Vintage Dior at the Oscars

Natalie Portman wore a vintage Dior (1954 H-Line) gown last night.
Love the polka dots.

The H line of 1954 with its exaggerated body contortions generated considerable negative publicity. The design shifted the bosom up and incorporated the hipline of the middy as the crossbar of H. Dior’s intention had been to create the illusion of a longer, leaner look. The controversy primarily centered on the treatment of the bust. The constricting bodices pushed up the breasts sometimes resembling the sixteenth-century Tudor style costumes of Anne Boleyn.

                                - As Seen In Vogue: A Century of American Fashion in Advertising*

I love the the ruching low on the back of the skirt.

Click here to go to Rare Vintage where you can see the gown details.

*I have a collection of 1954 Vogues, I might look though them tonight and see if this dress was in any editorial shoots.

Early Spring

Vintage Desserts: Chiffon Cake

Chiffon Cake was developed in the 1930's that is between Angel Food and Pound Cake in texture.
I don't really like Angel Food, but Pound Cake just uses too much butter and eggs so I decided to try making a Chiffon Cake using this recipe from America's Test Kitchen. (you have to register to view).

Got a new pan with little legs so it could sit inverted while the cake cooled.

The first time I made it the egg whites were too stiff so they did not fold well and the

cake did not raise as well as it did this time.

Totally delish with strawberries and whipped cream.

Vintage Pattern 1940

Vintage Simplicity dress pattern from 1940.
I was watching Mildred Pierce ( the Joan Crawford movie, not the dire HBO remake) when listing this and the style seem to fit for the title character. Attractive, but no nonsense.
Can be purchased HERE.

In Which Megan McArdle Annoys Me

*

Ugh.
I got into a short discussion on The Atlantic regarding abortion, Planned Parenthood and Virginia's new law that would force women seeking abortions to get invasive vaginal ultrasounds in the early weeks of their pregnancy. Because women are too stupid to know what being pregnant means I guess.


Ugh.
The whole thing makes me crazy.
(As a bit of background information I had an trans-vaginal ultrasound in the first month or so of my pregnancy because of pain and a bit of bleeding. The Doctor wanted to check to see if I might be having an etopic pregnancy.
The probe was huge, mutant dildo huge, with a ball on the end.  In any other situation I would have to be incredibly drunk and incredibly horny to allow something that big to be stuck up my vagina. It was painful and humiliating and totally wonderful because it allowed us to make sure everything was OK and completely voluntary.)

McArdle:" I think that abortion should be legal, but I also think that it should be a last resort, and I'm all for the government using any non-coercive methods it can to encourage women to carry their pregnancy to term, including things that will make them feel bad about aborting. I think, for example, that sonograms should be mandatory before termination, I'm in favor of waiting periods and parental notification laws, and I'm agnostic on spousal notification."


I wrote:
Seriously, you think that women are so stupid about what is in their wombs that they should be forced to have an invasive vaginal ultrasound before they can get their legal abortion?
Ever had one?
I have, 19 years ago, worst experience  in an OBs office I ever had. Think sex toy but of terrifying proportions.


Her Response:
Ever had an abortion?   Considerably more invasive than a trans-vaginal ultrasound.  In fact, there are lots of worse things that happen in women's health clinics; be glad you haven't experienced any of them.


My Response:
That's your response Megan?
It's not as bad as an abortion so lay back and "think of England"?
Like I asked, do you think women don't know what it means to be pregnant?  Do you think that roadblocks ultrasounds do anything but cost more money and cause some woman to have later and more dangerous procedures?
Here's the thing Megan having an abortion is voluntarily while having a probe (which take it from me was painful and a bit humiliating) stuck up your vagina at the behest of the state is NOT voluntary.


And being voluntary is the point and why her bullshit response to me is infuriating.

This response was from a "Libertarian". 

How much bull shit is that? 

In the name of fewer abortions she is OK with The State forcing a woman to submit to a bodily invasive procedure (or even just a regular ultrasound) that the woman has to pay for before she can get the totally legal and completely voluntary procedure she has already had plenty of time to think about. We don't need to be informed of what is in our wombs. 

We know.

Woman in the need of abortions do not need roadblocks  and ways to feel bad about what they plan on doing, they need to be supported. I wonder how many women who feel "bad" about having an abortion would have no issues if they were not made to feel they were doing something terribly wrong and shameful?


So ugh Megan, way to be supportive.


The other new argument in favor of invasive sonograms is more of the "well you've already had a cock in your va-jay-jay so why should a probe be a big deal?" Once again it is NOT about the probe, which I assume with technology is no longer mutant sex toy size, but with the fact that is is not voluntary. It is a foreign object that is being forcibly inserted into a woman's vagina.


A few other blogs noticed the conversations too:
Here at TBogg and The Hunting of the Snark.


*Yes, he was totally worth it even if he did find the whole idea of a "dildo sized probe" quite hilarious when his father and I were discussing The MaArdle-bargle.

MCM House Envy

Look at that door knob people!

I want to buy that house.

Go to No Pattern Required and take a look-see.

Life Covers The New Look, 1948

Life Covers The New Look. 1948

Dior Bar Suit Sketch from Design Museum. 

More

For some reason I can't get these embedded Tweets to look like a clickable screenshot.
Annoying.

What if I have a religious objection to ASSHOLES TRYING TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO
— the rejectionist (@therejectionist) February 16, 2012

Cave Men

Need birth control? Santorum funder Foster Friess says put an #aspirin 'tween your knees! 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/santor… #cavemen #misogyny #GOP #FAIL
— Interesting Times (@intrstngtimes) February 16, 2012

Test

Anti-contraception witness admits he wants ANY boss to be allowed to deny women #birthcontrol cvrg. #IssaCircus
— NARAL (@NARAL) February 16, 2012

Woman In Black

I love The Woman in Black by Susan Hill.

Terrifying book.

So I was excited they were making a movie version.

Went to see it today.
Enjoyable Gothic ghost story, no gore, and with lots of bits to make you jump.

If you have read the book then you will be disappointed (I was) in the way they changed the story around since it lost some of the pathos and depth, but Mr. Goddess has never read it and he liked it as a good old fashioned ghost story. 

Very much a homage to old style Hammer Films.
I will not mention how attractive Daniel Radcliffe looked in period costume and scruffy jaw since that would be pervy, we watched him grow up for heaven's sake. He plays terrified while angry very well and looked to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Of course he's been playing that part in Harry Potter for years, but still this was well done on his part.

Supporting actors Janet McTeer and Ciarán Hinds (really, there has been a nice flurry of films with him in prime parts lately) were excellent as always. Roger Allum in small part at the beginning made me smile, I was not sure his character really was sorry to send Radcliffe off to Eel Marsh House at all.

So it was better then War Horse (there was a great movie in there somewhere), not as good as Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, which means I was not disappointed paying for it as long as it was a rush hour show.

And I will be sleeping with the lights on for the next week.

Because Chocolate Makes Everything Better

Favorite Chocolate Icing Recipe
Not mine, of course, but ATC.

Makes 3 cups to frost one 9-inch 2-layer cake

This frosting may be made with milk, semisweet, or bittersweet chocolate. For our Fluffy Yellow Layer Cake (see related recipe), we prefer a frosting made with milk chocolate. Cool the chocolate to between 85 and 100 degrees before adding it to the butter mixture. The frosting can be made 3 hours in advance. For longer storage, refrigerate the frosting, covered, and let it stand at room temperature for 1 hour before using.

INGREDIENTS

• 20tablespoons (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened (60 to 65 degrees)
• 1cup confectioners' sugar (4 ounces)
• 3/4cup Dutch-processed cocoa
•  Pinch table salt
• 3/4cup light corn syrup
• 1teaspoon vanilla extract
• 8ounces milk chocolate , melted and cooled slightly (see note)

INSTRUCTIONS

• In food processor, process butter, sugar, cocoa, and salt until smooth, about 30 seconds, scraping sides of bowl as needed. Add corn syrup and vanilla and process until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Scrape sides of bowl, then add chocolate and pulse until smooth and creamy, 10 to 15 seconds. Frosting can be used immediately or held.
  
  
  I have also used the idea of adding corn syrup, butter and a bit of  Dutch-processed cocoa to the ready made stuff works great too. Just cut back on the ingredients, omit the milk chocolate and add the ready made chocolate icing in it's place. It really is delish. I think you could also add cream cheese with a bit of experimenting. maybe cut back on the butter.