October Edition by Lucy Mckee

E E E IN FRAGAZ

THE VINTAGE

YOUR NO. 1 FOR VINTAGE FASHION

ISSUE #3 OCTOBER 2011

VINTAGE STYLE AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

BETTY BEE THE PERFECT

Vintage tea party

‘S

AUTUMN STYLE

BEAUTY TIPS FROM THE

BEAUTY QUEENS

INTRODUCTION

Important info

Hello from your editor

Publisher: The Vintage Rag Mag

Editor:

STYLE R E M M U ES VINTAG

Lucy McKee info@thevintageragmag. com

Advertising:

CY ITOR, LU YOUR ED

Lucy McKee adverts@thevintagerag mag.com 0790 819 6927

Website:

www.thevintageragmag. com

Photographs

Josh Bolland - JB Cole, Chris Wells, Graeme Webb, Susanna Guidone - A Room In My House. Disclaimer: The Vintage Rag Mag is an independant publication which is published by The Vintage Rag Mag. Opinions expressed by contributors do not always represent the views of The Vintage Rag Mag. The Vintage Rag Mag is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in any way. The Vintage Rag Mag are not responsible for any claims, services or goods that are advertised in this publication.

ENS UTY QUE THE BEA LAURA GINA &

Welcome to the third issue of The Vintage Rag Mag. I am very excited to bring you all the third issue and I wanted to say a big thank you for all the help and support I have received. I really couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have put this issue together without the help of Susanna & Cristina from A Room In My House Ltd this month who helped in every section possible. Thank you ladies! I would also like to say a big thank you to you the readers. I love getting your feedback and hope that you will find I am building from it with every issue. I would love to know your thoughts. If you would like to leave us some feedback or follow our next steps then find us on Facebook: The Vintage Rag Mag.

Y RAPHY B PHOTOG WEBB GRAEME Y AKE UP B HAIR & M VER MADE O LADIES

Until next month,

Lucy x

Your Editor

CONTENTS WHATS INSTORE FOR YOU IN THE THIRD ISSUE OF THE VINTAGE RAG MAG...

Seventies Fashion and Style plus a photoshoot by Love Alexandra & A Room In My House Ltd.

LONDON FASHION WEEK

THE BEAUTY QUEENS

MADE OVER LADIES

“To my mind there are a few

Annie Looks Into Vintage Style Seen At London Fashion Week.

Guide To Vintage Style Nails From The 1920s Through To The 1970s.

simple rules to the perfect tea party. These are my rules obviously so feel free to ignore them but to raise your daily cuppa up from the routine to the regal it’s worth the extra effort.”

The Vintage Rag Mag Introduces You To Made Over Ladies.

A VINTAGE OBSESSION

NANA KNEALE’S RECIPE

VINTAGE FASHION SHOW

Betty Bee...

WOMEN’S VINTAGE FASHION

An Introduction To A Vintage Obsession A Designer Vintage Boutique In Nottingham.

Nana Kneale’s Melting Moments Recipe.

A Vintage Fashion Show Hosted By Rose & Brown Vintage in West Yorkshire.

LIFE AT BETTY BEE TOWERS Betty Bee Tells Us All How To Host The Perfect Tea Party.

LOVES

’S WOMEN

DOLLY VINTAGE MUSTARD LEATHER CLUTCH BAG BY RAYNE £16.99 www.dollyvintage.com

STYLE R E M M E SU VINTAG

DOLLY VINTAGE TURQUOISE TIGHTS BY CHRISTIAN DIOR £5 www.dollyvintage.com

Photoshoot by Love Alexanda & A Room In My House Ltd. A Room In My House Ltd www.aroominmyhouse.co.uk Blue Sparkle Dress - £28 Photography - Chris Wells Make Up - Sara Clark Styling - Susanna Guidone

LOVE ALEXANDRA FRANK USHER ONE SHOULDER DRESS £45 www.lovealexandra.com

LOVE ALEXANDRA 1960’S MARRIOT SHIFT DRESS £28 www.lovealexandra.com

ROKIT 60S SEA GREEN VANITY CASE £28 www.rokit.co.uk

ROKIT BROWN SNAKE SKIN COURT SHOES £26 www.rokit.co.uk

eek uture” F W e n h o i T h o s n Fa “Back T At Londo It feels the British Fashion By Annie

Last month saw London Fashion Week hit town and the catwalks were awash with backcombed hair and heaps of heavy, winged black eyeliner, setting the trends for Spring/Summer 2012. Moving further back through time from the 60s and 70s inspiration that marked 2011, the classic styling of the 1930s and 1950s was notably evident in some of the top names ‘ready to wear’ collections for 2012.

The forties continue to inspire. Orla Kiely’s collection was influenced by ‘forties and fifties summer holiday snaps’ and ‘vintage Vogue illustrations’. Designers have perhaps drawn references from the growing 1940s vintage subculture. With nights such as The Blitz Party and the re-emergence of pin-up and film noir it was sure to be only a matter of time before this bubbled up into mainstream.

The 1930s trend is an exciting one as a vintage lover and the period reflects such laid back glamour and romance. Designers such as Zoe Jordan and Caroline Charles looked towards this period in their collections, using fluid fabrics and bias cuts, with long dresses, collar details and stunning leg splits. Amanda Wakeley showcased figure flattering cuts and styles from the period with a warm and rich colour palette of orange, gold, black and camel to offset the collection.

Finally the 50s housewife vibe seen in Jonathon Sanders demure prints and soft, feminine tailoring and designers such as Mulberry continued the retro theme with a homage to the Great British seaside resort. In summary, expect to see the cuts, patterns and accessories from the early 20th Century splashed over the high streets and pavements next spring. So, vintage lovers, get in quick and rummage your local vintage fairs and events to source yourself original versions.

Council have finally acknowledged the vintage industry and the strong fashion culture that it brings. Last month the first London Fashion Week collaboration with the Hemingway’s ‘Vintage by’ curation brought some of the finest vintage dealers, showcasing their vintage trend lines, along with some vintage inspired music from Auntie Maureen and The Polka Dot Girls and some old school glamour beauty from Salon de Ooh La La.

Photoshoot by Love Alexanda & A Room In My House Ltd. Love Alexandra Vintage www.lovealexandra.com Yellow Short Sleeved Blouse - £8 A Room In My House Ltd www.aroominmyhouse.co.uk Cream Rope Print Scarf - £8 Blue Skinny Belt - £2 Purple Midi Skirt - £16

Whilst the designers at London Fashion Week prescribe the trends for the coming seasons (and we love them for this), fashion has now evolved to a melting pot of haute couture, vintage, high street and street-style. A point worth noting fashion industry: just as haute couture thrives on reinvention, in these days of ‘disposable’ and ‘take away’ the vintage reinvention is always timeless, on trend and ‘ready to wear’... Till next time...Annie xx

Photography - Chris Wells Make Up - Sara Clark Styling - Susanna Guidone

In the Forties, Rita Hayworth created a huge trend by wearing her nails long, red and oval-shaped. This was considered true high fashion and in turn women copied the movie star’s style. This continued on into the Fifties, with oval nails becoming the must have shape. Women wore their nails medium length and in shade of red and pink. Matching your nail colour to the colour of your lipstick, was consider the height of sophistication.

TION C U D O R AN INT “The Beauty Queens” are a professional make-up events team, providing make-up application, nail art and hairstyling services at events, parties, festivals, vintage fairs and much, much more! Formed by Gina Dowle and Laura Hunt, who are two freelance make-up and hair artists thriving in the industry. Between them, they have worked on a variety of projects throughout film, tv, commercials, fashion, beauty shoots, bridal and music videos. “ We want to bring our expert advice and knowledge to clients, providing a service where they can have make-up applied and hairstyles created. We work with models, actors, actresses, bands and singers on a daily basis and want to bring to you what we bring to them - a chance to be pampered and to feel like a queen! (or king!)”

The Beauty Queens’ Guide To Vintage Nails Now ladies, we all know we can spend hours perfecting our hair & make-up, ensuring that is truely fabulous! However, there is one key element that people neglect – your nails! Perfect digits will make your look complete, no matter the era. Here we help guide you through the key nail looks through the decades. Nail varnish first appeared on the market in the 1920’s. It is thought the invention of the car influenced Michelle Ménard to create nail varnish, after seeing how vehicles were painted. She created a nail lacquer that has developed into what we now know as nail varnish.

ls 20’s Nai

In the Twenties & Thirties, it was extremely fashionable to have a Moon manicure. This is sometimes referred to as the Gatsby manicure. To create a Moon manicure, the cuticles were cut, the free edges filed into points and varnish applied to the nail but not to the moon. The tips could be uncovered or tipped with white. Max Factor produced “Society Nail White”, which was applied underneath the nail, creating a white tip. The varnish was often dark purple, much like lipstick colours that were favoured during the period. For those who were not brave enough to opt for a Moon manicure, which was thought to be quiet a bold statement, Max Factor released Society Nail Tint. This product would be applied to the nails and created a natural rose colour.

As we all know, the Sixties saw a revolution in women’s attitude to fashion, hair & make-up. This continued with nail trends and girls wanting to adopt different looks to their mothers. It was fashionable for nails to be worn short and pastel colours were favoured. Girls would try to find the most unusual colours they could. Frosted pinks and white were the most popular colours, in strong contrast to the reds their mother’s continued to wear. In the Seventies, nails became a huge beauty focus for women. It was in this decade that acrylic nails first appeared on the market. Created by a dentist, Stuart Nordstrom, acrylic nails were created from a formulation used in dentistry. Women returned to wearing their nails long & oval shaped. Nail varnishes were produced in a wider variety of colours. Lots of metallic shades came onto the market, such as gold, in reflection of the disco scene and the clothes that were being produced. Top coat was also must-have, added to create extra shine. In the late Seventies, the French manicure was created, with Orly producing the first French manicure kit. It featured a nude polish for the base and a white polish for the tips. This is still an extremely popular style for nails today. However, the original French was worn with oval tips, rather than the square-tipped version women sport today.

ls 50’s Nai

ls 60’s Nai

It wasn’t all glamour in the Seventies though! It’s often forgotten that the Punk movement was huge and men & girls would paint their nails black. This was in reaction to the glossiness of the Seventies and made a real statement, especially when the guys wore it! The Eighties saw more and more nail colours being produced, such as blues and neons. Women would shape their nails square, which has continued to be the most popular shape today. Varnishes containing glitters were sold and women started experimenting and having more fun with their nails. So there you have it, our guide to nails throughout the eras. We hope you have enjoyed learning abit more about nails and remember these tips to create the perfect look, no matter which era you favour.

ls 70’s Nai

If you would like to book The Beauty Queens for an event then please email us on: enquiries@thebeautyqueens.co.uk Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @QueensOfMakeup and find us on Facebook Hair & Make-Up by Gina & Laura from The Beauty Queens Photography by Rebecca Bruce www.rebecca-bruce.com

INTRODUCES YOU TO MADE OVER LADIES Made Over Ladies are about the modern woman. We are intrigued by style and inspired by fashion throughout the decades. Our approach to hair and make up is fresh and relaxed we want you to look great for your special occasion with no stress and no drama thrown into the mix!

Courtesy of Peekaboo Vintage www.peekaboovintage.com

We are wedding specialists. We love being involved in all the hustle and bustle of the wedding morning. You will feel relaxed and pampered on your wedding day and most of all have the cosiness of your own home or venue of your choice as we come to you. Our approach is to fit in with you and make you look and feel fabulous. We love a touch of vintage but we do so with modern edge and a subtle nod to eras gone by which makes for classic, timeless bridal looks.

Made Over Ladies for all occasions… You don’t need to feel guilty about looking good you work hard and deserve a treat whether it’s a birthday, engagement, graduation or just because it’s Saturday night don’t miss the opportunity book in now. Made Over Ladies Styling. . . This is where our skills and talents align, styling is our shared passion. We love creating a look from start to finish. Whether it’s a vintage theme, like ‘A

Vintage Wedding Story’ or a glamorously edgy fashion shoot Made Over Ladies are available for styling, editorial, Film and TV work. Indulge yourself…it’s a gorgeous idea. Made Over Ladies are based in Scotland and can be contacted on 07779335596 www.madeoverladies. com or find us on facebook. Photography Graeme Webb

Of g n i n e ssion p e s b O The O e gham g n i a t t t n i o V N A Based in Another day, another shop opening, right? In the case of newly opened designer vintage women’s clothing boutique, ‘A Vintage Obsession’, the answer is a resounding no. I’m using boutique lightly here, the founder, Verity Mason aims to bring a unique and premium shopping experience . Mass fashion can be “soulless” Verity wants her customers to come in and have a “creative experience.” Each piece is lovingly hand-picked born out of Verity’s passion for the unique, sophisticated and timeless pieces. Nestled in the heart of Hockley, Nottingham’s bohemian district. A Vintage Obsession is joining the already established Hockley Rat Pack, frankly too-cool-forschool fashion retailers such as Pink & Lilly, Mimm, Collard Manson, Cow, Wilder, Ice Nine and Montana too name but a few. Entering the Goose Gate shop, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into the beautiful grown up

dressing room of that neighbour you’ve always wanted to be friends with. A veritable treasure-trove of original gems—timeless Chanel Jackets, wedding dresses, silk scarves, rare print dresses, vintage jewellery, shoes, belts, handbags and limitededition candles with prices starting from £5 growing right up too £750. A local Midlands lass, upon turning 30 Verity made a life changing decision. After giving up a successful e-commerce career for a huge Nottingham Health & Beauty Retailer and with the support of her husband delaying getting a mortgage, she took the plunge to open the shop. After 3 years of collecting stock, growing in confidence and scrimping and saving with little financial support she has managed to source stock from all over the world, A Vintage Obsession holds a range of vintage products dating from the 1940s right through to

the 1990s, to suit a variety of sizes, ages, tastes and budgets. Verity’s aim is too be the biggest stockist of designer vintage pieces outside of London and with current brands such as Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Karl Lagerfield, Gucci, Ungaro, Mary Quant, Biba, Christian Dior, Aquascutum and Burberry she is well on the way to achieving that dream.

U TO O Y S E C INTRODU EVENTS LEKEUX The Sugabilly’s agency is owned and managed by LeKeux Events, experts in vintage events and styling for over four years. The agency’s aim is to provide expertly styled, authentic looking vintage models and promotional staff for photo shoots, meet and greet, table waiting, marketing campaigns, event support and product, event and services promotion. All our recruits arrive with uniforms (we have everything from rockabilly summer shorts to evening corsetry, designed to suit themes from the Twenties to the Sixties), vintage styled hair and make-up by sister company The Vintage Salon and are fully trained in effective promotion techniques and vintage posing. The girls are already working for some of the country’s largest vintage events and reproduction fashion houses. Our models have featured in Vintage Life, Vintage Ink, Look, The Chap and Total Tattoo magazines as well as modelling for clients such as Vivien of Holloway, Kitsch Kaos and many more. We look

after girls of all shapes and sizes, from killer curves to slim Jims; all are perfectly coiffured and bring a passion and love of vintage to every job. Prices start from just £15 per hour, making our Sugabilly’s an affordable and must-have asset to any event or project. There are sometimes also opportunities for collaborative projects so don’t be afraid to contact us with your requirements. Email pinups@lekeuxevents.co.uk for more information. Want to see the girls at work? Why not visit our Facebook page – search for ‘Sugabilly’s’.

LOVES TAGE N I V S ’ N ME FASHION ROKIT VINYL PIONEER RUCKSACK £35 www.rokit.co.uk

ATOM RETRO MENS RETRO FAIR ISLE MOD JUMPER £59.99 www.atomretro.com

A ROOM IN MY HOUSE LTD

ROKIT AGED BROWN LEATHER AVIATOR HAT £72 www.rokit.co.uk

LOVE ALEXANDRA LEATHER BELT £3 www.lovealexandra.com

Sam Greenberg Vintage www.samgreenbergvintage.co.uk

ATOM RETRO MENS RETRO MOD PATTERN JUMPER £74.99 www.atomretro.com

ROKIT INDIGO DENIM & BLACK FLEECE JACKET £45 www.rokit.co.uk

LOVE ALEXANDRA LEATHER BELT £3 www.lovealexandra.com

(left) Freda aka Nana Kneale in 1950

ents m o M g Meltin E STEP ON

NANA KNEALEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S RECIPE Ingredients: 5oz Self Raising Flour 3oz Caster Sugar 4oz Soft Margarine Teaspoon of Vanilla Ess. Rolled Oats, Dessicated Coconuts or Crushed Cornflakes. Glace cherries Bake for 15 - 20 minutes Gas Mark 4 or 180c / 170 fan oven. Recipe makes roughly 20 melting moments.

Cream margarine and sugar and add the vanilla essence.

STEP TWO

AS SEEN IN VOGUE & ELLE MAGAZINE

Add flour to the margarine and mix through.

EE STEP THR With wet fingers take pieces of mixture the size of a wallnut form into a ball and drop into a plastic bag containing your choosen cover (oats etc)

R STEP FOU Place on a baking tray leaving good space in between the biscuits. Press the mixture out slightly and place a small cherry on the centre of each biscuit.

YOUR NO.1 FOR VINTAGE FASHION

VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.LOVEALEXANDRA.COM OR VISIT US IN STORE

COPTHALL FARM BREAKSPEAR ROAD SOUTH ICKENHAM UB10 8HB OPENING HOURS FRIDAY 10AM - 4PM SATURDAY 9AM - 5PM

E STEP FIV

Bake in the centre of the oven, gas mark 4 or 180c / 170 fan oven for 15 - 20 minutes.

SELLING MENS & WOMENS VINTAGE CLOTHING

own’s r B & e s Ro n Show o i h s a F VISITED... Vintage rkshire Craven, a 1950’s purple The House of Rose & West Yo On Friday 16 September, over 100 genuine vintage outfits were brought to life on the catwalk at Rose & Brown’s Fashion Show Spectacular, held in the West Yorkshire World Heritage village of Saltaire as part of its Festival finale weekend.

Saltaire is rapidly becoming a vintage hotspot in West Yorkshire, and the Catwalk shows, organised by Saltaire vintage boutique The House of Rose & Brown are regular, sell-out events. Held at Victoria Hall since 2008, the shows are a glamorous, grown up evening complete with 10 stalls to browse, a licensed bar and special Rose & Brown cocktails. The outfits were provided by 10 different vintage traders and included a royal blue sequined flapper dress, a fitted 60s maxi coat in fabric designed by Shirley

and black cotton Horrockses dress, an 80’s Valentino beaded bolero jacket and a yellow wool Dolly Rockers mini dress from the 60s. Over 250 people crowded into the impressive Victorian building, and were wowed by the spectacle of wearable and stunning vintage pieces showcased on the 18 foot long catwalk, set against a brilliant vintage sound track of songs from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.

The following day, on Saturday 17 September, Rose & Brown continued the vintage theme with their biggest ever Saltaire Vintage Home & Fashion Fair at Victoria Hall. With nearly 50 stalls of vintage fashion, jewellery, small furniture, homewares and collectables from the 1920’s to the 1980’s there were plenty of treasures for over 1000 visitors to enjoy.

Brown on Victoria Road in Saltaire, has been selling vintage fashion, jewellery and collectables since April 2007. Owner Caroline Brown has recently opened a second shop, Rose & Brown Vintage Home, just 15 minutes from the other shop, on Bradford Road in Shipley. The Vintage Home shop is dedicated to vintage furniture and homewares and means that vintage fans can now get their entire vintage fix within a one mile radius. Whilst in Saltaire, visitors can enjoy Salts Mill with its Hockney Exhibitions and Carlton Antiques, an impressive antiques centre with a number of vintage stalls. Images (right) of the fashion show featuring clothing by various vintage sellers inclusding Rose & Brown Vintage. www.roseandbrown vintage.co.uk Photography - Michael Nix (Top Row) Dave Sander (Middle & Bottom Row)

tore S t p e D z Blit London Nestled in the back streets of East London, amongst the edgy retail area of Hanbury Street…. You would be lucky not to miss this discreetly fronted vintage retail outlet… but what a world it opens up to the customer once through those doors! A sprawling mass of rooms, on two levels, filled with a massively, huge amount of vintage…every category covered! To quote the guys at Blitz… “BLITZ is a warehouse space with 5 rooms, 9,000sq. feet and more genuinely hand selected, on trend vintage clothing than any other in London. Blitz has antique furniture, from early 20th century through modernist industrial and reclaimed eccentricities. Blitz has vintage books, records, jewellery, r eading glasses and sunglasses. Alongside watches, pens, fragrances, bikes and luggage. What else could you want? Blitz is the modern concept store selling yesterday’s best concepts.”

VISITED... It’s a welcoming store with an approach to allow access to vintage to the masses… hand picked, and something for everyone’s taste. Perhaps losing the unique edge that smaller stores have, but ensuring there is a vast choice of sizes, styles and clothes from many bi-gone eras are under one roof for easy shopping. The store is great to navigate with departments clear and well merchandised. The shopping experience is planned well for the consumer, leading them around the store in a gentle flow from department to department. And to ensure the whole experience, or whole day – as that’s what you’ll end up needing – is just perfect, there’s even a café, complete with Italian coffee served from half a stretched Fiat, to ensure you are kept refreshed throughout your shopping journey! General manager, John Howlin, together with the super team, have ensured

Celebrates with A Room In My House nibbles, and a chance for For Their 1st Birthday everyone to see the fully From small beginnings of a rail of vintage clothing and a suitcase of hand produced toys, A Room in my House has come along way in a year. Its range of vintage wares has grown to include accessories, homewares and small furniture; the hand produced goods, now include all kinds of unique gifts from retro cushions and crochet throws to Iphone socks and in-house designed mugs!!

the store is bursting at the seams with a superb range of stylish stock, including vintage Swatch watches, designer frocks, upcycled furniture and old-school Levi’s. This cool department store has been designed and merchandised so well it’s a pleasure to experience! Visiting London? Blitz is a must see store…

Inheriting an old Victorian mill in North London, gave sisters, Cristina and Susanna, a focus away from their grief. Long chats over many glasses of wine, notebooks of ideas and the security of a base to grow the business from, resulted in the start of the creative mecca that is A Room in my House! Now a year has passed and they reach their first anniversary, with a super little expanding business, both online and in their studio. The name, A Room in my House, gave the sisters the ease of introducing all sorts of creativity under one umbrella. With Cristina’s background in graphic design and Susanna’s varied experience in fashion and styling, it all came

together very nicely. With the hand produced side already part of Cristina’s freelance work, and Susanna’s growing vintage collection from past work and addiction to finding bargains….the variety of products that they could bring together to sell began to form. From hand picked vintage clothing and accessories, retro ceramics and glassware to small furniture from the 1940’s to 1970’s, there is something for everyone, and to avoid the repetition and the mass produced feel of the high street, they offer fabulous gifts for all ages all hand produced in-house or sourced with attention to every detail. The two, happily welcome everybody to their studio for a friendly shopping experience, with added extras of style advice and even tea and cake! And if you can’t find what you need they also offer vintage sourcing of both clothing and furniture!

refurbished studio. It also marks to start of Saturday opening, as currently the studio is open during the week and by appointment. So drop by and enjoy a great day with the sisters, raise a glass for their 1st birthday and get to see the full fantastic range of vintage and hand produced goods!

Saturday 8th October 10am – 7pm A Room in my House Unit 3 King Street Mews, East Finchley, London N2 8DY 020 8444 3331 / 07967 384 375 www.aroominmy house.co.uk

Now twelve months have passed and its time to celebrate. On Saturday 8th October the sisters will be opening up for an all day open-studio with lots of great shopping, discounts, goody bags, drinks and

preparing tea in a cold pot which could lower the temperature of your tea while it brews.

Life at Betty Bee Towers “The Perfect Vintage Tea Party” This month I thought I would share with you my love of throwing tea parties. Most women (and maybe a few men) will remember throwing doll’s tea parties as children. Lining up teddy and tiny tears and pouring orange squash into plastic beakers. I don’t think I ever really grew out of this phase and as I’ve grown older my love of a good tea party has only increased. To my mind there are a few simple rules to the perfect tea party. These are my rules obviously so feel free to ignore them but to raise your daily cuppa up from the routine to the regal it’s worth the extra effort.

#1 - Make A Proper Space... Whether it’s at the kitchen table, on the

garden patio or even on a rug in your living room, clear all clutter away and create a beautiful clean space. #2-Use A Table Cloth... Using a tablecloth helps lift this from the normal mug of tea and digestive biscuit experience to something with a little more cache. I really love old linen tablecloths and these are always for sale at car boot fairs and jumble sales. If you are really lucky you might find one which is hand embroidered. A great tip if you find a tablecloth which is made of beautiful thick linen but is no longer a crisp white is to dye it a bright colour. I changed a chewing gum grey tablecloth into petal pink in the time it took to put a wash on using a

machine dye from Dylon. #3-The Tea Must Be Made From Tea leaves And Made In A Pot... George Orwell famously said “There are 11 rules for perfect tea making, rules from which nobody should dare depart” Whilst I don’t think I have 11 here are Betty Bee’s rules for a perfect cupper. Warm your teapot. Pour boiling water into your teapot and allow the pot to be warmed through. Then empty the pot. This means you wont be

Use one heaped teaspoon of good quality tea leaves for up to four people. Tealeaves offer a more intense flavour than teabags and seem to have a stronger smell as well. Use boiling water and allow to stand for a few minutes before stirring. Keep pot warm with a tea cosy Pour your milk into your teacup before you pour your tea, never after. There are various theories as to why this is best practice, some say its a throw back to the class system when putting milk in after pouring tea was considered a sign of being working class whilst other argue there is a scientific bias as in high temperatures, milk proteins begin to unfold and link together in clumps. All I know is that it tastes better when done this way around.

Serve in china cups. Thin china seems to offer the best drinking experience whether its because the rims are more delicate so the sipping more enjoyable or just that it looks so pretty drinking out of china it really seems to add to the flavour. #4-Serve cake or baked goods... Whether its just a packet of Jaffa cakes or a lovely home made confection nothing goes better with a cup of tea than a slice of cake. If you have a cake stand that’s even better. #5-Enjoy! Fill a jug with some flowers out of the garden, invite your favorite people over and put the world to rights.

Betty Bee is a writer and owner of vintage events company the vintage Pamper Box www.vintagepamperbox. com. She is passionate about all aspects of vintage living and writes daily for her popular blog www.talesfrombettybeetowers.blogspot. com. Before setting up the Vintage pamper box she worked as a television director for the BBC. Every month Betty will explore a new area of vintage inspired lifestyle for Vintage Rag Mag in her “Life at Betty Bee towers” feature

Something For Your Closet Photography: Lola Rose Photography Vintage Bloomback Chair - £35 Vintage Cushion - £8.00 Facebook: Something For Your Closet

A ROOM IN MY HOUSE LTD www.aroominmyhouse.com

F O L UL HIC F ATE IAL CM R A C USTR BLEDRU B IND BY BU

From an enamelled factory light to a trio of stacking storage crates, an army ammo box to a set of wooden school chairs, Bubbledrum sources vintage industrial furniture from factories, schools and other sources around Europe. Once salvaged, each piece is carefully restored and then sold through Bubbledrum’s easy-to-use, secure online store, www.bubbledrum.co.uk. The store is divided into five sections: Furniture, Storage, Lighting, Accessories and Garden, each of which offers an array of vintage pieces as well as some reproductions and contemporary items that complement the range.

Storage shouldn’t be purely functional. Add interest to your home décor with stunning vintage industrial pieces that make a statement.

Organise and declutter your house in style using vintage crates and boxes that allow ‘tidying up’ without compromising on look or practicality. Bubbledrum have the perfect storage solutions salvaged from factories, schools and other sources around Europe. Stacking factory crates add a unique feature to any room, are hard wearing and will add a touch of industrial chic to your home. The stunning patina, paint and colours set the tone for quirky interiors with style.

Textile factory containers may be used to tidy kids’ toys or as unique laundry baskets, or how about a vintage army ammo box in place of a newspaper rack?

These pieces will add originality and quirkiness to your interior; each item is full of history and you will be recycling and re-using. www.bubbledrum.co.uk Bubbledrum on Facebook and Twitter press@bubbledrum.co.uk www.pressloft.com/bubbledrum

6 27

VINTAGE DIRECTORY

Dates for the Diary 1st Oct - The Vintage Tea

Dates for the Diary 8th Oct - Dandy Lion

1st Oct - BVintage Bazaar

9th Oct - Vibrant Vintage,

Party at The Boogaloo, North London. 12pm - 5pm.

at The Guildhall, Windsor. 11am - 4pm.

1st Oct - The Vintage &

Handmade Textile Fair, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, South Gloucestershire. 10am - 4pm.

2nd Oct - The Third Issue

Market, The Boogaloo, North London. 12.30pm - 5.30pm.

Westhoughton, Bolton. 12pm - 4pm

15th Oct - The Vintage

Event at The Balham Bowls Club, Balham. 12pm - 6pm.

24th & 25th Oct -

of The Vintage Rag Mag is Released.

Uxbridge Collectors Market, The Pavillions Uxbridge. 9am - 5pm

2nd Oct - Frock Me, The

29th Oct - Antiques vs

Corn Exchange, Brighton. 11am - 4pm.

8th Oct - A Room In My

House 1st Birthday Open Studio, King Street Mews, East Finchley. 10am - 7pm.

Vintage at Bourne Hall, Ewell Surrey. 10am - 4pm

30th Oct - Pop Up Vintage Fairs, Hampstead Town Hall, Hampstead. 11am - 4pm.

30th Oct - Judyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Affordable Vintage Fashion Fair, Manchester. 11am - 4pm.

VINTAGE DIRECTORY

Shops & Services

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