Burke's Law

If you like your cop shows glamourous, full of beautiful women and with as many suspects as shoes in Imelda Marcos' wardrobe then this is the show for you. Begun in 1963 and starring Gene Barry & Gary Conway the cast lists read like a who's who of Hollywood. So far I've watched the first 5 episodes and already have seen Elizabeth Montgomery, Diana Dors, Joan Blondell, Mary Astor, Lola Albright, Burgess Meredith, Eva & Zsa Zsa Gabor, Lizabeth Scott, William Bendix, Cedric Hardwicke, Zasu Pitts, Ann Harding, Chill Wills, Terry-Thomas, Arlene Dahl and Sammy Davis Jr.



Set in Los Angeles, Amos Burke (Gene Barry) is a millionaire homicide detective who is driven to work by a grumpy chauffeur called Henry (Leon Lontoc)in a Rolls Royce and ably assisted by Det. Les Hart (Regis Toomy) and Det. Tim Tilson (Gary Conway). His girlfriends are legion and usually played by the most attractive starlets of the day.



The scripts are good, the plots complex, the main characters not too detailed but reasonable as the show relies on the relationships of the suspects. Plenty of humour from Burke's relationships with his girlfriends and Tilson's encyclopaedic knowledge.
The show was produced by the scarily prolific Aaron Spelling who gave us (among others) Dynasty, Charlies Angels, Charmed, Beverley Hills 90210 (the first one), Hotel, Melrose Place etc etc etc.

Purple Rayne

OK, to start with I apologise for the title. Its obvious I know, I tried not to, but it was no good, I couldn't help myself. I've just taken delivery of these fab late 60s purple silk shoes and despite the fact that they're 2 sizes too small they still send shivers down my spine.



Fantasy Wardrobe No 1.
I've been trying to picture a dress to go with them and this simplicity number is just about right.



Not too fussy to draw attention from the shoes. Made ankle length in black with purple and gold edging. YUM. And a purple bag to match. Or maybe something in a paler shade of purple. Hmmmm.

Stephen Jones Hats

I've just been to the V&A to see Hats An Anthology and am totally in love with Stephen Jones' Hats. From the famous 'Wash & Go' apparently created with a hot paint stripping gun,



to the frivolous Jack O'Green which looks like a cross between a 1960s petal hat and Grecian Laurel Wreath, by way of catwalk shows for big-name couturiers, the huge range of his designs and techniques leaves one gasping for breath.



In an age where hat wearing is the exception rather than the rule (not to mention gloves and stockings) I hope this exhibition will persuade more women to experiment.



Hat Slang
Titfer (Cockney rhyming slang Tit Fer Tat)
Chap (Short for Chapeau)
Knock into a cocked hat (To out-do someone)
Queer as Dick's hatband (absurd or peculiar)
If the cap fits (accept criticism if you're guilty of poor behaviour)



Stephen Jones Millinery

Re-vamp Your Old Shoes

Can't afford new shoes now the recession is biting?
Well never mind Marty Stevens-Heebner has the answer to your woes.
Her new book -
Altered Shoes
A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Fabulous Footwear








is just what you need to achieve shoe heaven. Save money and the planet.

Miss Rayne Silk Stiletto Mule

In the 1960s Edward Rayne realised that he needed to appeal to a younger generation of shoe lovers whose tastes were not as formal as those of his older customers. He introduced "Miss Rayne" and employed many young British designers such as Mary Quant and Gerald McCann.

This evening mule with a double rosebud on the front is made of oyster silk and has a 4 inch spike heel. There was also a version with a lower heel. I'm pleased to say that this is a pair I can walk in and was one of the first pairs I bought when I realised that resistance was futile.

Dita Von Teese and Marie Antoinette

Tonight, as Dita Von Teese limbers up for her performance at the Eurovision Song Contest, I thought would be a good time to showcase the Marie Antoinette shoes by Louboutin that she has just received. They have been personalised for her with embroidery around the platform. "These are Dita's With Love from Christian" because she was very much taken with the sample pairs having "sample" embroidered on the platforms.



The famous shoes are probably the most expensive available at the current time retailing at around £3000 and with hand embroidery and beading by the Haute Couture house of Lesage the price-tag isn't surprising. Plus there are only 36 pairs.


See more about Christian Louboutin and his shoes for Dita at the Crazy Horse at
YouTube

England Struggles with the New Look

I've just started making this 1949 McCall dress, I've had the fabric for ages but no time until today. It started me thinking about the New Look in England.
Dior had created his "Venus" dress the same year that this pattern was made. Yes we wanted it, yes, yes, yes. But the McCalls pattern uses only 3m of 54" fabric.


The infamous backlash against the New Look in England was not supported by the general public, it was merely more propaganda by the government who were afraid that if English women wore dresses with lower hems and full skirts the economy would fail. (And indeed it may have done.) The post-war period of austerity lasted as long as the war had done.
However, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret wanted and got the New Look and the public had to have it too. English designers adapted the flights of fancy of the Parisian designs to the cold economic reality of Austerity Britian,hence a New Look dress that takes only 3m of fabric.

1920s and 1930s Inspired Brogues

Now that summer is nearly here (Ne'er cast a clout 'til May is out) I though I would look for some summer brogues to go with my 30s vintage cotton frocks. I love the idea of pristine white shoes with flower prints.
I was absolutely bowled over the these Neosens Rococo Collection styles. Don't let the pictures put you off, these stunning 20s and 30s inspired shoes are available in five, yes FIVE summer
colours as well as brown and black.

The Neosens Women's Rococo 747 have the classic open pump style of the 1910s and 20s with 3 buckled straps and a stacked louis heel.

They come in brown, black, white, Manzanilla (cream), Sorbet (soft pink), Lavanda (yes you guessed), and Ceniza (Grey). Sizes 36-41.

So I was very pleased and the only dilemma was which colour to choose. BUT THEN ........ I discovered the Neosens Women's Rococo 748

A classic brogue with cutout work on the vamp again in the same lovely colours and sizes. Both styles are all leather construction with a non-slip rubber insert into the sole.
So what am I going to do? I mentioned in an earlier blog that I'm broke, now you can see why!

1940s Wedding Shoes

These teetering oyster satin wedding shoes date from the late 1940s. They were handmade specifically for the bride and are very plain with a peep toe and a charming 'spagetti' flower on the vamp. The high 4 inch heels suggest the bride may have been quite small.




The most famous Rayne wedding shoes of the 1940s, of course, belong to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, then Princess Elizabeth who was married in November 1947. Norman Hartnell designed them along with her wedding dress and the costumes of most of the main female members of the wedding party.



They too were made of oyster satin and are deceptively simple in design having a twisted vamp and strap. The Queen sensibly had a lower heel and small platform.
So they would have been very comfortable, though sandals in November seems an odd idea. See closeups at The Royal Collection

Chic House Phone

I was talking to a girlfriend last night, she always tends to call at awkward moments and yesterday was no exception. I was in the bath. We were discussing the usual things - shoes, frocks and our lack of purchasing power. But it ocurred to me that the one thing I really need at this moment in time is a phone that isn't suddenly going to disappear beneath the suds. My mobile phone is just that - a phone. No singing and dancing extras. So why not, I thought, get something chic but practical, ladylike but classic.







After much soul (and web) searching I found just the right telephone for a broke but aspiring retro-gal. The Dreyfuss 500 Classic Corded Telephone, White

Clean simple lines, classic white - will go with any outfit, substantial but lightweight receiver, buttons so you don't break your nails and best of all a great price.

Silver Slippers

When I started collecting Rayne shoes I swore I would only buy pairs that would fit me. That resolution lasted ONE pair. Then I said I wouldn't buy (m)any stilettos because I can't walk in them. That didn't last long either. Other resolutions about how many pairs per month and price point also went by the board in quick succession.
So now I have suitcases full of fantastic Raynes, some of which I can walk in - even run in a couple of pairs, some I can just about stand in for a photo and some (most) I just look at.
I thought you might like to look at some of them too.



These 1960s Silver Fabric courts were the first pair I bought way back in the early 90s for a fancy dress party I went to as Emma Peel. (Remember the scene in Quick Quick Slow Death where Piedi the shoe maker and foot fetishist plunges Emmas feet into plaster of Paris?) They are Delman Rayne and although I went to party in them, they really are standing-only shoes. Fortunately by the time I left the party I couldn't feel my feet anyway.