little Oscars love!

Stay beautiful!