Cultivate Your Curves - They May Be Dangerous But They Won't Be Avoided - Mae West

Happy 116th Birthday Edith Head!

Comrade Von Pussycat

Weekend Review - LimeCrime's Velvetines in Suedeberry and Red Velvet!

After searching high and low for a long lasting liquid lipstick that would truly last a full work day with minimal touch-ups, I have finally found the "one". I had heard a lot of good things about Limecrime's Velvetine lipsticks, which go on liquid and dry to a matte finish, and after wasting money on other brands with mediocre effects, I finally took the plunge and purchased both "Red Velvet" and "Suedeberry". Here is the break down:

Red Velvet:

"She had lips like a red, red rose"

Suedeberry:

"Strawberry red, often associated with the 1950s icon Marilyn Monroe"

 
After reading reviews for both colors, I decided to try both, although Suedeberry seemed to be a bit of a gamble because some claimed it was pure orange, and others reported that it was a strange coral color. Well, I found that it is very similar to MAC Lady Danger. It is almost a neon red orange color, perfect for the warmer months especially!  I love both colors equally, however, I like to layer Suedeberry over Red Velvet for a more Marylin Monroe full lip effect. Especially since matte lips can sometimes lack dimension. The staying power of the Velvetines is amazing, compared to conventional cream lipstick as well as other long-lasting lipsticks, such as Maybelline 24-hour. Unlike other brands, the Velvetines do not flake or crumble, which is of the utmost importance when you are wearing a dark or bright lipstick. The less you have to worry about your lipstick, the better! It is pretty smudgeproof...after drinking two coffees and eating a croissant in the morning, it still looked as good as new. I do have to touch up if I eat something greasy, because this lipstick is waterproof, but when it comes in contact with anything oil based, it will dissolve...and quickly! It wears off evenly, and it isn't as drying as most matte lipsticks. It feels fairly weightless, and as long as you don't constantly rub your lips together or lick your lips, it should stay for at least 5-6 hours. Oh, and as far as the kissing test goes...it passed with flying colors, and we're not just talking a peck on the cheek ;)

There you have it, my thoughts on Limecrime's Velvetine range. I would love it if they came out with a dual color Velvetine so I didn't have to buy both colors separately, but I love them both enough to deal with it!


Comrade Von Pussycat

"One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman" - Simone de Beauvoir

I haven't written a personal update for a while, so I thought that, for those of you reading and for my own personal enjoyment, I should write something of importance. Well, this may only hold significance for myself, but writing is one of my favorite pastimes, so here we go.

These will just be random bits of information I failed to mention here.

Flowers from an admirer:

I must have made quite the impression (unintentionally!) on the company flower man who comes to water the flowers every week, because one morning when I was filing paperwork, he came up to me holding a beautiful violet orchid, he held it out to me, and asked, "Would you like to keep it?". Ever since, he comes to my desk every week to check up on my orchid (which I named "Gilda"), and has brought me a replacement orchid every time I need one. I feel slightly bashful that he gives me so much attention, but what a beautiful feeling it is so receive flowers from an admirer. Beauty is both a curse and a blessing, incredibly unfair, as well as fleeting. I might as well enjoy these small things while they last, even though I usually feel undeserving of such attention.

The guy at Starbucks

I usually go down to the Starbucks in my building where I work to get a morning cup of coffee, and the people there are getting to know me. One young man, with beautiful latte colored skin and swirls of dark chocolate hair, when writing my name on that little paper cup, looked up and locked eyes with me and asked, "Does the name "Bettie Page" mean anything to you?"...my bright coffee colored eyes crinkled into a smile, and I answered, "Why yes, I adore Bettie!". He told me that I remind him of her. Even though I don't don the signature "Bettie" bang, I really took his compliment to heart. I don't try to imitate anyone, I just try to be myself, but if I by chance am channeling someone as great as Bettie, I'll take it!  

On becoming a woman

For the past few months, I have been on a diet. I eat as much as I can, and then a little more. After a bout with...I can't call it anorexia exactly, I guess it was stress induced weight loss...I severely abhor skinny. I am 5'5 and when I lost all that weight I was down to 110, all skin and bones, and I didn't even recognize myself when I looked in the mirror. It took me about 6 months to gain enough weight to feel somewhat recognizable again, however, I still was not satisfied. I am now up to 135, and my measurements are 36-25-36. I finally feel like a beautiful woman, and an abundance of flesh does not scare me the way it usually does other women in this society.  I have learned that my body does not look good "skinny", and I never want to go back to that skeletal frame I was 2 years ago. I enjoy having noticeable hips, and prominent breasts ( D cups! they are a beast to contain sometimes...I am not going for provocative, especially at work!), and if my thighs touch, I don't give a damn! I apologize for this blog turning into everything Sophia Loren (hopefully you don't mind, I mean, how could you, she is the epitome of "woman"!), I really enjoy finding women who embody...for lack of a better word...my body ideal.

In other news, I am waiting to receive my first order of What Katie Did stockings...I got the polka dot ones, nude with black seams, and nude with coffee colored seams. I think that will be the perfect way to celebrate achieving my body goals...and it was just my birthday, too! I have to get better at taking outfit pictures, I just get so self-conscious sometimes! 

Comrade Von Pussycat

The Soundrack of a Faded Nymphet

"Off To The Races"

My old man is a bad man but
I can't deny the way he holds my hand
And he grabs me, he has me by my heart
He doesn't mind I have a Las Vegas past
He doesn't mind I have an LA crass way about me
He loves me with every beat of his cocaine heart

Swimming pool glimmering darling
White bikini off with my red nail polish
Watch me in the swimming pool bright blue ripples you
Sitting sipping on your black Cristal
Oh yeah

Light of my life, fire of my loins
Be a good baby, do what I want
Light of my life, fire of my loins
Give me them gold coins, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races, cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasing me all over town
Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing
Time again at Riker's Island and I won't get out
Because I'm crazy, baby I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet singing in the garden
Kiss me on my open mouth
Ready for you

My old man is a tough man but
He's got a soul as sweet as blood red jam
And he shows me, he knows me
Every inch of my tar black soul
He doesn't mind I have a flat broke down life
In fact he says he thinks it's why he might like about me
Admires me, the way I roll like a Rolling Stone

Likes to watch me in the glass room bathroom, Chateau Marmont
Slippin' on my red dress, puttin' on my makeup
Glass film, perfume, cognac, lilac
Fumes, says it feels like heaven to him

Light of his life, fire of his loins
Keep me forever, tell me you own me
Light of your life, fire of your loins
Tell me you own me, gimme them coins

And I'm off to the races, cases of Bacardi chasers
Chasing me all over town
Cause he knows I'm wasted, facing
Time again at Riker's Island and I won't get out
Because I'm crazy, baby I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet singing in the garden
Kiss me on my open mouth

Now I'm off to the races, laces
Leather on my waist is tight and I am fallin' down
I can see your face is shameless, Cipriani's basement
Love you but I'm going down
God I'm so crazy, baby, I'm sorry that I'm misbehaving
I'm your little harlot, starlet, Queen of Coney Island
Raising hell all over town
Sorry 'bout it

My old man is a thief and I'm gonna stay and pray with him 'til the end
But I trust in the decision of the Lord to watch over us
Take him when he may, if he may
I'm not afraid to say that I'd die without him
Who else is gonna put up with me this way?
I need you, I breathe you, I never leave you
They would rue the day I was alone without you
You're lying with your gold chain on, cigar hanging from your lips
I said "Hon' you never looked so beautiful as you do now, my man."

And we're off to the races, places
Ready, set the gate is down and now we're goin' in
To Las Vegas chaos, Casino Oasis, honey it is time to spin
Boy you're so crazy, baby, I love you forever not maybe
You are my one true love, you are my one true love

You are my one true love

Striptease scene from "Leri, Oggi, e Domani"!

"Dress changes the manners" - Voltaire

My Cold Cream Routine - Nivea (Cold Weather Edition)

I just had to add this because I didn't know Marylin used Nivea too!

Nivea (pronounced [niˈveːaː]) is a global skin- and body-care brand that is owned by the German company Beiersdorf. The company was founded on March 28, 1882 by pharmacist Carl Paul Beiersdorf. In 1900, the new owner Oskar Troplowitz developed a water-in-oil emulsion as a skin cream with Eucerit, the first stable emulsion of its kind. This was the basis for Eucerin and later, Nivea. Nivea comes from the Latin word niveus/nivea/niveum, meaning 'snow-white'
During the 1930s, Beiersdorf began producing products such as tanning oils, shaving creams, shampoo and facial toners. The trademark "Nivea" was expropriated in many countries following World War II. Beiersdorf completed buying back the confiscated trademark rights in 1997. During the 1980s, the Nivea brand expanded into a wider global market.
Nivea is known for using perfume in their products.

You can read more about the history of Nivea here :)

Comrade Von Pussycat

Beautiful Hair Tutorial by Bettie Page Clothing!

 

I want pink grapefruit colored hair, it just looks like so much fun! And that blouse? Adorable!

Comrade Von Pussycat

Autumn Inspiration - 1920's Flappers, Delightfully Big Buttons, Satin Gloves, Vintage Fur Coats!

Bettie Davis

Bettina Graziani wearing an afternoon dress by Jacques Fath, Paris, 1950. Photo by Willy Maywald.

Paris, 1952

Portrait of the ballerina Vera Fokina by Nicolai Fechin,192

Louise Brooks

Marlene Dietrich

Ziegfeld beauty - By Alfred Cheney Johnston

One Of My Favorite Films...And Adopting Vintage Wedding Gowns

Have you watched "And God Created Woman"? It is absolutely one of my favorite films, not just for the fashion, but for the story. Poignant, bittersweet, and honest. I adore this film. 

I went to the thrift store today, and among the Halloween costumes and gaudy eighties sequined dresses I spotted the most beautiful 1950's wedding gown peeking out at me. It has gorgeous lace sleeves that button up, with delicate lace bows embroidered onto the tulle, and a dramatic bustle back. It broke my heart to leave it there at the mercy of potential trick-or-treaters, I envisioned the things they would do to such a beauty (not knowing the true value of such a dress, both historical and financial!), and so I gathered the thousands of layers of tulle and lace into my arms and took it home with me. I now feel that it is my personal responsibility to adopt unloved vintage items such as these. I can't wait to take pictures of it, it has the teeeeensiest waist, around 22 inches or so!

Comrade Von Pussycat

Rainy Day Must-Haves!

Easy, breezy, beautiful...Bettie Page!

Tomorrow I'm getting my hair done. I always dread getting a haircut, I don't know why. I wish I had beautiful hair like Bettie, she makes it look so easy, breezy, and beautiful! I don't know whether to grow my hair longer, or cut it off more middy style...ah, the joys of being female!

Comrade Von Pussycat

Vintage street style!

How exquisite is that coat? I wonder what the rest of her wardrobe looks like!

Comrade Von Pussycat

Teaserama (1955) starring Tempest Storm, Cherry Knight, Bettie Page and so many more!

Various stages of undress, elegant yet still immensely seductive, and all without a pair of duck lips or a porno face in sight...modern women could learn a thing or two from these ladies!

Please, this post is open for discussion, tell me what you think about modern day "sexy" :)

Comrade Von Pussycat