Wednesday 9 April 2014

Do the Hustle

One film - American Hustle - three words -vintage fashion porn.  A film about con artists but with a total 70s revival in all its glittery, glamorous glory. 

Plus it is as if somebody on the editing team had a love of vintage as much as i do - I've never seen so many close ups of sandals, not since sex and the city days. Amy Adams had 40 costume changes during the movie- lucky, lucky girl.


So how to get the New York 1970s look
  • polyester and sequins, preferably combined
  • knee length skirts or maxi dresses
  • over sized sunglasses
  • Plunging necklines and gold jewellery - lots of it
  • red nails
  • wide leg trousers
  • fur coats
  • floppy hats
  • and obviously some brown leather action - it is the 70s
This movie is definitely going into my filmspiration collection. Now I just need to find an excuse to wear big hair and a floor length gown..........i don't think morning hair and dressing gown counts.

Sunday 13 October 2013

Sunday's Bake Day - Apple sauce and cranberry loaf

I love this time of year. Especially as I have friends that own allotments. I had a bag full of bramleys to use up today so made a quick apple sauce and used half with my Sunday lunch and half in this apple sauce and cranberry tea loaf. Perfect with a cuppa.

Coffee-licious!

I'm all grown up - and drinking coffee! For the last 30 years of my life I have had a caffeine free diet (apart from the occasional post drinking session, redbull pick me up). I didn't like the smell of coffee, left all the coffee flavoured chocolates in a box of roses and even turned my nose up at a slice of coffee and walnut cake. In fact it wasn't just coffee, I didn't do any hot drinks, coffee, tea, herbal tea, hot lemon, peppermint tea - even hot chocolates were limited to very, very cold days out. Coffee shops were for sophisticated people.

A couple of weeks ago I was sat with a friend in a coffee shop discussing how we were starting to actually feel grown up. How we were starting to swap company magazine in favour of women's health, how we can go out on the town for just a few drinks and quite happily hand over the 'lets drink as much as we can and wear the smallest skirt we can' baton over to the younger generation. When I caught a glimpse of myself in the window, chatting away and sipping on a carton of ribena. Not very grown up or sophisticated. 

So I braved it - I went up to the counter and ordered a latte.....with a shot of gingerbread syrup (still need to keep a glimpse of the inner child) and I loved it. Tasted like Christmas in a glass. Then came the caffeine buzz and I was hooked. Two Bialetti mocha pots later and my shot glasses are primarily used for coffee making not tequila shooting. So it's official, I am grown up....and some what sophisticated.

In honour of my new found love here's 10 things you didn't know about caffeine from http://en.ilovecoffee.jp/

Monday 7 October 2013

York Does Vintage.....very well

Yesterday I walked through York city centre Topshop, through the high fashion frocks and on trend attire (found a really cool new label in there I will have to tell you about some other time) and out through the back door. I crossed the street, walked down the stone steps and was instantly transported back in time. Not only was York Does Vintage an absolute emporium of vintage finds, it was held in the merchant adventures hall - one of the most historic venues I've had the pleasure of shopping in.

 
Stall number one and my Purse was open. I couldn't resist the Alice in wonderland inspired chain from @ Two Penny Lane. The stall holder Cat was lovely, a local trader who studied archaeology and makes jewellery in her spare time - she admitted to just having a thing for shiny treasures. I think her shiny treasures are lovely and would make great Xmas prezzies, especially in the cute box, no need for wrapping paper.


Next it was time to frock shop. I was after a 1940s dress for next weeks Pickering Vintage weekender. It seemed that everyone in the changing room was trying on dresses for the same thing. Great timing York does Vintage, all the tea dresses and stockings a war time chick could desire. I settled on a polka dot number from Petra prints and a circle skirt and strawberry tea dress from Vintage to Vogue. I know - three items of clothing and I could have carried on if my budget would have allowed me. Love the biker rebel on this wrap dress and even had my eye on a vintage coffee filter. I thing the fact that I had to stop myself going to the cash machine a second time shows the quality of the goods and the thought that the organisers Alex and Sam at Now and then Events put into picking their traders. No wonder they won 'Best shopping experience 2012-2013' -Along with singing from Katie Rebecca, beauty parlours and  tea rooms I have to concur. It was an awesome shopping experience
All in all it was one of those perfect Sundays. And as Sundays are bake days it ended with me enjoying some home made profiteroles and brandy snaps in my new dotty dress - and the honey JD wasn't just for the baking....







Sunday 22 September 2013

Fashionspiration-Mary Berry

It's that time of year when everybody dons a piny and a pair of oven gloves inspired by the wonderful delights created on the Great British Bake off. As a keen lover of all things crumbly, sugary and preferably topped with icing I too am one of the many thousands gripped by the new series. And whilst the baking continues to inspire me (I have some egg custards cooling as we speak) I cant help but be inspired by the delightfully glamorous Mary Berry. Always pristine, always very ladylike with an eye for design and not scared of a bold pattern.  Its as if she stepped out from the glamours era of years gone by and just read Grazia magazine for the most up to date trends. Marks and Spencer need to snap her up for their next ad campaign  - pronto. A fan of a print blazer, jeans and of course a pearl necklace she is my fashionspiration of the week. 


So here is an outfit inspired by Mary, not sure if I'm brave enough for the whole suit but loving the jacket.


As a tribute I vow to always wear my pears when baking cakes, Mary we salute you!

Friday 20 September 2013

Tattoo of the Month

....and the winner goes to.....Kelly Smith at Five Magic's Sheffield!! I am slightly more swayed to the traditional style of tattooing, the heavy use of black, the bold colours and iconic imagery. I think this ink captures all of the above. Kelly is a master of fine lines and detail, detail, detail. Check out her work on instagram. Oh yeah and I guess I'm a little bit biased as Kelly did my most recent tattoo - another gypsy lady, and as much as I adore my ink I think who ever got this design is a very lucky skin. Its insane.
http://instagram.com/kellysmithtattoos