The Retro Natural

Old Things: The 1940s Chest

2012-02-29T10:31:00.000-08:00

By now you're probably quite aware that I really like old things, they're full of stories and I enjoy thinking about their uses, who had them in their possession and where they came from. I try not to think about the fact that a family pet may have perhaps peed on them at one point in time or another. I try to shrug that part off. Here's a very old chest from 1940 that belongs to my sweetheart (who also loves old things) and is now filled with seasonal clothing that shouldn't be worn at the moment. I'm focusing on the details, the details! Why? Because an old chest looks like a simple box but when you see the details, it becomes much more interesting...and I'll admit that I'm a fan of macro-esque photography. Close up shots of bees are just amazing!

~The Retro Natural

All About Vaudeville

2012-02-15T14:49:00.000-08:00

I love looking at Vaudeville photos. They tend to capture movement, great costumes and really great hair and makeup! Vaudeville came about in France and it was an entertainment comedy show about the trials and tribulations of life at the time. I feel as though we try to put on airs when it comes to entertainment nowadays but I suppose that's because we've become a society that greatly values escapism?

Here are a few photos I found via Google images. Aren't they great? I'm sure we had some amazing entertainers in the past....such a shame. Not to say there aren't great entertainers out in the world but they aren't in the spotlight much. We all know why that is so we'll just keep it moving. True talent doesn't sell as often in this world unfortunately. Looks and marketability matter more. Such is life though. I guess this is why I marvel at our entertainers of yesteryear so much and why I'd rather look at a million photos from the past than the airbrushed ones from last week. Oh and of course the clothes and hair have something to do with it ;)

All Photos found via Google Images

Because I was Celebrating Yesterday...

2012-02-15T14:25:00.000-08:00

Soooo...Happy Valentine's Day m'dears! :) I hope love is in the air for you all...whether it's your sweetheart, your bestest friend ever, your doggie or your turtle, always spread the love!

~The Retro Natural

All Things Natural Hair Care Seminar

2012-02-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Lovies,

I should have posted this last week, but a last, I have failed you. Not truly...just being a bit dramatic! Anywho, there's a great educational hair care seminar happening on February 18th. It's being put on by Mahogany Hair Revolution (a lovely salon whether you're natural or not) and I did a giveaway on YouTube (congrats to Karma and Kyma!) and I wanted to just post the details for the Los Angeles folks who want to learn more about haircare and the problems we all face from experts. At this event we'll learn about scalp issues, hair loss, growing longer, healthier hair and a bit about being a product junkie and how to overcome it. I'm excited because although I can do my own hair pretty well, I'm a bit ignorant to issues of the hair such as why we get dandruff or the type of hair loss we can experience. I'm ready to learn! A warm fuzzy shout out to Nicole Harmon of Hair Liberty and Dr. Kari Williams of Mahogany Hair Revolution for allowing me to offer tickets to my subscribers and attend the seminar. Check out the details of the seminar below.

(Click to view larger)

Hope to see some of ya there!

~The Retro Natural

Link Love: Vintage Advertisements with Afros & Black History Month

2012-02-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

I've been a little busy lately and pooooped when I arrive home so I'm taking this time to work on some posts. One thing I've been excited about it the fact that it's Black History Month and via the various blogs I follow, I'm bound to see oodles of articles on Black Americans who educated themselves, fought for opportunity and busted down a few walls too. History reminds me of what once was and what could potentially be should we choose to forget. There's a lot going on in the world today and people are noticing the the power that they lack. From the Occupy movements to the fight for marriage equality, people are angry and they're demanding change as well as respect and equal rights. So, I'm happily celebrating victory from the historical past and hopefully for the near future.

In the mean time, Afro Glitz rocks my socks for showcasing these wonderful ads from the 60s and 70s featuring the afro . Can I get a "I'm Black and I'm proud!"? *high five* Happy Black History Month everyone. :)

Click Here - Pick Fros not Fights!

~The Retro Natural

Snapshots: A 'Great Waves' Hair Set

2012-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

I got my waves back a few weeks ago..it was nice to don them again, they make me feel really glam - even in jeans! My hair is rolled up all over at the moment, photos forth coming of course. I'm gonna be working on my blog soon, I'd like to make it easier for you all to find tutorials/pictorials and I think a page dedicated to that should suffice. Sooooo...it's in the works. :)

~Til then!

Couldn't leave without posting a dorky photo..I think we all should all post one every now and again. ;)

~The Retro Natural

Snapshots: Mug Shot DTLA

2012-01-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

A lil' snapshot of me from December at Mug Shot in Downtown L.A. from when I went to see Bitch play. Bitch is an amazing musician if ya didn't know! Quick set but tons of fun! I hope I look this nice if I'm ever taken down to the station - I'm not smiling because ...who smiles during a mug shot photo? ;)

~The Retro Natural

Tan Magazine Vintage Covers

2012-01-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

Loving this post from 16 Stone Vintage, they never fail to amaze me with their posts! I never knew of this wonderful spread of covers from Tan Magazine. I kinda wanna collect them now! :)

Check it out!

~The Retro Natural

Good Bye to One of the Greats

2012-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

I heard the news but didn't get a moment to post. RIP Miss Etta, you were a whole lotta woman and you left a big fat beauty mark on the lives of many. I'm not 100% sure that that makes sense but it's what came out first and I'm gonna roll with it. :)

~The Retro Natural

An Oldy but a Goody + New Mascara!

2012-01-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've been wearing my modern looking afro, sometimes referred to as a curly fro. I used to wear this often and I suppose I forgot about it..now it's floated back into my life.

I also have a new love. I'm not sure why I never thought to try out Physicians Formula's organic wear mascara but I absolutely love it! It lengthens and it doesn't take eons to get off and those are the most important things in a mascara. This company also doesn't test on our furry friends, which is a deal breaker for me when it comes to makeup/body products.

Going backwards a bit...I made a video a long time ago that showed how I get it to have this curly fro look and texture. My hair today is in need of a wash so it didn't set properly. It's also much longer so it doesn't necessarily have the same amount of volume as when it was a little shorter. But that's alright.. this is perhaps my best curly fro to date in the video. Check it out below if you wanna give it a try!

~The Retro Natural

The burlesques Snippet You've Been Waiting For

2012-01-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

Yes, lovies, it's finally here. My apologies on the delay. For those of you who may not know, I'm also CurlyChronicles on YouTube so that's the handle you hear me mention in the beginning :)
This is my quick little Happy New Year video, late yes, but still relevant ha! My voice is ~~still a tiny bit sore~~ super sexy too!

Enjoy!

~The Retro Natural

Retro Style: The Flapper Gal

2012-01-17T09:29:00.000-08:00

The hair, the makeup (yes, yes the photos are black and white but you get the idea!) the style, the moxy. Ahhhh, I love flapper girls of the 1920s! Some were bad girls who partied too much and stayed out smoking and drinking way too late but we've all had some fun nights like those and besides, carpe diem, no? I get a kick (pun absolutely intended) out of the shenanigans of women in the 20s because it was a tough time for us and I really take delight in seeing women do what they want and for me, working your damn job, rebelliously cutting your hair and rolling down your stockings makes for a very rad lady! I kinda wanna dress up as one for Halloween but I'm torn on that and Josephine Baker. Hard decisions, I tell you!

Anywho, enjoy!

My much coveted modern flapper look!

All images from Google Images

~The Retro Natural

Obsessed! Hair Setting Tools

2012-01-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

Pardon my recent bout of laziness...I'm off for Martin Luther King Day and I've been in the house resting, still have some residue left from the flu and my throat's been a tad tickle-ish and sore.

If you're in the loop as it pertains to the natural hair movement that's spread like wildfire in the last few years, you know that natural haired gals test out many products. It's just something ya gotta do when you're looking to figure out what works on your curly head of hair. I tried a decent number products in the first few years but settled on a few staples. Gals who like to try out products sometimes become obsessed with trying out products and become known simply as "product junkies". I'm not one of them. It seems my weakness has been hair setting. I'm very much interested in trying out pretty much every roller or hair setting device out there..but I won't be because I'm taking a break..but we can still go over the various ways of getting different looks with different rollers and setting tools, can't we? Thank you for indulging with me!

I've tried Curlformers but I don't enjoy sleeping in them so I don't think I'll be using them regularly.The curls actually fall out pretty quickly (so don't brush your hair like I did in my tutorial!) plus the stick broke and I haven't gotten a new one. Maybe I can just fix it. Either way, they're much more of a hassle and that trumps everything else.

I've tried satin covered foam rollers and they do work well but I have to use more of them so my hair actually dries all the way..I've taken some down and noticed damp hair so more is more..less isn't best!

I've tried out flexi rods, by far my favorite to use because they deliver great results. Plus my hair is shiney and bouncy with minimal effort. If I put too many in my head (10-15) they're not fun to sleep in but it's manageable. Normally I use 10-15 the first night and can use less the next night because my hair's been elongated a bit by them. For me, these are probably the best rollers ever!

I've tried out magnetic rollers and while the result is okay, it's often a hit or miss with these things. I think it has to do with mastering the technique needed to put them in. They take too long to put in too, I always have to re-roll and re-pin.

I'd like to try out wave clamps to see what 20s style finger wave looking styles I can come up with. I'm not sure if I'll get the look I want though, I haven't seen them used on curly hair, only straight hair.

I also would like to try water wave combs. Again, not sure how I'd perfect the use of them, but I'd give them a go to see what I could come up with. Check out this patent for them. Neat, right?

Rag rollers are on my list too..someday..It'll take me a while I'm sure before I try all these rollers out. These are modern ones, you can make your own with strips of fabric though. I may opt for that since it's a much less expensive method.

Annnnnnnnd Ryler Stylers, yep, I kinda wanna try these out too. Curly B, a fellow natural, was inspired by the retro styles and did a great tutorial using them. Check it out!

So there you have it, rollers and the such that you can use for waves and curls. Twisting can work too but it depends on what look you want to get. Merry hair rolling!

~The Retro Natural

Alive & Kicking!

2012-01-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hey lovies!

I've been down for the count for a few days battling the flu - it's so awful, oh so awful - but I'm feeling much better now and getting the last of the virus out of my system. I only took off three days from work which isn't too bad..most people are out a week or so. So I'll get back to posting now!

One of the Baddest Retro Styles Ever!

2012-01-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

The Afro. Well..my take on it. It's not as round as they were in the 70s but it works.

I'm donning one for the time being and it's a nice effortless style that brings out the "watch yo' mouth!" in me, ha! It also makes me wanna watch blaxploitation flicks... I love Pam Grier!

I'm giving rollers a break because I'm noticing that the hair near my hairline has been breaking off a bit..I believe it's the roller setting I've done. So, I'll let that go for a while. You have to be mindful of when things aren't benefiting your hair. So I'll be twisting and braiding more..I'll do roller sets once in a while or for a special event/performance.

Are you taking a break on a setting routine or style that hasn't been benefiting your hair? I gave up puffs too because my hairline doesn't like that style for a long period of time.

~The Retro Natural

More Old Photographs of Entertainers

2012-01-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

Still fawning over old photos from archives.gov....absolutely delightful!Click to view them larger!

Yep, Ms. Lena Horne!

...and Ms. Josephine Baker!

~The Retro Natural

Happy New Year & BENT Photos!

2012-01-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

Hey lovies!

Happy New Year to you all! I hope this year brings you good health and good old-fashioned fun! This year has been a tough one but also a fun one. I've gotten to do things I've never done before like perform and I've cultured friendships and be more social. The economy falling on its face was pretty bad and though I could feel its effects, I still managed to take delight in the little things. I haven't shopped as much as I'd like but I'm very happy with where my wardrobe is at the moment.

So about the video, it'll take me another day or two because I've been extremely lazy and my editing software has been giving me the finger for some time now. I'll be able to get that posted soon but the photos from the show are here and I wanted to share a few with you. I really enjoyed switching from a drag king to a burlesque performer in one night. It was very fun and it flowed so nicely! Next show should be in March and I'm super excited as always! Marlon Brandingo makes a comeback and Chi Chi Chambray makes a debut. I'd like to thank Vanessa Adams Photography for capturing these really great shots!

Hope you enjoy!

Photo credit Vanessa Adams Photography

~The Retro Natural

Good Times and Classy Drinks wth Cultural Discussion at the Biltmore

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

I went to an afro punk meetup where we decided to celebrate the first day of Kwanzaa and we chose a location that had both cultural significance and a beautiful art deco look. The Biltmore was a luxury hotel that Black American's couldn't enter. How nice is it to enter those doors that our relatives from the past couldn't? It's a beautiful atmosphere so I soaked it all in noticing the details and art that seemed to fill up any spaces that normally would've been blank.

My sister came along but I don't like to post photos of people without permission, so sis, if you're reading (waves) let me know if you'd like your mugshot here on my blog! :)

I managed to get a snapshot (albeit is an angry looking one) of my face/hair/makeup. My camera is a bit special and my sis wasn't the best at figuring it out so you'll be presented with a horribly blurry photo of yours truly. It's art!

I loved that all the little things were different..the signage holders are so full of life..most hotels only really have dull, gold easels that hold your signage at hotels. This hotel lobby was so overwhelming, I hardly knew what to take a photo of..I got away with maybe 10 shots or so.. (didn't want to look like a tourist in my own town) and I think I did pretty well considering the crap camera I had.

The drinks were beautiful and really good. I had a 1920s Dream, a very girly drink of pineapple and orange juice with vodka I think. There was also a drink called The Black Dahlia, named after Elizabeth Short who was last seen alive at the Gallery Bar (where we were) before she was murdered. Interesting facts and conversations and drinks. The holiday lights added a nice warmness to the rooms. Hope you're enjoying the end of the year!

~The Retro Natural

Black American Women during WW2

2011-12-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays everyone! I'm enjoying my days off so much, I have to make myself come online!

One of the things I don't have many memories of is old photographs of Black Americans from the 30s, 40s 50s (outside of my own family album that is!). Back when I was a kid (oh my, I sound old!) we didn't have the internet and it was rare that Black kids saw photos of Black people in books and magazines...let alone from the Roaring 20s or the 30s - 50s. You'd have to spend some time in the library and that wasn't likely because you had to be there for homework projects - who wanted to stay after that was all said and done? So, as an adult, I like seeing searching for photos of Black Americans from time to time checking out what was goin' on way back when. I stumbled upon these photos and was amazed that such great photographs of Black women in the military were archived. I see men all time time but hardly any women. Nice job archives.gov!

These really made me smile. Hope they make you smile as well!

Photo Credit: www.archives.gov

~The Retro Natural

Rolls Galore

2011-12-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Since many peopl celebrate many different traditions, I'll just say Happy Chrismahanukwanzika to all of ya. Whatever you may be celebrating today, more of that! :) I'm on vacation until January 3rd so I'm feeling as sluggish as ever..supremely sloth-like! I haven't been taking many photos but I forgot about a few i had from the last holiday.

I wore my hair in rolls for Thanksgiving, I pretty much combined my Gibson Roll with some pseudo victory rolls..natural victory rolls...maybe I should coin the term natra-rolls for rolls done on curly/kinky hair?I'll work on a tutorial, I feel psychic, I feel questions inquiring about one coming up very soooooon! haha!

~The Retro Natural

Holiday Time Festivities

2011-12-22T08:14:00.000-08:00

I've been having a lot more fun this holiday season than I did last year. I figured I'd post a few snippets from my shenanigans. My hair's not really retro but sometimes it's less about the hair and more about the festivities! Warning: lights, glitter and fun ahead!

Went to a tree trimming party..my hair caught on fire but all was well. Luckily I have tons of hair! Stay away from votive candles gals! Great party Natasha! :)

A better view of my crochet holiday fascinator.

I went to a holiday party and this was my white elephant gift ( I swapped for this one, they're so sparkly!) that I went home with. They're glittery earrings made from a cd! I'll show a better shot of my fascinator down below.

A very retro musical Rudolph, his nose even lights up!

Somewhat close up shot of my friend's X-mas tree, one of the most unique ones I've seen!

Retro ornaments are the best!

I danced and did karaoke at the end of the night...what can I say, my glass of wine overfloweth! Oh and this is a different crochet fascinator, it's mistletoe! I thought it'd go great with the crochet sweater/skirt combo. Again, awesome party Ang 'n Kat!

Hope you're enjoying your holiday festivities thus far! I'm sure I'll be sharing more snapshots!

~The Retro Natural

Burlesque Snapshots

2011-12-22T08:13:00.000-08:00

I don't have any photos from the show yet but here are a few that I've put into a little collage for the time being. I didn't get good video of the drag routine but there will be photos!

I'll be back with more soon!

~The Retro Natural

Hand Colored Photos

2011-12-19T10:02:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovies!

I'll have a few photo snapshots from the oh-so-fun drag and burlesque performances I did for BENT soon (and I may post a snippet from my numbers as well!) but one thing is for sure, I absolutely love performing burlesque and I'm totally going back for more ;) ..in the mean time, who knew that coloring photos by hand was a trend back in the old days? I thought it was a special developing sort of thing. Either way, I love it ...perhaps even more since it's DIY!

Check out this post over at 16 Stone Vintage on hand colored photographs

Enjoy!

~The Retro Natural

Link Love: Vintage Black Glamour!

2011-12-15T08:40:00.000-08:00

Love this tumblr I recently found, Vintage Black Glamour. Visit and peak at all the loveliness that's taking place!

Fajr of Stylish Thought has a lovely post on ...

Retro Natural won a Contest!

2011-12-09T10:17:00.000-08:00

A little while ago, I was delightfully pleased to find that I won a pair of Pretty Polly stockings from Peek Brooklyn. Seamed stockings at that! Woo hoo! Look ma' - no hands!

Thank you to Desiree of Pop-O-Matic Deluxe for offering the contest, I didn't think I'd actually win, but I've got a new pair of stockings that I cannot wait to wear! If you're not familiar with Desiree's blog, you should definitely take a gander. She finds the coolest vintage decor items and she's got some vintage clothing I'd steal if I were a thief - good thing mom taught me better than that! ;)

Getting my mail!

The grand opening, love their packaging!

Ahhhh, pretttttty! The seams stayed in place pretty well for someone putting on seamed stockings for the first time!

Peek Brooklyn has really cool brands and styles, so do drop by and take a peek, pun absolutely intended! I'm loving these Pretty Polly's, they seem sturdy and though very sheer and 10 denier (what's that? read on below!) I didn't feel like I had to be super delicate with them. Plus the sheerness is quite sassy and the Cuban style heel is oh so cute! Thanks Desiree for offering the contest! I will wear these babies with as many outfits as humanly possible!

Now, education time!

Do you know about denier as it pertains to stockings? It sounds like duh-neer - at least that's how the online dictionary pronounced it for me. ;)

Here's a little breakdown so you know what to look for when stocking shopping.

Ultra-Sheer (less than 10 denier): these stockings will offer you the appearance of bare legs but you'll get the bonus of a little coverage. Be very careful when putting on ultra-sheer stockings, as they are delicate.
Sheer (10-20 denier): these stockings are stronger than the ultra-sheer and great for both everyday and evening wear.
Semi-opaque (25-35 denier): these will be even stronger than the sheer and will last longer, while still looking quite elegant.
Opaque (40 denier plus): these durable and long-lasting stockings are practical for everyday wear and offer added warmth in winter.
(from www.freshpair.com)

Alright, now have fun stocking shopping!

~The Retro Natural

Natural Bloom November Edition

2011-12-07T08:07:00.000-08:00

I spazzed out and forgot that the November edition of Natural Bloom came out. I think this is due to the fact that somehow I'm not subscribed, what the hell? I could've sworn I was..however, all that'd fixed now and here's the digital edition for your viewing pleasure. Check out the Fall (and Winter too, I suppose!) vintage hair tutorial by me! If you're a new subscriber and you'd like to check out past issues, click this lovely link here. As always I thank Jc for allowing me to be included in such a cool e-mag! :)

BENT - Holidays are a Drag!

2011-12-06T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hello lovies!

Happy to announce that I'll be performing for my second time at BENT 9 - Holidays are a Drag, a gender bender showcase where women perform as men, men perform as women and as well women perform as women and men perform as men...Yes, a bit confusing but that's the point ;) I'll be performing once again as Marlon Brandingo (I love that name!) and making my burlesque debut as Chi Chi Chambray! I'm really excited to do both but more excited for the burlesque because I've always wanted to perform burlesque. Ah, dream come true!

Check the deeeetails below and join me if you're in the area! It's a lot of fun and the crowd is great.

Purchase pre-sale tickets here!

The Classic Red Lip

2011-12-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Mia wanted me to do a tutorial so this is for you Miss Mia! :) Here's a quick pictorial on how I get my red lip. It's pretty simple, I'm not big on too many steps, I get bored somewhat quickly and start skipping so rather than do 9 steps and then skip 2 or 3, I just have a few steps, moisturize, line, fill in.

Start with moisturizing those lips! I find that when I apply lip liner to bare lips, it doesn't apply as smoothly and my lips are - duh!- super dry. I'm using Alba Botanica's lip balm - tastes like passion fruit!

Then grab your lip liner. I use Arbonne's lip liner in Cherry.

I do this half smile when applying the liner so it goes on smoothly. Lips should be taught but not too taught. Don't do a half smile anywhere else though, people will know it's fake!

I fill in my lips because my lipstick seems to last longer. Some people only line the outer area...do what works for ya!

Then I used my raggedy lip brush (not pictured because it's so raggedy) and apply a layer of lip color. My lipstick is Urban Decay's Revolution. I like Arbonne's Bravo a bit better though. I've been using Urban Decay's lipstick for the last few months and while I like the color a lot, it's a bit too shiny for me. I apply a thin layer so it doesn't shine too much. I prefer Arbonne's Bravo but it's brighter and usually better suited for Summer or Spring.

That's it! Simple eh?

I usually apply lipstick twice, once in the morning and after I've eaten lunch because most of it comes off and I'm not the least bit concerned with makeup when it's chow time! Sometimes I'll want to have a fresh set of lips after work especially if I have somewhere to go show them off. Do you have any tips for the red lipstick wearers out there? I'm sure they'll be greatly appreciated!

~The Retro Natural

Wall Art - Elephant in the City

2011-12-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

I was at a sporty event a while back and had to get a photo of this lovely wall art. I dig wall art... I mean, would you have the patience to do this? It's awe inspiring! Don't mind my giddiness lol..I was trying to stay on the curb for the photo but it wasn't working out so well. Kinda tiffed that we didn't get the whole elephant but that's ok!

~The Retro Natural

Thanksgiving Snapshots

2011-12-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

So here are a few snapshots from Thanksgiving, I didn't do that much over the weekend but it was really mellow and really fun!

- I decided to try pseudo victory rolls..they're really not but tomato/tomahto ;)

- I played with Snuffles, my mom's dog who's often referred to as my brother, my mom is so in love with this doggie, it's adorable! I didn't want him flashing the masses so I pasted on a ..doggie pasty(?) to make it a bit more appropriate. He wore a t shirt but no pants. Oh for shame, mom!

- My baby sister made vegan lasagna for me and the mrs. It was ah-mazing!

- Me and the mrs. went to an old school arcade, complete with a vintage carousel! It's officially going to be a monthly thing, did I tell you, I'm a big kid? I wasn't in retro attire and my hair was such a bird's nest but sometimes, on certain lazy, weekend days, you just don't care and that's perfectly alright!

Hope you enjoyed!

~The Retro Natural

Thanksgiving Festivities

2011-11-26T13:48:00.000-08:00

I trust that everyone is in the spirit of gratitude and thanks and I hope you're enjoying the long weekend (well for those of you who have a long weekend) and eating tons of yummy food. My Thanksgiving was pretty simple but very fun and I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. I'll share a few photos in the next post but in the mean time, keep calm and carry on with the festivities! :)

~The Retro Natural

The Weekend - Chilly, Mellow Days

2011-11-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

I'm normally missing in action over the weekend..resting it up and trying to have a bit of fun. But I thought I'd start a series on weekend snapshots to share. These will just be a little photo re-cap of various activities (or lack thereof like in this first series from the weekend before Thanksgiving weekend! Plus I forgot to bring the camera with me so no Thanksgiving shots just yet!)

Ate a whole pomegranate in one sitting. It was amazing!

Used my new tea crochet doily so I don't make anymore water stains on the wooden tables.

It rained for a little while so I kinda sat around, lazily I might add. Felt great!

Cozy, fuzzy socks and house slippers all day - don't judge me - we have tile flooring, it's freezing!

~The Retro Natural

Great Upcoming Sale at Ester Woo Vintage!

2011-11-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

Oh my..my lovies :) hope you take advantage! I spy with my little eye many pretty things from Ester Woo Vintage.

Visit Ester Woo Vintage and have fun!

~The Retro Natural

My Winter Crochet Project

2011-11-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

This is what I wanna make for Winter. Super cool right? Tutorial is here for anyone who wants to try it out with me. Hopefully, I'll be able to get started on it within a week. I hate when I mark something cool to try and then never get to it!

Getting Crafty

2011-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

So whilst on my vacay, I got my arts & crafts on and felt thoroughly accomplished after measuring and sewing and folding and gluing. These are the fun things I came up with when I wasn't sniffling like a sick puppy.

Bows galore! There are great tutorials out there for bow making. Wanna make the black dropped tail bow? click here! Wanna make the double layer olive green bow? Watch this video and make one smaller to stack on the larger one.

Bows and compacts and my still unfinished bathroom door.

The red and black bow was a DIY project from left over ribbon. I'm going to enjoy wearing these. Next project I'd like to get into will be 30s style crochet cloches..I've tried before and it didn't quite work out. With a bit of dedication, I'm sure I can make it - eventually.

I was inspired by a post from DC Metro Retro's blog (scroll down until you see her adorable bobby pin tin - I made one of those too!) and made a few Dorothy Dandridge revamped compact mirrors. All you need are photos printed on paper, glue and clear nail polish! It's pretty simple!

Have you been crafting lately? What have you made?

~The Retro Natural

The Vacay and Ponderings

2011-11-16T08:48:00.000-08:00

So I'm back from a little vacation time, 5 days worth...though I'm hesitant to use the word vacation because it didn't truly feel like it..I got sick on Thursday evening (my first day off) and fought off the sniffles by Saturday. Way to go immune system! I did get to piddle paddle around with arts and crafts so that resulted in more bows for my hair and decorated compacts with my favorite vintage, Black American bombshells on them..hello Ms. Dandridge! Sunday was pretty mellow and Monday was a day of getting a tired repaired, another one replaced, and various oil leaks fixed at the mechanics.

I was going to post this graphic to let you all know I'd be away but I didn't get quite get there.

(Didn't get to go hiking, nor make any hats or try new styles, hmph lol)

I officially started back at work Tuesday and now it's back to the same schedule. I'm noticing on other blogs that people take little hiatuses and some even shut down their blog due to losing the desire to write, being busy with work/school/life, and other things that take up more time. I've been thinking about this moreso in relation to my YouTube channel. (note: I haven't posted a video in months!) It was easier for me to shoot, edit and post videos when I only drove a total daily distance of 6 miles but now that my daily commute is 46 miles...I don't have time nor do I want to work on anything that has to do with a pc after being on one all day and then driving an hour to get home. I also don't have my home pc set up because I can't find a certain cord and the laptop isn't very reliable with its shutting down of software at any given moment. I've tried to make time here and there but it's really not working and I'm okay with that. I'm sure the subscribers probably aren't but this here life is about me..so that trumps everything else but you knew that, right? ;) So I'm not going to stress about not focusing on my channel, I'll do videos sporadically and that will be that.

What am I really trying to say here? I'm tired but I enjoy posting blog entires/videos but I'm tired - make sense? I'm sure you've been there too. I'm not sure exactly what the future holds as far as sustaining a channel, a blog, whatever other accounts I may have but I do know there are too many avenues that seem to grab at you on the internet. So many forums, social sites, blogs, etc...I'd post more if I had more time but posting photos in a blog and a few lines is the easiest for me so I'm gonna stick to that until I get more time on my hands or I lose interest. Re-reading this post...reminds me of burnout a bit..oh no, we can't have that. I think I initially try to do it all and I've decided I don't want to anymore and that's perfectly okay. A wise person once told me, "You don't have to be the best, you can simply be good enough." I think I'll put that on a coffee mug. Here's to squashing any burn our you may be suffering from. :)

~The Retro Natural

My Vampire Teeth

2011-11-07T08:47:00.001-08:00

I didn't dress up, just hung out at a friends place but I thought these were fun :)

...can't eat with them but that's alright!

~The Retro Natural

40s Retro Updo!

2011-11-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on this super darling tutorial by Angelique (ThePinupNoire-YouTubers, be sure to subscribe!) and had to share it. I never saw a hair rat with a metal rod in the center before (which helps keep your faux bang in place!) but I decided to take the metal rod out of one of the flexi rod rollers I have and put it in my homemade hair rat. It works quite well!

Enjoy the video and a warm thank you to Angelique for posting this, the more tutorials for the curly, retro lovers, the better!

This is one of the easiest retro styles to do and you don't have to set your hair. You can start with a twist out :)

~The Retro Natural

Featured on Stylish Thought!

2011-11-01T11:46:00.000-07:00

Shame on be for being late in posting this but Fajr of Stylish Thought featured me on her lovely blog and I'm completely smitten and honored to have appeared on such a fab site! I did a little diddy (er, pictorial, I just wanted to use the word "diddy" - no reference to Mr. Sean Combs) :)

Check out my Coretta Scott King inspired hair 'do by clicking on Coretta below ;)

Thank you to Fajr for featuring me! :)

p.s. Happy (belated) Halloween! Though I didn't do anything for Halloween, I did take a quick snack shot of my fangs, I'll show ya next post real soon! Promise! :D

~The Retro Natural

Swallow Birds Inspiration

2011-10-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

I watched Aimee and Jaguar (an old film about a Jewish woman who falls in love with a German woman in 1940s Berlin - it's really a good film!) maybe a month or so ago and I had to capture a shot of an adorable vintage look that I'd like to recreate. The swallow bird designs that you see in tattoo shops and on sweaters have that classic look with a burst of color. If you want something more simple and demure, black and white is the way to go. I found the patches below from Ebay and now I just have to find the right cardigan or sweater to iron them on.

I'll let ya know how it turns out! I still have other patches I need to put on...something. Maybe the pockets of some high waist jeans or some more cardigans like I did with my pink flamingo! I've got peppermints, a milkshake, cherries, more cherries.. I've got some serious crafting to do!

~The Retro Natural

Running the Long Beach Marathon

2011-10-17T16:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I didn't actually run it - who would run a marathon in pink jean capris and green chucks? A few weeks back, my sweetheart ran it, a full 26 mile marathon! I was so proud, I ran with her towards the finish line......until they announced that only runners could cross the line! Ooooops HA! Me and my homemade sign scurried off to the left and lost her and then eventually found her. It was fun but oh my, runners looked like they were in utter pain!
Congrats to them all!

I'll do a 5k (only one I've done ever!) but no 26 miles for me..no ma'am! Ever run a marathon before? If so, I'm glad you lived through it!

~The Retro Natural

Red and Black

2011-10-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

What is is about the ever so cool and bad ass red and black color combination? I think it's romantic and dark at the same time. Add some beading and lipstick and I'm a happy camper!

Simple bun and side roll but this time with a red bow and pearl beaded snood.

I've finally wore it out..it DID snag on my hair but it didn't do much

damage - thank goodness for a thick head of hair!

During busy workdays, I sometimes fail to get the whole outfit..

but I'll post up some detail shots in the next post :)

~The Retro Natural

Sailor Girl

2011-10-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

I found this vintage sailor style top recently (and failed to get the red one - but I'm going back!) and couldn't be more smitten wearing it out. Paired it with a white hat with a little lace detailing just for that extra dash of girlie-ness. I failed to capture my denim pants but they're wide legged medium blue jeans. I wore blue/white stripped espadrilles but I didn't drive in them so they were in the car at the time. The hat is from a local Good Will, it may be a bit snug because my head ached a bit later in the day. I hate that!

I paired it with a skinny cincher style belt to make it look a bit more feminine.

Side note: How bold is this red photo border? Got a lil heavy handed there ;)

It's polyester which means sweating in this kinda sucks!

But it's great for cooler days and it's very sturdy for a top sewn by hand!

This is more of a Spring/Summer look...but then again, I'm in Southern California, I'm sure I'll get to break it out sooner than next Spring. It's totally a happy outfit..you know the ones you feel great walking around on the town in? Yep, that one ma'am! I love it when that happens!

~The Retro Natural

I'm back! + Cherries Galore!

2011-09-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, long time no see, lovies! I've been soo busy/tired/exhausted/lazy/etc...but I think I've gotten it outta my system. I did another drag king show, photos coming soooooon and I've been working hard and resting when I'm off. Why don't we have 3 day weekends every weekend? That'd be amazing!

We'll kick off my hiatus with a post about cherries because who here hates cherries?? Not I! This is pretty surprising because I've never had many articles of clothing or accessories with cherry prints on them but I'm slowly changing that one item at a time. Check out the cool items I've snagged somewhat recently:

Cherry print hair tie from Dolly Cool Clare...absolutely love this! It's great for a simple hair day that doesn't involve hair setting and it instantly gives ya that adorable rockabilly chick look. It's made of cotton and sewn so it lays flat and never gets all bunched up. Awesome accessory Dolly!! :) I'm getting the leopard print one next! ..C'mon payday lol Get yours here!

Cherry print handbag...found this at a Good Will for about $4.99. I would have preferred black trim but tan will do just fine. This is smaller than the typical handbags I carry so I'll have to condense a bit!

Cherry patch black summer top...I ironed this patch on this black sleeveless top and now it's got a fun, retro feel to it. Hmmm, I think I'll do the same to a white top too! Get some patches of your own :)

Ah cherries, they seem to brighten the day a bit!

~The Retro Natural

Just a Quick Hello!

2011-09-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! I hope all is well, I've been a lil busy and wanting to post (I actually have fun stuff to post) but as you can see, it's taking a bit of time. I hope to post some fun stuffs (yes, I meant to make that plural :P) very sooooon!

Here's a decent hair day photo for the time being...it's frizzed out a bit because I'm out of my Giovanni and my coconut oil..no good for a good hair set at all! And my lipstick doesn't seem to photograph very well either..does anyone else's look odd in photos versus real life??

~The Retro Natural

Snoods - Fashionable Life Savers

2011-09-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a few snoods as gifts from the beloved and they're great when I don't know what to do with my hair or when what I wanted to do can be best described as an epic fail. They always rescue me and the bonus is that they add that retro touch at the same time!

This one is black with white pearls, I haven't really worn it yet because I think it's too classy for every day/work day wear. I mean I could but I happen to like saving things for nice occasions, maybe when we go for a nice Italian dinner somewhere!

This is a simple black snood, my everyday one I pull out when I failed to set my hair or when it came out pretty badly.. I like it a lot but I do notice that if my hair rubs against my neck while in the snood, it gets tangled a bit so I have to be a little more careful when removing it.

This is a unique one, it's yellow netting with brown fluffy bits attached. It didn't come with an elastic band though so I think I might put one in..I like them to be effortless, that's the point 'n all, right?

So there you have it, a few snoods for a nice hair day or a completely awful, failure hair day. I think every gal should have a couple in her arsenal.

I hope to get red, green, and royal blue next! Do you wear snoods? If so, what colors do you have?

~The Retro Natural

Natural Bloom Edition #2 & The Summer Hat Hair Pictorial

2011-09-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

I hope I didn't come off as too much of a tease but great news, you don't have to wait any longer for the next issue of Natural Bloom e-magazine to come out, here t'is!

Open publication - Free publishing - More etsy

Enjoy the tutorial and all the other goodies!

~The Retro Natural

A Fine Hair Day

2011-09-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to show ya the mop. A fine hair day was had a few days back. I'm in need of a good restocking as it pertains to hair product though. I'll share some thoughts soon on newer products I tried that were average. I'll be going back to my usual Giovanni Leave in and coconut oil. It's kinda cool to try new products but kinda not when they're so-so.

Making its debut is my oh so loved tan polka dot sweater. There have been a few stitches that came loose in the shoulder/neck area. Keeping it on a hook rather than a hanger isn't such a good idea either but it's still a favorite.

I'll get around to fixing it some day!

My First Night in Drag

2011-08-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to get into theater and other areas that have to do with singing or acting, it just looked like a lot of fun...so when I was presented with an opportunity to dress in drag - as a man nonetheless! I took it and ran with it. I've never performed before so I was slightly jittery right before going on stage..but my performance was very well received and I had a great time! I performed on Saturday night, how funny that Lady Gaga performed in drag on Sunday! Is it in the air? Here's a shot of me as my drag alter ego, Marlon Brandingo.

Marlon is totally a badass (but sort of a pretty boy with that earring)

who gets reallytheatrical on stage and exudes a lot of energy.

Today, I'm back to regular, ultra femme, Retro Natural. T'was so nice to be a guy, I'm gonna do it again in September! Perhaps I'll get into acting next! I think I scared my neighbors, they're kinda macho!

Any performers out there? What style do you do? What made you get into it? I'd love to hear some cool stories!

~The Retro Natural

Summer Hat Hair Tutorial

2011-08-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for the next edition of Natural Bloom and I'll be featured with a summer hat tutorial. You'll have to wait 'til September 1st to read the e-mag so here's a teaser photo for now ;)

~The Retro Natural

Outfit Snapshot : Leopard+Brown

2011-08-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

Just an outfit shot, I took this a while back but never got around to posting it, probably because the coloring is a bit funky..que sera, sera! :)

My dusty boots from Burning Man look oh so interesting next to my tweed pumps!

Note to self: Find similar shoes with a shorter heel and get more leopard print stuff!

~The Retro Natural

Sunshine Award! (Part 1)

2011-08-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to get this post out and I don't think it ever would have unless I change the rules of the game...I'll adpologize now to whoever created the Sunshine Award process! But I must say thank you to the lovely Funbi of DatFunkyFro as I've been awarded the Sunshine Award (albeit a few weeks back!) and

Thank you for the recognition Funbi, I'm quite honored! I gotta apologize for the delay in posting, I meant to save the image and my mind went and wandered off somewhere. Forgive me :D I'm to link to my award presenter (check!), tell something about myself (I can't eat mushy fruit, mushy fruit = spoiling fruit to my mouth! - check!) and award 10 others (I only got to 5, so half of a check?!)

You so Beeriful
Naturally Me
Lola LaShea
Le Salon Des Naturelles
& LoveNWright

Do check out these folks and subscribe, fun blogs indeed! I'm gonna try to do a part 2 so I can tag 5 other sunshiny folks :)

Til then!

~The Retro Natural

A VintageTreasure

2011-08-22T10:47:00.000-07:00

I scored this absolutely lovely find at a local yard sale. It was love at first sigh! This is my new bedside, vintage floor lamp with a beaded lamp shade.

Edited to add, this lamp only cost me $3.00...I know...steal! I was prepared to pay closer to $10 but they woman offered it to me for a whopping $3..I think the heavens were smiling upon me! :)

What happens when you're too giddy to set up the tripod? You get a bit of a blurry

photo but using flash was outta the question, wouldn't do it justice!

I tried to fix the coloring here to show the true colors..this is about right.

Perhaps it belonged to a flapper back in the day? I'll cross my fingers on that one ha! Have you scored an amazing vintage or retro find lately?

~The Retro Natural

Summer Retro Gardening

2011-08-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovies!

My little make shift garden has been updated and I figured I'd give you an update! No need for unnecessary words, let's get to the good stuff!

Showing off my $1 watering pitcher, it's an electric teal blue color!

Watering the jasmine bush. It smells nice now but it
smells really nice in the spring time. My bar fight scar is showing..kidding,
I've never been in a bar fight before, but you knew that!

The tomato plant we got from Costco on a whim sprouted one
little cherry tomato so far, the direct heat isn't helping so we have

an umbrella covering it. Thanks to that, it'll actually bear fruit now!

These are some other tomatoes that my beloved picked, they started growing wildly in the back of the house one day and they're the most delicious tomatoes I've ever had. I hated raw tomatoes before tasting fresh,
home grown ones..love them now!

This little sweetheart started growing on its own. It's lemon mint! I have no idea how it actually grew, my best guess is that the lemon mint clippings I got from the Farmer's Market somehow ended up in the soil. Nevertheless, it's growing like a champ and it tastes nice. Smells...well ...lemon-esque :) (I'm trying to grow another tomato plant in the tiny pot to the left with seeds from a tomato, how adorable, right?)

Do you grow anything? How's it coming along during these months?

~The Retro Natural

The cap I never thought I'd Wear Again!

2011-08-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

Yep...I used to make fun of these things when I was younger... "Ugh so ugly!" "Do I have to look this ridiculous when showering?!"

Now look at me...modeling (and loving) my big poofy shower cap ;)

..that's my peachy pleated skirt in the background, gotta wear that this Summer!

~The Retro Natural

Make Up 101 - Every Bit Counts!

2011-08-04T11:03:00.000-07:00

If you're using the new Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Matte like I am, this is a little gift from the makeup goddesses ;)

Get the last bit out of your container by turning it over - you should probably close it first ;) - and using something like a metal letter opener to pry off the bottom. I had no idea it actually came off! I'm running low..can you tell how desperate I am?! hahah..time to go get some more!

My bareMinerals Matte, I'm considering trying Valana Minerals though, they have tons of shades for brown skinned gals out there..it can be really tough to find a great mineral make up that matches your tone.

Have anyone of you tried Valana yet?

Anywho, back on topic...so there's a little lip you can use to pry off the bottom.

I seriously can't believe the MacGyver in me didn't figure this out until after purchasing my second pot of make up!

Ah, my make up container is open and I'm not worrying about not having enough make up to last me til my order comes in the mail, yes!

That'll show that makeup pot! Get your full money's worth, riiiight?

~The Retro Natural

Classic Ride Spotting - Case 045

2011-08-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

I made up that case number, ha!

So remember the day that I showed you the fishtail braid? Well on that very same day, I ran some errands and went to the market and as soon as I parked, I saw this lovely, sexy little sweetheart. It's so shiny and it was the pearliest blue..*sigh* totally made me droll a little! Oh and just in case you're wondering, these glasses I'm wearing are cheap, discount store shades..I'm 99% they're fake wayfarers too lol..ask me if I care!

Photo's not the best, apologies, snap n go shot through the windshield!

Just wanted to give ya a look into my weekend day, back to your regularly scheduled program! :)

~The Retro Natural

Bikini Fun and an Natural Bloom E-mag!

2011-07-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hello folks!

Are you enjoying the summer so far? I'm absolutely loving it! I've worn my new bathing suit out recently and it survived the test run to the beach. You know, doing a test run with a bikini (especially one with a small top!) is always a good idea...we don't want things popping out or slipping up in front of a large crowd (unless that tickles your fancy!) so it helps to create a good level of confidence when you wear it once prior to something of a larger, more extravagant function. I'm bringing this one with me to the A Million Queens Natural Lifestyle Expo :)

My hair was a bit "special" on this particular day..the wind kept at it and it's really fluffy looking.

But such is the result of a fun beach day so no fretting here!

1st Edition of Natural Bloom!

In other news, I'm proud to announce that I'll be contributing to a very cool e-magazine called Natural Bloom chock full of fabulousness and adorable hints of retro sprinkled through the pages. Can you spot them? The gal behind Natural Bloom', the lovely Jc (blogger of The Natural Haven), reached out to me to include my Gibson roll tutorial. I was happy to oblige but now I'll be contributing to the future e-mags with new tutorials! How cool, right? Sooooo that means you'll have to check out the e-mag for some of the tutorials. Don't worry, I'll tease ya with a photo and be sure to link ya to the webpage for all the goodies! ;) The first mag was a huge success and I know the future editions will be as well! Thanks to Jc for the fantastically cool offer!

Open publication - Free publishing - More bobeam

Be sure to let Jc know what ya think in the comment section!

~The Retro Natural

p.s. Did you spot Ms. Josephine?! :)

Layered Curls Tutorial

2011-07-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

Ashley inquired about a tutorial for the layered curls. I show a quick one at the end of this video.

Enjoy!

~The Retro Natural

Summer Looks: The More Polished Fishtail Braid

2011-07-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here's my more polished looking fishtail, I think I did a pretty good job (could've done a better job at not snipping off my nose!), have you given it a try yet? This is a perfect example of how simple rolls can be combined with another style to create something interesting!

I made this decorative hair comb the same morning and it came out pretty nicely. I literally glued fabric to a piece of stiff plastic from some accessory packaging and then glued little flowers, glass stones and fuzzy whatchamacallits to it lol. Then I glued on a plastic comb. Super easy!

~The Retro Natural

Summer Weekend Looks: A Fishtail Braid!

2011-07-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hello, Lovies!

I've been a busy, busy gal but I'm trying to be really good about my posting..I don't want ya to forget about me! I've been into slightly more interesting looks lately as it relates to my hair and one style I've been wanting to try out is the fishtail braid. It's similar to a french braid but more intricate looking. I did this style on hair that was braided in large plaits and the front section of hair was put into rollers. This is a messier version on me but I'll post a close up of a more polished braid in the next post.

Adding a few rolls instantly seems to make this look more rockabilly. I like it!

I'll have to take another photo of the t-shirt I'm wearing, it's vintage and from my beloved's grandma.

I was inspired so I gave it a try and rushed it a bit because I had to head out but I checked online for videos and there are tons of tutorials out there! Luxyhair has an amazingly gorgeous tutorial showing you the steps to creating this cute, beachy do - perfect for lounging poolside with a mimosa in one hand and your favorite book in the other...so check out her video below and givie it a whirl!

Alright, so now you've got the steps in order right? In the next post, I'll show an after hours, polished version of the fishtail braid. Stay tuned!

~The Retro Natural

Tag! I'm it and perhaps YOU too!

2011-07-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by the very funky Funbi of Dat Funky Fro, let the sharing begin!

Why do you write?
I write (and post photos!) because it's a fun way to express myself and hold onto memories. I love going back in time to see how I thought, dressed, even styled my hair. I also write because I wanted a little hub for the gals who like to mix vintage with natural hair and I didn't see a little hub for it so I figured I'd create it myself. It's been very fun!

Share your three pearls of wisdom
1. You're always the source to your own happiness (or unhappiness), ask yourself in any given situation if you're happy at that particular moment. If the answer is no, do what you need to do to be able to say "yes"!

2. Carry red lipstick and liner, you never know when you may need to spruce up your face a bit and this is one of the fastest ways to do so!

3. Volunteer at some point in time during your life. Someone helped you out at one time or another and even if you can claim that no one ever helped you out, it'll still feel good. Each one, teach one!

Tag 5 other bloggers!!
I'm tagging XXblackbeautyXX, Pop-O-Matic Deluxe, Nicole is the New Black, Onyx Rose, and The Naturalista Files

You're suppose to do the same things gals, share why you write, share 3 pearls of wisdom and tag 5 others. :) ok go!

~The Retro Natural

Black & Gold Embroidery

2011-07-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

I like circle skirts, they're so simple and yet so elegant. This one I found at a Goodwill isn't vintage but the embroidery was so pretty, I had to get it. I feel like it may be a costume piece. I don't mind that though..maybe if it were red, white and blue - I think I'm alright with black, gold and yellow.

My head got cut off twice so I said forget it, but I promise, it's me!

I wore this vintage cuff, I forget what thrift store I got this from but it was in Riverside. I've found amazing things at the shops in the IE!

~The Retro Natural

Retro Flea Market Finds: Peachy Vintage Delicates

2011-06-28T10:50:00.000-07:00

I found these lovely little beauties at the Long Beach Flea Market some time ago and never got a moment to edit the photos I took of them. My beloved found the slip, it's quickly become a favorite of mine but I can't model it on just yet..it's a bit risque! It's also a bit scratchy so I may have a simple peach colored satin lining sewn in to make it a bit more comfy. One thing's for sure, it's very delicate and royal looking!

I also found a pastel peach beaded hand purse. It's also very delicate looking and definitely for the spring time but I think I can fit into summer as well! The bead work is very nice, it's missing 1 bead but I'm pretty adamant that I can fix it.

What have you found recently at the flea market? Post a link to a photo if you'd like me to share it in an upcoming new series of posts, "Retro Flea Market Finds". :)

~The Retro Natural

Random Snapshots I

2011-06-26T01:03:00.000-07:00

Some views of things around that sometimes don't get posted because they're just sitting in a folder somewhere.

Some other DIY bows I made, I need to practice though..they're so so.

Me getting a free hug at Long Beach's Pride. It was BRIGHT outside!

I normally fry my plantains or put them in a shake but these were baked with cinnamon and agave!

A vintage (brass I believe) compact and a very small, gold hand purse from a work dinner.

The menu (all vegan!) from Green Leaves in West Hollywood.

Sleeping ducks near the pond at my job.

Just a snapshot of the color combo, I really like royal blue/silver/black!

Rockabilly band (w/ Vicky Tafoya) that performed at Pride. LOVE her hair!

This is a fun, cool idea because I get to put out photos that don't necessarily have a specific purpose. Maybe I'll do these once a month or so :)

~The Retro Natural

Red Riding Hood & a Le Salon des Naturelles Giveaway!

2011-06-23T13:16:00.000-07:00

Hello lovies!

Just showing ya the hair. I've been parting my hair down the middle here and there and it's a nice change from the side part - my default! I used the flexi rollers here in the same way that I did with the 30s inspired waves tutorial. I like this set a lot! It was a bit windy and it sprinkled a bit in the morning so I put on a scarf. There's quite a bit of red going on here! I'm wondering why I don't seem to have a blouse on in the last two photos, surely I do but I suppose I took it off to get out some wrinkles.. who knows? :)

..annnnnnnnd there's a book giveaway going on over at Le Salon des Naturelles. The lovely Evelyn is giving away The Science of Hair. Check out the post by clicking here and enter, all you gotta do is pick a number 1-50 or 51-100. I think I'm gonna enter myself! :) She also did a feature on me earlier this month, check it out and thanks again Evelyn for featuring me, I'm always appreciative of lil virtual spotlight love! ;D

Edited to add: Oops, I did miss a requirement for the contest, you did have to follow the blog prior to choosing a number. Thanks for the reminder Charish! :)

~The Retro Natural

Vintage Cars & Ice Cream

2011-06-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

Vintage clothes are gorgeous but I think vintage cars are hot! Lucky for me, my gf has a '78 Mustang..you probably wouldn't find me driving it but I'll ride in it to go out for Cold Stone sorbet! I plan to do a fun photo shoot with the 'stang soon. It should be tons of fun!

I'll have more photos soon :D!

~The Retro Natural

Retro Dress DIY Dye Job

2011-06-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hot heat = poofy hair, que sera sera!

The creative juices were flowing over this past weekend. It was random and I didn't use measurements, just threw in turmeric and a raspberry tea bag and sat back. :)

(Click to view it larger.)

After this, I realized I didn't have a hair accessory to wear with it so the creative juices kept on flowing. I dotted a piece of light tan fabric and then made it into a bow. I don't know if the dots will keep but I'll get at least a few wears out of it. I found a tutorial over at Vintage in a Modern World's blog on how to make easy, no-sew bows and it was so simple! Then I broke a hair comb that was way too big and glued it on to the bow before I dyed it (silly idea, duh!) which caused the glue to just melt..lol..sometimes you just don't think things through fully. Tis ok! I let it dry and then glued it right back on!

I'll take a photo o the finished bow, it didn't get captured in my photos from the picnic unfortunately.

I wore the dress to a large picnic for the LGBTQ gal community (but very inclusive) rightfully titled Dyke Day and had fun in the sun with great friends. As you can see in that first photo, my dress lightened up as it dried and then it ended up looking a bit washed out since it was super bright and super hot out. I felt pretty happy with it nonetheless but I think I'd like to re-dye it and see if I can get it to have the same pop it had when it was hanging up to dry.

Got any old light clothing items you're bored with? Give this a try..it's a fun experiment! ;)

~The Retro Natural

Layered Curls and Shadow

2011-06-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

I've been rolling my hair as I have here and today I tried to go for a layered curls look. I like it so I better take a snapshot of it or else I'll forget! :)

I also took the advice of Imogen and tried some shadow to play up my eyes. I didn't want to overdo it so it's pretty minimal but I think it adds some mesmerizing mystique! Thanks for suggesting that! I've got a bit of studying to do before attempting some of the vintage eye looks, they look like they may take a bit of practice. But I'm up for a challenge so it should be fun!

~The Retro Natural

Cooking & Miami!

2011-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Hello, Lovies!

Hope you're all as happy as I am, it is Friday afterall! :)

I wanted to share some great news with ya, the first being that I'll be creating a series of videos focusing on health food on my YouTube channel, CurlyChronicles, titled (so unique, right?) Curly Chronicles Cooking, the first episode was posted yesterday! Woo hoo!

I find myself taking down my hair when I get home but I should have kept it in that cute updo lol

The other great news is that I've been invited to be a special invited guest at the A Million Queens Conference and Expo which takes place in Miami, FL and this is a natural living focused event with tons of information on how to live a more natural life. Many gals would like to take a natural approach to their hair, makeup products, fitness routine, food choices, etc. Those of you who know me, know I'm a health nerd (health nut sounds so ..not right!) so this is right up my alley and I'm excited to be a part of it. They've even graced me with a page for my subscribers, friends, and fam to leave comments and of course talk about the event as we approach the date of September 15th. The video goes over more details but it's going to be tons of fun and I'll get to a green hotel resort and spa, never done that before!

I'll be providing more details soon, hope to see some of ya there! :)

~The Retro Natural

How I'm (Currently) Setting my Hair

2011-06-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I find myself changing up my hair setting routine just a bit. Just thought I'd share what I'm doing currently - more than likely out of laziness! - with the front side section of my hair. The rest of my hair is put into large braids overnight because it helps create a wave and it stretches my hair out a lot (which makes it easier for me to pin up rather than when it's really coiled and curly.

In the morning, I've been rolling and piling my hair onto itself and attacking it with bobby pins.I used all of these babies for one hairstyle...and this is a minimal bobby pin day - crazy! Quick! What's the most number of bobby pins you've used at once???

Simple, yep. effective, abso-freakin-lutely. But! I'm wondering if I'll like larger foam rollers..I've seen those really huge, JUMBO ones and I'm thinking it may be good to purchase a pack or two and see how I like them. My waves and coils would be super big if I used the larger barrel ones and I think it'd be fun to play around with 'em a bit. Do any of you have flexi rod rollers larger than mine? How do you like them?

~The Retro Natural

Pretty Things: My Vintage 60s Portable Hair Dryer

2011-06-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest vintage things I've purchased for myself is a my 1960s Lady Schick Portable Hair Dryer. It was about $20 and I found it on Etsy.

I can bring it anywhere with me and it's a really adorable pastel/teal blue color :)

I set it up in the bathroom and sit and read or paint my nails.

It doesn't get very hot so I never suffer from heat damage. I was actually happy that it wasn't "high powered" because my hair strands are fine and they can burn easily under a modern dryer. I wonder if it's because today people want everything so fast..fast food, fast cars, fast hair? With this little darling, I can sit for an hour and my hair won't have that burnt smell - ew!

I usually use coconut oil or castor oil after I apply a leave in conditioner (typically Giovanni Direct Leave In) to protect my hair when I'm going under. But it's the cutest little addition to my collection of pretty things!

If you're in the market for a vintage dryer, check out this list of dryers on Etsy! (Try not to drool over the GE avocado green dryer - such a beauty!)

~ The Retro Natural

One of the Greats: Happy (belated) Birthday Josephine Baker!

2011-06-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

I've just accepted that my auto post is broken, this really should have posted on June 3rd, her actual birthday!

But anway, she was such a cool lady! I get my leopard print lovin' and shimmyin' dance inspiration from Ms. Baker. She made herself into a much sought after entertainer in Europe and she cared for many children and animals..She's forever an idol of mine :)

Screen shot from when I watched Zou Zou

I plan to show you my vintage hair dryer in the next post..gotta locate those photos but it's coming soon! :)

~The Retro Natural

A Farewell to Grandma

2011-05-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

Hello all! I know you've probably been wondering where I've been. My apologies on missing in action, I haven't felt like posting or being online commenting like I normally do for the past week since my grandmother passed on. I don't know what happens for sure after but I'm certain that she's resting. She went peacefully and didn't suffer and that's what tends to make me smile here and there as I'm thinking about her in my head and reminiscing about all the funny things she used to say - she was a natural comedienne! I was spending some time with the family, mostly my mom and older sister, looking at old photos and I thought the best and most lovely way to have some closure over this is to share something sweet and at the same time retro with you all because this blog is about me and indirectly this is a part of me.

So I give you a pretty photograph of my grandma from her youth days in what I like to call her retro copacabana look. -- Who knew grandma woulda made a great pin up? :)

I dunno if they have interwebs where you are now, but just in case they do grandma, may you continue to rest in absolute peace! :)

~ Love

Your Retro Natural Granddaughter

Vintage Skin Care: Face Masks

2011-05-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Sure there were popular brands of skin care products in the past, but women commonly made their own concoctions from kitchen items. Many still do, even today in a capitalistic society that provides you whatever you need whenever you may need it. I never notice expensive face masks making a huge difference in my skin and so I prefer to just make my own from a few basic ingredients.

Those cotton pads are just soaked in cool water, to alleviate any puffiness.

Apple Cider Vinegar is a great clarifier for the hair and for the skin it increases blood flow to the capillaries delivering oxygen - remember, your skin is a living, breathing organ! It also works as a nice astringent.

Bentonite Clay is a mineral clay that comes in powder form and works the best at pulling toxins out and to the surface. Don't use it the night before a big event, but do slap a mask on when you're having a mellow pampering session on the weekend. I used this last weekend and I notice a few blackheads and pimples coming to the surface. I know, ick!! but it needs to come out!

Tumeric is a spice we normally only pull out for cooking but it's great at brightening the skin, lightening up dark blemishes - hello healthy glow! - and decreasing inflammation. Careful though, it stains any and everything lighter than its color

Put 'em all together and you've got a fantastic face mask that will remove makeup debris, dead skin, and rejuvenate, clarify and brighten! Most supermarkets have these products but you can definitely find them at Whole Foods or if you're lucky, your local (read: less expensive) health food store.

Pamper yourself, lovies - you deserve it! :)

~The Retro Natural

DIY Retro Sweater with Appliqué

2011-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

If you see a vintage sweater with appliqué decor, sometimes you'll notice that it's a bit high in price. If you're like me and can't really be bothered with spending too much on sweaters and cardigans with adorable designs, fret not my retro gal pal, you can create your own! The teal blue cardigan is Roxy by way of Buffalo Exchange and it was under $12 bucks. The flamingo patch was $2.69 with free shipping!

All you need is an iron and an iron on patch from Ebay. Check out this list of iron on appliqués.

Borrowed my beloved's nerd glasses, they're fun but I don't know if I have the guts to wear them out.

I feel like Poindexter!

Have at it! It's fun and it takes about 5 minutes to do. If you revamp a cardigan of your own, send me a photo, I'd love to see it. :)

~The Retro Natural

Retro Gardening

2011-05-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I engaged in some random gardening after returning from someplace I can't remember. It' tough work! It looks like fun and it can be (oh can it be fun!) but after about 20 minutes of pulling up weeds and whatnot, you're just ready to sit down and have some lemonade. If I had planned to garden, I wouldn't have put on this outfit but it happened ...organically, if you will. Don't the best things happen organically? My hair's in a lop sided faux bang (why does it do that?!) and the rest of my hair was nicer when I first went out but after a little while, it got a bit disheveled (pic 2).

Anywho, it was bright out that day which was nice.

cardigan/Free People via Goodwill, pseudo capris/Goodwill, faux suede mary janes/Payless, gloves/Home Depot!

Catch ya on the flip side!

~The Retro Natural

Vintage Bows and Pleats

2011-05-15T10:30:00.000-07:00

Outfit post! Just showing the vintage threads... The skirt is from the 70s and teal blue with cute bows and other festive bits on it. I got this from Iron Orchid Vintage on Etsy. The blouse is probably 70s too. It's really satin-esque so it comes out and spills over the skirt a bit as you can see. The shoes aren't vintage though, got those babies from Ross. In Las Vegas. Last summer. So I don't know if I'll ever find the exact same pair but I wish I had purchased 3 pairs...so comfy, so perfect in heel height. These are so scuffed up though, what's the best way to get rid of marks and scuffs on (faux) patent shoes? Do I have to take them to a shoe repair/shine place?

The skirt's a bit wrinkly, I'd been sitting all day, excuse the crumpled-ness. My face? It was cut off so I figured I'd just crop it out and focus on the clothes. :)

It's warming up so that means more skirts and more sandals! Soon, I'll probably be retiring these shoes for a while.

~ The Retro Natural

Vintage Style Inspiration - Frida Kahlo

2011-05-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

I came up with a different way to do an updo yesterday while washing my hair. I still have to perfect it so I'll show ya the back once I "get it" but for now in the front at least, I'm channeling my inner Frida today! What style! :)

photo credit for the Frida photograph

Red and White and Black and Prince!

2011-05-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

Just the colors I had on today..nothing complex or epic hehe. This acrylic knit skirt is really cute but I could kick myself for treating it so badly...I've used it maybe twice in the past as a head wrap because I thought the skirt was a bit too long and I couldn't figure out what else to do with it at the time. I know, shame on me! I was more into the sweater that came with it (lonnnnng sigh). It was fitted at the waist and it had adorable knitted collar and faux pearl embellishments. But alas, it was too, too small and I gave it away to the Goodwill. I hung onto the skirt (thank goodness!) and now, I love this length of it - maybe 3 inches past the knee. My apologies on not getting a full outfit shot... but I think this'll do! :)

My hair's in a large bun (got a bit lazy!) and I figured I'd incorporate a side faux bang before sealing the deal with a big bow. Simple 'do but still fun and colorful. Those are fishnets but you may not be able to tell from the photo. Fishnets = automatic femme fatale feelings, no?

Do you all have any fun plans for the weekend? I do, I'm going with a few friends to see Prince tonight - the only man I'll probably ever throw my bra at on stage hahah. Anywho, I've got to dress up for Prince so expect photos - not of the show though, I'm sure they're not going to go for that!

Happy Friday everyone!

~The Retro Natural

p.s. Just wanted to set the record straight, Blogspot was being a bit stubborn but I think all is well now. Yes!

Taking it back to childhood with Thor

2011-05-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

I went to see Thor in 3D over the weekend with some friends, it was decent but I don't expect that much from most movies made today because...well I just don't. Do you? I didn't think so hahahah..
I liked Thor as a kid but now that I'm an adult, I don't remember much about him..just that he had a cool helmet and a hammer. Maybe I would have been into construction worker cartoons back then as well?

Afterward, I spotted this and decided I'd get me and my friend's photo snapped. I wasn't if sure my faux bang would get in the way but it worked out alright. There were multiple cameras so of course we're looking all over the place. I made contact with the photog here though.

I kept the 3D glasses..shh!

~The Retro Natural

My Birthday Suit

2011-05-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

(um this was suppose to post on my birthday, last Wednesday- auto post hasn't been working at all on my end. hmph!)

Yes my birthday suit. No not that one. A vintage-inspired one, if you will! I'm quite alright with doing a tasteful nude photo shoot but not today my dearies :P

Today marks the day I was gently placed into the world. I'll be celebrating the entire month because I love the scenery/weather during the month of May and I love the energy of Venus. Beautiful flowers, yes! Rich food, absolutely! Lounging around in vintage slips, but of course! Just a few things that encompass the Taurus/Venusian energy :) Here's my "birthday suit"!

White cotton top/some thrift shop, belt/Goodwill, houndstooth full circle skirt/Buffalo Exchange, red/white polka dot wedges/Payless, sunglasses/flea market, bracelets/I can't remember!

I've been thoroughly enjoying my day so far and though I'm working today, I'll be off Friday to celebrate even more. I'll show ya a few of the goodies I've received on the weekend. Because I know you're all really sweet folks, I'm gonna thank you in advance for the well wishes :)

~The Retro Natural

The Faux Bang

2011-05-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

My inner Bettie Page comes out whenever I wear my faux bang. It's kinda big, kinda dramatic and perhaps a bit of an ostentatious hair style. It's perfect to wear out on the town at night or perhaps in the sun with parasol in hand - you didn't think you were gonna wear a cute over sized straw hat with this signature style did you? Oh for shame! ;)

Side note: When my hair doesn't set properly, it just gets curly. But instead of getting mad, I just make lemonade! This is my ~~bad~~ hair day.

Setting

The not so bright-eyed, bushy-tailed Retro Natural.

I normally set my front bang area on a flexi rod roller bent in half. I don't want a small barrel shape, I want it large and smooth so I use my oh so loved concoction of leave in conditioner and coconut oil before smoothing it out with a brush and putting on the roller. Give it a try!

Enjoy!

~ The Retro Natural

Hair Basics: Creating a Hair Rat

2011-04-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

So what's a hair rat?

Well ..in a nutshell, it's a lump of shed hair (collected over the course of a few months or so) used inside of your roll or bang to give you additional volume. Since it is your own hair, it's the perfect color and texture making it hard to spot. I normally see it used for faux bangs and side rolls. I've used it in both areas and it's enhanced the style a lot!

I know, you still feel weird about putting something referred to as a rat on your head. I know..don't worry, you'll let that go eventually ;)

Isn't the packaging retro? :D

You can easily go to a beauty supply store (or if they don't have them, Sally's does!) and purchase a hair roll (a new age hair rat) but women in the past were resourceful! I was intrigued about this hair secret but it's not really much different from a clip in hair extension, in my humble opinion. It's pretty simple to make, so simple, a tutorial just wouldn't be necessary. Take your shed hair, roll it up in a hair net and then sew it so that it doesn't unravel. It should sort of resemble a sausage! The best thing about creating your own is that it, again, blends in perfectly.

Alright, get started on your project! Up next, I'll be showing you how to create a faux bang with your hair rat. I'll probably use the one I got from Sally's because unfortunately, my homemade one doesn't have the thickness nor length that it should have...ah..that sounds really dirty. Apologies! ;)

~The Retro Natural

Seeing Stripes

2011-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure this is an 70s/80s does 40s dress because it's got elastic and surged seams. Have I mentioned that I absolutely love peplum dresses? I think it's due to the added curves it gives you. There's something about this little skirt that just makes me smile. I found this at the Long Beach Flea Market..possibly the LBC's best kept secret!

belt/Goodwill, shoes/Ross, glasses/Forever 21, snood/Meow, Sun kissed skin/Mother Nature!

Happy Friday!

~The Retro Natural

Wash Day!

2011-04-28T11:00:00.000-07:00

I don't really enjoy the process of washing clothes by hand but for the things I'd rather not risk messing up, I'll do it and I'll refrain from complaining that my hands hurt from ringing out water.

Exhibit A:

Oh and in case you're wondering, I use an eco-friendly, biodegradable detergent in liquid form for all my clothing, vintage and non vintage. You can find various eco detergents like Seventh Generation at supermarkets and in bulk at Costco. Though I sometimes dread it, eventually, I'll have two really cute dresses (plus a full circle skirt!) that I can wear and show you all verrrry soon! :)

~ The Retro Natural

Hair Rolls: Adding Volume

2011-04-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

I like my rolls as they are but sometimes you just want an extra boost. You've seen the roll in a previous post but I bet you didn't know I had foam tubing within my front roll. Many everyday women (of all ethnicities - side note: don't trust auto correct, it will put elasticities for ethnicities. ok I'm done!) and even actresses wore various hair pieces way back when - especially when short on time! When I did my Gibson roll tutorial, decided to do one for the voluminous side roll as well.

Take a large section of hair and hold it out to the side prior. Position the foam tube or hair rat in the center.

Roll the tube/rat towards the back of your head, tuck the ends in towards your index fingers and secure with bobby pins. If you need to, you can pull the hair a bit to cover the tube/rat if it's showing. (The back section of hair was just in a bun, excuse the lack of style there!)

Have you been doing more retro hair styles lately? Have you gotten the hang of one or two that you've been wanting to try? I'm oh so curious to know! :)

~The Retro Natural

The Gibson Roll

2011-04-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Gibson Roll is a type of roll that is done on a large section of hair, typically the back portion of hair. I've seen the Gibson Roll done with a hair rat or it's faux equivalent and with scarves - no surprise I found the video on YouTube. I don't know where I found this piece of foam but it fit the shape I needed for my experiment and although my hair was a bit fluffy, it worked out nicely. Just a little side note: for those of your who aren't familiar with a twist out, it's a popular hair style worn by women with naturally curly hair, more than likely, African American women with natural hair. Okay, on with our regularly scheduled program ;)

The Gibson Roll is another option you can choose when pinning up the back of your hair. To start, I positioned the foam tube in the center of my hair and rolled upward, towards the crown of my head until I couldn't roll anymore.

Next, I tuck any loose hairs near my ears over the foam tube before pinning each side with jumbo bobby pins to secure.

That's about it. You have various options for the front so have fun and have at it! This is also a great style to do with if you're in a hurry or if you just prefer something more simplistic. I hope you enjoy it!

~The Retro Natural

Vintage Style: Skirts

2011-04-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

I think my favorite articles of vintage clothing are dresses and skirts. I think it's because of how nicely they fit. Of course there are modern pieces that are retro inspired that you can also add to your wardrobe. I'm not a snob about what era a garment is from, as long as I like it, anything is game. I found this red high waisted A-line skirt (maybe 70s/80s but I'm not 100%) at a local thrift shop for about $6. It was in great condition and it fit like a glove so I grabbed it. I usually got for vintage or retro inspired skirts in 3 styles: pencil skirts, circle skirts, and A-line skirts. These skirts showed off the waist and skips (excluding circle and A-line skirts witch have open hip measurements). Here's a visual of each, the photos are from Etsy vintage clothing stores.

pencil skirt, $34

Photo Credit: Glam Star Vintage

Full circle skirt, $48

Photo Credit: Cats & Crickets Boutique

A-line skirt, $28

Photo Credit: AllGreen

I'll be showing your more of my various skirts in the future, but hopefully this little visual guide can help ya out when you're out looking for a few key pieces! :)

~The Retro Natural

Mad Menmatizing - Yep, I made that up!

2011-04-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite past times is making up words. It's just a fun way to say "Screw you English dictionary powers that be!" I Mad Menmatized myself. It was such a cute and fun process too! Is everything more fun when it's got a retro flair? Mad Menmatize yourself here! :)

You gotta have one for night!

Happy Friday everyone!

~ The Retro Natural

Shrinkage - The Nice Kind!

2011-04-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Shrinkage (noun): the result of one's hair showing half it's length due to drenching your head in water and squeezing out the excess. Very prominent in the African American natural hair community.

I saw a post on Black Girl with Long Hair and could definitely relate to the comments as it pertains to the oh-so-interesting shrinkage factor. I don't wear my hair shrunk down so much because I do love my retro styles but it's a breath of fresh air from time to time - having a lot of hair can get awfully sweaty! My hair in the second photo isn't completely blown out but you get the drift!

Looks can be deceiving, no? If you're a woman with shrinkage, enjoy it! It's great to go from short to long. If you're a gentleman with shrinkage... well cover up already why don't you! ;)

Ta ta for now!

~The Retro Natural

Hair Settings Option #2: Curlformers

2011-04-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, folks! As promised (albeit a bit late!), I'll be presenting to you, my Curlformers hair setting video. I use Curlformers from time to time to set my hair. Normally I prefer to use these when I don't have to sleep on them (i.e.when I have time to sit under the dryer on a nice Saturday morning with tea and a book) but sometimes the only time you have is after work and you're forced to wear them to bed. Here's a list of women with natural hair putting in the Curlformers in case you're curious. I used the usual Giovanni leave in conditioner and coconut oil but I think I should have used more coconut oil. I couldn't decide on what to do with my hair after I took them out and after a bit of rushing, I had some sort of...roll thing on the side..definitely not a victory roll..it was a roll all of it's own I suppose. The back got fluffy/frizzy - my fault though, a bit too much rushing (the previous night) and brushing (the following morning!). This wasn't a 100% successful set but not bad for giving it a go on a weeknight. I sat under my vintage hair dryer for a while and let them in over night..maybe the back pieces weren't 100% dry. In the end, I was alright with how it came out. :)

Enjoy!

~The Retro Natural

Nautical Fashion: Part Two

2011-04-16T14:30:00.000-07:00

I left my thumb drive at the office so I couldn't upload my curlformers video. So in the mean time..these are some photos from the birthday party near the Queen Mary at Parker's Lighthouse. There are a few better detailed photos too. I found this dress at the flea market for $10. The purse is from a Goodwill and the shoes are from a local marketplace commonly known as a "swap meet" for $16. The dress did have a few tiny holes that I patched up fairly well and it wasn't lined so maybe that's why the price was lower than other dresses. I didn't mind though, I like a challenge! Click to view the photos larger. :)

~The Retro Natural

An Ode to Spring

2011-04-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's just fun to strike a pose!

I like Spring. I like Spring colors. Sea foam green, peachy orange, sky blue. They remind me of the movie, Bambi and make me say, "awwwww". While I was slumming it a bit yesterday, I did wear some cheery Spring colors. My bottom half isn't all that interesting. I just wore jeans and comfy shoes. This eh.."top" is a vintage lingerie piece from Pandora by Chic - yeah, how cheeky! I know some out there probably hate the lingerie as daywear trend that became perhaps a bit too popular a while ago but I'm mildly fond of it...especially when it's warm out.

My hair's pinned in the back as usual and in the front, I've got this reverse roll which is a victory roll that's ...well, reversed! I'll show you how to do one in a more detailed fashion in an upcoming post but before we get to that, I also set my hair last night on Curlformers, a newer invention (I think that's the best term to use) for creating curls without heat. I haven't worn my hair "out" yet so to speak, I've just used them to get my hair smooth. It takes longer to put the things in but the results are nice! So that's next. See ya then lovies!

~The Retro Natural

My Vintage Earrings Dilemma - Solved!

2011-04-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

My earrings look very innocent but they're not. I was a bit more bohemian and hippie-like before with my style (actually, I still look like a hippie every now and again!) and also with my choice of ear adornments (read: slightly stretched lobes) but lately I've wanted the best of both worlds - the ability to wear larger gauge earrings whenever I like but also the ability to wear a simple pair of rhinestone studs. My ears are only at an 8 gauge size, but it took me a while to find size 8 amongst the other sizes that were more easily available. Didn't think it could possibly be done until I stumbled on these little heaven sent earrings!

photo credit: bodycandy.com

I've always told myself, I'm a master Googler (sounds a bit dirty eh?) but it's true, after months of trying to come up with different ways of saying "larger gauge stud earrings" I finally found the perfect pair that allows me to keep my lobes at an 8 gauge size but still wear a nice and simple stud. This is a nice way to They're sold individually so make sure you order two! It's sort of like, professional in the front, party in the back - kind of like mullets? The next pair I get will probably be from Naughty Girl Boutique, these are adorable! :)

Photo Credit: thenaughtygirlboutique.com

I like vintage earrings but I don't really own any because they don't really "fit". I can use older style backings (thanks @LukaLomi) with the large plastic circle on the back (but my lobes may shrink a little over time) or I'm thinking I can purchase larger gauge studs and attach vintage earrings. That should solve my little problem from here on out. I do feel like I may be "messing up" some of the vintage earrings I may come to own in the future but it's better than having none to wear at all! If you've struggled with choosing larger gauge plugs over vintage earrings, I hope this helps you out! :)

~The Retro Natural

Using Bobby Pins to keep Waves

2011-04-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

Me at ye olde desk at work.

Hello lovies! Just wanted to show you something I do sometimes to keep the wave pattern. I put bobby pins in where the waves dip in to help keep the look alive throughout the day. Do try to hide them if you can, it looks a bit better that way, in my opinion. Sometimes they show, sometimes I do a good job at keeping them more in the background! :)

~The Retro Natural

2011-04-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Me yesterday wearing a retro style shift dress (that some of your may remember from a certain web series that never really made it past episode #1 haha!) that I found ages ago. It's not vintage but it does has a retro look, it's from Gap but I forget what thrift shop I found it at. It's short (and I no longer do "short garments" with the exception of shorts unless there are tights involved) so I wore it over straight leg jeans and low brown faux suede pumps - apologies on the lack of photos showing such! This is also a friendly warning: this is what happens if you use too little leave in conditioner and coconut oil...poofy 30s inspired waves! Ah rushing. Haste makes waste but que sera, sera!

~The Retro Natural

One of the Greats: Happy Birthday Herbie!

2011-04-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

I listen to 88.1/kjazz on my morning drive to work...it's a great station and I love that they play mellow jazz tunes and more so big band on the weekend mornings! They announced Herbie Hancock's birthday and I thought it'd be nice to highlight some of the great musicians, composers, singers, performers, etc from the past. Plus he's decked out in retro attire here. So, happy birthday Herbie! :)

Looking awfully cool in this very old photo!

All Aboard the Queen Mary - Nautical Fashion

2011-04-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't actually board the Queen Mary but I was nearby (can you see it behind me?) attending a birthday party for my beloved's grandmother. She celebrated her 75 years of being on this planet, a milestone if you ask me! For the party, I went with the side swept 30s inspired style and wore a nautical navy and white pleated dress. I'm not sure of the era of this dress. It has some serged seams which were introduced around the late 60s, it has a hand stitched hemline and it has an elastic waist band so...perhaps late 60s, or perhaps not. take a guess! You can't always be 100% sure, but I say, if it fits the bill, who cares? The sweater is Free People but I found it at a Goodwill and didn't pay Free People's price :P

I'll photograph my accessories in detail but I chose D'orsay style satin heels with a bow and rhinestones, a large rhinestone clustered ring (costume jewelry all the way!), rhinestone studs and a simple silver necklace. The belt actually didn't come with the dress, I had it already and while the blues aren't identical, it goes along pretty well.

I saw the kiddie cars and I couldn't resist.

After the party, I visited retro row (finally!) in Long Beach which is a block of vintage shops..so much fun to be had, so little time! I did pick up a few things though. Photos forthcoming! woo hoo!

30s Inspired Side Swept Waves

2011-04-08T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hello my retro enthusiasts! Remember seeing those Hollywood bombshells in their pretty satin robes with their hair gracefully swept to one side with tons of gorgeous waves? I know I do! Well, I'm back to give you a more detailed tutorial on those oh so glamorous waves that women wore in the 30s. I was so excited after having that "ah ha!" moment with the flexi rods because it was the perfect solution to my desire for waves rather than coils. I can get coils anytime but waves, BIG waves, were another story. Not anymore! I'll be going to a birthday party for my sweetheart's grandmother tomorrow and I plan to wear this hairstyle with a very simple but very cute navy and white pleated dress.

See my tutorial below for the glamour shot look. (I would have worn something more siren-ish but it's reallllly cold here near the beach and I needed to dress accordingly! I think I get points for still getting in a skirt with brown tights and faux suede pumps lol) Maybe I'll play dress up over the weekend ;-D)

Hope you ~~like~~ love it!

~The Retro Natural