Kitchen Cutie

I recently came across a story featuring Dita Von Teese about food on The New Potato. They have a picture of her extremely pink kitchen. Perfect for any retro gal and although I'm not a pink kinda girl (know a few) I appreciated all the vintages features such as the lamp, the retro floor and  the beautiful head vases. You can always get the look on the Big Chill! For more Dita and food check out this, this and this. Also a link on her favorite foods.

image via: google

Dita does Rumba

Dita Von Teese is one of our favorite performers and we were so lucky to see her perform early this year. Her shows are a technicolor dream full of glitz and glamour and we love that the audience always dress to the nines! Her current show is an homage to 1940's tropical films. We are so thrilled about that because we collect "Rumberas" memorabilia from Mexico. It's just refreshing to see someone remembering the icons from Latinamerican beside the well know Carmen Miranda. More pictures here!

Here's a classic scene from Ninon Sevilla singing "Pintame de Colores" in a 1940's Mexican rumberas movie.

images via: pocket venus

Dead Celebrity Cookbook!

Dean Martin's Burgers and Bourbon

Frank Decaro

This book is amazing! All this years I been thinking about what was Lucille Ball's favorite recipe? This book has the answer and many more. Full of retro recipes from Hollywood stars from the 40's and 50's from pastas, meatloaf, burgers and more it would not disappoint and the author is super nice. I accidentally run into him in my neighborhood and he was more the gracious. Love it!

Hostess with the Mostess

Cointreau MargaDita recipe:

• 1.5 oz Cointreau
• 1.5 oz Silver Tequila
• 1 oz Fresh Lime Juice
• 1/2 oz Monin Rose Syrup
• 1 pinch Chipotle Spice

Mix all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a chilled coup glass. Garnish with floating organic yellow rose petals. For an added kick, add a chipotle and salt rim.
Dita Von Teese’s Tips for Hosting the Perfect Party at Home

On being a hostess.

Because I travel so much I meet lots of people and I love being the hostess! It’s a way of entertaining that I enjoy more than anything. Refinement in its purest form. Keep it simple with one or two cocktail options, plus a drink that requires no effort. Throw in a few appetizers and everyone will be impressed. It’s about atmosphere. If you can choose a few things that you can do really well, that’s what’s important.

On choosing the perfect cocktail for your party.
Choose cocktails that are elegant and unique. I love the classic Cointreau Sidecar…it has a warmth that is divine, plus most people don’t know this classic vintage cocktail, so it’s a delight to serve it at parties.

On serving cocktails to your guests.
I want to remind people how simple it is to mix cocktails at home. Taking time to mix a beautiful cocktail is a glamorous way to honor your guests.

It also depends on your mood and where you are. At home in LA, I like to serve something light and fresh. On the other hand, in Paris, I think of times past, and prefer something warm and rich. I always make cocktails using Cointreau because Cointreau is an original and a classic element in the most historic and most beautiful cocktails. There is simply no substitute! It’s the only thing that ensures a perfectly balanced cocktail and I love its bitter and sweet orange aromas.

On themed parties.
If you’re hosting a special evening or throwing a themed party, choose a cocktail that’s a twist on something traditional. I like to throw Mexican-themed taco parties for my closest friends. On these intimate evenings, I’ll serve traditional Margaritas in addition to my namesake, Cointreau MargaDita. Just serve it in a coup glass with a chipotle and salt rim or prepare a pitcher for easy entertaining with a spicy kick.

On food.
I love making simple but elegant appetizers. I usually choose a selection of savory and sweet things that are fairly simple to make, but the presentation is everything, so I serve them on beautiful antique dishes I find at antique flea markets.

On being a guest.
I think it’s always important to show up with a nice gift for the hostess, something thoughtful and nice that they would appreciate.

Check more Margarita or MargaDita!

video and text via: pocket venus

Double Indemnity

Going to the market would never be the same. Love this movie and even more I love Barbara Stanwyck. She's always been so fierce. This scene is still one of my favorites of all time. Here is another market scene that I love!


image via: double indemnity

Dolores Enchiladas

Just like her famous friend Marlene Dietrich, Dolores del Rio was know to be an excellent cook. Here is her recipe of her famous enchiladas.

Dolores Enchiladas

Necessary ingredients:

2 small cans of green “chiles” (Ortega)

1 pint of sour cream

1 pound fresh tomatoes

1 onion (medium size)

1 dozen tortillas

4 asaderos (Mexican cheese)

Scald tomatoes and peel. Cut onions fine, fry them in lard, then add tomatoes and mix, then cut chiles fine, too, and add, then season with salt and add asaderos, until it begins to melt; remove from fire.

Fry tortillas, one by one, in lard, leave them soft. Place tortillas on plate and put in the center of each one a mixture of tomatoes, onions, cheese and chiles, roll each one and cover them with sour cream. Serve immediately.

– Dolores Del Rio

iVintage

Module 02 "Illustrator" started this week! This is a sneak peak of what we are working on. This is not exactly the assignment but inspired by it. The silhouette is the famous 1947 Dior New Look "Bar" Suit that was the rave of all Paris. Here is a previous post about it and for the history check here. Love this vector illustration from Steffi Schutze. I still have a long way to go!

image via: haydee yanez

Lucy Love

 Original, I love Lucy creation

Lovely Lucy look alikes.

Lucille Ball has always been one of my heroes. What's not to love...funny, original, creative, smart and beautiful and each year I want to dress like her I Love Lucy character but I never do it (wahhhh!!) cause I want to purchase vintage clothes similar to her so I can wear them after the holiday and not a cheap looking costume. Hopefully I can start planning for next year getup. Take a look of the Desilu kitchen from the show.

images via: google search

Vintage Mexicana

Just found this page that sales original vintage Mexican posters. Not every single one is in perfect condition but there's plenty to choose from. They also sell lobby cards too and here's one that only sell reproductions. All posters are from the Golden Aged of Mexican Cinema.

image via: santos street

Old Hollywood Coffee

 Jean Harlow & Cary Grant

 Clara Bow

 Joan Crawford & Dorothy Arzner

 Marlene Dietrich & Director Joseph Von Sternberg

 Lauren Bacall

Marlene Dietrich & Rita Hayworth

 Orson Welles & Dolores del Rio

Bette Davis with the Troops

Carmen Miranda

A continuation of my series of cooking cuties. Before I did a mix of domestic images by Hollywood starlets but this one is all dedicated to coffee. My favorite definitive is Carmen Miranda or any image from the Hollywood Canteen.

images via: google search & flickr

Corset Cookies

Lovely corset cookies reminiscent of turn of the century. You can buy the cookie cutter here and you can go as simple or complicated as you want. Go flapper or go modern. Perfect for bridal showers.

Mildred Fierce!

Joan Crawford

Kate Winslet

Mildred FIERCE!! Who is the fiercest one of them all? Joan or Kate? At the end of the day I will go with Miss Joan Crawford. She is the Original Mildred Pierce, the icon and the mommy dearest but I'm can't wait to see Kate Winslet's  HBO version. I'm sure it's gonna be flawless just like her.

images via: mildred pierce & hbo

Oh Carmen!

Love Her...Miranda Style

Carmen Miranda, Hercules Magazine

Favorite pic of Miss Miranda