A Note From The Girl Behind The Curtain..

Dearest Readers,

Yesterday, I received feedback from a ConstantlyAlice follower indicating that they had taken offense to my review of The Notorious Bettie Page (not the review itself, but the appropriateness of the subject matter.)

My initial reaction was to feel mortified.  It is certainly never my intention to offend any of you.  I consider the ConstantlyAlice blog to be about a PG-13 rating and did not think that my review violated any of those boundaries.  I have posted in the past about Bettie, and various other pin ups, without rebuke, so I thought nothing of it.

I will be honest...I obsessed a bit.  I worried about what specific part was offensive, and if any of the rest of you were offended as well.  I obsessed to the Man..I obsessed to my family..I obsessed to my friends.  One theme that came up consistently as a possible reason for this reaction was that the ConstantlyAlice image is a typically innocent and sweet one and Bettie could have, for that reason, appeared jarring and out of place with my content.

While I can understand this, ConstantlyAlice is not a fabricated personality.  It is not a corporation, or a faceless entity.  It does not market to the masses in a homogenized way aimed at making as many people "like" it as possible.  ConstantlyAlice is me.

Yup...That's me.

Yes.  I am faintly reminiscent of a fairytale character..I like fairytales.  I also like pin ups.  I am whimsical, and sometimes down right naive, but I'm also a little impatient and have a knack for sarcasm that I try to keep in check.  I have nerd-like tendencies.  I love to read and my bookshelves run the gamut from Jane Austen to Anais Nin.  I find it almost impossible to repress my humor..unless someone is grieving..in which case, pass me the tissues (I would have made an excellent "mourner-for-hire" in victorian times..)  I don't like vulgarity, but, as I've discovered, vulgarity is subjective.  I keep an open mind, trust that the people I know have the best of intentions and sometimes suffer from debilitating panic attacks brought on by my anxiety disorder and my need for perfection (only in myself..I <3 the flaws of others.)

Any or all of these things may come across from time to time here in my blog.  I consider you all friends and fellow enthusiasts.  I hope you will feel free to share with me in an open and constructive way if anything here makes you uncomfortable.  I am happy to chat with you about my choices.

I leave you with this..in the spirit of ConstantlyAlice..  I gotta be me ;)



Hugs and Smooches,
D

Why I watched the Victorias Secret Fashion Show..A Confession..

Ok.  I admit it.  I watched the Victorias Secret fashion show last night on TV.  But I had good reason!

First of all, they really are the modern day equivalent of a pin up girl, and we all know what a big fan I am of that genre.  In a world of often skinny, underfed looking models, these gals are at least sporting some curves.

Secondly, the music.  There really are some great performances!  I am surprised to confess to you all that I was actually more than slightly impressed with Justin Bieber.  My eldest daughter (who is a "Belieber") was allowed to stay up to watch him sing and I was pleasantly surprised to note that he did not lip synch and sang his first song with only the aid of a guitar.  Pretty neat.

Lastly, I LOVE the showmanship that Victorias Secret displays year after year.  It's hard to imagine "couture" lingerie, but they manage to put together some impressive outfits with fabulous themes like "Calendar Girls" and the circus.

I leave you with a few of my favorite images from last evenings show.

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 Hugs and Smooches,
D

Slim Down, Pin Up - Getting Your Mind Right

There are two schools of thought when it comes to weight loss. Get Thin, or Get Healthy. To my mind, the former tends to be a product of society. As the mother of a 13 year old girl, I see this in action every day. Just this morning, I was asked what "shape" she was..athletic, curvy, petite, etc., so she could figure out what clothes she was "supposed" to wear. I told her to wear the clothes that made her feel happy.

Sometimes she compares herself to her friends, and sometimes she compares herself to Taylor Swift or Selena Gomez. My response is always the same. You are beautiful because you are unique. Your shape is exactly as you were meant to be. Magazines and movie stars are great for inspiring fashion ideas and sparking your creativity, but they are not, and should not, be the final word on how to be yourself.

This is not to say I don't encourage healthy eating or athletics, but I don't want to her to think of them as a means to shape herself into the mold that society approves of. I want her to feel strong, empowered and good about herself.

Being a mother has helped me to develop a healthier mindset about my own weight. I can't tell my girls one thing and practice another..and all joking aside, while fitting into my bridesmaid dress is an excellent motivator for getting my butt out the door and running, my real motivator is that I suffer from an anxiety disorder that can be significantly reduced by a more active lifestyle. I want to feel great, to have more energy, to be around longer for my kids...not to look like a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model. Because that's not who I am.

Sure, I have off days, but in the grand scheme of things, I simply want to be the best me possible. For myself and for my loved ones. My wish for you all is that you can love just how wonderful and unique you are right now and enjoy the journey without worrying about the end result.

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Slim Down, Pin Up!

At the suggestion of some of my lovely readers (Thank you, Jennifer Dolph, for the adorable page name ;)  I have created a page on facebook to develop a warm and supportive group of like minded folks in the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle.

Gil Elvgren

The page is called Slim Down, Pin Up! and I would be delighted if you would like to join us!  We will be sharing our knowledge with each other, offering up delicious, healthy recipes, exercise and work out suggestions in addition to some positive reinforcement ;-)

Lest you should all worry about the direction of this blog..I will be continuing with my regular vintage/craft/style themed posts here as well, with an update or two along the way about my healthy lifestyle journey (and my quest to fit into my bridesmaid's dress ;)

Thanks for joining me on my latest adventure!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Coming Soon to ConstantlyAlice on Etsy

I am suuuuper excited to announce that several new lines of bracelets and necklaces I designed and created will be coming to the ConstantlyAlice shop.

A few weeks ago at a yard sale, I purchased a giant bag of dominos.  I had no clue what I was going to do with them, to be honest.  I just like the texture and the sound they make when they clack together ;)

Then, a few days later when I was modge-podging some items onto a little suitcase for my daughter, it struck me that they would be perfect for making jewelry featuring a little piece of art.  I did some searches through etsy's supplies and discovered that there are lots of beautiful images for use!

I haven't done a whole lot in the past with jewelry making (beyond a brief stint as an apprentice to a silversmith when I was 14).  In fact, it's something I just started trying my hand at a few months ago.

It's been a couple of weeks since I was first struck by the idea. I am now in possession of a tiny drill, jewlers hammer and anvil, several different kinds of pliers and wire cutters and millions of beads and images.  The more I create, the more I love it.  I've even decided to purchase a soldering iron this weekend and start creating and adding some metal elements to the steampunk line I'm designing!

Here are a few items from the first line - "Sirene" - inspired by my love of the sea.

These items (and a few others in this series) will be listed for sale this weekend, buuuuttt, I will also be running a giveaway on my facebook page once I reach 400 followers with one of the pieces from the line!  (Only 13 more followers to go, so share with your friends!)

Some of the other lines that are in the design stage:

• Snow White - This line will feature vintage Snow White images with red accent beads (I found some that remind me of shiny little apples :)
• Steam Punk - Octopus, Victorian images, Clock faces, Gears and I will be trying a little metal work with this line..
• "Zelda" - This line will feature black and white pictures of film actresses from the 1920's and I purchased vintage black wooden dominos to feature them on.
• Pin up - Gil Elvgren Pin ups made into playful brooches and bracelets
• Secret Garden - This line features gorgeous watercolor-style prints of different flora with delicate matching crystal beads and little drop beads shaped like tiny flowers.

I hope to eventually create watercolors of my own design and use them as well.  No two items in the series will be exactly alike!


Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan - Pin up Yourself

I just discovered this super fun site that allows you to create your own pin ups.  Just like paper dolls for grown ups :)

To say it is addictive would be an understatement.

Here are a few of my designs:

You can try it out for yourself here.  And please feel free to share your own designs on my facebook page here!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Eyes bigger than my stomach..or something like that.

I'm back from my week long vacation!  The last blog post I left you with detailed the zillion things I planned to accomplish.  Hmmm..Riiigght.  Might have bitten off a bit more than I could chew ;)

For as long as I can remember, I've suffered from "eyes bigger than my stomach" type behavior.  In my mind, I always seem to be able to accomplish an infinite number of things in a finite period of time.  Sadly, in practice, things move a little slower.

However, I did get an excellent jump start on things and, more importantly, got a plan in place to work from.

Here are a few highlights from my week:

I FINALLY got my tattoo :)  I've agonized over this for years (I tend to be mercurial about certain things, and I was terrified that I would make the wrong choice, or choose something I wouldn't love forever.  The permanence scared me.)  However, I sketched this design, which was vastly improved upon by my friend Bill who did the beautiful work you see below.  It's about 4.5" tall on my left shoulder.  Beyond the obvious "Snow White" reference, it means several other things to me as well.  The bird represents a free spirit and happiness, the apple is symbolic of wisdom and Aphrodite (Goddess of Love), and the "Once Upon a Time" ribbon is a nod to my love of literature.  All in all, it's pretty perfect.

This was taken just after it was done, so still a bit red and swollen ;)

I also started work on a number of projects.  I found a giant bag of dominoes at a yard sale and am using them to create a new line of jewelry for the shop.  Here are a few pendants and brooches in progress.

I did a lot of "studying" this week as well.  In addition to researching few things I plan to bring to the blog, I did a lot of research on figure drawing, hoping to design some jewelry/accessories and maybe even fabric inspired by the Pin up Plan.  Take a look at the wonderful books I purchased below.  They are real treasures!

The illustrations in this are amazing.  All from the 1940's.  Amazon

Barnes and Noble

I also had my scanner repaired, so keep an eye out here on the blog for some vintage magazine and pattern scans!

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan - Art of Seduction - The Natural

"The Natural embodies the longed-for qualities of childhood - spontaneity, sincerity, unpretentiousness.  In the presence of Naturals, we feel at ease, caught up in their playful spirit, transported back to that golden age..they make a virtue out of weakness, eliciting sympathy for their trials, making us want to protect and help them." - The Art of Seduction

Cora Pearl

Famous Naturals:

• Cora Pearl
• Josephine Baker
• Charlie Chaplin

Josephine Baker

Keys to the Character:

• Charming, unthreatening, Pleasurable attitude towards life
• The Innocent - Appears to see the world through uncorrupted eyes, vulnerable
• The Imp - Brazen, Blissfully uncaring, lighthearted spirit, naughty
• The Wonder - Spontaneous, Impulsive, ability to improvise
• The Indefensive Lover - Playful, receptive spirit.  Seems to age less rapidly, graceful.

Pin up Style

Louse Brooks

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan - Art of Seduction - The Ideal

"The Ideal reflects one's fantasy.  They are an artist in creating the illusion you require.  In a world of disenchantment and baseness, there is a limitless seductive power in following the path of the Ideal." - The Art of Seduction

Madame du Pompadour

Famous Ideals:

• Madame du Pompadour
• Tullia d'Aragona
• John F. Kennedy
• Cassanova

Tullia d'Aragona

Keys to the Character:

• The ability to observe
• Combination of sensuality and innocence
• The ability to stroke people's vanity
• Stir up good feelings and a positive response

Symbol - The Portrait Painter:  Causes other's physical imperfections to disappear.  Brings out noble qualities, immortalizes.

Pin up Style:

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Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan - Art of Seduction - The Siren

First up in the Art of Seduction series..The Siren.

"The Siren is the ultimate fantasy figure.  Her presence is always heightened and sexually charged.  She is a mirage..cultivating a particular appearance and manner.  She embodies the male fantasy."



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Famous Sirens:

• Cleopatra
• Marilyn Monroe
• Aphrodite

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Keys to Character:

• Voice - Calm, unhurried, low pitched
• Body and Adornment - Everything must dazzle, but also be harmonious.  Clothing more often suggests sexuality than screams it.  Reveal only one part of the body.
• Movement and Demeanor - Graceful, suggestive, langorous.

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Symbol:
Water - The song of the siren is liquid and enticing and the siren herself is fluid and ungraspable.

Pin up Style

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Hugs and Smooches,
D

The Pin up Plan -The Art of Seduction

The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene has been in my literary arsenal for some time now.  One of my many "phases" involved a fascination with courtesans..which led me to this book and also a love of burlesque.

Art of Seduction - Robert Greene

I am a big fan of empowered women, and I think that courtesans and burlesque performers get a bad rep.  In reality, courtesans had far more freedom, education and power than their married couterparts, and burlesque (in my opinion) takes a certain level of comfort in your skin and self confidence.  (Not to gloss over the fact that there was indeed some ugliness in these professions as well..but I prefer to focus on the positives ;)

Veronica Franco, Courtesan Extraordinaire (The movie Dangerous Beauty was about her.)

Dita Von Teese, Burlesque performer and vintage darling

But I digress.  I had considered doing just a book review of The Art of Seduction for the Pin up Plan, but then it struck me that the different seductive characters addressed in this book can correlate to your pin up style.

For the purpose of this blog, I will only address the female seduction styles as follows:

• The Siren
• The Ideal
• The Natural
• The Coquette
• The Charmer
• The Charismatic
• The Star
• The Anti-Seducer

My intention is to relate each style to a pin up (past or present) and/or historical figure, to break it down as it relates to style preferences and to give examples of how you can use it to enhance your personal style.

..and before you think I'm advocating that you go out and seduce the world (though I'm certainly not opposed to that ;) I think this book can be read many ways.  It's not only a tool for "seduction", but insight into how you interact with others, what your strengths are and how you can use them to communicate to your best advantage.  After all, successful communication is flirting at it's best ;)

Hugs and Smooches,
D

Pin up Plan Calendar Girls - Jane Russell

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"I like a man who can run faster than I can." - Jane Russell
 

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Jane Facts:

• Jane founded the World Adoption International Fund
• She was married 3 times and adopted 3 children
• Her hand and footprints can be found at Grauman's Chinese Theater
• Production of her movie "The Outlaw" was held up because Jane's rather ample cleavage was a problem with the censors.
• Howard Hughes engineered a special bra for her to wear, but she tossed it in favor of good old fashioned Kleenex ;)
• Her measurements were 38D-24-36 and she was 5'7"
• "Culture is the ability to describe Jane Russell without moving your hands." - Bob Hope

Jane Movies:

The Outlaw

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

The Paleface

 Jane Music:

Fine and Dandy

Miss Jane Russell Sings

Jane Books:

Jane Russell: An Autobiography

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How to get Jane Russell Cleavage:

Hugs and Smooches, D

Roadtrip! - The Finale

Last post in the Roadtrip series!  These are from the Smithsonian.  We didn't get to spend NEARLY as much time as I would have liked, so we plan to take another trip down for a long weekend.  The photos here are some of my favorites from the American History Museum (Including Pin ups and A few of the First Ladies Inaugural gowns!)  Hindsight being what it is, I realized later that I neglegcted to document what gown belonged to whom, so I only remember one or two ;) 

This one was Jackie Kennedy! (Of course I'd remember that one ;)

..and this was Ladybird Johnson!

Hugs and Smooches, D