Toni's Glamour Shack

Viva Van Story is a highly respected pinup photographer based in the USA.   Viva has been in the business for 16 years and has a real talent for capturing the retro vibe.   As well as taking amazing photos, she has also written several books including "Viva's Pinups" and "Sheer 2012". Miss Mosh http://blog.customzone.info/viva-van-story-pinups/ Miss Mosh

With this January setting the record for being the wettest ever recorded and  yet another wet weekend in store, I can't help but wish for hot, lazy days.

Xīnnián hǎo Happy New Year Chinese Pinup Style Winny Queen Chinese Actress Gon Xinliang Chinese Actress Wei Tang Lucy Lui

Let's celebrate we've made it through another week

Marilyn looking beautiful as a brunette

Retro Homes http://retrorenovation.com If you truly want to embrace the retro scene then take a look at this brilliant website which has a lot of untouched retro properties for sale.   I particularly like the 1954 Texan ranch with it's aqua St Charles kitchen which is on the market for $125,000.   Or what about this 1962 4-bed house in Minnesota which is on the market for $600,000 and where a number of features were taken from prominent buildings in the area and has a zebra-print carpet. Two years ago, this 4-bed Art Deco house in Lilliput, Poole, was up for sale for over £700,000.

Lady Gaga UK and European Tour Dates Released The unique Lady Gaga has announced her tour dates for the UK  leg of her 2014 artRAVE tour.   You know, the Lady will put on quite a show.    Check the Whats on Guide for UK dates. http://www.gigwise.com/news/88012/lady-gaga-announces-2014-uk-and-eu-tour---tickets#RWqEugSyFIOqCxme.99

At Beaulieu Motor Museum today, they are firing up Sir Malcolm Campbell's World Land Speed Record Breaking, Sunbeam 350 hp car.  It is the first time this has been started for 50 years. In 1924, it set a land speed record of 146.16 mph at Pendine Sands and was last heard in 1962 when Lord Montague drove it around the Goodwood Track.

Andy Warhol Valentine-Themed Auction Christies is staging a Valentine's Day themed online auction of the artists drawings, prints and polaroids.   One item that I rather like is the 4 polaroid prints called Candy Box which has a bidding price of $6,500.00 - pity there is another week to pay day!! www.christies.com

On January 28th 1956, Elvis Presley first appeared on national TV starring in the Dorsey Brothers Stage Show in New York which aired at 8pm

SAPE (Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes) Thanks to the Guinness ad, there is huge interest (definitely I am) in the Congolese gentlemen of the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People. This small group is based in the Brazzaville district of the Congo and they pride themselves in spending most of their hard earned cash on designer suits, shoes and vintage top hats normally bought from Europe. They are known as Sapeurs which emerged from la SAPE (as per the title) which was set up in the 1960s by a pop star called Papa Wermba.  Even though, most of the gentlemen live in dire poverty, they strive to look their best at all times and although this part of the world has seen violent times,  they don't believe in fighting stating that "Your clothes do all the fighting for you".

Buckingham Palace Sentry Box up for Auction On the 29th January, a sentry box that stood outside the Palace is being auctioned by Bonhams and is hoping to fetch between £5,000 and £7,000.  It was one of four that were replaced in 1992 and contains graffiti inside dating back to 1955. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25917897

Women not Girls Kate Moss posed in Playboy for her 40th birthday and here are a few more illustrious older ladies who have shown the world how great they look. Jennifer Aniston apparently turned down $4 million to pose in Playboy but was happy to just wear a tie on her 40th for GQ Magazine. At 39 year, American model Jenny McCarthy was happy to pose for Playboy in just fingerless gloves and knee high boots. Playboy regular, Pamela Anderson, posed for a 2011 edition at the age of 43. Joan Collins was 49 when she posed in Playboy in the 1980s. Baywatch Babe, Carmen Electra, shows off how great she still looks at 40 in the iconic red swimsuit.

If only - up early to make sure the Boy does his paper-round (not an easy task), then out the door and off to work

Another great ad from Guinness - "In life you can't always choose what you do - but you can always choose who you are!"

Jazz and cabaret singer Kitty La Roar is one lady in demand.  Not only has she sung in the bath for an EDF TV advert but also has resident gigs at glamorous venues such as The Savoy and The Dorchester.  She has also sung to Hugh Hefner for his 80th birthday and at Grahame Norton's 40th as well as at the Monaco Grand Prix. Kitty is currently touring with Frank Sinatra sound-alike Kevin Fitzsimmons in Sinatra, Sequins & Swing - The Capital Years  http://www.sinatrasequinsandswing.com/

Beautiful Bags For Spring With payday almost upon us (thank goodness) and the days starting to lengthen, thoughts turn to Spring and for those of you who have any special events to attend, these bags will get you plenty of attention. This bag has proving to be very popular with the fashion magazines and is being sold by Asos ALDO Westall Jewelled Knuckle Box Clutch £40 Pink Vintage inspired bag by Pinup Clothing

Etta James On this day in 1938, Etta James (Jamesetta Hawkins) was born in Los Angeles.  She became one of music's most dynamic jazz, gospel, R&B and soul singers and is known for great hits such as "Something's Got a Hold on Me"

This week, Christies in Paris auctioned personal objects belonging to the great Italian couturier Elsa Schiaparelli (1890-1973) for a staggering £1,690,000.   In her day, she was a rival to Coco Chanel but unfortunately couldn't adapt to the changes in fashion following WW2 and the business closed in 1954. However, as well as the auction, this week saw the return of the brand which was bought in 2007 by Diego Della Valle and is now in the care of womenswear designer Marco Zanini  http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/22/schiaparelli-returns-to-paris/ http://www.thesundaily.my

Bournemouth are playing the mighty Liverpool at lunchtime today - Make us proud Bournemouth!

Glamour Francais gdfalksen.com Bridget Bardot Eva Green De las noches de Paris Catherine Deneuve - The Hunger