A nod to vintage, the High Street way!

So, I have done a lot of blogging about our home, thrifting and sewing, but not so much about my passion for vintage inspired fashion. I think this is largely due to the fact that I'm still experimenting with my own style, and how I incorporate influences from the past into my own wardrobe. However, today I'd like to share a little outfit post with you, and a new up do that I tried for the first time on my own hair!

Although I am slowly building up a true vintage wardrobe by acquiring items as and when I need them, I'm always on the lookout for high street reproductions or vintage inspired items that would fit in well with my love of the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's. The shops are full of lovely impostors giving a nod to these era's, mimicking the past in cut, fabric, patterns and styles. I found a pair of high waisted pallazzo trousers not so long ago, which reminded me of the wide-legged cuffed trousers, worn by ladies in the 1930's and 1940's who were fond of avant-garde fashions, ladies like the lovely Katherine Hepburn, Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich.

 

And this is me...

 

 

 

 

Pallazzo trousers were high fashion in the late 1960's and 1970's, with a more prominent flare at the bottom. I think I prefer mine in keeping with earlier styles though! Now, I am very average in height at 1.61m tall (or short as the case may be!), and I'm no size 6, so I have got to be very careful how I wear wide-legged trousers...only with heels to elongate my legs, and make me look a little slimmer! So, needless to say, I don't wear these very often, but I do love them! I have teamed them up with a blouse, also from a High Street store, which has such lovely detail, reminiscent of earlier styles. It has a peplum cut, with ties to the back to pull in at the waist. The sleeves are quite extravagant with layers to create a puff-sleeved look.

 

 

Peplum designs evolving...

Here are typical examples of earlier peplum designs. I love the silhouette that it creates. Very feminine!

 



 

 

 

That's the outfit. Now for the hair. I do love nothing more than the feminine hairstyles of the 1940's and the 1950's. When I want to make an effort with my own hair, I always tend to pin curl it, then style it in a down style. I've been wanting to try a new up do for some time now, especially since purchasing a lovely orchid flower adornment recently! So, I set to work with hot rollers, LOTS of bobby pins and copious amounts of hairspray...sorry mother earth, I'll keep this to a minimum as best I can next time!

 

The front...

 

 



 

 The back...

 

 

The side...

 

 

 

 

I have to admit that it turned out a little different to what I had in mind! I started off thinking sleek 'victory rolls' and 1940's, but ended up with something a little more romantic and 'messy'! But, I like it still, and I think it's wearable. Flower adornments were very popular in earlier decades, and orchids are definitely some of my favourites. Do you ever sport some fauna/flora in your hair?

 

As you can tell, I have taken elements from different decades to put together an outfit that speaks to me. That's what I love about this journey in exploring vintage styles...I can be creative in choosing what I like, old or new, authentically vintage or reproduction. I am not a purist! At least not yet...

 

I hope you have enjoyed my first 'proper' outfit post. I look forward to playing dress-up a little more, and sharing the successes and failures with you! Hopefully more of the first!

 

Have an extraordinarily happy weekend!

Tania ♥♥♥



Stepping back in time to the 1940's!

Every year in August, people travel from near and far to Ramsey in Cambridgeshire, and for one weekend they all step back in time to the 1940's.  Some bring their caravans and stay for the weekend, whilst others like us dip in and out of it, participating in all that's on offer. We visited for the day yesterday, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best days we've ever had!

'The Camp' is transformed into a vintage lovers paradise, with some of the finest vintage cars on display. For those who love to wear clothes from the 1930's through to 1950's, the selection to shop from is vast! I was considering buying a wheelbarrow, just to lift my jaw from the floor and wheel it around, as I was absolutely agog at the array of vintage loveliness that met the eye! Of course wartime Britain is the main theme that runs throughout, so the military displays do not disappoint.  Re-enactments by finely-dressed participants are all part of the fun. There was music, oh, fine music, and dancing, fashion shows, a Crufts dog show (1940's style of course!), and even the sky lent us it's best with flights from wartime planes such as a Hurricane and Spitfire. Of course I snapped away like an over-excited tourist, and I'd love to show you some of the scenes we enjoyed. I warn you...this is a picture heavy post!


Fabulous 1940's Style...

1940's Red Cross Style...



Hubby and I eagerly await the Allied Assortment Fashion Show...

Period Vehicle Displays...

Loved the red fire engine...

I neeeeeed this car!



And something for Hubby...1973 Mustang

Landgirl Style...

Re-enactment and Living History...



1940's Garden...

Vintage Cycle Display...

Hands-on learning...

Oops...I think someone's sat down on stinging nettles...!

Music, sweet music...

The Happy Jazz Quartet...

And of course, shopping heaven!

I have really just shared snippets from our day. There was so much to see, I couldn't possibly include everything! If you are ever able to attend, I can highly recommend it! It's a fabulously, well organised event, with something for everyone. There were fun fair rides for the children, lovely food, tank rides, cinema with films from the era, and so much more. I hope you enjoyed taking this little trip into history with me!

Blessings, Tania ♥♥♥







To dance, or not to dance? That is the question!

There is nothing in life that I enjoy more than a proper knees up! So, when a friend passed me a leaflet advertising a 1940's dance, I dug deep to convince my dear hubby to accompany me to this event. In all honesty, I thought  he would throw every excuse in the book at me to try and avoid being dragged onto a dance floor where 'proper' dancing was required, as he is a self-confessed two-left-feet-kinda-guy, who can only manage a very hypnotising Bruce Springsteen hip sway! But, I was tickled pink when he conceded, and even went as far as dressing up! You could have knocked me over with a feather!

So, the tickets were purchased, the babysitter arranged (thank you, thank you, thank you dear Dianne!!!), and with dancing shoes polished and two left feet at the ready, all I had to do now was find my right foot! I decided that I would don my favourite dress, as I had only worn it a couple of times, never to a dance, and I do think it was designed to twirl in!

The band was absolutely fabulous! We sat and watched as people danced to the songs of Glen Miller, Frank Sinatra, Myles Monroe, just to name a few. My feet were itching to dance, but hubby had forgotten all he'd learnt in dance lessons before we got married, and my quick step, foxtrot and jitterbug tootsies felt a bit rusty too! However, after a few tipples we soon embarked on the dance floor, and all inhibitions flew out the window! I'm quite certain we didn't resemble Fred and Ginger...more Flop and Cringe...but we had a ball!

Me, and of course lovely hubby

We were joined by friends Fiona and Will. The very handsome couple...

And here's the band...(please excuse to questionable quality of the photography! It was the best my little phone could manage!)

Well, I can honestly say that we all had a super night. We have decided though that a few dance lessons won't go amiss between now and the next soiree! But, as one lovely gentleman put it on the night: 'Don't worry about what other people think! The ones that sit and watch, are sitting and watching because they themselves can't dance. And the ones that are dancing, aren't watching you! Just get up and dance, and do your own thing!' And that was what we did...eventually!