Happy Birthday Gerd Evelyn!

My grandmother Gerd Evelyn would have been 86 years today July 20th. She always love-love-loved summer, sunshine, beaches and the sea :) 

Hitchcock's Leading Ladies

I recently watched North by Northwest (1959) by Alfred Hitchcock, again. Oh the esthetics of Hitchcock's movies and the grace and style of his leading ladies:

Eva Marie Saint

 Eva Marie Saint played in North by Northwest (1959). 

I truly love Eva Marie's style in North by Northwest and my absolute favorite would be this dress (or two piece) and the evening dress above- absolutely stunning!

Tippi Herden

Tippi Herden played in Birds (1963).

Tippi and a bird, on set.

Fantastic 60s hairdo's!

 Kim Novak

Kim Novak played the leading role(s)in Vertigo (1958)

Still from Vertigo.

Grace Kelly

Godess dress taken to a whole other level.

Grace and Alfred on the set of Dial M for Murder (1954).

Graceful Grace.

I would of course strongly recommend to watch all of these films for the sake of the film itself, Hitchcock's fantastic storytelling and eye for esthetics but also, of course, for style inspiration.

Paulus Sykehjem - omsorg og kultur.

A film by Tore Berntsen.

Time Travel or "The Paulus Experience"

Right now I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! Why? 


For the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of contributing on a big project/ exhibition about the 1960s at Paulus Sykehjem, a nursing home in Oslo. When I was first asked to participate I didn't even read the e-mail through, my first thought was simply YES! And my thought after all those long hours of planning, doing and hard work is still YES! This experience has been deeply rewarding on a personal level.


Me and Ingeborg Selnes (Kulturleder/ Leader of Cultural Activities at Paulus Sykehjem) decorated this room:

The combination of the visual effect of the familiar setting, colors, clothes, music and photographs (lent to the nursing home by Oslo Museum) can have a therapeutic effect on the brain. Quite a few of both the people living and working at Paulus was either young adults at the age of settling down, getting married and having kids in the 1960s, or they were themselves kids. By creating a familiar environment from the 1960s we might help evoke memories from the past. 

To make the time travel back to the 1960s complete Paulus (thanks to Geir Hansen) redecorated the cafe into a 1960s Lounge:

We also had a 60s- party at the opening day of the exhibition "Da vi ble moderne" ("When We Went Modern", translated). Me and Julips' team of unprofessional but ever so talented models showed 1960s fashion (under safe leadership by the talented host and singer Richard Bowers) on the catwalk made especially for the occasion.

Lovely Emma.

Leena, Alexandra and Ida dancing to Richard Bowers version of Summer Holiday.

Linn and Leena at the after party. Hair by the talented Ingun Vatne Paulsen.


Genuine and deep respect for human beings, a passion for the greater cause and loads of fab people of all ages: I call this "The Paulus Experience" and I am so thankful to have been a part of this project!

PS: To read more about Julips, to see more photos of the apartment or the fashion show, go to: www.facebook.com/julipsforyou. Julips "likes" Paulus Sykehjem, go check it out on Facebook.

Happy birthday, Finn!

Today, January 9th, would have been Finn's 89th birthday. This is how I like to remember him, with his white hair and positive attitude.

(And yes, that weird looking baby is me).

Vintage Hair

Being a girl with an above average interest in hair I thought I'd share some of my "secrets" with you. Here are some basic tips on what kind of equipment you need to make a vintage hairdo and tips on where to buy some of the essentials (the latter will only apply to readers in Oslo).

 My dear friend Randi Solhjell gave me this wonderful book about how to style many of the hairstyle classics from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Every "do" is shown step by step and is pretty easy to follow. You can get this book and other even more detailed and time specific books on amazone.co.uk etc.


If you have read this far I assume you at least own a hairdryer and a hairbrush. As for a hair styles from the 1940s to 60s it pretty much always starts off with curly or wavy hair, so you will need a curler. They normally sell them at drug stores. In Oslo they have inexpensive ones at Claes Ohlson.


Tip: to make the curls stronger and stay longer- wash your hair only using shampoo, then blow dry. Make sure your hair is completely dry before you use the curler. For every passage you curl- carefully drag the curler out sideways, keep the roll of hair and use bobby pins or "grandma" pins (picture) to let the curls cool off. Your hair should be cold before you begin the styling. 

"Grandma" pins are also very useful to style curls (see picture) while you fixate your do with hairspray. If they don't stick- use bobby pins close to your hair color.

Tip: In Oslo you can buy these at classy Bogstadveien Parfymeri in Bogstadveien.

The bun is still popular either you are a classic vintage babe or a trendy fashionista- or both. In order to make the perfect, big and fluffy bun though, you might need some help. 

This is mommy's little helper: a sponge-like doughnut. It comes in different colors and you should choose one close to your own hair color for best result. I recently found this in a dance equipment store in Oslo: Doda - dansebutikken by Tinghuset. (www.dodadans.no)

You can also make your own: cut off one leg of an old nylon stocking and stuff it with other old nylon stockings until you have a doughnut/ bagel-sized circle (tie up the loose ends of the stocking). This way you can make it as thick as you want to. 

Here the hairstylist used a brown doughnut to get the right support for the big bun. The cute pin-up fringe can easily be made by curling it inwards in a smooth movement with a hair straightener. You can also use a round brush and blowdry into shape.


Styling: Julips
Hair: Ingun Vatne Paulsen
Model: Hilde Sverdrup Askeland




You can also use the doughnut as a "sausage" (pølse) to easier make a do like this: 

 Good luck :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

Julips first Christmas Card, from us to you.

May you all have a pleasant holiday.

(Styling by Julips, photography by me.)