The Gibson Girl

Have you ever heard about the Gibson Girl? The picture above is by Charles Dana Gibson. He was an American graphic artist that created his pen sketch collection of the Gibson Girl. His designs was an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th century.

Mr. Gibson works were depicted in major publications like Life magazines, Harpers Weekly, and Collier's. From late nineteenth and early twentieth Gibson's fictional images were extremely popular. There was merchandising of "saucers, ashtrays, tablecloths, pillow covers, chair covers, souvenir spoons, screens, fans, umbrella stands", all bearing her image.

Some people argue that the "Gibson Girl" was the first national standard for feminine beauty. All I could say is that I totally love this art! Mr. Gibson made sketches look pretty and delicate.



This is my Gibson Girl tote bag that I had bought several years ago from the Victorian Trading Company. It is still one of my favorites!




And by the way Victorian Trading Company carries several designs of the Gibson Girl. Just the other day I told my hubby that we were down to just two drinking glasses. And when I went to check out the latest thing in this store I was excited to see these pretty Gibson Girl glasses!


Perfect for a party with girlfriends!



Chao,


Carmen

Research: Wikipedia. Photo: Creative Commons. Copyright Has Expired.

Living in a Time Warp, story on CNN!

This past week several vintage folks and myself were featured on CNN Ireport, Living In a Time Warp! I thank Mr. Hanks for the wonderful coverage story that he did on Time Warp Wives and Time Warp Living! We absolutely enjoyed reading about the different folks and their passion for vintage living!

It's has been definitely a very exciting and crazy week for me. I seriously can't keep up with the sudden flux of emails and visitors from all over the world! I told my hubby that I would need several more hands to be able to keep up with the demand. Good thing that last month I hired new talented Time Warp Interns. Such help came at the right time!

On the other hand I don't think that I am used to all of this attention. I rather interview folks then being interviewed myself. I can't help it, but that is the reporter in me. Though I have to say that from this experience it gave me a chance to read what other people think. So yes, there were some positive comments about the story and also negative ones. Oh well, that comes with the territory.

At the same time I have several folks lined up to be interviewed, which I am totally ecstatic about!



Smile and be happy!



Chao,



Carmen

Black & White Fashion

I have always loved black and white clothes. I think a basic black and white dress is super chic. And like a little black dress, I believe that a black and white dress completes any girl's wardrobe. The pretty dresses that are here are from my favorite store Mod Cloth! I love going window shopping in this store, because it gives me some inspiration as what to look for when I go to my local thrift store.


By the way, aren't these cute outfits so Parisian looking?






This is a great idea if you have a simple black dress. By just adding a black and white bow, you have a complete new outfit!






This black and white dress is totally a mod dress! Great for grabbing it out of the closet when running late for work.







This chic dress has a performers flare to it, which is retro hip. Just add a little pop out red lipstick and you will be ready for that movie date!


I am totally loving my online window shopping!




Chao,



Carmen

An Interview with Marzipan Jones!

Time Warp Living has always fascinated me. As a Retrotimes Reporter I have enjoyed talking with many people that love living in the past. Now there is one particular gal that wanted to see how it would be to live vintage.

Last year in 2008 Marzipan Jones lived as a 1950’s housewife. Her most difficult challenge was not being a housewife or a mom, but rather that she had to be made up everyday; dresses, stockings and heels while she performed her housewife duties.

Several months later Marzipan Jones realized that living as a 50's housewife wasn't as easy as she thought it was going to be. One of the things that she had mentioned in her blog was that she felt she was somehow missing her real self. Eventhough she didn't complete her year long vintage living experiment, she was brave enough to had start it in the first place.


Here is an excerpt of her interview:

“I've learned that the homemakers back then were some tough broads! You had to be in order to get everything done in such a stylish and gracious manner without expecting a salary in return.”

We asked Marzipan what is the 50’s year housewife. “The 50's year housewife is Marzipan Jones, my alter ego. I'm basically living out the next year as a stereotypical 50's housewife and following the golden rules of such wifedom.”

Marzipan Jones had been meaning to conduct a year-long experiment for a long time and always had the idea of “doing a 50's year” in the back of her mind. “I've always been extremely interested in 50's pop culture: the music, the literature, the films, and especially the clothes! And as a feminist who respects a woman's choice to stay home, I always found the 50's notion of a June Cleaver-type to be both intriguing and a bit frightening."

To read more of Marzipan Jones interview you can visit:

Time Warp Wives Interviews.


Have a fun day!



Chao,


Carmen

Paris By Night Earrings!

I am excited to model these lovely Paris By Night earrings by Avon! These vintage looking earrings are now my favorite! These silverstone Paris inspired earrings are so sophisticated, chic, and very unique. When I first wore these earrings, I was wearing a simple outfit. I didn't really needed any other jewelry, because it gave my outfit just that perfect touch of sparkle.

Now the fun doesn't end there! Avon made Paris By Night a whole collection of jewelry: earrings, necklaces and rings! You can always wear any of these beauties and take Paris with you any where you go.




Aren't these earrings retrochic perfect? I am in love with my new earrings! These earrings can be yours also. And they are now for sale on My Avon website shop page! If you have any questions about these gorgeous earrings feel free to contact me anytime.



O la la, Paris!



Chao,



Carmen

Aviator Outfits

Do you need some new fall fashion inspiration? These lovely aviator inspired outfits are by HERMÈS! Aren't they out of this world? I am so loving the Amelia Earhart and Steampunk flare in these outfits.

These fall fashion outfits come in different styles and colors. These classic coats are a great investment for many fall and winter years to come. Classic clothes are always in style! Don't you love that?




Khaki color jacket. This coat has a slight shine to it, which gives it that rich glow.






Off-black color A line coat dress with hoodie. Perfect for that evening date in town!





Bronze color jacket and skirt. The fur adds that glamorous look!






Dark wine color jacket with pencil line skirt. This rich color is bold and yet feminine.



And to complete these looks you can add a pair of these vintage inspired goggles at: Gentleman's Emporium.



Have a great fall!




Chao,



Carmen

Body Butter

Now that the cold season is on it's way, I have to make sure to maintain a healthy and soft skin. I don't know about you, when I don't put on my creams my skin turns into an alligator skin. It not only looks bad, but it feels bad also. Trust me it isn't a nice sight!

I am a huge fan of butter creams. I think butter creams are best for my skin. The natural oils penetrates better into the skin, and my skin feels smoother much longer.

Have you heard of Notorious Kitsch? This neat retro online store carry a wide variety of retro products for you and your home! I especially love the body butter that they carry. You will totally enjoy layering your skin with the natural and delicious ingredients.

Recently I interviewed Fiona, the owner of Notorious Kitsch for Time Warp Wives. Fiona is very passionate about her retro store. She loves looking for the best quality items that her customers will love.


To read more of Fiona's interview visit: Time Warp Wives Interviews!


This creamy body butter is an exquisite combination of Peach and Mango extract with added Vitamin E. This lovely cream will naturally replenishes the skin helping to give it a healthy glow. I love a healthy skin glow!




Green Apple, Maple and Blueberry body butter. Rich in natural extracts that help to revitalize and moisturize the skin. I know my skin will love this!




An irresistible, sumptuous combination of nourishing and enticing Strawberry and Vanilla extracts! Now that sounds delicious!



Skin Love!




Chao,



Carmen

Hold on To Your Hats!

The season for hats is here! I am sooo happy because that means that I could finally wear my chic winter hats. I don't own too many hats. The problem is that I keep loosing my hats. I do have though a nice assortment of hats that I could use for this fall and winter. For some reason I loose hats like I loose sunglasses. I don't seem to keep them too long. So I have no choice than to buy more...Oh, well life is tough.

Here are these cute hats from Jasmin Zorlu Millinery. They are that perfect fall and winter hats that you would never want to leave home!


























Love them! If only this Florida weather starts getting cooler.





Chao,



Carmen

Retro Dining Decor

As an amateur decorator I love getting inspiration all the time. Here I found this retro chic dining nook by Jenn Ski from Apartment Therapy. I totally love the white & chrome 60's dining set!



Paint is the cheapest way to decorate your home. This apple green color makes my mouth water. Great color to open up your appetite!




I am a huge fan of white furniture against a pop out wall color. Here Jenn used white and chrome to accessorize her dining room. She kept this room bold and yet not too cluttered!



I am so inspired!



Chao,



Carmen

Peep Toe Shoes!

There is a lot more choices of shoes around this time of year. One more reason why I am in love with fall!

Here I wanted to share with you these classy peep toe shoes from Ros Hommerson. These shoes look smart for school and yet stylish for an evening out. I love the corset style front with the added lace, sooo cute?

I am totally excited to start wearing my boots. If only this Florida weather start getting cooler. Can you believe that it felt like 104 degrees here? I know that is totally not fair!




Black and sophisticated. This pair can take you from the school library to that date!






Soft like a camel. These shoes will look perfect with a brown chocolate skirt!






Oh la, la romantic red. Red shoes make you fell happy and perky, no matter how cold it is outside!



For more information on these shoes you can visit Zappos online!



Take care,


Chao,


Carmen

One of a Kind Fall Fashion

I have always loved unique fashion. So when I saw these stylish 2009 fall fashion by Leifsdottir, I knew that I found one of a kind fashion. Don't you think that these outfits are retro looking with a little steampunk fashion to them? I totally agree!

Most of these lovely designs can be found in Anthropologie. What I like about this store is that they add a little bit of retro flare to their items. Every time I go to this store I come out happy with great fashion ideas. Now that fall is here, why not add a little of pizazz to your wardrobe. Gals, it is time to take out those long forgotten winter accessories and put it to good use!





This fashion is very Russian looking. I love the vintage inspired jacket and the rider hat.





Net pantyhose is a must for the fall, you will look sophisticated while it keeps your legs warm.






The first instance when I saw this dress I thought about a deck of cards. Is like seeing a character from Alice in Wonderland.







You know that I am a big fan of gloves. I love wearing long gloves with a short sleeve dress. I love also the ruffle scarf that this model is wearing. What a great idea if you are going for a more glamours look!



Be inspired and have fun!




Chao,


Carmen

An Interview with Regina Ann Moscrop

One of the many perks that I love about interviewing my guests is that we get to find out how they manage their personal lives and their work life. Have you heard of the Bear Flag Republic store? Well this retro store is owned by the lovely Regina Ann. She was such an inspiration to all the women that dream in having a their own successful business. Not only that but Regina is also a designer of these cute vintage inspired shoes, which are highly used for dancing because of their comfort and great style.


Here I present part of our interview:


“I really like modern kitchen appliances. Love the microwave and crock pot. However, I do hold old fashion values”.

Owner of Bear Flag Republic and Designer of BFR retro shoes, Regina lives on a 20 acre ranch with her husband and their two children . She loves Marlena Dietrich, vintage hats and the Cicada Club in Los Angeles.

Regina decided to start her business when a friend of hers was getting married on the Queen Mary and it was a period wedding. “ I had the hardest time finding vintage clothes to fit my larger hips. The 40's women were much thinner and less hippy.” The groom for this wedding was a musician so they wanted to get him a radio/CD player that looked vintage but had all the modern elements. But instead it turned into a treasure hunt that ended with them buying antique dishes...

You can read more of Regina Ann's interview at:

Time Warp Wives


Enjoy!


Chao,


Carmen

Mad Modness!

Lately I have been into the 60's look. I have always loved Jackie Kennedy's timeless look. Now that fall weather is on it's way, I am totally looking forward to wearing some of my streamline dresses and making it look sixties.




Theses dresses from Mod Cloth are great inspiration for the sixties look. If you study the lines and cut of these dresses you will find that they have a basic pattern.





First, they either have little or no material to cover the shoulders. Second, the waist is accentuated or slightly accentuated.





Third, mod dresses are not long. I prefer that the dress hit below my knees. And last but not least, the mod dress is mostly made of structure material, which gives it that perfect tailored look!



I am so sixtites inspired!



See you later!



Chao,



Carmen

Me and My Butler!

As I promised to my readers here are photos of me and my Butler Bag! So for any that might think of getting this bag, I assure you that you are not going to want to go back to your regular bag. This bag with it's five compartments will not only keep your things in place, you yourself will feel well put together. You will be able to easily find your keys and phone, without digging through your purse. This bag is not only practical, but it is also super chic!





I am so thrilled how my Butler Bag totally complement my retro outfit!






Don't you think that these photo came out like it was taken by a paparazzi?






"Hey Carmen, want kind of bag are you carrying?"






"I am carrying my new Butler Bag Basics."







"Where did you buy your Butler Bag?"






"From Avon! And I just love it!"



If you have any questions about Avon's New Butler Bag Basics or if you would like to purchase your own bag. Now Avon has a brand new Butler Bag! This new bag is an off white color, which will go well with any Spring outfit! You can visit my Avon page at any time!




Chao,


Carmen

Sweet Betsy

One of my favorites retro towns here in Florida is the City of Celebration! Whenever I visit this place I feel like I am stepping back in time! The homes and streets in Celebration are designed to reflect that Old Americana town feel. This place is also all so romantic. For these reasons I decided to make my "Date in Celebration" film.

As an amateur film maker, I learned many things as we filmed our first retro film. First, I should have written down and learn the dialogue for when I was in front of the camera. That way I wouldn't make too many boo boos. Second, we should have filmed earlier in the day, when the weather was cooler. By noon I melting like a Popsicle, and that wasn't a pretty sight. I didn't have a professional makeup artist that could touch up my hair and makeup.

Over all, I love learning new things. I think now of how complex it is in making a film. Also when you do your own film and put your own ideas into it, you kind of feel proud that you accomplish something nice and that you get to share it other people.

Making this film with my hubby was a lot of fun. We worked as a team and took time to hear each other ideas and suggestions.

My hubby and I love spending time walking together holding hands. I can't wait for when we go back to Celebration for another date!


Here is the link of my film:"A Date In Celebration."


Enjoy your Monday!


Chao,


Carmen

Time Warp Living Network!

We just launched our brand new Time Warp Living Network! Our new network will replace our current Time Warp Wives Forum. In addition to being able to use the forum, you will have your own member's page and even customize it as you wish, with a blog, photos and videos!

As your your Retro Reporter & Hostess Guide I will make sure that our family friendly network will be a pleasant experience for you. Come and join us!

Step into the past: Time Warp Living

RetroTimes Productions

We are so thrilled to announce the launch of our RetroTimes Productions film company! Our film company will be focused on bringing a little bit of the past to the 21 century through movies and documentaries about retro living, retro design, and retro style.

For this month RetroTimes Productions presents our first film comedy "A Date In Celebration". We are sure that you are going to love this comedy! So come join me as I bring to you the best retro things of the Town of Celebration.


Click to enter to RetroTimes Productions:
RetroTimes Productions

Time Warp Wives

I had recently launched my new website Time Warp Wives. Inspired by the British documentary “Time Warp Wives”, I wanted to create a website where I could have the opportunity to interview and meet people that have a passion for old school living.

At Time Warp Wives you will be fascinated to meet ‘Timewarpians’ and regular folks from all over the world who share a passion for retro living. Time Warp Wives also will feature retro events, movies, music, fashion shows and the best retro places to shop. Those who come and visit my website will also enjoy beauty, fashion, and home keeping retro tips, passed down from past generations.

As a person that is very passionate about retro, I have always yearned to live in those bygone years. Although those days are far gone, I believe that we can still bring a little bit of the past to the 21 century and beyond. And that is what Time Warp Wives is all about.


Step in for a visit:

http://timewarpwives.com/