Fashion's Night Out With 'Pan Am'

As most crew would know, back In August and September there was a lot of hype and build-up for an upcoming US tv show called 'Pan Am', based on the actual airline of the same name that operated from the 1930's up until the early 1990's. With more and more information being released in the lead-up to the show, it was exciting to see the pictures of the cast in their blue uniforms, and wondering what kinds of details and set-dressing we'd get to see. The dawn of the Jet Age was a nostalgic and glamorous time in aviation- at least we think so now. It would be interesting to see how this period in aviation history would be portrayed to a modern audience.

As a fan of vintage fashion also, this show was a dream come true! Not only was it set at an airline, but we'd be getting 1960's era uniforms, offices, aircraft and more. I'd been wasting time on Facebook (instead of doing housework, naturally) and noticed an event in New York called 'Fashion's Night Out' (FNO). It's held every year in NYC (and 250 other cities in the US) to showcase designers and stores both large and small. For the 2011 FNO, a designer called Lisa Perry was hosting a 'Pan Am' themed event, and even better, two of the stars of the show would be attending- wow!



Pan Am posters everywhere. Wish I'd thought to 'liberate' one & get the stars to sign it!



Imagine how excited I was when I saw that my roster coincided a trip to New York with this event! I emailed right away to rsvp and ask to attend, I got a reply telling me that I could go. Yay!! Since Pan Am is set in the 60's, I thought I'd 'dress the theme' as suggested. Since I didn't have a lot of time before my trip, and none when I arrived, I chose a brightly coloured dip-dye dress (vaguely 60's) and black kitten heels (very 60s, lol). As I'd be coming right from my flight I decided to just wear my hair down and touch up my makeup before going.

Needless to say, taking the Subway to Madison avenue was kind of a bad idea, I could hardly walk by the time I got back to my hotel. But enough about that- on to the party! I arrived at the Lisa Perry store, only to see a long line of people stretching around the corner. I found a PR person and explained that I'd rsvp'd and what was the procedure. She said, join the line. Hmm okay, I guess rsvp'ing works differently in the U.S. While I'd been talking to her, a few more people had joined the line, so I went to the back and waited. It turned out, that they were handing out these "boarding pass" vouchers as they went down the line, and these were to be redeemed for one of the hard to get 'Pan Am Explorer' bags. No way!! As luck (or not) would have it, the last voucher was given the the person in front of me. I was a bit upset, because I'd RSVPed and then wasted time trying to find the person to 'report in' to. Anyway, nothing much to do but wait to be let in. I got talking to a few people in the line, one being a German guy who was working as a journalist in NYC, and some ladies who were Delta crew, one of whom was ex-Pan Am.

The journalist told me that he was really only there for a story, so I could have his Explorer bag. I said no, because it was too cool a thing to pass up, but he insisted. Awesome! :) Soon it was time to go inside, we were ushered in and those with coupons for bags lined up to collect them. The bags are pretty darn cool and worth over $100-something each so definitely an envy item! Didn't put mine down the whole time for fear of it disappearing. We were greeted at the door by the 'Pan Am' promo girls who had been doing events that whole week all around NYC, and also in LA earlier in the month. They said it had been pretty crazy and of course would only be worse once the show had actually started.

'Pan Am' promo girls hired by ABC to promote the show.

While the lucky ones holding coupons for bags waited to collect them, I had a wander around the store. Everything was 60's themed, but aside from just clothes there were also some cool coffee table books & toys. If it were my store, I'd have been worried about drinks getting spilt on the books, but no one seemed to mind.



One really cool feature was this aircraft-shaped 'drinks cart'. I totally would have wheeled it out of the door if I could have! You could get soda, juice or water (just like on the plane), and the promo girls were walking around with baskets of pretzels and peanuts. There was also a drinks station serving sparkling wine and even spirits! Despite being very jetlagged, I decided to enjoy a vodka & lemon.

I chatted to most of the promo girls, they were really nice & very happy to have gotten this gig. One said it was the most fun job she'd done.



Totally wanted to get this book! Can't recall the title just now but I know I've been looking for it online without success.

While exploring the store, I got chatting to a few of the other guests. One lady was a PR manager for ABC; she was taking photos of the event. I know we discussed airlines & marketing but in my jet lagged state I forgot to take any notes or ask her questions for this post. D'oh!! I also met a group of Delta flight attendants, some of whom worked for Pan Am in the 80's. They were very curious about my job and asked me loads of questions. They mentioned that they were planning a big screening party for the first episode of Pan Am and invited me to come. (Sadly, roster was already finalised and swapping wasn't possible)

Then it was time for the 'special guests' to arrive. We weren't sure who it would be but thought definitely some extras and maybe one of the cast. By this time, there were some photographers and TV people there, and suddenly camera flashes started going off. We all got our cameras/phones ready and crowded around the doorway to see...

Christina Ricci & Karine Vanasse (Maggie Ryan & Collette Valois)!!!

Of course everyone wanted photos but first the ladies had some tv interviews to do. We all stood around gaping and taking photos like fangirls...



Christina Ricci



Christina Ricci & Karine Vanasse

Designer Lisa Perry

Delta crew took this pic of me with my bag, and Christina in the back :P

Of course, the girls were in high demand and everyone wanted to talk to them. Not being used to the NYC way of things, I politely waited y turn, only to have a few people push in front of me I figured it was okay, as celebrities probably get sick of being mobbed, so thought I would leave it. But the Delta girls told Christina that I had just landed from Dubai (I think she thought I'd come just to the event, not that I was working as well!) Anyway, she was nice enough to take this photo with me. She's so tiny and pretty, like a little doll. Being jetlagged, I said something really dumb, she must have thought I was such an idiot!! Lol. Oh well, such is life! I manged to get my wits together enough to ask her if doing the show gave her new perspective on travelling, and what she thought of the job now she'd played a stewardess on TV. Harder than it looks, apparently! :)

Omg it's Wednesday Addams!! :P

Karine, Lisa & Christina with the Pan Am promo girls

Check out Ms Ricci's heels!

Close up. I'm totally jealous of Karine's awesome haircut.

Cuteness.

My only regret was getting so caught up talking to Karine that I forgot to ask for a picture with her!! :( Since watching the show, Collette is definitely my fave character, and Karine herself was just so lovely to meet. We talked with a guy who was a former Pan Am mechanic, she ended up asking us about our jobs in the end. Seriously, the screen does not do Karine justice, she is even prettier in real life *insert anime starry eyes here lol*

I had to do it...

More of the 60's themed decorations in store...

Want. All. The. Books!

Limited Edition Pan Am Explorer Bag & Pan Am branded gum

Uniform in shop window. (Promo girl uniforms different to cast)

Overall, it was a really fun event and I'm so glad I got to go. (Thanks, Roster Gods!!) A while later I got an email from the journalist with a link to his article about the Pan Am/Lisa Perry event. You can see it here: (Scroll down the page- if you want a translation use WorldLingo or Google Translate)

As a big Twitter Fan, you can also follow for updates on the show with @PanAmABC  and keep in touch with Karine Vanasse. She regularly tweets back her fans! :)

Hope you enjoyed the photos, I know a few of you have been waiting for this post. Let's hope that Pan Am returns for another season.

Cosmetic Review: Besame Classic Color Lipstick

I've been very behind with this blog post but finally I'm glad to be able to share it with you. Part of the delay was in getting some good photos that I was happy with, but the other night I finally managed to get the elements together that I wanted for the photos.



The lovely Gabriela from Besame Cosmetics sent me a 'Classic Color' lipstick to try out for myself. I'd long been an admirer of the range both for its vintage appeal and also the natural pigments- the reds of which are reproductions of the shades used in old Hollywood films. How glam! :)

Of the ingredients, Gabriela says on the website:


Formulations that I consider responsible luxury, non-toxic, natural, and beneficial to your skin, while still retaining the feel and performance of a truly luxurious product. A mix of today's cutting edge technology and some wonderful natural ingredients that have proven benefits to your skin.

Aloe, ginseng, olive oil, green tea, jojoba oil, rose waxes, lavender flower extract, avocado oil, just to name few. Ingredients that go beyond the glamour and contribute to your well being, delivering the quality that has become synonymous with Besame Cosmetics.

The lipstick arrived in my mailbox the morning I left for a trip, I was excited to try it out but had to wait until I got back. It went in my suitcase and gave me something to look forward to when I arrived at the hotel.

This version of their lipsticks comes presented in a cute velvet pouch for safekeeping. The case is a nice metal embossed with the signature chysthanthemums and the Besame name.

It is heavy enough to be substantial but not too heavy. The size is a little bit smaller than my Maybelline Color Sensational, but still plenty big enough.

The lipstick itself is in the old 'blunt bullet' shape which means you can use either the edge for lining or the blunt face for coloring. Very handy actually!



The shade I tried out is called 'Dusty Rose'. It's a nice, slightly dark pinky brown. The Classic Color comes in 12 different shades, with a good range including a coral-type for those girls who like their bright colors.



I also got a pamphlet in the package which tells a bit about some of the Besame range. The Classic Color lipstick includes Vitamin A, E & C as well as aloe and green tea. I definitely noticed this when I tried it out. Felt very moisturising, but not too shiny or slippery- almost like a balm which is a nice change from the usual drying-out feeling I get from some other lipsticks. (The website describes the CC lipstick as "semi matte"). It also has a slight but pleasant fragrance, nothing too strong but quite soothing which I am guessing is from the aloe and other oils used in the products such as jojoba and avocado.

Photo showing me with makeup but before applying the lipstick.

The colour coverage was great; It only took one sweep to get a deep colour. While I didn't do any heavy-duty eating, I did have a drink out of a glass and while there was a little bit of transfer (usual I think with moisturising lipstick) it wasn't anything major. For me, I usually reapply after eating or drinking so personally I wouldn't find it a problem at all had it been more left.




As I don't usually wear a lipliner for everyday (non-work) wear, I tested this the same way, with just the lipstick. I didn't notice any feathering, even though the colour is quite dark on me. I hate it when my lipstick feathers so this was a plus for me. I think for a deep red a liner would be a good idea anyway, but for this shade it wasn't really necessary.



Another way I tried this lipstick was to put it on & then blot some of the colour away, leaving more of a stain and then some gloss on the top for a more understated look. I liked this method for times when I didn't want so much colour. For night time wear, I'd probably wear it right out of the tube. The only negative would be if you don't like a lipstick that's not matte. In which case one of the other formulas might suit you better. For me, I don't like totally matte so this is a nice compromise.

Overall, I really liked this lipstick, and when payday allows will be getting one of the reds for work. =)

Currently the Classic Color is available to purchase online for $22USD. Considering the packaging I think this is very reasonable. In Australia, the Maybelline I used everyday retails between $12-16AUD and my L'Oreal between $22 to $30AUD. Those are lipsticks I don't know the ingredients of and also with plastic packaging. Besame Classic Color comes in a very attractive tube which is more substantial and an accessory in itself!

(For those of you who are eco-conscious, metal tubes are great for re-using once your colour is done- just Google for how to re-make your lipstick using the tubes)

Overall, I was very happy with the product and think any girl would love to have a little bit of glamour back in her makeup bag, without breaking the bank.

Thanks Gabriela!

Be sure to check out the Besame website as there are some cool instructional videos and other vintage-styled makeup products that might be just what you're looking for to complete your look.



(Note: In the interests of transparency; my Classic Color was sent to me as a gift from Besame Cosmetics. All views are my own and aside from the product gift I was not paid for my review. You should read my review in conjunction with the Besame website to decide if this product is right for your personal circumstance.)

Makeup: Cover Girl Advanced Radiance Foundation in Buff Beige, CG Eyeshadow Quad in Country Woods, CG TruBlend Minerals Powder Compact in #2 Creamy Natural, Maybelline The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara in Black & Besame Cosmetics Classic Color Lipstick in C212 Dusty Rose.

Classic Wings

A year or two ago, I had the chance to take a flight in a vintage airliner. A former colleague of mine had set up a sightseeing business with his father, taking people for flights in this gorgeous aeroplane that they had restored. Sadly, due to the economy they were forced to sell the plane and so had a "last hurrah" champagne flight over the city to say goodbye.

To celebrate the occasion I decided to dress in the era of the DC-3. As it was short notice the outfit wasn't as accurate as I'd hoped, but I think I got the overall 'look'. (My inspiration was Kate Beckinsale in 'Pearl Harbour'- post on her outfit to follow)

(I have to apologise in advance for the formatting of this post, I'm not sure what went wrong but I couldn't fix it without starting over and it's taking AGES to upload photos)


I already had a cute shirt dress in a black and white bird pattern which would do nicely, and I found a frangipani hair flower (favourite of pin-up girls) and I think tropical enough for the Hawaii part =)



I would have loved to wear a suit and hat but as it was the height of summer it jsut wasn't possible. At this point I hadn't yet learned to do victory rolls in my own hair, so I made a quick trip to the hairdresser. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but as the girl had no experience with vintage hairstyles I thought it wasn't too bad, and had the right 'feel' for 1940's.






It was a gorgeous day for flying and the view was beautiful! A really neat feature of the plane was a 'bubble window' that was specially installed to allow people to take unobstructed photos of the views. You could sit right out into the bubble and be about a foot outside of the fuselage of the plane. How cool!

I just loved the retro seats with the white vinyl trim and the curtains. Flying at least LOOKED more glamorous back then! In reality I'm sure there was a lot of airsickness, oil stains and windswept hair on the ladies :P

I would have loved to fly as "stewardess" on this flight, and had the sale not had to happen so suddenly, they would have let me do it. Can you imagine, how NEAT would that have been?! I still have hopes to maybe do this in Melbourne when I come back to Australia to live.









Outfit details:

Dress: B&W bird design from Target
Bag: Thrifted (sadly ruined in storage last year)
Shoes: 1940's suede platforms borrowed from sister
Hair Flower: Price Attack
Cherry Earrings: Diva







Certainly was a great day, I had a fantastic time and also checked off one of my "bucket list" items at the same time. If you ever have the chance to do a historic scenic flight, I highly reccommend it!

"Gooney Bird" flights with ShortStop Charter Melbourne