Hi there, guys and dolls! Let’s have a little stylish fun today, shall we? My Poppy Cove Mysteries of course have a little murder and mayhem in them, but being that Daphne and Margot, the two main super sleuths, design for and accessorize the beautiful people in their fair Santa Lucia as their main gig, the books have been greatly inspired by the fabulous fashions of the 1950’s. Yours truly whiles away many  hours looking at beautiful clothes and the way they were worn, all in the name of research. Sigh, the things I do for my craft. Now of course, the influences are plenty, but here are a few of the lovely ladies who wore them so well. Credit needs to go to photographer Richard Avedon and the many people who made magic as they set up such scenes to make us dream and imagine ourselves in adventurous capers in artful black and white.

Carmen Dell’Orefice – Iconic class and cool. One of the greatest things is that in our times now, she is still a beautiful force in the modelling world, giving us all a thought or two on how to age gracefully.

Dovima –  How lovely, how exotic, how worldly. How can you not love this picture? Wouldn’t you just love to know what these two were scheming here?

Jean Patchett – The expression, the look. All with pearls, beauty mark and a cup of tea. Wonder what she’s cooking?

Suzy Parker – Quintessentially confident and strong. With an open smile and a handsome man at her side, who couldn’t enjoy a night on the town? Sign me up!

Sunny Hartnett – Always leave them laughing. Don’t you just love the hat? Makes my nose tickle just looking at it.

May the spirit of these images give  a lift to your day. Yes, they are glamorous and possibly a titch more fantastic than our everyday lives of running errands, grabbing a quick coffee, cooking dinner and an evening at your local bar, but why not let them inspire you to bring out your inner whimsy as you go about your own life?

Toodles,

Barbara Jean