Mad Men : The Illustrated World

Less than a week ago, I won a giveaway!
The giveaway was for a book called 'Mad Men : The Illustrated World' by Dyna Moe. And earlier today I received the book! I was amazed that it reached me so fast (FedEx is good!)
Anyway, the book is beautiful! The paper is thick & glossy. The book is divided into seven categories:  The Office, Home, Fashion & Beauty, Arts & Literature, Mainstream & Counter Culture, Travel, Rainy Day Activities. The illustrations are a complete visual treat! And the book is peppered with generous doses of dark humour. It's full of food & cocktail recipes, style tips etc. I especially liked the two page step by step guide on how to get a bouffant.

Here's the cover.
I lifted this image off the internet because glossy/shiny surfaces can be a camera's worst enemy!

A section of the back cover

Probably my favorite part of the book: The Joan Harris Paper Dolls!
They're gorgeous but there's no way I'm cutting them out.

The Bouffant how-to guide!
Please excuse the bad photo.

I love the book & even though I wasn't a very big fan of Mad Men earlier, I think I'm going to like it more now! For more information about the book go here.

Magali

Cards with Retro Imagery & Modern Cheeky Wording

Hiya Retro Lovers!
I was browsing the internet when I came across some cute cheeky & sarcastic cards. They have cards for all occasion, be it a birthday, an anniversary, Valentines day, etc.
Here's a glance at some of them:

A Birthday Card

A Get Well Soon Card

A Birthday Card

A Birthday Card

Photo Credit: Smart Alex.

Though I would have preffered to see just the awesome retro imagery, I must admit that I like this idea. The dark humor will make attract even those who aren't really retro fans. The rest of the cards are somewhat NSFW. So go check them out for yourself if you like!

Love,

Magali

Suited male fashion

Well, enough about Women's Retro fashion. Here's some suited-up guy fashion.

Taken from a catalog. Source: NYPL

I can't determine exactly when it's from, but I'm sure it's old enough to be featured here.
So girls, what do you think? Do you like this look on guys?

Cheers,
Magali

Retro-Style Social Networking advertisements!

Here is something really cool that I found! Retro style Social Networking advertisements! Check them out-

The Facebook Advert

The Skype Advert

The Youtube Advert

The Twitter Advert

So, I think they're absolutely groovy! What about you? Did they make you laugh?

Love,
Magali

The Most Ironic Retro Advertisement EVER?

Here's a 1962 advertisement for Union Carbide. The heading says Science helps build a New India.

They seemed to believe that you can build 'a new India' by pouring chemicals into fresh air.

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy that happened in 1984 is billed as the World's Worst Industrial Disaster. Of course they didn't know that would happen, did they?

So is this the most ironic retro advertisement in the entire world? Let me know in the comments section.

Love,

Magali

What is a Retro lover called?

Photo Credit

You're here reading this, so that means you probably love retro (at least a little).
So do you know what the love for retro objects is called?

A love of retro objects is called retrophilia & a lover of retro objects is called a retrophile.

It seems to be a very uncommon word because it's not in most dictionaries.
I know I'm a retrophile! Are you?

Love,
Magali

What is Retro?

The Poodle skirt, an icon of the fifties.

First and foremost, Retro is regarded as a style.
Here's a little excerpt from Wikipedia:

Retro is a culturally outdated or aged style, trend, mode, or fashion, from the overall postmodern past, but have since that time become functionally or superficially the norm once again. The use of "retro" style iconography and imagery interjected into post-modern art, advertising, mass media, etc. has occurred from around the time of the industrial revolution to present day.

A guy with an afro wearing
bell-bottomed jeans.

I personally think that is a relative term; it can be different things to different people. 

The bouffant / beehive
hairstyle made famous by
singer Amy Winehouse
in modern times.

For some, it can be the art (especially any art by Andy Warhol, Pop Art is considered both retro & modern). To others it can be the clothes (like the poodle skirt that is synonymous with the fifties, bell-bottoms from the sixties), accessories, hairstyles (the afros & bouffants of the sixties). It can even apply to some forms of tech- manual typewriters, rotary telephones, early versions of Macs, large Radio sets, Television sets with bunny ear antennae & with dials to change channels or the volume, Sony Walkmans, Diana cameras, pinhole cameras or even SLRs. 

An vintage plastic Diana camera.
(They were first marketed as toys!)
This one's on my wishlist!

Most retro things sell for high prices today (they fetch a decent price if they aren't working but a very high price if they are in working condition.
They are many other objects that are considered iconic retro, but if I try to list them all, it might take all day maybe all week!
So here's where I'm posing a question to you.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the work retro? I'd love to know.


Love, 
Magali