I've been interviewed again! This time by What Katie Did...

Another quick post today.  If you've followed my blog for a while, you may have noticed that I'm just a little keen on What Katie Did lingerie.  With work, I've filmed there a couple of times and was even lucky enough to interview founder Katie at the S/S '13 launch.  But now the tables have turned as they've interviewed me!  You can read it over on the What Katie Did blog here.



Interviewing Katie at the Portobello boutique

I feel very honoured to be featured on the What Katie Did blog and to be in such illustrious company as Bernie Dexter and Fleur De Guerre.

Thank you What Katie Did!

 

In which I go raving...

I wasn't in the best shape when we went to the Rockabilly Rave as I'd just taken half a week off work, but I was looking forward to it none-the-less.  The day that we went (the Saturday) was beautifully sunny - but also incredibly windy.  The number of takes we had to do of my opening piece was ridiculous, strong wind at a coastal resort + '50s circle skirt = lots of Marilyn Monroements (fans of puns - you're welcome).

 

The reason we were at the Rockabilly Rave (apart from me flashing a lot of people, again, you're welcome) was by invitation of the lovely Bettina Scarlet.  Bettina had put together a wonderful fashion show, the first in the Rave's 17 year history and had asked The Vintage News to film it.  As the show featured many repro brands I've lusted after for years, we jumped at the chance.  Another compelling reason to go was the opportunity to interview the gorgeous Bernie Dexter, who is even lovelier (and tinier) than you could imagine.  I'll be posting a my interview with Bernie soon, but I've got to transcribe it first!

You know, just chilling with Bernie and Katie

Even with my limited healthiness, I still had a great time and quite enjoyed the challenge of filming the fashion show.  I was filming at the end in the catwalk, and also tasked with taking photographs of each outfit, not as tough as doing all that and live tweeting the results at the National Vintage Awards - but more on that later.  I'll leave you with a few photos of some of my favourite outfits, both on and off the catwalk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you go to the Rave this year, what did you think?  Do you have a favourite outfit?

Pretty Knickers and Gin? Ra-ther!

As I may have mentioned before, I am quite the fan of What Katie Did lingerie.  I have slowly built up my collection of stockings, shapewear and bras to have quite a nice little collection now (started with one of their fabulous Sophia corsets, not the most obvious starting off point).

Some of the lovely new things for SS13

Anyway, poured into various items from their A/W 12 collection and wearing a green lace dress I'd been altering until the early hours, I went up to their Portobello Green boutique after being invited to some sort of a show, and of course gin cocktails and cake...

 Along for the ride was Vintage Vessel and Kieren (it was technically work after all!)  In September, we'd taken a trip to the lovely boutique to see a preview of SS13 (and the launch of AW12) so I wasn't sure what this event would be if it wasn't going to be another catwalkesque  show.

The lovely Vintage Vessel,
also known as 'Snappy Browne'

We were in for a treat though as the faces of SS13,  Slinky Sparkles and Sophia St Villier did what they do best and performed burlesque routines wearing the Marlene and Coco sets, respectively. 

 

 

 

 

 Sophia also wore another new addition to the shop, a Bernie Dexter dress (the Beatrice dress in tiki mask print in case you were wondering).  I'd not actually seen any Bernie Dexter dresses in real life - just yearned for them via the internet, so I was pleasantly surprised to see that they are made from really good quality material, much better than you normally find in repro dresses.

 I was lucky enough to interview Katie again, the founder of WKD and she was lovely as ever.  She told me about the plans to stock Miss L Fire shoes in the near future - as if we need any more reason to go to that little paradise in Ladbroke Grove?!

 Here is the footage from our visit if you'd like to take a look.  Here is the link to the show in September if you'd like a better look at the whole collection, I even did captions so you know which piece is which - you're welcome!  And I may have treated myself to a little something after all the filming was finished, but I couldn't possibly tell you what...

 Do you have any What Katie Did in your wardrobe and what's your favourite piece from the new collection?

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 night of 1,000 waistcoats (and almost as many glasses of champagne)

 The morning started out with Jennie (of Fancy Dresscapades) and myself visiting Vivien of Holloway to look at bridesmaid dresses (for her upcoming nuptials, not mine!), What Katie Did (where the staff were very lovely and helpful) and Judy's Vintage Fair at Spitalfields market.  However, I will not take up any more of your precious time discussing them as that will all be saved for a later post (and a filmed feature) about vintage reproduction companies.  I must just add, we did stop off at the new Collectif shop at Spitalfields market (as Jennie is a huge fan) and I acquired a lovely Regina dress in grey. 

But enough of that, onwards to the Night of 1,000 Waistcoats, where the finest pipe tobacco is sold by chorus girls, you can send your beloved a telegram as suggestive as you wish (NORWICH...?) and by chiming a bell outside a concealed booth you are handed a most delicious beverage served in a teacup.  I am of course talking about the 3^rd annual Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball.

The ball is organised by the Chap magazine; a fabulous journal for the modern gentleman, to which I have been a loyal subscriber since 2005.  Here is a link to their website for those not already in the know (shame on you!) http://thechap.net/

Our dear friend Viv the Spiv was hosting and after a few of his splendid jokes (some quite blue, I might add) he introduced the first act. 

Professor Elemental donned his fighting trousers but alas not his customary Pith helmet, (which was stolen just after we had interviewed him) as he took to the stage.  His usual mix of hip hop, comedy and references to the finer things in life (Assam and Earl Grey making quite a pronounced appearance) were very popular with the crowd.  He was an interesting choice of act considering Mr B (the Gentleman Rhymer of course) was the Chap Hop performer of choice at the Chap Ball last year. 

Before and after shots of the terrible crime.

In the room where we had set up our little corner, was Jeeves Dating, run by the lovely Gemma and Jeni of The Vintage Mafia.  This consisted of typed messages for your sweetheart, which were then delivered by the butler Jeeves.   Our very own Kieren received a missive of his very own but would not divulge its contents!

Also in our little room was a lady from Lipstick & Curls (I apologise profusely but I’ve forgotten your name).  She was creating some wonderful victory curls and all sorts of vintage hairstyles for some of the discerning ladies of the crowd.

The fabulous jump-jive band Fat 45 (Brighton based like Professor Elemental and your most humble vintage news team) played a terrific set, my personal favourite being ‘Mellow Saxophone’.

We were pleasantly surprised with the number of lindy hop dancers (we even spotted a few couples doing ballroom).  Needless to say, we all did rather a lot of dancing – I even managed to get Viv on my dance card!

Spotted among the audience were the delightful Aimee and Harriett of the Bright Young Twins.  We had a bit of a chat and they seemed to be having a whale of a time, as was Vivien (of Holloway) who I spotted shimmying away in what looked like a floor length version of one of her gorgeous pencil dresses.

For those of you interested, I thought I would add a quick word on what I was wearing.  The dress was a deep purple taffeta dress with cream embroidery which I picked up at a Frock Me! fair in Brighton a couple of years ago.  The faux fur stole was adapted from one from Matalan and the embroidered satin gloves are from To Be Worn Again in Brighton.  I made the hat a few months ago, but added ostrich and peacock feathers to make it a little more dressy.  I’ll try and find a better picture of it. 

                                                                                       

Footage from last year’s event can be seen here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFJxF_KpZ5E

To end, here are a few pictures of the resplendent party-goers.  I’ll add them to our facebook page, so make sure you find yourself and start tagging.

Hanson Leatherby – whose photographs put mine to shame



Donna of Bobby Sox Vintage

  

  

Ruth and Laurence

  

Ruth and Damien

As an aside, for those of you that subscribe to the Chap, or even if you happen to chance a glance at your local general or department store, in the issue coming out this week you may recognise one of the models in the article on co-respondent shoes...