Take a step back in time to the South Pacific, Pearl harbour circa 1941. To the sounds of the big band and war time rationing. To a time when the ladies wore victory rolls and red lipstick, seamed stockings and girdles... 

last week we had such a stunning shoot at the SADF Museum with the ladies. There was so much to look at I was beside myself - literally got goose bumps walking through the museum, then later in the hanger I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

We were lucky enough to have the use of an authentic airforce jacket from the 40's for a few pics which was AMAZING!

The Fly cap was made by Miss Happ from a vintage pattern that I had managed to source - I found out yesterday that it's an American fly cap from WWII. I had made it in two different colurs and fabrics, and added contrast piping. We had also borrowed a badge from the museum to finish it off properly.

I had spent the last two days making up a special military inspired corset from a lovely khaki wool, also had the perfect anchor buttons, that I was told by the museum curator yesterday where actually the authentic navy buttons! Little did I know at the time...no wonder they were so perfect! We made up a stone coloured high waist skirt with back box pleat and contrast black piping down the side - which tied up to the cap. And of course we had the seamed fishnet stocings to complete that look.

When we walked into the hanger where we were shooting there were these two old bombs there and I just knew what had to be done! We had to do something is that 40's cheese cake style...Everybody thought I was slightly MAD, but it looked super cool! It's a fun pic and very much in the Cheese cake photography style!

The Blue tiki dress that we used was one of my Miss Happ dresses that I currently have for sale in my shop, as well as the parasol which added perfectly to the scene.

I worked with a great team which is always a pleasure. We all did the photos as a way to promote our various businesses, and in my case my clothing and accessories - some of which are already for sale in my shop. This is what I am passionate about and I was in heaven!

Credit for the shoot are:

-Photograher: Lorna D

-Model : Elouise Kellerman 

-MUA & Hair : Chante le Suer Hagen 

-Styling: Mandy Miss Happ

-Wardrobe: Miss Happ Clothing & Accessories

And btw, all clothing & accessories (fly cap included) are by Miss Happ :) and are avail from my Etsy store, and I also have two fly caps at Wildfire (canal Walk).

Till next time!

Mx

Telkom goes Classic!

Last week I was at Canal walk running around doing a few things when I literally stopped dead in my tracks....there in the window of the Telkom store was something that made me want to shout "I WANT NOW!".  There was the coolest vintage styled telephone right there begging me to take it home - and the best part is that it is fully compatible with all our modern needs! Yeah! Just what a modern pinup girl needs!

"The Classic 100 is a vintage design phone finished in wood with antique brass look. The Classic 100 is a table top model with modern day electronics integrated in the design to ensure reliability and network compatibility"

Also If you already have a Telkom account you can put the phone on account which enables you to pay it off over 6 or 12 months which is great!

for more go to their web site:

Till next time!

NEW STOCK just in at HELLO AGAIN, LONG STREET

Just a quick one to let you know that I delivered a whole bunch of pretty goodies to Hello Again today including our new Vintage range of hair bows and brooches. 

223 Long Street, 8001 Cape Town

Choose for images of Alice in Wonderland to sweet bunnies and the ever classic Bambi in our necklaces and hair clips. Colours are neutral with natural calico, sage and duck egg blue being our chosen palette. Bows feature retro newsprints and musical notes with our traditional charms sitting pretty in their center.....we sure had fun creating these pretty styles for you girls!

Also, as part of our Rockabilly Range look out for our COLA ROSETTE HAIR CLIP - such a sweet design which plays on the old fashioned look of Coca Cola and is our little way of celebrating the Iconic brand's 125th Birthday...and besides... I couldn't resist the totally cute Cola Bottles when I found them!

Hello Again also has some of our super fab 50's inspired sunglasses, so for all those girls that just gotta have a pair, do pop by...stock is limited and prices are great, so don't leave it too late!

For more on Hello again, please do take a peek at the blog:

http://helloagainshop.blogspot.com/

Till next time!

What is Vintage?

I have noticed of late that the word "Vintage" is being used alot. I must admit that I myself use the term "vintage inspired" to describe my own clothing label, Miss Happ which has very distinct 50's influences. But the lines seemed to have started to blur.

I see the younger generation referring to garments made in the 80's as vintage which makes my skin crawl! hey! I lived and grew up in the 80's and think of it as nothing but a trashy, neon mess, and hardly vintage at all...which made me stop and think...What exactly is Vintage and why is it being used to flipantley????

First stop....the oxford dictionary: "denoting something from the past of high quality, especially something representing the best of its kind" ok, so that doesn't seem to help much except that we know it's something old.....

Wikipedia says: "..clothing which was produced before the 1920s is referred to as antique clothing and clothing from the 1920s to 1980s is considered vintage.." ok, so this is beginning to make sense...

Although, it is from About.com seems to sum it all up nicely: "The term vintage is used to describe clothing between 20 and 100* years old which is clearly representitive of the era in which it was produced. It is important to understand that the definition of vintage is fluid, so every decade brings forth new items as "vintage". It is also important to understand that all vintage will eventually become antique. 

So, bottom line is that much to my horror, the terrible 80's style that is now being termed as "vintage" is correct, and that the younger generation of fashion designers who are using it as a "major design influence" have allowed the 80's to be cool"? oh how terrible!I I always thought that anything from the 60 and under was vintage, but how wrong was I? Or maybe I am just getting old??!! lol! For me it's scary to suddenly be putting the beautiful clothing of the 50's in the same catagory as the trashy 80's....but it is what it is! terrible, but true!

 

Vs.

 yeah, both vintage! hard to believe!

Till next time!

 

A revival of old-fashioned elegance

With the return of both the kitten heel and the 1950s silhouette, we are seeing a revival of old-fashioned elegance that has also had an impact on eyewear trends. Sexy, feminine and playful, cat's-eye-shaped eyewear is an antidote to the masculine Aviators and unisex Wayfarers that have been hugely popular of late.

 Sonia Rykiel piles glamour on to her rounded feline frames through the application of clusters of diamonds and sparkly stones & Tom Ford goes back to a classic!