Helen ‘Curl’ Harris

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This lovely lady is Helen ‘Curl’ Harris – an original Swing Fashionista! She was an entrepreneur at a time when women (let alone African-American women) were a rarity in business. A self-made graduate of the Skidmore Vocational School and the Philadelphia Charm and Model School, she ran and operated numerous beauty businesses in Philadelphia (Curl’s Beautyrama, Curl’s Beauty Salon and Charm Service, and Curl’s Moderne Beautyrama) as well as created her own line of make-up and hair products. Ella Fitzgerald and Josephine Baker were among her clients.

Source: Emory University Library via Omega418’s Flickr Stream

1939 Jitterbugs in Color

I just posted this video up on my personal blog, where I was geeking out about the 1939 New York World’s Fair. But I thought the Swing Fashionistas might be interested in it also, because it’s color footage of everyday girls dancing in 1939. Enjoy!

Source: Prelinger Archives, archive.org

Cute Double Strap Scalloped Mary Janes at Plasticland

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Check out these adorable cheapies: just $49.00!  Not leather, so they might not be the best for swing dancing, but damn cute for strutting about in (and that makes them vegan shoes!). Website says “made of a slightly distressed (crinkly) black and taupe leather-look vinyl, they feature rounded toes, unique easy-to-use hook-on double straps, and thick stacked wood 2 1/2″ heels. Fit true to size, medium width.”

Get them here: www.shopplasticland.com

Actually, they have a bunch of cute shoes that Swing Fashionistas might like, all for less than $50:

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Men’s Vintage Looks in The Aviator (2004)

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Leonardo Di Caprio (playing Howard Hughes), Jude Law (playing Errol Flynn), John C. Reilley and Alec Baldwin all get the vintage treatment in The Aviator. Slicked hair, red carpet-worthy tuxedos, 1940s suits and of course, plenty of leather aviator jackets.

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Frankie 95 Festival, New York City May 2009

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I’ve finally got around to posting up some photos of well-dressed folks at Frankie Manning’s 95th Birthday celebrations in New York in May this year. Sorry for the delay, and remember, if you have any photos from this or any swing event, of swing girls OR guys looking fine, then email them through!

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