Vintage life december 2016

FASHION / BEAUTY / WELLBEING / LIFESTYLE / HOME / FOOD / CULTURE / SOCIETY ISSUE

HER

DECEMBER 2016

LIFE

73

DEC 2016 ISSUE 73 £4.25

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GIFT IDEAS FESTIVE FEAST CHRISTMAS STYLE PRIDE & PUDDING MULLED MOCKTAIL

T H E V O I C E O F V I N TA G E

IT’S THAT TIME FOR

W W W. V I N TA G E L I F E M A G A Z I N E . C O M

DEC 2016 ISSUE 73 £4.25

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PARTY GLAM DRESS UP FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

PLUS: 1920s / 50s MAKE-UP / 60s WEDDING / MUSIC / TRAVEL 18/11/2016 12:30

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FASHION 10. Party Glam!

Emma Griffin looks at the ideal party clothing for Christmas parties.

BEAUTY & HAIR

14. Christmas in Black and White Polly Polka-Dot considers the best shoes for the festive season and why red is an all year round colour.

42. Boring Nails? No! Take inspiration from Christmas jumpers to create gorgeous festive nail art!

16. ‘Tis the Season ...to indulge, do lovely things and create traditions. Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea Dog gets into the Christmas spirit!

43. The Beauty Queens The duo talk products, vintage beauty, and answer your questions!

20. The Cool Factor Does your wardrobe need a little upgrade? Check out this season’s hottest trends.

22. The 1920s - Society and Style across Sizes Steffani Benton takes a look at the era that launched a thousand styles.

25. My Big Night Out Five top tips to feeling good whatever your size this Christmas party season.

Cover photo: shutterstock/masson

35. Lookbook Take a look at Hell Bunny’s gorgeous range of dresses and separates.

26. A 1960s Christmas Bride A retro festive inspired wedding look to inspire any would-be winter bride.

30. Green With Envy Melanie Calland gets inspired this winter by evergreen and conifer trees.

33. Tantalising Tights!

Add a little fun and colour to your wardrobe - check out Hose Tights!

34. Putting the Glam into Christmas... with Vivien of Holloway Gorgeous party dresses and skirts in jewel tones and tartan patterns.

44. History of Make-Up: The 1950s – The Explosion of Colour.

46. The Best Vintage Styles...

For Seasonal Soirées! Russell and Brown’s recommended party looks.

WELLBEING 50. All I want for Christmas... ... is Gratitude. Instead of expensive gifts, give a heartfelt present instead.

52. Peace on Earth Georgia Harrup shares three top tips for a stress-free Christmas!

53. Christmas Bath Time Rituals Add a little sparkle to your bath time routine with some Lush products to help you relax during the festive period.

56. Jars of Love Create a thoughtful and inexpensive gift for loved ones that will spread a little joy.

57. Sassy While You Squat Express yourself when you work out with fun and practical exercise gear. vintagelifemagazine.com | 3

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LIFESTYLE 60. Let me Tell you a Story at Work Attire in the workplace - what story does your work wardrobe tell? Elena Falcon chats with vintage lovers about their everyday working style.

62. Treasure Seeker Charlie Adams on the excitement of charity shopping and the thrill of the hunt.

63. Three Fab Ways to Feel Festive Combat the stress of Christmas by taking time out to appreciate the season by following three helpful tips.

65. Mamma’s Mulled Mocktail An alcohol free version of the traditional Christmas tipple!

66. Tradition at Christmas Create a Christmas Eve box for family members full of goodies to enjoy.

68. The Dandy Gent Paul Marland-Griffiths chats with barber Shane O’Shawnessy on hair cutting and creating lotions and potions.

70. Gifts for your Vintage Man Stuck for present inspiration for the men in your life? Look no further!

86. Christmas Food Gifts Keep festive spending under control make some delicious presents instead!

88. A Christmas Cocktail Create traditional festive drinks Egg Nogg, Mulled Wine, Mulled Cider and Cranberry Bucks Fizz.

90. A Kinder Christmas Kitty Von Tastique shares her five tips for hosting a meat free festive feast.

CULTURE 92. This Month in History Carrie-Ann Dring steps back to the past and finds out what happened in the month of December.

93. A Blast From The Past Jim Williams fills us in on the Riviera Swing event held in Torquay.

94. Ric and The Rocketeers Meet the wildest new band in town!

96. Festive Feast The Tootsie Rollers visit a hidden Norfolk gem that gets them into the Christmas spirit.

97. A Vintage Nerd Daffny Laurito looks at the year 1954...

71. Rising Starr Jo Bullough chats with LA burlesque sensation Lillian Starr.

99. Merle Oberon Katrina Simpson finds out about the life of this silver screen star.

HOME

100. Book Reviews Take time out to look at our reading recommendations this month!

74. A Modern Old Television Set Carpenter Chris White creates a TV stand with a difference.

76. Vintage Inspired Must Haves Offbeat furniture and accessories to bring vintage glamour to your home.

77. A Midcentury Christmas at Home Keeley Harris meets Lydia Ross and steps inside her gorgeous retro home.

101. Get Crafty Decorate your own Christmas baubles!

102. Rockabillies & Cocktails in Calafell Emma Edwards headed over to Spain to experience this 50s rockin’ holiday.

FOOD

104. Welcome to Amsterdam Bexi Owen visited this capital city and sampled it’s vintage delights.

82. Keep It Seasonal!

Your fast guide to what fruits and vegetables are in season near you!

105. Vintage and Retro in Belfast Keelan La Forge looks at some of the best places to shop for vintage.

83. Pride and Pudding Charlotte White shares some of baker Regula Ysewijn’s fabulous desserts perfect for Christmas entertaining!

120. The Scene Out and about!

130. Events

Issue 74

on sale on Thurs 29th Dec 2016

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Welcome

Editor’s Letter

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can’t believe that we are almost at the end of 2016 – where has the past year gone? It seems like yesterday that the VL team were attending the Twinwood Festival and now it is nearly Christmas! I am sure that many of you are well prepared and have already bought all of your presents (I have not!), however for those of you still searching for gift ideas, why not take inspiration from Christmases past and make your own? There are some wonderful ideas on page 86. However, a gift doesn’t have to be an actual item – Haili Hughes talks about the gift of gratitude on page 50.

Lots of you have been taking out subscriptions to Vintage Life – it really is the best way to make sure you don’t miss an issue. The VL team have also received lots of positive feedback about the new magazine content but don’t forget, if there is something you would like to see covered in Vintage Life, do get in touch!

That’s it from me – I’m off to the gym (no silly, to go in the sauna!)

Have a wonderful Christmas and a happy holiday season!

Rae Evans Editor in Chief Follow me on: Instagram @vintagelifemag_ed

Image of Rae: Photographer - MyBoudoir (www.myboudoir.co.uk) Hair & Make-up: Sarah Elliott MUA (www.sarahlouiseelliott.org) / Peignoir: Florentyna (www.florentyna.design)

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LIFE

Editor-In-CHIEF Rae Evans Deputy Editor Lisa Harrison FEATURES EDITOR Haili Hughes Production Editor Judith Evans Designer Twigs Art development Manager Lisa Harrison Social Media Manager Rosie Astbury Advertising Manager George Miller Advertising Executive Sam Rogers Advertisement Design Nic Lock Finance Manager Pam Carey Finance Executive Mark Evans Distribution Manager Keiron Jefferies

Editorial: +44 (0)1260 291536

lisa@dragoonpublishing.com

Subscriptions: +44 (0)1260 291536

judith@dragoonpublishing.com

Marketing: +44 (0)1260 291536

rosie@dragoonpublishing.com

Advertising: +44 (0)20 3603 7948

sam@cabbell.co.uk

Vintage Life Magazine, Dragoon Publishing Ltd Dane Mill Business Ctr, Broadhurst Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1LA UK

Managing Director /Publisher

Rae Evans

Publishing Manager Lisa Harrison Production Manager Judith Evans Finance Manager Mark Evans

Printed in the UK by Pensord /Distribution by Warners Contributions in the form of articles are welcomed. Whilst every care will be taken of submitted material and/or photographs the publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage which may occur.

The material in this magazine (including ad design) is copyright of Dragoon Publishing Ltd 2016 and may not be reproduced in part or whole without permission of the publishers. Any individual providing material for publication must ensure they have obtained the correct permissions before submission to us.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders. The editor and publishers apologise for any unwitting cases of copyright transgression. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. No political affiliation is implied or intended.

ISSN 2052 8825 Vintage Life Magazine is published twelve times a year.

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Party Glam!

Words & Photographs Emma Griffin

T

his time of year has to be my absolute favourite for fashion and style.

It’s the season of the party dress and when we women get the chance to really dress up and dust off the sequins.

When shopping for that ‘ideal dress’, if you are anything like me you want something that no one else will have and will make you feel like a million dollars! That’s why vintage shopping is so amazing, as you are almost guaranteed to find a special item that no one else will have. When I find such a piece I often fall in love with it and end up keeping it forever – unlike most dresses you will find on the high street, I see it as a beautiful investment.

When looking for a party dress, I always want that dress to be a knock out number, be something I can wear again and is on trend for that season. So what are the key trends that we should be looking for this year? I have picked out a few of my favourites I have seen on the catwalks...

blues, black and gold for starlight. These three dresses are just ideal for this trend.

(Top left image, left to right – Black and gold 1970s midi dress, 1980s blue full sequin mini dress and a 1980s black and gold cocktail dress. Dresses from Enjoy Clothing)

SEQUINS – Another big trend for this season is glitter, which is easy when it comes to shopping for vintage – it’s always popular and easy to find for us vintage fashion lovers.

Glitter is back in a huge way this winter so when thinking about colours anything goes really. One key trend with the glitter/ sequin theme is midnight, so think deep

Keeping with this huge glittery trend I have to bring your attention to motifs of starbursts and bright colours. This 1980s dress is just beautiful, bang on trend with shape, glitter and star burst. You can often find this style of dress in many vintage boutiques and it is certainly a winner! (Top right, dress from Enjoy Clothing)

CREDITS: MODELS: Rebecca Aston, Lauren Charman and Victoria Charman / MAKE-UP / ARIST: Neal Dakota / HAIR STYLISTS: Sue Carrington and Claire Pascoe from Number 8 Hairdressing / VENEUE: Alverton Hotel Truro / DRESSES: Pretty Kitty Fashion www.prettykittyfashion.co.uk, Enjoy Clothing www.enjoyclothing.co.uk / PHOTOGRAPHER : Emma Griffin – Griffin Photography www.griffin-photography.co.uk

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SOFTNESS – One of the key trends this party season are soft fabrics such as velvet and velour.

When wearing this trend you are looking for a dress that shows off waist – think Hollywood glamour and Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Colours to look out for are purples, emerald green, claret reds and black. The three dresses featured in this article are just perfect; they fit beautifully and are in velour, while also being in the five top colours of the season.

Truro / DRESSES: Pretty Kitty Fashion www.prettykittyfashion.co.uk, Enjoy Clothing www.enjoyclothing.co.uk / PHOTOGRAPHER : Emma Griffin – Griffin Photography www.griffin-photography.co.uk

Dresses – Green and purple velour Grace £39.99 by Pretty Kitty Fashion. Sequin Ruby £39.99 by Pretty Kitty Fashion

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STATEMENT TOP – If you are not a huge lover of a dress then the sequin vintage top/blouse is the ideal choice. It looks perfect with black trousers and can be worn again dressed down for another season.

1980s top, Enjoy Clothing

POWER DRESSING OF THE 80s – This decade keeps popping up this season for party dresses.

You either love or hate this decade of fashion but what better time to wear something that’s unique and fun for a change! 1980s details on the shoulder are incredible and give any dress that little something extra!

When shopping through this decade look for shoulder details, sequins, reds, and ruffles. (Top left, dress from Enjoy Clothing)

LEOPARD PRINT – I teamed these two stunning red dresses with another popular trend that keeps coming up year after year – leopard print. I personally LOVE this print and as a vintage lover it is easy to find. There are lots of leopard items available in vintage boutiques but also from retro designer brands. (Top right, dresses from Enjoy Clothing)

ANIMAL PRINT – As well as leopard print, all of the animal prints will play a huge roll in this season’s party dress shopping. I love this 1970s snakeskin jumpsuit and it looks great next to another animal print.

(Bottom left, dresses from Enjoy Clothing)

MAXI – Another favourite is the maxi dress and the 1970s certainly were the best decade for that! Look for metallic thread, shiny details and silvers. (Bottom right, dress from Enjoy Clothing)

There is so much to choose from this season but I am going to opt for the sequin trend for my party dress.

Who’s going to join me?

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ChristmAS In Black and White Like it or not, you better believe it, Christmas is just around the corner! Although for me, Christmas is possibly around a different corner, as being from Australia,

I get to have it in summer!

Words Polly Polka-Dot of Pollydot Shoes blog

Polly Polka-Dot Obsessed pin-up girl, store owner and blogger with a weakness for pretty shoes.

I

have been thinking about how differently we need to dress for the same occasion in each hemisphere and sighing over all the adorable knitted jumpers and snow-themedeverything I am missing out on, but it isn’t all bad! I love to wear red for Christmas and luckily red is an all year round colour. I generally like to go for ‘Christmas colours’ on the day and while red shoes are a great option and a regular favourite, this year you are highly likely to find me wearing white shoes with a red dress instead, because white just feels so fresh and summery.

I’ve never had a winter Christmas (but I had a lot of fun pretending in these photos), so I have to imagine what that might be like for the larger percentage of the vintage loving world. Looking at a

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IMage CReDIt foR Photo of Polly: JaMeS hoRaN foR SyDNey lIVINg MUSeUMS - WWW.JaMeShoRaNShootSPeoPle.CoM

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I love to wear red for Christmas and luckily, red is an all year round colour few different shoes just released for the autumn/winter season over there, I must admit I was surprised to find shoes that I might wear myself in summer! In my own imaginary winter celebrations, I’m wearing black suede heels but again with red, because Christmas demands red quilted tartan to be matched with dark and wintery peep toes. But are you setting out in snow boots? If so, hopefully they are glamorous ones!

No matter the season, remember style is not the only consideration you need to have; you need to think about the practicality of your shoes for the weather, any journey you might need to make and what you will be doing when you get there. These things are probably more of an issue for my Northern friends, as here in Australia it is sad to admit that most of the general population wears thongs (flip-flops) on Christmas day, or even, no shoes at all!

Keep in mind, you’ll also need to be looking after those shoes if you want them to see the next few Christmases to come. Heat is not a friend to your shoes – don’t let them get too hot, be that by hugging too close to a toasty warm fire or by letting them spend any length of time in your car-come-oven. No moisture either: moisture is a definite enemy of shoes. If your shoes are good quality, hopefully you won’t have any issues, but you will be shortening their lifespan if you don’t take good care of them. Of course, these things are mostly common sense but it is easy to let common sense fall by the wayside during the silly season.

If your Christmas list is anything like mine, hopefully there will be some shoes finding happy new homes this season…

Merry Christmas shoe lovers!

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‘Tis

the

Season Words Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea Dog IMAGES Lisa Simmons of House of Pin Up

For me – and for most of us – Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, a time to enjoy yourself, have fun and over indulge! It really is the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year’ and for many of us it is an enjoyable rest period from work which we can spend doing the things we love!

Christmas for me starts in October really. Because I run my own business – Silly Old Sea Dog – the Christmas season is busy and full on but also really fun to work.

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A

nyone who works in retail will know how busy the run up to Christmas is, and how the key is to be prepared. Each year, I annoy my neighbours by putting up my tree and decorations ridiculously early.

As much as I believe that they all think I’m the crazy Christmas lady, the main reason for this is to host my Christmas photoshoot. Normally on a dreary day in early October, you will find us, Mariah blaring, mulled wine in hand and a big pile of mince pies for the scoffing, getting into the Christmas spirit with lots of fab dresses and a warm fire burning.

This year was no different!

I was joined by my lovely team: Lisa on Photography and Keeleigh on hair and make-up, along with models Rosie and Lella (and Keeleigh modelling too, she’s so multi-talented!). I decided to find out the girls’ favourite things to do at Christmas.

Model Lella’s favourite Christmas pastimes include spending lots of time with family, late night shopping with friends and being cosy in front of the fire watching Christmas films.

She would love to go to New York for Christmas to see the lights, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and ice-skating.

Lisa, our photographer, is looking forward to spending her first Christmas with her husband (they were married in April). Lisa’s favourite Christmas activity is decorating the tree with her husband Alex – especially with her knitted and vintage decorations that have been passed down in the family. Lisa loves to get a real tree and going to choose it every December – you cannot beat the smell of a real tree.

Models Keeleigh and Rosie are actually sisters, and enjoy spending Christmas together along with their parents and brothers.

Keeleigh also has two small children, so she and her husband Marc like to take them to lots of fun places in the run up to Christmas.

There are a couple of Christmassy things I thoroughly enjoy and do every year. This normally starts with putting up the tree. My tree is really special to me. I make it my mission to collect an ornament from every place that I go to on holiday or travelling. This way, every year, when I get the tree decorations out I smile at all of the memories that

they bring back, from holidays to Las Vegas, Sri Lanka, LA, Florida, New York, San Francisco, Paris and many other places. I also have many lovely nostalgic decorations made by my late Nana who was a lace-maker and cross-stitcher.

I also absolutely love going on the Polar Express. If you haven’t been, and especially if you have young children, I can’t recommend it enough.

There are two railways where you can go on this – Dartmoor and Durham. My mum, dad, sister, fouryear-old nephew Caede and I go to Dartmoor every year. The station is beautiful and vintage, and is festooned with stunning Christmas lights and decorations. After a visit to the ticket booth, your golden tickets are issued. Well, actually adults are given a white ticket, but I get my mum to go and get me a gold one; they always sincerely apologise that her child hasn’t been given one – until she discloses that I’m 29! You then board the train that takes you to the North Pole. Along the way the chefs dance and sing and serve you hot chocolate. When you arrive at the North Pole, the children’s faces are magical as Father Christmas boards the train and gives them each a bell, just like on the film (adults can buy a bell in the gift shop, I have one and it has pride of place on my tree). Oh and the best bit is that you have to wear your pyjamas (adults included – you look silly if you don’t).

Being self-employed, I don’t get to go on a fun office party and totally embarrass myself in front of my boss, so instead I host my own party in which I just embarrass myself in front of my friends! Having lots of friends that live all over the South West it’s great to see many of them venture down to Newquay for my party. I always make loads of Christmas cocktails in jugs and bowls in the kitchen (we don’t really bother with the food part, apart from the compulsory kebab on the way home). Everyone brings a bottle and we make more cocktails as they arrive. Along with the compulsory Now That’s What I Call Christmas CD on full blast, we have board games, Operation, Twister, drinking games and other classics! (Everyone loves a board game at Christmas.)

After all the shenanigans at my house, we venture into Newquay for some dancing and seriously bad flirting! I think we all over indulge at

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Christmas, and why not? It’s a time of year that you get to catch up with lots of friends that you may not have seen for months and to let your hair down (and for some reason alcohol just seems to slip down so easily!).

On the 23rd December, I always go to Mousehole to see the famous lights and for Tom Bawcock’s Night. If you’ve ever read The Mousehole Cat you will know what this is but if not, it’s a local Cornish celebration of fishing. The lights are world-renowned as they fill the harbour, sea walls and quite far out to sea in spectacular displays (many of the lights are floating and they create a really romantic and Christmassy feel across the village). On the 23rd December, the village is filled with hundreds of people and laughter, the local pub serves a Stargazey Pie, a traditional Cornish Fish Pie (if you look at my tree you can see my very own Stargazey Pie decoration), there is a lantern parade and carols on the harbour.

Every year I visit with my parents and my friend Tom (who has deserted me this year and is working in Alaska, so I’m going to have to find a new Mousehole buddy!). We always have fish and chips and sit and eat them on the harbour, have a look in the gift shops, and if I can talk my Dad into driving, have a few drinks at the pub. It really is a lovely evening.

The other Christmas activity I adore is ice-skating. I have a fabulous pair of brand new vintage skates that I won on eBay for £1.50 – they were the most amazing purchase as they had never been worn and were gifted to an elderly lady in the 1960s. They are blue glitter with a lace up front and each year I take them on a little outing to the ice rink. Outdoor ice rinks are the best; we used to have a great one at Truro Cathedral that was my favourite as it was so pretty in the evenings, all lit up. Now I go to the Eden Project, which has a great little ice rink with a fabulous atmosphere and you can visit the biomes, where they have snow and lots of children’s activities as well.

I love it when it snows. A couple of years ago when I went to my parents’ house in the Midlands, we were lucky enough to get snow on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and dad and I built an amazing snowman in the garden, just like when I was a kid. He was about 7ft tall! We also went sledging. One day I would love to spend Christmas in the mountains where you are guaranteed snow all week, and have a hot tub outside where you can enjoy a mulled wine! But for now, I’ll just have to hope that Santa drops Tom Hardy off under my tree, wrapped in a pretty red bow – wink wink!

Merry Christmas ladies, I hope you and all of your family and friends have the most excellent of Decembers!

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Words and Styling by Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea Dog / Images by Lisa Simmons of House of Pin Up / Hair and Make-Up by Keeleigh Remnant of KJR Hairdressing / Models: Rosie Waugh, Lella Aucott and Keeleigh Remnant / Clothing and Accessories by Silly Old Sea Dog: www.sillyoldseadog.com

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cool factor The December chill is here so your wardrobe may need a little upgrade. Whether it’s to help keep you cosy or bring you up to date with the latest trends, here are a few of them to help get you started.

Words Secondhand rose

the look, but still join in, just by wearing a blazer with sharp shoulders. It doesn’t need to have ones that will poke your eyes out like in the 80s, you can go with a softer 2016 cut, which is less deconstructed. It can help transform an outfit but not be too over the top.

Jewellery wise, earrings were big in the 80s. Literally. So, have a statement pair be the focus of your accessories and they don’t have to be jumbo clip-ons that hurt your ears for days after. Gold jewellery was very popular as well, just don’t go overboard with the hairspray and try and avoid the blue eye shadow as much as the 80s lover inside you will let you.

Velvet Velvet is the warm luxurious fabric favoured for this season. Gone are the days where it was just seen on dark, gothic clothes or only for the evening – it’s made its way into daytime wardrobes in an array of bright hues and lustrous colours. It is wonderfully soft and you can wear plain, patterned or crushed velvet.

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Model: Lianna Haynes Photo credits: Veronika Marx www.vastudio.co.uk Blog address: www.thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk

1980s Yep, the 80s is a trend for this season, just when party time is beginning. Power dressing is back!

However, it is mainly focused on eveningwear – think 80s cocktail attire. Lots of satin, ruching, asymmetric cuts, as well as fishnets and spiked stilettos. Leather, lace, latex and Lurex are also popular materials; no after dark outfit can escape some shimmer, perfect for being the belle of the ball at your Christmas party.

Exaggerated sleeves and arms, with a tiny body hugging silhouette and gigantic waist belt is a great way to pay homage to the glitziest, in your face decade of the 20th century. For the day, you can go with one-shoulder dresses, tops with ruffles and stirrup leggings. You can always tone down

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Velvet has been a favoured fabric since the 1920s, when it became easier and faster to produce. it was used to make beautiful garments favoured by the upper class and was the ultimate luxury. evening gowns and shawls were made from plain velvet, crushed velvet and velvet adorned with a beautiful, decadent pattern. it became popular again with the glamorous vibe of the 70s and 80s and crushed velvet was also loved in the 90s. you’ve probably seen it around with the 90s revival this year, so it won’t be too difficult to find something that you like. deep reds, royal blues and bottle greens are available as well as soft draping velvets in pastel colours. Play it safe with deeper tones like midnight blue, black and deep maroon. you can be as adventurous as you like with so much to choose from, including: velvet jumpsuits, midi skirts and dresses, crop tops, trouser suits, thigh-high boots and even a gorgeous blazer that will completely up your style game. Velvet looks particularly good when worn with metallic accessories: there’s a great contrast between them. one item of velvet is enough though and you can do it justice with accessories, like 90s style thin chokers or a clutch.

Blog addreSS: www.theSecondhandroSe.BlogSPot.co.uk

capelets the capelet is the latest fashion cover-up. it is a classy wearable addition to any outfit and is exceptionally stylish.

Capelets are defined as a cropped cape that swings above the hips; you may also find it called a cape blazer with split sleeves. they give a beautiful draped effect that a jacket doesn’t and can give a casual look of t-shirt and jeans, or a little black dress, a fresh new look.

Some capelets or cape blazers will have only small splits up the arm, while others have ones up to the top of the arm. there are plenty of designs to choose from and the split sleeves are a great way to update the cape for 2016. capes have been a popular accessory since the start of the 20th century with ones in the 1920s worn open with a tie around the neck. they were worn as a fancy evening wrap adorned with beautiful prints and beaded designs. wealthy women wore them during the day as an elegant accessory. Still fashionable in the 30s, they were primarily made from velvet, satin or brocade. they disappeared during the war due to fabric shortages but they made a comeback in the 1950s. they had simple lines and were made of tweed, check or mohair fabrics. later, they were given a makeover in the 60s and woollen ones were longer and were worn at the hip or the knee. capelets were seen all over the autumn/winter 2016 runway and can now be found in high street and online stores.

Velvet looks particularly g ood when worn with metallic accessories: there is a great contra st between them .

here are three trends you can explore this winter, whether it’s for your christmas party or to keep you looking luxe whilst trying to keep the cold out. You’re bound to find something that will work for you. Vl

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THE 1920S Society and Style across Sizes

Ain’t Misbehavin’ when I say that the 1920s was arguably the era that launched a thousand styles. Effortlessly elegant, simple and stunning fashion; it is still relevant today. If you think of glitz, glamour and Great Gatsby, you have just a very small snippet of what the decade was all about.

WORDS steff Benton

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Model: Steff Benton/Bye Bye Bailey / Photography: Griffin Photography / Make-Up: Stacey Cremin Make-Up Studio / Hair: Ellie Hawksworth/Elligant Hair / Location: The Alverton Hotel, Truro / Dress and headband: Gatsbylady

Artists were looked upon as heroes and admired for their unique style, which was expressed in the clothes they wore.

M

uch like the 1950s, this is an era post-war and a culture wishing to break past social barriers. A great many young men had died in World War I, leaving a great many more young women behind. After the generation before them, who traditionally waited to be asked for their hand by potential suitors, these women decided they were not going to waste their lives waiting for marriage or spinsterhood, so set out to enjoy their lives instead, breaking away from the old, traditional values that had defined the generations preceding. There was great economic growth – and thus more disposable income – so ladies could go out, dance and have fun.

There was a revolution. Women over the age of 21 were given the right to vote in 1928. This, plus the desire for independence defined the women of this age as game changers. For the first time, women had much more educational and career opportunities. When you add to this the first affordable car, the Ford Model T in 1923, you can see how much this was an era for change.

For the first time, women ditched close fitting and waist-emphasising styles in favour of a much looser style and said goodbye to the wasp waist. It was certainly an advantage for a woman of the 1920s to have a naturally slim and boyish figure, but the shape could otherwise be achieved on a fuller figure by using shaping undergarments to flatten the bottom, hips and chest, if one desired.

While there was much emphasis on the androgynous silhouette, this decade did, however, go a long way to acknowledging within the clothing industry that ladies come in all shapes and sizes and can be fashionably vintagelifemagazine.com | 23

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dressed. For example, long and straight dresses would be worn and go some way to concealing build, and deep V backs would elongate the body. For the fuller figure of this decade, fabrics were quiet and sensible, but generally across the board, the aim was to challenge ideas of feminine beauty by reducing the curves synonymous with it.

Perhaps the most iconic image that comes to mind for the 1920s is the Flapper.

The Flappers were most often young women, defined by a desire to be different and to rebel against societal norms. Unlike their older counterparts, this was a group of women who openly enjoyed smoking, drinking, dancing and living life in the fast lane. Jazz music became very popular, which is also how this era got dubbed ‘The Jazz Era’.

Flappers’ dresses were loose and comfortable to allow ease of movement for dancing and dances such as the Charleston were considered much too wild. To distance themselves from the long locks of the Gibson Girls of the late 19th and early 20th century, Flapper hair was often cut off to a bob, sometimes to an even shorter style called the ‘Eton’ cut; the look then finished off with a cloche hat or a fascinator.

The make-up shifted too. Previously, make-up had been associated with loose women but the flappers used it to create dramatic looks, accentuating the eyes and creating the classic Cupid's bow lip. Rouge, lipstick and eyeliner became staples for a Flapper girl.

The Flapper silhouette was unmistakeable. Again,

much like typical 1920s fashion, the look was androgynous and slender, but also very angular, inspired by Cubist artists such as Picasso, whose art was geometric with hard lines.

Despite the Jazz Era being almost 100 years ago, much of the style is still very wearable today. These are clothes made for comfort and loose fit as well as style, and complement a modern lifestyle nicely. There has been a massive shift, however, in dressing the fuller figure. Where the 1920s stayed away from dressing a shapely figure in anything too bright, sparkly and shiny, the opposite can be said for the present day. In a stark contrast to almost 100 years ago, you will find across all styles that women of all shapes and sizes wear vintage and reproduction clothing; not per past conventions but because we wish to make a statement about who we are as a person.

Sometimes, we may follow rules on what is flattering on us but increasingly we are wearing what we want regardless, because it makes us feel good.

We were all drawn to the vintage style because something about it makes us feel empowered. In a certain way, that makes us not so different to the Flappers.

The dresses of the 20s make a beautiful departure from the norm for an evening or occasion dress – or even for a beautiful, blushing bride!

Could we be set for a 20s revival, as 2020 is just around the corner? If anyone wants me, I'll be swishing around in my sequinned Flapper dress, warming up my Charleston ready for it!

steff benton Steff is a singer, model and blogger who goes under the name Bye Bye Bailey. When not doing this, she is a music teacher.

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Helen Muggeridge Hampshire-based lover of all things vintage. Helen is a singer in a rockabilly band and has been a plus size model for major repro brands.

Image: immfocus studio / Shutterstock.com/ immfocus studio

I

my big night out!

As a lady who has ‘more to love’ of the fleshy variety, I know the feeling of anxiety that a night out on the tiles with your friends can induce, especially if like me you happen to be the biggest one in your friendship group.

t’s easy to fall into a trap of self loathing from the moment you say, “See you at 8!” to the point when you are throwing every outfit you own on the floor in disgust, swearing at the mirror and wondering if anyone as massive as you ever set foot in a bar before, without being rugby tackled to the floor by the bouncers and told to get away from the beautiful people because you’re making them uncomfortable. I do know this feeling. I remember it well.

When I was younger, I recall trying to blend in with my friends – even trying to style myself the same as them, despite the fact we had completely different body types. I thought if I wore the same as my friends, I wouldn’t stand out as being bigger than them.

But this was the wrong way to go and I soon learnt that when I entered the vintage world.

There is a certain body positivity movement within vintage lifestyle that has yet to reach areas of modern life.

At vintage parties, plus size girls don’t stand out for the wrong reasons, we fit in with the glamour and we Charleston with the best of them. But you vintage loving girls know as well as I do, we can’t always be attending glitzy retro themed parties, at some point our T-bar heels and circle skirts are going to walk alongside our friends in pleather leggings and step into a strobe lit club with sticky floors… So Dolls, here

are my top five tips to feeling good when you are going out this Christmas party season – be your fabulous self, plus size or not.

1. ‘Empowered women, empower women’ – I love to see my friends looking great and always try to tell them that they are beautiful. There are so many people fat shaming/slut shaming/human shaming that we don’t need to do it to ourselves. As a plus size girl, you don’t need to put another woman down to make yourself feel better. Tell your friend she looks hot, encourage her to wear the short skirt if she wants to, her beauty doesn’t take away yours.

2. Own your Crown – I used to feel self-conscious being the only plus size girl in my group of friends, until I decided I was going to own it and be the best that I could be. There is nothing worse than feeling down on yourself when you see your friends having a great time. On the flip side, it’s a serious drainer when someone is constantly saying how awful they look. There will always be someone who doesn’t love your look but who cares? There will always be someone that does. Don’t slouch, pose. Don’t drag, strut. Or if all else fails – fake it till you feel it.

3. Celebrate your differences – My favourite thing about my friendship groups is how different we all are. Who

wants to see a group of people all looking the same? Variety is the spice of life and you might just be the spice in your friendship group. Don’t try to blend in, be who you are and be proud of it.

4. Wear what you love – Sometimes I wear a 50s frock and heels to the local pub where I am greeted by a bar of people in jeans, hoodies and trainers.

I don’t care if I’m over dressed; I’m wearing what I love so I look happy.

During Christmas party season you will be surrounded by little black dresses and glittery gowns, but don’t bust your wallet if your favourite party dress is five years old – wear it if you love it.

You will look so much better wearing something you love than something you think is in fashion.

5. Enjoy yourself! – Happy people are beautiful people.

So if you are lacking a bit of confidence this party season, and trust me, you won’t be the only one in your group of friends that is, follow my five top tips to feeling confident when out on the tiles. You are beautiful and so are your friends, take that plus size crown with pride, revel in what sets you apart from the masses, wear whatever the hell you want to. And above all; have fun.

Dance, laugh, drink if you want to and show the world it’s not so bad being plus size, in fact, it’s pretty awesome.

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K

ate Beavis from the National Vintage Wedding Fair shares her ideal Christmas wedding, featuring 1960s vintage column dresses, lots of colour and decorations and of course oodles of confetti everywhere!

How about carrying a vintage bauble bouquet and styling the tables and yourself with pompoms! Maybe a cake covered in sugar baubles in candy pinks to match your kitsch Christmas tree? Whatever your style, you’ll agree that this wedding is colourful and festive – and so much more fun than a traditional deep red, winter wedding!

The National Vintage Wedding Fair has hundreds of original wedding gowns available to buy on the day as well as everything else you need for your big day. They return in the spring with events around the UK. For more information visit www.vintageweddingfair.co.uk

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Credits:Photography: Sharon Cooper Photography / Model: Dakota Hunt and Kitty Beavis / Styling and Concept: Kate Beavis / Hair and Makeup: Aurora Loves / Cake: Claire Owen Cakes / Dresses: Real Green Dress and Unique / Bride Club / Veil: McFayden Millinery / Pom Poms: Pom Pom Galore / Bouquets: I Heart Buttons

fashion

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Kate Beavis

Blogger, writer and author of the book, Style Your Modern Vintage Home. Also runs the original award winning National Vintage Wedding Fair across the UK

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GREEN With Envy

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fashion Words Melanie Calland

I was thinking of the lack of green in winter and my mind turned to evergreen and conifer trees. Now, there is something special just up the road from me, which I hadn’t visited for a very long time – Minsteracres Monastery.

Every year, my parents would take us to the open day there. I have vague memories of its summer fete attractions, however if you say Minsteracres to me, the first thing I think of is Giant Californian Redwoods.

Photos of Melanie by Frankie Calland, others Melanie Calland, Big trees photo Helen Entwhistle

D

ad used to stop the car (an old Morris traveller back then) and let us punch the trunks! It may sound bizarre, but the bark is soft, somewhat spongy in fact! This avenue of grand statuesque trees has always stuck in my mind.

Around the same time, in my childhood, somebody kindly bought us a Believe it or Not! Ripley’s annual as a Christmas gift; inside was a fabulous illustration of a car driving through a gap in the centre of a giant Redwood! It fascinated me that a tree could reach this size! In fact they are the oldest living things on earth, some of them are actually 3,000 – 4,000 years old.

The first white men to see the Sequoias (Redwoods) in Yosemite National Park were members of an exploring party led by Joseph Reddleford Walker in 1833. They were of course sacred to the indigenous people of the area. Two British botanists were the first to cultivate the trees back in 1852; both brought saplings and seeds back to grow in the UK. Two different names popped up.

In the UK, they were known as Wellingtonia to honour the British general, but in the USA Dr. Kellog of the California Academy of Science wanted them to be known as "Washingtonia" in honour of their first president.

This sparked a debate that lasted for years and it was finally decided they should be named after the Cherokee Chief Sequoyah, who had devised a written language for his people (from National Geographic May 1951). Strangely, the UK's National Trust claims that "Sequoia" is a scientific term and makes no mention of the Cherokee chief (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/ how-the-giant-sequoia-came-to-england).

On further investigation, it seems Sequoyah wasn't in fact a pure Cherokee and his father was a British man, Nathanial Gist – a trapper and fur trader. His father called

him George Gist, but he was given the name Sequoyah (which means "pigs foot" in Cherokee) after an early hunting accident, when he was permanently crippled (https:// www.manataka.org/page81.html).

Sequoias are rich in tannin – this chemical helps make the trees resistant to fungus and insect attacks. They can also easily survive fire, helping them achieve their amazing longevity.

You will find that a tree named ‘General Sherman’ is the biggest tree in the world; it takes around 22 adults to circle, fingertips touching, and is thought to be over 2,000 years old.

Mostly found in the USA's national parks, they are also now found in over 28 different countries – the ones at Minsteracres must be around 150 years old and the largest avenue of them in the UK. Just infants in comparison to the mature trees of California, but still immense!

It was of course, the height of fashion and status to have exotic plants on your large country house estate at that time.

We have walked along the avenue and counted 62 of them with two others further down the driveway.

In 1853 a tree was chopped down in Sierra Nevada to show its immense size; it took five men 22 days to saw through it and the remaining stump was 27 feet wide and used as a dancefloor, holding up to 16 couples waltzing on it. Later, the trunk turned into a bowling alley. Sad looking back, but it brought popularity to these amazing trees and encouraged tourism to the national parks of America such as Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, bringing much needed funds to these areas.

My copies of National Geographic show the height of visits to the area as during the 1940s and 50s.

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fashion Controversial these days of course… These trees were cut through as tourist attractions way back between 1875-1937. Most no longer survive in the national parks, although visitors to Sequoia and Kings Canyon can drive through Sequoia Park's fallen ‘Tunnel Log’ located along the Crescent Meadow Road, in Giant Forest. Another tree that was already dead when carved still stands in Yosemite Park.

The most famous, The Wawona tree in Yosemite, fell in 1969 under heavy snow. There is still however a privately owned tree (carved in 1937) you can still drive through called the Chandilier tree. Whilst searching for an image of the car driving through a tree, my friend, artist Helen Entwhistle, had popped one as inspiration on Instagram, so she has kindly sent me the photo! You can find her amazing artwork at www.hellomemo.com.

I decided that I should wear something fitting for my first visit to the big trees in many decades! I bought an amazing old 50s skirt from the Internet earlier this year and at an old-fashioned price. The skirt was from Blum's Vogue Department store in Chicago, which opened in 1910, and was started by Harry and his wife Becky Blum. This was no ordinary department store. They had teams of seamstresses, tailors etc. to customise your outfit. This no doubt explains why this skirt is so exquisite! They wanted to give their customers a personal shopping experience.

In 1923 they released a promotional leaflet, called "Within the Portals" and this quote from Harry Blum is just sublime – my mantra really!

“The woman who is clever is not a slavish follower of style. She never clings blindly to an arbitrarily prescribed fashion. Individuality is a much more important result to strive for than mere newness.”

(Taken from http://blog.chicagohistory.org/)

Well I managed to get some velvet fabric by doing some alterations for a friend, a great swap, and made a bolero jacket from 1950s Vogue pattern, to wear with the beautiful full circle skirt, which features felt leaves encrusted with sequins. I lined the jacket with matching emerald green satin. My blouse is from Freddies of Pinewood, usually known for their wonderful hardwearing jeans but don't forget, they do lots of great separates, based on original 40s and 50s patterns. The green Dalia blouse is one such lovely item, with theatrical collar, original buttons, tie cuff sleeves and lots of pleats on the back, giving a blouson effect. It can be worn tied at the front or tucked in.

I accessorised with green 50s gloves and an original parasol from Teatime Vintage in Clapham near Ingleton; it has a lovely Lucite handle which always gets admired.

My Lucite purse came from my first trip to the USA in 1998 and it's black with silver confetti inside – although it has always had a crack in the back, it doesn't prevent it being a real showstopper!

My gorgeous black suede ankle strap shoes are from Rocket Originals, another stunning pair copied from original shoes, just perfect. I couldn't decide which brooch, so I wore two! I've had the little monkey as long as I can remember and he has little emerald green eyes, the other plastic leaf brooch was a recent bargain from Facebook!

I will finish at the top; my sunspecs were bought from Darren at Deadmensspex who put my prescription lenses in them (although they are original specs) and my hat is a wool beanie from "Paris Inspired FRENCHI from Edna Wallace."

Dita and I had a lovely stroll up the avenue – the Redwoods demand your attention – and they even seemed to make me walk taller!

Minsteracres these days is a retreat and anyone is welcome to visit the grounds and enjoy the flora and fauna. http://www. minsteracres.org/

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TANTALISING

TIGHTS!

T

his season, inspiration for the collection has come mainly from interior trends, both current and past. From the beautiful floral wallpapers of Edwardian homes to the fragmented shapes in terrazzo floor, so popular at the moment, via mid century flying duck wall ornaments and lots in between.

The result is an eclectic mix of styles and patterns, all reminiscent of the time when tights came with a back seam and all ready to add a statement to your outfit.

Beautiful colours will compliment many a vintage outfit with mustard, teal, plum and dusty pink being the favourites here!

This year, for the first time, all the tights come in 2 sizes, S/M and M/L. They are ÂŁ18 a pair and come beautifully packaged in a very pale grey, gold foiled box making them the perfect gift.

For any extra information contact: rebecca@hosetights.co.uk

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ChristmAS Putting the glam into

...with Vivien of Holloway

When Christmas comes around we all look for a little extra glamour. It is the time for parties, which means satins and sparkle. Here at Vivien of Holloway we specialise in just such things. Our party dresses come in a variety of gorgeous jewel tones and we search the world to bring you the most beautiful and authentic jewellery and accessories.

F

or your special Christmas parties our Halterneck or Grace dress with their full circle skirt in luxurious duchess satin can't be beaten for class. You will twirl around the dance floor like a princess. These dresses will open doors everywhere! They also come in sateen for a slightly less formal look. Team with a matching or contrasting petticoat for a more dramatic effect.

If you fancy something a little more racy you can't go wrong with our satin sarong – this satin is almost liquid as it drapes itself around your curves. The wrap around waterfall skirt adds that little sex appeal flashing a bit of leg while helping to hide any bulges you may have from one too many mince pies. This also comes in plain

sateen and fabulous prints; there is something for everyone.

Our tartan skirts and novelty print tea dresses and Kitty dresses are just perfect for daytime with the family. You can feel glamorous and comfy at the same time. A traditional tartan circle or pencil skirt with a slash neck top keeps you warm and toasty in front of the tree. This year we have also indulged in some more seasonal prints to look cute while celebrating with the folks. Take a look at the great Christmassy prints in our Raglan Blouses – perfect with our festive tone 40s pants.

For those of you who really like to commit we have tea dresses and Kitty dresses in Christmas prints.

Let’s Sparkle this Christmas when Santa comes to Town.

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Starry Night Dress Stardust Belt silver (also available in gold) Tippi Bag silver (also available in red & black) Sizes XS to 4XL www.hellbunny.com

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Starry Night Dress Stardust Belt silver (also avilable in gold) Tippi Bag silver (also available in red & black) Angette Top in silver lurex (also available in red,black & green) Blitzen 50s Skirt (also available in red) Long petticoat – available in over 15 colours!

All in sizes XS to 4XL www.hellbunny.com

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Angette Top in silver lurex (also available in red, black & green) Blitzen 50s skirt – also available in red Long petticoat available in over 15 colours!

All in sizes XS to 4XL www.hellbunny.com

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Dress: Blitzen 50s dress (also available in black) Sizes XS to 4XL www.hellbunny.com

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Geraldine Dress In sizes XS to 4XL www.hellbunny.com

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In this section

BEAUTY & HAIR

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21/10/2016 18:00

beauty

Life’s too short for

BORING NAILS! When the clock strikes midnight and Halloween ends then it’s Christmas everywhere! Twinkling fairy lights, carols in shopping precincts, overpriced Christmas menus – it’s brilliant. It also gives me permission to put on Christmas attire. I love my jumpers; they hide a multitude of sins.

L

ast month I introduced the stamping technique to you.

Stamping has really gained in popularity although it has been around for some time.

The types of plates you now can buy are just amazing! I will be demonstrating how you can transfer the knitwear designs on to your nails for Christmas.

STEP BY STEP VINTAGE NAIL ART: Preparation (Optional): Prepare hands and nails by using a body scrub over them to remove any debris and dirt that would diminish the desired effect. Plus, it feels nice! Push back cuticles with a wooden orange cuticle stick.

STEP 1.

Apply your chosen base coat using the three-stroke method as demonstrated in previous tutorials. This is to ensure the coat is even. Don’t be shy, use a good coverage but don’t drown the nail, as this will cause flooding around the sidewalls and the cuticle area.

Base coats are designed to stop your nail getting stained from highly pigmented colours and will also help any ridges in the nail smooth out for an even coverage. It also ensures your chosen colour will last longer. It provides a prefect surface to stick to and help stop those pesky chips!

STEP 2.

Again with three strokes, apply your chosen colour. Remember, it doesn’t have to be red – pine green would work well too! Aim for two coats or less. Look around for good quality polishes; don’t be fooled because it has a high-end label on it, look at quality not price. Leave enough time for each layer to dry before applying the next.

Kim Williams Nail technician with 10 years’ experience in gel, acrylics & gel polish design. Kim has a passion for vintage fashion.

STEP 3.

Stamping. This may take some practise.

Don’t stress! Make sure you have plenty of nail polish remover (acetone free only as acetone may damage some plates). Keep your products ready at hand as you have to work fairly quickly.

Paint enough polish over the desired image and lay your scraper at a 45-degree angle and swipe across. Pick up your stamper, press down firmly (sometimes roll from one side to the other, dependant on how you work) and pick up immediately and place on to the desired nail. Again. roll from one side to the other or with equal pressure with the stamper and stamp away. The longer you leave the stamper on the nail, the more chance it won’t stick as it dries very fast.

Hint: To clean the stamper use a lint roller that you use for clothes. That way your stamper will last longer without any harsh chemicals on it and the stickiness helps to pick up the images you want.

STEP 4.

When all of your stamping images have thoroughly dried, apply the topcoat. Similarly when applying your base and colour, use three thin strokes and cap the edges with a good quality topcoat then repeat. This ensures that all edges of the stamping images are covered and won’t come off and ruin your hard work. Tidy up cuticles with a cotton bud. Alternatively you can buy an adhesive that you apply around your nails and pull off so there is less mess to clean up. Once completely dry, apply cuticle oil.

Product information: Stamping plates and white stamping polish: Moyou Polish base and colours and top coat from www.rainbow-connection.co.uk and Young Nails Clear jelly stamper. Original clear jelly stamper. www.nail.supplies

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Q&A

beauty

OUR BEAUTY CROWN

BEAUTY QUEENS Q&As

add a touch of sparkle to your make-up!

Q: I work as a singer and have a lot of Christmas parties coming up that I will be performing at. I have been booked for one particular event that is at a really posh venue and it’s the biggest crowd I have ever sung to, so I’m a bit nervous! I really want to look good and I’m worried my usual make-up routine doesn’t cut it. Do you have any tips that could help?

‘‘

This month’s “Beauty Crown” is the perfect Christmas gift!

Katherine Daniels Signature Candle – Our favourite British brand has brought out this beautiful candle just in time to put it at the top of your Christmas list!

Gorgeously scented with White Lily and Jasmine, it really fills the room with the most divine scent.

Made with natural soy and poured in the UK, it really is a fab gift (or just treat yourself!!) Available from www.katherinedanielscosmetics. com priced £21.99

A: There’s nothing more glam than winter nights and an excuse to add a touch of sparkle to your usual make-up routine! Plus, being on stage, you really need to shine! Instead of trying a completely new look (this might make you more nervous on the day of your show) try giving your usual performance make-up a little bit of an umph! False lashes are a definite on stage and if you usually wear them, try a little heavier pair that will really stand out. Add a glitter shimmer on your eyes and try a slightly stronger colour on your lips. It’s important that you feel as comfortable as possible though so maybe do a trial run at one of your smaller events, as you don’t want your new make-up distracting your singing! Good luck!

READER

SHUTTERSTOCK/ OLGA EKATERINCHEVA

SPOTLIGHT

BEAUTY 71.indd 3

Ja s mi n e K elly

When I was a little girl I fell in love with the music of the 1950s.

It wasn’t until my teens that I discovered a whole community of people dressing in the rockabilly style and vintage clothing who adored the 1950s just as much as me! I love vintage beauty as it allows me to express myself and BE myself, whilst belonging to a community full of passionate people.

The Beauty Queens Professional make-up artistry team founded

by Gina Dowle and Laura Hunt.

WANT TO BE FEATURED? TELL US WHY YOU LOVE VINTAGE BEAUTY. ENQUIRIES@THEBEAUTYQUEENS.CO.UK

QueensOfMakeup

QueensOfMakeup

W www.thebeautyqueens.co.uk

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beauty

the history of ma ke-u p:

THE 1950S: COLOUR EXPLOSION!

Christina Cooling Internationally published MUA, specialising in bridal/ special occasion/ theatrical & special effects make-up.

The 1950s was a period of sophistication, classic glamour and a return to sculpted femininity, somewhat resembling that of the elegant Victorian era. With some of the restrictions of wartime now over, the cosmetic industry was now in a firm position to develop and flourish.

MAKE-UP ARTIST AND HAIR STYLIST -–CHRISTINA COOLING / WWW.CHRISTINACOOLING.COM AND FACEBOOK @CHRISTINACOOLINGMUA / MODEL - BECKY CHRISTOPHER / PHOTOGRAPHER - STEVE CAVE CAVE-STUDIOS.CO.UK

M

ost cosmetics were sold by just a few major brands, with Max Factor, Revlon and Pond pushing out smaller companies who quite simply failed to compete. A luxury cosmetic market also took off, with Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein selling make-up and superior skincare products, with exotic ingredients and high price tags.

Max Factor was still the leader in invention and made products women wanted to use, on and off screen. In 1953 ‘Creme Puff’ was released, the first all in one blend of creamy make-up base and powder. In 1954 ‘Erace’ was also introduced as the first retail concealer and was immediately commercially successful.

Estee Lauder was the first company in the 50s to introduce free samples, including miniature lipsticks, eye shadows and rouges. This is a marketing strategy that certainly plays a key role in our cosmetic shopping experience today.

It was Revlon that launched the most famous lipstick advertising campaign of the decade, ‘Fire & Ice’. Combining glamour, class and irresistible sex appeal, the full colour two-page spread featured the gorgeous model Dorian Leigh. Revlon were now in a league of their own, selling lipstick shades made for the individual. The brand also famously used provocative headlines and issued questions to its customers, such as “Have you ever danced with your shoes off?” and “Are you made for Fire & Ice?”.

The make-up industry also bloomed with the advent of colour motion pictures. Gone were black and white films, with stars on the big screen now appearing in full colour. As in previous decades, women continued to take inspiration from cinema, with starlets such as Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day and Marilyn Monroe influencing beauty trends. Leading ladies became not only fashion icons but also beauty icons for women around the world.

Women were suddenly introduced to bright eyeshadows, intense red lipsticks and flawless faces.

Make-up truly became all about emulating what was seen on the screen.

Even brands such as No7, who relaunched in 1952 after ceasing production during the war, were heavily influenced by Hollywood, with their cosmetics packaged in glamorous black and gold.

Foundation became widely used in the 1950s, with an obsession for perfect skin. Women ap-

plied foundation like a mask to neutralise their skin tone and cover imperfections. Natural tones were fashionable, with pink or peach bases, applied using either liquid, cream or cake formulations.

Rouge was not a prominent feature and was used sparingly in either pink or coral tones, to simply add a soft warm glow.

Eyeshadow came in a variety of colours, mostly in shades of brown, grey, blue and purple pastels. Eyeshadow was essentially minimal, with generally only one colour used and taken only to the sides of the eyelid. Mascara however was a favourite accessory with eyelashes very much enhanced. Block mascara and cream mascara were used and excitingly, the 1950s also saw the emergence of tube mascara with a wand.

Mascara was mainly applied to the top lashes and came in various colours, from black to brown to emerald green and purple. The fashion was also to use eyeliner on the upper eyelid to create the illusion of almond shaped eyes.

Eyebrows throughout the decade were dark and strong, with a defined arch that tapered out at the ends. The thickness varied from medium to very full.

Lip colours were rich and intense and the strongest element of 1950s make-up. In 1950, chemist Hazel Bishop created the first long-lasting lipstick ‘No-Smear Lipstick’. Sales were extraordinary, reaching over ten million dollars in just three years.

The common shape was full and voluptuous, using lip liner to extend the natural borders of the mouth. Lipstick came in many shades including pink and coral, however red was the predominant choice. Red lipstick varied from vibrant true red and cherry red in the early 50s to orange and pinkish tones in the latter part of the decade, with the later addition of titanium.

The 1950s also saw the emergence of the teenager as an independent consumer group with spending power. The cosmetic brands soon recognised this and introduced products aimed at teenage problems, such as acne. Teenagers wearing make-up was almost seen as a rite of passage into womanhood.

As a post war decade, the 1950s developed impeccable style, and even make-up had style.

Applying make-up became a way of life for the modern woman, where colours were perfectly coordinated and products used to exaggerate features. The 1950s face was a masterpiece and is still fully embraced today.

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beauty

the be st vi nta ge style s for Carl Brown Professional hairdresser and co-founder of Russell & Brown’s Vintage Salon in Liverpool.

Seasonal soirÉes...

It’s that time of year when the days grow shorter, the weather turns colder and there’s that extra seasonal sparkle in the air. So we at Russell and Brown’s Vintage Hair are here with our top recommended looks to keep you in style for those seasonal soirées!

Key Look Number 1 – 1920s Finger Waves 1920s hair has been huge in the vintage world for 2016.

From 20s inspired bohemian bridal hair to faux-bobs and finger waves, it’s definitely been one of the most popular choices for our lovely clients this year so that’s why we’ve selected it as a key look for this festive season!

Finger waves are perfect for partying; with plenty of product they can withstand

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the wind and rain (or hopefully snow) as well as a heavy night of lindy hopping or Charleston dancing! They are an adaptable style and can be worn in many ways.

From shiny and sleek to soft and textured, the possibilities are endless and they always look amazing on photos so you’ll be selfie ready to see the year out! Why not wear them with a feathered accessory or beaded band to add some extra bling?

18/11/2016 11:55

Professional images were taken by Little Miss Bee Photography

Key Look Number 2 – Classic Hollywood Waves For those looking for a glamorous alternative down style why not try some Hollywood waves? A staple of the red carpet and a classic look, you can be sure you’ll be in style with the perfect wave set.

Hollywood waves can be worn in many ways. From voluminous barrel curls to flowing, silky and sultry styles they are adaptable to many tastes. You can even wear them swept to one side or with a little added height around the fringe area in order to give them some extra impact. Again, perfect for festive photos and always on trend!

Key Look Number 3 – Voluminous Victory Rolls If you’re after an authentic vintage look that will be sure to make an impact at any party, why not opt for a gorgeous victory roll look? Another staple of the vintage hair world, they will always be on trend. A classic of the 1940s, they can come in all shapes and sizes.

We recommend a half-up half-down look with big and beautiful asymmetric rolls at the front with a sexy soft curl set at the back. This look is perfectly feminine and feisty at the same time.

However, if you’re really wanting to be the belle of the ball you could opt for a swirly detailed pincurled style around the back instead which will hold throughout the night and ensures you’ll be snappable from every angle!

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intro pagesTHIS ONE.indd 3

28/09/2016 11:26

All I want for Christmas is...

haili hughes Haili is a teacher, writer, pin-up model and Features Editor of Vintage Life Magazine.

Gratitude The countdown has started and shops can’t even turn on the TV or make a being accosted by ‘must have items’ your loved ones with. But what does

are full of seasonal wares. You trip to the supermarket without and ‘bargain deals’ you could treat it all mean?

Words: Haili hughes

“Father Christmas would usually leave me a stocking full of fruit, a shiny new sixpence, a piece of coal — I think that was for luck but it was also very useful for keeping us warm! Pencils, hankies and knitted clothes. We never had individual presents from the family, and we had the wireless for entertainment and we all loved playing card games.”

It is a far cry from the piles of expensive, brightly wrapped presents that stack up underneath the tree today.

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– Splendette

Shani's Showroom / Location

– Three Swans, Frome / Jewellery

Photography – Dave Merritt

All of this research into Christmases past has really made me rethink my gift choices for people. Instead of going overboard on the latest hi-tech gadgets and sparkling jewellery, I am going back to basics.

Credits: Model – Scarlett Luxe /

According to the Imperial War Museum, Christmas gifts during the war years were practical and mostly recycled. With many luxuries being hard to come by, even Christmas wrapping was banned to conserve paper and cards were printed on more flimsy material. However, surely the hardest thing during the war years must have been the absence of loved ones: husbands, fathers, brothers and children, all in peril in a far off land. Reading this account of a wartime Christ-

mas by Shirley Brittan from Bromsgrove (www. mytimemachine.co.uk), really brought home just how lucky we are.

Photography / Clothing –

O

f course it’s lovely to buy gifts for people; the warm fuzzy feeling inside when you give to others is one of the best things about Christmas. However, it’s now got to the stage where I avoid social media on Christmas Day. A barrage of designer handbags, charm bracelets and other flashy gifts, all punctuated by the hashtag #luckygirl make me long for a more simple time, where it wasn’t all such a competition.

17/11/2016 16:05

lifestyle

Gratitude. It doesn’t need wrapping up in tissue paper and embellishing with a taffeta bow. It’s multi-functional as it is a gift you can receive and get at the same time. Instead of bankrupting myself with gifts that mean nothing, I am spending time with the people I love and contemplating why they matter to me. I am going to remember all of the conversations I have had with them, the happy memories we have shared. After I have done this, I will tell them how much they mean to me and how grateful I am to have them in my life.

That’s the real meaning of Christmas.

There are countless benefits associated with being grateful. In fact, gratitude has been linked to increased levels of happiness and life satisfaction. Two psychologists, Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami, have conducted research on gratitude. In one study, they asked all participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics.

One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to doctors than those who focused on sources of annoyance (British Psychological Society).

Giving thanks is one of the most powerful ways there is to increase your well being.

Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress – which let’s face it, during the festive season, that’s something we all want. Gratitude will change your life. For the better.

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Peace on earth

W Georgia harrup Fully immersed in living a ‘vintage life’, Georgia Harrup performs nationwide both as a soloist and as part of 50s/60s girl group The Northernettes.

ell Elf certainly has it all planned out this Christmas.

If however, you are not as organised or as prepped as our favourite festive Buddy, fear not. Christmas does not have to be chaos!

As much as I love the festive season, it can be a huge big snowball of stress and nothing takes the shine off the tinsel quite like forgetting the stuffing or fitting everyone around the table for the big day. Here are my three top tips for a more harmonious Christmas.

Preparation: The early bird really does catch the worm here. Preparing for the festivities means that when you find yourself knee deep in wrapping paper, nobody on your list gets forgotten! Get yourself a lovely notebook (because all great ideas, plans and lists start with a good notebook, right?) and start jotting down all those that you have to buy for and some gift ideas. If you are lost for inspiration, you cannot go wrong with a personalised gift or a photograph memory wrapped up in a pretty bow. Give yourself a few hours

Three top tips for a stress free Christmas!

Words: Georgia Harrup

(monicavalentinevintage.co.uk)

to sit down with a festive tipple to help you have a think and make your lists. Even if you have been mentally scrawling down thoughts on presents for a while – now is the time to put them all down in front of you so you can go from there.

Spreading The Cost: Starting as early as possible helps spread the cost and lowers your pulse when your bank statement comes in! Whether it’s food or gifts, scatter the expense over the weeks by picking up a few bits and pieces each payday. Another handy idea is to put a few non-perishables into your shopping basket each time you visit the supermarket, so that you don’t end up having to do one big shop and it costing the earth. Things like cranberry sauce, frozen veg or stuffing mix can all last in the cupboard/ freezer until the time comes.

The full Christmas meal can be a little daunting to some so pick the bits you like and forget about the rest! No point in going the full hog if the Brussel sprouts always get left, or the apple sauce remains untouched. Working to a budget for each person will also help you feel a lot richer at the end of it all too!

Decoration: Now Christmas just would not be Christmas without a little sparkle here and there but if you are struggling for extra pennies, adopt the 1940s way of life and ‘make do and mend’!

If you have any old decorations left over from last year, it is time to do a spruce up. Everything looks better with a nice bit of red ribbon or a little bit of glitter on it!

Pinecones, wreaths made from twigs, berries and string as well as paper chains all come at a minimal price and look amazing with a little creativity. Just like back in the day, why not use what nature gave us and invite a little wartime charm into your home this season. A great way to get the whole family involved and guaranteed to leave you with sentimental decorations to treasure for years to come.

Christmas is a time of giving, a time to relax and share what you have with those that you love the most. If you have the whole extended family round or even if you are celebrating with your favourite four-legged friend, remember to enjoy it and invite ‘Peace to your own bit of Earth.’

Images credited to C.Williams / Vintage Cream Jumper– Monica Valentine Vintage / Grey Tulle Skirt – Aspire Style Pink Notebook – Sun Jellies / Hair bow– Lexy Lux Design

“First we’ll make snow angels for two hours, then we’ll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of cookie dough as fast as we can and then we’ll snuggle.”

52 | vintagelifemagazine.com

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wellbeing

Words: Kitty Von Tastique Photos: Steadyc.am

Grey Tulle Skirt – Aspire Style Pink Notebook – Sun Jellies / Hair bow– Lexy Lux Design

christmas bath time rituals Let’s face it; Cleopatra is the go-to bath time legend when it comes to bathing rituals. Although baths and bathing have come in and out of favour during the last 5,000 years, visions of the perfect ‘me’ time, spent relaxing in a luxurious bath, are still very much firmly in favour, thanks largely to visions of Cleopatra floating in her milkshake.

T

hese days it's a very civilised affair.

Indeed this era we are living in is perhaps the equivalent of a luxury 'bathtopia', with bath time literally being lifted to the status of 'art' by experts like Lush Cosmetics, who seem to have elevated the bath (and indeed shower) time experience to a truly phenomenal level.

I have long been a Lush fan because of their strong ethical, sustainable and kind approach to product creation, not to mention gorgeous smelling product range.

Some people love shoes and handbags but I prefer to obsess over the scented sanctuary of bathing. Although it's perfectly fine to throw a bath ballistic in the tub and bombs away, I thought I'd lay out some perfect pairings of this season's offerings for

wellbeing.indd 5

Kitty Von Tastique A qualified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, fitness nutrition coach and wellness coach. She has a passion for everything eco, ethical and sustainable.

your bath time delectation. So lie back, relax, and think of Cleopatra with my bespoke bath time ritual recipes!

Santa Baby Delicious divas don't wait for Santa to spoil them. They treat themselves to the perfect pre-party ritual.

Listen to: Eartha Kitt Santa Baby, Dean Martin Baby It's Cold Outside, Ella Fitzgerald What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? Scent the room with Lemongrass & Sweet Orange.

Bathe with Shoot For The Stars bath bomb! It's the perfect present from you to you. 'Almost' Tiffany blue with shimmering stars, rewarding you with the sparkle you deserve, sweety! It puts on quite a show as

18/11/2016 10:44

wellbeing

it dissolves, starting as midnight blue before those fair trade cocoa butter stars dissolve to give you some much needed moisture. It has a sugary sweet and uplifting citrusy scent with Brazilian orange and bergamot, so it's perfect to keep you going during the party season. Plus it basically looks like a bath full of mermaid tears of joy; it is 'that' magical! You'll come out moisturised and glamorised!

The Icing On The Cake: why not enjoy one of Lush's fresh facemasks while you relax? I recommend Ayesha. It gives your skin a great pick-me-up before a big night out.

More of a shower person: try the new Bubbly shower gel. It also has the perfect combo of citrus and cognac oils to get you party ready.

Going Out: make sure you get your pout perfectly kissable using Santa Baby edible cherry lip scrub and Santa Baby cherry red lip tint, both made with real cherries!

The Sugar Plum Fairy Can't wait for Christmas and

love hanging your pink stockings with care? This recipe is for all of you sweet hearts out there!

Listen to The Nutcracker Suite Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (of course!), Cinderella A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo. Scent the room with Vanilla.

Bathe with: every good fairy should have her very own wand and Lush have obliged by creating the Magic Wand re-usable bubble bar complete with jingle bell. Oh, and did I mention it's bubblegum pink?! Although the wand itself makes bubbles, I'd also suggest adding a Candy Mountain bubble bar or some Snow Fairy FUN to the bath as well. The FUN is mouldable so you can make your own little snow fairy then turn her into bubbles! Lots of bubbles!

Moisturise using the Snow Fairy body conditioner. It's a glittery pot of vanillary goodness.

Body conditioner is designed to be rubbed onto your wet skin and then gently rinsed before you pop out of the bath or shower. It sounds totally weird but it actually works. Think of it

as a hair conditioner equivalent for your body.

The Icing On The Cake: finish with Fairy Dust. Apply a fine dusting of this candy-scented powder to give your skin that fairy sparkle! Lush also suggest adding a fine dusting to your bed sheets as well. That's bound to get us into trouble with the fairy police for misuse of powder but it's probably worth it!

More of a shower person: try using the Snow Fairy shower gel and Salt and Peppermint Bark body scrub.

Going Out: give your lips a scrub and tint with the new Sugar Plum Fairy sugar lip scrub (yes, you can lick it off and eat it!) and Sugar Plum Fairy lip tint.

White Christmas For the true vintage lover, this recipe combines the best of the old and the new to give you a blissful bath time experience that feels like a big, fluffy hug!

Listen to: Bing Crosby and Martha Mears’ White Christmas, Dean Martin Let It Snow, Frank

Sinatra Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Nat King Cole The Christmas Song.

Scent the room with lavender.

Bathe with the Luxury Lush Pud bath bomb. It looks like a lovely little Christmas pudding plus it delivers Tonka for some sweet vanilla-like reassurance, lavender for relaxation and foam for fun.

The Icing On The Cake: why not throw in a Snow Angel bath melt to add sparkle and moisture to your bath?

Moisturise using the wonderful new Sleepy body lotion, it takes you straight to the land of Zs with lavender water and lavender infusion to guide the way.

More of a shower person?

Try the Comforter shower gel.

It's 'berry' sweet!

Going out? No way! We need to be home when Santa arrives! Throw on a pinch of Mr Sandman dusting powder and float off to the land of nod. Sweet dreams!

(All products listed are vegan apart from Ayesha facemask & Santa Baby lip scrub, which are both vegetarian. The writer does not work for Lush, nor was she paid in currency or kind).

54 | vintagelifemagazine.com

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18/11/2016 10:45

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14/11/2016 11:35

sHutterstoCk.Com/volvio

Kimberly Wragg ‘kimmy cupcake’ is a keen baker, is extremely house proud & has her own blog. she tries to always be positive and bright, and see the good in every situation.

JarS oF LoVe christmas is LiteraLLy Just around the corner. the buiLd up aLone is an exciting time, fiLLed with anticipation, events, get togethers, magic, shopping… and biLLs! the pressure to show everyone that we Love them and have thought of them can become overwheLming, particuLarLy if money is tight. present buying can get a LittLe out of hand, which can turn this magicaL time of year into a bit of a bind, making us aLmost dread it, which is so sad!

I

’ve been thinking of present buying and who I need to put on my list. I started thinking about what would I consider ‘the perfect gift’. looking back on last year, I struggle to remember who bought what. I know I was spoiled and was blessed enough to receive a bountiful amount of thoughtful, lovely gifts but that’s about all I remember off the top of my head. I do, however, remember the feeling I had when a friend had left a bunch i remember how good i feLt when i got of flowers on my desk at work when I returned from a two-week private messages from peopLe who had holiday, just because she had missed me. I remember how read my bLog and been touched by a good I felt when I got private messages from people who particuLar topic that i had covered had read my blog and been touched by a particular topic that I had covered – I had struck a chord with them and they wanted to thank me. I remember the lovely compliments I’ve received from friends and family for a whole host of different reasons on a variety of occasions. I hold them in my heart and treasure them every day. those have been ‘the perfect gifts’. all of those points were rattling about in my mind

when I remembered that a friend of mine had told me about ‘memory Jars’ a couple of new years ago. basically, you decorate a jar as you wish and make it special to you. then, from the start of a new year, every time you have something good happen, a dandy day out, a present or get given a nice compliment, write it on a piece of paper and pop it in the jar. then, whenever you want to remember all of the good things you’ve experienced, you simply delve into your jar.

How about combining the two to create that ‘perfect gift’ for family and friends? decorate a pretty jar with ribbons and accessories, or even hand paint a design, then think of all the instances where that particular person has made you smile, brightened your day, a quality of theirs that you admire or a reason why you love them as you do. Write them all on little pieces of brightly coloured paper and pop them in the jar. Whenever they need reminding of just how special they are and how much they are loved, they can empty their jar and read through all of the wonderful things you have to say about them.

It may be cheap as chips to make in monetary value, but the thoughtfulness and love that will go into each jar will be priceless and will be treasured forever.

56 | vintagelifemagazine.com

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17/11/2016 14:38

SASSY

wellbeing

while you squat!

Credits: Words: Georgia Harrup / Images credited to Stevie Cheesman / Watermelon Top: Pole Addict-Workout Wear / Watermelon Leggings: The Power Of Grey Skull / Pink Unicorn Top: Pole Addict Workout Wear / Pink Marble Leggings: Missguided / Pizza Gym Bag & Bottle: Ban.Do

Words: Georgia harrup www.monicavalentinevintage.co.uk

From the glitz and glam of the roaring 1920s to the fringing disco dazzle of the 1970s – as lovers of vintage, we have seen it all. Some of us like the simplicity of a 40s tea dress made tenderly while others prefer the sass of a short 60s shift. Regardless of era, there is one thing that ties all enthusiasts together – we wear vintage to express who we are. Colours, patterns, prints, and the shapes of eras gone by intertwine us all into one big vintage loving fabulous group of people who celebrate individuality.

A

s a 50s/60s fanatic myself, I enjoy wearing bright, loud and confident clothing every day and celebrating the skin I am in. However, whenever I go to exercise I am faced with limited options for brightly coloured gym wear. If I can express myself every day with what I wear – why should it be any different when I work out? If you feel confident stepping out dressed in your favourite era then surely feeling just as sassy in your active wear will inspire you to run for longer, get those knees up or just do five more minutes work on those abs.

Look back into the past and

you will find poster pinup girls lifting weights in nothing but a brassiere and matching sateen knickers, or ladies strapped to contraptions designed to “wobble the fat away” wearing silky playsuits. Marilyn Monroe became iconic for her curvaceous form and is to date one of the most sought after shapes of all time. Wearing just a crop top and a pair of swing trousers, this sassy siren worked out with exuberance. Now swing trousers might not be exactly practical for running a marathon in, but Marilyn wore clothes that gave her confidence while working out – no reason why you can’t do the exact same!

Times have rapidly moved on

Georgia harrup Fully immersed in living a ‘vintage life’, Georgia Harrup performs nationwide both as a soloist and as part of 50s/60s girl group The Northernettes.

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wellbeing

and it is not considered politically correct to wear matching lingerie to a gym these days. However, even though fashions have changed, one thing remains the same – people still work out.

A vital part of my wardrobe has to be brightly coloured workout clothes that are guaranteed to help me spring into action each time I wear them. I work out because I want to live a longer, healthier life but sometimes, like all of us, I lack that all important motivation that spurs me on to reach for my trainers and just ‘get on with it’. This time last year I was carrying a rather large watermelon (baby!) and six whole months ago I became a mum for the first time. I felt that this watermelon gym attire was rather appropriate to celebrate my shape as it is right now. Wearing this bright fun loving print, I feel sassy enough to squat away with self-belief and loud enough to blow any body hang up cobwebs well away. Stepping out in gym wear you love is less likely to make you want to hide away and more motivated to burn calories.

My body is now incredibly different post baby and I am learning to live with and love my new shape, as well as working towards feeling fitter and healthier. For me, working out is all about balance and moderation. Occasionally it means getting pizza after you finish a heavy gym session – other times it is enjoying tea and cake simply ‘because’. It is important to remember to wear the clothes that make you feel a million dollars, eat scrumptious delicious food that fills you up from the outside in and take the time to look after yourself.

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I n this section

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LIFESTYLE

intro pagesTHIS ONE.indd 5

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lifestyle

let me tell you a story...

At work Words: Elena Falcon

In 1967 a girl with burnished copper and burgundy hair, a crown of velvety curls piled high on her head, dressed for the second half of her split shift at a popular Mexican restaurant in Southern California. Her eyes expertly lined like Elizabeth Taylor’s Cleopatra, her blue eyes flashed like sapphires. A career waitress until she found her calling as a writer and later as a clothing designer, Georgia Santisteban recalled her staple work wardrobe item, the one thing she always wore without fail – the cutest, most colourful ball earrings. The last thing she put on for work, their tiny colour splash was a symbol of both adrenaline and rebellion in a world regulated by uniform protocol.

G elena falcon Leader in healthcare in California, inspiring and connecting people through vintage fashion to create more access to healthcare services.

Elena is known for her expertise in policy, community advocacy and passion, but also for her colourful business suits, power bouffant and wearing her grandmother’s jewellery.

eorgia, looking at those earrings nestled in her gold jewellery box says they're a reminder of her strength and capability. "I was once strong enough to carry seven hot, heavy plates up both arms and somehow manage to answer an incoming phone order at the same time!" But more than anything, those tiny vintage earrings told the story of Georgia, her strength and spirit in the workplace, almost 50 years later.

Forbes magazine recently reviewed the book, The Art Of Doing, by authors Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield. Among the top ten author identified characteristics of super-achievers is the art of story telling – a connective strategy that can be facilitated by both words and attire in the workplace. According to the US Bureau of Labour, the average person will spend almost 70,000 hours of their life at work – what story will you tell while you are there? And what medium will you use to do it? If a picture says a thousand words, what does vintage in the workplace say?

Melissa, a civil servant in a large public safety agency knows when people come to see her that they generally aren't having the best of days: traffic violations, collisions, and people who haven't

had the most positive contact with government or those in uniform. Her vintage staple is brightly coloured novelty prints that allow her to establish a quick rapport with people, relieving pressure at just the sight of her. "I'm sure none of the myriad of people I've assisted over the years remember my name, but they know me as the lady in the bright skirt that helped them. I love the fact that I can wear my vintage to support the department's mission of earning the public’s trust everyday."

Gerald, a customer service supervisor, feels the same way, going so far as using a vintage bow tie as a teaching moment for those he has taken under his wing. "Everyone loves to see a gentleman in a bow tie; customers and staff look forward to what I might be wearing next!" Inspired by HRH Prince Charles, and affectionately nicknamed, "Mr. Dapper," by the folks at his local coffee shop, Gerald uses his staple item, the bow tie, to share advice and start conversations with others. Matching striped bow ties, with 15 variations of shirts in blue, Gerald channels Prince Charles as described in GQ magazine by cultural historian Peter York, "Wearing things other people don't wear."

Sylvie, an environmental and social advisor working in Finland and traveling to other countries

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lifestyle Credits for photos: Black and White Bouffant, 60s eyeliner gal, Georgia Santisteban, Photographer, Doyle Quigley.

Andy, With Oz Book, Photcredit Andy.

Close up Red Head with Bangles, Stacie, Photocredit Stacie.

Melissa, Pink Outfit, Bouganvilla Background, Photocredit, Melissa Gent with green hat, Gerald, photo-credit Gerald.

Gal in red skirt, Sylvie, Photocredit Sylvie

such as Africa and Asia, works in a small firm where she connects with new staff around her style, although they may not immediately identify her style as vintage. With her staple vintage hairstyle, and eyeglasses, "Vintage in Finland is not so common," she says, "And people in Finland will rarely comment on one's style or outfit. However, vintage could certainly get people to realize that with me, they can be themselves, because I am also myself. And I think that you get better results in teamwork when people dare to be themselves and feel that differences are accepted or even encouraged."

Andy, a school librarian, also finds a staple of her work attire to be vintage eyewear, specifically, cat eye glasses. Inspired by Ralph Lauren's quote, "Fashion is about something that comes from within you," she feels her vintage fashion choices make her stand out as more approachable. Parent connection and active dialogue between school staff and parents is vital, and adorned in vintage wears, she feels fashion is a catalyst for more meaningful conversations with her students and their parents. "Librarians are like historians in our communities, and I feel that history shows visually through my clothing."

Stacie, a graphic artist for a lifestyle magazine has been wearing vintage since the 1980s, when she was in junior high, striving to be different. "I spent a lot of time thinking about how I wanted to project myself and what my goals for clothing are.

My basics are comfort, elegance and accuracy.

For the last three years I have been editing my closet, ridding it of items that no longer served my personal style." At 45, with her staple red nails and lipstick, she finally feels settled on her style, channelling self-confidence and authenticity in her daily work.

With vintage at work, there is power in staple items with memory that connect people and fashion. The tools of our storytelling within our chosen trades are written in our own narratives, integrating our personal presence, unity with others and alignment with organizational possibilities. It has been said that we do our jobs with who we are.

Dear Reader, I ask you, at work, what will the story of you be? VL

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treasure seeker Words charlie Adams

I

am sure that I am not the only person who feels at a complete loss when in a fashion chain store; I walk around aimlessly in the vain hope I will discover at least one item I can picture myself wearing but more often than not, I walk away empty handed.

Don’t get me wrong, I love shopping, but the allure of modern fashion is wasted upon me. Wearing true vintage or vintage inspired clothing is part of my identity and I can’t imagine wearing anything else. I admire the fashion industry and find it fascinating how one collection can influence the cuts and colours of peoples’ purchases for the next season. However, I find this also limits the shopping experience, with most shops having the same colour palettes on offer and the same styles on display – once you have visited, nothing will change until the next seasonal rotation.

This is the reason why I am now an advocate for charity shopping. The days of musky, poor quality items on offer are a thing of the past. Today’s throwaway culture means that many new or nearly new items are to be found, with each item having to pass a quality control (if they fail, many shops send them to be recycled and turned into rags or stuffing). There are more than 10,000 charity shops across the UK. Charity shopping encompasses one

of the reasons I’m a vintage girl, it’s ethically driven by the sales giving money to charity and it mainly consists of recycling. In my opinion, it is far better wearing clothes that are second hand but with lots of life left in them, than to create waste by buying new things off the hanger all the time, often only to be worn a few times before being discarded. The waste of the modern day, throwaway culture is something I am not proud of and I do my best not to partake in it. Thousands of wearable items exist already, without the need of new ones being made (at a cost to both the environment and your purse).

It is important to let go of the stigma of buying from charity shops; it does not, in any way, hold any implications for you. It is not a shameful experience. It is simply an alternative way of shopping, just as much as online auction sites.

Plus, no one will ever know where they were bought unless you tell them!

Charity shopping can be very exciting.

With shops doing a constant rotation of stock, you never know what you will find each time you visit. True vintage can often be discovered from bags, jewellery, clothing and homeware, to more recently made items with a retro twist or items that are easily upcycled to have one. Most of these are to be found at great prices and there are many bargains to be had: you

can create a whole new outfit for less than the price of a new top.

Helpful staff are always on hand to help you find what you are seeking, many will search in their back room. For example, most of the local staff know I am always on the lookout for Bakelite and will tell me if they have any new bangles in stock for me to look at.

Don’t expect to buy each time you shop, as some days you will visit every shop in a city and still not find anything.

However, this heightens the thrill of the hunt, as not being guaranteed to find that perfect item each time you stop makes it so much more exciting when you do find a treasure.

Many charities such as Oxfam and Sue Ryder now have shops purely for vintage, while others such as the Red Cross have vintage sections. It gives you a glow inside when you find an item that you really love at a reasonable price. We do not all have a bottomless pit of money to afford true vintage, especially if the item has a designer label, but the charity shop offers the chance to create your own style without breaking the bank.

Now each time I go to town, instead of window shopping in chain stores, feeling depressed that they are not made for people like me, I seek the thrill of the hunt in charity shops, wondering what treasures are waiting to be found.

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3 fab ways to

Feel

Words: aMBER SMITH

FestIVe

wIth the stress of present buyIng, card wrItIng and faMIly vIsItIng, It can soMetIMes be IMpossIble to feel festIve In the run up to chrIstMas. as a Mother (or father!) you can often get caught up In the whIrlwInd of to-do lIsts. you Must reMeMber to Amber Smith a Lurex-loving, lipstick-wearing curly haired mum and a retro lifestyle blogger on atomicamber.com

take fIve MInutes for yourself to fully eMbrace what Is goIng on around you, even though I know that Is easIer saId than done. treat yourself to a festIve lush bath-boMb or slIce yourself an extra-large pIece of yule log thIs season. you deserve It!

FAIRY LIGHTS Seriously, douse the place in them! They are my favourite... not just for Christmas!

hands) and they also have significantly less energy costs than your traditional mains fairy lights so it's a no-brainer, right?

I have twinkly lights scattered around my house all year long. I feel like they add a magical touch in the evenings and they can make even the drabbest night feel cosy. They aren't just for the tree; I like to hang them around doorways and along windowsills, to transform your home into an enchanted den. Opt for low voltage LED ones for a safer sparkle (they always remain cool to touch so are perfect for little wandering curious

CHRISTMAS FAIRS My favourite thing to do in the festive season is hit every winter fair and market that I possibly can. The great thing about them is you don't have to buy anything to have a good day. The atmosphere is usually fantastic and instantly gets you feeling merry. With yummy food stalls, decorations aplenty and enough mulled wine to knock out an entire army, Christmas fairs

really are my number one. They often have great little stalls where you can pick up any unique last minute presents. It's important to 'Shop Small' where you can and support your local independent shops and sellers, so use this as an opportunity to spread the jolly spirit.

If you're feeling fancy and want a 'proper' day out, head to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park where all your German-stylemarket-and-ice-rink dreams will come true.

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AMBER & MATILDA’S DRESS PALAVA www.palava.co

WATCH ALL OF THE CHRISTMAS FILMS I know, I know – the most obvious way to feel festive there is, BUT when you have children, sometimes the simplest things are also the best. Why not amp up the festivities with some – ahem – homemade mince pies?

(Which in my house means shop-bought and just sprinkled with icing sugar.) Treat the kids to a little hot chocolate and pour yourself a large glass of mulled wine, whilst Elf entertains everyone giving you a few minutes of peace.

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If you want to continue the Yuletide spirit once the kiddies have gone to bed, then I recommend White Christmas (1954) for some vintage jollies and some dreamy winter fashion inspiration!

I hope this Christmas is a fantastic one for you and you embrace the festive cheer.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love Amber Rose & Matilda-Mae xx

AMBER’S BLOG - WWW.ATOMICAMBER.COM | INSTAGAM : @amberrosetheron

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lifestyle

Mamma’s Mulled Mocktail Words: GEoRGIa HaRRUP WWW.MonICaVaLEnTInEVInTaGE.Co.UK

twInkly lIghts, sassy party frocks and cocktaIls by a cracklIng log fIre – thIs can only Mean the Most wonderful tIMe of the year.

aLL InGREDIEnTS FRoM “SUPERFooD MaRKET” PHoTo CREDIT – C WILLIaMS

M

a great twIst on the tr adItIonal festIve drInk!

y favourite thing to do during the festive season is to have a cheeky mince pie, with a glass of mulled wine while listening to carols. Th is time last year, I was 5 months pregnant so unfortunately skipped the wine and had to make do with a glass of milk and a few heartburn tablets instead!

I know first hand just how hard being pregnant over Christmas can be. It can be difficult to get into ‘party mode’ and feel festive. When your ankles ache and you feel like a walking whale, the last thing you want to do is put up tinsel or trundle around the shops. As an expectant mum, finding the motivation to feel merry can often be last on your list. But you absolutely deserve to join in on the celebrations as well – after all, you are partying for two.

Christmas can sometimes be a frenzied blur, especially with children running about and relatives coming and going. The best thing about this Mulled Mocktail is that it only takes five minutes to prep, 15 minutes to fuse together and can be enjoyed by all the family. You could literally make this during the adverts while you are snuggling up watching Christmas films!

It is even perfect for soothing sore throats and warming little ones right up. Mamma’s Mulled Mocktail is also ideal if you fancy getting festive but don’t welcome hungover parenting the day after. No matter how much you can party, nothing is tougher than having a sore head the next day with a toddler who desperately wants to be your personal “hairdresser.”

Growing up, Christmas for me meant hanging up empty stockings on the Eve, leaving a mince pie and a few carrots out for Santa and the chaos of a family of six opening presents with a living room full of wrapping paper. We would decorate the tree together (usually in

November!) only to have my mum turn it around to the ‘strategically placed ornamentally decorated side’ while we weren’t looking. One Christmas – our tree stayed up until August the next year! The festive season is great at bringing family together and now, in our house, with a new generation beginning, I cannot wait to continue the tradition of making mulled wine (non alcoholic of course) together.

So if you just stood on another LEGO piece, your house is full of washing, ironing or mess and the noise levels have just ramped up, take a deep breath… don your best lacy vintage gloves and mull it all away. If you are expecting your own little bundle of joy, are breastfeeding or just prefer a teetotal tipple for a bit of peace on Earth – this one is for you.

‘Mammas Mulled Mocktail’ Ingredients: 400ml apple juice 300ml cranberry juice 300 pomegranate juice 1 cinnamon stick 100g of sugar (I used Rapadura Whole Cane - this is optional) 3 cloves Method: Put all the ingredients into a pan on a low heat and bring to the boil.

Simmer for 15 minutes to infuse the spices with the juice. Strain the juices using a sieve and discard the left-over spices. Take five minutes peace to yourself and enjoy!

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Tradition at Christmas

Rachel Palmer Rachel is mum to Beth and Dorothy and has been writing a vintage inspired lifestyle blog for five years.

F

Words: Rachel Palmer

or the most part, we introduce our children to the traditions we remember from when we were growing up, but any time is a good time to start your own. Of all the ‘new traditions’ out there, Christmas Eve boxes are my favourite. Not only do you get to give your little ones sweet new Christmas pyjamas (which of course make for really cute Christmas morning photos), you can use the box to create a whole evening of festive goodness that will appeal to even grown-up children!

Create the perfect Christmas movie night with a selection of retro films and snacks. We love amaretti biscuits, chocolate coins and satsumas in front of It’s a Wonderful Life and one from my childhood, Santa Claus the Movie.

Choose those nostalgic films that bring back memories.

The night before Christmas can get a little bit overwhelming even for grown-ups, so settle excited little ones for bed with a hot drink. Why not add a festive mug to the box or simply fill a jar with one portion of their favourite milky drink powder and top with marshmallows?

Sprinkle the finished drink with nutmeg or cinnamon for an extra treat.

Bedtime stories are always a good idea but especially on a night like Christmas Eve. Keep your eyes peeled for vintage books like The Christmas Robin but if you aren’t lucky enough to find one, why not buy a new copy of a classic like The Night Before Christmas or a story that your parents used to read to you?

A lot of people leave out snacks for Father Christmas, but we also scatter reindeer food, a magical mixture of glitter and oats, all along our garden path. It makes a great addition to a Christmas Eve box.

Once you’re wearing your Christmas pyjamas, you’ve watched movies, enjoyed yummy snacks, sipped a warm drink, fed the reindeer and listened to a story, it’s time for bed – which is usually when the questions start.

“How will Father Christmas get down the chimney with our Christmas presents?”

“How will Father Christmas get down the chimney if the fire’s on?”

“How will Father Christmas… we haven’t got a chimney!?”

Fear not, simply include a magic key in your Christmas Eve box and there’s nothing else to do but dream sweet dreams of Christmas morning.

Words – Rachel Palmer / Images – Phillip Palmer (Corporate Dad) / Model – Dorothy Palmer

Every family has their own – whether it’s the youngest child being lifted up to place the star on the tree, satsumas in the bottom of stockings or the same decorations coming out year after year.

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tHe

dandY

Gent

Kustom Kulture blastoff is an annual event/festival tHat taKes place at lincolnsHire sHowground. it is a celebration of all tHings: tattoo, auto airbrusH art, auto pin striping, body art, rat-rod and classic cars, fasHion and mucH more. a Huge marquee Houses a dancefloor set up for tHe Jivers and boppers to Jig tHe day away to live bands (mostly rocKabilly), tHat go on until midnigHt to entertain tHose wHo camp over for tHe full weeKend. rows of vendors’ stalls sell auto Jumble, retro and rocKabilly clotHing and vintage bric-a-brac, witH caterers frying, steaming and siZZling a variety of culinary deligHts.

Paul MarlandGriffiths paul is a full time teaching assistant in a primary school in oldham as well as a foster carer.

T

customers, so when i was about eight or nine i’d hang around and watch, and sweep up. when i was 10 i used to sharpen his cutthroat razors, but my mum found out and put a stop to it. By 12 i was doing it myself – cutting my mate’s hair.

How did you get started as a barber? my grandad worked on the docks and cut people’s hair on the side. He also made his own lotions and potions that he used on his

so you’ve been a barber ever since? no, i worked in the ‘oasis’ record shop in derby and then got into computers, but i was always heavily into my music. i did some sound engineering and played double bass in a rockabilly band called ‘The dallas roots combo’ but that was more of a hobby. when i was a kid i was always tapping and knocking away at something; i had a little drum kit but i’d play anything. i did go to college for a time doing hairdressing in my early 30s but just got into other things.

aking a look on the kustom kulture website to see what would be going on, i saw that based in the main ‘hangar’ was ‘The dandy gent Barber and apothecary’. co-owner and barber shane o’shawnessey would be there snipping and trimming at heads and faces and selling his barbering wares so it was my intention to seek him out, have a trim and have a chat. come two o’clock on the saturday afternoon i sat in shane’s chair, asked him to neaten the beard and ‘tache while posing a few questions (trying not to move my face too much).

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When did you set up the dandy Gent salon? it was 11 years ago; we’re on the outskirts of the centre of derby. i got the first shop in 2000 before I got back into cutting, myself, in 2005. I went back to derby college to do my nVQs in 2007, at night school. The training i do around the country requires that I have NVQ qualifications you see; I need them for the insurance.

What, in your opinion, has brought the beard and moustache back into mainstream fashion? i think it’s ‘movember’ that started it all off in 2004 – the prostate cancer awareness charity. guys grew moustaches and beards; they liked having them and kept them. Then the tattoo scene got bigger and models in men’s magazines had beards and tattoos. Then others saw that and copied them and it just grew. But i don’t think beards have ever been out of fashion. Lads in their teens start growing them because it makes them look older. i grew a goatee in the 80s to make me look older so i could get in the pub! i don’t think beards of some kind will ever go out of fashion.

What training do you do?

I’ve just finished showing the actors of Sweeney Todd how to do cutthroat shaves and how to hold scissors properly. it’s a theatre production that’s going on tour. But usually i go around the country teaching other barbers how to use the cutthroat razors. i’ve been doing that for a while, but i’ve got the idea of making my own lotions and potions the same as my grandad did. i wasn’t happy with some of the stuff i was using in the salons, so thought i’d make my own to take with me.

How did you go about learning to make these ‘lotions & potions’? we started experimenting in the kitchen with essential oils, stirring stuff together and just having a go. i phoned cosmetics companies for help and advice... to me, 80% of what they told us sounded like gobble-de-gook so i left it to sherri. we did tonnes of research. That’s why i grew the beard, so we could test the stuff on me to try it out and get it right. The first product we made was the beard balm. alongside the cutting chair and mirror, shane and his wife sherri had a veritable pile of pots and bottles and tins of their homemade ‘lotions and potions’ for the well groomed bounder. Balms, oils, waxes and pomades were drawing great interest and selling briskly too.

I asked sherri if she was still making these products in her kitchen. no (she laughs) not any more. we went from there to a workshop at the salon and earlier this year we moved into the ‘unit’. we started with balms then pomades and so on. we make everything by hand and source all our ingredients from local businesses. we design our own packaging but obviously, we outsource the manufacturing. we are looking at expanding our shampoo and hair range next. do you work alone? yes. i prefer to work alone but we couldn’t do this without my mum coming in now and again. shane’s mum babysits and our oldest son tidies up and sweeps the floor. Our two youngest have told me they want to work with me when they grow up. it’s a real family business. This is all about our family’s future. products and vouchers range from £7.99 – £19.99, available at Bennets of derby, selected salons nationwide and at The dandy gent website. a gift box of various items of your choice is available for £40, packaged in a cigar box and delivery is available.

Just to let you know, the ‘tache wax is the best wax i’ve tried and i’ve tried a few. so if you’re derby way, leading up to christmas, drop in to The dandy gent salon and get yourself a spruce up. Tell shane... Vintage Life sent you. merry christmas chaps, and a very Vintage new year.

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GIFTs For YoUr AN M E G A T N I V WITH kaTe

BeaVis

Braces

any vintage gent needs a pair of button on braces to finish his dapper look. choose vintage or these vintage inspired ones from 20th century chap. www.20thcenturychap.com

cusHion

why not give him a cushion of his own for his side of the sofa! The colours from this motor show poster will work perfectly in a mid-century lounge. www.welovecushions.co.uk

LadyBird Book

forget the new Ladybird books, why not give him an original? whatever his hobby there will be a book for him and we love this football one from pineapple retro. www.pineappleretro.co.uk

radio cLock

This modern clock inspired by the iconic vintage radio will look great in any home. crafted from cherry wood, with laser-cut acrylic details that are lovingly hand-finished and available from pineapple retro. www.pineappleretro.co.uk

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sHarpener

Whether he works in an office or at home, this rotary desk top sharpener will make him all nostalgic in this digital world. www.hisforhome.com

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lifestyle

rising starr Jo Bullough Jo is a mother, artist, midwife, writer, pin-up model, therapist and body positive activist living in rural bliss in the Scottish Borders.

Photo credit: Danielle Bondanza at MDC Photography Studios

L

Across the pond, amid the thriving scene of the Los Angeles burlesque scene, a rising star of hooping and burlesque is working on establishing her acts, and making sure her name is recognised wherever she goes.

illian Starr was born in smalltown Texas in 1987. She was raised by her mother, who, from a very early age, encouraged Lillian to participate in the creative and performing arts. She started tap, jazz and ballet lessons at the tender age of five and her hobby became all-encompassing; rehearsals, shows and pageants turned into everyday occurrences for the young protégé. She won numerous dance awards throughout the years, ranging from solo acts to group routines to best high kick!

A chance encounter at high school introduced Lillian to the art of hooping. “I was 14, and one day at school they had one of those fundraising things with hula hoops. I got down to the final two, and then the teacher said the first one to do a trick, wins. I did my first hoop trick ever by lifting it above my head. So I went home, bought a hula hoop and just kept trying things”. Lillian’s natural aptitude for hooping progressed into a performance that she was keen to develop. She developed an interest in burlesque at the age of 17, when a conversation with a friend’s mother, who was a burlesque dancer, planted the seed of a new, exciting type of performance.

Following her graduation, Lillian moved to Washington, where she worked as a fire fighter. Dancing was put on the back burner for a while as she blossomed into an adult with diverse interests. However, a serious back injury then forced her to move back to Texas. There, she was given the devastating news that she needed surgery and may never dance again. “My heart sank, and I remember just bawling my eyes out”, Lillian recalls.

After Lillian had healed from her back

Words: Jo Bullough

surgery, she began to rethink her life completely. She had been warned that she would never hoop or dance again, but refused to give up on her dream. Although she won Miss Texas All American in 2010, Lillian wanted to take a break from pageant life and move on towards recovery, and possibly performing again. This led to her relocation to Los Angeles, California, six years ago. “On a Wednesday I decided I would move to Los Angeles… by Saturday my car was packed and I was on my way.”

Lillian has never looked back.

In Los Angeles, Lillian worked hard on strengthening her back. She secured a day job in a vintage lingerie store, and met and fell in love with her now-fiancé. Eventually, she recovered from her injury enough to start performing in the large and eclectic burlesque scene in Los Angeles.

One of the first tasks she had was to choose a performer name. “I like my first name,” she says, “but obviously I needed to figure out something to put on the end. One of my favourite burlesque dancers is Blaze Starr… and as I do have a small obsession with stars, I thought it fitted. So I became Lillian Starr – the hoop dancer who will light up your world!”

Lillian quickly found work as a performing artist within the industry, saying, “My first big show in L.A. was a go-go gig for Lords of Acid. I must have impressed someone as I’ve been busy ever since!”

Busy indeed, as Lillian has been involved in a host of different events within the scene in Los Angeles. She has performed with bands, in cabaret shows, at grand events such as Exxxotica and Viva Las Vegas, and at car shows all over America. Lillian has also appeared at several charity events as part of the Blue Moon Betties, helping to raise money and support communities.

Lillian’s principal act at the moment is an LED hoop burlesque show, entitled “Light up your world”. She also performs a fire hoop burlesque act, “World on fire”. Lillian, who describes herself as a “social butterfly”, has befriended many of her fellow artists; not only in burlesque, but also fire performers, gogo dancers, actors and musicians.

The confidence Lillian gained from performing again led to her rediscovering pageants. She recently participated in a pin-up pageant, which has inspired her to enter more competitions, including burlesque contests. “Burlesque is all about confidence,” Lillian asserts. “I’ve embraced my curves. Dancing burlesque has taught me to hold my head high and be proud of who I am… all of me”.

Lillian performed a punk rock hoop burlesque act at the Bang Boom Bash Punk Rock weekend in Long Beach at the beginning of November. You can also see her perform at the Rockabilly Extravaganza at the end of November, and she is particularly looking forward to Viva Las Vegas 20, where Lillian will be celebrating her 30th birthday! “Keep an eye out for me,” she reveals, “I’m always looking for new and exciting shows to be a part of so I’m hoping 2017 will open more doors for me. Looks like I’m not done yet!”

Lillian Starr’s resilience, and her determination in the face of adversity, demonstrate such an intense desire to thrive in her chosen industry, that one gets the impression that she cannot fail to succeed. “I feel I was given a second chance, and all I want to do is perform. This is what I live for!”

You can follow Lillian Starr on Instagram @lilstarryeyed and on Facebook @RockabellaLillianStarr.

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VLTV

225477049/SHUTTERSTOCK

Vintage Life TV

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I n this section

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/EVERETTECOLLECTION

IN THE HOME

intro pagesTHIS ONE.indd 9

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Completed and ready to crate for transportation, to be unveiled at an alternative market and comic festival in Brisbane.

A modern, old

Chris White

television set

Australian born, third generation timber craftsman & traditional timber joiner.

Owner of RETRObution Furniture specialising in creating, restoring or restyling vintage furniture.

When you think of today’s evolving style in consumer items you cannot help but notice how a large number of modern designers continually take inspiration or in some cases, directly copy successful styling cues from the 1950s, 60s and 70s – clothing, cars, motorbikes, architecture, kitchen appliances.

Early stages of construction of the internal frame. Timber used is raidiata pine selected for its sustainability and because the internal frame would be visible when access to dvd player is required.

Making a template for the first layer of bending ply. Exact length was important as a precision joint of the meeting ends was crucial for both visual and structural integrity.

Second clear coat on base. Polished copper spacers can be seen, these were required to support and locate upper unit but also allow television to be pulled apart and transported as two pieces.

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in the home Base and upper unit together.

A

lmost everything new now has a model or range that has borrowed from the nostalgic and successful stylings from decades ago. Everything that is except audio and visual technology.

Where cars once again have coke bottle curves and young girls happily wear jeans their grandmothers did, the giants of the television and stereo world progressively turned what we listen to and watch into little black boxes and thin rectangular screens. Rarely – if ever – have they turned back to pay any kind of tribute to the technology stylings of yesteryear.

Vintage televisions were big – deep, stylish, wooden cabinets with rich finishes, metal trim, knobs, and large speakers.

The centrepiece of living rooms of the day. So, when it came time to design and custom build a modern take on a vintage television I knew the UHD, LCD and megapixel technology of modern televisions was crucial but the thin, black and flat styling was not.

When starting a vintage inspired build, two of the most important factors are keeping within the known style and proportions of what you're trying to recreate. The wider aspect ratio of current televisions means they're far more rectangular than the CRT TVs of old. Select a screen size too big and it would look cumbersome and require something the size of a small wardrobe to house it and look nothing like the televisions of old.

Test fitting of flatscreen, including speaker panel cut outs and metal flake sprayed surround.

I decided to make the entire unit oval to give it a completely modern twist and a unique take on the amazing curve shaped TVs like the 1958 Setchell Carlson and the round Panasonic TR-005 Orbitel from the late 60s.

After drawing a full scale set out that was proportionate to other vintage units, a 38 inch screen was selected. After getting the exact size specifications of the television the scale design was slightly altered to suit and construction of the internal frame began. The outer shell is constructed by laminating three layers of speciality bending ply and adding a hand cut pencil rounded front trim to conceal the edge grain of the ply.

To elevate the screen off floor level and allow a low shelf for other devices like a receiver or PlayStation, a similarly curved base was constructed with a smoked glass shelf. Polished copper spacers locate and join the top cabinet to the base and allow the two pieces to be separated for easy transportation. A concealed conjute cut down and made from a reproduction classic radiator hose allows cables to pass discreetly between the two. Hinged speaker panels covered in vintage speaker cloth sourced from large PYE speakers give an authentic touch and also allow access to the inbuilt DVD player and the freedom to add small speakers to add stereo surround sound.

Currently the television is still used for exhibitions and promotional use for RETRObution Furniture and has also been used in a number of photo shoots for pin-up photography, furniture and interior design.

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in the home DECEmBER... ...is the party month – a month of glitz and glamour! But old-fashioned glamour does not happen spontaneously so why not make your preparations in style. And, of course you will need somewhere equally fitting to relax and wind down, ready for the next party. Here I will take you through some of the best furniture and accessories for your vintage glamour boudoir and bathroom.

DRESSInG TABLE Every girl of any age should have her own dressing table, and whether your taste is dark and dramatic, pale and elegant, French style or natural wood… why not have a true vintage one off created just for you. From £175: contact www.copperandash.co.uk Check out retro style dressing tables at www.thedormyhouse. com and a huge range at www. franceshunt.co.uk

vintage inspired

GLASS ACCESSORIES nothing screams glamour like sparkly glass so start your own collection, whether it’s clear crystal glass, silvered vintage style, or gorgeously coloured… take your pick.

A selection is available from just £7 at www.copperandash.co.uk Also check out www.dunelm. co.uk or your local Tesco store.

must haves for your home

WITH: CHRISTInE OF COPPER AnD ASH

copperandash Coming from a background covering engineering, property renovation and interior design, and with a love for the beauty of vintage and antique furniture, Christine decided to combine them all and Copper and Ash was born. Christine now spends her days breathing new life into vintage pieces, creating bespoke furniture just perfect for today’s interiors. mainly working to commission with a small selection ready to go in her unit at Botany Bay, Chorley

LOUnGE In STYLE A glamorous bedroom or bathroom should always have a beautiful place to just sit and be: it is the ultimate in decadent luxury Loire Bench £375 www.coxandcox.com Also: Avelin occasional chair £429 swooneditions.com

mIRRORS You are going to need to check your reflection before you head out for those parties so, large or small, a mirror is a must. This Schuller Audry mirror from Wayfair.co.uk certainly makes a statement £260.48. m&S have a very cute small vintage style hanging mirror at just £7.60, or look at the Hepworth mirror £76.49 at Turnbull and Thomas.

We can also help in sourcing a genuine vintage mirror. www.copperandash.co.uk

LUXURY BEDDInG Think soft and sumptuous velvets with a time worn feel and crisp clean linens in beautiful colour shades from the softest pinks to elegant midnight blues.

This gorgeous velvet and linen quilt from Cox and Cox captures the style perfectly £250.

Also, try www.soakandsleep. com for gorgeous linen and cotton bedspreads.

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A Midcentury

in the home

Christmas at Home I love the 50s look in interiors; there’s something quite bright and optimistic about the dÊcor and furniture of this decade. The vibrant two-tone colour palette as well as the stylised patterns on everything from coffee tables to cushions completely sums up the era.

Words: Keeley Harris

Keeley Harris Keeley is a vintage interiors expert, stylist and purveyor of fine vintage homewares and furniture. Girl boss at Discover Vintage events, organising the Festival of Vintage and Vintage Home Show. She is author of Style Me Vintage Home published by Pavilion Books in 2013. Her spare time is spent walking Bernard the Cockapoo and collecting pairs of Converse. vintagelifemagazine.com | 103

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in the home

O

pting for 50s gives quite a range of different looks within this interior’s style, as you can go kitsch, atomic, Americana or mid-century modern. The styles are relatively easy to achieve with the right hint of colour and there is a good supply of home items still around to pull the looks together.

I recently visited Lydia Ross in her beautiful bungalow on the outskirts of Harrogate in North Yorkshire to see how she’s turned it into a lovely atomic era inspired home just in time for Christmas.

Greeted by an immaculately dressed Lydia at the beautiful powder blue front door, I was eyeing up so many lovely things as soon as I walked in. I asked her about her style.

“I’d say my house has an atomic 50s feel with hints of mid-century modern; I wanted a lot of colour and quirky things but keeping furniture and wall hangings quite simple.”

Like many, Lydia has been collecting items for quite a few years and she has been lucky enough to get some complete bargains along the way, including her Tretchikoff ‘Miss Wong’ found at a car boot sale for a fiver.

In the lounge, she has a stone chimney breast that she created on the flat wall from scratch to give a warm and authentic feature. It makes the space come alive and gives it a true mid-century touch.

For Christmas Lydia likes to keep it simple with a great collection of vintage decorations and kitsch ornaments. “My Christmas decorations were given to me by my grandma so they are very sentimental but I have a few newer ones mixed in.”

Christmas decoration started to evolve in the 50s and 60s with fairy lights, imitation trees and glass baubles being popular alongside more traditional paper chains, twigs of holly and wooden figurines.

Preparing and serving the Christmas lunch for Lydia must be such a delight as she has the most immaculate original English Rose kitchen I have ever seen. In fact, her whole kitchen is authentic even down to most appliances.

Who wouldn’t want to cosy up for a sherry or two and a game of charades in this house?

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the styles are relatively easy to achieve with the right hint of colour

Recommended Online reference guide to patterns: www.thatretropiece.com thanks to them also for images

18/11/2016 10:03

have a sparkling

CHRistMAs Words: SEREn HOLLInS

T

Tools: Large paintbrush 2 medium Pyrex bowls Scouring sponge Spoon

RECIPE FOR mULTI-SURFACE CLEAnER

method: Remove your racks from the oven and clean them separately in the sink.

he task of getting your home ready for Christmas may be daunting, but if you follow these tips you’ll be able to put your feet up more often and enjoy a glass of bubbly without panicking about the washing up!

Pay close attention to the rooms that people will spend the most time in. There’s no point spending your precious hours labouring over rooms that visitors will not venture into. Focus most on areas like the lounge or dining room.

And of course, get that kitchen sparkling so you can have a relatively stress free day when it comes to cooking. mix up a batch of multi-surface cleaner and get to work.

Ingredients: White Vinegar, Fresh rosemary Tea tree oil or sweet orange oil Eco washing up liquid method: Pop a sprig of rosemary into a saucepan and add about 150ml of white distilled vinegar.

Bring to the boil, remove from heat and leave to steep until the vinegar is cool. Add three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda, one drop of washing-up liquid and about three drops of tea tree or sweet orange oil. Stir and pour into spray bottle.

GET YOUR OVEn CLEAnED! nobody likes to open the oven on Christmas day and realise that it’s full of grease and needs a good scrub – get ahead of the Christmas day panic and clean your oven beforehand. There is no need for those choking chemical oven cleaners either; you can mix up a nice natural one that won’t harm you or the environment.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp. eco washing up liquid 1½ English teacups baking soda 2-4 drops geranium essential oil ¼ English teacup white distilled vinegar Water as needed to make a ‘paintable’ but thick paste

Pour your soap and other ingredients into a glass bowl and mix well.

Paint the entire surface of your cooker, mixing up a second batch of cleaner if necessary.

Let it sit for 6-8 hours (overnight works well) and be amazed at how it foams up slightly and starts to lift the cooking residue.

Fill a bowl with clean, warm water. Dip your scouring pad, wipe and repeat until the oven is clean. You may have to change your water a few times, but you can feel good knowing that you are not inhaling harmful chemicals or dumping toxic chemicals down the drain.

Voila, the oven is sparkling and now it’s time for a glass of something sparkly! merry Christmas!

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I n this section

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FOOD & DRINK

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! e i t e e w S l a n o s a e S Keep It

Your FaSt Guide to What’S in SeaSon near You

WordS: KITTY VoN TaSTIQue

northern hemiSPhere

Southern hemiSPhere

Clementines Pop a clementine in your stocking this Christmas! In these winter months make the most of its fabulously high vitamin C ratio, it’s also seedless and delicious.

Try it as an alternative to lemon in dressings, use it to jazz up the jelly in your trifle or better still, combine it with some berries in a blender, strain, add some soda water, and enjoy some healthy festive bubbles!

Apricots Stone fruits are of course a big part of Christmas down under. South australia is one of our great apricot producers. apricots are ancient gems that have been traced back thousands of years, probably originating in either China or armenia, although both are claiming the apricot. These gorgeous fruits are lovely as a lighter alternative to puddings and cakes to finish Christmas dinner, or you can add them to the stuffing for a nice fruity twist. Avoid the dried, bright orange kind if you are trying to avoid sulphur. organic dried apricots are usually darker and courser, but fresh is best.

Cranberries Nothing says Christmas like cranberries! although the jury is still out on the more complex health benefits of cranberries, they definitely do contribute vitamin C and manganese toward your daily vitamin needs. More importantly they provide flavour to your festive feast with their fabulous tarty goodness. obviously they are good as a sauce or jelly but don’t forget that you can throw them into a smoothie with a banana too.

Chestnuts Chestnuts roasting on an open fire... pretty much sum up Christmas in one short phrase, don’t they? So I couldn’t really leave them out of my seasonal selection. Truly an ancient food, they are believed to have been planted by alexander the Great and the Romans on their various campaigns, and to early Christians they symbolised chastity.

Chestnuts should never be eaten raw so the roasting is actually quite appropriate (around 15-25 mins in the oven), apart from when you’re using them for Conkers of course! They also work well in Christmas stuffing!

Mangoes Mangoes are truly magical! here in Australia the first tray of mangoes are actually sold for charity each year, often raising around 30,000 to 40,000 dollars! In australia mangoes mean summer and so do all of the amazing mango treats like salads, salsa and even sorbet! I love throwing mango into smoothies for that ‘next level’ healthy treat! They have loads of vitamin C for you too.

Eggplants (also known as Aubergine or Brinjal) The first recorded report of eggplants comes from China in 544 and China is still the biggest grower of eggplants today (well they did have a bit of a head start). These days you can find many different locally grown varieties readily available, making them both a beautiful and tasty choice in the veggie range. I actually love using eggplant as a vegetarian/vegan alternative to bacon by adding a little bit of sesame oil to give them that smoky flavour. Try using thin slices around your veggie sausages or prunes to make your Christmas trimmings just that little bit kinder this year.

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Pudding I Pride &

kitchen

introduction: Charlotte white

first met Regula Ysewijn on a freezing February morning in 2012. I had only recently gone full time with Restoration Cake and was open to new experiences; which resulted

in spending said freezing morning in a warehouse, wearing a sheer wedding dress, on horseback! Regula was also featured in this photoshoot of new alternative wedding suppliers with the

Charlotte White Is the creative force behind Restoration Cake, designer of Bespoke Celebration Cakes! Author of Deliciously Decorated and Burlesque Baking and regularly shares her baking tips at live foodie events such as The Cake & Bake Show and even in the Kenwood Kitchen at The Goodwood Revival!

branding and design agency that she runs with her husband, The Tiny Red Factory. She was wonderful and we stayed in touch.

In the four years that have passed, Regula’s prowess in styling and photography have been transferred to her passion; food. Followers of Regula’s blog and Instagram will find their mouths watering with her delicious dishes and hearts soaring to see the scenes that she captures. I am in awe of Regula’s talent, proud to call her a friend, and honoured to present a selection of recipes from her book Pride & Pudding with you.

Shutterstock.com/Fanfo/Andi Berger/ Leyla Ismet/ Markus Mainka/ contrse

www.regulaysewijn.com

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kitchen Apple charlotte Makes enough for 1 Charlotte mould or 16 x 10 x 7.5 cm (61/4 x 4 x 3 inch) loaf (bar) tin •

• • • •

3 cooking apples, such as Granny Smith or Bramley, about 500 g (1 lb 2 oz), peeled and cored 5 tablespoons apricot jam 60 ml (2 fl oz/1/4 cup) brandy or dark rum 1 loaf of stale plain white bread, about 550 g (1 lb 4 oz) 50 g (1 ¾oz) butter, melted sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Generously grease the mould or loaf tin with butter and place a disc or strip of baking paper in the bottom.

Chop up the apples and put them in a saucepan with the apricot jam and brandy. Cook until soft and pulpy. You might need a splash of water to prevent the apples from burning.

Allow to cool in the pan.

Cut thick slices of bread in 5 cm (2 inch) wide rectangles the

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Custard sauce same height as the side of the mould and use a pastry brush to generously coat them with the melted butter.

Place the bread in the mould, overlapping the edges a little so there are no gaps. Finally put a disc or strip of bread onto the bottom of the mould, making sure there are no gaps.

Scoop the apple mixture into the bread-lined mould, then close the top with a final few slices of buttered bread and sprinkle some sugar on top.

Bake in the middle of the oven for 30–40 minutes until golden brown, as you prefer your toast. When ready to serve, turn the mould onto a plate and allow to stand for 5 minutes before attempting to remove the mould.

Serve with clotted cream, brown bread ice cream, vanilla ice cream, or custard sauce for the custard lovers.

Gloriously flavoursome full-fat milk and cream and deep orange coloured egg yolks will give the flavour you need to make this a truly enjoyable sauce. Mace is excellent as a flavouring, a bay leaf added to it gives a more spiced flavour. When using cinnamon, the flavour is quite similar to using vanilla, I find, but vanilla – now commonly used – was never traditional.

• • • • • •

10 egg yolks 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) milk 500 ml (17 fl oz/2 cups) thick (double) cream 50 g (1 ¾oz) raw sugar 1 mace blade or cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf (optional)

Whisk the egg yolks in a large bowl. Bring the milk, cream, sugar, spice and bay leaf, if using, to a simmer in a saucepan.

Strain the hot milk mixture and discard the flavourings. Pour a little of the hot mixture into the egg yolks and whisk thoroughly.

Now continue to add the hot

milk mixture in batches until fully incorporated and you get a smooth sauce.

Pour the mixture back into the saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly with a spatula until just thickened, making sure the eggs don’t scramble.

When just thickened, remove from the heat and pour into a cold sauceboat for serving. If you don’t want the custard to develop a skin, cover the sauceboat with plastic wrap.

Vanilla custard Adding vanilla isn’t traditional to Britain but is delicious and often done today. Please use a real vanilla bean and not the essence, which has often not a seed of vanilla in it. Split a vanilla bean lengthways and simmer with the milk and cream.

Take the bean out of the liquid when you are adding it to the egg yolks. Keep the vanilla bean, rinse it gently and dry it: it will still give off enough flavour to make your own vanilla sugar when placed in a jar with sugar.

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kitchen carrot jam

war and peace pudding During wartime, ingredients for plum pudding were hard to come by so the Ministry of Food produced a recipe for a ‘War and Peace Pudding’ made of carrots, potatoes and suet. The recipe also appeared as a ‘Wartime Christmas Pudding’. Carrots and potato were both promoted by the Ministry of Food because they grew easily and were plentiful, and therefore they were important to keep people healthy.

Potato was often used as an alternative to other ingredients in dishes and carrots were used because of their sweet flavour.

At some point ‘carrots on sticks’ were sold to children instead of ice cream – which was banned – and ‘toffee carrots’ replaced toffee apples.

This pudding was made in Canada during the last war, and since then many people have never bothered with a rich Christmas pudding.

Mix together 1 cupful of flour; 1 cupful of breadcrumbs, half a cupful of suet, half a cupful of mixed dried fruit, and, if you like,

a teaspoonful of mixed sweet spice. Then add a cupful of raw potato, a cupful of grated raw carrot and finally a level teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda dissolved in two tablespoonful of hot water.

Mix all together, turn into a well-greased pudding bowl. The bowl should not be more then two-thirds full. Boil or steam for at least 2 hours.

(Ministry of Food, War cookery leaflet no. 4, Carrots, WW2) Getting children to eat carrots was such a big deal that carrot cartoon figures were created: first Doctor Carrot, then Carrot George and his friends, created

by Walt Disney.

Makes 1 pudding in a 14 cm (5½ inch/No. 42) diameter basin (mould) • 75 g (2 ¾ oz) carrots, grated • 100 g (3 ½ oz) potatoes, grated • 85 g (3 oz) plain (all-purpose) flour • 30 g (1 oz/ ½ cup) fresh

breadcrumbs 30 g (1 oz) shredded suet 1 teaspoon ground allspice or mixed spice • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) • 2 tablespoons warm water 1 tablespoon mixed dried • fruit, soaked in water, rum or brandy Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F). Prepare the pudding basins for steaming.

In a large bowl, combine the carrot, potato, flour, breadcrumbs, suet and allspice.

Dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in the water and add to the mixture. On a lightly floured work surface, knead into a ball. Don’t be alarmed if the mixture seems dry, it will come together after kneading it for a few minutes.

Work through the mixed dried fruit and roll the dough into a ball.

Put the ball into the prepared pudding basin and push it down. Prepare the pudding for steaming and steam for 2 hours.

Serve with carrot jam (see recipe opposite).

• •

Carrot jam was a wartime recipe but it had also appeared in Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management in 1861 as ‘Carrot jam to imitate apricot preserve’. It is delicious served with war and peace pudding, but also with the cabbage pudding (see page 96 of Regula’s book) or hackin pudding (see page 92).

•

500 g (1 lb 2 oz) carrot puree, made from boiled carrots • 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) raw sugar • Juice of 1 lemon • Zest of half a lemon, grated or cut into fine strips • 5 apricot kernels • 2 tablespoons brandy Put the carrot purée in a large saucepan and bring to the boil. Add the sugar, lemon juice and zest and apricot kernels. Boil until the mixture has thickened and gels quickly when spooned onto a cold plate.

Remove from the heat and take out the apricot kernels if you can spot them.

Stir the brandy through the jam and decant into sterilised jars. Close the jars and turn them upside down to cool.

The jam has a hint of apricot; it was marketed as mock apricot jam.

This jam doesn’t keep long and must be stored in the fridge.

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kitchen

Christmas Food Gifts Home Made

Christmas can be a really expensive time of year and buying gifts can put a strain on even the most fervent budgeters.

Looking back to the past, when gifts were slightly less lavish and often handmade, can help to keep the Christmas spending under control. There is nothing more thoughtful than a homemade Christmas gift and all of these ideas can be created very easily in your own kitchen. All the recipes I’ve included are based on original vintage ones from the 1950s.

Words & images Catherine beck

Peppermint Creams These traditional homemade sweets are ridiculously quick and simple to make and taste absolutely delicious.

You will need: • 500g icing sugar, extra for thickening & rolling.

• Whites of two large eggs • 2 drops of peppermint essence.

• Green gel food colouring.

• Melted dark chocolate.

How to make: 1. Sift the icing sugar and put to one side.

2. Beat the egg whites until they are very stiff.

3. Add a little food colouring.

4. Mix the icing sugar into the beaten egg whites and it forms a stiff dough. You may need to add a little more icing sugar if the mixture is too wet.

5. Sift some icing sugar onto your surface and roll out the dough until it is about 5mm in thickness.

6. Use a cookie cutter to cut into small circles.

7. Leave on a wire rack to dry for at least 12 hours.

8. Melt some chocolate and either dip the creams into it, or pipe a little over the top.

Cranberry Sauce This traditional cranberry sauce is wonderfully sharp and is the perfect gift to bring as a Christmas dinner guest.

You will need: • 400g fresh or frozen cranberries

• • •

2 tbsp sugar plus extra if required 1 tbsp orange juice ¼ pint water

1. Add all the ingredients to the pan 2. Simmer for around 10 minutes until all the fruit is soft.

3. Add extra sugar to taste.

4. Spoon into jars and store in the fridge.

This will keep in the fridge for 2 days so don’t make it too far in advance.

Treacle Toffee This delicious chewy toffee is richer in taste than the paler version and has a richer flavour. These are easy to make, but always be very careful around hot sugar. You will need a jam or candy thermometer to make this recipe.

You will need: • 450g brown sugar • 225g black treacle • 50g butter • 2 tbsp water • 1tbsp orange juice 1. Place all the ingredients into a saucepan over a low heat until all the sugar has dissolved.

2. Bring to the boil and allow the mixture to continue heating until it reaches about 145ºC. 3. Pour the mixture on to a butter tin.

4. When partially set, mark out squares using a knife.

5. Once firm snap into squares and place in an airtight container.

Stained Glass Cookies This is one of my favourite recipes to make at Christmas, they also make fantastic Christmas tree decorations.

You will need: • 90g butter • 100g caster sugar • 1 egg • ½ tsp vanilla extract • 200g plain flour • ½ tsp baking powder • Pinch of salt • Boiled sweets 1. Sift the dry ingredients together in a bowl and set to one side.

2. In a mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar until smooth and pale.

3. Beat the egg and vanilla into the butter and sugar mixture.

4. Stir the dry ingredients into the mixture until they form a dough.

5. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for an hour.

6. Heat the oven to 170ºC. 7. Roll out the dough to about 4mm on to a floured surface.

8. Cut out your biscuits using a cookie cutter and make holes in the middle of each one.

9. Smash the boiled sweets into small pieces and put into the holes in the biscuits.

10. Bake for 8-12 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

Gingerbread Decoration Kit This is the perfect gift for children, not only do they get something nice to eat or decorate their tree, it also gives them something creative to do. I included some

tubes of icing and a little jar of sprinkles.

You will need: • 225g flour • 1tsp ground ginger • 1tsp bicarbonate of soda • 170g golden syrup • 85g butter 1. Preheat oven to 150ºC. 2. Sieve together the flour, ginger and bicarbonate of soda. Put aside.

3. Melt the butter and syrup in a pan on a low heat.

4. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until it forms a dough.

5. Roll out on a floured surface and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.

6. Make a hole in each biscuit with a skewer.

7. Bake for 18-20 minutes and cool on a wire rack.

8. Thread each cookie with some ribbon or string and arrange in a gift box with a jar of sprinkles and some tubes of icing.

Catherine beck Has a passion for the past, which began as a child helping in her Grandparents’ antique shop. She collects vintage recipe books and kitchenalia and loves to recreate vintage recipes. She writes about all things vintage on her blog Vintage Frills.

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Catherine beck

Has a passion for the past, which began as a child helping in her Grandparents’ antique shop. She collects vintage recipe books and kitchenalia and loves to recreate vintage recipes. She writes about all things vintage on her blog Vintage Frills.

C

hristmas is a great time not only for treating your friends and family, but also being a little indulgent yourself.

Whether you’re having a cosy night in or a big Christmas party, there are loads of seasonal cocktails that are simply irresistible at this time of year.

I’ve chosen four cocktails that are synonymous with the festive season; these are all traditional to the holidays and based on original vintage recipes, with a couple of modern twists.

These measurements are all for two people.

Words & Photos: Catherine Beck

1) Egg Nog This is the ultimate winter cocktail; it takes a little while to make, but the results are definitely worth it.

You will need • 2 eggs • 2 tbsp sugar • 1 part whisky • 1 part dark rum • 1 part brandy • 2 parts milk • 2 parts thick cream • A pinch of ground cloves • A pinch of ground nutmeg 1. Separate the eggs into two separate bowls.

2. Beat the egg yolks until smooth and add half the sugar.

3. Add the whisky, rum and brandy to the yolks, while stirring continuously.

4. Set the yolk mixture aside and beat the egg whites until stiff, while adding the rest of the sugar.

5. Stir the milk and cream into the yolk mixture.

6. Fold the stiff egg whites into the yolk mixture.

7. Spoon into glasses and sprinkle with the ground cloves and nutmeg.

2) Mulled Wine This has to be the first drink most people think of as a traditional Christmas cocktail. This recipe

is full of beautiful spices and not only tastes amazing, but will fill your home with a wonderful wintery scent.

You will need • ½ bottle of red wine • 1 cinnamon stick • 2 star anise • 3 cloves • ½ a grated nutmeg • 4 tablespoons of brown sugar • 1 orange sliced • ½ a lemon sliced.

1. Put all the ingredients in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Pour though a sieve and serve in a heatproof glass.

3) Mulled Cider If wine isn’t your thing, then mulled cider can be a great alternative. This recipe also works with ale.

You will need • 1 can of scrumpy cider • 1 tbsp brown sugar • 3 cloves • ½ a grated nutmeg • 1 pinch of ground ginger • A generous shot of dark rum 1. Put the cider, sugar and spices in a pan and simmer for 10 minutes.

2. Pour through a sieve.

3. Add rum & extra sugar (if needed).

4. Serve in a heatproof glass.

4) Cranberry Bucks Fizz This is the perfect drink to enjoy on Christmas day and I love adding a little cranberry to make this classic even more festive.

You will need • 2 parts orange juice • 2 parts cranberry juice • Champagne or prosecco • Ice cubes Pour the orange and cranberry juice over the ice. Top with the champagne or prosecco.

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A Kinder Christmas 5 tips for hosting a meat free festive feast Words & images kitty von tastique

A lot of people hear the words 'meat-free Christmas' and instantly go into a panic. Perhaps you have vegetarian (no meat or fish), vegan (no animal products at all including dairy and eggs) or possibly even pescatarian (eat fish, dairy & eggs) relatives or friends headed to your place for dinner on Christmas day? Well keep calm and carry on because I've decided to write a handy guide to having a meat-free festive feast, to show it's really not that hard to host a kinder Christmas.

A

s a vegetarian myself, who eats vegan a lot of the time, I have grown quite used to having a meat-free life. I'm fairly tolerant as far as dining with meat-eaters goes but I wanted to outline a bit of suggested etiquette if you are having people like me over for dinner, to help your festive feast run smoothly!

Quorn, also make mock roasts. Just be careful to check if your guest is able to eat soy as some brands contain it. Quorn is soy-free, however it does contain egg. Vegans will not eat anything containing dairy or egg and may prefer no meat-like replacement at all. Google 'nut roast' or even 'roast celeriac' to get some tasty easy ideas, if you'd like to make something yourself.

TIP #1 – Make it a BYO Christmas I'm used to eating meat-free all the time so if you are having someone over like me, who is vegan or vegetarian, it is a good idea to politely ask them what they would like to eat and give them the option of bringing their own food. If they do decide to bring their own, it's not a slight against your hosting skills, it simply makes life easier for both you and for them. If they do bring their own food, pop it in a separate place ready for the meal. Strict vegans are often concerned about cross contamination of things being cooked on the same surface as meat or with the same oil etc. Keeping things separate solves that problem. Re-heat food separately too if you can.

TIP #3 – Oil & Gravy Don't forget to give the duck fat and other animal oils a miss for the roast veg if possible. If you ask me, extra virgin olive oil is actually much nicer and it is a lot healthier too.

Some gravy also contains animal products so please double check the ingredients.

If you're making your own gravy from the roast meat juices, pop it on the table in a gravy boat and let everyone add their own.

You could give the meat-free guest their own gravy boat with their own preferred gravy. Again, you can ask your meat-free guest if they want to bring their own gravy brand.

Most of us already know which brands we like and are happy to bring it along.

TIP #2 – Fake It Till You Can Make It There are loads of amazing alternative proteins on the market now. Quorn UK do some fabulous options and their range now also includes vegan products as well, yay!

(The rest of their range is vegetarian). Their vegan fillets are really great to use as the protein element for a vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian meal. Some brands, including

TIP #4 – Knock Knock, Who's Where?

Please avoid jokes at your veggie guests' expense. Most of us have chosen a meatfree lifestyle because of very significant personal beliefs or religious reasons. It's Christmas after all so please be kind. Don't sit us next to 'Uncle Rodger' who likes to eat straight from the bone and make meat jokes, and please don't plonk the whole turkey carcass down right in front of us and

start carving away. Try to understand that it's not personal but as someone who hasn't eaten meat for a number of years now, it can make people like me feel physically sick to be confronted with whole carcasses, etc. It just happens now whether I like it or not. I'm not trying to be difficult or a pain, it's just how my body reacts now because my mind/body connection to meat is hardwired after all of these years.

TIP #5 Sweethearts There are loads of veg friendly sweets out there now. Vegetarians and pescatarians should be able to eat most regular puddings, pies and cakes but vegans won't necessarily be able to eat them if your sweets contain dairy or egg. If your trifle jelly is made with gelatin (made from ground up animal bones) and your custard has dairy they might also not be suitable.

You could make your jelly with agar (from seaweed) and your custard with a dairy-free milk instead. There are also lots of dairy-free ice creams available now. Fruit salad with dairy-free ice cream is always nice. Again give your guests the option to bring along something they like.

These days, with a lot of intolerances on the rise, you might find a lot of your other guests may prefer dairy or egg-free offerings as well. Learning a few basic swaps will make life easier for entertaining in general and you might even decide that a kinder Christmas is something for you as well.

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CULTURE

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T his month i n history Carrie-Ann Dring A vintage style blogger at Something Definitely Happened, and puts her passion for vintage down to her love of history, fashion and stories. And shopping – she likes that too.

december

Can you believe we’re in December already? It’s traditionally the month of Christmas trees, gingerbread and – if we cross our fingers really tightly – perhaps even some snow, and here are some of the historic events that have happened in Decembers gone by.

1910s • Five months after war was declared, on Christmas Day, 1914, Allied and German soldiers wished each other Merry Christmas, exchanged small gifts such as cigarettes, and sang carols before playing a game of football in No-Man’s Land during the Christmas Truce.

1930s ily • King Edward VIII became the first British monarch to voluntar to free him leaving 1936, er Decemb abdicate his throne on 11 marry divorcee Wallis Simpson, and resulting in his younger brother taking the throne as King George VI. 1940s • The Japanese attacked Pearl Habour on 7 December, 1941, a surprise attack that resulted in the US declaring war on Japan and joining World War II.

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1920s c • On 6 December 1921, the Irish Free State – now the Republi of Ireland – was declared, ending a five-year struggle for independence from Britain.

1950s • Elvis Presley was drafted into the US Army on 20 December 1957, attaining the rank of sergeant during his two-year stint.

1960s • The first successful heart transplant took place in Cape Town, South Africa, on 3 December 1967.

1970s • Charlie Chaplin, one of the world’s greatest silent film stars and famous for his moustache and bowler hat, died on 25 December 1977.

Are there any to add, readers? Join the conversation on our Facebook page – search ‘Vintage Life

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T

shutterstock/ Who is Danny

he vintage scene is big business these days and means many things to many different people, but essentially it exists because people want to dress, dance and enjoy the music of yesteryear amongst like-minded folk. Nostalgia clearly plays a huge part in the popularity of the scene with people of a certain age casting an affectionate eye back to the time of their grandparents. As the scene continues to grow, purists fear that it will implode as event organisers make a grab for every last penny. Well, that cannot be said about Riviera Swing.

Five years ago, Essex-boy Mark “Snowboy” Cotgrove and Mancunian Tony Morrison created an unashamedly British Big Band-based event at the Victoria Hotel in Torquay.

They’d met years before when Tony was tour manager for Snowboy and his Latin Section and they’ve remained firm friends and business associates ever since. Snowboy uses his experience as a recording artist and DJ to handle the entertainment, while Tony uses his experiences of promoting and managing Roots music events to good effect behind the scene. Tony already used the Victoria Hotel in Torquay for a bi-yearly Salsa weekender and when the opportunity to expand into a third weekend came his way, he passed it to Snowboy and Riviera was born.

Unlike many other events on the scene, Snowboy refuses to let Riviera grow, preferring to keep it small and intimate. He explained, “I wanted to keep it small to protect it, which from the layman’s point of view may seem at odds with how events are run.” To Snowboy this is the very essence of his event.

Mark spent his formative years entertaining people as a Redcoat with Butlin’s and then a Warner Green coat. The all-inclusive ethos instilled in him during those years now forms

the bedrock of his concept at Riviera. You are not merely attending an event – you are part of it. Snowboy and his team welcome everyone arriving at Riviera. A hand shake and a warm smile greets everyone, from the first timers to the old hands and when I say team, I mean everyone involved from the DJs to the resident dance teachers, and of course his MC, Iain “Viv the Spiv” Dawson.

Stepping into the foyer of the Victoria Hotel for Riviera is stepping back in time... and it’s wonderful.

This is why Riviera is so successful. Snowboy has exacting standards and the atmosphere he creates is evocative of the late 1930s without being sentimental. The Victoria Hotel opened her doors in 1929 and so no transformation is required, her dance floor is huge and the ballroom remains in keeping with the period. Dance features heavily in Snowboy’s concept and he is passionate to the point of obsession with regard to the correct period dances being performed. He admits to being a pedant on this subject and will happily debate the merits or otherwise of modern interpretations on what was or was not danced by our forebears. You will not find the dance floor at Riviera taken over by strollers for instance, and as he told me recently, “I see the event more in terms of the Foxtrot than the Lindy Hop”, and he has a point. UK dance halls seldom permitted the Jitterbug until the late war years with those foolish enough to try being shown the door, and even such swing classics as Glenn Miller’s In the Mood or Benny Goodman’s Sing, Sing, Sing, so beloved of Strollers, being labelled ‘Foxtrot’.

If like me, you are a passable Lindy Hopper but had never tried to Foxtrot, fear not. Mark and Hoc Ewing are always on hand as the resident dance teachers during the Riviera weekend. They hold lessons during the morning and after-

A blast from the past Words Jim williams

noon, and with their help we learned to Social Foxtrot to a passable standard. You won’t pick up any Lindy steps though since the Social Foxtrot was the dance enjoyed by the majority of couples back in the day in Britain. It was pretty much the only time the opposite sexes could escape their chaperones and spend three minutes or so in an embrace without the fear of causing a fuss. Every couple moved anti-clockwise around the floor and used the time to get to know each other. If you were lucky you got a second dance and if not, well three minutes wasn’t the end of the world, was it? One of the appeals of Riviera is the accurate portrayal of late-30s novelty dances, such as the Lambeth Walk, Park Parade and Palais Glide. These dances were extremely popular and a search on You Tube will show thousands all dancing them simultaneously.

Snowboy has made it his mission, through his learned dance teachers, to get people dancing them again, and I have to say it's great fun too. And if that isn’t enough dancing for you, try the period tea dances on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and treat yourself to an afternoon tea into the bargain.

For those who tire easily, the White Bus Cinema provides reason enough to sit down and proprietor Paul Cotgrove shows a selection of classics from Ealing or Pinewood Studios in the event’s very own dedicated cinema. For the more adventurous why not pit your wits against a genuine Spiv on the Hoy board? Hoy is a game of chance involving cards akin to bingo and Viv assures me the odds are always in the punters favour, but I haven’t won…

yet! If you lose you can always drown your sorrows with a pint and a song as Tim, the resident pianist, leads a sing-a-long between games of Hoy. The climax of each day is the evening dance, starting at 8pm sharp. The entertainment starts with the house DJs and this year I make my debut with Rob Be Bop, Terry Elliot and the Swinging Detective. At around 9.30pm the featured Orchestra starts the first of three sets. You have to see the dance floor to believe it – everyone in the hotel makes a supreme effort to dress for dinner, black tie and ball gowns are in abundance and with orchestras of up to 18 pieces blasting out classics you could be forgiven for believing you’d been transported back 80 years.

Snowboy summed it up when he told me, “The Orchestras love performing at Riviera, as they seldom get that many dancers all dressed up in period clothes on the floor. The experience knocks them out.”

Riviera Swing is a very special event but if you fancy giving it a try, book early.

Jim Williams Host of Swing Time on Hoxtonradio.com in London and Racketeer Radio in Seattle. His passion is swing, jazz, blues, R&B, shuffle & jump blues. All backed up by the history of each genre and the artists involved.

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The wildest new band in town

Based in Liverpool, Lisa loves vintage country and rockabilly music. She spends her days teaching and her evenings singing songs.

Ric & The Rocketeers Howlin’ Ric and The Rocketeers burst onto the rockin’ scene earlier this year with the energy of a young Little Richard and a truly raucous rock ‘n’ roll sound. I caught up with bandleader Ric to find out more about the wildest new band in town.

HOW DID YOU AND THE BAND GET TOGETHER? I've always gigged with bands that do vintage styles of music from rhythm 'n' blues, swing and jive through to rock 'n' roll, so I had a good pool of musicians to choose from; musicians who know the style and were able to get the right sound/groove for the songs. I've always been into rock 'n' roll music so fronting a rock 'n' roll band where I write my own songs makes the band individual and gives it purpose. Adam and Nico make up the core of the band with me and asking them to be a part of the group was a no brainer. We are really good mates and are all full-time musicians.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PLAY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL? As a kid, the chart music of the 90s and normal stuff you heard on mainstream radio didn't do anything for me. I really enjoyed the Beatles’ early stuff and started to get into a few guitar bands that were around at the time too. At that time The Beatles Anthology came on TV, which did a part on what influenced The Beatles. They played some Elvis and Little Richard and I fell in love with the raw sound and wanted to hear more! After listening and loving old rock 'n' roll,

Kev and I got together and tried playing Buddy Holly songs and, as you do, we wanted to do nothing else other than play gigs. From then I've always made sure that I have a hand in playing rhythm 'n' blues, rock 'n' roll and rockabilly and it's now just a part of me and who I am. A part of my life I guess.

WHO ARE YOUR KEY INFLUENCES? I'm really into all the early rock 'n' roll and rockabilly of Sun Records and love early country too. What I REALLY dig is the rhythm 'n' blues of the 50s, the Chess, Atlantic and Speciality Records stuff of the mid-50s is what I put on and listen to almost every day. As a singer, artists like Little Richard are frightening and amazing all at the same time and are a huge influence. I can't really sound like them but their delivery and energy is very much what rock 'n' roll is to me and what I try and emulate. Also at the moment there are lots of guys writing great rock 'n' roll with a fresh twist and new personality. People like Big Sandy, JD McPherson and The Bellfuries are modern influences who have shown what’s possible when writing with a classic but fresh take.

Photographer/Artwork: Matt Baxter Photography/ El Nico

Lisa-Marie Rose

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HoW iMPortAnt is usinG VintAGe eQuiPMent to your sounD, LiVe AnD in tHe stuDio? the biggest part of getting the right sound is actually how you are playing your instrument, and you can achieve good results on modern replica style instruments. if you play as well as you can, and are getting the style right, you won't go far wrong. there is no denying that vintage instruments and mics adds something a bit special but they are a bit of a luxury live. in the studio, good vintage gear, if used properly, can really enhance the sound. there’s no point having a vintage ribbon mic and going straight into a digital desk. recording to tape, Analog Desk, good gear and getting as live a recording as possible seems to work best in my experience so far.

As A BAnD, you Are reLAtiVeLy neW to tHe rockABiLLy scene. WHAt HAVe Been tHe HiGHLiGHts so FAr? yeah we've not been going for long. one of the best things that we've done so far was supporting Barrence Whitfield & the savages (this year’s headliner at Hemsby rock 'n' roll Weekender) at Brudenell social club in Leeds – it was great to meet him and chat to the band. Also we had a really great gig – a bit of a turning point gig – at cask corner in Doncaster at the beginning of the year. We ended up playing to a packed house including lots of fans of the rockin' scene and met loads of new people who have helped us get lots of gigs

at some of the rock 'n' roll clubs around the country, which we are very grateful for. nAMe tHree sonGs tHAt eVery rock ‘n’ roLL FAn sHouLD oWn. Wow, this is not going to be easy to answer. i'm gonna go with Maybellene by chuck Berry and Little richard’s, Keep A Knocking – that’s got a vocal that could pin you to the wall. i've recently been introduced to nick curran & the Lowlifes and they are my new favourites, so as a wildcard i'm going to go with their track, Psycho.

Do you Get MucH tiMe to Get out AnD see otHer neW BAnDs on tHe scene AnD WHAt Are your FAVourite Venues?

It’s difficult but I've recently managed to get to see c.W. stoneking and Pokey La Farge who are great and an inspiration live.

When it comes to venues we have a great ‘home from home’ venue called sela Bar in Leeds and we love playing at Al's Dime Bar in Bradford too. We’re really looking forward to playing Chesterfield and Lincoln rock 'n' roll clubs soon.

WHere cAn VintAGe LiFe reADers FinD out More ABout you?

We are on Facebook, twitter, instagram, Bandcamp and YouTube. Our first EP Cannonball is on sale and there’s also a free ‘covers’ eP available for download. Just type ‘Howlin' ric & the rocketeers’ into Google and you can find it all from there.

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culture tHe tootsie roLLers

scene FroM tHursForD sHoW

fesTiVe feasT

scene FroM tHursForD sHoW

with the Tootsie Rollers

In a village in North Norfolk, opposite a church and a post box, you will find the greatest dose of Christmas spirit the festive period has to offer. Driving along the A148 towards Thursford, nothing could prepare you for the magic that awaits. As you turn off on to an unlit road you will see the glow from fairy lights illuminating the sky above this unlikely location. However not even the twinkling exterior of The Thursford Collection prepares you for the festive feast in store for visitors.

For the rest of the year the site becomes the thursford collection: an extraordinary assortment of turn of the century steam engines, ornate organs dating further back to the 1800s and a beautiful carousel, all saved and preserved by John cushing’s father, George, at a time when such things would have gone for scrap. these magnificent antiques are incorporated into the auditorium, and an elegant Gondola (circa 1895) straddles one end of the stage. every inch of the setting for this extraordinary show exudes christmas tradition. enormous fresh pines stand tall glinting in empty corners while red, green and gold decorations fill the remaining nooks of the vast auditorium. these giant antiques are not the only vintage treasures to be found at thursford. so much about the ‘thursford experience’ is inspired by bygone eras and it is this, combined with the first class music and

dance, which ensures you leave feeling a christmas glow. repertoire from this year’s show includes beautiful vocal and orchestral arrangements of Frank sinatra’s Christmas Waltz, elvis’s Lonely this Christmas, shostakovich’s 1920s orchestration of Tea for Two, and the song that appears every year at thursford: irving Berlin’s White Christmas, not to mention many beautiful carols and so much more. the retro icing on this particular christmas cake has to be the on stage Wurlitzer. it plays a central role in the christmas spectacular and is one of only two professionally operated theatre organs of its kind in the uk. Designed by robert Hope Jones, cushing’s father bought it from Leeds odeon when it was made redundant by the birth of talkies. every year Blackpool tower’s renowned organist, Phil kelsall, spends his christmas season at thursford.

this chocolate box of festive delights opens in early november and runs until 23rd December. once discovered, audiences claim thursford’s hidden gem as their own family christmas tradition, returning year after year. People are drawn to the warmth of the experience that originates with the family who run the extraordinary enterprise with such passion.

Vintage Life readers, we wish you all a very Merry christmas! enjoy December with all its festive treats: lights twinkling, carols playing, mince pies warming, and perhaps consider adding the ultimate christmas experience to the list: take a trip to the village of thursford and see for yourself what christmas spirit is in store. the tootsie rollers x x x www.thetootsierollers.com facebook.com/thetootsierollers twitter.com/thetootsies instagram.com/thetootsies

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t

he tootsie rollers are all christmas thrill seekers, craving anything that will give us a festive feeling reminiscent of childhood christmases and the thursford christmas spectacular, tucked away in the east of england, does exactly that. the largest show of its kind in europe, it has the atmosphere and nostalgia of British Variety, with all the excitement and sparkle of radio city, new york and it certainly gave us that christmas feeling we love. the show began as a christmas concert featuring only eight singers from king's college cambridge. now the cast has over 130 members made up of singers, dancers and an orchestra. the stage is 140 feet wide, and the venue is adorned with over six million fairy lights. this year the show’s producer, John cushing, and his team celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary.

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a vi nta ge n erd’s

classic Year: 1954

Daffny blogs at A Vintage nerd and she has a passion for learning and inspiring others. Daffny wants to share with you fun bits and bobs about yesteryear – she truly believes that there is a vintage nerd in all of us!

Life in 1954 saw the use of frozen TV dinners, the music of a young Elvis Presley, and rationing finally ending in Britain on July 4th. Slowly the Western world was beginning to flourish in a way it never had a chance to before due to the previous two world wars.

P

eople’s lives were more bountiful than ever before and the big screen reflected those changes. We saw musicals that continued to dazzle us with the likes of Gene kelly, Judy Garland, Bing crosby and Fred Astaire. Fashion was taking over the big screen and the magazine industry helped to create the first ‘supermodels’ in Suzy Parker, Dorian Leigh, Carmen Dell’ Orefice and Dovima. the small screen was giving us the antics of Lucille Ball and Dezi Arnaz (who was the first Latino to co-host a national

my selections for 1954 are: White christmas White Christmas was filmed in VistaVision and technicolor featuring songs by irving Berlin and with the talents of Bing crosby, rosemary clooney, Danny kaye and Vera-ellen. it has become one of the most iconic festive films for good reason. two World War ii heroes combine their talents and create an empire of music and merriment. the one thing they lacked is a proper love life. toss in two gorgeous blonde Haynes sisters, a down and out former Major General and the columbia inn at Pine tree Vermont, and magic is bound to happen! rear Window Does any good come from spying on your neighbours with a pair of binoculars? in James stewart's case it takes him from bored wheelchair bound photographer to expert sleuth attempting to solve a murder. Also starring Grace kelly (her costumes were designed by the uber talented Edith Head and the outfits she wore were characters unto themselves), thelma ritter, Wendell corey and an almost unrecognizable raymond Burr. shot on an enormous sound stage

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english-language television show in prime time) in I Love Lucy.

White Christmas gave us the soothing vocals of Bing crosby and rosemary clooney, which continue to bring joy to households during the holidays, and Alfred Hitchcock solidified his title as the master of suspense and thrilled us beyond imagination with 11 masterpieces during the 1950s alone. one cannot look back at the 1950s and not imagine the excitement people must have felt with all the new and innovative film, music, fashion and technology coming to them from all angles.

with lifelike buildings filled with various colourful neighbours for stewart's character to watch, Hitchcock really created a unique atmosphere and a tantalizing murder mystery. a star is born Ever wondered why this film is considered one of the top musicals of all time?

Judy Garland is the answer. Garland stars as a singer dreaming of making it big in Hollywood. she meets a successful actor named norman Maine (James Mason) who, through ups and downs, helps her to become the star she dreamed to be. The film shows us the tragedies that can befall anyone in show business and sets it all to beautiful music. This film is hauntingly bittersweet.

Dial m for murder this is another Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece but this time starring Grace kelly and ray Milland. in Rear Window kelly's character helps to solve the murder of a stranger but in this film she has to solve her own attempted murder. Who would attempt to wrap a telephone cord around her neck and why? the answers and motive may surprise you as much as kelly's character gets surprised.

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Daffny Laurito

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did you KnoW?

1954 edition

•Hold the pickles! Hold the lettuce! The first Burger king opens!

White christmas movie vocal selections (2000): ever want to sing the songs that Bing crosby and rosemary clooney sang in White Christmas in the comfort of your own home? Well, now you can! this neat little book is a must have for all fans of this iconic film. With this book you can make your own White Christmas sing-a-long! it's a Wonderful christmas: The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965 (2004): Looking back on the holidays from yesteryear can bring us a sense of sweet nostalgia. this book is chock full of interesting titbits and fun photos which are great to look at during the holiday season. have yourself a very vintage christmas: crafts, Decorating tips, and recipes, 1920s-1960s (2011): this is my go-to book pre-holiday season where i can find inspiration and ideas on various crafts and decorating for my home. each chapter is divided into decades so you can just pick a time and find yourself something vintage inspired to do for christmas. vera-ellen: the magic and the mystery (2008): Vera-ellen (star of White Christmas) was an exquisite dancer and well deserved member of Hollywood's most talented but if you wondered why she didn't become the star you think she should have been, this book will answer many of your questions.

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•J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings is published on July 29th, 1954.

•The most popular television show of 1954 was I Love Lucy.

•The first Wimpy’s hamburger bar opened in London.

•General Electric introduces coloured kitchen appliances. Bye, bye white!

•The M & M’s slogan, “The milk chocolate melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” is first used.

•Elvis Presley’s first album, which was called Elvis Presley’s Rock ‘n Roll debuts in the uk.

•Dr. Roger Bannister of England becomes the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes on May 6. His time is 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds.

•Ellis Island, the immigration station in NY Harbour, is closed. Between 1892 and 1954, 12 million immigrants were processed at ellis island.

•The first successful kidney transplant is performed in the u.s. by Harvard physicians. the patient will survive for seven more years. memorable film Quotes for 1945: White Christmas “My dear partner, when what’s left of you gets around to what’s left to be gotten, what’s left to be gotten won’t be worth getting, whatever it is you’ve got left.”

(Phil Davis) “When I figure out what that means I’ll come up with a crushing reply.” (Bob Wallace) Sabrina “A woman happily in love, she burns the soufflé. A woman unhappily in love, she forgets to turn on the oven.” (Baron st. Fontanel) On the Waterfront “Hey, you wanna hear my philosophy of life? Do it to him before he does it to you.” (terry) Rear Window stella: How much do we need to bail Lisa from jail?

Jeff: Well, this is first offense burglary, that’s about $250. i have $127. stella: Lisa’s handbag. uh... 50 cents. i got $20 or so in my purse.

Jeff: And what about the rest? stella: When those cops at the station see Lisa, they’ll even contribute.

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a few books to inspire you during the holidays:

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merle oberon Silver screen stars

H

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owever, her life was built on a lie.

In 1978 Merle was invited by the Lord Mayor of Hobart to attend a civic reception in her home town. Studio publicity had always insisted that Estelle Merle O’Brien Thompson was born in Tasmania in 1911 and was of Irish descent. She became ill during the visit – a nervous illness brought on by her fear that the tangle of lies surrounding her origins was about to be revealed. Even then, she could not bear to confess the truth to her fourth husband, Robert Wolders; that she was born to a poverty-stricken mother in India and was of mixed race – a great taboo in the racially prejudiced climate of the 1930s and 1940s and a fact that could have destroyed her film career.

Although certainly the revelation would have been less incendary by the 1970s, Merle could not bear the world to know that she had lied to her family, friends, husbands and fans.

Even Merle herself may not have been fully aware of the truth of her origins. An Australian documentary maker contacted Merle’s nephew Harry Selby in 2002. Selby revealed that he had evidence that his mother Constance was actually also Merle’s mother, not her half-sister as had been previously believed. Constance would have been about fourteen or fifteen at the time of Merle’s birth.

Merle had been brought up by her grandmother Charlotte, who she believed to be her mother.

When Merle first dreamed of a career in cinema as a teenager living in Bombay, she was introduced to an actor named Ben Finney who had offered to help her get into films. She took Finney home one night and was upset to be greeted at the door by

Merle Oberon seemed to live a charmed life: beautiful, wealthy and famous, she was the envy of many. Her numerous love affairs and marriages included romances with stars such as David Niven and Leslie Howard, her friends included not only film stars but royalty.

Charlotte who was darker-skinned than the fair-skinned Merle who was able to pass as a European.

Merle tried to pass Charlotte off as her maid, but Finney was not fooled and callously deserted Merle, unable to accept her mixed roots.

He did however promise Merle that if she were to visit him in Antibes in the South of France, where he was intending to spend the summer, he would introduce her to legendary film director Rex Ingram. Finney no doubt hoped that Merle would never make it to Europe, but he underestimated her determination. It seems that she was able to charm another suitor into buying tickets for herself and Charlotte to France, where they arrived in the summer of 1929.

On hearing that Merle was due to arrive, Finney once again fled, but at least had the decency to leave an introduction for Merle to Ingram, as promised. Ingram was fascinated by all things ‘exotic’ and classing Merle in this category, he immediately put her into one of his pictures The Three Passions – her movie career had begun.

Merle and Charlotte moved to London where Merle got a job as a dance hostess at the Hammersmith Palais de Danse and later at the Cafe de Paris. It was around this time that she changed her surname from O’Brien to the more Shakespearean and sophisticated sounding Oberon.

At the age of just 21, Merle was diagnosed with cancer and had to have her fallopian tubes removed, leaving her unable to have children. Shortly afterwards she was offered her breakthrough role as Anne Boleyn in Alexander Korda’s Private Life of Henry VIII for which she received rave reviews.

Whilst filming I, Claudius in 1937 Merle was involved in a car crash

and suffered facial injuries that for a time threatened to end her career.

The film was never completed as she spent months recovering from her injuries. Charlotte, the woman Merle believed to be her mother, died in 1937 and shortly afterwards Merle had a portrait painted of a blue-eyed, white-skinned woman who bore no resemblance to Charlotte and she always claimed thereafter that this portrait was of her mother.

In 1939 Merle played the part of Cathy in what was to become her most famous film Wuthering Heights.

The critics were enraptured with her performance, with Frank S. Nugent declaring “she has perfectly caught the restless, changeling spirit of the Brontë heroine.”

After the success of Wuthering Heights Merle married Alexander Korda and became Lady Korda when he was knighted in 1942 for his services to the war effort. As a wedding gift Korda presented Merle with a magnificent necklace that had belonged to Marie Antoinette.

It was the beginning of Merle’s fabulous jewellery collection. In 1940 she suffered a severe allergic reaction to sulpha injections that caused considerable damage to her skin, which could only be treated by painful dermabrasion sessions with a plastic surgeon. It would have been traumatic for anyone, but Merle’s career depended on her beauty, besides which, she was incredibly vain. Merle continued to have affairs throughout her marriage to Korda and eventually left him for cameraman Lucien Ballard who she married in 1945. Ballard devised a lighting technique called the ‘Obie’ (for ‘Oberon’) which helped to conceal the scarring on Merle’s face. Merle left Ballard for an Italian count, who was tragically killed in

a plane crash – one of three of her lovers to die in this manner.

In 1957 Merle married for a third time, to one of the richest men in South America – Bruno Pagliai. The couple adopted two children, Bruno Junior and Francesca. With Pagliai Merle set about creating a white marble palace of exquisite opulance in Acapulco and turned it into a haven of beauty and serenity for her children to grow up in, as well as the setting for magnificent parties. She was a queen of the international high-class social set.

The couple divorced in 1973 and in 1975 Merle married Robert Wolders. Merle continued to make films sporadically until her death in 1979.

Merle’s personality was complex and contradictory. She could be at once romantic and heartless, spiritual and acquisitive, charming and difficult. Her personality was influenced by the nervous tension of living a lie and the fear that revelation could destroy the perfect life that she had created for herself.

Katrina Simpson Katrina Simpson is a writer, teacher and bibliophile.

She has loved vintage films since the age of five when she saw her first Doris Day musical.

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Goran Bogicevic/shutterstock

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Stick you r nose i n a

good book

Laurie Lee’s village christmas Review by Penny Batchelor Village Christmas is the opening story in Laurie Lee’s collection of tales set throughout the year. Lee’s best-known novel is Cider with Rosie, set in an indulgently nostalgic bygone era of his childhood, and that spirit is one he also invokes in Village Christmas.

Sit back, mulled wine in hand and read how Christmas was celebrated in The Cotswolds during the earlier half of the 20th century, when Christmas, unlike today, began just two days before the celebrated dinner itself. The boys from the village choir would go

carolling then, on Christmas Eve, mother would clear the kitchen table for a ceremonial stir of the Christmas pudding for luck.

“Christmas in the country meant feasts and fires,” says Lee, two things that young boys are interested in. The children would collect leaves to decorate the house then go with mother to the nearest town to buy presents. “The tiny gas lit stores were gold caverns in the dusk, busting with festive gods”, that would find their way into stockings the next morning.

Lee evokes the festive season as we all would like it to be and this book is a perfect vintage wallow in the past.

style tribes – the fashion of subcultures

By Caroline Young Review by Haili Hughes

From the minute this pastel hued tone of style loveliness landed through my letterbox, I knew I would enjoy it. The front cover features a street style photograph of two gorgeous girls, candy coloured hair with a mash-up of industrial and Harajuku styling: the kind of girls you’d stop to ogle in the street and wish you could be in their girl gang. Their style turns heads, as does this book.

Its premise is a look through the different style tribes throughout the era, starting from the trailblazing flappers of the 1920s, who

shocked society with their bobbed hair and African bangles stacked from wrist to elbow. Each section not only includes stunning photographs, but also gives a detailed and interesting explanation of the origins and trendsetters involved with the style.

More modern ‘tribes’ like emo and hipster are also referenced alongside lesser known ones such as neo-rockabilly and sapeur.

Style Tribes is not just another coffee table fashion book. It is an exciting historical work, which charts the events in modern history, alongside the styles they inspired. It is proof of what I have said for years: style underpins everything.

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get crafty –

christmas bauble project Words kathy siney

R

evamping and personalizing plain baubles is a fun project for all ages and abilities, whether you choose simple silhouettes, names or more intricate pictures. Your creations can be used as tree decorations, nametags on gifts, table place settings or small trinkets tailored to suit someone's interests.

In my examples, I painted a flamingo and a 1950s Cadillac for rockabilly fans, and a more advanced project of a 1940s style girl of my own design, to use as a gift.

For this beginner’s project, you will need: • Plain Baubles (Matte work best) • Acrylic / ceramic paint • A white pencil • Glitter paint / glue • Fine paintbrush • Ribbon and a variation • of embellishments • Blue Tack / plasticine Step 1. Take a large blob of blue tack or plasticine and fix it to your work surface – this will hold your bauble nicely in place and prevent it rolling around whilst drying! For an easy picture to practice with, choose a simple outline such as a candy cane or a star.

I’ve chosen a corset shape to freehand draw with the white pencil and you can always use a template to draw

around if you are not confident. Any mistakes can easily be rubbed away later.

Step 2. Once you are happy with your design, paint over your outline with your chosen colour of paint, using a fine brush. Once dry, I chose to paint an extra black glitter outline over the top for extra sparkle!

Step 3. I painted the corset bodice in clear crystal glitter; you can choose any colours or decide to leave it blank.

Step 4. Once completely dry, you can start decorating! I added self-adhesive crystals on to the bodice and finished off by tying a feather and chiffon ribbon to the top.

Please take care not to place any baubles with lots of ribbon and feathers, next to candles or fairy lights, to avoid fire hazards.

kathy siney Kathy is a self-employed pin-up artist from Merseyside, recreating her love of vintage glamour and rockabilly

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Rocka billies & Emma edwards Also known as Miss Bamboo, her alter ego and reproduction vintage clothing label. She has been on the ‘vintage scene’ since 1983 and adores mid century style and airstream adventures.

cocktails in calafell

September was a busy month for the Bamboos. Having left Morecambe, we hightailed it down to Dover to crossover to France and journey on to Calafell in Spain for the 50s ‘Rockin’ holiday, ‘High Rockabilly’.

(photography credits Jesus Navarro and Keefy Hanson)

W

hile life on the road can be pretty routine, this is not always the case. 'Big Bamboo' loves a gadget or two and is the sort of guy who will research gadgets to the nth degree. So why would his state of the art satellite navigation system, set to take us on routes suitable for a 2.85 metre Airstream trailer, try to take us under a 2 metre and 2.65 metre bridge in the centre of Versailles?

Why we were in Versailles in the first place will only ever be known by the said ‘state of the art’ satellite navigation system!

Perhaps it knew I was rather partial to the recent TV series, which was incidentally made by the same company who made the French programme Les Revenants or The Returned as it is known in English. In it, residents who try to leave the town find they are mysteriously unable to and keep ending up at the same point on a bridge facing a tunnel they are unable to pass through. Something strange also seemed to be happening to us, as we became stuck in a repetitive cycle of two metre height barrier tunnels, inhibiting our access to the motorway.

Somehow we eventually made it out of this French twilight zone scenario and were happy to finally settle down for some nice French cuisine and wine at our service station home for the night.

Only, when we entered the services it was daylight and when we left it was dark. This was a particularly 'large' service station and we found ourselves unable to find our airstream, arguing about which small hill it was beyond. The local Gendarme found us merrily walking on to the motorway exit (where our airstream was of course situated) but kindly rescued us, escorting us back to our 'Americane' caravan in the back of a police car!

We finally made it to Calafell. If you are a lover of the 1950s you must try this holiday. As holiday resorts go, it is rather lovely.

It has a long clean beach with plenty of palm trees and a nice esplanade with some lovely little mid-century apartments. The locals are very welcoming and love it when the rockabillies come

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to town, bringing their vibrant vintage style and a boost to the local economy – particularly the local bars!

There are two cocktail bars in Calafell that cater to your vintage desires. The first is Bora Bora, the local tiki bar. As someone who frequents many a tiki bar, I would say this is fairly standard. The cocktails are nice enough and though not exceptional, are served in a cool array of tiki mugs. It is a great rockabilly hangout, dressed up in your best vintage or indeed repro Hawaiian.

The second go-to cocktail bar is only a stones throw from Bora Bora. 'New Orleans' captures the glamorous feel of the jazz age in 1920s to 40s New Orleans.

This is a family business run by Jesus Navarro (pronounced Heh soos, not Jeezuz!) and his wife Josefina, celebrating 25 years in business this December. The drinks are truly divine, which is not surprising given that Jesus is a cocktail connoisseur and master mixer. Jesus is well known on the cocktail mixing circuit, having competed for many years in his art in worldwide competitions, including the prestigious 'Champions of Europe' in Poland where he received the honour of becoming European champion. His wonderful trophies and historic pictures are proudly on display in the bar, amongst the cool vintage New Orleans decor and collections of vintage cocktail shakers, transporting you back to a more glamorous time. Aaron Lopez, once Jesus' protégé, has worked in the bar for 17 years; a master in mixing in his own right, he was more than happy to shake up my desired off menu request for an 'Amaretto sours'. The extensive menu also offers classics like the Manhattan and Singapore sling to tropical favourites such as the Piña colada. How wonderful to spend the evening here, listening to jazz classics like Josefina's favourite, Louis Armstrong, sipping quality cocktails and taking in the ambience of times gone by.

The Rockabilly festival itself is fantastic. Jose Aguilar, event organiser, brings in a great selection of international bands such as Big Sandy and his Fly-Rite Boys from the USA, to the UK's own The Rimshots and Japan's Los Rizlaz. One of the festival’s highlights however, had to be the onstage performance by rockabilly legend Larry Collins of The Collins Kids. Larry and sister Laurie were brought to fame in the 1950s as a country music child duo and became regulars on 50s TV shows such as Town Hall Party. (www.rockabillyhall.com) Alongside great evening entertainment are the various street parties and daytime beach parties, where gals and guys strut out in their best vintage beach wear and cabana sets while listening to 50s surf and garage as well as classic rock ‘n’ roll. The Vintage traders’ market, where Miss Bamboo was based every night, offered great shopping with a range of vintage and repro stalls with the likes of Freddie's of Pinewood and Bow and Crossbones, as well as the opportunity to measure up for a couture garment courtesy of the marvellous Maria Guye.

Further shopping opportunity came with the Sunday flea market at the Terraza Hotel Canada, where you could sell and buy vintage clothes, homewares and ephemera while listening to more cool bands and DJs. Who should I bump into there but Jesus, who is also an accomplished photographer as it turns out!

A great time was had by all. All that was left was to make the three day journey home, hopefully avoiding Versailles and two metre tunnels!

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bexi owen Also known as Miss Bamboo, her alter ego Bexi is a jazz and and reproduction vintage swing singer travelling the clothing label. She has UK and beyond on her been on the ‘vintage scene’ musical adventures. since 1983 and adores mid century style and airstream adventures.

A

s a singer, I'm so lucky to travel out of the UK for gigs.

Of course, wherever I go I make sure I find time to peruse the local vintage scene! Last month I travelled to Amsterdam which I found has such a vibrant array of vintage shops and markets...

Markets: My first stop was to visit the permanent market in Waterlooplein, which has multiple vintage and second hand clothing and shoe stalls. It’s open every day except Sunday and had a busy vibrant atmosphere with the traders being friendly but not hassling for sales. As well as the general market, there is also a flea market open the first weekend of each month that had more specific antique stalls and furniture too, though of course you may need more than hand luggage for those!

Laura Dols: One of the most authentic

Welco me to

amsterdam

vintage shops is Laura Dols based on Dam Square. Laura Dols specialises in 1950s clothing and has a great selection of older true vintage. It also has the largest collection of vintage evening wear in the Netherlands.

Owner, Laura said, "Since the name ‘vintage’ appeared for retro or hippy clothes (as they were called before in Amsterdam), it seems this came along with a more general acceptance of being ‘cool’ by wearing second hand clothes."

Bij Ons Vintage: For more affordable retro and vintage clothing, Bij Ons has two locations in the city and is open seven days a week. Other fab vintage shops I found included Retro and Chic and Marbles, both on Staalstrat, and Rumours Vintage found on Haarlemmerstrat.

Jazz Café Alto: With my main purpose for visiting Amsterdam being for music, I had to mention a fab little jazz club, Jazz Café

Credits: main image, windmill and photo of Bexi – credited to Bexi Owen. Left and middle images – credited to Laura Dols. Right image credited to Frederico Alveraz

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Alto, located just off Leidesplein. They have interesting live bands every night and entry is free, except on Saturdays when there is a small charge. It is a really authentic place, reminiscent of a 20s speakeasy and the owner is very welcoming and friendly. It does fill up fast though, so be sure to get there early if you want to get a seat, otherwise there is standing room for those who are happy to do so.

Anne Frank's House and Museums: Although it's a harrowing experience, for those interested in the wartime era, visiting Anne Frank's house is a must. As the museum states, by learning about Anne and her wartime experiences, we can relate what happened then to our current situation and world events. There are many other museums too and if you're a fan of old Hollywood films, De Neiuwe Kerk currently has a Marilyn Monroe exhibition running until February 2017, celebrating the life of the actress.

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Vintage a nd Retro

in belfast The city of Belfast perhaps doesn’t spring to mind as the vintage shopping capital, but if you know where to go, it is sprinkled liberally with vintage gems. Why not plan a weekend’s break and have your own vintage treasure hunt?

A

Words by Keelan Laforge

t 44 Botanic Avenue, Yellow Submarine equals three floors of vintage goodness. As you enter you are greeted by a sale rail, with an abundance of second hand items at your disposal. You can then venture upstairs to find room upon room bursting with rails of reduced items, offbeat coats, shoes, dresses and accessories. They often have a classic record spinning while you shop, enhancing the vintage feel of the store.

A few feet away at number 28, British Red Cross Vintage & Retro lies. Formerly The Rusty Zip, it now contains genuine vintage pieces at a fraction of the price.

At 11a Wellington Street, the sister store of Yellow Submarine, Octopus Garden, is tucked away in a little lane. It holds a mixture of retro and vintage items, from Dr Martens to silk slips and 90s tie dye. Additionally, they have a great selection of records.

Young Savage is a small, yet significant shop at 22 Church Lane; it is an excellent place to find band t-shirts, denim, quirky shoes and dresses.

The staff there are especially helpful, with no request too much trouble. They also have an interesting collection of books and records in stock.

Liberty Blue is just around the corner at 19-21 Lombard Street. It is an independent boutique sourcing vintage style dresses, coats, cardigans, shoes and more. It is perfect if you have an event like a wedding or formal and want to invest in a lasting item. The window displays are always inspiring, with the staff assembling outfits, complete with jewels, belts and heels. It is great for gift shopping, with something for everyone’s taste.

Fresh Garbage at 24 Rosemary Street technically isn’t a vintage shop but is a relic of the 60s, making it the longest established of the businesses. It is a little gold mine crammed with repro-

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duction clothing, t-shirts, incense, keepsakes, jewellery, pins, hoodies and bags. Any alternative item you could wish for is likely to be found there.

Vintage Magpie is located on the other side of the road at 5 Rosemary Street. It contains pretty pieces at reasonable prices. It is a great place to pop into if you are in search of a striking dress. It also has a good range of clothes for men.

Oxfam Vintage is another hidden jewel in the centre of the city at 8 Castle Street. A charity shop turned vintage store, it is a good place to find vintage coats, jackets and dresses that are different and inexpensive. Another Oxfam shop stocking vintage clothing can be found at 88 Botanic Avenue. They have a mixture of vintage and modern pieces and are particularly good for 80s items and formal dresses.

Re: Store Vintage, which can be found at 78-80 Royal Avenue is a shop run by East Belfast mission, so all proceeds go to charity. It is perfectly designed for having a rummage. The displays are always well thought out and there are many bargains to be found. It is possible to find unique vintage pieces for as little as £3.

Frock Around The Clock vintage fairs are held all year long. They are usually hosted in grand buildings in a number of locations. There is a lovely balance of vintage and handmade items, from furs to beaded hairbands and even home décor.

With such a huge range of stalls it makes a great way to while away a wet afternoon. They also have themed fairs, such as craft fairs, wedding fairs and seasonal ones.

The Fine and Dandy Market is held once a month in the Crescent Arts Centre, where the city’s creativity thrives. There you can find anything from vintage records, to woollen accessories and scented candles. It also has some foody stalls, cupcakes and coffee on offer to keep your energy levels up whilst you do the rounds of the stalls!

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couple of months ago, my husband went away for the weekend, leaving me with a couple of options. I could have sorted out the spare room, but instead, I decided to visit Windsor Castle for the first day of the ‘Fashioning a Reign’ exhibition, which displays some of Queen Elizabeth II’s rather splendid outfits (the full title of the exhibition is ‘Fashioning a Reign: 90 Years of Style from the Queen’s Wardrobe’).

After moving my way up a long-but-swiftly-moving-queue and going through some security procedures, I finally made it into the grounds of the castle. The lawns were manicured, the statues were imposing and I discovered that the castle has its own postbox, which is around the time I fell in love with it.

But of course, the grounds aren’t the castle’s main attraction. Heading over to the State Rooms, you’ll find two queues

Explori ng Brita i n

Windsor castle

– the shorter one takes you straight through to the rooms, but I’d urge you to join the longer queue that takes you to Queen Mary’s doll’s house first. You won’t be queueing for too long, and there’s a lovely view while you wait.

The doll’s house sits in a room that I’m pretty certain is bigger than the average living room, and everything about it is so incredibly detailed.

There are miniature King’s and Queen’s rooms, servants’ quarters, reception areas, nurseries… there’s even a wine cellar. The room it’s in does get crowded, but while I was there, everyone was very patient and shuffled around so we all got a good look. There are intricately fashioned figurines dotted around the room too, so there’s something to see whichever way you turn.

That seemed to be a recurring theme during my visit.

On leaving the doll’s house, I was keen to get to Fashioning a Reign, but found my atten-

tion diverted almost immediately by another exhibition – this one called Shakespeare in the Library. I spent a happy half hour wandering around the room full of fascinating anecdotes, books and maps and imagining Shakespeare’s London, before making my way to the State Rooms.

Oh, the State Rooms. There’s so much to see that my greedy eyes couldn’t keep up. Beautiful works of art dotted around everywhere and an incredible amount of history permeates every room. Quick question: does anyone else pretend to be royalty wandering around their own palace when walking around a castle, or is it just me?

After meandering my way around, I finally made it to Fashioning a Reign, where I was pleasantly surprised to find that many of the dresses were out in the open rather than behind glass, meaning I could get close enough to see all the detail. My particular fashion passion is the 1950s, and I

loved the chance to see some of the glamorous outfits from the early years of the Queen’s reign.

Seeing some of her more recent ensembles was fun too; as I moved through the exhibition, I had to stop myself pointing and saying, “Oh, I remember when she wore that!” to complete strangers.

But I don’t want to spoil the surprises. The Fashioning a Reign exhibition closes on 8 January 2017, so there’s still a bit of time if you want to explore the Queen’s wardrobe (and I’d recommend you do).

In what seems to be an emerging pattern, I didn’t quite get around to seeing everything (but this time I’m inclined to blame that blasted traffic).

There’s a chapel in the grounds, which unfortunately I missed, and as I got myself an annual pass (for the same price as an admission ticket), I’m looking forward to returning to explore that and the kitchens.

shutterstock.com/ sloukam

Also known as Miss Carrie-Ann Dring Bamboo, her alter ego A vintage style blogger and reproduction vintage clothing label. She has at Something Definitely Hapbeen on the ‘vintage scene’ pened, and puts her passion since 1983 and adores for vintage down to her love of mid century style and history, fashion and stories. And shopping - she likes that too. airstream adventures.

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SOCIETY

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Most M a rvellou s Emma Pringle Community leader of the 1940s/1950s Most Marvellous Meet Ups

Meet Ups

Here is a sneak peek at some of the high jinks our members have got up to in the last few months and what Vintage Life readers can be a part of...

Welcome Vintage Life readers! What a swell old time we have been having at Most Marvellous Meet Ups! This month has seen us enjoy meets ranging from Tikitastic to exploring new islands (well, the Isle of Wight, but that’s still counts, right?!).

We have had lots of interest from Vintage Life Readers in joining our community and participating at a meet very soon, and your feedback has been wonderful. So without further ado, let’s crack on with the show and tell you all what we have been up to.

sheffield meet up What’s a vintage group to do when the British weather is turning cold and the dark nights are drawing in? Have an outdoor Tiki party, of course! Our Tiki party took place at the wonderful Riley’s & Co, where their outdoor space is the perfect venue for such an event.

On arrival, we were greeted with lots of tiki 40s and 50s inspired music, which helped set the tone for the evening.

We enjoyed a BBQ and lots of coffee and chat and were allowed to bring our own innocent looking Rhubarb wine, which the wonderful Dean brought along to the event. After a couple of glasses, we renamed it ‘moonshine’! We talked and laughed the night away like old friends and after this being the fourth meet some of us have had, old friends is certainly what we are becoming.

A week later, we decided to leave the south of the county and head to North Yorkshire.

Dean, Holly and myself are great fans of Heartbeat and The Royal and the three of us decided to visit the area, to see the locations that were used in the show. Our first stop was Scarborough, where we

visited various locations in the area that were used for both shows including The Royal building itself.

During the visit, we stopped for brunch at a fabulous 1940s tea room, which is an old hairdressing salon from the time and has mahogany booths closed off, which would have housed a sink, barber and accessories back in the day. It now serves up wonderful Ploughman’s, sandwiches and teas and coffee.

Following this visit, we were shown around the wonderful Peasholm Park, a glorious Edwardian park that boasts an incredible boating lake and vintage treasures can be found around every corner, including a floating bandstand to entertain the boaters. Following this, we crossed over the road to another incredible park that has its very own outdoor theatre and vintage waterslide.

Just when we thought our tour couldn’t get any better, we visited The Harbour Bar, a vintage milk bar. For those of you who are obsessed with British café culture in the 1940s and 1950s, you will understand how excited I was about this – especially as lots of our parents and grandparents would have met there.

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blackpool meet up A lovely mini meet up in Blackpool at The Regent Cinema, which dates from 1921. It’s only just reopened its doors after decades of closure and Sharon and Lara wanted to visit the theatre – Sharon to finally see Dirty Dancing. Sharon and Lara thoroughly enjoyed their meet, especially dressing up and sitting in a vintage cinema.

Images credited to Ben Slick Adams, Dean Turner, Fae Lilli Young and sharon slate

isle of wight meet up When we saw that one of our members, Fae Lilli, had set up a meet on the island we were so excited. There are lots of islanders dotted across the UK on the group and we hope this is the start of many more island meets. Here’s Fae Lilli’s account of the day: “There didn’t seem to be a large scene of vintage people on the Isle of Wight and a lot of people find it difficult to get off the island for an event or meet, so I decided to organise an Isle of Wight Marvellous Meet Up. After reaching out, I discovered that there are a few little events such as dances. I was surprised that people showed up to the first meet up. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and we had tea and cake at the 1940s themed cafe, Lady Scarlett’s Tea Parlour. It turned out to be a success! A lot of people have shown interest in coming to the next meet up.” southend on sea meet up At the beginning of the summer, Most Marvellous Meet ups arranged for local representatives to organise local meets and empower others to attend.

Ben Adams, who suffers with social anxiety, was encouraged to take on the role, in order to help him with his condition. Here’s what the group means to him and his account of his wonderful first meet up: “When I started wearing 1950s style in public, I always felt anxious in case people put me down, thinking no one would be friends with me because of how I dress. So when I came across the Most Marvellous Meet up pages, I felt comfortable because it turned out I am not alone.

“After being a rep for Essex 1940s/1950s Most Marvellous Meet Ups I thought I would show a little commitment by establishing my first ever event at Southend on Sea, at a retro theme diner called Bobby Jo’s. I was a little nervous about it because I was new to doing events for the group, but looking back at the very first Southend meet up, I felt like my confidence has since improved. Knowing one of the people who attended the first meet in Southend had come to Essex to help support me with this meet up certainly helped! When the meet up was finished, I found it really rewarding.”

MMM Events Saturday 3rd December Lincolnshire Meet Up (A Very Vintage Christmas Fair), Vintage & Antique Centre, Wilton Road, Grimsby. 13.00pm.

Saturday 3rd December Birmingham Christmas Market Meet Up, Victoria Square Birmingham.

13.00-17.00pm.

Sunday 4th December Bedfordshire Meet Up (tea and cake), Cakestand and Crumb, Ampthill, Bedfordshire. 12.00pm.

Sunday 4th December Jitterbug Christmas (Suffolk Meet Up), Hoxne Village Hall, Suffolk.

14.00-17.00pm.

Saturday 10th December The Grand Vintage Fair Meet Up, Jubilee Centre, St Albans. 10.00am.

Saturday 10th December Kent Meet Up (burgers, shakes and gossip), The A21 Diner, London Road, Tunbridge Wells. Please visit our page for reservation details..

Sunday 11th December MMM Cosy Club Christmas – food, cocktails, coffee, and a most important break from Christmas shopping – Cosy Club, Unit 12, Buttermarket Shopping Centre, Ipswich, Suffolk. 12.00pm Saturday 17th December A Very Vintage Christmas (Sheffield Meet Up). Come and join us for mince pies, mulled drinks, carols and a very Victorian celebration. Rileys&Co, Farrar Road, Sheffield, 18.30pm.

That’s just a small insight into some of the fun we have taken part in this month; we welcome your continued feedback and invite Vintage Life readers to join us at our local meet ups.

I would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a healthy, prosperous and meet-up heavy new year!

Until the next time, Stay Marvellous. facebook.com/1940s/1950sMostMarvellousMeetUps

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Sinalco poster, 1928 Red Door Posters www.reddoorposters.com

Paris Expo poster, 1937 Red Door Posters www.reddoorposters.com

Why bother keeping up with the Jones’ and buying on the high street?

Running from Friday 13 – Sunday 15 January at the ExCeL London, AFE London Art Antiques Interiors Fair is set to launch in London for the very first time in 2017.

O

ver 150 specialist dealers will showcase 30,000 individual items including art, furniture, jewellery, decorative and collector’s pieces. From traditional and vintage to contemporary, all items at the fair are stringently vetted for authenticity and quality giving you every confidence in your choice.

Celebrity Talks The fair will play host to a series of celebrity speakers including antiques specialists and presenters from BBC Antiques Roadshow, Mark Hill and Judith Miller.

Specialist author, TV presenter and leading dealer Mark Hill asks: Why bother keeping up with the Jones’ by being boring and

buying on the high street?”

“Antiques and vintage have real value – value for money, value for the environment, and value for our souls in terms of the visual feasts and unique stories that they give us.

Quirky, cool, and of a quality you won’t find easily elsewhere, especially at these prices, so many more of us are bringing antiques and vintage into our lives.”

With prices ranging from £20 to £20,000, it offers pieces to suit all tastes and budgets.

AFE London will bring three days of buying, learning and inspirational discovery from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable experts. This is a must attend event for antiques connoisseurs, vintage addicts and those looking to refresh their home.

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society Louis Wain Lucky Master Cat, c.1914 from Andrew Muir www.andrew-muir.com

Lantern Clock from Kembury Antique Clocks www.kdclocks.co.uk

A very large Isle of Wight Studio Glass ‘Seascape’ vase from Mark Hill www.markhill.net

Gilt metal brooch with red glass beads, 1950s, Miriam Haskell from Gemma Redmond gemmaredmondvintage.co.uk

Expert advice for your interiors Renowned interior designer, Susie Rumbold, will share her expert tips for selecting, arranging and displaying decorative vintage pieces in contemporary interiors. A talk not to be missed.

Visit afelondonfair.com for more information.

Find a stand out piece There will be thousands of diverse pieces for sale including a strong selection of Art Deco, Art Nouveau and 20th century contemporary art and design. Also on display will be ceramics and glass, paintings, prints, photography, furniture of all periods, vintage textiles and clothing, jewellery and silver and metal ware, sculptures and bronzes, carpets and tapestries, lighting, clocks, watches and barometers.

AFE London Art Antiques Interiors Fair is held at ExCeL situated in the heart of East London’s Royal Docks. The fair is taking place in Halls 20-22, easily accessible from the Prince Regent DLR station.

Shell Chair from Jeroen Markies www.jeroenmarkies.co.uk

To plan your visit and for more information go to afelondonfair.com SPECIAL TICKET OFFER Vintage Life readers can buy 2 tickets for the price of 1, saving you £12.

To book visit afelondonfair.com or call 0844 581 0827 and quote VL2017.

Calls cost 7p per min + standard network access charge. Advanced Box Office closes at midnight on 12 Jan 2017.

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18/11/2016 12:27

LondonEdge marks its territory at Business Design Centre with their 34th Show

HoUse of edge

S

eventy-two hours of anarchy, fashion and mayhem from 4th-6th September at the Business Design Centre delivered an alternative fashion mecca for LondonEdge. The team positively rocked their 34th show delivering a bevvy of premium brand exhibitors, seminars and industry insights, mesmerising catwalk shows and an unforgettable after-show party alongside countless other extra-curricular activities.

Showcasing brands such as T.U.K, Iron Fist and Killstar, the list of exhibitors was fully loaded with newfound glory and was marking its territory at the Business Design Centre – the show has finally found a venue to call home.

In true LondonEdge spirit, the show was kicked off with a seminar with the dexterous vintage diva Kate Beavis and goddess of iconic era style and editor of Vintage Life magazine, Rae Evans. The dynamic duo lead a discussion on vintage fashion lifestyle and domination, particularly in times of uncertainty in the economic climate. Presenting to a full house, the duo set the bar for the show’s newly established education and topical programme.

The rest of the line-up did not disappoint, closely followed by seminars by Manic Panic creators and the original punk princesses Tish and Snooky, who wowed crowds with their tales of New York in the 70s and 80s as they sang with the iconic Blondie. Other seminar leaders included Dazed and Confused’s Online Fashion Editor Emma Hope Allwood, The Sophie Lancaster Foundation, Essex University’s Dr. Matt Lodder and the Department of International Trade London.

Designed to give attendees the full 360˚ experience, a trip to this trade show certainly gave visitors much more than a look into the future season’s collections.

This year, the show’s Sunday attraction had matured into an influencer’s event held at the show’s press office for a range of bloggers, media personalities, models and key brands. The crème de la crème of the alternative fashion world came together for an hour of fizz, fashion and networking as social media figures rocketed at the event that almost broke the Internet!

So, how could this show get any better? With a legendary after show party of course! LondonEdge threw an event that truly rocked. Held at the Islington Metal Works the team

IMAGES: MARCO CECERE

Also known as Miss Bamboo, her alter ego and reproduction vintage clothing label. She has been on the ‘vintage scene’ since 1983 and adores mid century style and airstream adventures.

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society

proved they know how to rock. Over 400 exhibitors, buyers, bloggers and industry guests piled in with one thing on their minds, to fight for the right to party!

The party celebrated the iconic beginnings of alternative fashion, starting with rock ‘n’ roll. With an array of performances that were nothing short of spectacular guests were invited to step back in time as Swing Patrol took to the floor and put them through their paces with routines from the golden era of music and dance. Supported by sets from psychobilly kings Dick Dynamite and the Doppelgangers, the floors rocked and rolled as the evening ended with a performance by the epic talent of burlesque dancer, Banbury Cross. With a complimentary bar on arrival, this Sunday evening is going to be hard to beat!

As if we could pack anything else into this jaw dropping weekend, LondonEdge’s 34th show also saw the appointment of Production Elements as the new guardians of the exhibition’s fashion shows. This season the fashion game was strong as crowds were treated to a spectacular display of garments from exhibitors including Bright and Beautiful, Collectif, Hell Bunny and a special edition of up and coming brands that were hand-picked by the team. With slick choreography, professionalism and on-point production, the shows were without a doubt the best yet.

The next LondonEdge will run, fully loaded, from 12th-13th February 2017 at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London N1. Register to visit LondonEdge at www.londonedge.com/visitors.

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Events in December

11th december Pop Up Vintage Fairs Christmas Extravaganza, St Stephen’s Rosslyn Hill, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2PP. 50 stalls packed with vintage fashion, menswear, homeware, gifts, antiques & collectables. My Favourite Things performing live. Vintage Tea Room serving mince pies, tea & cake and lots of mulled wine to get you into the festive spirit! Prize draw on the day to win a £50 voucher to spend at the fair. 11am – 4pm. Entry £2 Adults/£1 NUS popupvintagefairs.co.uk

1st-4th december Antiques For Everyone Winter Fair.

Hall 5, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Admission £15, including free car parking. 11am-6pm Thursday to Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday. www.antiquesforeveryone.co.uk 2nd-6th december The Clothes Show, in association with Alcatel. Birmingham NEC, North Avenue, Marston Green, Birmingham, B40 1NT. Find out more at clothesshow.com 3rd december Original Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair. Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire, BS37 6AD. 10am-4pm, £1 admission. www.vintageandhandmade.co.uk 3rd december Vintage Saturdays at The Shipping Forecast. 15 Slater Street, Liverpool, L1 4BW. 11am-4pm, free entry. pillboxvintage.com 3rd december Liverpool’s Affordable Vintage Fair.

The Lutyens Crypt, Metropolitan Cathedral, Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5TQ. 11am-4pm. www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/events 3rd december Saltaire Vintage Home and Fashion Fair. Victoria Hall, Saltaire, West Yorkshire, BD18 3JS. 9.30am-4pm. www.roseandbrownvintage.co.uk

4th December Lou Lou’s Manchester Vintage Fair – Christmas Special! Britannia Sachas Hotel, 12 Tib Street, Manchester, M4 1SH. 10am-4pm thevintagefair.com/events 4th december Pop Up Vintage Fairs London join the IACF Antiques and Collectors Fair at Alexandra Palace.

Alexandra Palace Way, London, N22 7AY. Christmas antiques and vintage shopping under one very large roof! Public 9.30am4.30pm. Get 2-4-1 entry on our website and pay just £3 per adult.

Normal entry £6. Popupvintagefairs.co.uk/alexandra-palace, www.popupvintagefairs.co.uk 4th december A Vintage Christmas at Burnham Market. The Stables, Sussex Farm, Burnham Market, PE31 8JY. 10am-4pm, £2 admission, concessions £1.50. littlevintageloverfair.co.uk/new-events/ 4th december Leed’s Affordable Vintage Fair Festive Special. Leeds Corn Exchange, Call Lane, Leeds, LS1 7BR. 10.30am-4.30pm, free entry. www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/events 4th december BathVA Vintage and Antiques Market’s Christmas Market.

Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath, BA1 1JB. vintageandantiques.co.uk

4th december The Mid Century Market 1950s Fair. Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, London, NW1 7AY www.bettinascarlettpresents.co.uk 10th december Wanstead Vintage Fashion and Brocante. Wanstead United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2HD. 11am-5pm. www.lovevintage.co.uk/index.php/ category/vintage-fairs/ 10th december Glasgow’s Affordable Vintage Fair.

Wasps Artist’s Studios, 141 Bridgegate, Glasgow, G1 5HZ. 11am-4pm, entry £2, under 12s go free! www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/events 11th december Park Royal Hotel Antiques and Collectors Fair. Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 4NS. Public 10am-4pm, adults £2, concessions £1.50, children free of charge. Trade 8.30am-10am (free with card). www.vandafairs.com 11th december The Vintage Village. Stockport Covered Market Hall, Market Place, Stockport, SK1 1EU. 10am-4pm. www.thevintagevillage.co.uk/events 11th december Edinburgh’s Affordable Vintage Fair. The Assembly Rooms, 54 St George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2LR. 11am-4pm, http://www.judysvintagefair.co.uk/events

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Featured Event

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