Row, row, row your boat...

 For a fair few years, I have attended the Chap Olympiad (the last couple have been with work but just as much fun).  We'd always intended to do a pre-Olympiad "training" (if I can use the term in its loosest sense) video, in the style of the numerous programmes released in the lead-up to the London 2012 Olympics last year.  We finally managed to organise a get-together this year which coincided nicely with a photoshoot Time Out were doing for their 'Parks and Recreation' issue.

 

 

We met up in Victoria Park in East London - a beautiful park that I'd not been to before.  Our first scenario for the photographer (and one of the highlights)was a spot rowing.  After going backwards for a bit and getting one of my oars stuck in a bank, I discovered I had quite a hidden talent for it!

 

 The lovely Zack, who was subject to my sometimes maverick rowing style, looked like one of Waugh's dashing gentlemen, lounging in the boat with my umbrella.  After the lake based fun and a few rounds of croquet, it was on to the serious business of devouring a Fortnum and Mason picnic - champagne and all!

 


Kieren and Johnny Vercoutre
and our Fortnum and Mason hamper

After Time Out had got all the shots they needed, we set about getting the vox pops for our piece, with the lovely canal boats and pagoda playing backdrop - it even involved me interviewing myself...   

Zack, with the beautiful pagoda in the background

The lovely Jenny, founder of Frantic About Frances

It was a brilliant day and I just hope I remember to pick up a copy!

Southern Retro

Back in May, Mat Keller asked if I would sit for his project SouthernRetro, a photographic project ‘about individuals for whom reviving the past is part of their daily lives’.  I was quite honoured and of course said yes, but didn’t do anything for a few months as I didn’t have anywhere suitably ‘vintage’ to have the photoshoot.

Fast forward to me moving into my new house (with my lovely '50s kitchenette) and I was ready for my close-up, as they say.  So here are the photos.  Be sure to have a look on Mat's website to peruse lots of marvellous portraits and familiar faces (a fair few of whom I've interviewed!)

What Katie Did AW12 Launch and SS13 Preview

Dressed in a combintaion of, among other things, What Katie Did, Kiss Me Deadly and Ayten Gasson (exactly what combination you’ll just have to guess), I headed up in anticipation to the WKD AW12 and SS13 launch at their Portobello Green boutique.

As soon as we arrived, an absolutely delectable chocolate cupcake was placed in one hand and a tea/champagne cocktail was placed in the other (courtesy of The Vintage Patisserie).

I was lucky enough to be able to interview Katie before the AW12 collection was shown.

Being an avid fan of What Katie Did, I’d already seen a few of the pieces online, including the red organza and black lace Lulu and eau-de-nil Clarice ranges.  I think I agree with Katie in that my favourite piece from A/W was the Lulu Torsolette.  To a soundtrack of Billie Holliday (AW12) and Glenn Miller (SS13) the ladies (Ms Violet Crumble, Lenka Padysakova, Miss Betsy Rose, Kate Lomax and Miss Dolly Blow-Up) strutted and sashayed their way through the sumptuous boutique.

In between the collections, we were treated to some burlesque from Miss Miranda and Sophia St Villier - which turned a little Bettie Page towards the end!

  Then came the preview of the SS13 collection (after a short power cut!)  Red appeared quite a strong theme throughout, I particularly liked the two-tone corset and long-line girdle.  The new navy/cream bikini with the bows and side cut-outs is also absolutely gorgeous.

As if the cupcakes and cocktails were not enough, we were also given goodie bags, with discount vouchers and a sample of Bésame Cream Rouge (I’ve not tried it properly yet but it has a lovely smooth texture). 

If the picture just aren't enough, we filmed all of the show (and the interview with Katie) which you can see here.

I can’t wait for the SS13 selection to become available – but there’s just too much choice!

 

The weekend I got a divorce and ran away with Viv the Spiv

With the release of the latest issue of The Chap magazine (featuring the very lovely Diana Dors on the cover), I thought I would put up some pictures from the photoshoot I did for that very same publication. 

Obviously not Diana Dors,
Adam Ant graced the cover of Issue 60

 It all came about because my dear friend Viv the Spiv asked me to be 'his lady' for a photoshoot about correspondent shoes, to be featured in the Dec/Jan 2012 issue of The Chap.  The story for the shoot was essentially the plot to 'The Gay Divorcee', with a woman trying to obtain a divorce by being caught in an adulterous situation, they too end up in a Brighton Hotel! 

Sadly this wasn't the hotel we used

How do Viv and I compare?

I was to play the unhappily married woman, who was hoping to be 'caught' by a Private Detective while in a hotel room with... gasp... a man that wasn't my husband.  Cue Viv the Spiv.  And you thought it would just be some pictures of shoes?  The reason for the link between divorce and two-tone brogues dates back to a famous divorce case in the '30s where the whole case hinged on a photograph of a pair of correspondent shoes being left outside a hotel room. 

 I was meant to look scared at the prospect of Viv coming through the window and anything untoward happening before the Private Eye came in.  In the end I was overcome by Viv's charm (who wouldn't be?) and we left the hotel together, much the same as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers had done in the aforementioned film.

All those years of not doing drama classes are finally paying off

My outfit consisted of a Vivien of Holloway Pencil skirt, jacket with a detachable faux fur collar that my mum found in a charity shop, a hat made by me, CC41 suede gloves, '70s heeled brogues and for the photo in bed, a beautiful 1940s Chinese silk dressing gown.  When I first received a call from the editor of the Chap asking if I had any vintage nightwear, my first thought was: 'this photoshoot is taking quite a different direction than I was expecting' but then I realised I had the dressing gown which worked brilliantly.  It's just a shame you can't see more of it.  When I eventually get 'round to taking photographs of all my clothes (mainly so I can remember what I've got!), I'm sure they'll get put up here.

Outside the Hotel Pelirocco

Viv was very sweet when taking the photograph of him lighting my cigarette as he knows I don't smoke.  However, I was more worried about naked flame being that close to my Utility gloves!

Anyway, I had an awful lot of fun at the photoshoot and it was an absolute dream to be in a magazine I have been an avid reader of since 2005.

A behind-the-scenes photo of Viv,

editor Gustav, writer Neil and myself.

Taken by our esteemed photographer, Russ Bell

As I mentioned Diana Dors at the beginning, I thought I would relay a funny story I once heard about her.  When she went back to her home town of Swindon to open a church fête, the vicar wanted to introduce her by her real name (Diana Fluck) as she was a local girl done good.  In all the excitement, and being a little anxious at mispronouncing her surname, he ended his introduction with "...Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Diana Clunt."  Vicars, eh?