PopBetty

A Love Letter to Pop Culture

Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Now it’s officially stew season, and I’m bringing out all the winter recipes–potato leek soup, beef daube, bouillabaisse, Brunswick stew, and this recipe, chicken tortilla soup.  It’s a flexible dish–you can tweak amounts with relative impunity, and cut the cooking time by two-thirds if you cook it on the stove.  It also keeps well, actually tasting better the next day.

Keep in mind that there are many versions of tortilla soup–some recipes tell you to cook the chicken separately, and then ladle the broth on top of the chicken; some go for a thicker, more concentrated broth and fewer spices, adding lime juice for the necessary kick.  Some are cream-based, and there are even vegan versions.  My point is, play around with ingredients until you find the right fit.

PopBetty - Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup

20-22 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1″ cubes
32 oz box of chicken broth
2 cans corn
1 (11 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (Rotel)
1 large onion, cut into wedges
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bay leaf
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp black pepper

Place all ingredients in a crock pot.  Turn on high, and cook 6 hours.  Serve with tortilla chips and cilantro (other versions also suggest garnishing with avocado, lime, and/or cheese).

Fairy Tale Decorating

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Eugenio Recuenco's Caperucita Roja“Never and never, my girl riding far and near
In the land of the hearthstone tales, and spelled asleep,
Fear or believe that the wolf in a sheepwhite hood
Loping and bleating roughly and blithely shall leap,
My dear, my dear,
Out of a lair in the flocked leaves in the dew dipped year
To eat your heart in the house in the rosy wood.”

–Dylan Thomas, “In country sleep”

Faire Frou Frou's Antique French MirrorFashion photographer Eugenio Recuenco‘s Caperucita Roja (above) inspired this theme.  For a larger image and for more images from this series, visit Recuenco’s portfolio.

At left is an image of Faire Frou Frou’s Antique French Mirror. The custom security grills are by artist Kristina Kozak.

PopBetty Fairy Tale Decorating, IIPopBetty Fairy Tale Decorating

Fairy Tale Decor - Big Bad Wolf by Sarah Cihat
Shelterrific posted on a version of this piece (with a golden fang) recently, and I thought–perfect!  The head of the big, bad wolf (only porcelain, because real animal heads frighten me).

The artist, Sarah Cihat, has been getting a lot of blog attention lately, and no wonder–her designs are incredible.  The wolf head is part of her new collection, Dirt (see also the vases); her on-going Rehabilitated Dishware collection is equally stunning.

On-line Vintage Clothing Directory, By Price

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After reviewing hundreds of stores, I made an edited list of on-line vintage shops. By vintage, I mean both vintage and secondhand/thrift pieces, with a focus on women’s clothing (I may do a housewares version one day–we’ll see!).

I chose stores with interesting stock, acceptable mark-ups, (usually) pleasant websites, and good reputations. I try to update the list every few months, so it stays relevant. However, it’s not an end-all, be-all list: great new sellers pop up every day, and there’s no way I can list them all. Conversely, placement on the list doesn’t guarantee anything, so shop carefully.

The directory is ordered alphabetically and by price range (below).  Happy shopping!

PRICE KEY (avg price per item)$          $0-$30$$        $30-$75

$$$      $75-$150

$$$$    $150-250

$$$$$   $250+

THRIFT-STORE CHIC

Stunning prices, varied collections.  Extremely fun to hunt through.

ETSY

($-$$$$)

Spurred by rising fees, more and more vintage sellers have migrated from self-hosted sites and eBay to Etsy. What’s good for sellers is also good for buyers: Etsy stores combine easy to use, reliable interfaces with low prices (plus, no insanity-inducing auctions). Check out the Etsy Vintage Directory for an edited list of sellers.

CHEAP & TRENDY

Slightly pricier than the thrift-store items (often due to auctions), but still easy on your pocketbook.

  • California Vintage Connect ($-$$)
  • Dandelion Vintage ($$)
  • DeniseBrain ($-$$)
  • Elisa’s Bodacious House of Style ($-$$)
  • Funkoma Vintage ($-$$)
  • Glamville Boutique ($-$$$)
  • Kuku Vintage ($-$$$)
  • Liebemarlene Vintage ($-$$)
  • Lullie Vintage ($-$$)
  • MakiMaki Vintage ($$)
  • Mainstreet Mall (some faves: Alley Cats Vintage, Damn Good Vintage,  The Purse Diva )($-$$$)
  • MouseVox ($-$$)
  • mr boots vintage ($-$$)
  • Nelda’s Vintage Clothing ($$)
  • Penelopepup’s Vintage ($-$$)
  • Plaid Pony Vintage (also at Etsy)($-$$)
  • Rusty Zipper Vintage($-$$)
  • ShopCalico ($-$$)
  • ShopGoodwill ($-$$)
  • Tin Roof Vintage ($-$$)
  • TheURBANcollection ($-$$)
  • V for Vintage ($$)
  • Vintage Devotion ($-$$$)

OTHER VINTAGE & SECONDHAND RESOURCES

UNAVAILABLE

These collections were down for maintenance. We’ve heard good things about them, though, so we’ll review them ASAP.

 FASHIONISTA FINDSHigher prices than Cheap & Trendy stores, but still with affordable finds across the board.

SPOILED BY SUCCESS
Great vintage stores with audiences to match. Auctioned items go high, and fixed priced items are snapped up as soon as they go on sale.

  • AdoreVintage.com ($$)
  • Bleubird Vintage ($-$$$$)
  • Mama Stone Vintage ($-$$$$)
  • The Olive Shoppe ($$-$$$)
  • Thriftwares ($-$$$$)

BRIDGE LINES
Dresses and coats tend to go for $150+, while accessories and separates remain affordable.

POSH & LOVELY

Too expensive for most of us, but some truly stunning selections. Prices typically start at $500 (although some only start around $250).

FOR COLLECTORS, COSTUMERS, & HISTORIANS

These stores focus on collector’s items rather than wearables. Prices frequently range between $650-$2000+. Extremely fun to look through.

Retro Fashion Guide: Complete The Look

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As a complement to the Retro Fashion Guide: Clothing, here’s a listing of retro make-up, hair, and accessory resources to complete the look.  Note: Although donning full retro garb, hair and make-up may be tempting, be sure to dilute the look with something modern.  Think Scarlett Johansson, Gwen Stefani, or Dita Von Teese on the red carpet–all retro-inspired looks that are still very today.

Besame Cosmetics
MAKE-UP

  • Besame Cosmetics:  Started in 2004 by Gabriela Hernandez, Besame Cosmetics is a high-quality line inspired by the pigments and packaging of the 1930s and 40s.  The popular Enchanting Lipstick Set is pictured at left.
  • ReVamp Vintage: Under Chapter VI (left side), find links to make-up guides for the 1920s & 1930s (no direct links).
  • Short and sweet make-up guides to the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.
  • Here’s a vintage make-up thread on The Fedora Lounge.  Products from Besame, Benefit, and MAC received frequent mentions.

HAIR

How to Wear Your Hair Vintage GuideImage at right courtesy of Paula Wirth, via Flickr.

Websites

  • ReVamp Hair:  Under Chapter VI (left side), find links to hairstyling guides for the 1910s-1940s (no direct links).
  • Hair Archives:  A good resource, although the most useful section for DIYers is The Archives.
  • Nocturne: The place for finger-wave and pin curl how-tos, among other things.

[Read more…]

Retro Fashion Guide: Clothing

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Veronica Revisited - Revamp VintageAt left, Red & Black Polka Dot Bombshell Dress, Stop Staring! @ Daddy-O’s, $89.95.  At right, Veronica Revisited, ReVamp Vintage, $150.00.

The idea for this post came from La Pulga Diva, a great budget fashion blog with a pin-up obsession.  We second that obsession, and raise you one retro fashion guide:

Bombshell Dress - Stop StaringREPRODUCTION CLOTHING

While vintage is often less expensive and more environmentally sound, repro clothing (clothing made from or inspired by vintage patterns) offers flexibility.   In addition to being available in multiple sizes, reproductions come in the larger sizes of today.  Some of our favorite stores:

  • Stop Staring!: Fantastic retro/rockabilly-style dresses, available in up to a 26 (3X).  The styles come dangerously close to costume, but are sexy and flattering, and great value for the price ($75-$110).  Featured in BUST’s June/July issue.
  • Daddy-O’s: Largest selection of Stop Staring! dresses on-line, in sizes S-XL, although many dresses also go up to 3X.  The separates section is also worth a look, although the shoes, accessories, and purses are aimed at a more specialized, kitsch taste (translation: ugh).
  • My Baby-Jo:  A wide range of clothing and accessories, including products from Stop Staring! and Besame Cosmetics.  Great collection of menswear.
  • ReVamp Vintage: More expensive than Stop Staring! or Pin-up Girl, and most items are more appropriate for a theater production than the street.  The site is a wonderful vintage resource, however.  For Los Angeles residents, the ReVamp salon also has hair and makeup workshops, a cloche construction class, and an afternoon tea with Dita von Teese this July 9th.
  • Pin-up Girl Clothing: Sexy designs and reasonable prices, a must-see.  Goes way beyond womenswear, offering accessories, lingerie, swim wear, menswear, and gifts.
  • Trashy Diva: Nice reproductions, particularly the dresses.  Focuses on small-waisted 40s and 50s styles.  Expensive (the dresses average around $175-$220).
  • *NEW* Red Dress Shoppe: Solid set of well-priced reproduction clothing.  Great art as well.

VINTAGE

Vintage is often cheap, and, if not dry-clean-only, the most environmentally-friendly clothing you can buy.  Vintage sizes run small, so for vintage shopping on-line or off, focus on measurements, not labels.  UPDATE:

  • Mama Stone VintageVisit our on-line vintage clothing directory for links to some of our favorite vintage stores.
  • Peppermint Vintage
  • AdoreVintage.com
  • Lullie Vintage (eBay)
  • Mama Stone Vintage (eBay):  The gorgeous dress at right is currently selling for $37.95.  Similar steals abound.
  • Thriftwares (eBay):  Bidding starts at $9.99 for this store’s fantastic selection of shoes and dresses (they also offer a limited number of separates and accessories).  My eyes fell out of my head when I saw this going for less than $10.

Repro Depot Aloha FabricDIY

Not for the faint of heart.  For those with determination and sewing skills, however, these sources offer vintage patterns, vintage fabrics, and vintage fabric reproductions.  Also see reconstructed vintage clothes (coming soon).

  • Repro Depot: Sells wonderful vintage reproduction fabrics, and other vintage-inspired items (check out the hungry plates).  Source for the popular Aloha 60″-ivory fabric at left.
  • Revival Fabrics: Sells vintage fabrics only (no reproductions).  Also sells vintage “home decorating textiles,” i.e. tablecloths, towels, and placemats.
  • Vintage Cat 1950’s Uncut Simplicity Patterns: Nice selection of vintage patterns, $5-$8.
  • Vintage Vogue Patterns:  Includes vintage hat patterns, prices $8.00-$15.00.

Secondhand ChicPERSONAL LIBRARY

  • Secondhand Chic: One of the best fashion/clothing books, period.  Incredibly useful.
  • Virtual Vintage: I haven’t read this one, but have heard good things about it.
  • After a Fashion: For the DIYer.  Again, haven’t read it, but have heard great things.

We know there are many links we’ve missed.  If you know of other stores or resources, please send us a link below.  Thanks!

Also see: Retro Fashion Guide: Complete The Look (accessories, makeup, & hair).