Hip Teens

Baby Jane

2012-01-26T08:34:00.000-08:00

Apologies for my absence, I've been very busy lately with dissertations and overtime and such but I'm about to make it up to you with a good picture spam.

Everybody loves a bit of Jane Fonda from her space-age sex kitten look in Barbarella to her spandex unitard clad days as a fitness guru. I've already gushed over her mid-sixties style in Barefoot In The Park but thanks to the infinite world of Tumblr, I've fallen in love with the way she looked in the late 50s/early 60s. At this time she was in her early 20s (same as me) and looked so chic and fresh and stunning (not the same as me). I often think that I dress too mature for my age but in these photos she looks put together and classic but still young so she's my big girl crush at the moment.

R.I.P. Dobie Gray

2011-12-08T06:19:00.000-08:00

Tammi Terrell

2011-11-25T03:56:00.000-08:00

All I Do Is Think About You is one of my favourite songs and I love Tammi Terrell's version. She's probably more famous for her duets with Marvin Gaye than her solo stuff but she's got such a beautiful sweet voice and she was very very pretty. She died weeks before her 25th birthday from a brain tumour and is unfortunately another singer who died in their prime. I absolutely adore her voice and she had fantastic style, as you can see...

ps. I now have 100 followers! Thanks ever so much you lot :)

Heady Heights

2011-11-19T14:04:00.000-08:00

A quick shot from yesterday morning - my hair was very high that day. I often have my hair up like this but some days it's better than others and friday was one of those days. The day itself started off fine then it got very stressful and I was on the brink of a MAJOR meltdown but then it came up roses so this is a little celebration of my Good Hair Day.

Got Me Uptight

2011-11-16T05:29:00.000-08:00

Dead busy just now but just had to share this wee gem. Don't know much about Evie Sands but she's got a nice soulful voice and she's cool as.

Jumper Joy

2011-11-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

This is my favourite time of year. It's getting colder and colder but the skies stay clear and the air is so crisp, gah it's wonderful! After an uncomfortable summer of being horrible and humid (that's Scotland for you) it's so lovely to wrap up in jumpers and coats and saunter about in nice shoes before the snow comes. I'm on the look out for a nice tweed/plaid mini, little jumpers and some good tan brogues and this is what's inspiring me just now..

In The Name Of Love

2011-10-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not the biggest fan of The Supremes music; it's all too sweet for me and I HATE Baby Love with a passion (as did Diana Ross when she first heard it). But I adore their style. Like most of the Motown artists, they were always so well put together, even when they were off stage.

(Love that tweed jacket)

(That checked suit is smart as owt)

And here's a song that I quite like:

Doll face

2011-10-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

Sharon Tate is an actress that is on my evergrowing list of favourite 60s ladies. She had starred in several films, such as the ultimate melodrama Valley Of The Dolls but failed to be taken seriously as anything more than a pretty face. She tragically died in 1969 when she was brutally murdered by the Manson family. She was pregnant with director Roman Polanski's child at the time. Sharon Tate's family have tirelessly campaigned to keep her murderers in jail and her mother Doris supported and petitioned for the rights of victim's families. Sharon Tate's story is heartbreaking, not only for the horrific way she died but because she was never able to prove herself as a credible actress and become the kind of star that she was capable of being. She was so timelessly beautiful and one of my top beauty inspirations.

Model Student

2011-09-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

It's bittersweet when the '60s are the trend of the season - the shops are full of lovely knits and cute dresses and it's great for stocking up on basics but there is also loads of tat and cheesy shoots in magazines (I came across one yesterday in a magazine I found at work called 'Mod 'n' Love' - barf). Anyway, I saw this Marie Claire editorial from last year over at The Terrier and Lobster and I thought it was pretty lovely. Understated and featuring cosy jumpers and plaid mini skirts (I'm on the lookout for them) it made me really look forward to the colder months ahead.

London In The Raw & Primitive London

2011-08-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

London In The Raw (1964) and Primitive London (1967) are documentaries exposing the 'real' London of the sixties. A mix of documentary footage and staged scenes, the films are a tongue-in-cheek look into the seedy swinging city. The two films feature interviews with strippers, ton up boys and beatniks, amazing scenes from a gym where the uniform seems to be a jumper, black tights and a beehive, comedians and singers in cockney boozers, the fantastic international cuisine with added bellydancers (with hairy armpits) and a rather interesting operation on a goldfish. A warning though; London In The Raw has a very graphic hair transplant scene and Primitive London shows childbirth. And lots of people have very very bad teeth.

Despite of some pretty gruesome scenes, both films are an incredible watch. They are funny and interesting but really good for authentic 60s fashion. I orginally wanted to see them because of that but they're entertaining as well.

Friday

2011-07-29T04:17:00.000-07:00

It's friday, I'm not at work, just been paid and I'm just about to start photographing gear to put on eBay (little heads up there guys), I'm a happy chappy. To share the joy, here's what I'm listening to RIGHT NOW!

Also, you know you have it good when your boyf goes to the hairdressers and asks for a Don Draper...

(Disclaimer: This is not a photo of my boyfriend.)

Shop: O'tis Vintage

2011-07-14T06:40:00.000-07:00

O'tis Vintage is a new online shop run by a lovely lady called Lydia. With stock sourced from all over the world it's an incredible collection of ceramics, houseware, knitting and sewing patterns, toys, clothes, shoes and accessories from the 50s - 70s. A lot of vintage shop sites I've been on have nice stuff but there's either not enough stuff or it's stupidly expensive. Not this one. There is LOADS of stuff and it's all at 'proper' prices - no paying £30 for an ashtray. And there's more to go on to the site soon. Geezo, I was struggling to decided what to get enough as it is. Here's a few of my favourite bits!

Set of 3 Vintage 1960s China Gold Deer / Bambi Figurines - £12

Vintage Collectable Avon Perfume Bottle - Telephone - £6

Vintage Red Leather Vanity Case / Handbag from 1950s - £20

Mens Vintage Socks, Brand New, from the 1970s - £2

Vintage 1960s Ladies Clarks Brown Shoes Size 5.5 - £20 (Too small for me, boo!)

I highly recommend you have a look and I'm not just saying it cos I know her, I was properly impressed like. And the site's named after a cat, bonus!

Get Ready

2011-07-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

A few quick photos from before I went out last night. I always mean to do it but I'm usually fannying about deciding which bag to take. I just bought a couple new dresses and this one is a lovely colour. And it has a bow and I loves a bow.

Now my hair's a wee bit longer, I've started putting it up in a half beehive. I took some mugshot stylee photos (mainly so I can see what my hair actually looks like from behind). I backcomb it as usual and then twist it into a roll and pin the roll with kirby grips. Then I curl the ends with a round barrel brush.

A close up of my eye make up - I used my trusty Boots Natural Collection eyeshadow duo, 17 Liquid eyeliner and Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara (really good for thick lashes without clumps). My lipstick is also Boots Natural Collection in Biscuit. It's a nice nude colour and doesn't wash my face out. Frosty pale pink lipstick is obv very 60s but it doesn't do me any favours. At all.

The Boy From Crosstown

2011-07-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

A nice bit of eye candy to get you in a good mood for the weekend!

Private Dancer

2011-06-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

While Our Lad gets to go to Glasgow for the Mod weekender, I'm stuck on my own with work in the morning. Dull prospect. Last year when I was desperately skint with no one to go out with, I used to put on records and dance about in my room. Sounds really sad but it meant when I actually did make friends and go out I was pretty nifty on my feet. So tonight I'll get the records out (or if I'm honest, just put Spotify on) and have a turn about my room. If I do that every night that I can't go out, by the time I actually get a weekend off to go somewhere I'll be backdropping like a bad man. This is what I'll be annoying my neighbours with...

Jean

2011-06-09T04:30:00.000-07:00

21

2011-06-06T04:58:00.000-07:00

It was my 21st last month and I went back home to Leeds to see my family and friends. We went to Move On Up at Hifi which is a long running soul night that I often frequented when I lived at home and never fails to deliver on belting tunes. We went for pre-drinks at a bar with 2-for-1 cocktails so we were all pretty far gone and some of the photos from that night were too terrible to post. The train home the next day was not fun...

London

2011-05-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Major apologies are in order. I've become a horrendous blogger and this needs to be recified pronto! I've been doing a crazy amount of overtime at work and I recently turned 21 so that combined with college deadlines have made me incredibly crap. To make it up to you sweet ass people, here are the photos from my little trip down south.

It was such a good weekend; sleeping all day and dancing all night and eating McDonalds. Everyone was impossibly attractive and well dressed and it's worth going just to people watch (in a non-pervy way, my friend Emma and I said "I want them shoes" too many times to count).

The photos from my birthday will be up soon!

The Big Smoke

2011-04-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

Heading down to London on friday for Le Beat Bespoke, so excited! In a rare moment of organisation, I've collected all the paperwork (train tickets, oyster card, reservation, tickets) and got my clobber together.

Everything needs to be ironed/polished obv but I think that's me sorted, (everything's original 60s apart from the beige skirt which is H&M from about 5 years ago and the blue mary janes are from Peacocks). I hope it's not too hot down south this weekend, there's nowt worse than sweating all over your nice clothes. If any Londonites have any suggestions for places to go, do tell. Although day time will mostly be for sleeping. Also if any of you kind people are going, come say hiya (I'll get really embarassed, our lad and my mate would really appreciate it).

Let Me See This Through

2011-04-06T02:33:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of Roisin Murphy, ever since the Moloko Sing It Back video when she wears a whole outfit made of mirrors. In another Moloko video she goes Northern Soul dancing with Paddy Considine. Pretty good ey? My favourite video is for You Know Me Better, from her solo album Overpowered. She wears a lot of vintage stuff and it's all pastel colours, big accessories and big hair. And she's living in my dream house. This is a really good article about the video and it has a nice big section about the styling (all images are from there too). The video is a couple of years old but I loved it then and I always go back to it when I'm having a bit of a style identity crisis.

Damn...

2011-04-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

...this is good.

Morning quickie

2011-04-05T01:19:00.000-07:00

The Other One

2011-03-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

I was a fan of the Boyd sisters before I actually knew who they were. Back in the day, circa 2006, I saw this poster for Brighton Beach (a long running 60s club night that was the first 60s night I ever went to, that I ended going to pretty much every month while I lived in Leeds) and I wanted to be one of the girls so badly.

I couple of years later I realised that the girls I was idolising were Pattie and Jenny Boyd. I've already done a post about Pattie but not Jenny. Jenny was also a model, not as pretty as Pattie but more striking and dare I say it, cooler. She often modelled with Pattie, unlike other model siblings Jean and Chrissie Shrimpton.

In Foale and Tuffin

(I had her exact haircut when I was about 18)

Fashion Week Fantasies

2011-03-06T11:00:00.000-08:00

I rarely post anything about new collections, I've posted a couple of editorials I liked but never anything from the runway but whilst reading the fashion blog bible which is The Sartorialist, I found myself swooning. Prada is always a favourite and the prints in the Fall 2011 show are beautiful - coats with big collars in big checks in clashing colours. And the matching gloves are spot on - I love coordinating accessories and these are especially matchy-matchy. Photos from here.

Ja!

2011-02-18T02:25:00.000-08:00

This time next month I shall be in Berlin and I'm so excited. I've never been and I've always wanted to go so if any of you lovely people have any recommendations for me (vintage or otherwise) please let me know!

Also, I'll be going to London at Easter weekend for Le Beat Bespoke. It's a 60s weekender and I went 2 years ago and had a belter so I thought I'd go down this year as an early 21st birthday celebration. If you're going, I'll see you on the dancefloor!

Audrey 'epburn

2011-02-16T06:36:00.000-08:00

On monday, Our Lad took me to the cinema to see Breakfast At Tiffany's (I say took me, I mean I convinced him to take me but he loved it, nice one). I love that film and I watched it for the first time when I was 11 and it was one of those films that made me want to wear old clothes. Because I wanted to look like Audrey Hepburn. She's just ridiculously beautiful and radiant and not only that, she was a kind person with, crucially, a sense of humour. Audrey Hepburn is called a style icon so often that it can become tiresome but just watching any of her films you realise that it's completely justified.

Baby I Love You

2011-02-14T01:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day! Lots of love to you all and I've made a lovely little spotify playlist for you to make you feel all gooey inside. Not the biggest fan of St Valentine but it is a good excuse to listen to some pretty magnificent songs. Enjoy!

Sunday Soul Stompers #4

2011-02-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

Last Year

2011-02-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

I've been neglecting this wee blog of late and in doing so I missed celebrating my 100th post! Oops. I've had a look through some photos from 2010 and I thought I'd so a little 'retro-retrospective', so to speak, on the most eventful year my hair has ever had.

January - Hanging out in a shower...

January - Edinburgh Castle

February - Just seen Burlesque (The one with Immodesty Blaise, not Cher) and doing aerobics in the basement of my friend's building.

February

May - 20th birthday drinks

May - 20th birthday drinks continued...

June

August

November

And my year was rounded of with a corker - seeing Martha Reeves and The Vandellas and then meeting them afterwards. Lois Reeves (the one on the right of a very pink and sweaty me) was winking at me and my pal dancing and Martha was very impressed with my Tina Turner style Boogaloo. Also, Martha liked my top, "Oh is this mine? You got my shirt? Is it vintage?". Ahhh amazing.

Just to clarify, I'm not always drunk or pulling silly faces, although the former usually leads to the latter.

A Kind Of Loving

2011-01-14T13:30:00.000-08:00

My first proper post in ages and it's a rather exciting book review. I'm really pulling out all the stops for you guys ey? Anyway, I've been working my socks off over the Christmas period so I've not really been able to do anything more interesting. One of the plus sides is that I'm taking more bus journeys than normal which is giving me time to read. I recently just finished reading one of my Christmas pressies, A Kind Of Loving by Stan Barstow. I love british film from the early 60s and they're mostly based on books and plays written by 'Angry Young Men' so I thought I'd read some of the literature.

Sometimes when I have high expectations of a book, I'm scared to read it in case I can't get into it or it becomes a chore to finish (I was gutted when I got about 15 pages into On The Road and gave up). But I was hooked straight away. Set in a small town in Yorkshire, it's the story of a 20 year old man called Vic and the complications of love, or lust. It's wonderful; it's written colloquially in full on West Riding slang (made me dreadfully homesick) and it's an incredible insight into the mind of a sexually frustrated young man and the way some men think about women, and vice versa. I can't wait to watch the film now. Just hope it's as good as the book.

Tidy.

2011-01-06T13:57:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Our Lad, my internet is back on and posting can resume! Hopefully this will keep you going til I sort something proper to post.

Hoy Goys

2010-12-25T02:41:00.000-08:00

So sorry about not posting - between working loads, having an essay to write and my internet playing up I've not been able to post, and i've missed it! Hopefully i'll be back up and running in the new year. Anyways, have a very merry christmas and a happy new year!

Sorts

2010-11-29T14:27:00.000-08:00

I got a message on Facebook the other day from a lovely bloke who said he'd seen my blog and suggested that I had a look at his photos cos he's got a couple of skinhead and suedehead girls. He had more than a couple! It's a mix of photos he's found and his personal photos and they're all amazing. I was thinking about getting a dress and jacket made for my 21st birthday but now I'm seriously considering getting a tonic suit. Whatever I decide, I've now got loads of pictures of smart-as-sin suedehead lasses to use as a reference.

A massive thank you to Tim Wells!

It's Your Voodoo Working

2010-11-24T04:02:00.000-08:00

Made another spotify playlist to enjoy at your leisure. This time it's my favourite R&B records, all of them proved to get me out of my seat , especially That's My Girl (I can't sit still when that's on). Try it for yourself!

J'aime Biggie

2010-11-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

On a tumblr tangent I came acorss this album of Serge Gainsbourg mash-ups and remixes.

And it's very odd. Serge and The Offspring. Serge and Kelis. Serge and Ini Kamoze. Serge and Ja Rule. It is really really really odd. I might be way off on this one but Initials D.D. (Serge vs Dr Dre & Snoop) actually works? Kind of? However, Comic Strip vs Beat is just plain ridiculous. Whether this is genius or sacrilege, it'll definitely give you a chuckle on a rainy Sunday evening.

You know it makes sense. Listen!

Sunday Soul Stompers #3

2010-11-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

Gonna Make Him My Baby

2010-11-20T11:57:00.000-08:00

I don't know a right lot about Alain Delon. I know he's French, I know he's an actor and I know he was engaged to Romy Schneider but cheated on her with Nico (and ended up fathering her child). But most of all, I know that he was devastatingly handsome. Ridiculously so. I can't even... I mean... just look at him...

Our Love Is Getting Stronger

2010-11-16T11:14:00.000-08:00

A wonderful documentary about the Wigan Casino. It has some incredible footage of dancing (that bird with the neck scarf is uh-mazing) with interviews with the people who ran it and a couple of regulars. It also has interviews with some old folk looking back on how their society has changed. It's such a lovely video this and it's dripping with nostalgia. It might be a bit odd to feel nostalgic about a time when I wasn't even born but it's a great thing to watch.

Hello Bob

2010-11-13T06:19:00.000-08:00

Ta-dah! Here's me new hair and I really like it. The hairdresser went a bit mental with the thinning scissors so I've got 'choppy layers' which I'm not too happy about but I'm having fun playing about with it. I've just been tonging the ends to get curls at the front so it's part Betty Draper, part Jackie O, part Anna Karina. Yesterday I blowdried it straight and brushed my bangs so I had a sleeker, Sandie Shaw-esque style which I might show you another time.

I'd be lying if I said it was exactly what I had wanted but I'm looking forward to experimenting with it as it gets longer. And I love the colour! It's a few shades darker than my natural hair colour so it should fade to quite a nice colour. Fingers crossed!

Have I The Right

2010-11-12T12:02:00.000-08:00

I don't know what the weather's like where you are but it's bleeding awful where I am. To help cheer myself up I've made a 60s Pop playlist on Spotify. Some of it's pretty kitsch but it's all terribly catchy, so consider that a warning. It's mostly stuff from the early 60s and includes a couple of gems from Phil Spector and Joe Meek. Speaking of Mr Meek, I discovered this little ditty a couple of weeks ago...

ps. My hair's been lopped off so pictures will be coming soon!

Hiya Martha!

2010-11-08T07:37:00.000-08:00

I bought tickets to see these ladies in December. Beyond happy.

Time for a mop chop

2010-11-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

I feel slightly embarassed but I have to admit that I haven't had a haircut since January. And I did that myself. I've loved having long hair but after my short stint as a blonde and daily blowdrying my hair, it's well and truely in need of some TLC. I've always fancied a bob and as of wednesday, I'll have one. I'm also going to dye it a darker red/brown/auburn colour because my hair's all faded. I thought I'd be nervous but I'm really excited, mainly because at the moment my hair looks scruffy and I detest looking scruffy. A nice little bob will do nicely I reckon.

Sunday Soul Stompers #2

2010-11-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Dance the ska

2010-11-05T04:27:00.000-07:00

I've had a week off so I'm back in Leeds for a wee rest but I've made a playlist of my favourite ska records on the ever wonderful Spotify. I most went through the Trojan records albums and picked out my faves but if you have Spotify I highly recommend that you get the Trojan albums. ALL OF THEM. My personal favourite is the Trojan Reggae Sisters Collection. Check it ooooooout!

All Hallows Eve

2010-10-31T06:32:00.000-07:00

Friday night I was this:

Tonight I'm going to be this:

And hopefully later I shall be dancing to this:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN PALS! What have you lot been dressing up as?

Nothin' Sweeter Than Love

2010-10-29T10:45:00.000-07:00

I finally worked out how to post Spotify playlists, turns out it's easy peasy. So I thought I'd make one for you lovely folks. I started making a general playlist of 60s stuff I listen to but it was massively long so I think I'm going to be more specific with them, like a R&B one, a 60s pop one, a garage one etc. So here's the first one and it's a Northern Soul special. I've picked a handful of songs that I love and that I've danced to many a time, I've also included the song that this blog is named after. Some songs are more well known than others and I've avoided the really obvious ones (Sorry, no Tainted Love this time...). If you've got a song recommendation for me, please do share! ENJOY!

Vintage chat and public humilation

2010-10-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

Last thursday, Edinburgh Central Library hosted a vintage fashion evening with a discussion led by Lynne McCrossan. Lynne McCrossan is the author of A Girls Guide To Vintage where she lists all the best places to buy vintage all over the UK and the shop I volunteer at (Barnardo's Vintage) was included! So my managers were invited to speak too, with the invitation open to 'models' showing the shop's best stock. And I was chosen as a model, hilarious. I didn't get chance to hear the talk because the other models and I were waiting in an office before our big entrance but I think that a video of the talk is coming to the library website soon.

After the talk, we were all gathered for a photo shoot to put on the library site. Everyone was a bit self-conscious but after a glass of some lethal fizzy wine I let out my inner Twiggy. With ridiculous results...

And the best (or worst) bit is, my cringeworthy photo is the one featured on the library site AND is the cover of the flickr album...

For more photos, see the Flickr and for more info and perhaps a video click here for the library's blog.

Old Habits Die Hard

2010-10-27T03:33:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I proclaimed that I'd do more hair/make-up/outfit posts. I haven't done a single one since said proclaimation. So I'm going to be strict with myself and do at least one a week. So yeah, on to the actual post...

Last night, I went out with my chums from my course for a couple of drinks (which turned into a few, which turned into going to 3 different clubs, which then turned into buying the smallest pizza I've ever seen with the leftover change in my purse). I didn't have long to get ready to I curled the ends of my hair with come tongs and threw on this 70s mini dress. However, with it being Autumn in Edinburgh, the weather was a bit drizzly and a lot windy and it's a waste of time using an umbrella because it's inside out in seconds. So I put a beret on. Hat hair is the price you pay for trying to avoid wet/frizzy/limp hair. Not impressed, as you can see...

(When I was walking home, some girl was sarcastically shouting "Come back, I love your hat". Her dress was so short that you could see her whole bum and she was carrying her heels in her hand. Not really bothered what you think if my outfit love.)

Brighton Rock

2010-10-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

I don't often buy magazines anymore, partly because they're so expensive and partly because you can find any editorial from any magazine on any fashion blog. But when my friend told me about the Lara Stone spread in UK Vogue Nov 10 I bought it the very next day. I adore Lara Stone, she's such a babe, she's got blonde hair, a gap in her teeth and (quite frankly) incredible breasts. And she looks so much like a iconic blonde bombshell that I regularly rave about, you all know who! She looks so lovely in this shoot and she looks how I wish I looked every single day. I pinched the scans from here - one of my non-vintage favourite fashion blogs.

Sigh.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner (1962)

2010-10-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

I love a bit of Kitchen Sink and last night I watched The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner by Tony Richardson. Based on a short story by Alan Sillitoe, it's stars Tom Courtenay as Colin, a definant young criminal sent to borstal after robbing a bakery. He quickly becomes the favourite of the governor due to his sporting prowess and is allowed to 'escape' on cross country runs. The film switches between Colin's life in borstal and flashbacks to his home life in Nottingham. It's very funny in parts and so heartbreaking in others, I think it's going to be one of my favourites. And it's got Tom Courtenay in it (the lad from Billy Liar, if you've not seen it, watch it!)

Bloody brilliant.

Bon Anniversaire

2010-10-22T15:11:00.000-07:00

I would like to wish Catherine Deneuve a very happy birthday. For me, she's one of the most beautiful women ever and she's just got a wonderful elegance about her. She stars in two of my all-time favourite films (this and this) and needless to say, she's constant style influence. Vous êtes belle, l'amour!

Has it really come to this?

2010-10-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

I'm skint. I'm always skint. That's what being a jobless student in an expensive city does. However my misfortune may turn into your good fortune. I'm flogging some more things on eBay shortly but at the moment I'm just selling these boots..

They're from 1972 and I love them. Part of me really wants to hang on to them but I bought them a couple of years ago when I was into psychedelic print dresses with massive sleeves and now they don't really go with my neat little shift dresses. Have a closer look here!

Sunday Soul Stompers #1

2010-10-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

Halloween is a-coming

2010-10-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year - there's a chill in the air which means I can wear all the coats and jumpers I've been hoarding over summer (not all at once, obv), piles of cripsy leaves to jump in and the opportunity to dress up like a wally. I know that fancy dress is some people's idea of a nightmare but I love it, especially Halloween. Last year I dressed up as Wednesday Addams and the year before that I was a flapper-that-got-bit-by-a-vampire. I change my mind about 3 times before I finally settle on what to dress up as. One option for this year is to do a kitschy costume like these...

(I love the woman in the background...)

And there are Tarantino's girls. Mia Wallace was my number one choice but I think if it was done properly, an Elle Driver costume would be amazing.

There's the classic Droog option. Which, as cool as it is, is still bab-yer-pants terrifying. Or if you want to go for the film thug look, the more stylish Bonnie Parker as done by Faye Dunaway (it would be ever better if you could lure your boyfriend to be Clyde, however I don't have one. Might be because I 'lure'... moving on). Either way, you get to wear a nice hat.

All that being said, every year I get the urge to become one of my sci-fi/comic book heroines; Catwoman or Barbarella. I always chicken out of doing either because the idea of prancing about in a pair of tights and a leotard freaks me out but I would love to don a pair of cat ears and become Julie Newmar. Or make an outfit out of bits of green plastic and backcomb my hair into oblivion.

Or make like Andy and Nico...

Some Of Your Lovin'

2010-10-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've listened to Dusty since I was about 12 but recently I've really started to listen to her again and her music is such a wonderful thing. Some could dismiss 'blue eyed soul' as well, souless, but you can't argue about how incredible Dusty is and this song never fails to give me chills. Her style's a bit too mumsy at times (high necked ruffled blouses and long skirts) but her hair is just perfection. She's just perfection.

R.I.P Solomon Burke

2010-10-11T09:01:00.000-07:00

???

2010-10-07T13:42:00.000-07:00

I'm having a few technical difficulties with posting images and videos which is hindering somewhat. I'm super annoyed cos I've got 3 posts saved in drafts and they're all half finished. Is anyone else having any problems posting at the moment? I want to get this sorted ASAP because I've got some wonderful stuff I want to share!

Initials B.B.

2010-10-02T03:47:00.000-07:00

I have a gazillion 'style icons' but there are a select few that I always go back to and Bardot is one of them. I never fail to be blow away by her beauty and her films/music/images are constantly inspiring. I remember when I first discovered her, I went and bought loads of tight black jumpers and wore them with tight black jeans all the time. And she was the main reason for my short lived blonde period. She was just beyond beautiful. Shame about the dodgy politics though.

C'est La Mode

2010-09-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

Ey up, I'm back at college and my mind is very much stuck on arty farty stuff, which is why posting has slowed down. I'll get my act together soon though and in the mean time I set up a Tumblr to help me get back in the swing of things. I'm still trying to get to grips with it but I'm getting there and it's named after this Annie Philippe song, natch.

How To Steal A Million (1966)

2010-09-24T01:57:00.000-07:00

In the previous post I talked about Audrey Hepburn's amazing make-up in How To Steal A Million but her Givenchy wardrobe is worth a mention too. I was going to say that this my favourite Audrey film in terms of her style but then I remembered Funny Face. And Sabrina. And Roman Holiday. Anyway, the opening scene when she's wearing those white sunglasses was the first time I'd ever seen Audrey Hepburn (I was watching the film on a portable telly in a caravan while on 'holiday' in the Lake District when I was about 8) and I think it's become equally as iconic as Audrey in Breakfast At Tiffany's, to me anyways.

Hiya!

2010-09-17T13:28:00.000-07:00

I forgot that I hadn't shown you my hair since I dyed it back to being ginger so here it is! It's faded a lot since I first did it and it changes colour (somehow) all the time from being strawberry blonde to a coppery colour to auburn, I guess it just depends on the light. Also, I've been living on my own for about a month while my flatmates are at home so I've been passing the time by playing dress up and therefore making a mess. I was playing about with my make up and I'm so chuffed that I managed to do this...

I can't tell you how many times I've tried to get a solid line like that along the eye socket! It's not that impressive but this is a breakthrough for me, because it means I'm a little bit closer to recreating this...

I'm talking about the eye make up, not her face or anything because it's ridiculous to even try to look like Audrey. But if there was something I could put on my face that made me look like Audrey Hepburn I would most definitely use it. What I did use was a cream powder eyeshadow as a base then a dark brown shadow to get the line. I used a tapered sponge applicator to make it more precise and contrary to everything a make-up artist would tell you, I didn't blend. A bit of the trusty black liquid eyeliner and Robert's your father brother.

If you've read this blog for a while you'll know that I don't like taking photos of myself because quite frankly, I feel a bit of a twat. This has meant a distinct lack of outfit/hair/make-up posts but I promise I will do more!

You're The Boss

2010-09-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

I feel a bit silly doing a post about Ann Margret without having seen any of her films but she's one of my biggest beauty and style inspirations at the moment. Some actresses from the 50s and 60s are a bit too sweet and green for me but Ann Margret definiately has a twinkle in her eye. Nick-named 'The female Elvis' after they starred in Viva Las Vegas together, she's more than a match for the ol' Pelvis.

Grandma Mac

2010-09-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

This photo is a bit older than the images that I normally post on here but I had to make an exception. This lovely woman is my great-great-grandmother. And she made the dress that she's wearing. She was a dressmaker and made everything she wore and made clothes for her whole family, including my grandma when she was a little girl. She never bought clothes but she did have a thing for hats and apparently had a huge collection of them. Unfortunately everything she made has been lost or reused to make something else but I do have her stunning gold and coral ring which fits me perfectly. I wanted to share this photo because I'm so proud to be related to such a talented woman and I think she was exquisite.

Youthquaker

2010-09-15T11:28:00.000-07:00

When browsing blogs and the like, every now and again you'll come across a blog that you find yourself checking daily and looking through all the past posts. And Youthquakers is definitely one of those blogs. It's an archive of US & UK Vogue from January 1965 to December 1969 and it's organised chronologically but there's also a list of models and celebrities with all their appearences listed. It's a truely incredible thing to behold and I could just reblog EVERYTHING. I've picked some of my favourites but I'm going to have to spread them out over a couple of posts because there is literally that much to choose from. (Please appreciate that all these images come from the original magazines and that they've all been scanned in so don't pinch the pictures - I asked permission before doing this post.)

March 1968 - US Vogue
Catherine Deneuve, Countess Carl-Alexander von Bismarck Mrs Patrick Guiness and Mme Richard De Surmont by Bailey

March 1966 - UK Vogue
Patti & Jenny Boyd by Bailey

March 1967 - UK Vogue

Francoise Dorleac by Helmut Newton

June 1968 - UK Vogue

Liberace and Margrit Ramme by Helmut Newton

Mam & Dad

2010-09-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

My Mum was a punk during the 70s and I love talking to her about it. She saw some incredible bands (Joy Division, PiL, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Cure, Adam & The Ants, Bauhaus, the list is endless..) and one of her mates slept with Adam Ant, John Lydon and Ian Curtis. Apparently. She used to wear tight '50s suits, red lurex jumper with mustard satin capri pants, fluro pink socks, mens shirts worn with stockings and suspenders, black patent pixie boots with loads of buckles. She used to dye her hair black, cut it into a flat top and wear tonnes of black eye make-up like Siouxsie Sioux. Then she was a Mod and she had a pair of purple and green check Levi Sta Prest. I still haven't forgiven her for getting rid of them. Next she was a Rockabilly and used to pick up original 50s gear for 20p at jumble sales. There's an amazing picture of her in a blue floral full circle day dress with a matching bolero jacket, blue satin winklepickers, blue cat eye glasses and a parasol. She also had a black swing coat with a massive collar. And she kept none of this stuff. Gutted.

My Dad was a punk/skinhead and he used to wear Fred Perry polo shirts, Levis Sta Prest, Docs and navy braces that he bought from the army surplus store. He had a vespa so he had a proper parka that he used to spray with this stuff you put on tents to make it waterproof. Then he was a psychobilly and he had an amazing electric blue cardigan with music notes on the front. He also had electric blue brothel creepers and a bleach blonde quiff. My Mum told me that when he was bleaching his hair, he left the bleach in the bottle and it exploded all over a Crombie he'd borrowed from his mate. So they coloured in the bleach bits with black marker and he was none the wiser. However, he borrowed my Dad's original Levi denim jacket and lost it whilst crowd surfing.

(My Dad's the one in the green bomber)

The Blue Beat Girl

2010-09-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

Millie Small was a Jamacian teenager who had a string of hits during the 60s, most notably My Boy Lollipop which made her the first artist to have a hit in the UK with a song recorded in the ska style. I adore the songs she did with Roy Panton as Roy and Millie and she also duetted with Jackie Edwards, a fellow Island artist, on some lovely songs with more of a Northern Soul sound. She also did a version of I'm Blue (Gong Gong Song) with The Spencer Davis Group (another act on the Island label) and an amazing version of Wynonie Harris' Bloodshot Eyes.

Millie Small was cute as a button and had some good big hair. I love her style - shift dresses, slacks and V-neck jumpers. She's so adorable but there's little hints of the Rudeboy style in her clothes, like in the fit of her slim trousers and the fact that she just looks dead cool.

ps. I've reached 50 followers! I know this is pretty lame compared to many other blogs but I'm proper made up about it, thanks ever so much guys! I've signed up to Blog-lovin too, even though I'm not really sure what it is...

Follow my blog with bloglovin

Hurray!

2010-09-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

I have a new laptop! It's brand new, something which is foreign to me because every phone/comptuer I've ever had was a hand-me-down. I even have a webcam - such a novelty! Anyway, this is just a quick note to let you know regular posts will be resuming as normal. As soon as I've found something to write about that is.

What's wi' faceache?

2010-08-31T06:09:00.000-07:00

Desperately sorry for the lack of posting, my computer/internet situation is still dire which means I can't do more detailed posts like I want to. However, I had to one about This Is England '86. Last friday I went to a screening of the first episode followed by a Q&A with the director Shane Meadows. I adored the film and I adore Shane Meadows so I was beyond excited to hear about the series. I was never really in any doubt that the series wouldn't match up to the film because I love anything that Meadows does. I would love to spill everything that happens in the first episode but I'll resist the temptation.

I was too shy to ask any questions during the Q&A afterwards but it was great to hear how it all came about. Meadows spoke about the 'gang' and how they are just that. In fact, they all got each others names tattooed on their bums after the first week of filming together again. Also, although Shaun is still a main character, the series is going to focus more on Lol which is the first time that Meadows has focused in depth on a female character.

The clothes are amazing as ever and it's quite funny to watch because I know that my Dad used to dress like Harvey during the 80s. I am going to tell you the first episode is about Lol and Woody's wedding (sorry!) but I love that Lol stays in her Crombie and Docs instead of wearing a dress. But Smell more than makes up for that with her dress, complete with veil.

Nowhere To Run

2010-08-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard had been in singing groups together since 1957 and provided the backing vocals for Marvin Gaye's early songs such as Hitchhike before recording their own singles. Calling themselves Martha & The Vandellas (named after singer and Reeves' idol Della Reese) they had a string of huge hits on the Billboard chart during the '60s but lost popularity in the early '70s due to a changing line-up and problems within the Motown label. With the exit of the label's songwriting talent and Berry Gordy focusing more on Diana Ross and The Supremes, many artists on Motown suffered. However, the body of work that was produced between 1962-67 was incredible.

Martha Reeves and The Vandellas are my all time favourite of the Motown girl groups and I'm not exaggerating when I say that their songs changed my life. I didn't hear them and go "Oh my god, this is changing my life right now" but my love for them lead me to listen to all the amazing music I listen to now. (Your love is like) A Heatwave is one of my favourite songs ever and ironically I do get chills when I hear it. Here's my top 5 Martha & The Vandellas:

5. Come And Get These Memories (Amazing outifts!)

4. I'll Have To Let Him Go

3. Live Wire

2. Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)

1. (Your Love Is Like) A Heatwave

Just a quickie

2010-08-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

I still don't have a functioning laptop hence the infrequent updates but I've nashed on with my flatmate's so I thought I'd do a quick post. It also means I haven't been able to read any blogs either which is crap. But I'm trying!

Now after all the fuss I made about going blonde, I decided that I couldn't get the shade I wanted without going to a professional and I am skint so that wasn't an option. Unfortunately I relented and dyed my hair back to a dark auburn/ginger/brown/red/whatever colour. Don't get me wrong, I love being a redhead but everytime I see a beautiful head of golden hair I get a pang of longing and jealousy... Anyway, my hair is a similar colour to this:

I think I'm going to get it cut this length too. Well I couldn't be Brigitte Bardot but I'll quite happily be Diana Rigg.

ps. Diana Rigg went to boarding school in Pudsey, the town in Leeds where I grew up. Amazing.

Technology? Pffft.

2010-08-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Ever so sorry for the lack of posting recently pals. I've just moved into a new flat (which is LAVERLY by the way) and the past week was spent internet free. And now we have internet, my craptop has decided to turn itself off after 5 minutes, not ideal really. So I've hijacked my flatmate's computer but I've lost all my images and bookmarks so I can't even do a proper post, boo. So hold tight and enjoy this little gem.

Smart as a Carrot

2010-08-02T03:27:00.000-07:00

As a special treat, here are some pictures of original skinhead and suedeheads looking pretty smart. And there are some girls as well! Although they couldn't really be described as skinbirds or owt, they are wearing mini-mini-dresses which makes it ok in my book. I think it just goes to show that girls have a lot more freedom when it comes dressing in that style. That or they told their boyfriends so sod off if they told them what to wear. It probably is the latter.

Pop Gear

2010-07-31T07:18:00.000-07:00

This was a film from 1965 featuring wonderful performances from some of the popular artists at the time. With hits from Joe Meek's finest The Honeycombs, the stunning Billie Davis, The Animals, Nashville Teens, Spencer Davis Group and them dead famous blokes from Liverpool amongst many others, this is a treat for the eyes and ears. The visuals are pure pop and it's all hosted by national treasure and most famous person to come from Leeds (apart from Jeremy Paxman, Scary Spice and Avid Merrion) Sir Jimmy Savile!

The Untold Crime

2010-07-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

Another editorial! This one features the stunning Freja Beha Erichsen as a woman having an affair with an older man. The shoot follows her from car to hotel to car again. I think I've messed up the order but you get idea. I would've posted this shoot just for the boots but I love the styling, it's like Anita Pallenberg crossed with Francoise Hardy (who Erichsen looks a lot like). High necks, high boots, big sleeves, big buckles and big hair, it's spot on. And that cream coat with the boots is perfection.

'The Untold Crime' by Terry Richardson for Vogue Nippon August 2010
Source: http://fashiongonerogue.com/freja-beha-erichsen-terry-richardson-vogue-nippon-august-2010/

Jaytex, Sta-prest, smooth leather uppers

2010-07-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

If you've read my passionate posts about mod menswear, you'll be aware of how much I love detail when it comes to documenting clothes. "Skinhead" by Nick Knight is on my reading list and it's shot up to the top after I found these scans of the style section which includes these amazing drawings, going from the early skinhead to smoothies. Talk about a holy grail.

Yes yes yes!

2010-07-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Mad Men Season 4 - Enough said.

Sweet & Vicious

2010-07-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

I've never posted an editorial on here before, not intentionally but I had to post this after I saw it on Rachel Gibson's blog. Shot by Alasdair McLellan and styled by Jane How for W magazine, this whole shoot covers what I'll be aiming for style wise this autumn; tight sweaters and cinched in waists. The colours work so well together, all nude pinks, red and greens with bold patterns and tweeds. I love the loose curls (it's got BB written all over it) and warm make up. And the eyebrows, the eyebrows! I'm a girl who appreciates a really good eyebrow (so often neglected but properly groomed they can transform your whole face, seriously!) and those are some really good eyebrows.

'Sweet & Vicious' for W magazine, August 2010.
Source: http://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/2010/08/alasdair_mclellan#slide=1

Suits you Ms. Macready

2010-07-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Seeing as my lastpost was about ladies in suits, I thought I'd do a post about one of my favourite ladies in some of my favourite suits. Alexandra Bastedo starred as Sharron Macready in the 1968 spy TV series, The Champions. Beating up bad guys and disarming ray guns on planes with her hair in intricate up dos and beautiful suits in pastel colours, Ms Macready quickly became one of my heroes. Solving international crimes along side the dashing Craig Stirling (Stuart Damon) and the smooth yet ever so slightly fey Richard Barrett (William Gaunt), Sharron holds her own while looking fantastic. The other female characters that pop up over the series are also kitted out in some amazing clothes (one had a red mini dress with a matching cape and hat, incredible) and the sets have given me plently of inspiration for doing up my room. As well as looking great, it's a really good programme! I started watching just for the costumes but it's really entertaining, fast paced, slick and just the right amount of camp.

(Watch the repeats on ITV4)

2010-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty crap with posting recently, I've been working my behind off in a sales job with gruelling hours (12 hours a day, 6 days a week) so by the time I'm home at the end of the day, I just eat, shower and sleep. Working this intensly is a whole new concept for me, especially when instructed to wear 'business wear'. I was a bit stuck at first but I have enough black garms to get me through. But one thing I did consider was wearing a suit. Not a black polyester pin stripe one from New Look but a clean cut shift dress with a little jacket. I have a few suits tucked away but I would never wear one for work (not for this job anyway). I don't know why but I would much rather look immaculately smart and chic for a night out than I would for work.

I don't know what it is about suits but I think it shows a commitment to what you're wearing. Sound a bit daft but having a matching dress and jacket pushes you to make sure your shoes and bag match too. And I've pushed this to extremes; once I changed the clip in my hair because it didn't match my outfit. I dunno, I just think that when you've paid attention to the details, you look more authentic which for me, is why I wear vintage. I want to look like I'm from the olden days to put it simply. I don't pull inspiration from photos I like - I look at every detail to make sure it's as accurate as possible. Not copying it but doing my own version. Anyway, I've gone off on one now and strayed off topic. Right, back to suits...

See also; Air hostesses (best for matching accessories)

Sugar Town

2010-07-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite 60s pop singers is Nancy Sinatra. Blessed with her papa's velvety voice, Nancy made some beautiful songs. And obviously she looked amazing doing so. Of course she looks great in her trademark mini dresses and walk-all-over-you boots, I really like her fabulous jumper and trouser ensembles. And she had great hair, always a very important factor for me.

She sang wonderful songs on her own but she music she made with Lee Hazlewood is just incredible. I picked up an album of theirs off Leeds market (3 for a tenner, bargain!) and I love the orchestration, it's all lush strings and it makes for a spine tingling listen.

As a fan of well groomed facial hair, Lee Hazlewood's tasche is a very impressive one. It's in full force in the video for Summer Wine from 1967 and I love their coordinated outfits. This is one of my favourite songs of all time and the video is fittingly moody and melodramatic. (When I was searching for videos of them, I found one of The Corrs and Bono covering this song. I didn't think it was possible for me to hate Bono anymore than I did but y'know, you learn something new everyday...)

Bits and Bobs #2

2010-07-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

I promised a picture of my hair and here it is! It does look a bit yellow but hopefully I'll be a fully fledged blonde bombshell after the next dye job, combined with purple shampoo to nutralize brassy tones and a conditioner that enchances blonde highlights (I've read the back of a lot of product bottles lately). Sorry for the myspace-profile style photography by the way, it was the only way to avoid including the massive clothes explosion that's going on in my room.

On a different note, this video's been doing the rounds on some of my favourite blogs and rightly so, it's amazing. I remember seeing Janelle Monae in the Outkast video for Morris Brown a few years back sporting a blazer and mini skirt combo with the best hair I'd seen for ages and I instantly developed a girl crush. I don't really listen to a lot of new music (apart from Beyonce, for obvious reasons) but I love this and her EP is wonderful. It's part Ray Charles, part James Brown and part Andre 3000 and you can't go wrong with that. Plus, she wears a tux, has insanely high hair and she can glide across the floor with the greatest of ease.

Desperate Times...

2010-07-04T07:25:00.000-07:00

Every few months I have a clear out and make a pile of clobber to put on ebay to make room for new (old) clothes. Since I'm moving into my new (old) flat in a month, I thought it would be best to do it now. Over the next two weeks I'll be adding stuff - mostly dresses, a few suits, a couple of separates and a mens Harrington jacket. I've also just listed the only piece of vintage designer I've ever owned so apart from that, everything is pretty cheap. Here are a few of the things already on there:

1960s Polka Dot Dress

1960s Mini Dress (I wore this in an outfit post a couple of months ago)

1960s Jean Varon Babydoll Dress

I'm gutted to be selling some of this stuff (especially the Jean Varon dress) but I've only ever worn most of it once or twice and some never at all. They need good homes!(Click the post title to get to my ebay)

ps. I promise I will post a picture of my hair, once I get one where I don't look like a loon. It's difficult, trust me!

pps. Happy 4th July to any American readers out there!

'Clean living, under difficult circumstances'

2010-06-23T12:57:00.000-07:00

'The Sharper Word - A Mod Anthology' is a collection of essays and extracts edited by Paolo Hewitt all about, well, Mods. I love getting into the nitty gritty details about anything I'm interested in and there is a lot of detail to get into where Mods are concerned. It's a great book to dip into, most of the extracts aren't more than a couple of pages long and they cover many aspects of the Mod lifestyle. There are wonderful accounts of early mods and the descriptions of suits and shirts go into painstaking detail. There is a lot of stuff about the clubs and the music and a lovely chapter written by Dave Godin who ran the UK Motown Fan Club. He flew out to Detroit and met many of the people behind Motown and he quite obviously had the time of his life, it's genuinely heart warming.

Understandably, there is LOADS of stuff about The Who. I have a bit of an issue with The Who - I think it's down to going to 60s nights and seeing groups of drunk blokes in target t-shirts, pogoing about to My Generation. Just makes me cringe a bit. Quadrophenia has a similar effect - Don't get me wrong, it's a fun watch but then again, shouting "We are the mods" in parkas doesn't seem all that cool to me (Just my very humble opinion and what do I know? I wasn't even there). The early mods, who were knocking about in '59, who listened to jazz, watched french films and wore Italian suits are much more appealing. And towards the end of the book, there are a few bits about the emergence of the skinhead and the suedehead which are also extremely interesting.

While there are pages and pages of stuff written about menswear; bumfreezer jackets, penny collars, side vents, covered buttons, leather waistcoats, straight legged trousers with a step, cigarette cases with matching lighters. While it's rather nice to put together all these suits in your head, picturing all the immaculate details as the're written, it just makes me long for an equally detailed description of what the girls wore. I understand that there weren't really any Mod girls as it was very much a boy thing and therefore there isn't much to document, which is a shame. However, there were two quotes that stood out. The first one is from the cult Colin MacInnes novel, Absolute Beginners (well worth a read by the way) where he describes what a Modernist girl in 1959 looked like:
"Modern jazz boy's girl - short hemlines, seamless stockings, pointed-toed high-heeled stiletto shoes, crepe nylon rattling petticoat, short blazer jacket, hair done up into the elfin style. Pale face - corpse colour with a dash of mauve, plenty of mascara."

And this one is from an essay by Alex Roest, 'Where Mod Went Next'. This is about the suedehead look and goes into a satisfying amount of detail about what the girls wore:
"Girls often wore boys' shoes, loafers mostly, crepe-soled lace ups, clumpy nurses' style shoes with a brogue pattern or plain, and other popular high street fashions such as sling-backs both with flared heels, suede and patent-leather, buckled shoes, in bright mulit-colours towards the end. Geometric patterns, plain and side patternes tightd were popular with mini skirts (again, preferably mohair or failing that, the cheaper Trevira styles - plain A-line, pleated often tartan checks etc, lots of buttons). Same shirts as the boys, off-the-peg suit jackets of varying lengths, although 3/4 lengthjust above the knee was very popular in 2-tone fabric, PoW checks, double breasted also. Crombies, Trevira two-pieces and mohair, mod-like shift dresses would be worn too, maxi length dresses at the very end of this period, often backless halter-neck."

Bits and Bobs

2010-06-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Despite my dire financial situation, I've managed to scoop up a few bargains here and there recently. When I was back home in Leeds last weekend, I visited the shop I used to work in (Ryan Second hand, used to be Ryan Vintage but it's changed, for some reason). This shop is pretty much a jumble sale but if you dig about you can find some right cracking stuff. There is always loads of bits of furniture and stuff lying about and I found this 1960s print by the doorway and fell in love. Straight away, it reminded me so much of Tina (if you don't know who Tina is, google 'J H Lynch Tina' and you'll get it). So I picked this sexy lady up for a tenner. Not bad. I took her home and my mum decided she looked like Gina Lollobrigida so we christened her Gina. When I finally get my hands on a Tina print, Gina and Tina will hang next to each other like intercontinental cousins.

I went charity shopping round a town called Bingley in Bradford and picked up these leather loafers for £3! Bingley's a lovely little town and a few of the shops on the main road still have the shop fronts from the '50s and '60s. I stupidly forgot my camera.

This dress wasn't such a bargain. I bought it from the Barnados Vintage shop that I volunteer at so with a staff discount it came to about £20. I've had my eye on it for ages and once I tried it on I physically could't put it back on the rail. It has a matching belt/scarf and I can see it looking great with black shoes and a big black floppy hat. Anita and Marianne would approve i think.

This pink dress was an ebay find, about £4 i think it was. It's a bit see through but I love the colour and the polka dot frills. It just screams Catherine Deneuve to me and I can't wait to wear it once my hair is blonde enough.

ps. I will post photos of my hair soon, I promise!

It's not called Northern Soul for nowt, y'know - Part 2

2010-06-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

So last night, I went to see SoulBoy and it was brill. After a rather disappointing look at the red carpet (Martin Compston came out to do an interview on camera and then went back inside, he is tiny by the way, really small), my flatmate and I settled down to watch the film. It was wonderful and because I'm such a geek for Northern Soul I was singing along and I did get rather giddy, as did the loud man sat behind me, "Clap lassie, dinnie just wave". There were flyers for an after party which happened to be above our local so I persuaded my friends to come with me. Now, it wasn't the official after party but there was good music so that's fine. As is the norm for Northern nights, we were the youngest people there by at least a decade, maybe two. I was soon out of my seat and on the floor (alone, my friends were too scared to dance) and lots of funny looks and stares were coming my way. Not because I'm crap, but because I'm a girl and I'm under 35. I think it was shock more then anything else. Anyway, my friend decided she was going to be my agent and apparently I'm going to enter a competition in about 2 weeks time. The prize is £250. Better get practising my splits then. Everyone out last night was lovely, a man taught me the shuffle and another ran up to me just as I was leaving and said "Ey, so you a wee mod then aye? You were the best out there tonight". Which was a lie but I was flattered all the same.

Right back to the film. It was pretty much your standard coming-of-age story; Young lad is an outsider, montage of him practising, golden boy moment, something bad happens, redemption and then a happy ending. But it was good all the same and the dancing was top notch. Here's the trailer:

The ending of the film (without giving too much away I hope) reminded me a lot of this short film, Function At The Junction. My friend and all round soul boy told me about it and it's a cracking little film.

It's not called Northern Soul for nowt, y'know - Part 1

2010-06-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited today because tonight I'll be donning my finest Fred Perry and bobbing down the road to go to the premier of SoulBoy as part of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. My friend kindly gave me free tickets so I'll be dragging my non-soulie flatmate along with me to watch the film. Set in 1974, it's a 'coming-of-age' story for a young lad who discovers the musical delights of the Wigan Casino. I heard about this film last year and I've been waiting for ages for it come out. I love Northern Soul and I'm really keen to see if they've done the music justice. I'll do a very informal review of it tomorrow but in the mean time, I'm preparing myself by listening to these soul stompers. Belting.

Blonde Ambition

2010-06-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

I've been on a quest this week to turn my dark auburn hair into shimmering honey blonde bombshell locks and after 4 bottles of dye, I'm a gingery strawberry blonde. I'm having to go lighter a few shades at a time so hopefully I'll be a fully fledged blonde after the next dye job. Fingers crossed. I've had virgin hair for my full 20 years and after I helped my flatmate with her pink dip-dyed doo, I thought it was high time I pop my cherry and get the golden head of hair I've always fancied. I did love my reddish brown hair and there's nothing more beautiful than a porceline-skinned redhead but I've always been drawn to blondies (and having blonde hair makes it easier to become a brunette - more on that another time). Anyways, these ladies are the reason I reached for the bleach.

The Sound Of Silence

2010-06-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

I'm back at home in Leeds for the weekend and I love being at home; home cooked meals that consist of more than pasta, comfy bed, wardrobe of clothes i'd completely forgotten about, meeting friends I haven't seen for ages, bickering with my mum over inane topics - Lovely. However, we have a new computer at home and I logged in, opened up Spotify and was horrified to discover that the sound card hasn't been installed and therefore, I am without music. And I didn't pack any CDs. Complete silence, apart from the neighbours drinking outside and any Irn Bru induced burps I produce. To torture myself further, I'll share the songs I would be listening to if technology hadn't hindered me so. Enjoy. You lucky buggers.

(Apologies if the sound quality on the clips is rubbish, I have no idea what they sound like)

Let's Spend The Night Together

2010-06-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite books is Please Kill Me - The Uncensored Oral History of Punk, which does what it says on the tin. The book tells the story of American punk, starting with The Velvet Underground and then The MC5, Iggy and The Stooges, Patti Smith, The Ramones, New York Dolls, Television, Richard Hell and The Voidoids, Blondie and so on. It features interviews with many of the people just mentioned but also managers, roadies and other people lucky enough to be around at the same time. Including groupies.

One of the most prominent and well known groupies of the time was Bebe Buell. She was a commercial model who, on Patti Smith's advice, switched to Playboy to break away from her wholesome, girl-next-door image. Smith described Buell as "Anita Pallenberg, Nico and Marianne Faithfull all rolled into one cream puff", which I think is pretty accurate. Bebe Buell lived with Todd Rundgren and 'fooled around' with Iggy Pop, Stiv Bators from The Dead Boys, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger and JACK NICHOLSON! There are obviously others but I can't remember anymore for now. She also fooled around with Stevie Tyler and had a beautiful baby, Liv. Before I saw a picture of Bebe Buell I always wondered how Liv Tyler turned out so lovely and I understand why now.

Anyway, out of all the groupies in Please Kill Me, Bebe stood out, mainly because she was so beautiful but also because she seems really sweet. She looked after Iggy Pop after he'd had a particularly rough night after taking a load of valium that Lou Reed had given him. And she was too intimidated by Richard Hell to go talk to him.

Rico Puhlmann

2010-06-07T04:08:00.000-07:00

Absolutely speechless.

That Thing You Do!

2010-06-03T04:44:00.000-07:00

I had no idea that this film existed until one day my mum shouted up to my bedroom and said "Laura, there's a 60s looking film on the telly!". I bombed it down the stairs and was pleasantly surprised at what I was witnessing. Written and directed by Tom Hanks, this film tell the tale of a small town band called The Wonders making it big and then falling apart and thus becoming 'One Hit Wonders', clever ey? It's a proper feel-good film; you don't have to think too hard but it's an easy, entertaining watch nevertheless. And it's wonderful to look at. The whole look of the film is lovely, all bright colours and authentic interiors. The costumes are just amazing. The costume designer was Coleen Atwood, who has designed the costumes for films like Chicago and every Tim Burton film I've ever seen. I always look out on the opening credits of films for her name because she's an incredible designer.

I love everything Liv Tyler wears, especially the black polo neck jumper trimmed with ocelot fur. Drool. I have an epic girl crush on Liv Tyler in this film, she's actually adorable. Her hair is perfection and it looks pretty simple to do (I'm thinking clip back the front section of hair, backcomb at the crown and set the ends with a curling iron.) And the boys look incredible. They wear a lot of knitwear; high necked jumpers and slim fitting cardigans with collars teamed with slim trousers. The metallic suits very showbiz sixties but might be a bit much nowadays. However unlikely it is, a lot of respect goes out to any lad who's tried it.

That's some catchy stuff!

That Thing You Do! is always on Film4 so keep an eye out for it.

The Street Look

2010-05-29T06:03:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago, the BBC showed a series of fashion documentaries called British Style Genius. They had episodes about the High Street, Savile Row, rebellious designers but my favourite was the episode about British youth cultures. Focusing on mens street fashion from the 1950s up to the present day, they covered the styles of Teddy Boys, Mods, Skinheads and Casuals. I found the first 3 parts of the episode on YouTube but for some reason the 4th and 5th parts aren't up. So these clips look at the Ted and Mod styles and cut just before the Skinhead bit, which is really annoying. I'm not so into Teddy boys (I just think they look a bit daft) but the part about Mods is top notch (and the lad putting his suit on is a total babe).

Friday Filth

2010-05-28T10:13:00.000-07:00

I don't know if this is going to become a weekly feaure but here's week 2 of Friday Filth. One of my many pastimes is looking at vintage porn, not because I'm a perv but the girls were so much more beautiful then and I love looking at their hair (the hair on their head, not the other kind). It's purely for aesthetic reasons. Honest.

Anyway, I found a great tumblr with pictures from old Playboys (the title is a link to the site). I love these photos, the girls are so natural and pretty. And their figures are amazing! They were slim and with curves in the right places (obv, it's Playboy) and if I had the option to pick any figure to have, I would pick a Playmate from 1964.

Cleo de 5 a 7

2010-05-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

Went to see Cleo de 5 a 7 today at the Filmhouse, as part of the Agnès Varda season. It's a wonderful film, starring Corinne Marchand as a singer awaiting the results of a medical test. She goes about her daily business but begins to question everything about her life. It's so beautifully done and without giving too much away, the ending is heartbreaking but manages not to be depressing or melodramatic (I was trying not to blub in the middle of the cinema). Marchand looks stunning through out and there's a lovely cameo from Anna Karina and Jean-Luc Godard. It also features Michel Legrand as Cleo's songwriter and the scene where they rehearse is joyous. This just makes me fall even more in love with Legrand and his music and I could listen to him forever.

French Boy Crops and Vespas

2010-05-23T04:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I found The Mod Generation website which has a fantastic photo gallery of pictures uploaded by members of the site. The link is in the revised list at the right of the page. This first set is from a french mod (stupidly didn't note the name down). At first I thought they were original 60s photos but one of them features a lot of bleached denim which led me to assume they were from the 80s revival. Even so, they're no less stylish.

This set were uploaded by Alan Fletcher and are original 60s. The guys look so smart and I adore the girls cropped hair. The last photo is a scan of a membership card to a club called The Dungeon which I think was in Nottingham - love the collar on her dress!

This last set is by a bloke called Stephen Hughes, an 80s mod from Edinburgh. Tis super cool guy is sporting a french combed do which I far prefer to the feathered Paul Weller-esque hair that many mods have. There's a photo of who I think is his girlfriend at the west end of Princes Street with the castle in the background.

Friday Filth

2010-05-21T11:42:00.000-07:00

It's hot and it's the weekend so here's some mucky pictures.

Alright cheeky chops!

Meekbeat Monday

2010-05-17T13:20:00.000-07:00

(I don't know which film they used in this video but keep an eye out for Jacques Perrin)

Couture Allure Vintage

2010-05-17T03:52:00.001-07:00

I first stumbled across the Couture Allure Vintage blog a couple of years ago and it's become a real favourite of mine. Previews of the stunning clothes and accessories from the store, fashion stories from old magazines and designer articles make it a highlight on my massive list of favourites on my browser. I emailed the lovely owner and blogger Jody with a few questions and she took time out of her busy schudule to answer them...

- How did you get into vintage clothing?
I have a degree in Fashion Design. My favorite course in school was History of Costume. I was fascinated with clothing of eras gone by. I started buying vintage whenever I found it at thrift stores, etc. In 2001, the company I was working for was sold and I could see the writing on the wall. When I was laid off, I was very happy to return to being my own boss, and selling vintage clothing was a natural next step for me.

- What's your favourite era?
I love the 1950s. As a child, I always enjoyed playing dress-up with my mom's tulle evening gowns that were stored in my grandma's attic. I think I was born too late.

- Who are your favourite designers?
Paul Poiret, Elsa Schiaparelli, Balanciaga, and Valentino.

- Has there ever been one piece that you were really reluctant to sell?
Several, and they are still in my closet! I have a 1930s Chanel pink crepe dress that I will never sell.

- What was your favourite piece ever to have in your store?
That's easy. It was the 1950s pink petal dress. I sold it several years ago back in my eBay days. If you mention the Couture Allure pink petal dress, a lot of people will still remember it. It was made of pink silk ombre satin and the color of the satin got gradually darker from neckline to hem.

This Rosalie Macrini dress that I sold last year is a close second:

- What's your favourite piece in the store right now?
I love this one-shoulder 1950s dress by Patullo-Jo Copeland.

- What are you on the look out for (or what would be your 'holy grail')?
My Holy Grail would be anything by Paul Poiret. An early Schiaparelli would be nice. Those would end up staying in my closet too!

I could spend hours just looking at all the amazing stuff Jody has in the store but unfortunately for me, I have to spend my student loan on rent when I would much rather spend it all on beautiful vintage designer dresses. I've done a bit of fantasy shopping and here are the things I would buy if money and garment sizes were no object...

Vintage 60s BH Wragge Brown Linen Dress

Vintage 50s Silk Floral Hip Drape Dress

Vintage 60s Nina Ricci Polka Dot Silk Dress & Jacket

Vintage 60s Mod Lace & Paillettes Party Dress

Vintage 60s Courreges Black Twill Jacket

And my favourite, Vintage 60s Beaded Fringe and Sequin Cocktail Dress

If The Supremes were a dress, they'd so be this one!

Thank you so much to Jody for answering my questions and allowing me to use her photographs. You'll find the link to the blog in the list on the right of the page.

I've got flowers, in the spring...

2010-05-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

This is the best thing I've seen in a very very very long time. Special mention to Keith on the tuba and Andrew Loog Oldham for mucking in.

Beehive birthday

2010-05-16T07:57:00.001-07:00

I turned 20 on Tuesday and I've just around to getting my disposable camera processed from my birthday celebrations.

I went home at the start of May to celebrate with my friends from back home and we went to the NUTs Hotwax Allnighter at The Wardrobe in Leeds. It was a wonderful night with lots of dancing, I was seriously suffering the next day, my toes were so sore!

Dress: Vintage 60's
Bag: Vintage 60's
Shoes: Mary Janes from Peacocks
Coat: Gap Mac from charity shop

I mentioned in an earlier post that I'd given my fringe a trim and this is the result. Please excuse the face, it was my birthday and I was steaming. To do the beehive, I backcombed the hair at the crown, twisted the back and pinned the hair to keep it in place. It's not as high as I wanted it but my hair is so thick and heavy that the weight of it just pulls it down. As long as I've pinned it securely and covered it in hairspray it stays put pretty well.

I bought some Stargazer false eyelashes but I always find them too long (which ever brand I buy, they're always too long for me) so I trim them down to a more natural length. It's more subtle that way and give you nice thick lashes. Next I just put on liquid eyeliner and mascara. Maybe a bit of highlighter on the brow bone. I ALWAYS use an eyebrow pencil because my eyebrows are so fair that you can barely see them but even if I had visible eyebrows I'd still use a pencil, you can thicken your brows and change the shape which adds more definition to your face. Before I leave the house, I slick on a pale nude lipstick and that's about it. I'm rubbish with make up (I can't apply eyeshadow or foundation for toffee, haven't got the blend technique down yet) but this seems to do the trick.