Miss Scarlett

Dear readers,
I don't know about you, but for the longest time I have been on a quest- to find the perfect cookie recipe.
For an age the journey was long and fruitless- I found "biscuits" from the UK bland and far too crunchy. I longed for the sweet, crumbly chewy, chocolaty cookies that I loved so much when I travelled in America.

Finally, my quest is over, the source of my desired recipe was much closer than I thought. After chucking recipe books on the floor in frustration my Grandma, who was staying with me for the weekend walked into the room, and I explained the reason for my temper tantrum. My Gran observed me in calm amusement as she always does during my various calamities, got a piece of paper and wrote down these ingredients:

270 g plain flour,
10 g baking powder,
250 g chocolate chips, (Dark, milk or white depending on your preference)
125 g butter (salted) softened,
187 g white sugar,
10 ml vanilla extract,
3 eggs,
and 187 g dark muscovado sugar.
Makes approx 26.

(Obviously she couldn't remember the exact measurements, these are just the ones I use. You can also change them to suit you're cookie tastes, but I'll go into that later.)

1. Sift all the dry ingredients into a bowl.
2. Cream together the butter and both sugars until the colour has gone a little lighter. (If you use purely white caster sugar, it will go fluffy as well, but these do not make very tasty cookies) and relatively all the sugar granules have combined.
3. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract, mixing slowly.
4. Add the dry ingredients, still mixing slowly. (DO NOT OVER MIX!)
5. Spoon the mixture into balls onto a baking sheet and cook for approx 10 mins at 170 Degrees C.
6. Remove from the oven, eat and burn your tongue, or leave to cool on a wire rack.


I'm not lying: They're the best cookies. I could bake a whole batch and eat them in one go. My Gran said she got this recipe through word of mouth when she was pregnant with my uncle, and wanted to learn to make cookies for her kids. Even our own recipes our different- she prefers her cookies a little sweeter and adds some more vanilla essence, and feel free to do the same with yours.
As some general guidelines:

For extra crunch, alter the sugars to you have a larger quantity of cater sugar, and less muscovado. Extra Chewiness: Vice versa.

If you like your cookies a little bitter, use dark chocolate and omit the vanilla.

For softer cookies, cook for only 8 minutes.

They make great presents, especially when you're strapped for cash. Line a box with tissue, cover in wrapping paper, tie with a bow, add a cute vintage-style card on the top, and you're ready to go!


So that's it. I hope you enjoy, and happy baking!
Miss Scarlett x

Picture from Jupiter Images

Labels: Chocolate, Cookies, Cooking, Recipe, Vintage

Dear Readers,
New feature! Hopefully one that will last. One of my passions in life is film, especially those of the Golden Age of movies, and thought I'd discuss the ones I have seen.
Bus Stop, (Joshua Logan, 1956) the first film to be made with Marilyn Monroe Productions is the coming-of-age story of naive cowboy Bo Decker (Don Murray) who falls for the not so naive "Cherry" Cherie, (Marilyn Monroe) a young girl, trying to make a name for herself in show business, and despite Cherie's protests is determined to marry her.

As far as story goes, I think it was trying to be something it's not. The entire plot seems ridiculous, especially Bo's motives for what he does, as no person in their right mind would do some of the things he does in this film. Now I'm a person who does enjoy a piece of melodrama every once in a while, but it really didn't work opposite the complex Cherie. I assume that the supposed "comedy" element of the film was from Bo, but Murray's performance stuck out like a sore thumb causing me to laugh at him rather than with him. I understand that Murray had to work with the hideous 2D cartoon cowboy that was written for him to play, but come on! How did he ever get nominated for an Oscar!?

Many other characters were equally two dimensional and dull, using various stereotypes, such as the wise-cracking waitress, the sympathetic friend, the firm but fair father figure, none of whom had any sort of depth, and hang around the place like cardboard cutouts.

The only real redeeming thing about this film is Marilyn. After working with the Actor's Studio in New York for a year Marilyn plays Cherie as quite ditzy and fun-loving, yet internally strong but vulnerable all at the same time. Again, because of such a poor script Marilyn's performance is not as stellar as her others, but she does a decent job, and was praised by many critics of the time. Her accent was a little off at times, but overall, she gave Cherie a lot of heart and warmth.

The real problem with this film is that it just cant decide whether it's a comedy or not. If it was, it should have used the same style of comedy used for Bo for all the characters, and perhaps the story could have been excusable. If it wasn't, Bo's performance should have been toned down, and all the others toned up and given flesh on their bones.

Overall, a poor movie. I think Marilyn fans who want to know more about her production company or this point of her life would find it a valuable resource on Marilyn's developments as an actress. Those viewing just for pleasure, give this one a miss.

Ciao!
Miss Scarlett x


Picture taken from Prop Catalogs

Labels: Bus Stop, Film, Marilyn Monroe, Vintage

For years, YEARS I tell you, I have been reading in fashion magazines, classy or not, that "Oooh! The 40's are back in this year!" Getting me all excited to spend my money, only to see in the months following barely a hint of such garments anywhere in mainstream shops. (The only way I decide whether things are officially a "trend" or not)
Take this summer for instance- NADA.
All I ever saw were those dreadful tacky smock tops. Apologies to those who like them, but honestly, WHY? They give you absolutely NO shape, and made millions over the country look like they were flat chested and about to give birth, even if they were well endowed. No offence to the smaller of us ladies out there, but to put it frankly, shouldn't 'those who've got it, flaunt it?' I just wanted to run out and put belts around all their waists. And none of this sitting on the hips, the whole point is to accentuate the SMALLEST part of your body and not the biggest.

Anyhoo, enough of my rants about current fashion, the main reason for this topic is that, actually, for the first time...the rags got it right. I am happy. This Autumn, the prim yet strangely alluring style of the wartime women is back in town, and I have been celebrating in style- trench coats, pencil skirts, berets, heels (hurrah!), stockings... the list goes on!

And so here, a perfect 40's outfit, as a gift from me.


Satin= trés in right now, vintage or not, and this blouse would look great tucked into that skirt below. Even though it has it's own belt, I thought the white one would make it pop! Also, I saw this oat on the website, and instantly fell in love with it, Pricey, but so beautiful in the way it gently flares out giving the hourglass shape.

I didn't want to give you an all black outfit, so went for this. I tried this on in the shop during my lunch break, and it looks and feels gorgeous. I also bought some shows from New Look similar to the ones pictured above in patent white, but they don't seem to be on the website unfortunately. I'm sure they are in stores most places though.

A dew finishing touches to the outfit. The hat is very cute, and brown goes amazingly well with navy.

Shirt: £25.00 Topshop
Belt: £30.00 Topshop
Coat: £150 Topshop
Pencil Skirt: £20.00 Topshop
Shoes: £25.00 New Look
Beret: £12.00 Miss Selfridge
Gloves £15 Monsoon

As for jewellery? Pearls dahling are classy, timeless and so feminine. If you're looking for something a bit different perhaps a locket of you beau who's fighting in the war? (Or sitting on the couch whilst you're reading this. ;) )

Enjoy the cold!
Miss Scarlett x



Pictures from:
Topshop

Monsoon

Miss Selfrige

New Look

Labels: Vintage 40's Topshop Miss Selfridge New Look Fashion

It's true: According to a new survey, 71%* of women say they'd rather find the perfect lipstick than the perfect man.
I wonder to myself, what is it that is so intoxicating that causes me to have about 15 or so in my dressing table drawer? Is it because it's so difficult to get right, but when you do it can look fabulous? Is it because with one application a girl can go from a plain Jane to a goddess in seconds? Is it because it brings back glorious memories of early childhood when you raided your mother's purse and smeared the stuff over your face? To those questions: yes yes and hell yes.

Quick history lesson that may interest you: according to most historians, lipstick was first used way back in approx 3000BC by the gorgeous Ancient Egyptians, who extracted the dye from, would you believe, seaweed, crushed beetles, or ants, and mixed it with Iodine. I can imagine the commercial now.... "The tingling sensation means the poison is killing you! :D"

Lipstick has come a long way since then. Along came Christianity and proclaimed it "the devil's work," and wearing it could mean you were potentially tried for witchcraft. After a brief fling with good ol' Queen Bess, Lipstick was saved for prostitutes and actresses when Queen Victoria came to the throne and declared wearing makeup "impolite," forcing women everywhere to bite their lips furiously before entering a room.

Fast forward a century to the Silent Age of film, and the sultry screen personas of Greata Garbo, Clara Bow and Louise Brooks called for equally dramatic looks, and thus, lipstick became the vogue again. In fact, during WWII women were encouraged to wear makeup to motivate troops and "put on a brave face", for the Duration.

And here are now, with women in our society who feel naked without wearing the stuff. Are these the women who have discovered the secret? Truth is there's no secret, and it's all perfectly logical. The secret to rosy, full, inviting lips is all in the application.

Any good work requires some sort of preparation, and the lips are no different. Invest in a lip scrub and use twice a week. (I have a great recipe for a lip scrub that I'll post another time) A cheaper alternative would be to smear Vaseline over the area, leave for 10 minutes, then use a wet toothbrush to GENTLY (I stress this because I have brushed so hard my lips chapped even more and started to bleed!) exfoliate the area.

Next, apply foundation as normal, but include your lips, which provides a base for the lipstick, making it last longer.
The crucial item that can make or break your look is a lip liner. Opinions are divided on whether you should use one exactly the same colour as your lips or the lipstick, but in my opinion, it seems quite silly to use a lip liner a different colour to the colour you're about to put on, do I'd try to match liner to lipstick.

Apply in small strokes for an even and natural looking application, making sure you're not pressing down too heavily. When you're satisfied, fill in the rest of the lips with the liner. (Again, base = lipstick lasts longer)

Prep time is over, it's now time for the lipstick. Notice in the picture that the beautiful Marilyn is applying her lipstick with a lip brush? For longer lasting/better finish/etc you will need one of these. You do not need anything fancy- you could even use a thin, regular paintbrush. (Washed, of course)

Coat the brush with a thin, even layer and apply in small strokes, (The small strokes make the lipstick look more natural and there's less chance of smudging) filling in all areas. Believe me, you will need a mirror for this!

Then grab a tissue and blot away the excess. Apply a second coat, and blot again. Wondering why? Lasts longer!

Finally (Phew, my hands are getting cramped...) seal the lipstick with a sealant. The best in the business is probably Lipcote for only £3.95, and lasts pretty much forever. It will sting a little, but after a minute it should be fine, and you're ready to apply gloss or go!

Part two of Lipstick will be on here soon.

Until next time,
Miss Scarlett x


*This is not true, but...you get my point. Lipstick is fabulous.


Picture taken from Marilyn Online

Labels: Makeup Beauty Vintage Lipstick tutorial history

Dear readers,
Good day to you all! I hope that this December is treating you wonderfully. Unfortunately where I live it is only on the very rare occasion that we get snow, but it's still cold enough to wear my winter outerwear, but more on that later.
As I am quite a sentimental woman, I like to think the "firsts" are quite important in one's life, and this blog should be no different, so I shall start with a review for one of my brands of all time.

If you are a Vintage Miss and you have no idea what I am talking about, you've either been living under a rock for the past 30 years or you don't use makeup. (Are there such creatures?)
So let me explain: Benefit Cosmetics (Originally known as 'The Face Place')was started by twins Jean and Jane Ford in 1976, offering to the masses quirky and fun products with names that made gals everywhere chuckle into their face powder compacts. Such products were their legendary Benetint and ooh la lift, still widely available today. The company was obviously a success, and Benefit ('Bene' in Italian means 'good' for those of you who want to know the reason for the name change,) today is a global company, selling numerous (award winning) products at relatively cheap prices (depending on where you are).

I discovered Benefit about five years ago on a trip to London, and read an editorial on their products in Elle on the train, and the day after I stopped at Harrods to take a look at the beauty counter. The lovely girl there offered me a free makeover, and since I was looking a little peaky after sightseeing, I said yes. Since then, I am hooked on their irresistible and funny (I ow own an eyeshadow by the name of 'My date's my brother!) lotions, potions and everything in between.


I own about 10 of their products, five of which I use in my everyday beauty routine and I highly recommend this brand, vintage lover or not. If you're looking for something to try, I suggest you give Benetint (pictured above) a try. It's a lip and cheek tint, and comes in a small bottle, smells delightfully of roses and lasts all day, no matter what. Don't believe all the others out there, THIS is the one that's "kissproof". And I know that for a fact. ;)



Benetint ($28.00 US, £22.50 UK) is available from Benefit Cosmetics

Labels: Benefit Beauty Vintage Makeup Website USA