23 6 09

Whilst I was in New York I was looking forward to going to the vintage market I had heard so much about in Hell's Kitchen, but unfortunately I couldn't find it!!! (If anybody could tell me exactly where it is that would be great!) I was quite disappointed but I did find some really good vintage shops in the East Village. I can't remember what the name of the shop was, but it was super cheap! I found two gorgeous beaded cardigans for $30 each, after seeing similar ones in a shop nearby for $70!!!









In the same shop I also found an original 1960s coat in a beautiful green colour, but it had a fur collar so I didn't get it. I did however get these two dresses; both of them need taking up at the bottom, and with a little bit of (poor) photoshop magic I can see what they will look like after I make them shorter!







I also went to the Lulu Guinness shop in Greenwich Village and got myself an adorable vanity case. I love the 50s pattern all over it! But I feel like it's too pretty to actually use!



I had a little furry friend supervising me whilst I was taking the photos, but she got tired and fell asleep! :)

9 5 09

Movie Maidens is a fantastic website devoted to the most beautiful actresses from the 20s to the 50s. There is an entire library of images of each actress, from Louise Brooks to Marilyn Monroe and loads in between. Here are some of my favourites:

5 5 09

I wish that I knew about the website Vintageous.com when I had my school prom, I would have loved to have worn any one of these fabulous dresses. I imagine that films like Hairspray have made these kind of dresses really popular for school proms, but nobody wore anything like this at mine! I wish I could go back and wear one of these dresses, probably the red one, or the pink one with bows, in fact I don't think I would have been able to chose!









Actually, when I was looking through the Vintageous website, I came across a dress that was acutally used IN the movie Hairspray! How cool is that?!!

28 4 09

I am soooo gutted that I missed the opportunity to buy this dress. Everything about it was perfect; the shape, the colour, the print! It was a little bit expensive for me so I waited a bit to see if I could save up, but alas, I was too late!





See, how pretty is that?!
Have you had anything fabulous that you missed out on?

20 4 09

The weather was absolutely gorgeous today, so my boyfriend and I decided to have a picnic at Hainault Forest near where we live. I made some home-made fried chicken, which was amazingly delicious even if I do say so myself! I also wore my new dress that I got from work, you can see it in a picture my boyf took with his old polaroid camera:



Hope you all enjoyed today's sunshine! I am off to get some dinner xxx

13 4 09

I have always been a lover of hats, but have never been able to indulge in this affection because my head does not seem to agree with the hats I put on it! They always end up looking awkwardly perched and just not quite right. I do, however, still like to look at all the beautiful vintage millinery that is out there - purely for the wonderful craftsmanship, if nothing else.




I found these gorgeous photographs of some fantastic headwear, from the Vintage Vogue pool on Flickr. Here are a few fabulous vintage hats that I found for sale:


1950s Pink Silk Platter Hat from Etsy



1950s Floral Net Hat from Etsy



1950s Pink Velour Hat from Vintage Hat Box


1940s Taupe Felt Hat from Vintage Hat Box



1950s Ivory Velvet Net Hat from Ruby Lane



1950s Large Floral Hat from Posh Girl Vintage

12 4 09

A little while ago I made this dress from a vintage 50's dress pattern. I lost interest in sewing for a while but now I'm eager to get some new patterns and start making some things to wear!



Here are some of my favourites that I'm thinking of buying and making:


1960s Dress Pattern from Best Vintage Patterns


1950s Dress Pattern from Best Vintage Patterns


1950s Dress Pattern from Moms Patterns


I am also really lusting after this coat from Etsy but unfortunately including the shipping to the UK it's about £60, which I know isn't much for a coat but I'm so skint at the moment! Plus, summer is approaching so I think it might be a bit of a useless purchase... but I want it so badly!! Please pleeeease somebody buy it for me! I will love you forever!

I might have to resort in making something for myself in a similar fabric. I found this pattern (the one on the right) which is sort of similar:


1950s Coat Pattern from Best Vintage Patterns

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter tomorrow! My mum is cooking us a BIG turkey dinner!! I can't wait! xxx

10 3 09

If, like me, you are a lover of 50's rockabilly and pin-up style clothing then I have found the perfect shop for you - Vivien of Holloway.
It sells seriously sexy dresses with matching boleros and seperates in a variety of fabrics (polka dot, gingham, floral, tartan) and also petticoats, belts and flowers in loads of different colours to complete the look. There is so much choice, the only problem is figuring out which one you want! You might recognise the full-skirt 50's dress from our fellow blogger, Ranna from Only Shallow.



Also, (because I am such a good blogger!!) I managed to snag Vivien herself for a quick chat:

What year did you open the shop?
I am not sure, but I have never worked for anyone else I have been making Vintage style clothing and selling them since I was 15 - so over 20 years.

Are you interested in vintage clothing? If so, where are your favourite places to shop?
I love Vintage clothing, but respect it, so it is good to have reproduction to party in. Also, the sizes in Vintage are quite resticted as people were generally smaller then. I started wearing Vintage clothing when I was about 10. I prefer Vintage fairs for shopping as you get many dealers under one roof, there is a new one at Cecil Sharp house in Camden I am going to check out on 5th April.
 
What's your favourite vintage period?
I love the late 40's early 50's styles. Such Glamour.

Where did the inspiration for your designs come from?
I design what I would like to wear myself. So I need get moving for Summer now, making more seperates or I won't have a thing to wear!

Here's a selection from the website:

















Vivien also sells 40's style dresses and trousers. I love the grey trousers, they would be great for a Katherine Hepburn look.







I think my favourite is the red/black polka dot pencil dress, which I am seriously going to have to buy myself soon!
If you want to see more of what's on offer go to www.vivienofholloway.com or for an even BIGGER selection (I bet you didn't think it was possible, huh?!) you can visit the shop in Camden at:

The Arches,
49 Kentish Town Road,
London NW1 8NX

Open: Tuesday until Saturday - 10am to 6pm.
(Closed Sunday and Monday)

The actual store is above a motorbike shop, which is really cool! And if you do decide to pop into the shop, I will be working there for a few Saturdays so come in and say hi!