VV Brown

I've gotten quite a few emails from fellow women of color asking about vintage hairstyles and I never know how to answer them. I have curly hair myself. I straighten it sparingly - once or twice a year at most... and I really don't style my hair in a vintage fashion.

I recently straightened and did pin curls for a loose wave... check it out HERE. (also, this is the first picture of myself I've ever posted!).

I've seen plenty of YouTube tutorials about vintage hair (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & not a tutorial, but I love her look: see HERE and HERE) and they all seem swell, but I never got around to trying any. Victory rolls, faux bangs, pincurls, and marcelling.... I usually leave that stuff to the experts.

Which brings me to VV Brown. (I'm not trying to get you to go out and buy anything! I have to do some further listening, as I've only heard the one song, myself - "Shark in the Water"). This songstress from the UK has a unique look for sure, and she owns it! This isn't the first time we've seen faux bangs in pop music AT ALL (I don't know what it is about Lady Gaga and/or songs with the word PHONE in them that makes Beyonce channel Bettie Page), but VV's look is consistent. She also seems to have a penchant for vintage silhouettes - fitted bodices and a-line skirts.

So, if you have straight hair, the faux bang may be an easy way to try a vintage hairstyle and retain some modernity all at once.

I'll also have to throw Janelle Monae's name out there for vintage hair inspiration.

Vintage Hair Straightening ads from 1958-1969

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The ads featured in this posts are for the following hair straightening products: Hair Strate, Perma Strate, and Ever-Perm (the last of which reminds me of this scene from Coming to America).

Regardless of your stance on chemically treated or natural hair, I think we can all find the first three ads amusing. I've been natural for 8 years and rarely ever straighten my hair, but I can VIVIDLY remember refusing to participate in gym class in high school for fear of sweating out my pressed hair. So the concept of hair *GOING BACK* or reverting is not at all foreign to me.

These are downright hilarious. As for the ads below, the styling is beautiful!

Her expression, that sweater, the cinched bow at the waist, and what I imagine must be a full skirt. Perfect. And she's completely captured the attention of the equally stylish gentleman behind her.

This idea, this delicate, coquettish, yet powerful and very feminine confidence is what I think each b.vikki vintage piece captures (pictures coming VERY soon). I've searched high and low for the perfect 1950s and early 1960s dresses, shoes, cardigans, and more and I think I've put together a great collection for the launch of b.vikki vintage.

This ad differs greatly from those above, and for that reason, it caught my attention. I think the departure can be explained by the fact that this ad debuted in 1966, the crux of the Mod Era. The blocky, bold typeface, the geometric artwork screams mod.

Don't forget to visit b.vikki vintage on Etsy!