Outfit Catch Up

This month has flown by in a whirlwind of holidays, events and illness. Yes, twice now I have been laid up ill, nothing too serious, but a kidney stone simultaneously with a urine infection and then a horrendous mutant chesty/head cold can really take it out of you.

So, as a quick catch up, I thought I would summarise May so far with some outfits

Spain

I started off the Month in Spain. Those of you that have been following my blog for a while might remember my post last year when we visited a relative in the Costa Del Sol. Well, we were lucky enough to have been asked back, and although it wasn't as hot as last year and we weren't there for as long, we had a lovely, relaxing time. I won't bore you all with all of our holiday snaps, actually we haven't seen them all ourselves yet, as we have yet to develop the 20 rolls of film that Hanson snapped while we were out there, but here are a few of my holiday outfits:

This 1950s beach jacket became a staple of my holiday wardrobe. 

Seen here within Freddie's Pedal Pushers

I actually cut the legs off an old pair of Freddie's to make these shorts, but I believe they sell shorts now

A fave dress; 1950s leaf print barkcloth

Terrified for our lives on a cable car

Paradise

What Katie Did Bikini, vintage blouse,  Spanish espadrilles, unstyled wet hair, handsome man

Mr Cool

The Ric Rac Club

I love being part of the Vintage Mafia, and hosting the Ric Rac Club is so much fun. This month we held a circus themed party and were overwhelmed with the effort folks went to with their costumes. The three of us Mafiettes went dressed as a circus performer, fortune teller and ringmaster.

The 1940s Relived at Brooklands Museum

This was the first time I've been to Brookland's; a museum with an amazing history in motor racing and aviation. This 40s themed day was absolutely lovely, with some amazingly dressed friendly people, superb re-enactors, brilliant entertainment, all within this historic setting. We are dying to go back and have a proper look around when there isn't the distraction of so many well dressed folks! As I'm a 50s girl, I decided to go for a late 40s New Look...erm, look. I wore some 1940s shoes that I had been thinking of selling, but may actually keep them now as I've fallen back in love with them. We'll see.

The lovely Sadie of The Vintage News

Well, Summer should finaaaallllly be here soon, so there will be frock posts a plenty to come!

The Vintage Saks 5th Avenue Dress

This amazing new addition to my wardrobe doesn't need much of an introduction. An absolute classic late 1950s silhouette, beautifully made, versatile and timeless.

Its label can be seen here on the Vintage Fashion Guild, its the third one down on the right.

There is a similar dress with a matching jacket in an original ad below at retailing $95 in the 50s, so we can say that this would have been a luxury garment. I'm lucky to have received it as a birthday present, and even though the belt is missing, it still looks as good as new.

Image credit

Image credit

Image credit

The Vintage Starlet Parlour

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending (and being photographer's assistant) at a lovely new event hosted by the ever glamorous Miss Turnstiles. The Vintage Starlet Parlour is a small affair, where ladies can spend the day being pampered, coiffed and preened in the enchanting surroundings of the Vintage Patisserie. The fact that there are only a small number of others in the group means that you get to have lots of attention spent on you; firstly with Miss Turnstiles herself who is not only is hostess with the mostess, but also stylist and vintage expert, picking you a fabulous frock from a collection provided by Vintage King. Then on to have hair and make up magic worked on you by the marvellous Lipstick and Curls, before the finishing touch of beautiful vintage jewellery provided by the expert Passionate About Vintage

Simone aka Miss Turnstiles

The charming surroundings of the Vintage Patisserie...

Lipstick and Curls at work!

As an extra treat Minnie Moons was on hand (geddit?) to give her famous vintage moon manicures. More exciting than actually being treated to one, I finally got to meet the lovely Sharon herself who is an absolute doll and worked wonders on my nails.

Getting moonicured

Please go and visit the Minnie Moon's Facebook page where I nicked this picture of my hands from, styling the gold moons against the gold lame! 

We were treated to delicious treats throughout the day...all homemade and beautifully presented...

When the ladies had been styled, they then got to spend some time in Hanson's pop up Hollywood portrait studio, where they posed like movie starlets of the golden age, and then will each be sent a photo of themselves looking like a glamorous goddess. I really enjoyed watching the ladies be utterly transformed. I spend so much time with vintage girls, that I forget what it's like for people that don't dress or style themselves in that way normally to be given the opportunity to look that way, even if it's just for the day. I hope some of them took away some inspiration from their time in the Starlet Parlour and add a little Hollywood glamour into their everyday lives!

Miss Turnstiles is currently busy planning a Great Gatsby themed event of a similar nature so visit her Facebook page to find out more.

Sweden Calling! Hasbeens Pop Up in London again

Swedish Hasbeens are back in town!! Hurrah! So get your dainty toes down to Hanbury Street to get clogged up in these woody wonders...we did! 

The Vintage Mafia were delighted to attend a beautiful breakfast to launch the opening of the pop up shop in East London that will be in residence at the Old Truman Brewery this Spring.

The Spring and Summer collection is named 'Call of the Wild' and was aptly presented to us by these leggy lovelies decked out like 1930s explorers, and it is women of yesteryear that explored the world and influenced generations that inspired this range.

Beautiful breakfast 

A glimpse at the Autumn/Winter 13 Collection. Exciting!

The three new styles are called 'Debutantes' and I was luckily enough to walk away with the cute Papillon in black (seen below in silver), though not on my feet, because it was raining!

In our chosen Hasbeens. Lucky gals!

Pile of cloggy goodness

Happy feet!

The shop is decked out with simple and stylish vintage touches

I want these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Designer Emy Blixt telling us the story of how the brand was created....

.....and showing us her favourites. How could you choose between them!!??

I think Swedish Hasbeens as a brand are pure class, and the marketing is perfect and certainly does its job in appealing to vintage girls! This collection is stunning and although they aren't cheap, they are beautifully made and most importantly, look very, very pretty on your feet.