The Miss Uptown Whittier Vintage Pageant

Well this is a long overdue post, but It's also one that will inform you of an upcoming venture!

Back in Fall 2011 I was notified by my friend and first ever crowned Miss Uptown Whittier, Ariana that they would be crowning again and she would really love to pass that crown onto me!

Well just who or what is Miss Uptown? Miss Uptown represents the historic little town-like district in the city of Whittier, California. She encompasses what Uptowns friendliness, charm, history and everything Uptown has to offer. Plus it's a Vintage Pageant, held like a fashion show of sorts where you show off your 1950's ensemble and trivia and it's held during the Uptown Antique Fair! A retro pageant that's all about preserving history and fun events? Sign me up! I love Uptown, I shop there, hangout there and I have family that lives there so I thought, why not?

The 2nd Annual Miss Uptown Whittier Contest 2011

Voila! This is what I looked like for my first ever pageant! I decided to go for an early 1950's, late 1940's look. I'm wearing a royal blue taffeta vintage dress that I bought from the shop Valerie's Boulevard, which was located in Whittier near Uptown until about a year ago. My hat that is one of my most favorites that I own came from the shop The Basement, located in Uptown. However I now think it's closed. I paired it with black gloves, backseam stockings and bumper bangs with a snood.

Here I am before the pageant at the pre shoot with my friend Ruby, she also participated in the pageant and she wears a lovely royal blue chiffon dress from Valerie's Boulevard.

Here I am with my very lovely, amazing and talented friend Ariana Rodriguez the first Miss Uptown Whittier. Isn't she just stunning! She designed and made her gown for the event. We actually met earlier that year, when we worked together at ReVamp and hit it off!

Here I am answering some questions

Pageant ladies strutting around

Posing for the crowd

 A group shot of us with Miss Whittier, Miss Teen Whittier, Miss Uptown Whittier & Martha (owner of King Richards Antique Mall in Whittier and organizer of the pageant)

 

And there they are the winners of the 2nd Annaul Miss Uptown! Miss Uptown Robin Rodriguez, 2nd place Crystal Salene and 3rd place Dottie Deville.

Miss Uptown 2011! Isn't she a doll! Such a pretty little lady and she's very sweet too. She's also a burlesque dancer and pinup model  better known as Sirena Siren.

Here they are Miss Uptown 2010 & 2011

I didn't win, but it was a fun and cool experience and I made new friends, plus that didn't stop me from doing it again!

(all photos by. Angel Rivera)

The 3rd Annual Miss Uptown Whittier Contest 2012

Yup last year I decided to give a go again, what the hell! Why not? Here I am at the 2012 contest pictured with my lovely friends and amazing ladies Robin, Miss Uptown 2011 & Ariana, Miss Uptown 2010.

 I wore my own 1940's novelty print rayon vintage dress that I bought at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender that year. I paired it with one of my favorite pair of shoes, my platform peep toe teal patent leather heels! The fascinator I'm wearing I made myself and I used vintage birdcage netting that was 70 yrs old!

Here is the 2012 lineup and I'm not the only one who decided to do it again, last years runner up decided to participate too!

I love this shot! It looks like something straight out of something like Life magazine!

And what do you know I placed in 2nd! Yay!

Here we are! And look last year's runner up Crystal, is the 2012 Miss Uptown!

Cool photo by Fashion Industry and Miss Uptown photographer Roberto Chavez

A group shot of all us ladies

Check it out we made the paper!

(all photos by. Angel Rivera, unless stated)

It was a great event and I couldn't believe I placed in 2nd! Well that time of year is here again and I've had a lot on my plate recently and I hesitated at the thought of participating again...but you know what they say "3rd times a charm"! So catch me at the 2013 Miss Uptown Contest and Fall Antique Faire!

See you there & Wish me luck!!

Thursday Was An Event In Itself

So This Past Thursday,I thought It would Be any typical old Thursday. Well I was wrong, it turned out to be quite a fun little adventure around Los Angeles. I snapped some photos of my favorite Icons of Downtown Los Angeles. Met this wonderful Photographer at the Downtown Art Walk. Stopped at a local bicycle shop in my neighborhood that's been family run since 1941. Then snapped some photos again of the lovely spring florals on my street. And to finish It a photo of my outfit for the Day.
Fashion District Deco



What Is Black And White; Is Gray
While Walking down the street to my usual bus stop I noticed and realized that this Thursday was the Downtown Artwalk (which happens the 2nd Thursday of every month). It's a great event with tons of independent artists, vendors, music, and food. While browsing through really quickly a simple little booth quickly caught my eye before I left. Beautiful Black and White Photographs. But just not any, old photographs... I don't know really what to say I just instantly fell in love with them I think they just too beautiful!! These Photos had a simpleness to them, and major extra points for being Black and White (I'm an absolute sucker for B&W photography I LOVE it!) plus they kinda felt retro too! I think I like them so much because they reminded me of my favorite things, songs, movies, lifestyles and thoughts. When laying eyes on these photos I instantly thought of them as the love child of two of my all time favorite artists Man Ray and Anton Corbijn, and how they totally can be used as images for a Depeche Mode music video or album art! (It was like having an Art Orgasam, if there is such a thing which I'm sure there is) I was fortunate enough to be in the presence of this brillant photographer, Mr. Gray Malin. I approached him and told him just how wonderful and beautiful his work is! (He's a very handsome man too) We continued are small and friendly conversation about his artwork and how i happened to find his booth at the Artwalk. Gray Malin just gained a new fan!!
You Must see his work, If his photos were a fella I'd totally be swooning over him haha Check his website out at: http://www.graymalin.com/
The very talented, Gray Malin.

Some shots of his work.

A View From My Favorite Bus Stop: Lamp Post at 4th & Main

Bicycle Browsing
So ever since we have been having great sunny breezey weather, Me and my brother have been dying to do some recreational bike riding there is just one problem I don't own a bike. I love bike riding it was one of my favorite past times as a kid, and I would love to do it again. Also since I don't drive yet, and commute by myself by bus and train it would be great for making quick trips without spending extra change! But not just any bike would do, It would have to be something of course very vintage looking, cute and stylish! I'm very particular when it comes to these things so in order to see what the world had to offer in my liking that was cheap enough but still had quality. I decided to stop by Dennison Cyclery. I live literally about 5 minutes away from the oldest family run and owned bike shop in LA County since 1941!! That intself screams a place were Victoria can find her dream bike..or something close! It's a small shop the way I can describe it as a mini museum with a ton of bikes packed into a sardine can. It was full of guys getting their bikes ready for summer and the service was very very helpful and yes it was family! The owner Mr. Bill Blake gave me a mini tour of all the vintage bikes they had displayed, old photos, and let me flip through a Japanese magazine that published an article about this awesome little bike shop in lovely East Los Angeles! Dennison Cyclery is a great interesting little jewel in East LA, and I think I just found my dream bike there! For More info check out their website at: http://www.dennisoncyclery.com/

The original owner and his bike.

The original owner's bike displayed in the shop.

Some old photos in the shop.

I think this just could be part of the bike of my dreams?

Spring On My Street

Outfit Of The Day
Lately I've been looking at a lot of WWII propaganda posters and I was inspired by factory girls. Wearing my modern but retro looking green sweater blouse, faux denim 1940's style slacks, my favorite black and white saddle shoes, and my favorite pair of 1950's/1960's style sunglasses. And my only two vintage items a 1950's chiffon scarf wrapped on my head and my 1960's plastic braclet.

I know this has been a long one! Until again,
~Victoria  (All photos by Victoria Inez Rivera, last photo by Angel Rivera)