The Shady Dell

I got the idea for this post from visiting the wonderful blog of The Glamorous Housewife. She did a series of blogs dedicated to Vintage travel. One of the blogs mentioned was The Shady Dell Vintage Trailer Park Motel. Reading the blog brought back a lot of great memories for me. I have stayed at the Shady Dell before and even did a 1950's style photo shoot there.

This was a great inspiration for me to share those pictures. The Shady Dell is a wonderful place. You feel like you stepped into a vintage world for the time you are there. You are surrounded by amazing restored Vintage Airstream trailers that are all meticulously decorated in vintage decor ranging from the 1940's to the 1960's. There is also a 1947 Chris Craft yacht on site, that is just divine to look at.

Not to mention the fact that you are just a few steps away from an original 1950's diner located on the premises. My experience was truly welcoming and amazing. I highly recommend anyone traveling through to make a stop. Also the town of Bisbee itself is such a quaint little town to feel cozy in. It has some great Antique stores to browse through, museums full of local history, and tons of arts, crafts and good Mexican restaurants.

xoxo,

Syd Divine

This picture was taken inside the Chirs Craft Yacht!

My Mad Men contribution!

Happy Thursday!

I thought that since all the talk about town lately was in reference to the new season of the fabulous television drama Mad Men. That I would also due my part in contribution to the era of the early 1960's.

Even though I normally tend to always naturally gravitate towards a little earlier eras. I do also have an appreciation and eye for the early 60's, and have accomplished this look many-many times. When I say early I definitely mean more of the classic Jacki O, Grace Kelly or Audrey Hepburn inspired look. You know Mad Men style!

So, I managed to scrounge up a few old pics of me and my cronies while dressed in our 1960s style. On this particular night we were out and about in a cab painting the town red. We managed to conquer two bars,  both that are known for their great 1960's charm and decor. Kon-Tiki and The Shelter are both located in Tucson, AZ.

Does anyone else have any 1960's fashion or beauty pictures to share in appreciation of the new season of Mad Men?

I was wearing my 1960's white and gold brocade shift dress and my pink 1960's satin pumps. For accessories I paired them with a gold and pink pearl dress pin from the 60's with matching earrings. Pink gloves and a beaded 1960's floral purse (sorry you can't see it that good). My hair was styled in a 1960's bouffant style french twist and my makeup was 1960's inspired with cat eyes, darker and thicker eyelashes and nude lipstick.

xoxo

~syd

Wednesday Wardrobe

Since I totally admit to being a lazy bum and a prisoner to my house on Monday and Tuesday. I stayed in my lounging clothes most of the time and totally avoided the record temperatures of 110 degrees outside. So for that matter, did not get dressed in my get-ups and had no wardrobe pictures to share. So lame........

Anywhoo today I had no choice, but to expose my son and I to the heat! We had some running around to do. Thank goodness the a/c in my car blows cold. Or else I really think I would die of a heat stroke. I know I sound like a whiny little baby. My poor husband is a Landscape Designer and works in the heat all day long. Even though he is a self proclaimed lizard and says it doesn't bother him. Nor should it bother me as we were both raised in the desert climate.

That I should just deal with it, it's only for 3 months out of the year. You can't beat the Spring, Fall and Winters in Arizona. Also we don't have to worry about floods, earthquakes, tornadoes blah, blah, blah! Yeah I know, but it's so hot my makeup is melting off my face in the middle of the day!

Back to the point as I have rambled on about my petty complaints. Here is what I wore today as I gallivanted around to register for a class, Target, Michael's Craft Store, Hancock Fabric store, and the Farmers Market. I make my poor son take these pictures of me as there is no one else around during the day, plus I am horrible about taking self portraits. You would have half a head or half a body if it was left up to of to me. He has turned out to be quite the little picture taker.

Have a swell Wednesday!

XOXO,

Syd




Red and white polka dot 1940's dress. I found this dress at an estate sale about a year ago. Paired with red Georgia wedges from Rocket Originals. Also after my bangs grew out a little bit. I was finally able to put my hair in Victory Rolls again!!!

My accessories include a red Bakelite cuff bracelet, red Bakelite earrings, red snood and my President Roosevelt campaign pin from the early 1940's.

Back from Vacation Part:2

Happy Monday!

So sorry that it has taken me such a long time to get the second part of this entry to you all. It's almost like you need another vacation from a vacation. Last week I seemed to be so busy getting things back in order around the house and some stuff checked off my to-do list.

I managed to find some time to sit down and sort through MOST of our vacation pictures. Which I am so excited to post. I also am a little upset and regret to say that we also lost some pictures from our day at Santa Monica beach. Sooo sad about that! That had to be my favorite day of memories!

That was the day that "I" (dingbat I can be at times!) left my camera battery on the charger in the hotel room. So I brought the camera, thinking in my mind that I did a good job in remembering everything we needed. Then realized when it wouldn't turn on. That I had left behind the battery! Luckily, my husband has a pretty decent camera on his phone. We took pictures that day with his camera. Whew! we were safe right? So we thought until.......

On our other beach day in San Diego; As we thought we were sitting far enough from the shore. We were all cozy and relaxed, then a huge wave came through making the water go far beyond it's normal breaking point. Taking our beach bag, towels, phone, etc. with it! We managed to run up to the wave in time to get our salt water drenched items back as the water slowly sucked it back into the ocean.

Well as you can imagine the phone was completely soaked! We thought that maybe there was a chance for survival if we got the phone dissected to air dry and brought it home to charge. No such luck! All the pictures from that day are gone! The representative from Verizon told us. That if we could at least just get the phone to turn on, he would be able to retrieve the pics for us. But nothing! not a single sign of life.

So I have to get over it and move on. Even though I am so disappointed that I don't have those memories on film to share and keep (only in my mind). I do have some other great pictures to share, so here they are....

Enjoy,

Syd

Universal Studios, California

Did you know I can hold the world in the palm of my hands!

Got soaked after the Jurassic Park ride...So much for my hairdo the rest of the day. Ah! so much time spent pincurling the day before.

Union Station was amazing, I can just picture what it was like in the 1930's and 40's....can't you?

What an amazing vintage store!!

Me and Ashley just being our goofy selves

Beverly Hills Hotel Circa 1945

The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood California

The Graumans Chinese Theatre

Standing in front of Lana Turner's hand prints...

Dancing the Charleston at The Cicada Club's 1920's Revue

Night in the Roaring Twenties.....

Wearing: My late 1920's dress, Cloche hat, rolled wool stockings, t-strap shoes, pearls, fingerwaves and my 1920's make-up......

My family in 1920's styled by me.

Back from Vacation Part:1

Good Morning,

Well I am so excited to be back home! Just got back yesterday afternoon. I love to go on vacation and get a change of scenery and weather for a little while. But it is always such a comforting feeling to come home, relax and sleep in my own bed again! I am sure most of you can relate to the feeling "there's no place like home!"

California was swell! It was quite a busy trip this time. Not much relaxing, but more running around with Universal Studios, Hollywood and the Cicada Club. However, we did manage to spend a day at Santa Monica Beach and then Mission Beach down in San Diego. The beach always settles me down. I love just laying on the shore, reading a book and listening to the soothing sound of the wind and waves coming in. While periodically looking up to watch my son enjoying the sand running through his fingers and the waves kick under his legs. That is a moment of complete contentment, joy and peace for me.

I also got to spend some time with my dear friend Ashley. We went down to Hollywood Blvd. to look at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre and The Roosevelt Hotel. We then headed down to the Glamorous Beverly Hills Hotel. Only for a moment we felt like two Glamour Era rising starlets having lunch. It was completely fabulous! Of course I was filled with anticipation all day to head over to the incredible vintage store Playclothes in Studio City! That store is incredible! So many beautiful vintage items and everything was in perfect condition. I could only afford a few things, but just being there was amazing.

We then hurried home to get dressed in our full authentic roaring twenties regalia. The Cicada Club was awaiting our arrival! We sure had a roaring night as we sipped on cocktails in Art Deco bliss, mingled with fellow vintage enthusiast and of course danced the Charleston till our legs were on fire!

I decided that I was going to break this blog entry into two parts. Only because I have so much to tell and so many pictures to sift through. I will start by posting up a couple of pictures that I just received from the photo shoot I did in San Diego. These are only a few of the amazing Senorita set we had! (more to come) In the meantime I am going to work on organizing the rest of my vacation pictures to share with you all!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

xoxo,

Syd Divine

Red 1940's sun suit (handmade), Mexican Serape, Vintage Sombrero

Vintage inspired Mexican peasant blouse, Vintage brown leather tooled belt, Vintage brown leather tooled wedges, 1940's straw Mexico souvenir bag, 1940's Taxco silver charm bracelet from Mexico.

Senorita Photo Shoot Inspiration!

Good Evening All,

As I am counting the days until I leave town. I have been preparing and packing suitcases, cleaning house and tying up loose ends. I thought I would take a minute to sit down and share some of my inspiration photos for my upcoming shoot I have planned. I am so excited about this shoot because it really hits home for me. I will keep my outfits for the photo shoot a surprise until the final product has been produced.

Here is an idea of the Spanish Senorita look I hope to capture myself. These beautiful women are so colorful and inspiring to me!! Susana from Vestige Photography is amazing with a camera! We are planning on shooting down in the Old Town San Diego area. This shoot is just one style in the Vintage Western Life series I have planned. My next focus is on 1940's Cowgirls. I hope these inspiration images will capture your heart as well. I can't wait to share them with you all......

XOXO,

Syd Divine
"The Golden Girl of the West"

A 1940's ad for Huaraches sandals!

I saw these 1940's Moccasin's on Ebay a few months back. They were not my size, my oh my goodness I wish they were. I would buy them in a heartbeat!! Who ever purchased them is a lucky duck.......

3 days Left....

First of all, I hope everyone had a swell weekend. I can't believe Monday is here already and I only have three days left until vacation time! I am so excited to head back out to California. My dear friend Ashley moved to to California about 8 months ago and I really miss her being around. I am looking forward to spending some time with her. My last visit was back in February and it has been much too long!

Ashley and my other dear friend Jennifer are two other gal pals in Tucson, that have a love for playing dress up in vintage clothing. They share a common love for the vintage lifestyle. In fact, we used to have so much fun dressing all up to the nines in vintage and parading all over town calling ourselves the Fabulous Forties Gals. We used to have so much fun exposing the town to our appreciation of the eras gone past. Especially the elders, who we loved to entertain and bring back their young memories.

We even got hired a couple of times to entertain at nostalgic events, car shows, fashion shows, etc. My mother being the amazing seamstress she is! Made all three of us amazing 1940's inspired Cigarette Girl costumes. We wore those cute little uniforms with such enthusiasm for the bygone days of enchanting nightclubs and dances.

Some other plans on my trip include taking my son to Universal Studios, spending some time at the beach, sightseeing in Hollywood, going to the Roaring Twenties event at the Cicada Club in Downtown Los Angeles, searching for Art Deco pieces and of course stopping in Orange to do some vintage hunting!! Oh yeah! and I have a photo shoot planned in San Diego on the way back home. So excited about that! I can't wait to share my ideas and photos!

I will probably spend the next couple of days packing and getting things ready to depart on Thursday morning. I am hoping to do a later post (maybe Wednesday) showing some of the outfits that I have planned to wear. I will leave you with some photos that I have acquired over the years, of the Fabulous Forties Gals. Also some photos from our last trip to California!

I hope you all have a blessed Monday!!

XOXO,

Syd

At Seal Beach in February 2009

Disneyland!!

In San Pedro at The Great Los Angeles Air Raid of 1942!

The girls reunite! Me, Jen & Ashley are the three gals on the right!

Vintage style picnic in the park!

Me and Ashley sipping on Martini's and sporting snoods!

Strolling down 4th Avenue on a hot summer day last year!

All dressed up for the Cicada Club, in Downtown L.A.

Me and Ashley hanging out at Hotel Congress, when she came to visit in April 2009!

After lunch and shopping, a sit -down break.

At the Beauty Bar!

Seamed stockings and the Rialto Theatre downtown Tucson....circa 2007

The Cigarette Girls! Me, Jen & Ashley are the gals in coordinating uniforms!

xoxo~syd