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Weddings Through the Decades: Retro '50s Inspiration

Laura Marie Given — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:06:09 PDT

It was all about the flawless, quintessential white wedding throughout the '50s: extravagant ceremonies, pristine formal attire, and happy, upbeat music. Crooners like Frank Sinatra stole the scene early on, while Elvis Presley and rock and roll took over the radio spots later in the decade. Onscreen, Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe made pin-up girls the ultimate male fantasy, while TV programs like I Love Lucy and Leave It to Beaver stuck to a cookie-cutter mold. Hoping to channel the jukebox era for your own wedding? From striped straws to retro color schemes, here are 35 creative ways to carry '50s charm into your big day.

A Handy Guide to the Hysterical History of Vibrators

Tara Block — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:12:12 PDT

Hysteria, out today in limited release, takes a peek under the big hoop skirts of Victorian-era women and their now defunct "medical condition" of hysteria - cured only by a doctor-administered "paroxysm," otherwise known as an orgasm. The business of pleasuring the ladyfolk has a long and interesting history, so let's look at how we got from "the Manipulator" to "the Rabbit."

Disney Princess It Girl: Snow White's Pop Culture Evolution

Tara Block — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:42:42 PDT

We've all got fairy tales on the brain, as the very first Disney princess, Snow White, is having her moment in the sun. Two star-studded movies about Snow White, her evil stepmother, and those seven mining dwarfs are hitting the big screen this year. First up was the Lily Collins-Julia Roberts version Mirror Mirror, and come June 1 Kristen Stewart will take on the role in Snow White and the Huntsman. Just last night, Kristen and her costars Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron came out for the London premiere of SWATH.

While the flicks differ in many ways, they both portray the heroine as more of a modern woman, who doesn't need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. This is a far cry from the Disney version we're all familiar with, but Snow White has taken on many different forms since being brought to the masses by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 German fairy tale Schneewittchen und die sieben Zwerge (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves). Find out more about the inspiration for their tale and how Snow White has been portrayed in literature, art, film, and TV over the years.

The Eccentric History of the Cannes Film Festival

Tara Block — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:52:33 PDT

Camera flashes, flashed bare chests, and flashy screen sirens give the Cannes Film Festival some of its je ne sais quoi, and that's why it's one of our favorite film fests. After a rocky start (it was initially set to start in 1939 but was postponed due to World War II), the inaugural Cannes took place more than 65 years ago on Sept. 20, 1946, making it one of the oldest film festivals to date. What began as a stand against Fascist and Nazi propaganda is now a prestigious, star-studded event. Before this year's festival kicks off tomorrow, see some of the international film festival's milestones and most eccentric moments in pictures!

Weddings Through the Decades: 1940s Inspiration

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 PDT

Weddings of the military-minded 1940s involved men in uniform, simple gowns, big band entertainment, and plenty of romantic details. It was the decade of film noir, Casablanca, "Rosie the Riveter," and the introduction of classic pin-up girls - plus the royal wedding of then-Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947. Hoping to channel a bit of vintage flair on your big day? Consider adding patriotic accents, military-inspired decor, or nautical details. From rosy red bouquets to glamorous Old Hollywood hairstyles, here are 33 creative ideas to help you plan a '40s-inspired wedding.

5 Things You Didn't Know About "The Scream"

Tara Block — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:30:15 PDT

Yesterday Edvard Munch's "The Scream" broke records when it sold for a whopping $119.9 million at a Sotheby's auction in NYC. Created in 1895 by the Norwegian expressionist painter, "The Scream" is one of the most famous and recognizable artworks in the world. But while you may be familiar with the haunting face in the iconic painting, what else do you really know about its history? Find out five strange tidbits about the record-breaking painting now.

There are actually four versions of "The Scream," and the pastel-on-board one that sold is the brightest and most colorful of the bunch.
Two different versions of "The Scream" have been stolen during high-profile art thefts. One was in 1994 and another in 2004.
The iconic Ghostface mask featured in the Scream horror movies is based on the painting.
Some have speculated that the main figure in the painting could have been inspired by a Peruvian mummy that was on display in Paris prior to its inception. The mummy was in a fetal position with its hands on its face. There's also a mummy at a museum in Florence the figure could be replicating.
M&M's may have had a hand in retrieving the stolen painting in 2006. The candy company used "The Scream" in its ads at the time and offered a reward of two million M&M's candies for the return of the painting. Shortly after the offer, the painting was recovered.

Vintage Wedding Ads Make Your Housewife Dreams Come True

Tara Block — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:30:25 PDT

Wedding season is all around us, and we share plenty of tips here on TrèsSugar for how to be a modern bride and bridesmaid. But sometimes we like to take a look back at what it was like to walk down the aisle back in the day. Looking through these vintage wedding ads, I gather that the best way to secure a husband and have the wedding of your dreams involved a lot of soap, silverware, and toasters. Check out these retro ads now, and see how the advertisers of the Mad Men era caught the attention of brides and brides-to-be!

When Flight Attendants Glammed It Up

TresSugar — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:10:00 PDT

Exactly 60 years ago today (May 2, 1952), the de Havilland DH 106 Comet was officially introduced as the world's first production commercial jet airliner with its inaugural flight from London to Johannesburg. Soon after that landmark flight came the flight attendants of the '60s, who have had a resurgence in popularity thanks to last year's big drama Pam Am. Some consider this era the glory years of air travel, when service was still good and passengers weren't herded like cattle. Some would also call it a time when stewardesses (the retro name for flight attendant) were treated as sex objects who were supposed to wait on you hand and foot and possibly hint at . . . other services. For a time, there was even a policy that only unmarried women could fill the job. Let's take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly in this flight attendant flashback.

A History of Onscreen Female Archers Hitting the Bulls-Eye

Tara Block — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:30:48 PDT

In our interview with Brave producer Katherine Sarafian, we talked about how archery is having "a moment" right now. And with onscreen heroines like Katniss from The Hunger Games and Brave's Merida holding the bows, little girls are sure to be interested in the archery trend. I myself tried it for the first time at Pixar's Brave event, and I'm seriously hooked! Katherine said she loves that girls are picking up the sport, and she never would have taken an archery lesson if it weren't for the movie. "We took classes early on, and next thing you know, I'm like, this is awesome! It's a powerful feeling. And if you can imagine really just being out there the way Merida is in the movie, just shooting arrow after arrow . . . it's cool!"

At the event, I chatted with Wired's "GeekDad" Jim MacQuarrie, an archery instructor, to get an insider's perspective on the trend. He told me that archery is the sport for people who hate sports (which explains why I liked it). He also noted that, in his opinion, girls are better at it than boys. "Boys just want to chuck arrows," he said, and archery is an internal game that requires a lot of focus and patience.

And unlike some other male-dominated sports, archery has a long history of women behind the bow. Even the ancient Roman goddess of hunting Diana (and her Greek equivalent Artemis) is known for having her bow, arrows, and quiver on her and is usually portrayed with her hunting dogs and prey. And the all-female Amazon warriors of Greek mythology and Classical antiquity were believed to be named for a-mazos, or "without breast," a tradition of having your left breast cut off to make it easier to use a bow - talk about hardcore! Nowadays, there are a plethora of famous competitive and Olympic female archers, and onscreen we've seen a variety of fictional ladies take up the bow and arrow. Learn about Merida, Katniss, and 10 more female archers hitting the mark in films over the years.

Weddings Through the Decades: Roaring '20s Inspiration

Laura Marie Given — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:56:19 PDT

In the midst of post-World War I prosperity, the Roaring '20s were all about new technologies, jazz music, speakeasies, and a flippant attitude. For fashion, this meant simple elegance: feathers, pearls, boas, flapper dresses, bucket hats, and brooches. Weddings were much more informal than in earlier eras - gone were the corsets, tossed aside in favor of drop-waist dresses that showed a bit of leg. Brides danced everything from the Foxtrot to the Charleston, and most preferred platinum or white gold wedding rings over traditional yellow gold. Hoping to channel a bit of Jazz Age pizzazz on your big day? Here are 31 gorgeous photos to help you carry 1920s charm into your wedding celebration.