Hive Jive

It was called 'the bouffant, the up-do & the B52', but the beehive that originated in Chicago in 1960 was the true definition of the 'big hair' fad that caught on like wild fire and gained world wide appeal.  The overly back combed, overly aqua netted style, was named the 'beehive' because it actually looks like a hive, or a nest of some sorts.  It's been said that part of the allure of the style is that it added the illusion of height to the wearer.  I know the history of the hive first hand as my mother who grew up in that era told me she sported the style when she was 16.  She said..."The higher the hive, the cooler you were considered to be".  The first girl group to get on board with this style was 'The Ronettes' but the trend lasted through to the late 70's with the emergence of the pop culture iconic group 'The B52's', as band members Kate Pierson & Cindy Wilson rocked their own retro version of the boof.

Well into the 80's it continued to trail blaze & continued to be re-popularized, especially after the cult John Waters film, 'Hair Spray' starring drag queen Divine & Ricky Lake was released, & over dramatized the 'do' to the hilt! & it made it's way back again with a re do of the popular movie from the same script starring John Travolta in drag & newcomer Nikki Blonsky in 2007.

In 2006, Amy Whinehouse stepped on the music scene with her signature style which was soon to be emulated by her female followers.  Her hair was what she was known for aside from her amazing other worldly vocal abilities. It was stated that her poof measured close to a half of a foot high!  In her whole career regardless of her state of being, you never saw her minus the hair-do.  She was quoted as saying ...  "My hair is always on point, even if the rest of me is really naff." 

This vintage hairstyle just seems to keep evolving but has definitely come along way from it's beginnings when it was originally created by Margaret Vinci Heldt, winner of the 1954 National Coiffure Championship.

This variation of the style won an award at a British hairstyling competition in 2010 which is sheer proof that in years to come we're just going to keep seeing the style moving into new and exciting directions!

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Vintage Vogue

Vogue magazine is waaaay beyond 'vintage' being that the mag was first founded in 1892.  The publication didn't really start taking off until around the great depression when it's number of subscriptions began to rise. It wasn't until the 1960's however, that Vogue began to appeal to the youth of that generation as it began focusing more on contemporary fashions and the subject matter became more loose discussing topics such as 'sexuality' which was considered taboo even during that time of the sexual revolution of the free loving 60's.

Vogue magazine has of course adapted to the times, changing with each era and especially gained world wide recognition as a reputable source of 'what's what on the fashion scene' after being taken over by the current editor in chief Anna Wintour in 1988.   Wintour brought a fresh new take on the vintage periodical by incorporating an idea of how the 'common woman' (i.e. not wealthy), could incorporate an air of haute couture into their daily wardrobe with less expensive designer 'looking' pieces.  Before she came on board, the magazine had become stagnant offering the same ol' same old to it's avid readers, month after month.

Ms. Wintour has gained such a reputation in the fashion industry as an unabashed power house that she was nicknamed 'nuclear wintour' by her peers.    Without it being said literally, the character played by Meryl Streep in the 2006 'Devil Wears Prada', about a demanding fashion magazine editor was said to have been likened after her.  It was reported after the film was released that Wintour was not fond of the way she was portrayed regardless of the movies acclaimed success at the box office.

Vogue is so internationally popular that even if Wintour stepped down from her position, it's not likely that it would be going anywhere anytime soon, given the reputable nature it has gained in over a century!  

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Fashion In Film Friday

"T.G.I.F." & Welcome to the weekend!  Our Fashion In Film Friday topic is the 1988 movie 'Heathers' starring Winona Ryder.  The movie was basically an 80's prequel of sorts to the popular current flick 'Mean Girls' (i.e. bad girl cliques verses the goody goodies).  This popular 80's hit made school girl chic' a popular fashion trend that is now considered 'vintage'...

Plaid was popping up everywhere after the release of this film & 80's prep style was on the rise!  Pleated skirts that sat just above the knee, colored opaque tights & ballerina flats all topped off with a fitted padded shouldered jacket.  I remember this style all to well as I have to confess I actually dressed liked this!  

I haven't seen this style make a return since it was once popular, but you just never know..It will probably come back on racks in the not too distant future.  One lesson to be learned from following fashion trends is I always make sure to hang onto pieces that were once all the rage because "what's old always becomes new again....eventually."






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