It takes a while to get a 1940s look!!

I'm not quite sure everyone realises how long it takes to pull together a 40s look.
I've read articles that timetable a housewifes beauty routines and these often involve a couple of hours before bedtime plus another in the morning! Now there is no way I ever would have time for all that and I positively salute all those vintage girls who take time to pincurl or set their hair in rollers ever night - I really am a panic at the last minute girl!

However, having an invitation to a christmas luncheon this afternoon I  set out with the very best intentions and did very well!!

I picked out my new Heyday Mary dress and laid it out last night, I  planned the rest of my accessories and set them out too. I even went to bed early like a good little girl!

This morning I  started my hair and makeup routine a couple of hours before we were due to depart. Of course, like clockwork my victory rolls flopped and I had to redo my hair in an elegant sweeping style instead- no worries, this is why I started so early!! All this was made easier as the children were at nanny's on a sleepover.  Taking a break, I rang nanny to see when she'd be dropping them back? 'Quarter to twelve' was the reply! Right, 11:45 that gives us 35 minutes to change the childrens clothes and head back out the door. No problem, I went up to their wardrobes and laid out a choice of outfits for them to change into (aren't I good - still smiling smugly!) The children return informed by nanny 'be quick now! We don't want you to arrive late for the meal', eagerly they run upstairs....

"Muuuumy I can't find my tights!"
"I've put your white socks on the bed"

"But I'll be cold, I want tights!"
"Ok!"
 I run about looking for a pair for her,finally i find tights - unfortunately with holes!!
Hubby runs to drier to retrieve another pair of tights, but they're still wet!
Puts tights on radiator to dry whilst reminding son he needs to apply brylcream to his hands before he rubs it on his hair or he'll end up with white lumpy bits
"but thats how daddy showed me to do it"
run upstairs and show daddy how to apply brylcream, whilst fixing a brooch into my hairsytle as an elegant flourish!
Run backdownstairs, grabbing vintage handbag and gloves!
Check tights are drying - they're dry -yay!!  Give them to daughter and lend her bobbypins so she can do her hair, whilst running out the door

Head out to the car, get in and check clock 12:30 'is that clock right' 'yes!'whoops we're supposed to be there! Drive quickly and arrive at Hotel!

As we are going in, stop and ask hubby to take a photo of me *daggers look*
'what?'
'we're late remember?'
'oh yes'

Finally we find the room where everyone is having pre dinner drinks. We walk through the door and everyone turns to look at us and smiles! Hey, hopefully we did something right!

Surely they must realise, it takes a while to look like this!!!!

A Little Fifties Christmas!!

source

I started writing this post as a compilation of a few of my favourite Christmas Songs! It soon became pretty obvious they were all hailing from the 1950s, so I thought why stop there? So heres a little bit of inspiration to add some 50s fun to your christmas this year!!

I'll kick off with my favourite christmas songs.....

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas - Bing Crosby 1951

Baby It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin 1959

Frank Sinatra - Let It Snow, 1950

Now your in the mood it's trime to send out your xmas cards....

from stylised baubles from the V&A

to cute retro kitties found here

sending retro christmas cards can spread the 50s love!!!

Decorate your finest 50s tree

(you are wearing your matching xmas circle skirt aren't you girls?)

Image via JoCo

Don't forget the tags for the presents...

 50s Gift Tags

Change into your fantastic Christmas dress 

VivienofHolloway have simply dozens of perfect 50's styled dresses to choose from!!

And don't forget your Apron!!

I'll leave you with this darling little clip of a family's christmas day in the 1950s....

Wishing you all a fabulous Fifties Christmas!!!

A weekend in Frome!

Part Two {Sunday}

I don't know why I ever complained there was nothing to do here, I think it was just the matter of going to the first thing - one event inevitably leads to more!!!

I've been meaning to go to to one of the Markets 'on the hill' ever since I saw the first poster for it in a Catherine Hill Shop window, even pre-vintage me was sorely tempted! And with gorgeous posters like this who wouldn't be....

 

Held monthly throughout the warmer months and with special one-offs at christmas etc, I always seemwed to be busy when they were on. But as the season has now slowed Sunday Morning we took ourselves off to Frome.

We parked in the town centre and wound our leisurly way through the 'Frome Flea' before we started our ascent on the hill!!

Lots of lovelies on sale at the flea, but I'm always so nervous to blatantly take photos of stalls!!! Here's a couple I managed to snap discreetly...

 

I couldn't help but snap this Coffee Bar in an old Citroen Van

 

This lady set her stall out so sweetly with twine bundled books, Hubby had his eye on the train for a while!!

I loved all these mirrrors set out, and if we had our 1930s pad, I'd had bought a couple I'm sure!

The Hill was absolutely packed! So we hardly had a chance to see any stalls on the way up!! I've looked at some other photos from past fairs and I'm sure this was an exception to the norm so I shan't be put off going again!!

So we battled past the crowds until we found refuge in Poot! Ah good old Poot! Aparently we'd just missed Mr B perusing their rails earlier - what good taste he has!! They'd rung in the week to say they had a grey 40s suit in, in Hubby's size and would we like to come in and try it? Don't you just love shops like that? Although when you walk in and they call you by name, a little voice does question 'just how often do you 'pop in!'' Don't stop it though Hayley, I love it!! So, anyhoo, the he passed on the suit but bought a pair of 40s trousers and an original CC41 shirt! Grr how does hubby find all these gems not me!!

On our exit, I found a darling stall selling felt brooches and  bought myself a nice red one to compliment my new  Heyday Mary dress next weekend :)

Cheap Street seemed quite deserted in comparison!!!

As the weather was unseasonable mild for December I also took it as a last chance to wear a summer dress I had bought this cardi to go with!!

Lovely Tweedyness and An Evening of Chap Hop!!!

Did you ever notice that as soon as you stop looking, everything eventualy comes to you? This week has kinda been one of those!!

After the end of 'the season' and a little lull in our vintage activities this weekend was cram packed full of lovely goodness! To break up a potentially picture heavy post, I'll break it up into two posts!

Part One {Saturday}

First off we found a couple of lovely things in the shop in the village, a scarf for hubby and a 'can bung it on to keep me warm on the school run - without the kids getting too embarrassed' hat for me!!

 Luckily these both suited our outfit requirements for the evening as we had tickets to see the rather dapper Mr B Gentleman Rhymer performing in  his rather brilliant style of Chap Hop.

For those not in the know,  Wiki describes Chap Hop as ' a variety of music originating from England that mixes the hip hop genre with elements from the steampunk subculture and stereotypical English obsessions such as cricket, tea and the weather.'  but it is oh so much more than that!!  

The invite proclaimed .....

On a one-man mission to introduce Hip-Hop to the Queen's English, Mr. B is delighted to present Chap-Hop.

Having spent the best part of a decade bringing some manners back to popular culture, this dopest of fellows will entertain and amuse you with his ingenious stylings.Aiming to dazzle with dignity, Mr. B takes to the stage with his Banjolele and stiff upper lip to perform ditties of pipe-smoking, high society, Cricket and sexual misadventure, as well as some more well-known pieces from the world of Hip-Hop, re-worked in true Chap-Hop fashion.

A side note of  Tweed jackets/flat caps and false moustaches welcome, we donned our tweed and headed to Frome!!!

Gosh, you really don't want to know how many outfits I tried on before I chose this one!!!


The night itself was absolutely fantastic! And it wasn't just the man himself we were also treated to some super support acts, Frome's finest poet "Muriel Lavender", and some of our favourite Burlesque girls Dulcie Demure and Lola Pinch! As well as a rather spiffing new band from Frome, Indigo Children.


Thinking we'd seen the last of him for the evening we had a rather nice surprise of Mr B as Dulcie's 'Diet Coke Break' Bloke!!!

Luckily I think he's in both Bristol and Swindon soon, so we shan't have to wait too long to see him again!!!

Pip Pip!!

{Beginners Guide} Why everyone should own a red lipstick and 5 easy steps to wearing it!

Red Lipstick and the Vintage Look seems to go hand in hand doesn't it???

Before I got into vintage, I hardly wore make up. So confronted with the notion that a vintage look had to involve a bright red lipstick, I was rather scared!!

If you've not taken that step into red lipstick yet then I know exactly how you feel and I'm here to hold your hand!! Here are five easy steps to becoming a red lipped vintage lovely!!

Step One

Find out what shade suits you. Every skin shade suits a different shade of red lipstick. What? different reds? Why yes! All red lipsticks have different undertones, blue, orange etc
Choosing the correct one can even mean whiter teeth and a brighter skin tones!

Black or Brown haired girlies with a warm complexion should choose shades of red with brown undertones, golden, deep, and coral colours.
Dark hair but cool complexion, choose shades of red that are plum, burgundy or cherry red
Blonde Bombshells with warm complexions should buy reds that are coral, orange or copper undertones.
Cool Complexion blondes need to look for blue undertones  or plum.
Redheads with warm complexions should buy brighter and orangey shades of red
Cool complexion redheads can buy bluebased reds, plums and berry tones

 {Extra Tips}

*An Orange/ Coral based lipstick will have brown undertones , a blue based one will have blue!
*A great place to test a lipstick to see if it suits your undertones is on the inside of your wrist (wear the sun hasn't caught you as much!
* Blue based lippy is perfect for paler skins and will make your teetch seem whiter
*Orange based lippy works will with olive skin tones

Step Two

Ease your way into it. Once you've got the right shade you don't have to go full out with the lipstick. A great trick is to apply a lipbalm to your lips then apply your lipstick over the top using your finger! This will create a more subtle lipstain effect. Start wearing your red lipstick this way as much as you can without feeling uncomfortable

Step Three

Time to step up to the full red lipstick look. First of all practice applying your lipstick at home - don't wait for the evening of your do!!!
Do you need a lip primer or pencil? Worrying if your lipstick is bleeding or feathering isn't going to help put you at ease is it?

How to apply your lipstick....

1. Apply any primer as directed on the package.

2. Outline your lips with a lip pencil, draw around your natural lip line or recreate the fullness of lips you want with the line drawn. (This is a great time to even out wonky or uneven lips)

3. Fill in with lipstick using a lipbrush. Load up your brush and paint your lips!

4.When you've covered them , blot with a tissue, then reapply a second coat if needed.

Now look in the mirror...... don't you look gorgeous?

Step Four

No? You looked in the mirror and you're still not sure? Ok - no need to go out just yet, keep practising putting it on and wearing around the house, the more you do this the less nervous you'll feel when you finally want to go out in it!
And yes, when the postman rings, you may want to scrub it off before you answer the door but seriously answer it!! Its  only going to be 30 seconds and you'll be looking down at the signing sheet for most of it!

Still not quite there? try going out alot more using the lipstain idea and gradually build up the amount of lipstick you add.

Step 5

You're finally feeling ok-ish about the idea of wearing it outside - yay!! Now pick your battles, I wouldn't suggest wearing it on the school run, or particularly anywhere you will bump into someone you know sans make up. Go out somewhere, anywhere! A walk in the country, shopping, sightseeing and enjoy your day! Then gradually ease in days where you'll know people, and then a 'look at me' outing. Soon you'll forget ever being nervous and wearing red lippy will be the norm!!

Rockalily Roulette Red

A little bit more, just so you know....

* the first time I wore red lippy to school was about 4 months into wearing  it out, and it was only a quick dash in to pick my daughter up for a dentist! I forgot I was wearing any till we got out!
* I now feel somethings missing if I haven't got red lips!
* I just bought my third red lipstick, and have already picked out my 4th!


And the Why....

Well, why not?
Red Lipstick is fabulous, its the cherry on the cake! 
No time before you go out? A slick of red lippy and you're ready to go!
It will brighten up your whole outfit.
Unlike your most expensive jewellery or  most exquisite dress, you can wear it everyday and feel a million dollars!!
Its a real confidence booster!

{Beginners Guide} Buying Vintage versus Reproduction and modern

Original 1940s Hat!!

Right so now you have your invitations I'm presuming you'll be buying something to wear. Which way do you decide vintage or reproduction?

When I was 19, back in the 90's I bought myself a little 1967 mini cooper. A real classic I loved every inch of that mini!
Where am I going with this you ask? Bear with me.....

Well although I loved the cooper to pieces it wasn't exactly practical for everyday use, however beautiful or authentic it was. So after a year I sold it for a modern car.

Ten years later I found myself yearning for another mini, being a bit cash-strapped I bought an old beatup 850 "Bluey" I loved every minute of it, but it soon gave up on me *grr*
 No problem, my dad told me of a customer (80 years old lady driver!!) who was selling hers! A mini sky, ten years newer that Bluey and in perfect condition I bought it without a second thought! I regretted it ever since!!

It still looked like a mini but it had changed over the years, it felt sterile all of the fun gone out of it.

Compare these minis to the clothes available for you to choose when dressing vintage....


Original Vintage Clothing -The Cooper 

Etsy

Original clothes dating from 1920s - 1980s can be sourced from various places, ebay, vintage clothes shops or vintage fairs. They are often very well made and have been loved and cared for and have visited many a grand occasion in their several decades of use!

Pros
Definitely the dream buy!
Its authentic you are wearing a piece of history
You're likely to turn heads of both those in the know and others alike
A lot are unique
Well made, better quality

Cons
Rare not always easy to find
Limited options (sizing / colours etc)
Precious (may easily tear, get moth-holes etc)

Reproduction Clothing - Bluey

 

Heyday Dress

There are several companies that offer clothing designs based on earlier patterns, the owners are often passionate about their eras and i have found the clothing to be very well made! These clothes are available in sizes to fit modern bodies and suit modern lifestyles.
There are lots of these companies out there, some of my favourites include

Heyday
Rocket Originals
Puttting on the Ritz

Pros
Original styles or designs
Modern Sizings
Easier to care for (Often machine washable)


Cons
Often only availble on short runs
More likely someone will be wearing same dress



Modern Vintage Inspired Clothing - The mini Sky

{High street}

New Look

We are very lucky here in the UK at the moment that the 40s is 'in' so lots of 40s inspired clothes are in the shop. If you are able to spot them then these are great for bulking out your wardrobe, cashmere cardis anyone? They also are a great way to ease your way into wearing vintage, so you don't feel you are putting on a costume or standing out like a sore thumb.


Pros

Easier to find
Can be Cheaper
All Sizes


Cons

Quality
Watered down Versions
Common

{Speciality companies}

 Trashy Diva

There are several  speciality shops in this area too  including

Pin Up Couture
Trashy Diva
Bernie Dexter and
Bettie Page Clothing. 

These offer a certain look I find, often PinUp inspired always glamourous! If you need a knock out dress then these should be your first port of call!
If you are lucky enough you'll have a  fabulous boutique locally  that will have a range all in the one place (don't worry - they do online too!)

 Deadly Is The Female

Others  online include stoptrafficclothing,  Pin Up Girl Clothing



I really do think there is a place for all of the above in your life , a good modern vintage wardrobe can take the best of all of these and blend them together.
I am ever so useless at looking after clothes and have alot of couldn't wear vintage activities, so alot of my dresses are reproduction or vintage inspired. Also I'd never fit in those teeny tiny waists of the 40s! I do buy alot of authentic vintage accessories though, bags,hats gloves.....

Which type of clothing do you buy most often?

Tea Parties and Stocking Stuffers

I love Tea Parties, who doesn't?!! Cake, Tea, Dancing , Music and good company what isn't there to like?

I've been after a vintage tea set so I can recreate it at home for aaaaages, but have never found the one that's 'just right', until last week, when I became the new owner of this lovely set of trios (cup, saucer and plate) from Ebay.....

Of course, because I haven't bought a full set I'm still on the look out for the perfect TeaPot, SugarBowl and MilkJug!! But its a beginning and aren't they lovely!!!

So with all this lovely tea party-ness about the place I've come up with some fab tea party inspired christmas gift ideas for you all!

Earrings

TeaCup Ring

Chestnuts and Sugar Scented Candle

If you fancy making these yourself check out Betty Bee's Tutorial!

Tea Party Bunting

Amazon

Wouldn't this make a fab activity!!

Amazon

Go click over there not here - it won't work! I'm hoping to do a review of this book so keep watching!!

Hope these give you some inspiration, till next time my lovelies!!