They don’t make housewives like they used to.
First off, I’d like to say I’m sorry for missing the past few days, I’ll make them up… we’ve just been having internet problems, so we missed yesterday. Go figure, just when I say I’ll so something, the internet will betray me.
Today, is Part 4 in my Halloween series, of costumes found in my closet. So far, I’ve been a sailor, a can-can girl, a circus ringleader, and today a 60′s housewife all with little or no additional cost. From now until Halloween, I’ll post a costume made mostly of the the clothes I already own. Of course I’ll need accessories, but while we still have time (4 days) I’ll only post accessories you’ll actually be able to acquire before Halloween. Towards the big day, I’ll work entirely with my own pre-existing wardrobe.
Housewife Essentials
My grandmother was the kind of woman who would scrub the toilet in pearls and high heels, and her hair was always perfect.
The 60′s are such an interesting time… for a lot of reasons, first we have the hippies, counter culture, riots, assassinations, etc. But the reality is the only adults I knew at that time were my gradparents.. my parents were just too young, and though they grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, or more correctly Silicon Valley, they really didn’t experience the hippies that we tend to associate with the 60′s, I mean, my mom was 11 during the summer of love. My grandparents though, did the nuclear family thing. My father’s mother did a great job of preserving the values from this era, so most of my influence was from her. My grandmother was the kind of woman who would scrub the toilet in pearls and high heels, and her hair was always perfect. Though she had a short ‘modern’ haircut during this time, I’m going to switch my influenecs with the hair to Amy Winehouse and various drag queens.
Here are the essentials for this costume: A shift dress, can be found in any wardrobe. Low heeled pumps… sensible, yet sophisticated. A string of pearls, an apron. A martini glass (my grandmother was big into that stuff) and a cigarette.
The Result
Additional Housewife tips….
The hair…60′s hair is always very stylized… and it’s not easy to do unless you watch a few tutorials, Super Kawaii Mama has a great tutorial on doing an Amy Winehouse Beehive. Which I took inspriation from, and my own beehive is not as neat… so sorry, no tutorial here.
The Makeup… I just went heavy on the liquid eyeliner, and used green eyeshadow (because I have brown eyes)… and red lips, mostly because I’ve been seeing it on madmen, though I would imagine a 60′s housewife would be more apt to reach for coral. Check here for more inspiration on 60′s makeup.. it’s more versatile than you think.
Props… I went with an apron.. a martini glass and a cigarette because that’s what I imagine the 60′s to be like, my other grandmother might have been a teetoatler as I can’t remember her drinking at all.. but I do remember her with dishwashing gloves, and she was cleaning a lot. Well, both grandmothers seemed to be cleaning a lot… which is probably why my mom doesn’t like to clean at all. Cleaning supplies might be good props to playr around with, maybe a bottle of Windex (filled with water) a feather duster… any of that will be fun.
I have a lot of ideas of what I can do for Halloween, and I can only post a few of them, and please let me know if there is any one you might want to see, or if you have any suggestions… please leave a comment:
Halloween in My Closet:
- Circus Ringleader (second by Nikki) DONE!
- Sailor (done! click here to see!)
- Natasha from Bullwinkle & Friends (second by Anna, and Cammila)
- Can-Can Girl DONE! (second by Kate and UND)
- Pirate or …
- a Founding Father… same base costume as Pirate.
- The Mad Plaider
- Beetle Juice (second by Violetville and Cecile)
- The See’s Candies Girl (only makes sense in California… but Jeanne would like to see it!)
- Evil Babydoll (second by Mette)
- 60’s Housewife (second by Aidan and Voletville )
- An East German DDR protester (may be offensive… but Tres Plus Cool would like to see it)
- A superhero
- Dawn Davenport (suggested by Imelda Matt)
- Cat Lady (suggested by shopfair second by Casey)
- A retro flight attendant (suggested by Heather)
- Barbara Feldon as “Agent 99″ (suggested by Cecille)
- ????
Comments 41
This is so awesome it hurts.
Think I may have to do this on Halloween! I’ll just be at home baking anyway, lol.
Love it!
I LOOOOOVE it. You look fantastic with a beehive (and whatever, it looks totally great- you did a fantastic job on it!).
I love how you almost look like the deviant housewife on the block… the one with the dress who is a tad too short, who make have smoked and drank too much whiskey in her life. totally hot ;)
I think this is my favorite Halloween outfit, by far! ;)
Hehehe, I must agree with Ashe Mischief. This housewife has done some whiskey sipping. Or maybe she has a bottle of brandy hidden somewhere. I don’t have much experience on housewives like this - my mum and even my grandmothers worked out of home - but I admit I sometimes dream of becoming one :O.
Love! You look all sex-ay and decadent. Like maybe you are carrying on with the pool boy.
You look fabulous! I think we should bring aprons back!
How inspiring: classy, yet decadent. The look reminds me of some of Cindy Shermans old B/W stills. I might actually go for that look! x Mette
Author
@Cate~aww… I think I’m going to be doing the same thing!
@Ashe… ha! That’s awesome! Of course, and the one who’s slip is always showing… very controversial. The deviant housewife is probably the most coveted roles by women today? Probably the only one we can possibly relate to…
@Casey… thanks!
@Vasilla… you know what they say, gin and tonic is mummy’s little helper! But yeah, Rocky and I fight over who gets to be the housewife… maybe one day!
@Wendy, I AM carrying on with the pool boy! I just LOVE the young ones!
@Eddus… we totally should. I love aprons!
@Mette… Cindy Sherman is brilliant, I love her houswife interpretation. And the librarian too!
Love the hair and the make up! Gorgeous housewife, RO
…Rocky must be proud of his girl!
;)
Oh! And you took my costume suggestion! :)
Lovely Lady!
The bouffant *makes* this one. YOu look amazing.
You look beautiful as always, no wonder the boyfriend didn’t want you to take it off!
It looks like my everyday outfits too, which is why for Halloween i have to be REALLY over the to :)
xx
You definitely picked the right one! You look beautiful and meticulously quaffed, but with a devilish side lurking underneath — like you’re about to meet your best girlfriend for a nice four-martini lunch!
Amazing! I try to play a vintage housewife from time to time. Make some vichyssoise or throwing dinner parties. Wearing a frilly vintage apron, of course!
Author
@cecile… aww… of course! that’s why i asked what you thought!
:)
@ambika…yeah without the beehive, it wouldn’t really be a good 60′s lady.
@MR… haha yeah, we actually met a friend for coffee and i kept the costume it was a bit over the top in public, but oh well!
@cammila… holy crap, FOUR martinis?? it makes me think of the dorothy parker quote…
“i love martinis but two at the most
three i’m under the table and four i’m under the host.”
ayayaya
@mp… ooh that must be so much fun to go to a dinner party with you as the vintage housewife!
:)
I visit Super Kawaii Mama´s site and she is so creative and beautiful.
I found this test and I wonder who 30s actress are you!
http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/2568234/which-classic-1930s-actress-are-you
Your answer intrigues me a lot!
Kisses Lovely Lady!
HAH! Awesome. I went as a variation of this last year. I threw some pills in my apron pocket and carried around an empty bottle of Mad Housewife wine!
Author
ah pills! that’s brilliant!
You look fabulous!
Hey, this is a bit random, but could you list some of you’re favorite blogs, both well known and unknown? Thank you, I just can’t seem to get enough of the fashion blogging!!
Perfection! This is hands down my fave Halloween costume you modeled. I could look like that everyday!
oh, and red lipstick was still popular in the early 60s.
I love this look! Recently went for something similar at a wigs & wine party… anyhoo- I was hoping to add to the list, how about a Betty Boop costume???
will you have a post-custome post?! I think It’ll be really fun to.
I have my 2 ideas ready, now I just need to top last years’. It was quite popular with all the hot nerdy boys (spock)
and yes I think this is my favorite so far, that green eye effect looks great!! ;)
Darling, you look exquisitely divine!!! You’ve got the look down pat, but I noticed the valium was missing … ;)
Just cant wait for Halloween and to jump in my Zorro costume.
nice……
YOU LOOK STUNNING!!
This lipstick is perfect for you.
that painting behind you is yours?
xxx
Author
@waffle have you seen my blogroll? http://the-coveted.com/blog/blogs-to-covet/ it’s huge…
@sandra.. thanks love! you’re the vintage queen, so you would know! it’s just i don’t think red lipstick when i think of the 60s, wierd huh?
@meli! ha! spock! that’s awesome. you know, i’m not sure what i’ll be doing that night… probably giving out candy, if we get any kids, eating candy if we dont’.
@Enkaha, HA! yeah, i look too moody to be under the influence of valume.
;)
@Mer… actually this painitng belongs to Rocky, he inherited it from an artist who was friends with his mom. i like it…
LOVE this one jennine!!
the apron + martini glass definitely gives you the air like you’ve been in the kitchen working all day and you are ready to let down that bee hive! but of course you *cant* because you’ve got a houseful of guests ready for their damn dessert!
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this one is great! this look suits you, totally hot! :)
Spectacular!
Very Mad Men.
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thanks for helping me solve a perennial problem!! thank god i had a plastic martini glass as i tottered around on go-go boots last night. (-: please do this again next year!!!
Just wanted to stop by and thank for the ideas for Halloween!
This is the hottest look ever!!! I’m a cocktail chic myself and you rock in this photo. I was a naughty mommy for Halloween and I wish I read this article earlier…. darn it!!! You Rock!
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