Powder Compacts

Everyone likes a good prop. Extra points if it's particularly attractive and useful, in my book.

One of my favorites is a powder compact--the vintage variety. Years ago many different styles were available, some like the ones you see today in the drugstore, but others were made of precious metals and set with diamonds, turquoise, pearls, emeralds and more.





Clearly, the second variety is the way to go...but how can you refill it? I'll tell you how; make it yourself. It's easy, and even cheap.

Here's what you'll need:

*baby powder
*color powder (pink, peach, green, etc.)
*50% rubbing alcohol
*glycerine
*water or rosewater

Take a small amount of baby powder and mix in a pinch or three of colored powder. Pink or peach for a delicate color, a bit of green if you want to tone down a red complexion...you get the picture.

Add 3 or 4 drops of glycerine and mix to a paste with rubbing alcohol and water or rosewater.

Pat this into the empty, clean powder section of your compact and smooth it in with wet fingers. Leave the cover open and allow it to dry, at least overnight.


Glycerine can be found in some drugstores. Rosewater is expensive in mainstream stores--look for it in mediterranean markets. You can find it there for under $4.00 per bottle. As for the colored powder, I suggest mineral makeup. It works very well.

If your pressed powder cracks, it's too dry. Add a bit more glycerine or less rubbing alcohol next time.

Casual Vintage Friday

I know "Casual Friday" has been done to excess, but it can be worn with style.

Whether at home or the office or elsewhere, you can make casual attractive. Here's an example: today I had to garden, run errands, bake and cook a decent dinner (too many sandwiches lately!) and I wanted to be comfortable, but wasn't about to wear sweats. (I do have them. I use them for yoga or running. Period.)

Today I wore vintage dungarees (ca. 1932...they belonged to my Great Uncle Jack, who wore them in the Navy) a corn yellow "Three Hour Sweater", which I knitted myself a few years ago. The pattern was available free online at the time I made the sweater. The pattern itself is from the 1930s. It's got a ribbed neck area, puffed sleeves and a ribbed waist. Simple and comfortable, but tailored. To that I added argyle socks (cream, with pale leaf green, peach & yellow), brown loafers, a Bakelite bangle and Bakelite earrings.

If you'd like to see some cute examples from the 30s and 40s, check out any movie star biography from that time period. See Ginger Rogers after a successful fishing trip, or other actresses and starlets posing for the old movie magazines. Loose dungarees with a proper high waist, cuffed or rolled, anklets or argyles, loafers, and a bright, tailored shirt and you're good to go. Add coordinating Bakelite or celluloid jewelry and you're all set.

Set your hair or roll it (or use a do-rag or pony tail) and someone is sure to walk up to you and say,"My great aunt dressed just like that when....".

Happy Birthday Mimi!

Have a fabulous day!

How Mondays Should Be

Ok, so I'm a bit late with this one and it's only germain if you're languishing on this side of the Atlantic, BUT! if you be down Camden way (its a 'burb of London), check out Rock-a-Hula at the Stables Market tonight, June 15th.

Lindy Hop lessons and 50's makeovers! Oh my! Muchas gracias to Queens of Vintage for that tip.

If you miss this one, I'm sure there's going to be more in the near future, and this reporter will try to be more timely in her posts. That or the Boss Lady will can my as.....I mean, ensure that I have oodles of free time to acquire the habit of knowing what the date is whilst waiting on line at the Unemployment Office.