She Can Psyche It Like Sigmund!

cinemaknifefight.com

After watching every confusing episode of the television show "Lost", I felt truly lost and drained. So when we heard that its Producers had pulled another one out of the Rorschach Inkblot Test hat, I was both repelled and intrigued.

"Alcatraz" first aired at the beginning of this year.  What caught my interest at first was the cast: 

**Sarah Jones - Rebecca Madsen - the cop on the task force
**Jorge Garcia- Doc Soto - the geeky expert
**Parminder Nagra- Dr. Lucy Banerjee in present day, (Dr. Lucille Sengupta in 1963) - a Shrink with a past
**Sam Neill - Emerson Hauser - former police officer on Alcatraz, current leader of the task force

Garcia was the affable Hurley on "Lost".  Nagra  portrayed Jesminder Bhamra in the film "Bend It Like Beckham" and Dr. Neela Rasgotra on the hit show E.R.

Plot:

On March 21, 1963, all the inmates and guards disappeared from "The Rock", a.k.a. Alcatraz prison.  In total over 300 inmates and 40 guards just vanished that day.  Each week we saw them returning on their own or in small groups from the great unknown.  Why did they disappear and what are they here to do now?  They had all stopped aging on that fateful day in March.

Nagra's character is the most intriguing to me.  Although not an inmate nor a guard at the prison, she had also cheated time by not aging.  In the past, she portrays a psychiatrist who worked hard at trying to rehabilitate and help the inmates in any way she can with their tortured minds.  In the present she is part of the top secret task force.  So you can see that my interest in this show is not based on a sudden interest in the American Penal System.  No, that wasn't a Freudian slip!

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The charm of this show is the retro angle.  Each episode showcases many flashbacks to the 1960's.  Nagra's character has the most fun with the beautiful wardrobe, hairstyles and make-up.  Dr. Sengupta is impeccably dressed.  And her hair comes to life when in the past.

There's mystery, time travel and all the grit and beauty of 1960's America.  Have a look.  You'll drool when you see the wardrobe and get caught up in the past at the same time!

Carol

One Man's Pan Am Collection Came in Handy!

 The Real Pan Am Flight Attendants (who were called stewardesses then...political correctness was not necessarily practiced )

Imagine being a collector. Now imagine your collection enjoys the benefits of being part of a television series. Imagine that television series is Pan Am.

Despite being cancelled, the lead up to this show generated much positive buzz in the industry. Hoping to cash in on the Mad Men retro vibe, the opening episodes did well, but unfortunately did not 'fly'. Get it? Fly? hahaha. sorry, bad joke.

Anyway, Kelly Cusack who worked for Pan Am during it's last decade has managed to collect more than 10 000 pieces of memorabilia and has the largest collection known. Many of his pieces were used in the show - talk about authentic!

Collector's Weekly has a great interview with Mr. Cusack. Have a read, it's very interesting!

Pan Am Explorer Travel Bag

Pan Am Secret Agent Shoulder Bag

Glamour and Turbulence: I Remember Pan Am, 1966-91

Ebay Weekender

It's easy being green....

Vintage 60s Green Plaid Dress

Vintage 50s Satin Dress

Vintage 60s Mod Dress

Mod Sailor Dress

1950s Vintage Forest Green Dress

Vintage Dress with Attached Capelet

Spring/Summer trends for 2011 - It's great to be retro again!



oldnavy.com



I was having my usual cereal for breakfast and tuned into our local morning show.  Today they featured spring/summer fashions.  It amazes me still that mainstream retail stores are going very retro.  According to the expert on the show, the following are going to keep you on trend for this year:

1. Seventies + Chambray + Wide leg pants/jeans

2. Maxi dress
3. Retro Bohemian
4. Eclectic Prints
5. White + Minimalism
6. New Safari + Stripes

I wrote in a recent blog about my usual confusion with skirt lengths and pant leg diameters.  Looks like it's changed again.  I'm happy to see that longer hem lengths are acceptable once more.  This new maxi dress from Old Navy is so cute and fresh looking with a definite retro vibe in its styling and colour scheme.  The tube top portion takes me way back to the 1970's.


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I'm also glad that flare jeans are in favour again as I felt like sausage casing in my skinny cords.  They looked great but there's nothing better than feeling really comfortable in my clothes.  The pocketless detailing on these jeans are so "Bionic Woman" or "Charlie's Angels" or even a bit of the "Mod Squad".  They're faded but not stone washed, which brings back a whole other set of retro memories.  I can pair these up with my wedge heeled shoes this summer.  I can't wait for the warmer weather.  But I can also wear these with a nice pair of boots and a sweater for this winter.



bananarepublic.com



Another trend this year is what the experts are calling "Retro Bohemian".  I like the layered look as it can be great for those with more modest tastes and it doesn't conform to the body as much as fashions have been the last few years.  Colours are put together in a very casual way, anchored by the white legging pants.  The dress could be worn on its own or as shown with layers.  I see myself back in the 1960's going to hear a poetry reading by an inspirational beatnik in a dark cafe.

It's nice to see that vintage and retro are in the minds of current designers.  I think that it's very forward-thinking to look to the past.



If you are looking for new or old trendy items...





Vintage 60s 70s PLAID HALTER MAXI Deep V Long Ruffle DRESS



DG2 Fit and Flare Retro Jeans CHAMBRAY 18



Bohemian Style Yellow Ruffle Summer Dress





New Items Now Available

We've been busy here! For those that don't know, we are in the last stages of re-designing our website. Better vintage. Better shopping. 

Should be ready soon! In the meantime, have a look at some new pieces that are now available.

Vintage Champagne Satin 1950s Dress with Floral Appliqués

Retro Gunne Sax Black Satin Gown with Large Taffeta Bow

Vintage 50s Yellow Flocked Chiffon Dress with Matching Shawl

Vintage 60s Gold Lamé Gown

Vintage 60s Textured Cotton Scooter Dress

80s Polka-Dots & Big Hair

Having lived my teenage years through the 80s, I still find it difficult to grasp the fact that 80s is considered vintage. I consider it retro - perhaps because I'm trying to hold on to my youth and retro does not sound quite as old! But alas, it is now, gulp...30 years old and is appealing to an entirely new generation.

There were many icky fashions in the 80s, yet many that were pleasant. Polka dots reigned supreme as did ruffles and skirt flounces. Didn't it seem as though we looked like we were about to break into a cha-cha wherever we went? I think this dress from Paisley Babylon Vintage demonstrates that.

I see it in a whole new light now. The intricate pleats covering the entire body ending with a contrasting ruffle at the hem. Very flattering and the red is a lovely shade - just please don't wear it with big hair!

Now available for $80