What to wear - Weddings.

I love weddings - anyone that reads this blog will know I don't need an excuse to get dressed up so this year I have four weddings (sounds familiar!!!).

So what do you wear?  If like me there will be a lot of the same people at all of them  it calls for multiple outfits as every girl knows you can't be seen in the dress more that once but saying that I do have a stash of formal outfits that I can dress up for such an occasion but as I have not had many weddings in the last few years I feel like have a little indulgence!!!

Here is my little inspiration board to get some ideas and my top tips on wedding dressing.

 



• Keep your dress simple - you can add drama with a statement hat or jewellery.
• Be comfortable - you will be in your outfit for a long time, eating and drinking quite a bit so don't go for anything too tight or restricting.
• Go for colour - you don't want to class with the bride and it is a good excuse to wear something bright and cheerful.
• Accessories can make an impact so find a little pair of gloves or scarf to add a pop of colour if going all out bold is too much for you.
• I am not a fan of black at a wedding - we all wear too much of it year round - navy is a softer option and it works with so many colours - pink, coral, green and of course red.
• A clutch bag is a good option as you can tuck it under your arm, giving you free hands to hold a glass and nibble canapes at the same time.

So what of my own outfits - I have one down, a beautiful silk rayon 40's dress and straw saucer hat that I bought at Hepcats in March.  Two of my weddings have a vintage feel, one is a fashionista affair and the other garden party kind of theme so three more outfits to go!!!

One thing that I adore about weddings is that I get a chance to wear a fabulous hat and first on my list is going to be Betsy Hatter - who is an amazing self taught milliner who designed a range of hats for my collection launch in March.  You can find her on Facebook and at www.betsyhatter.co.uk.

I think that I could style a rather fabulous outfit around this lovely straw number???

All outfits will be posted in due course so watch this space!!!

Claridges Part three - the outfits

We recently bought a new camera and haven't quiet got to grips with it yet so I didn't get as many fabulous pictures of our weekend as I would have liked (an excuse to go back and take more!!!)

Packing for a weekend is always difficult as you want to take enough but always need options as our weather is so unpredictable so I started off with a classic "town" outfit.

Fabulous Miss K suit, vintage hat from Little Vintage Lovers Fair, shoes vintage Lulu Vintage.

 

 



As I was being interviewed about my new collection I thought that I should wear one of my own dresses so here is the Barbara dress enjoying the luxury of our room.

 

 

For the evening with cocktails and the theatre I went a little more glam - I am always disappointed that people don't dress up for the theatre anymore turning up in jean's and a t-shirt seems like a bit of an insult to the spectacle of the place.

 

 

Vintage 40's dress, shoes and gloves, Lulu Vintage, vintage hat Antidote Vintage.

 

 

 

Next morning after breakfast we had a little wander around tacking snaps of the beautiful interior wondering if anyone would notice if we left with some of the furniture???

 

 

Before heading out to the National Theatre to see the Norman Parkinson exhibition (more about this in another post) I snapped my day outfit on the staircase in the foyer.

 

 

Vintage dress - Wake Up Little Susie, vintage 40's shoes bought at Hepcats weekend.

 

 

I asked Flamingo Amy to do my hair for the weekend, as we were leaving early Saturday morning she had to do it Friday evening so she had to gas me out with hairspray to make sure it stayed in. I think it faired well!!

 

 

 



 

I do look a little miserable in this picture but I wasn't!!!



 

 

 

As we left the lovely Ian who did give me his officially title but I can't remember but he said that he loved our outfits and that we "were Claridges" which made my weekend - maybe we should offer to wander around on a regular basis in exchange for a discount???

 

 

Claridges is my new favourite place and vow to go back and wear some more fabulous outfits.

 











 

 





Claridges Part 2 - cocktails, raindrops and nightcaps!!

Once we had taken in the wonder of our room, the doorbell rang - I didn't realise we had one until I heard it??

A lovely lady appeared with a birthday treat for my hubby's birthday

 

 

I met with Sarah from www.thetimewarpian.com in the bar and over a glass of Laurent Perrier Champagne we chatted about the collection and my life in vintage generally.

 

 

Dashing back to the room for a quick change to head out for the evening - our first port of call was Bar American in the basement of Brasserie Zidal for a cocktail or two. It is a fabulous Art Deco bar and jazz club.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Feeling slightly squiffy we wobbled to the Palace Theatre to see Singin' in the Rain - I did enjoy it but I guess that I have seen Gene Kelly, Donald O Connor and Debbie Reynolds do the routines so many times that I imaged it would be just like that but they don't make stars like that anymore and I was a little disappointed.

 

 

After the show we jumped in a cab and headed back to Claridges for a nightcap - more cocktails (strong ones) and we didn't quiet get as many pictures as I would have liked as some were fairly blurred!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning we had a delicious breakfast but by the time we got downstairs the dining room was quite full and I didn't want to intrude too much so I didn't take any photos but believe me it was fabulous - a little silver tray with jams and honey for toast and even the tomato ketchup was served in a little jar!!!

 

 

It was a fabulous was to spend an evening - very good cocktails in amazing venues - the next time we go I promise to have mastered the camera and take a few before I get drunk!!

 

 

Part 3 - the outfits coming soon.



Claridges - Part one Art Splendor Deco

This weekend saw us in London at Claridge's - a few years ago we had champagne in one of the bars for our wedding anniversary and it was such a lovely experience I wanted to go back and stay so we did!!!

We arrived in London around 12 noon and had a little look around Judy's vintage fair at Spitafields Market, a spot of lunch then jumped into a cab to take us to Art Deco Heaven.

The entrance of the hotel.

Our case was whisked away while we were checked in, after a little tour of the hotel by a lovely lady called Katherine, up in our room we took in the wonderful surroundings and squealed a little bit!!!

Our room

 

The bath was soo deep!!

 

 

The Fumoir - where we had a cocktail or two in the evening.

 

 

The dining room - where we had breakfast.

 

The foyer - taken from the sweeping staircase.

 

 

The décor was amazing and so well maintained - fabulous uniformed staff looking after your every whim. We had a little insight on how the other half live - and I think I like it!! We will definitely go back for another visit as soon as we can.

 

Part two and three coming soon.

 

Packing a stylist guide

I am very excited this weekend we are celebrating my hubby's 50th birthday and so we are having a very special treat - we are staying here for Saturday night -

I am planning the outfits with care as I feel that I have to do the fabulous Deco interiors justice, but I being a stylist I have a practical side to my packing so it will not be a case of

So here is my guide to packing:

• Choose outfits that will mix and match together - a suit that can be worn together for one outfit and then add a skirt in different colour to wear on another day with a blouse to match.
• Neutral colours such as navy, camel, black and grey are easier to work with and then you can add accents in your accessories - a bright red or green scarf, add a hat in a neutral colour too then take a few brooches, or flowers to change it so you can wear it on different days.
• When it comes to evening wear - go simple with a LBD - again you can change it with hair flowers or jewellery for your night out or wear it during the day with a jacket or cardigan.
• Choose a couple of pairs of shoes that will work with all your outfits (they are bulky to carry and your really need your entire collection for just a weekend???)

I will of course make sure that I take lots of photos of the chosen outfits and let you see them on the blog when we get home, and hopefully I will look equally as fabulous as my surroundings!!!

HQ - re-vamp!!!

The sun was shining through the window of HQ this morning both Abi and I had a mad idea to change the office around - I clipped out some tear sheets as I do for everything - it is a fabulous way to get a feel for how you want things to look!! I have to have a workspace to feel right and inspire me to create fabulousness and the office kind of wasn't doing it for me so we laid all the ideas out on the table and had a little play.

With the collection moving forward we needed to create some space for when we get all the lovely dresses in for you vintage gals to try on ( it is taking a little longer than we had hoped but rest assured they will be here soon!!!)

This was the inspiration ...........

 

 

 

 

We are still work in progress - we need to find a few more fabulous bits and pieces, get the running rail up for the collection, get some frames for our "wall of fame" for our achievements of the last year but this a little look how it looks now!!!

 

 

 

 

It feels much more stylish - and more welcoming.  Just sitting here now writing I want to work and create - so here is to more wonderful ideas from the re-vamped HQ!!!





Spring Offers!!!

Spring is around the corner - IT IS because I am fed up with being cold now and have so many fabulous outfits to share with you!!!  So in anticipation that the warmer weather will be here soon I am doing some special prices on my shopping and styling services - so all you lovely vintage gals can get your wardrobe sorted for the sun.

• Shopping trip - shop till you drop - spend a morning or afternoon with me in all the best vintage shops, together we will choose outfits to suit your figure, budget and favourite era, packed with tips and hints on how to get the look, do's and don'ts of buying vintage, choosing the best accessories to compliment your outfit.  £40
•  Seasonal up date - bring you own pieces along to the office and we will work together to create new outfits from your existing clothes, play with accessories and discover what you need to pull it all together. (You can combine this with a shopping trip so we can find the perfect essentials as well). £35 or £75 combined with shopping.
• Wardrobe  Re-Vamp - if you wardrobe is a little too large to transport I can come to you - edit out the items that aren't working, suggest ideas for new purchases and mix and match items together so you have outfits that work for every occasion. £55 (plus travel expenses outside of Norwich).

If you would like to book just email me - offers will be on for a limited time only so get Spring ready and book now!!!