Out with the old, in with the New Year

I am sat in new pyjamas, sipping gin and eating those yummy cinnamon-y german biscuits - Yes it's Boxing Day and another Christmas is over!!! Now comes what is normally my worst part of the year...the end of it. I don't know what it is, but I often find New Year's eve and the new year itself utterly depressing. I think it maybe that as someone that hankers after the past, knowing another year has gone, and time is moving so fast, just makes me a little sad. I know, its very silly.

This year has been one of immense highs and sadly, horrible lows. I have had the most amount of fun with my girls the Vintage Mafia, launching our Sale and Social and The Ric Rac Club, and generally planning and having fun and shenanigans. I have a wonderful man in my life, I moved house, got a new job, went on a fab holiday with the girls, made loads of incredible new vintage friends and attended numerous amazing events. Life has been good to me and without going in to more detail on the sad part which has occurred at the latter part of the year, the majority of 2011 has been marvellous. 

So I am going to try and have a brilliant New Year's Eve and start 2012 with a bang. Positive thinking and all that.

I will leave you with a brief round up from 2011.......

January: Gemma's Birthday....Fun in an art deco elevator

February: completing my first Knitting project!

March: The Vintage Mafia terrify France!

April: the Tweed run!

May: Punting with The New Sheridan Club

June: Swing for Skin on the HMS Belfast

July: the Chap Olympiad!

August: Modelling for Puttin' on the Ritz

September: The launch of The Ric Rac Club!

October: Another Sunday Sale and Social

November: The Rugby Ralph Lauren Tweed Run

December: A 1940s Christmas!

Phew...I'm exhausted just remembering it all!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year dearest readers!

x

One Ball, Two Dresses, A Thousand Waistcoats: Part 2

So, back to the ball.

After I clocked off from my shift at the Jeeves Dating Service, I literally bounced backstage to the dressing room. Why? Well, no, I hadn't had too much gin (at this point), I was just so excited about putting on my new frock. Eeeeek!!

Here is why.....

It is a beautiful 1950s floor length gown, with what I like to call a 'Snow White' collar, blue and purple brocade bodice, and gorgeous layers of pink, purple and blue chiffon. It wasn't in the best condition when I bought it from the Vintage Emporium. In fact it looked like someone had been prancing about in a rose bush for a few hours wearing it, as the skirt was tatty and ripped. But, I spent my friday night lovingly repairing it and up to my elbows in a bath full of 60 year old sweat and grime, until it looked practically brand new.

A little jive with our host Viv the Spiv

I can see why it was so tatty though. I spent my whole evening unravelling it from girls stiletto heels, and grinning through my teeth, wanting to scream, 'Get off my dress bitch!' but it survived the night, just about.

Me, Fleur, The Bright Young Twins and the lovely Sophie

Fleur and I danced away illuminated by a man wearing a suit covered in fairy lights

Chap Hop in action

Lindy hoppers extraordinaire

My favourite dancing couple, Russell and Sara

The fine folk from The Vintage News

Of course we found some time for some posing...

And the obligatory toilet/mirror shot

A fine night was had by all, and so we finally crawled into bed at 5am after an hours search for a taxi in Kings Cross, and a half an hour wait in the Kebab shop...in the freezing cold...in a ball gown. Hurrah!

Photography by Hanson Leatherby Photography

Christmas in the 1940s House!

Myself and Fleur had such fun yesterday morning larking around in the 1940s House at the Imperial War Museum. This wonderful exhibit is closing on the 2nd January, and for its last hurrah, it has been decked out in festive splendour. 

We felt right at home during the photoshoot, and I could quite imagine spending a cosy yuletide inside this beautiful replica home.

If you haven't yet been to this exhibition, or if you haven't seen it for a while I recommend that you pay a visit to get you in the christmas mood!

I pulled a right cracker in an Able Grable frock!

Toasting the King and Queen

A Christmas Tipple

Mince Pies!

I am sure that the exhibition replacing it will be wonderful, but I will be sad to say goodbye to the lovely house.

Hope you are feeling festive now! 

One Ball, Two Dressses, A Thousand Waistcoats - Part 1

Official Duties

Saturday night was The Chap Ball aka The 3rd Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball aka The Night of a Thousand Waistcoats. Whatever you choose to call it, it is certainly one of the most important dates in the diary of any Chap or Chapette. It is a great excuse to wear a full length gown, wax your moustache, or do both in the case of some of the more eccentric guests.

As last year, I once again filled the post of secretary at the Jeeves Dating Service. This is an important duty to undertake for the guests of the ball who may spot a potential love interest in the crowd. After dictating their message of love to one of the secretaries, it was then delivered by our butler to their beloved. This year I was joined by Gemma, and together we worked as secretaries from different decades. She channelled Miss Lemon from Poirot, while I was more Joanie from Mad Men. I think we worked well together, and loved our contrasting looks. I enjoyed looking strict, as you may be able to tell.

As you may be able to tell from the two images above, I spent a lot of time fiddling with my hair, that is because I was wearing a hair piece!! (Shhhh!) You may recall from recent posts, that my hair is actually quite short at the moment, but in order to create a huge updo, I needed lots of hair! I was really pleased with how real it looked and although I kept fiddling with it, it felt completely secure and survived until 5am.

See below for hair and make up close ups. Fakery alert!!...fake hair...fake lashes...fake brows!!!!

 I promise that is actually my face though...

Stay tuned for part 2 when I clocked off from secretarial duties, changed frock, got drunk and danced 'til dawn

Photography by Hanson Leatherby Photography

The Need for Tweed

Saturday's Tweed Run was super for many reasons:

• It didn't rain
• We were invited by Rugby Ralph Lauren
• We got to wear amaaaazing jackets from Rugby
• We all rode Pashleys
• There were so many lovely people there
• Did I mention it didn't rain?

The super sponsor meant that there was definitely a different feel to last time; there were lots of trendy blogger types, and not a Penny Farthing in sight, but there was still the same inclusive and friendly atmosphere.

There is something extremely appealing about tweed. On almost anyone it quickly adds an air of sophistication and lets face it, men in tweed look mighty fine. Whether you accessorise with a tweed cap or dress head to toe in a three piece tweed suit, tweed makes you feel good and keeps you warm to boot. Plus it's as English as tea and crumpets.

The first group of photographs were taken with a Leica M9P full frame digital rangefinder:

The following photographs were shot on film using a 1950's Leica M3:

Photography by Hanson Leatherby