Link Likes: A beauty interview, a fashion line, two blogs and a recipe

First, an interview with the fabulous Tracee Ellis Ross.  She is the celebrity with whom I have the most physical traits in common, so it was great to see this interview. The product that I most want to try is Bumble + Bumble Quenching Complex.
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/face-time-tracee-ellis-ross/

photo: Tina Turnbow

 The Stolen Girlfriends Club was featured on Fly Girls, and I am in total lust with this T-Shirt dress below.  The more vibrant prints that Andrea featured are to die for also.
http://www.stolengirlfriendsclub.com/collections/womens

photo: stolengirlfriendsclub.com

If I remember correctly, a commenter on Jezebel linked to this next blog.  Esme and the Laneway features enviable vintage style and great photographs:
http://esmeandthelaneway.blogspot.com/

photo: esmeandthelaneway.blogspot.com

I am looking for home decorating inspirations and stumbled on this post of vintage vanities and dressing rooms.  It is amazing to see how important perfumes and a handheld mirror were to a glamorous woman's arsenal! (warning: this site plays music automatically)
http://loveyourplace.blogspot.com/2009/09/vintage-vanities-old-hollywood-glamour.html

photo: precodecinema.blogspot.com (I think)

And finally, I went to Whole Foods the other night hoping to find  Valrhona cocoa powder, but I had no such luck.  I ended up with Ghiardelli, which is still great of course.  I also had to think about how to properly sweeten the bitter cocoa powder and remembered that Angelina's hot chocolate was dark, sweet, and perfect.  Here is a recipe:
http://www.savory.tv/2009/12/12/paris-hot-chocolate-recipe/

Fall/Winter Hosiery: Hold-ups

Lately, I have been wearing hold-ups because it is chilly, but hasn't been so cold that I feel like I am catching a draft!  I already have too much hosiery, but I love looking at what's out there.  Although I will say that a few years ago I did learn  that I need lace-top because they have silicone backing that hold well against the skin.  The ones with the thick elastic just squeeze the hell out of my thighs and then roll down as the day progresses. So I recommend lace-top thigh-highs.  I have a couple different brands, and I can't say that I can tell the difference.

Pretty Polly has some nice hold-ups with a small lace band.  And how cute is their pin-up-inspired cover? $17.95

These Falke Peacock Top tights are so cute! and tempting! $49

These Charnos Ava hold-ups have a gorgeous floral motif as a "back seam" $22.85

I first heard about Secrets in Lace because Dita von Teese wears them because they are made in the traditional vintage style.  They also make a large variety of sizes.

Another great thing about thigh-highs is that it evokes a sexy/vintage feeling. Pin-up cartoons from the first half of the 1900's were mostly about showing women in their states of undress or undressing.  Whereas nowadays the image of thigh-high stocking tends to be only thought of as oversexualized, back then nylons were the only sheer leg coverings available.  And, with a casual look over pin-up illustrations from that time period, the act of showing the tops or putting them on was also considered sexy!

The Pin-up Source is a great source of vintage and contemporary pin-up cartoons, most of which are NOT SAFE FOR WORK.  And guess what? There were/are women pin-up artists too! I had no idea. After the jump are some illustrations with women wearing hold-ups that I like:

Vintage Blog

I really love this blog.  I have some vintage French postcard reproductions up in my bedroom and in my cube, so I love going on this blog to see the various pictures, ads, and illustrations mostly from the 1860's to the 1930's. 

These pictures are just a minuscule sample of what is  on the blog.  When I first came across it I made my way all the way to post #1!


Check it out!