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.

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Making a Splash

With swimming now on virtually every television viewer's mind, questions are popping up left and right over athlete's underwater wardrobes. Questions like, do those new Speedo swimsuits really make a difference? And what's the point of wearing a swim cap if you hardly have any hair, anyway?

"Our new swim caps double as gardens!" Corbis.com.

Swim caps weren't always designed with competition being the main concern - in fact, there was a time when every swimmer wore one, regardless of how intense their swim would be. For a significant period of time, many pools required the caps, only relaxing on the rules about thirty years ago.

Women wore swim caps for one particular reason above all: Their hair, of course! Why, can you imagine the effects of chlorine on those lovely locks? Neither could they, so every time they went out for a swim, their caps came along with them.

Today's athletes are equipped with personalized swim caps. GettyImages.com.

And we're not talking ordinary swim caps, either. After all, if you had to wear one, why not make it somewhat pleasant? During the 1950s and 1960s, colorful florals were all the rage, with some especially elaborate designs costing up to $50 in today's money. Expensive, but keeping hair healthy and dry seemed to justify the cost.

Now, the question that really matters: Think Michael Phelps would wear one? Read more...

The Bee's Knees

How often do pesky insects inspire trendy hairdos? Rarely, which is perhaps the reason behind the massive popularity of the buzzworthy beehive back in its heyday.

"Hello, you've reached 1-800-BEEHIVE." Corbis.com.

Although now often the butt of jokes, back in the sixties women took their beehives seriously, spending hours perfecting the heavily teased updo. Some chose to visit the salon for the perfect hive, but either way it involved liberal use of hair spray, rollers, and backcombing.

By the mid 1960s, the buzz over beehives could be heard everywhere, and the hairstyle reached new extremes. Using hair spray by the can and dozens of bobby pins, women gave real beehives a run for their money.

The advertisements for Chanel Paris-London 2008 featured updated beehives. TheFashionSpot.com.

As most trends go, the beehive craze gradually faded with the increasing regard for the 1970's less demanding styles. In recent years, however, watered-down versions have been spotted on runways and on stars. Looks like this is one hairstyle that hasn't buzzed off just yet! Read more...

Grinning Like a Cheshire Cat in Cat Eye Glasses

Meow! Summer isn't over just yet, so there's still plenty of time to find that perfect pair of sunglasses. If you're at a loss when it comes to what style to purchase, look no further than the family pet - the cat, that is.

"Well, aren't we just a bunch of cool cats?" The Owls Go on Flickr.com.

For women in the 1940s-60s, cat eye sunglasses were, well, the cat's pajamas. However, most people recognize the frames solely from the 1950s, when teenagers and adults alike wore the glasses in every shade of color imaginable and with embellishments of all shapes and sizes.

It was during this decade and the 1960s when eyewear began turning into more than merely protection from the sun - many people went by the philosophy of, if you're going to have to wear a pair, why not make it flashy and fun?

Tom Ford's take on cat eye sunglasses, in a style called 'Anouk.' Sunglasses-Direct.co.uk.

Fifty years ago, during the famously glamorous 1950s, these shades only cost you around $3. Nowadays, designers like Tom Ford and Gucci charge upwards of $250 for their modern take on the cat's eye. There's something else from the past I wouldn't taking back - reasonable prices!

Where to find cat eye sunglasses:
- Hey Viv!, $10 (Available in black, red, white, black/white, and pink/white)
- GoJane, $5 (Available in black, blue, pink, purple, white, and yellow)
- Hot Topic, $13 (Available in leopard print) Read more...