A short dress and long drinks - The official Bootlegger launch

Sorry for the lack of any posts, I've been spending a lot of time in London and setting up my etsy shop (I make fans if you didn't already know!) This does mean I've got lots of things to write about - but no time to write about them!  I've decided to forego chronology and write about the latest event we covered. 

 

I was handed a cocktail as soon as we arrived
- it's a tough job but someone's gotta do it

 

We were invited by Bootlegger White Grain Spirit to their official launch, which was held in the Clapton branch of the über trendy Blue Tit salons.  I've seen Bootlegger at a few 'vintage' events over the past few months (they even sponsored the Brighton Blogger meet up in July) as they seem to have really targeted that scene.

Not recommended for dogs (unless they're real booze hounds - I thank you)
 

The salon is consciously cool, with lots of distressed wood, reclaimed furniture and vintage props, which made it the perfect place for the launch of a drink based on the erm, spirit, of prohibition era booze.  Of course, there were plenty of cocktails doing the rounds, my favourite was the Moonshine Cooler, a mix of Bootlegger spirit, sugar syrup, cloudy apple and lime juice.  There are two other Blue Tit salons in London, one in Dalston which co-owner Perry described as a little more in the Edwardian side and the newest of the three, the Peckham branch with its Art Deco styling and original Victorian tiles.

Interviewing one of the salon owners, Perry

 The Vintage 78s DJs (whom we met at the National Vintage Awards) were on hand to spin a few platters as well as providing an array of parlour games to keep the guests entertained throughout the night.

 

A selection of gramophone needles

With Annabel from the Vintage 78 DJs
doing our best promo girl poses

 

Anyone for (miniature) croquet?

 I'm sure there will be many other Bootlegger events of the vintage scene, but for now I'm going to sit back after a hard day of editing and have a nice glass of Bootlegger and apple.

During our interview, James from Bootlegger joined me in sampling
some of the prohibition-inspired spirit

 Oh, and while I remember, my dress isn't vintage - it's actually from ASDA (!) and I bought it about 7 years ago for a Christmas party.  I don't wear it very much as it's quite short but I just love the print.

 

 Have you ever tried Bootlegger or bought a really short dress from Asda ... or both?

Singing in the Rain (in the dry) Live by the Lake (we didn't find the lake)

 

I'm not one that often goes in for competitions, but I gave the one on Jeni Yesterday's blog a go because it just looked like such a nice evening out.  The prize was two tickets to see Singing in the Rain on an open air screen at Kenwood House, with the score skilfully recreated by the London Philharmonic Concert Orchestra.

 

I took my trusty sidekick Hayley (she'll hate me for calling her that!) along with me and we met up with Jeni and Hanson.  As we were making our way through the grounds of Kenwood House, we were in awe of the beautifully manicured gardens and were interested to see lots of other things going on in the grounds such as dancing from the London Swing Dance Society, massages and a moon-based photobooth.  We set up our little picnic, created an interesting new cocktail (called vapple if you're interested) and settled down to watch the classic musical. 



"Barbara can you hear meeee?"

 

Gene Kelly's widow Patricia was over from America and introduced the film - she also put a few rumours to rest including Gene's apparent dislike of the casting of Debbie Reynolds.

 

Having the score played out by a live orchestra was incredible and it made the film even more engaging.  The score had been laboriously reconstructed by John Wilson (who I had the pleasure of seeing at the Proms last year) as the scores from the majority of MGM musicals were destroyed in late 1960s.

 

Look! I managed to remember to get photos of what I was wearing.  My dress is one of the first vintage dresses I bought and it looks like it's handmade, I'd guess it's early 1960s.  My gloves and shoes are both charity shop finds (this isn't the most informative description of an outfit). 

10 points if you can spot Kenwood House

 

Faux bob and visible pins

 

I only realised when I got home that even though the event is called 'Live by the Lake', yet we'd managed to completely miss any large expanses of water!

The Vanity Case launches...The Vanity Case!

 

Those who follow me on instagram (@TheVintageNews) may have seen a few snaps over the past couple of months of various hand-painted fans.  Originally, I'd made the first one as a bit of a promo for The Vintage News but they seemed to cause a bit of a stir.

 The one that started it all 

 

When I took that first fan to events (notably the Chap Olympiad), so many people asked where I got them from that I decided to set up an Etsy shop so now you can buy one for yourself!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheVanityCase

 

 

You can get a fan in cream, black, navy, pink, red or white with various colours of writing.  Generally, I will paint up to three words of your choice on to your fan, but I can paint more words, logos or other designs (such as on the Gin Slingers fan).

 

I've also set up a facebook page for my Etsy shop (also called The Vanity Case, of course) so feel free to have a look there too.  Both the facebook page and Etsy shop are in their very early stages at the moment so bear with me!  Oh, and at the moment I'm only shipping to the UK, but I'm hoping to expand that soon.

 The lovely Becky Boop (one of my fellow Gin Slingers)
with her fan ready for the heat of High Rockabilly

 

So, I hope you like the fans and if you are in the need of one after some dancing, on holiday or to promote your business, then why not pop over to my shop?

My first outfit post!

 

Inspired by Jeni Yesterday, I've finally decided to do an outfit post!  I actually took these photos (or more correctly, Hayley took them) in May when we went for a little jaunt around the seafront, but I hadn't got round to doing anything with them.  So here is my first outfit post, I will try to do more - or maybe even just remember to take pictures of what I wear when I'm filming!

 

Outfit details below all the pictures 

It was very windy so I am actually just making sure my hat

doesn't go for an unexpected swim in the channel

 

 

 

I think this also marks the first post with a 'pier-shot',
which coming from a Brightonian is pretty good going

 

This looks like I have tiny feet and really lumpy calves -
the wonders of photography

 

Should've ironed that

 

The corselette means I can means
I can wear gorgeous tops with sheer backs

 

I'm a little teapot...

 

My lovely helper Hayley who put up with taking
many dozens of photos of me being really awkward

 

1950s hat: picked up at a vintage fair, can't remember which one

1930s style sunglasses: a present from my mum, they're Russian and have CCCP (so pre 1991) and a few other bits in Cyrillic written on them

Blouse: actually a peignoir I bought for £5 when I worked at To Be Worn Again that I shortened

Corselette: What Katie Did, of course

Skirt: Vivien of Holloway

Gloves: again, from any number of vintage fairs

Shoes: Aris Allens I bought at HepCats' Holiday and had resoled - they are the most comfortable shoes

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed a little peek into my wardrobe, I'd love to hear what you think of my outfit and the post in the comments below.

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!

 

Harry and Edna (and me!) on the wireless

I've become fairly used to conducting interviews during my time with The Vintage News, but it came as somewhat of a shock to have not one but two interviews set up for one week - and I was the one being interviewed!  The first of which hasn't gone live yet so you'll just have to wait and see... but the second interview was with the lovely Harry and Edna on their live radio show.  We were delighted to be asked on to their Sony award nominated show to talk all things vintage, so we hopped on the M1 up to Milton Keynes. 

 

We arrived at this quaint little building (with a life-size multicoloured triceratops in the front garden) and got stuck in straight away.   It was really nerve-wracking being on live radio but we soon got into the swing of things.  They asked all about The Vintage News and we talked about a few of our favourite events including the Chap Olympiad and the Tweed Run.

 

After the live show came something more familiar, I was now the interviewer!  We chatted about Harry and Edna on the Wireless, their nightclub, Hedna's and the many other events they are involved in.  We had a great time recording the show, and it was quite nice to be on the other side of the microphone for once!

 If you didn't manage to catch the show live, you can listen again on Harry and Edna's mixcloud here

 

I (of course) didn't get a proper picture of my outfit or my hair however, I have managed to find a picture of me wearing the same dress and shoes just to give you an idea.  The photo is from last year when we covered Vintage Nation.

 

 Dress: 1980s dress that belonged to my dearest mama

Slip: 1930s slip from Brighton Vintage Fair I think, you can't really see it, but you'd see a hell of a lot more if I didn't have it on!

Belt: no idea where that came from, probably a charity shop

Shoes: £3 from a charity shop - they were my Argentine Tango shoes

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?