Patriotism and Pinup

Have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day! And don't forget what this 3 day weekend is about: remembering our troops!

Vargas Girl Friday!!

Hayley Atwell: The Real Bombshell from "Captain America"

"My grandmother would sleep in rollers and go put her make-up on to just go down to the shops to buy some milk. And she was a working class woman in Manchester who worked at a factory, so it wasn't that she was royalty or anything. That was what everyone did back then. And my mother was the same. My mother used to drive me to school in perfect make-up with her hair immaculate, but she had a dressing gown underneath her coat. She always made sure her outer appearance was just pristine. So Peggy's kind of like, "Oh, the Nazis are coming, but I better apply lipstick.""

Clearly, I've been indulging my inner geek since 'The Avengers' came out. I will say that, despite my love of pinup, I've always been a geek/gamer girl and always will be. I'd be playing Diablo 3 right now if the servers could stay up.

Hayley Atwell took the role of Peggy Carter in Captain America 2011, and stole the scene by being lovely and fierce. The quote above came from an interview with Box Office Magazine, when talking about her character and her inspiration. While her acting is sublime, her beauty (and a certain red dress) were what kept people talking. 

The key to her look beyond the fabulous hair styles, is a medium taupe-brown eye shadow (with a bit of grey in the crease, and a lighter color on the brow bone and tearduct), normal liquid eyeliner (Peggy did not have cat eyes!), and matte red lipstick.  Make sure you have your eyebrows on, your foundation is set, and add a wee bit of blush. It's not too different from normal pinup makeup. All of it is done very lightly. It manages to be both bold and natural. And a red dress hugging all the right places certainly helps!

Airplanes can't tell the difference between a man and a woman: The WASP's of WW2

To say that our world was hardly prepared for the horrors of World War 2 is an understatement. The atrocities committed on such a grand scale were unfathomable, and the technology we wielded was new and unprecedented. Also, women began to serve their country in ways they never had before.

In 1942, a new "experimental" branch of Army Air Corps was created solely for the recruitment and training of women as pilots. The hope was that these women could handle the flying needed at home while the men went overseas to fight. 1,074 women made it through the program after 25,000 applied, and became WASPs -- Women AirForce Service Pilots after paying their way into training. The WASPs would fly trainers, fighters and bombers to and from factories and air bases while fulfilling transport needs. They would ensure that the aircraft built by yesterday's “Rosies” were ready for battle and their men overseas.

"This is not a time when women should be patient. We are in a war and we need to fight it with all our ability and ever weapon possible. Women Pilots, in this particular case, are a weapon waiting to be used." -- Eleanor Roosevelt

WASP Silver Wings

These women, under the supervision of those who believed in them, flew the same kind of training that men did. They flew for hours, some times in planes that were not in good condition, and in less that 2 years managed to rack up 60 MILLION miles on every type of aircraft imaginable. Women flew every type of mission that men did except for combat missions. They were also used to demonstrate the safety of both the B-26 and the B-29 to male pilots. They were promised by those in higher places that their place in history would NEVER be forgotten. 38 of those women died for their country.

That promise was broken. After all they did, the WASPs were disbanded unceremoniously on December 20th, 1944. They did not get thanks, they did not get benefits, and their records were sealed. As far as the military and the government was concerned, they did not exist.They were even denied veterans' status, and collections had to be taken up for burial -- and they were not given folded flags or gold stars. Historians didn't know about them due to the secrecy, so they were ignored by the books. And (what I think is the worst) they were told to keep quiet. Women were homemakers. After all women did in World War II, it would still be an uphill battle for real equality.

It wasn't until 1977 that President Carter finally signed legislation that gave the WASPs full military status for their service and acknowledged what they did for their country. It wasn't until 1984 that they were awarded the World War II Victory Medal. And it wasn't until 2009 (!?!) that President Obama granted these women the Congressional Gold Medal.

My hat is off to these women; brains, guts, patience, and beauty. What wonderful role models these women are!

Jacqueline Cochran - Founder of Women's Flying Training

 

 

Rosie the Riveter: Pinup and American Icon

"All the day long,
Whether rain or shine
She’s part of the assembly line.
She’s making history,
Working for victory
Rosie the Riveter"

We took the term "Rosie the Riveter" from the above song by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb, and from there we've firmly established Rosie as a generational, gender, and cultural icon. World War II, to put it simply and stupidly, changed more than just the boundaries in Europe. It changed gender boundaries, too. When widespread male enlistment left gaping holes in the industrial labor force, women stepped into mechanical, wrench-wielding, dirty jobs; they made up 65% of the labor in the aircraft industry from 1940-1945. Rosie herself may not have existed as anything more than a propaganda tool. However, real-life Rosie's changed the shape of America -- they proved that not only could a woman do a man's job, but they could do it well. 

The reason why I am talking about this is because Rosie the Riveter was a pinup. Oh, yes, she is now a symbol of female empowerment, but originally she was the creation of some real life Don Draper (on a side note, how yummy is Jon Hamm?) who was working with the government and begrudgingly acknowledged that America needed women to work. The most famous Rosie has her looking tough -- but other adverts are hardly distinguishable from a Vargas girl. The fact that our grandmothers (or great-grandmothers) took up their tools and contributed to the war effort while looking sassy in lipstick and curls is inspirational. If they can do it, why can't we? Brains and beauty! They wouldn't trade in their femininity for anything, not even a little thing like World War 2.

I think it's sad that a decent percentage of the female workforce regards looking good or being feminine as either a detriment or a waste of time. My mother, who I love, is not exactly a glamour goddess. She never was. I didn't learn how to do makeup from her at all -- she's 48 and still asking me for tips. I recall, when I was younger, she worked a job that was very mechanical, assembly-line, in nature. Due to the fact that she 1) managed to shower, 2) wore clothing that was clean and intact, and 3) put on a minimal amount of makeup, quite frequently she would complain about not being treated like she knew what she was doing. And not by the men...but by the women she worked with. We're discriminating against ourselves, ladies! What kind of age is this where, if a woman looks good at the workplace, we try to knock her down? Why do we have to downplay our femininity, even to our own gender, to be taken seriously? And what do we accomplish by tearing each other down for this?

It's time we stepped up our game. There is no shame in looking good at your job, no matter what that job may be. We can be good at our jobs. We can also look good at our jobs. We CAN do it all!

Tomorrow, being on the military tangent (I've been watching too much Captain America -- Hayley Atwell is STUNNING), I hope to talk about the Women's Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs. I know the acronym has other connotations, but these women not only defied their gender before the war by obtaining a pilots license, but they participated in the war effort the same way the men did and were completely ignored by our government until 1977. 

Recognize this Rosie? It's Marilyn Monroe!

Joan Crawford's Poached Salmon with Mayonnaise-Mustard Sauce

I've been rather enjoying searching for recipes from Hollywood Golden Age actors and actresses. I feel it really gives you a bit of insight as to who they were as a person. For example, Marilyn Monroe was clearly no dummy if you see her recipes -- they're well over a page long with such intricate details I often have put down the knife and said "Oh, forget this!"

Joan Crawford, whether you believe she was "Mommy Dearest" or not (I don't), was clearly an insane chef with some OCD tendencies. I'm thankful, because her recipes are the most easily reproduced without guesswork. I've been trying to pick out recipes that I would actually try, and since I've eaten salmon the last two nights, I thought I'd share this recipe.  

Joan Crawford's Poached Salmon with Mayonnaise-Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Salmon:

3 pounds fresh salmon

3 lemons

6 cups water

10 peeled pearl onions

1/2 stalk celery, including leaves, chopped

2 sprigs fresh parsley

3 small bay leaves

12 crushed peppercorns

1 teaspoon salt

Cheesecloth

Sauce:

2 cups mayonnaise

4 teaspoons prepared mustard

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Garnish:

1 lemon, cut in wedges

Fresh cut parsley

Field lettuce leaves or watercress

Quartered hard-cooked eggs

Directions:

1. To prepare the salmon, place lemon slices around salmon and in cavity. Wrap fish in double layer of cheesecloth, secured with string. Set aside.
2. Place water, onions, celery, parsley, bay leaves, peppercorns and salt in a large pot and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes. Place fish in water and simmer slowly for 40 minutes covered, using a rack or heat safe small bowl so fish is not entirely under water. Remove fish to cool slightly. 
3. Prepare the sauce by combining all ingredients. Arrange salmon on a chilled platter on a bed of lettuce or watercress, surrounded by remaining garnishes if desired. Serve with sauce. Makes 8 servings.

Shiny!

I have nothing to write about today. It's hot, I'm tired, and I'm wearing a corset.

So, here's some old Hollywood pin-ups!

Rita Hayworth, Betty Grable, Marilyn Monroe, Hedy Lamarr

Harlow's Hot Rolls

The original Blonde Bombshell was known for a lot of things, but her cooking isn't really counted in the top ten. However, Harlow's Hot Rolls look like they'd be pretty tasty!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of warm milk
• 1/2 cup of butter and shortening, mixed
• 1/2 cup of warm water with 1 cake of compressed yeast
• 1 egg well beaten
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Enough flour to make soft dough.

1. Set four hours, after which roll to 1/4-inch thickness and cut with biscuit cutter.
2. Then brush with melted butter and put another biscuit on top and daub melted butter on top of that.
3. Let stand two hours and then place them in a hot oven for 10 minutes.

Now, I'm not a great cook by any means. I watch 'Food Network' a lot and I do have domestic leanings that cause me to put on an apron and bake. To me, this recipe isn't very explanatory. I have made biscuits from scratch before, so my alterations/best guesses as to what this means:

• The 'hot oven' temperature is 375 degrees.
• The amount of flour is at least 2 cups, maybe more. I don't think the rolls should be very sticky if you're rolling and cutting them out.
• The cup of warm water with the 1 cake of compressed yeast is about 2 1/2 teaspoons of yeast (the amount in one packet), and you let those sit together for about 10 minutes before adding it to the other ingredients.
• Mix all the ingredients together, then add the yeast water, then mix more; let sit for 4 hours to rise, kneading/punching it down on occasion.

I may have to experiment with this tonight and let you all know what I find!

Vargas Pinups

In case you need some inspiration today!



With Love,

Miss Torchy

Etiquette: It all comes down to Awareness

In the age of exposing yourself on facebook, wearing your pajamas in public, Maury Povich, low-class reality dating shows, and the occasional fun in being an internet troll, etiquette has gone out the window. Young girls look up more to Snooki and Kim Kardashian than they do Michelle Obama, which, politics aside, is pretty sad.

Etiquette doesn't have to be stuffy and old-fashioned. It's not about making sure you're using the right fork or curtseying the proper way. Today's etiquette can simply be summed up by being aware of yourself, aware of others, and aware of your surroundings or potential surroundings. You have to remember that, no matter what your mommy told you, the world does not revolve around you. And, when you try to make it that way, often times it not only embarrasses you, but anyone who would have the misfortune of being associated with you. There's a huge difference between confidence and narcissism.

Etiquette comes down to simple things. Say 'please' and 'thank you,' and teach your kids to say 'please' and 'thank you.' Throw in an 'excuse me' or a 'you're welcome' once in a while, too. Manners and courtesy go a long way. Say hello when you pick up the phone, even with Caller ID. And, most importantly, LISTEN to others. We're a multi-tasking world and feel the need to be entertained at all times, and it's killing us. Sit down, free of distractions, and really pay attention to who you are speaking to. Stop thinking of the next thing you are going to say because it's not all about you.

And, when you're driving, walking, at the gym, etc., get off the phone. Nothing is more irritating and frightening than to watch someone weaving in and out of their lane and realize that they are on a cell phone. NOTHING is so important that you should even think about diverting your attention from the task at hand. That, and when you're in public on the phone, you may think you look cool and important...the truth is most people think you're obnoxious and arrogant and no one wants to hear your conversation.

Along with etiquette comes dressing properly. We've all seen People of Walmart and the hilarity it provides. No one wants to be on that site. It's really not that hard to throw on a pair of jeans and a nice shirt. I promise. So please don't wear your pyjama's in public. It may be comfortable but you look like a lazy idiot who's going nowhere in life. And those who tell you appearances don't matter are selling you something. They do. They shouldn't always, but they count for a lot. Ask anyone who's ever been overweight (and I can raise my hand to this). The world is much harder when you don't appear to care about your looks. Even subconsciously, people are making judgements about you...when they aren't thinking about themselves.

There's also just basic behavioral things one should think about. The volume of your voice should be directly proportional to the audience you are addressing. If you are talking to one person, the whole room should not hear what you have to say. Don't point, don't stare. Little kids are taught that, but I frequently see adults forgetting it. BE ON TIME. Life does happen, but plan for it. Unless asked, don't bring up religion or politics and if it does happen, keep a civil head about it. Really. Nothing will make you and whatever idea you believe in look more foolish than if you throw a fit about someone disagreeing with you. And, it's always better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

The best thing to help all of this? Knowledge. The commercials of my childhood were right: knowledge is power. Do a little bit of homework before going anywhere. Are you going to a wedding? What's the dress code? Are you going to a dinner party? What does the host do for a living; what are their hobbies? First date? Where are you going, what is the price range, the atmosphere? With Yelp and Google and Facebook, there's no excuse for you to not know certain things. Educate thyself. When you pay attention, when you are aware, people will respond kindly. Part of being a pinup is to still project an air of glamour, even if you're in your skivvies. If you're about as aware as the woman on Maury Povich testing to see if man #37 is her baby's daddy, you will never master the art of the pinup. Sorry.

Oh, and can we please ditch the text speak already? If you aren't actually texting, there's no reason for 'u 2 type lyk dis.' Oh, and I am a gamer. I grew up with the internet. I still don't feel the need to take my l337 speak outside of my game.

Pin-up Perfection: How to do the Makeup

Despite what many people think, pinup makeup is neither hard to do, nor does it require a lot of makeup if done right. The hair is a different story...but for now we'll work on the makeup.

What you'll need:

• Foundation, preferably matte (Personal preference: Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream)
• Light colored eyeshadow
• Red lipstick, and matching lip-liner
• Blush (Personal Preference: NARS blush in Orgasm)
• Liquid or Gel eyeliner
• Brow Shader (pencil or powder, powder looks better IMHO)
• Loose powder (I'm a fan of Coty's Airspun Face Powder -- easily found at your local drugstore)

Step 1: Your skin. Wash your face, put on moisturizer and primer if you must, then put on your foundation. This isn't that hard. Don't slather it on, just enough to even out your tone and cover any blemishes. If you have anything that can't be covered easily (angry zits, massive under-eye bags) use a concealer first. Think of it as making your face a blank canvas to paint on. Make sure it is blended entirely!

Step 2: Your blush should be done lightly, if at all, highlighting the apples of your cheeks and then sweeping up to show off your cheekbones. Think of making a triangle on your face, with the narrow end being close to your hairline. Again, keep it light or ignore this step entirely. The focal points of this look will be on your eyes and your lips. It is meant to complete the look, but not stand out.

Step 3: Eyeshadow: You will want to go with a pale (white or vanilla) eyeshadow that you simply sweep over your lid. If you must use color, keep it natural and keep it light.

Step 4: The perfect cat-eye. Now, making that cat eye can be hard, especially when using liquid or gel eyeliner, as they require a brush and a bit of drying time. I personally use cheap-o Wet n' Wild waterproof eyeliner. I used it in high school when I was broke and, while I've tried others since, I just like it. To achieve that perfect cat eye, do this:

• Without winging the edge, draw a thin line from the inside corner to the outside corner. I actually go the other way around because it's easier for me. Most instructions I've found say to go from the inside to the outside, making it thicker as you go because it's easier for most. I simply find it easier to go from thick to thin. That's a personal preference: the point is simply to have the outside liner be just a few hairs thicker than the inside.
• Now: the kick. There are a few ways to do this. Some people take their brush and make a tiny line that points from the edge of their eyeliner to the outside point of their eyebrow. Personally, I just extend the liner a little ways out from where I drew it, like the above picture. I do this because, after my lashes are curled and done, the kick then looks like an extension of my eyelashes as opposed to a line on my face.

Step 5: Curl your lashes. Apply mascara. I like mascaras that volumize them. Easy-peasy!

Step 6: Shade in your brows. Most pin-ups have beautiful, arching brows, dark in contrast to the rest of their faces. Do not re-draw your brows. Simply fill them in so that you get the same look. Also, make sure their plucked and neat first (which should be a given).

Step 7: Outline your lips. Now, if you haven't been born with Angelina's or Scarlett's gorgeous pout, fear not. Neither was Marilyn Monroe. No, Ms. Monroe was a guilty as any of today's models and actresses when it came to altering her looks. Here's a before and after:

So, while there's no need to completely re-draw your lips (and it will look silly if you do), if you fudge the lines in your favor, it would be nice. Just remember to keep it symmetrical! Also, lightly fill in the whole lip area with lip-liner. I do this because, in case my lipstick starts to wear off, it's less obvious if I have a good base. Alternately, the step can be skipped if you use any long-lasting lipstick (which I will do, because, face it, red lipstick is a pain).

Step 7: Apply lipstick in the correct area you have made with the lipliner. It's just like a paint-by-numbers you had as a child. Only on your face. If you want more precision, use a brush, as many professional makeup artists do. :)

Finish by LIGHTLY brushing the loose powder over your face. You want to set your makeup and ensure it doesn't smudge into oblivion, but you do not want to look like a cake. And watch for excess around your nose and other crease-y areas. You don't want to pull a Nicole Kidman, do you?

Good luck, my darlings!!

Rite of Passage: My first Corset

Actually, that's a lie. This isn't my first corset. It's my first *real* corset.

I've decided to start waist training. To some this may seem archaic -- but then I would ask what you're doing on this blog. Part of me thinks that maybe, in general, women should never have stopped with our fancy undergarments. Not only are they sexy, but very functional.

I decided to take on waist-training for vanity and for "medical" reasons. I have lousy posture. I really do. I sit at a computer all day, bored as anything, which causes a lot of slouching. One can't slouch in a steel-boned corset! For vanity -- this will shrink my waist and my appetite. I have weight issues -- I'm not large by any means but I can't seem to get any smaller and I really do need to lose just 10 more lbs. That's it! If I could lose it around my waist, that would be ideal. Plus, my breasts look fantastic over a corset.

If anyone is considering being a pin-up model, or even just a model, I highly recommend doing this. I think we, as a society, have stopped placing importance on posture and it's something we do need. It makes you look slimmer, and it makes you look like a better person: confident, intelligent. Of course, posture can only help so much. If you aren't confident or intelligent, you can wear a corset, but opening your pretty mouth will betray you.

Oh, and if you're considering waist training, find the right shops online. I bought mine from Orchard Corsets. A good, custom made corset will cost you a pretty penny; but they are reasonable enough for your average corset-wearer. Whatever that thing is that Fredrick's of Hollywood sells is NOT a corset. It's just a brocade tube top and won't help a thing.

Dita Von Teese

Marilyn’s Stuffing

Adapted from “Fragments” by Marilyn Monroe (Farrar, Straus & Giroux; $30)

Time: 2 hours

Ingredients:

A 10-ounce loaf sourdough bread
1/2 pound chicken or turkey livers or hearts
1/2 pound ground round or other beef
1 tablespoon cooking oil
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
2 cups chopped curly parsley
2 eggs, hard boiled, chopped
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 cup grated Parmesan
1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts, pine nuts or roasted chestnuts, or a combination
2 teaspoons dried crushed rosemary
2 teaspoons dried crushed oregano
2 teaspoons dried crushed thyme
3 bay leaves
1 tablespoon salt-free, garlic-free poultry seasoning (or 1 teaspoon dried sage, 1 teaspoon marjoram, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg)
1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1 tablespoon pepper.

Directions:

1. Split the bread loaf in half and soak it in a large bowl of cold water for 15 minutes. Wring out excess water over a colander and shred into pieces.

2. Boil the livers or hearts for 8 minutes in salted water, then chop until no piece is larger than a coffee bean.

3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef in the oil, stirring occasionally and breaking up the meat, so no piece is larger than a pistachio.

4. In your largest mixing bowl, combine the sourdough, livers, ground beef, celery, onion, parsley, eggs, raisins, Parmesan and nuts, tossing gently with your hands to combine. Whisk the rosemary, oregano, thyme, bay leaves, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper together in a bowl, scatter over the stuffing and toss again with your hands. Taste and adjust for salt. Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use as a stuffing or to bake separately as dressing.

Yield: 20 cups, enough for one large turkey, 2 to 3 geese or 8 chickens.

Comment ça va? Do you feel good? Oo, I'll bet you do!

Hello, my darlings!

Well, truthfully, I have no darlings yet. My little fledgling blog has yet to really fly out of the nest; but here's hoping it finds a way!

I hope to use this blog as a way to support the ideas and looks of Old Hollywood Glamour. Most of you finding this will already know what I mean: Marilyn Monroe, Rita Hayworth, Bette Davis, Marlene Dietrich, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Elizabeth Taylor...just to name a few.

To be a pin-up in the past wasn't necessarily a *good* thing. What's tame to our eyes today was risque and synonymous with sex and eroticism. There have long been supporters of the art form, those who see it as a way to positively shed light on the healthy (aka: not emaciated) female form. The protestors see it as a way of objectifying women.

To me, to my modern eye, I see pin-up as a way to return to being feminine in style. It is easy for me to say, my gender is no longer expected to be just a housewife or a secretary aspiring to be a rich housewife. And I have a lot of stong women to thank for that. Pin-up to me is a way of being sexy and remaining classy. It's a way of caring about how you look and act and dress. It's about etiquette and intelligence and attitude and pride in who you are. I think, as a society, we blur the genders more than ever. That's fine for some, but I am damned proud of being a woman and I 'enjoy being a girl.' Marilyn Monroe once said: "I don't mind living in a man's world as long as I can be a woman in it." That resonates with me. I can be strong. I actually do many traditionally masculine activities. But I will do them with lipstick and heels, and I will do them with class. And, most importantly, I will do them well.

After all, these glamour icons didn't let much get in their way (save for the occasional pill or drinkie-poo, but we won't go there), why should I?

Hopefully, I can change a few minds and everyone will go out into this world a classier human being. That way, I can go to Disneyland and not have some girl walk up to me and ask, "Do you know where I can take a dump?" I really wish that was a made up reminiscence. It's not.

Marlene Dietrich