Ever since I moved into my first university dorm room in 2014, I aimed to create the perfect pinboard. I wish I could have had the artistic freedom of Tezza, whose beautiful wall, covered to the ceiling with magazine scraps, polaroids and doodles, is the ultimate forms of inspiration. I however, was limited within the boundaries of my (thankfully rather large) pinboard. Yet, despite these constraints, I was able to create a collage that is both personal and eye-catching.
In every dormitory I inhabited my pinboard changed styles and content, fortunately, I am happy to say that my current one is my favourite! Over time, through trial and error, I have learned what works, what looks good and what to avoid. Below I list some tips and advice on how to construct that enviable pinboard - but remember, most importantly, it has to be unique to YOU.
1. To give your composition harmony create a gradient of colours. Do you see how in the top left corner of the pinboard there is a focus on warmer, yellow tones? These are then echoed in the yellow profile of the woman in the March 1934 Harper's Bazaar cover illustration poster, as well as in the yellow slogan-postcard on the bottom. You can also see these tones referenced in the opposite corner in the sepia toned photograph of my grandmother. A similar thing can be said about the colour green, which is prevalent in the central vertical line of the composition and then also seen on the left side in the other Harper's Bazaar cover illustration poster from February, 1929.
2. Use washi tape - it's cute ;)
3. Include a mix of types of photographs and illustrations. High-fashion magazine editorials, museum postcards of paintings, slogan postcards (the two I added are both from Paperchase), vintage magazine cover illustrations, personal family archives, Photo Booth pictures, polaroids, theatre or cinema tickets and images of favourite entertainers are all great things to include.
4. Think about texture. Is your image printed, developed from film, drawn, cut out or even ripped from a magazine? All of this adds interesting variety to your pinboard composition. Notice how the vintage 1940s photograph above stands out compared to the the early 2000s photograph below it. And the two also look different from the 1990s flash-lit image even lower. The same is the case with the trio of images from the Photo Booth and the tiny black and white image of Gabrielle Chanel, which was cut out from a recent issue of Harper's Bazaar.
5. Edges and framing. I already mentioned ripping vs. cutting images from magazines or simply from printed pieces of paper. But this little detail can significantly add to the aesthetic appeal of pinboards and collages. Above you can see how the slightly tattered edges of a few vintage photographs create a subtle change in style compared to the scalloped edges and thin white frame of the even older ones. Similarly, the Vincent van Gogh Starry Night postcard is framed with the painting in the centre, leaving a wide frame around it. The same is the case with the portrait by Allan Ramsay, however here the frame resembles a polaroid, which is another intriguing element.
6. Do not always use images. Sometimes you may end up with a bare narrow space with no image that will fit the blank spot. In such cases I suggest opting for patterns. Below you can see how I filled two spaces with a yellow floral print - it was actually part of a billowing dress photographed in a fashion editorial! It is these tiny detail that give your pinboard that "organised chaos" kind of feel.
Pinboards are an expression of yourself. Especially at school or at university, when new friends will probably often knock on your door, your unique pinboard will be able to do all the talking (although I do advise you do some yourself too) and offer insight into the kind of person you are, what interests you have, what you find beautiful, what you stand for, what your family is like, your values, and the experiences you have gained. They can take a while to make, because gathering content that truly expresses your vision and sorting through family photo archives is not an easy feat. Remember to enjoy the process though, because you will be looking a this masterpiece for a good while and nobody wants to reminisce about frustrating times or question hasty choices. Have fun and good luck with your creations!
Below are some examples of the collages Tezza created which, as I mentioned at the beginning, made me fall in love with this form of self-expression! Take a look, which ones do you like most?
Last summer, upon my mother's suggestion, I decided to visit the relatively newly opened Dollhouse Museum. A small exhibition space, situated within the previously inaccessible secret quarters of the Congress Hall in the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, it houses a rather impressive collection of historical dollhouses and, in most cases, includes the dolls for which the houses were made. Surprisingly hidden from view, due to its entrance through one of the Palace's inner courtyards, one has to circle the monumental Palace of Culture to find the entrance. Once you do, however, it is like stepping into a fairytale and the awe one feels in the midst of the tiny, beautiful worlds within is shared by both children and adults alike. I can guarantee you that!
When I saw Ingrid Bergman's outfits in the film Journey to Italy (1954) I could not help noticing, firstly, their timeless nature, and secondly, their modern accessories. One item that particularly caught my attention was the dark coloured leather-looking bucket bag, which Katherine Joyce (Bergman's character) carries, as she is she and her husband are being given a tour of their newly inherited Italian villa. It immediately called to mind the popular Mansur Gabriel buckets bags, which everyone was coveting not that long ago.
I find it peculiarly fascinating when items of the past resemble pieces currently sought after. One would think that what becomes desirable would be something new and fresh. Surprisingly (or maybe not) these are usually items which, if one digs back far enough, have been carried and used by men and women long ago. Just take a look at my earlier post about mesh bags!
Above: Film stills from the Roberto Rossellini film, Journey to Italy (1954).
Below: Similar styles of bags sold today (September 2017).
Recently to close at London's Fashion and Textile Museum was a retrospective of creations by American fashion designer, Anna Sui. It marks the first time that an American designer has had an exhibition dedicated solely to themselves in the United Kingdom! While interning in London this summer I was recommended to visit the relatively small museum, which, with its bright facade, is quickly visible amidst the sometimes grey London weather.
Vintage perfume bottles will always have a special place in my heart. Their characteristic clean lines and statesque bottles never fail to connote classic Hollywood glamour atop any dressing table or nightstand. While the most known example of their enduring quality is undoubtedly Chanel No. 5, I am always on the look out for the unconventional, and in this case more affordable, perfumes, eau de toilettes and colognes, that women of the past liked to use.
Above: Coty's L'Aimant "The Magnet" advertisement, 1939.
http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/beauty-and-hygiene-ads-1930s/47
One of the things that always surprises me is their shared heaviness of scent. I wonder if it was the result of a particular "fashion" for heavier, more musky, smells or whether it was a necessity, resulting from the popularity of smoking and the subsequent need for more distinct and stronger scents. Whatever the reasons may be, I personally am still not convinced about the smells and in all but one case (which I will reveal in the near future) would not wear these perfumes. At least not now, while I am still young and prefer lighter notes, if any perfume at all.
Nonetheless, I like knowing that, were there ever to be a need, I can still go out and buy the same perfume ladies in the 1940s would, just down the street at my local drugstore! Coty's L'Aimant was launched in 1927 and was part of a series of cosmetic products of the same name. It was one of the first scents released by the French-founded American company, which is now probably most known for their celebrity collaborations as well as ownership of brands such as Rimmel London or Chloe fragrances. However, in the past, it was recognised as a stand-alone name and could frequently be seen advertising their newest makeup line on the back-cover of women's magazines.
I found a more in-depth review by a writer who knows more about the specific notes and ingredients - if you are looking for a more exact description of the scent and a comparison to different perfumes, here is the link.
Coty's L'Aimant c. 1960s
http://themuseinwoodenshoes.com/perfume-review-vintage-coty-laimant-parfum-de-toilette/
The same perfume currently on sale on Boots.com
http://www.boots.com/coty-laimant-parfum-de-toilette-spray-15ml-10003857
Below are some photos which I myself took while on a trip to Boots. As you can see, the perfume comes in a variety of sizes and the price is always under 15 GBP.
What is the marimekko dress? Who wore it? What did it symbolise? - all these questions are addressed in Alexandra Lange's article for The New Yorker entitled, Jane Jacobs, Georgia O'Keeffe, and the Power of the Marimekko Dress.
Click here or paste in this link.
http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/jane-jacobs-georgia-okeeffe-and-the-power-of-the-marimekko-dress
Above: H&M's tribute to Marimekko, 2007.
http://lagaceta.elpalaciodehierro.com/2014/03/12/historikko/
Below:
Marimekko's first fashion show in Helsinki, 20 May 1951.
http://lagaceta.elpalaciodehierro.com/2014/03/12/historikko/
21 November 2003 - 15 February 2004
The exhibition Marimekko: Fabrics, Fashion, Architecture at The Bard Graduate Centre Gallery - (a link from the above article) this is a summary of the past exhibition, which focuses on the aforementioned Finnish brand, Marimekko.Click here or paste in this link.
https://www.bgc.bard.edu/gallery/exhibitions/43/marimekko
21 June 2017
Rebecca Arnold's short introduction to the history of pockets for COS stores.
Click here or paste in this link.
http://www.cosstores.com/gb/Studio/Projects/On_Pockets
11 July 2017
Vintage dresser and model, Daria Nelson, talks about her fascination with 1950s fashion and recommends her top three vintage shops in Paris!
Click here or paste in this link.
http://apero-a-paris.fr/en/guide-on-vintage-style-en/
16 December 2016
An introduction to Moda Polska, the iconic Polish fashion house, founded by Jadwiga Grabowska.
Click here or paste in this link.
http://www.polishfashionstories.com/before89-b/2016/12/14/moda-polska?rq=moda%20polska
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