I love old Hollywood glamour. Ths is probably due to too much TV time in my formative years and a mom who had attended art school to learn how to sketch fashion models in the 1940's and drew my "paper dolls" on demand. By eighth grade I just KNEW that I wanted to look like Gene Tierney, not Farrah Fawcett (no disrespect to Farrah.) Once the '80's were over and every day WASN'T Halloween anymore I pretty much became a mom, started shopping at JC Penney and put the freak flag away. The all-too-brief revival of swing music in the '90's gave me a chance to play dress-up again but it was over way too soon.

One of the things that I find interesting is that the '40-'50's pin-up fashion style never goes away for very long - even after one generation out-grows it, it seems there is always a new generation to start it up again. Currently, the Suicide Girls are a trend that embrace retro glamour and spice it up with tattoos and the hit show MadMen gives us weekly glimpses at the power a woman in a pyramid-bra can hold. The other night I happened to catch a commercial for Comfort Inn that showed a current view of one of their lobbys with a woman stopping to examine a large screen on the wall dressed like she had just wandered away from a MadMen set. My fashion-radar zoomed in on the way her skirt pleated and hung and I recognized the retro-style immediately.

Locally, Torrington-based shop Brazen Bettie's is the place to go if you want to stand out from the JC Penney crowd and, if you want to check out their offerings, you can get the chance this Saturday September 26 at Torrington Day. Brazen Bettie's, along with Pin Up Finishing School, will be sharing an "Artisan Bazaar" at the Yankee Pedlar Inn from 12-7pm. Promising to hold a "Bettie Page Look Alike Contest" and featuring Rockabilly Music - this sounds like a BLAST. Not just about retro fashion, Bettie's exhibit will also include the work of a variety of state-wide artists and designers. As Bettie's motto says: "Be Fearless Without Being Foolish" and get over there. You can check out Brazen Bettie's web site at http://brazenbetties.com/events.aspx.

By Kate LaFrance

As the Publisher of Hartford Woman Online Kate is passionate about bridging the gap between the work-from-home and the office dwelling career woman in the Greater Hartford Area. She is open to new ideas and new friends from all of the towns and neighborhoods throughout CT.

Kate has 20 years of newspaper industry experience behind her doing everything but run the press! She's sold ads, designed ads, created ads, written editorial, taken photos, run departments, run managers and more. In the past 10 years, Kate has concentrated on becoming a marketing maven, Virtual Assistant business owner, internet marketing strategist and, now, online publisher.

If you'd like to get Kate and Hartford Woman Online behind your CT cause or business, send her an email and let her know - she will consider all offers that help women.

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