analiebe presents… a somewhat hairy adventure

…none to do with those that adorn the face in this particular post however…

when i began this blog one of the things i’d (firmly) decided was that, despite the fact that i adore wearing many a vintage hair-do and that i’ve been collecting & wearing vintage garb for many many years now, that i wasn’t going to blog about my personal ventures into either of these realms – that i would indeed leave that to the many many wonderful vintage-centric ladies who post regularly (& delightfully i might add) both style-shots &/or how-tos in both of these areas…

i have, however, been regularly harassed by my friends to share this side of myself with my blog readers and they have been relentlessly insistent that, as it is an integral part of who i am, that i should be sharing it with you all at least now & again… and so i have decided, in most part to get them off my back, but also in the hope that you will enjoy such posts, to occasionally (perhaps once a month or so) post a little something… (i do sincerely hope you don’t find it too self-indulgent or egocentric of me)

the following “somewhat hairy adventure” began as an amusing little silent screen storyboard i posted in a thread in the fedora lounge and was a homage and thanks to the lovely blondie for helping me find an australian-made (since the 40’s) setting lotion i could use for my vintage “do’s”… so i’ve developed it a little further for you all… please ENJOY!

CREDITS…

miss analiebe as your intrepid heroine

wavol as your setting lotion

vintage goody wave clips as your wave creators

sponge rollers as your curl creators

pin-curl clips in a supporting role

& just keep in mind that old nursery rhyme…

“there was a little girl, who had a little curl… when she was good she was very very good but…” (well we all know how it goes…)

x analiebe

mug shot monday…

"special photograph no. 234" - taken central police station sydney, nsw

EUGENIA FALLENI, alias HENRY CRAWFORD , 1920…

quite an intriguing turn of events indeed is the story behind todays mug shot (and, although i must admit, no moustache was involved, it certainly could have been)…

when ‘Harry Leon Crawford’, a hotel cleaner was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife he was revealed to be in fact Eugeni Falleni, a woman and mother, who had been passing as a man since 1899…

in 1914, as ‘Harry Crawford’, Falleni had married a widow – Annie Birkett – and just 3 years later, shortly after she announced to a relative that she had found out ’something amazing about Harry’, Annie disappeared.

Crawford told their neighbours that his wife had run off with a plumber and no more questions were asked.

but 2 years later, in 1919, Birkett’s young son, who had remained in Crawford’s custody, told an aunt of attempts made on his life by his drunken stepfather…

The aunt contacted police and from that contact a charred body which had been found in Lane Cove in 1917 was belatedly identified as Annie Birkett’s.

‘Henry Crawford’s’ astonished second wife, when finally convinced of Falleni’s true gender remarked, “I always wondered why he was so painfully shy …”

the photograph above shows Falleni in mens clothing, probably on the day of her arrest – the negative was found in a paper sleeve inscribed ‘Falleni Man/Woman’

the photograph below was taken following her very public trial and subsequent incarceration in the New South Wales State Reformatory for Women, Long Bay

Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford - criminal record number 499LB, october 21st 1920

 

… and the following photograph was taken, again at Long Bay, 8 years into Fallenis’ incarceration

Eugenia Falleni, alias Harry Crawford, criminal record number 741LB, august 16th 1928

 

…more of Eugenias’ fascinating, curious and tragic story can be uncovered through Suzanne Falkiners’ book “EUGENIA, A MAN”

be well, dear readers, and remember – things may not always be as they seem

x analiebe

our very own moustached sydney correspondant koop kooper brings us some vintage clothing shopping tips for men…

"Men's wear" by australian artist John Brack 1953, oil on canvas, national gallery of australia, canberra

I have been wearing vintage clothing for around twenty years now…

Man, that seems like such a long time.

I started buying vintage clothing at the age of fifteen which I suppose for most is quite young.

I have always loved shopping for that special fifties shirt, jacket or tie. The thrill of the find!

Interestingly I have pretty much everything I have ever collected and I can still wear them all. It’s actually been my secret to staying trim, I have to fit into the damn clothes! But hey,whatever works, mind you many people would think it is odd that one would work out and watch their diet just so that he could wear fifty year old polyester shirts.

One of the best things about being a guy into vintage clothing is that it is so easy for me to find clothing that is functional and fabulous. For men a simple fifties jack shirt with a pair of modern (but traditional) black trousers will create the perfect look and it was all done for a couple of dollars .
Add a hat and viola! Instant retro.

For those just new to the retro scene I think the key is to know what era you are going for and stick with it. Read lots of books, check out the net and most importantly watch lots of old movies to pick up the clothing styles you need to look out for. Hell, even take some photos with you.

You will make mistakes when you start out, I recall recently seeing a photo of me with this horrible pink rayon shirt that really even Elvis would have rejected as being too loud.
I remember wearing it with pride to a Rockabilly gig in Brisbane circa 1991 and nobody said anything to me about how horrible the shirt was, I felt pretty good about it too…but looking back it was quite wrong.

Here is another trick. Don’t reject reproduction clothing – It doesn’t have to be all original. Mix and match, aim to wear one piece of original clothing perhaps. Certainly don’t reject a piece of clothing that you might find at the charity store that is fairly modern but in a retro style.
I have quite a few 80’s sports coats that were done in the fifties style. If it looks good and you can benefit from a retro trend, then go for it.

Remember, it’s all about the ‘Thrill of the Find”

KK

 

(*** also remember lovely people that the marvelous movember competition is running right up until midnight november 30th – click on the competetion graphic at the top of the sidebar for all the details – x analiebe)