Top Ten cases of vintage Resting Bitch Face

As I have mentioned before: here, here and here, I sometimes buy vintage knitting patterns for reasons other than wanting to make the featured garment. Some of the categories I also look for are: use of bonkers props, men smoking, odd backgrounds, scary children and the category that I want to share today - vintage Resting Bitch Face (RBF).

So, RBF is an unfortunate situation which occurs when someones ordinary face (at rest, not attempting an expression), is, well, bitchy looking. The person looks mean, angry, annoyed, irritated but that is not how they are feeling. It is just their face. Whilst RBF is a term that has only been used commonly in the last few years, this Top Ten shows that whilst the term may be newish, the look is pure vintage.

Enjoy!

Take a look at my book? Er, no.

Spare chair? Nope, can't see one.

Yep, the spit is still in her hair.

Me? Need customer service training?

Take me for a drink after? No way sunshine.

Just practising my death stare.

One little smile just for you? Creep.

Fashion modelling they said? I am so better than this.

I don't do cleaning.

This is my happy face.

A bit of a bookworm

I love reading. It is one of my most favourite things to do. I love the way that a book can take you into another world, inside someone else's head, inside someone else's life and to places that you have never been or will never be likely to go. I like the way that they can make you happy, sad, excited, scared, intrigued and fascinated. You will never be bored if you can read and if you have access to a book. You can read for pleasure, to escape, for formal education, to learn something for yourself or to inspire. Sometimes, I get worried about how I will have to time to read all the books in the world that I want to read!

I have enjoyed reading ever since I was a little girl. I remember being in Class 5 and being able to choose my own book from the harder books on the shelf. I can remember standing by the side of my dad's chair reading my school books to him. I remember my mum choosing books to read as bedtime stories to my sister and I. I remember the day that I could choose books that weren't from the children's corner in my local library. I remember going to the library before our summer holiday and carefully picking six books to last me through the week away. I remember getting a bedside light for Christmas so that I could read in bed without disturbing my sister with whom I shared a room. I remember going round to my neighbours and choosing the next one in the complete Nancy Drew series that she had. I remember as a teenager working my way through my auntie's Thomas Hardy collection of which I was allowed any except Jude the Obscure. I remember reading Jilly Cooper's books all the way through studying for my Masters for some light relief. I remember collecting my boxes of childhood books from my parent's loft when they moved house.

My bookcase on the upstairs landing. Each shelf is double stacked.
This is the waiting to be read bookcase.

When I was nine or ten I started a list of books that I read, writing them down each time I finished one on lined paper in my red with white polka dots file. I know that 60-90 books a month was not unusual for me. I wish I still had that list so that I could see what kind of books I was reading. I no longer read that many books a month, too many other things get in the way when you are grown up. In 2008 I did start my reading list back up, I write it in an A5 hardback notebook and I enjoy flicking back through it every so often.

One of the sets of shelves in the living room.
A number of these shelves are double stacked with
my books from my childhood behind.

A few weeks ago Jessica from the fabulous Chronically Vintage wrote this post about her reading habits and answered a set of questions about them. I so enjoyed reading about Jessica's joy of reading and it inspired me to write this post of my own and to answer the set of questions.

My bookcase in our spare room. This has all my
vintage craft books, vintage fiction books and
my modern knitting and sewing  and fashion
history books.

Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favourite reading snack? 

I tend to read and eat all the time, especially if I am on my own. I eat and read at breakfast and at lunchtime. I don't necessarily snack and read but if I was going to, my preferred snack would be some chocolate. 

What is your favourite drink while reading? 

My favourite drink while reading, indeed my favourite drink is a good cup of tea, in my favourite mug.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? 

The idea of doing anything to my books except for keeping them pristine horrifies me! I don't really even like the spine getting creased unless the book is so large that it is unavoidable. When I am buying a book I go through the whole pile in the bookshop and choose the one with as near perfect a cover as possible. I caused great hilarity at one of my book groups, which runs as a book swap, by buying a copy of the book I wanted to swap from a charity shop so that I didn't have to risk my copy going out into the world and getting wrinkled!

That said, I did do A level English Literature and had to write in my books then. So my copies of Middlemarch by George Elliot, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf do have written notes in them. But only in pencil!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? 

As you can probably gather from the above answer dog ears or laying a book open flat are big no no's for me. A bookmark every time. Not always the same bookmark though, I like to vary them with the books I read. I think somewhere I probably have my childhood bookmark collection, I always used to get a new one from historic houses and museums that we visited.

Fiction, non-fiction, or both? 

Both! I like many different genres of fiction and tend to give most books a try if someone has recommended them to me. My least favourite are science fiction and fantasy. I always keep an eye on what new titles are coming out, I like reading the book charts and reviews in the Sunday papers and just browsing in book shops. I read lots of social history books, particularly Second World War diaries and books about women's experiences and changing roles. I also enjoy books which cover the 1920's-1950's and I like to read about fashion history.

Are you the kind of person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere? 

I can stop anywhere but I prefer to stop at the end of a chapter. It is rare that I don't do that, it probably only happens if I am reading in bed and am too tired to get to the chapter's end.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you? 

I wouldn't do anything which would damage a book but I have chucked one across the sofa or to the bottom of my bed if I am irritated. This is most likely to occur when I find the ending of a book unsatisfactory. I don't like to be left hanging, I like a proper ending!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away? 

I would like to say yes as it is always good to expand your vocabulary but actually, no I don't. If I can guess or it doesn't detract from the sense of the story then I probably wouldn't stop to look it up.

What are you currently reading? 

I am currently reading a non fiction book A Home Front Diary 1914-1918 by Lillie Scales. The last few books I have read are The Return of Captain John Emmett by Elizabeth Speller, When I Lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant, Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson, Last Chance Saloon by Marion Keyes and Poor Cow by Nell Dunn.

What is the last book you bought? 

It wasn't just one book! I had a couple of gift vouchers for Waterstones so I went and had a lovely happy time looking at everything and then making my selection. I love being in a book shop, I find it so relaxing and I love gift vouchers because they are completely guilt free shopping! I only bought one fiction book, the rest are social history.

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one? 

When I was younger I would often have two or three books on the go at once. Now though I only really read one book at a time. I might have a fiction book that I am reading and a non fiction book that I am dipping into now and again.

Do you have a favourite time/place to read? 

I read all the time, whenever possible so I don't really have a favourite time to read. I like to read in the bath, in bed, on the sofa and on an old leather chair of my parents that we have in our spare room. My other favourite place to read is in my parent's cosy little summer house in their garden.

Do you prefer series books or stand-alones? 

I would say that I read more stand alone books but I am not against a series if I find one that I enjoy. For example; Philippa Gregory's books on the Wars of the Roses are a series but can be read and enjoyed as individual books. I really enjoyed Philip Pullman's Northern Lights series.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over? 

This is a really difficult one. I think if someone was to tell me the kind of book that they liked to read I would have no problem recommending one but I don't have a particular favourite that I would always recommend. Some authors whose books I would always read include Sarah Waters, Margaret Forster, Penelope Lively, Andrea Levy, Pat Barker, C J Sansom, Kate Morton, Kate Mosse, Joanne Harris, Maggie O' Farrell, Sebastian Faulks, Tracy Chevalier and Patrick Gale.

How do you organise your books? (By genre, title, author's last name, etc.) 

I order my books in several different ways. My social history books are ordered by time period and also in the order that I have read them. My knitting books are all together as are my sewing books. I separate out children and young adult's fiction and they are arranged by author. Classics all go together, by author. Then with my fiction books I order them by author and then by who I think they would get along with! That isn't based on anything other than a strange gut feeling that this sort of book would like that sort of book if they met each other! Occasionally my books are ordered only by where I can manage to get them to fit on an already packed shelf!

I really enjoyed thinking about my reading habits to answer these questions and to write this post. I was also pleased to be able to combine my love of reading with my love of vintage knitting patterns as I went through my collection to find the patterns that featured women reading or with books. Actually, there aren't as many as I had thought that there might be. Plenty of posing with flowers, chairs, umbrellas and random backgrounds but not so many books. A gap in pattern cover styling I think!

Tip top summer tops

I realised that I have a big gap in my wardrobe where some warm weather appropriate tops should be. I have some t-shirts and vests but nothing at all in the knitwear department. My go to outfit is a dress and a cardigan so some summer cardigans are definitely needed. I also have a few lovely summer skirts that are just crying out for a lacy knitted jumper to go with them. As I am having a period of knitting for myself rather than other people (which I am really enjoying!), I thought I would work on filling up this wardrobe gap.

So, I spent a very happy time going through my patterns and pulled out everything that looked like it would fit the bill and that wouldn't need any resizing or tricky yarn finding to make it become a reality. These are what I found:

Lady's cardigan

Isn't she particularly glamorous?! Fabulous hair. Lovely shape, short cardigan, flattering V neck and lacy stitch pattern so that it would be cool.

Lady's jumper

She is so happy to have this jumper! Pretty stitch pattern, sweet cap sleeves, stylish neckline, nice bit of deep rib.

Summer cardigan and jumper

I like both of these. I like a nice rib pattern, the cardigan has a fabulous collar and I like the neckline on the sleeveless top.

Jumper with bead trimming

This is a pretty fitted jumper which looks good with a skirt. It is knitted in a lurex fleck which I wouldn't bother with but I do like the beaded neckline.

Lady's summer jumper

This pattern photo is lovely. I like the square neckline and the short sleeves. The lacy, trellis pattern is interesting and pretty.

Sleeveless jumpers

Four lovely tops to choose from here. The same basic shape but each has a different stitch pattern and I like all of them.

Quick to knit jumpers and cardigans

Another multi garment pattern and again I like them all. However, the cardigan would probably be a bit on the warm side for what I want so it is the two lacy jumpers that I am interested in. They both have a deep band of rib which would give a flattering fit.

Lady's jumper cardigan

This is a very good shape, it fits so well. I like the deep rib button band and neckline. She is very glamorous too, maybe it will rub off on me if I knit this one!

Easy knit jumpers

I love the shape and the lacy stitch but I can't decide if I would find the high neckline a bit irritating if I was hot.

Lady's jumper

I wouldn't be snuggling up to that man in the bad blazer if I was her. This jumper has a pretty scoop neck and an attractive pattern.

Three delightful economy garments

I particularly like the jumper on the top right. Again it has a pretty scoop neck, nice little sleeves and a cool lacy pattern.

Summer jumper

Isn't she lovely with her nails and her pearls?! This looks like a perfect summer jumper to me.

Lady's summer jumper

More pearls! A pretty boat neck. I imagine she is wearing a pencil skirt, which suits this jumper.

Ladies' economy jumpers

These are gorgeous and the photo shows you how nice they will look with skirts! A scoop neck and a V neck, both lacy but with different patterns. I really like these.

Figure trimming jumpers

Three tops to choose from, with mock cable panels, with lacy motif panels and with lace insertion panels. I think I like the lacy motif panels most.

Summer jumper

Excellent hair flicks! I like the pattern, the boat neck and the sleeves.

Summer jumper

The pattern states that this jumper only takes 8 hours to make so I think I will have to try this one to see if it is true. The neck and sleeve edging is really attractive.

Lady's summer jumper cardigan

I like everything about this one which is a very good job as I am making it at the moment! I happened to have exactly the right yarn in the right quantity in my stash so it was meant to be! I have completed the back and am shaping the armholes on the right front. If you wan to follow my progress do pop along to my Facebook page.

Do you have a favourite tip top summer top?

Vintage pattern collection - men smoking.

I have spoken before about my love of vintage knitting patterns, both ones that I wish to knit and ones that I pick up for a whole host of other reasons, some of which are covered here. At the end of this post on manly pursuits I mentioned that one of the other activities men undertake on the covers of knitting patterns is smoking. The more you look out for it the more patterns you find that feature smoking, even if the pipe is at the edge of the picture almost out of sight or the cigarette is almost hidden between fingers.

This dapper chap is holding his pipe on his knee, a detail that can be passed over at first glance.

From a social and medical history point of view I find the predominance of smoking on the cover of these patterns really interesting. Cigarette smoking became more popular in the UK after the death of Queen Victoria and in the 1920's and 1930's it was seen as a very sociable and glamorous activity. Throughout that time it was men who smoked and it gradually became more acceptable for women to smoke, from the flappers of the 1920's to the Hollywood stars of the 1930's.

In the 1940's the prevalence of cigarette smoking increased again, especially during the war years. Tobacco companies donated cigarettes for Service men and women, families sent them to loved ones who were serving and school children saved up and collected them to send from individual schools. Obviously, the donations from tobacco companies were not entirely altruistic, sending cigarettes to people in miserable, frightening and stressful situations increased the likelihood of people becoming addicted, therefore gaining the companies more customers.

In the 1950's the first murmurings about health issues relating to tobacco were arising and the tobacco companies went on an advertising offencive to deny this. This is the period where the adverts featured film stars, Santa Claus, opera singers, sportsmen and women and of course, doctors, talking about how good for you smoking was. This seems unbelievable given what we now know. Later on in the 1950's and into the 1960's the tobacco companies began to acknowledge some health issues, like coughing and an irritated throat. This lead to the development of filter tips and menthol cigarettes.

As a child I remember tobacco advertising on the television, in magazines and on billboards and then of course, it was banned. So I find it really interesting to see how it was perceived in prior decades. I think this is one reason why men smoking on pattern covers really leap out at me, as it is something that just would not happen now.

If you want to see examples of the tobacco advertising that I have mentioned do check out my vintage cigarette adverts board on Pinterest.

Now back to the patterns. Let's start with a fine selection of tank tops, a men's classic:

Such a jolly chap in his cable tank top. Looks like he is just ready to put his feet up after work and smoke his pipe.

Another lovely cable tank top and a much more serious chap, pondering the meaning of life over his pipe.

You almost can't see his sneaky cigarette. I love the diamond/trellis pattern on his tank top.

Quite the business man in his pinstripe trousers and cuff links. Not only is he holding his pipe, he also has his tobacco pouch in his hand.

A couple of Oxbridge students, in their hand knitted tank tops, lounging around the quad whilst smoking their pipes.

Here are a few waistcoats:

Waffle patterned and button through, perfect for a bit of nonchalant lounging on your mantelpiece, gazing at your mesmerising heavily patterned wallpaper.

Lots of Brylcreem here! Lovely shaping on the waistcoat. You can just spot his pipe at the bottom of the picture.

Now for a spot of Fair Isle:

Modelling a mighty fine Fair Isle tank top. I love the pattern and colourway.

Look at that smart haircut. This is a pretty motif.

Another fine pair of pinstriped trousers but a more casual look than before. There is more leaning on the mantelpiece going on with the owl watching it all wisely.

 Now what is this? A very freaky and unflattering tank top. No wonder the poor man won't make eye contact and is hiding in his greenhouse, he is far too ashamed to be seen in public.

Fancy a spot of map reading? A true manly pursuit as we have seen before.

A super sized map to make it easier to find your way. I like the cables on the tank top and matching cardigan, so cosy.

Nice contrast stripe on this V neck cardigan. He looks a little worried, maybe he can't find his way on the map.

Of course, if you are out and about walking after your map reading you may need a specific piece of knitwear - a windcheater.

Spot the pipe in his hand? It is blending in with the railings. Keeping snug whilst looking out onto the Thames and the Houses of Parliament. I like the cravat, a nice bit of accessorising.

This is interesting because it is a different pattern company and a different style windcheater but possibly the same model and same cravat?!

 Of course, it is not just for walking that you need a windcheater, it is most useful for keeping warm whilst driving your tractor.

Now for some cardigans:

He is posing rather awkwardly but I think he is riding a bike, whilst smoking a pipe, in a natty ribbed cardigan.

So, he is not actually smoking but his expression lets us know that he knows he has been caught out with that cigarette packet in his hand. Lovely pattern on the front of his cardi.

 Some poor person is on the receiving end of a death glare.

Now for some jumpers:

I like the contrasting cuffs and neck ribbing. He looks very happy to say that he has just found out that they can't afford to do an outdoor photo shoot and he will just have to imagine that he is strolling about the forest smoking his pipe.

A serious pose. It looks like he is by a river and he too is wearing a cravat.

Take your pick from the crew neck or the V neck. They are enjoying sitting around in the study smoking and drinking sherry.

I do like a good his 'n' hers knitting patter. Looks to be by a river again, I think she looks overjoyed as a boat is on its way to rescue her as he is a terrible bore.

 
No wonder he needs to take a pipe break, working out how to unpack that big fragile crate, can he lean his ladder against it?

I like this ribbed jumper.

He is a bit smug for my liking. I bet no one wants to play golf with him.

Just a few Aran knits to finish off:

I do like a nice, traditional Aran.

Messing about on the river!

Learning the tourist hot spots so that he can impress the ladies with his knowledge later on.

So there we have it, some of the best of my men smoking pattern collection.