An evening at Penny Dreadful Vintage

Saturday night was spent at the lovely home of Ms Penny Dreadful, who has fulfilled her ambition of setting up her own unique vintage boutique, which you can see in more detail here, but here is a taster below:

She has a wonderful selection of vintage pieces including some wonderful Designer finds too, I was so in love with a Thierry Mugler dress, unfortunately it was too big for me though.

So many delectable bags, shoes, dresses, skirts-how can one choose, it really is a delightful set up and it was great to go and see it in person too.

I met up again with lovely Kate at Make Do Style, Miss Peelpants of Vintage-A-Peel and met for the first time the lovely Perdita of Perditas Pursuits, who purchased an amazing Jean Varon frock which looked totally gorgeous on! There were also other lovely ladies present, including Land Girl 1980 and Miss Cherry Loves-everyone looked amazing in their vintage outfits too!!

There was lots of lovely party food, punch, pimms and lemonade and when I left I was given a lovely Goody Bag from Ms Penny Dreadful-thanks so much my dear, it was a really lovely evening!!

If you haven't already checked out Penny Dreadful Vintage, then do so immediately-plus it is possible to visit her wonderful boutique to have a styling session which is by private appointment only, her email details are on her blog!!

Needing some Summer Sandal Inspiration....

Hi everyone!! Clogs and wedge style sandals still seem to be so on trend for summer shoes and I am still on the look out for a pair that is both stylish and comfortable, for mainly day wear too.

I still don't know whether to go with a flat pair or one with a wedge heel, a slide style seems to be the sort of thing I like-I already have wedges with straps so a slip on would be quite versatile to have and I think any of these choices will go with quite a lot in the wardrobe already:

Mambo, Betty London £47

Wishing Star, Skechers, £38

Mayari, Birkenstock, £55

The Randy, Skechers, £30

Jamelia, Hush Puppies, £59

What style sandal or shoe is inspiring you for this Summer?

Thrift Inspiration, Leopard Print Style

This weeks Net-A-Porter magazine is featuring leopardprint -Feeling Feline is such a trend that never seems to date and is forever in style. Here are Net-A-Porters picks of whats hot this season:

Giambattista Valli's top, £1000

Tucker blouse, £200

I've always been a fan of leopardprint and will pick up quality pieces on my travels. Two of my favourite pieces are below, the Julien McDonald blouse for Debenhams was thrifted last year and I've worn it a few times.

This one below was thrifted earlier on this year, its a St Michael (Marks and Spencer) blouse from the 80s and can be worn as a blouse done up or as a light summer jacket.

Leopard or animal print is a style you either love or loathe, I definitely love it as it is easily thrifted and if you choose a quality piece, it will be a keeper in your wardrobe for years to come-this St Michaels one is over 25 years old but still has plenty of life left in it!!

Will you be in leopardprint this Summer?

Thrift Inspiration, 80s Style

Oh how I love things 80s!! Some items from that decade certainly border on the chavtastic side, but to be honest, I won't be rocking rara skirts or a shellsuit anytime soon!

What caught my eye though is whilst browsing through 'The Cheap Date Guide to Style' which the gorgeous Vix sent to me a few months ago, is how some items do stay as classics through the decades. One of the pictures that I love is of Ramona Rainey wearing her Fila track top, looking cool and relaxed. In her words 'What I'm wearing relates to the music, I'm saying , This is what I like. My shorts move it on to the year we're at now. Not actually being 80s hip hop retro, just making a nod, I'm mixing and matching.'

As the style guide says, anything can be a classic of sorts if you're good at giving things iconic meaning. A tracksuit jacket can be reminiscent of hip-hop, East End geezers (see Danny Dyer here in my favourite 80s inspired film, The Business), comedy sketches about Liverpudlians and casuals-calm down, calm down-very chav indeed!!

More inspired by Rainey than 'The Scousers', I was pleased to find this authentic 80s Sergio Tacchini track top, which I think will work perfectly with a pair of modern print summer shorts for a relaxed summer afternoon/evening vibe.

I also found a navy blue one exactly the same and will be taking it to the Vintage Fashion Fair with me in June.

What sort of classic-chav or not, is inspiring you this summer?

Vintage Fashion Fair-Primrose Hill, 8 May

It was a really lovely day at the Vintage Fashion Fair held at Cecil Sharp House in Primrose Hill. While we were waiting to go in, at about 8:35, across the road I saw the model Agyness Deyn walking by-she looked over so I smiled and she smiled back!! A great start to the morning, lol!!

Once indoors and set up, doors opened at 11am and although it was fairly quiet on the visitors front, there were still sales to be had. It was a really lovely, genteel atmosphere too-its so nice to meet new people and its fabulous to see your items for sale going to someone who really is enthralled with their new purchase!!

My stall on Sunday-it was great to have a spacious pitch, I had use of the piano, two tables and my two hanging rails-all ready for business!!

I didn't have to wait long for a V.I.P, a most discerning customer who knew straightaway what item he wanted-I wish all my customers could be like him.

Le Petit Garcon and his gorgeous mum Kate from Make Do Style came to visit as promised and it was lovely to catch up with her again-it was my first time meeting Le Petit Garcon and I did remark how handsome he was!! He was most taken with an 80s brooch and had to have it straight away! The deal was done and paid for, but I had to have a picture of the charming young man showing his purchase:

A very satisfied and handsome young customer-thank you for your purchase and do come again!!

Of course, me and mum had to get in on the picture, and as you can see we are both wearing bright colours-Kate is rocking her red scarf and jeans and I'm in my cobalt blue 90s Versace jeans and stripey top!

A picnic was beckoning for Le Petit Garcon and mum, so we bade farewell and they went on their way. The day soon went very quickly with some last minute sales before closing time.

The next fair is on 5 June, it would be great to see you and you can apply for free tickets here a little nearer the time. Its a lovely trip out and is great for all budgets, whether you want a little treat or a special purchase, then a unique vintage item may just be what you're after to mix in with a high street, designer or modern outfit.

I hope you all are having a great week so far!!