Tag Archives: circle skirt

Rock Around the Park

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On our last day in the park this visit, I donned my Zero circle skirt and we joined the rockabilly crowd for Rock Around the Park, a day in which a bunch of rockabilly people get together and go to Disneyland.  We arrived early, being one of the first people in the park, and when this happens, instead of bolting for big attractions such as Space Mountain, I enjoy moseying about and taking photos…lots and lots of photos…

New Orleans Square is my favorite land, and I spent most of the day there.  The Christmas overlay for both the land as well as the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay for the Haunted Mansion is just magnificent.  There are so many delightful details everywhere you turn. If you’re a fan of Nightmare and haven’t been while this overlay is happening, I highly recommend it! The overlay takes 14 days to complete and is done in late September so the Mansion is ready for the Halloween season.  The overlay then lasts just past New Years and is taken down with the rest of the Christmas decor. But please visit Disneyland’s calender prior to planning your visit.

It is also during these months that you can meet Jack and Sally!

I can’t deny that I find it amusing that initially Disney disapproved of Burton’s creation (as well as the original Frankenweenie, both were thought too scary for children) and today both are beloved and embraced.

Midway through the day, all of those who came for Rock Around the Park posed for a group photo in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Patrick, as well as everyone else in my group, insisted on being in it, so I didn’t get a picture.  But you can view it here! And you can even see me, my sister and Patrick! I’m on the left, of course in the yellow sweater, next to a girl in a red sweater.  After our photo we all made our way to Pirates of the Caribbean where we all got odd stares and questions. But as is life for a vintage loving gal…

As part of Rock Around the Park, as a group we went to watch Billy Hill and the Hillbillies perform at Big Thunder Ranch.  While all of the boys are named “Billy”, the lead member said how delighted he was to see all of us rockabilly people, despite how “scary” we all looked.

These guys are highly entertaining, as well as extremely talented.  So if you’re a fan of bluegrass and you’re in Disneyland, I highly suggest seeing them!

Also at the performance of Billy Hill and the Hillbillies we picked up our Rock Around the Park 2012 pins! How swell is that!?

There were many other group oriented events, including a concert by Rumble King at the Tomorrowland Terrace, and post-park drinks at Trader Sam’s, but instead I voted to spend more time in New Orleans Square, soaking up the jazz and eating pumpkin beignets.

I think I rode the Haunted Mansion so many times I lost track…there is just so much to look at both inside and out!

That about wraps it up. Big Disneyland buffs should stay tuned for a bonus post a little later today! And look for the entry with our 120 photos tomorrow!!

Vintage Must Have: Crinoline

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A crinoline (also known as a petticoat) is a must have if you’re a fan of fuller skirts.  The full skirts and circle skirts of the 1950s and early 1960s require a crinoline to produce that classic silhouette seen in so many magazines of the time period.

I have several crinolines, because, well, I need them.  Yes, need.  I have full skirts of varying lengths, and for me, one crinoline simply doesn’t do the job.  (As much as I wish it would since crinolines tend to take up a lot of space.)  Not all of my dresses that require crinolines are of the same length.  If a crinoline is too long, it peeks out and looks bad.  Although a one inch peek is considered acceptable.  If a crinoline is too short, the last few inches of the dress fall straight down, and it looks unattractive.  I have two large and long crinolines that serve well under my classic circle skirts that I have made (view them here, here, here, and here), and are very similar to the ones that Jumblelaya sells.  I have a smaller, shorter one that I picked up second hand that is perfect for some of my squaw dresses.  One very similar can be purchased from Pin-Up Girl Clothing.  I also have one that is in between these two that I recently found in the attic.  You can also layer your crinolines to add more poof in your skirt.  I once wore three for an AlexSandra fashion show.

Crinolines can be successfully stored in pillow cases or vacuum bags and it won’t harm them one bit.  They tend to be very good at springing back to life.  However if they do have any severe wrinkles, a quick pass over with a steamer will do the trick.  Don’t have a steamer? Take your crinoline into the bathroom with you while you shower!

I would also like to note that this dress is a perfect example of how to use of a half-slip (read more on slips here!).  Obviously my bodice does not allow for a traditional full slip, so I have put on a half slip between myself and my crinoline.  Additionally, crinolines can be a tad rough, unless you purchase one made of super soft nylon.

So get out there, and add some poof to your life!  You’ll find yourself swishing as you walk.  It’s quite fun.

Fresh Vintage

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Yesterday I shared with you my friend’s new shop, Retro Rejuvenation and that Lyndsie let me paw through her rack of fabulous inventory.  I picked out two pieces that I absolutely needed, including this stellar black wool circle skirt by Colony Casuals of California.

The other piece I had to have was this amazing blue and white dress by Paula Brooks.  There was one button missing, so Lyndsie let me pick through her huge collection of new-old stock buttons and I picked out these.  Which I actually thought looked better than the originals.

I look forward to future visits to Lyndsie’s shop, both as a customer and a vendor of her mall.  If you’re ever in Eugene, be sure to visit.

Swingin’ Stagecoach

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There are a handful of shops in town that I tend to avoid.  Either because the customer service is poor, if not downright terrible, or the shop is simply too…difficult (read as: chaotic and has way too much 80s for me to handle).  But every now and again I will allow myself to enter into such shops, especially if I’m on the look out for something really specific or I’m with a friend who actually enjoys the shop in question.  And recently, the latter happened and what did I find? This…

I love me some circle skirts, especially novelty print.  This skirt appears homemade, is quilted and has a fabulous print of stagecoaches all over.  Recently The Vintage Traveler blogged about circle skirts, sharing how annoyed she was with the poodle skirt cliche (something I am quite annoyed with as well) and included a wide range of other circle skirts that existed in the 50s – several of which I must either track down or create myself.  So, I’d like to throw my circle skirt to the ring as another prime example that not all circle skirts from the 50s had poodles on them!

Outfit
Umbrella: Thrifted
Headband: Errr…don’t remember.
Blouse: Bohemian Vintage, Portland
Skirt: House of Vintage, Portland
Shoes: The Clothes Horse, Eugene
Knott’s Berry Farm Charm Bracelet: Gift
Earrings: Antique Alley, Portland

One-Twenty at Disneyland

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During our visit to Disneyland, we didn’t just take pictures with our phones and digital cameras, but with our vintage Kodak DualFlex II, which dates to 1950-1954, using 120 film.  The camera attracted much attention, people said they loved it, asked if it worked, and said it was cooler than the Holgas so many hipsters carry with them these days.  We took both black and white and color film with us and here are the results!

Please note that I have made no color alterations, etc. to these photos – they are exactly how they came out of the camera.  I was really surprised with the wonderful tones of the color film and I love the almost dream-like imagery this camera produces due to the quality of the lens.

Well, that’s it for the Disneyland entries for now! I hope you enjoyed!

I Couldn’t Resist…

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…wearing my Disneyland skirt another day.  Since my Disneyland skirt received such a wonderful reception the first day wearing it, I had to wear it again on our last day in the park.  While waiting for the park to open I had several older cast members come up to me asking what the story was behind it and we chit-chatted for a long while.  They especially appreciated the fact that I had the Monsanto House of the Future on the skirt, an attraction that disappeared in 1967.

Since Disneyland had their Mardi Gras celebration going on, several characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale were all in Mardi Gras outfits! So of course I had to get my pictures taken with them!  Chip and Dale really flipped over my skirt, it was quite delightful!

Later in the day I changed into my Enchanted Tiki Room pantsuit.  I had several people, mainly cast members, come up to me to comment on the outfit, many had never seen anything like it before!

I’m always sad leaving Disneyland, but I know we’ll come back again real soon.  Maybe even as soon as November.  Meanwhile, I came up with several more Disney themed circle skirt ideas, and I can’t wait to get started on them! So many sewing projects!  Once again, stay tuned for even more Disneyland photos, since we are picking up our film from our dual lens camera tomorrow!!

The Disneyland Skirt Makes Its Debut

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Friday was our first day of three that we spent in the Disneyland Park and my special Disneyland Skirt made its debut and boy was it a coming out party it was.

I had guests and cast members alike comment on it, and countless people (some asked, others didn’t) took my picture.  A few questions asked were “Did you make it?” “How long did it take you?” “Are you on Etsy?” “Can I have it?”.  While taking photos near the Tea Cups, I had a cast member who operated the Storybook Land Canal Boats come up to us who said “We think your skirt is epically epic, and we wanted to give you something.” and she presented me with a little clear plastic Cinderella shoe!

In the late morning, we decided we wanted to try to do the classic Mickey flower picture near the entrance, only to find the Disneyland Band, the Mad Hatter and Alice dancing with some guests.  We turned around to leave, and heard the Mad Hatter calling out “You! YOU! Come back here!” I turned back to see him running toward me, and he grabbed my hand and brought me back over to the area and began dancing with me.  When I began my purse was flying all over, and as I broke away to leave it on the bricks, he took it from me and gave it to Alice for her to hold, who pouted for awhile, but as you can see in the pictures she began digging though it!

Around lunchtime we met with my cousin, Matt, who used to work at the park.  We sat down to a lovely lunch at the new Jolly Holiday Bakery & Cafe, inspired by the classic film Mary Poppins.  The restaurant has many adorable Mary Poppins details, including a weathervane shaped like Marry Poppins, penguin stained glass windows and silhouettes of characters.  It was wonderful chit-chatting more with Matt, who shared funny stories about his time at Disneyland.  I hope to see more of him again if we return in November.

During the day, one of the Disneyland photographers approached me.  She enjoyed my skirt so much and took loads of photos which we viewed and purchased later that evening at the Kodak shop along Main Street.

We also did my new favorite activity – having our silhouettes made!  We once again sat down with Bonnie, a cast member who has been doing silhouettes for nearly 40 years.  She does fantastic work, and is done within a minute!

As evening came, it got cold, and I changed into a pair of pants I brought with me – so remember gals, if you are planning on dressing fancy, be sure to bring a change of clothes, just in case!

More photos to come! Stay tuned!