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.)

Evelyn and Finn - the story, part two

I am pleased to hear that my little story about my grandparents and true love have touched and inspired people. It warms my heart. Therefore I have decided to share a few more moments of their past.

Evelyn and Finn the summer they met. I imagine it is taken at a train station leaving summer camp. I wonder what it was like to meet the love of your life in a country at war.

My grandparents dressed up to go out on a date. Taken in front of the house I grew up in.

Happy puppies with Bob the dog.

Pure happiness. I love this picture so much.

Summer of 1953, Finn and my baby father. Note those lovely high waist shorts and the fab stroller in the background. And of course- that flawless, wavy hair again. Grandpa once told me they used butter to get the right, shiny look.

Proud Evelyn teaching her son how to swim.

Another favorite!

Young Tore dressing up.

In 1954 Evelyn and Finn bought a small cabin by the sea. They absolutely adored that place and spent every summer they had together there. I remember how Finn would dress up in white shorts, a blue and red striped navy kind of t-shirt and a captains hat every time we went across the fjord to go for ice cream. It was a five minute trip. I still go there every summer.

Preparing dinner. Evelyn may have been a classy and elegant woman, but she was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Party at their friends cabin, late 50s.

Solveig, Lillian and Finn. I love their casual yet stylish outfits and hairdos. Who would bring an evening blouse or a dress for a cabin trip with friends these days?

Finn was the sweetest man you can imagine. He always walked around whistling happy tunes.

Growing up, I remember how my grandparents would start dancing with each other whenever they heard a song that they liked on the radio or the t.v. Finn especially liked that good old New Orleans style jazz. I am sure this would make them dance:

Evelyn and Finn - the story.

I named this blog after my biggest source of inspiration in life, love and aesthetics after my beloved grandparents; Gerd Evelyn and Finn Torleif. They belonged to a generation of modesty and style, both in the way they presented themselves and their home. I am certain that my countless hours spent with these wonderful and elegant people triggered my own fascination for vintage style and the design of the 1950s and 1960s. Here is, in brief, their story;

Lovely Evelyn was almost eighteen years old when she met and fell in love with the three years older handsome Finn during World War II. He came from a somewhat wealthy family and was expected to take over the family business as he grew older. She had lost her father at the age of ten and had to help out her mother and brother ever since. His family wanted him to choose differently, but he wanted Evelyn.

They both shared a passion for the outdoors and both lead an active life. She was a passionate gymnastic and swimmer. He was on the Norwegian Junior Bandy team, but was also into football, ski jumping and playing the fiddle...

(Here the summer of 1943)

But even on their many trips into the wild they still managed to stay well dressed and keep a dandy hairdo.

Evelyn, summer of 1942.

Evelyn and Finn celebrating May 8th, 1945. War is over, the last German has left and a bright future is ahead.

Evelyn was a tough and strong woman who worked all of her adult life as a lifeguard at the public swimming pool.

Finn refused to take over the family business, but was forced to take a job at his family's factory during the war. He stayed there the rest of his working life, but he always secretly wanted to work with aesthetics and fashion.

Evelyn was a member of the city's gymnastics team until she was way past sixty years old. Here she is probably showing off for her fiancé Finn during the summer of 1947...

Finn was the silent type with a passion for fashion.

Evelyn sunshine. She love-love-loved the summer, just like me. She and Finn spent every moment of the lovely Norwegian summer outdoors.

And during the winter they went skiing,

perfectly dressed of course.

Cabin trip and skiing with friends, 1948. Note the matching shirts and fabulous sunglasses.

Evelyn and Finn with my baby father in 1953.