Big Hair for an Even Bigger Icon

What would fashion be if not for the timeless style of Jacqueline Kennedy? Without her eye for elegant accessories, trends like oversized sunglasses and pillbox hats would likely remain buried treasures of the 1960s, never having reached their full potential.

"This hair only looks simple!" FavoriteTVShows.com.

But looking past the famously stylish First Lady's impeccably tailored suits and designer gowns, one cannot help but notice her equally tailored hair, also known as the classic 1960s bouffant.

Although Jackie's hairstyle often varied, going from tight curls on her wedding day to teased, flipped hair at the White House, most associate her with the latter style, and rightfully so.

Volume was the most important factor of the bouffant. Unfortunately for Jackie (and her followers in the sixties), the most effective way of creating volume was to sleep in rollers, then backcomb the curled hair the following morning.

Time-consuming as it was to create, the bouffant could last several days with minimal touch ups if enough hair spray was applied--and given that this trend took place in the 1960s, a decade of intricate 'dos, this probably wasn't an issue.

Another woman who may spend some time at the White House, Sarah Palin, often wears a relaxed bouffant. Wikimedia.org.

Today's version of the bouffant, like many retro hairstyles, is a watered-down style injected with modern touches, but it's only a matter of time before teased hair and rollers make a huge comeback.

After all, given that Marie Antoinette and Jackie Kennedy, two icons separated by 200 years, both donned the hairstyle in all its glory, the bouffant is obviously here to stay. But one question: Do we have another 150 years to wait until it makes an appearance again? Read more...

Sweet Victory

It was the mid-1940s: War had finally come to an end, and in the midst of the ensuing celebration (and there was plenty of it!), hair conscious women suddenly felt a strong urge to design a new hairstyle to further push the parties. And what's more fitting than a victory roll?

"We're going to miss all the celebrations if we have to pose much longer!" Zimbio.com.

The term "victory roll" originated from a fighter plane maneuver, but clever women felt it better represented their new 'do, which consisted of delicate "rolls" throughout the hair.

Making a victory roll today is as simple as using curling irons and a blow dryer, but since the forties didn't have any of those fancy options, sleeping in tight pin curls was generally required to create the hairstyle.

By putting their hair into pin curls before calling it a night, women ensured they'd be greeted in the morning with beautiful, bouncy curls. But who wants bouncy curls when everyone else has those neat victory things? No one, that's who, so those perfect curls were then styled into equally-perfect rolls placed and pinned on top of the head.

Gwen Stefani often wears modified victory rolls. 14Gwen.com.

As the excitement from the end of World War II slowly decreased, so did the popularity of victory rolls. Come the 1950s, women had already traded their rolls for relaxed, soft curls, and by doing so made the hairstyle an image of the 1940s only.

Women today can be spotted wearing the look for parties and other retro affairs, but if the victory rolls and all they stand for will ever be needed again in the future is unknown. For now, wear them for your own personal victories! Read more...

A Shopper's True Paradise

Any trendy girl knows that vacation is no time to suddenly stop shopping--if anything, it is merely an excuse to spend more! After all, most tourist destinations make it easy nowadays to buy a gorgeous dress and an expensive necklace in the same store, which could be dangerous for a person's wallet, but great for their closet.

The International Market Place is stuffed to the brim with necklaces, bracelets, and clothing. Photographed by me.

In Hawaii, visitors are now able to choose where to spend their hard-earned cash, whether it be at luxury stores like Prada and Dior, the good old ABC Store, or a treasure box of a shopping center like the International Market Place. And, as many tourists can attest to, areas like Waikiki are abound with fun gift shops, where leis of every shade and Hawaiian dresses of every print are easily found.

Hawaiian Moon sells traditional Hawaiian clothing, all made in Hawaii. Photographed by me.

With stores like 88 Tees and The Clothes Chick located near most hotels, finding vintage clothing and accessories outside of the mainland no longer has to be a struggle. Availability doesn't necessarily equal affordable, as we all know, and the former store is infamous for its $30 t-shirts and jackets.

For vintage lovers not willing to spend thirty dollars for a shirt, the previously mentioned International Market Place is a must see and is full of deals just waiting to be discovered.

During my visit, the only purchase I walked away with was a set of two flower bracelets. Although the simple design and light colors reminds me of the forties and fifties, my main reason for buying the pieces was due to the pushy (but friendly) salesperson and low price ($5 for two!).

Banana Wind carries neat gifts and other items you never would have thought of before. Photographed by me.

Shoving the designer stores and hotel gift shops aside, my absolute favorite store in Oahu is the Waikiki Beach Walk's Hawaiian Moon, a shop selling traditional Hawaiian clothing.

One of my two dresses purchased on the trip was from this store, and I like to think that, had I somehow acquired extra cash, I'd have come home with another! Luckily for people not visiting Honolulu anytime soon, Hawaiian Moon sells their entire collection online.

Like any other major vacation spot, there are numerous places in Oahu (and the other islands, I'm sure) specializing in items other than clothing and accessories. One of these stores is Banana Wind, also found in the Beach Walk, which sells one of a kind gifts, home accessories, and unique jewelery.

The hand painted sarongs at Banana Wind. Photographed by me.

Regardless of any sale encountered in the streets of Waikiki and surrounding areas, Oahu is still a very expensive place to shop. This is more than likely due to it being a major tourist area, but one should keep it in mind before heading out for a vacation. But how can one resist those Hawaiian dresses and shirts?

Note: This post doesn't follow the typical style of Marcelled, but don't worry; the topics following will return to the normal focus on vintage trends. Read more...

Blue Hawaii

Aloha, everyone! Tomorrow I'm flying out to Oahu for some fun in the sun, so there will be no posts on Marcelled for the next week or so. Don't worry, though, as when I return there will be plenty of topics to write about! For now, enjoy these vintage photographs depicting Hawaiian fashions from the 1950s and 1960s.

Even tour buses were fun in 1969! Tom Spaulding on Flickr.com.


1950s family near their home in Oahu. Srk1941 on Flickr.com.


The USS Arizona Memorial in 1969, back when bags were actually allowed! Happy Hooligan on Flickr.com.


The famous Hawaiian dresses and leis. Cosmorama on Flickr.com.

Read more...

Little Magic Glasses

Covering horn-rimmed glasses is similar to covering blue jeans. Where do you begin? How can you possibly describe every style out there without writing a novel? You can't, really, which is why it is best to focus on styles from individual decades - in this case, the 1960s.

"Everything is so much clearer with our new glasses!" ViewImages.com.

During the sixties, if one wasn't heading down the hippie path by wearing wire-rimmed, funky frames, chances are they stuck to their trusty horn-rimmed glasses. Just take a look at any old yearbook (this one from 1967 will do) for proof!

Musicians and actors, always in touch with the latest fashions, helped promote the eyewear. Although Buddy Holly died in 1959, his signature thick frames lived on through the 1960s. Even the Zodiac Killer, whoever he was, donned a pair, and two of his victims - Paul Stine and Bryan Hartnell - did the same.

Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo is known for his signature horn-rimmed glasses. Engagements.ca.

These classic glasses never did fall out of fashion, and can often be spotted on today's stars. Newer styles feature thinner frames (possibly to avoid the "geek" stereotype), but the inspiration is still clear. You don't have to be an A+ student to wear them, either! Read more...