Amidst Communists and showgirls, The Hour returns

When first announced, The Hour was (somewhat unfairly) billed as the British Mad Men, a comparison that I think did it a disservice.  I am a huge fan of both series’ but they are worlds apart in both subject and tone.  While Mad Men is very insular, with occasional references to the outside world (the deaths of JFK and Marilyn Monroe for example), The Hour seemed to have a much wider scope, perhaps helped by the fact that the ever familiar BBC was the main setting for the show.  Series one of The Hour took place against the background of the political turmoil surrounding the Suez Crisis in 1956.

I can imagine some people started watching for the clothes and design, but then stayed for the intrigue of this Abi Morgan-penned cold war thriller.  Bel (played by Romola Garai) is the (somewhat overly) glamorous producer of the eponymous news show, with a wardrobe not dissimilar to a certain Joan Holloway.

The chain-smoking foreign correspondent Lix Storm (a bond-girl name if ever I heard one, played by Anna Chancellor) has a wardrobe reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn, lots of simple tailored trouser suits and blouses in a muted autumnal palette.

As the show is set mainly in the workplace, the majority of the men are of course wearing suits.  However, as the characters differ, so do the suits; from the arrogantly elegant Hector Madden (played with aplomb by Dominic West) to the straight-laced government press advisors, Angus McCain (in a sterling turn from Julian Rhind-Tutt).  Also interesting to see is the transition of Freddie Lyon (played by Ben Whishaw) from local hack (quite tweedy and scruffy) to co-anchor (still individual but deeper, crisper colours).

A thread of Communism wove its way throughout the first series, a theme that is given greater prominence in the second with the Britain of 1957 preoccupied by the Soviet launch of Sputnik 2 and a fear of impending nuclear disaster.

The second series will also involve a lot of excursions to El Paradis, a Soho club and from the trailer I can see there will be a fair few showgirls– so lots more gorgeous costumes!  Peter Capaldi and Hannah Tointon are joining the cast as the new Head of News and Kiki the showgirl (I’ll let you decide which is which!)

I am very much looking forward to the new series starting – I mean I work for a vintage news crew and it is as though they were filming a day in the life of The Vintage News (apart from all the murder, spies, government interference and a proper studio)!  Apart from the obvious parallels with my life, I also enjoyed that The Hour has a much grittier storyline than is afforded most period dramas (although with a few slightly shy-making pieces of dialogue) and of course I loved the costumes (designed with remarkable detail by Suzanne Cave).

 Actually, this one is quite a lot like my job!

The second series of the Hour will start on BBC2 on the 14^th of November.

A jubilant day of fabulous hair, rockin' rhythms and ridiculously high shoes

For the past couple of years, on the Saturday of Brighton Fashion Week, I've strolled on down to the Dorset Public House on Gardener Street as they would no doubt be playing the best rockabilly and R‘n’R the '50s had to offer and this year was no different.

In the past, Simon Webster pitched up his 1930s barber's chair outside the aforementioned pub, offering rockin' cuts to those passing by.  Regular readers will be familiar with the name Simon Webster as the VN attended the opening of his salon back in March.  This year, Simon was set up outside his salon, along with The Vanity Box.  The girls from the Vanity Box were creating beautiful vintage coiffeurs for the ladies of Gardener Street and I think you'll agree, the hairstyles are stunning!

 

As I had already curled my hair for the next day, it was up to Les to step up and face the scissors.  We had a chat with Simon about how the past couple of months had been at the salon, after which we interviewed Verity from The Vanity Box, (all of which you can see here).

 

After we'd finished at the salon, we managed to catch the musicians performing outside the Dorset.  Firstly, there was Dollar Bill, a one man band performing a mix of blues and country who I'd love to see perform again, but preferably somewhere with a dance floor.  After Dollar Bill it was the turn of Hollerin’ Stollar and the Pine Box Boys.  



Dollar Bill, the blues one-man band

ring Hollerin' Stollar and the Pine Box Boys

Mark, the Dorset's manager 
even got in on the action.

For some reason I had a major crisis of confidence in what I was wearing (maybe the fact that the day before a man had loudly remarked that I looked like I was wearing fancy dress, hadn't helped), so I changed my outfit a few times.  In the end I didn't wear any vintage and opted for a Matalan blouse, Vivienne of Holloway pencil skirt, an elastic belt and shoes I bought when I was in New York.  It was the first time I'd worn the shoes and considering how high they are, they were surprisingly comfortable!

 

 

I was unable to attend the 'after party' at the Mesmerist as I was busy making a surprise visit to my sister at her new job in Rottingdean, but from what I hear, the party was rather good!

Diamond Jubilees are a girl's best friend

This is just a quick blog about what I’ve got planned for the Jubilee weekend. Firstly, I’m rather excited about the Jubilee, not because I’m hugely royalist, but because any excuse for cakes and bunting is good by me.  Also, I feel cheated because I had to work last year during all the Royal wedding celebrations (the closest I got to celebrating was making cherry bakewell cupcakes for a party I couldn’t attend!)  Anyway, although I will be working again this year, it’s going to be a lot more fun this time!

The cupcakes in made for the Royal
Wedding, yes I still have photos

Firstly, on the Friday I will be reviewing a new play in London called The Shadow Formula.  Described as ‘a suspenseful spy drama set in pre-war London’, the plot is full of intrigue, murder and double-crossing.  Like all self-respecting spy dramas, The Shadow Formula has its fair share of double-agents, deranged scientists, German spies and femme fatales.  There will be a review to follow shortly (well, after I’ve seen the play, naturallement).  Performances will be running on 07-09 and 14-16 of June at the Greenwood theatre in London.  If you’d like to find out more just have a look on their website www.shadowformula.com.

 

But wait – there’s more.  You lucky people - there is also a competition to win two tickets to the press night (this Friday, 1^st June).  All you have to do is email info@shadowformula.com with your contact details and the name of this blog (The Vanity Case) along with the answer to this question: What was World War II spy Agent Zigzag’s real name? 

On the Saturday, it appears that Brighton will be going back to the ‘50s as there are a lot of events going on around the Pavilion and Museums as well as the annual 1950s day on Gardner Street.  Always on the Saturday of Brighton Fashion week, the Dorset pub on the corner (a great pub and the centre of the vintage/rockabilly scene of Brighton) will be the epicentre of a day of ‘50s fun.  We're looking forward to seeing Simon Webster and his team (who we last saw at the launch of the salon) creating 1950s 'dos for people out enjoying the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Me interviewing Simon at the opening of
his Gardener Street salon back in March

Simon Wesbter hair will be once again teaming up with Dorset, as well as The Vanity Box (great name!) to bring the good people of Brighton the Jubilee Vintage Hair day.  To the sounds of the coolest kittens and heppest cats of the ‘50s coming from the Dorset (with maybe a few platters spun by Simon himself) you can book yourself an authentic pompadour, victory rolls or DA to be cut and styled in an antique barber’s chair.  To complete your look, you can have your make up perfected by the Vanity Box.  Spaces are filling up fast, so be sure totelephone the salon quickly to get your place in the barber’s chair.  Spaces available between 10-5 and the number to call is 01273 605577 to book your place.  It’s also worth noting that a certain member of our team (let’s not be coy, it’s Les) will be getting his hair cut by Simon at 3pm - worth coming down even if it’s just to see that! 

 

On Sunday (3^rd June) I will be going to Victorious Vintage in Portsmouth Historic dockyard with the rest of the Vintage News crew.  Rather than repeating myself, you can read all about it here.  It’s also running on the Saturday (2^nd), but as you can see I’ll be busy, although I think my mum is going

on that day! 

Now all I’ve got to do is plan what I’m going to wear – a lot of red, white and blue I think!