Got the Valentine's Day Blues? Perhaps this Classic Movie Advice Will Help

Many people believe that objects can bring fortuitous events of love, fertility, fortune, and prosperity….

If a man and a woman see a ladybug at the same time, they'll fall in love.

Some cultures advocate for hanging red lanterns around your bed to bring luck to your marital bed.

Wear rose quartz to attract love and passion into your life.

Fill a bunch of vases with peonies (or line your walls with paintings of them).

But if you are in search of love this Valentine’s Day, maybe you should follow Marlene Dietrich’s advice.

Classic Cinema, Beauty Tips, Love, Marlene Dietrich, Minimalist, Valentine's DayStefanie CosmanFebruary 8, 2021valentines, fashion, loveComment

A Few of Her Favorite Things: Doris Day

The other day, my husband randomly asked me, “Is Doris Day still alive?” As many of you know, we lost Doris last year, May 13, 2019. She lived a long full life, though. She was 97 years old, and in those 97 years, Doris work embodied that of the All-American girl. Her legendary career included numerous hit singles, many classic movies, The Doris Day Show, and her passionate advocacy for animals.

Ava Gardner’s Favorite Things

Audrey Hepburn. Elizabeth Taylor. Marilyn Monroe. And up there with the rest of the screen siren greats, stood Ava Gardner. The ultimate femme fatale, she skyrocketed to fame when, in a stroke of marketing genius, her image graced entire sides of buildings to promote the film noir classic The Killers.

Ava Gardner became a star, and fans came to see her films in droves.

Have you ever wondered about the mysterious Ava Gardner?

Designer, Her Favorite Things, Perfume, Ava Gardner, Beauty Tips, Classic CinemaStefanie CosmanDecember 24, 2019Ava GardnerComment

7 Dresses Under $35 that Mimic Classic Hollywood Dresses

There are trends in just about every area of life, from fashion, to music, to interior design, to cosmetics. From Instagram influencers to famous housewives, we are inundated with inspiration. But I think we can all agree that at times, it gets overwhelming. And just because fashion editors are talking about a trend, doesn’t mean the average person is wearing it. Because let’s be honest, we don’t all have budgets to match the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

I love Hollywood.

But have you ever wondered what everyday women are actually buying? I do. And I have found a hack that I rather like.

Marilyn Monroe's Sexiest Beauty Secret

With curves that stretched for miles, ruby-red lips, and an inexplicable mystique, we can all agree that Marilyn Monroe is the greatest movie icon to ever live. Movie directors, Playboy magazine, biographies, heck, even Andy Warhol have tried to capture the secret to her allure.

Well, I am going to propose that there was one often-overlooked aspect that Marilyn Monroe always possessed—perhaps key to her image more than her husky voice or her elaborate makeup and fashion.

It is simply this: Marilyn Monroe effectively executed a seductive walk with a hip shimmy that one can’t help but ask, “How did she do that?” The answer might surprise you—and I am here to tell you.

Classic Cinema, Beauty Tips, Fashion, Marilyn MonroeStefanie CosmanAugust 15, 2019Marilyn Monroe, Shoes, fashion, Classic Cinema, Sex AppealComment

Audrey Hepburn: A Few of Her Favorite Things

Rita Hayworth. Elizabeth Taylor. Marilyn Monroe. And up there with the rest of the screen siren greats, stood that pillar of a woman.:Audrey Hepburn.

Designer, Her Favorite Things, Perfume, Beauty Tips, Classic Cinema, Audrey HepburnStefanie CosmanMay 31, 2019Audrey HepburnComment

Is That Kim Kardashian Perfume Bottle a Throwback to Mae West?

Mae West refused to take ocean voyages — didn’t people remember what happened to the Titanic, she reportedly retorted when it was even suggested to her.

There was only one thing she feared even more fiercely — flying.

So when producers wanted her to travel to Paris for costume fittings in preparation for “Every Day’s a Holiday she said a firm no. But they had a problem — the designer was in Paris. How to fit dresses to a woman who refused to travel to the dressmaker’s shop?

Classic Hollywood Guide to Amazon's Bestselling Products

To see what is trending in fashion and beauty you can read your favorite blog or style magazine. Or, if you are curious to see what people are actually buying (not what fashion editors or simply talking about, but what is actually selling) you can go straight to the store -- the Amazon store that is.

I love browsing their Top Sellers section. I find face lotions and curling irons I never knew existed. And because they are massively popular (which usually means good review) I know just about every single one of them is a safe bet. So far this strategy hasn't done me wrong.

Beauty Tips, FashionStefanie CosmanFebruary 19, 2018amazon, fashionComment

10 Gifts for 1930s & 1940s Fashionistas

Taking take the guesswork out of vintage shopping for you—these essentials will be the foundation of your vintage flair, taking you from summer to winter. They will anchor whatever other fashionable pieces you already have in your closet (or populating your purse & dresser!).

Most of these have been tried and tested by myself, or better yet, the celebrated starlets that used them. Here is short list of your 10 absolute must-haves to channel your inner starlet, whether she most resembles Elizabeth Taylor, or Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn, or Marilyn Monroe, or....