What a difference a year makes??

Well, it has been quite a year full of ups and downs, joy and heartache.

The year began with me coming to terms with the loss of my Mother who had always been a great strength in my life and dealing with the all of the hassle that went along with sorting out her estate and selling my family home of nearly 50 years!!!

But aside from the sadness I have had achieved some fabulous things this year so here are just some of the high points. And when I look back I think gosh have I really done all that and more and I do think that Mum would be proud??

NFW in March kicked of the year with our Vintage fashions show and fair - "Dress like a Queen" to celebrate the Jubilee.

 

 

I was featured in Vintage Life Magazine alongside many other lovely vintage folk, with an article on Matt Keller from Southern Retro and my name was on the cover of the swimwear issue I wrote for them.

 

 

I have had a few chances to present and organise something I love - fashion shows -

Gressenhall had a 50's day and I organised a fashion show on how to dress 50's style and then later in the year presented a fashion at Pop Up Vintage Fairs at Spitafields Market.

 

 

 

 

 

I styled a vintage photo shoot for Flush fashion magazine and had a lovely article written about me in both the Eastern Evening News and Eastern Daily Press thanks to Emma Harrowing at Life Matters.

 

 



 

 

It has been a FABULOUS year with many exciting and wonderful things happening.  Next year sees the launch of my vintage inspired collection which is both amazing and scary at the same time. NFW which promises to be bigger and better than ever before and who knows what else the Fabulous Miss K will find herself doing in 2013 - we will just have to wait and see???



 



Work in Progress

Apologies for being a bit lax in posted in recent days but I have been working hard on getting the Fabulous Miss K collection ready.

I have decided on the pieces to showcase at NFW next year and my fabulous pattern cutter is busy putting all my ideas into practise!!!

Every once and a while I get a wobble thinking that I am taking on a huge task but it is all coming together and everyone around me seems to have faith so I am sure it will work out fine in the end???

Fabrics have been sourced and I am now looking into UK based manufacturers to make the collection for me, I am working on ideas for shoots and events to launch the collection and get it out there - so much work to do and before I know it March will be here!!!

Just to give a you a sneaky peak at what is brewing here is my "look book"......

 

 

I am getting very excited now but just a little scared too but nothing ventured nothing gained and this has been a dream for a very long time and dreams really can come true!!!

NFW - the shoot!!

Monday morning and I headed to the office to get prepared for an exciting but busy day - we were shooting the promotion pictures for the Vintage Fashion Show and Fair as part of NFW in March.

The theme is Old Hollywood so it was glamour all the way!!!

I had borrowed clothes from local vintage shops - Lulu Vintage, Prim Vintage and Retreat Vintage - all of which came up trumps with some fabulous pieces.

Missy Vintage was on hand to do hair and make-up and the models looked amazing. While there were getting ready my lovely new assistant Abi Gray (who is totally fabulous and going to be a great asset to the team) gathered clothes and sorted the outfits.

Antony Kelly from Archant took some fabulous photographs and I will I promise share them with you very soon but to be going on with here are a few behind the scene shots to get you in the mood.

 

 

 

 

Just a sneaky peek at what is to come.

 

(Photos thanks to Missy Vintage.)

 

 

 I am very excited for the year ahead there are lots of fabulous projects in the pipeline and NFW is going to be bigger and better so watch this space for more news of things to come in 2013!!!

 

 

Fabulous Miss K Presents .....

This Saturday saw a very early start for me - Hubby and I headed to London as I was asked to present the Vintage Fashion Show for Pop Up Vintage Fairs at Old Spitafields Market.

I am used to presenting fashion shows but this was on a grand scale so I was a tad nervous but once I had met all the lovely people involved I was fine.  The Candy Pout team were on hand to do my hair and make-up and make me feel fabulous.

The outfits were put together by vintage fashion bloggers - Ree Ree Rocket, Sarah Ruppin, Alison Tang, Betty Leopard, Jayne J Read and Amy Elizabeth Hill and they all did a fabulous job.  The bloggers chose outfits from the various traders from the 30's to the 80's.

Swing Patrol entertained the crowds with their dancing as the show was (as always with catwalk shows) running "fashionably" late but we were soon underway with the first of 4 shows throughout the day.

The models all looked amazing and I even managed to buy myself a 1940's dress - very Wallis Simpson I feel (look out for it on future outfit posts!!)

After the shows had finished it was good-byes all round and lots of exchanging of contact details, then Hubby and I headed off for a well deserved cocktail or two!!

Some of the lovely vintage goodies on offer.

 

One of my favourite outfits - styled by ReeRee Rocket.

 

The models in the vintage looks.

 

Me!! Suit 1940's original from Prim Vintage and Gemma Hat from Sugar and Hatter.

 

 

 

 

 

Fashion in Film

I love old movies - the black and white ones and the over the top technicolour musicals and most of all I love the old movie stars in fabulous costumes and outfits. It's what I grew up watching on a Sunday afternoon with my Mum and where my love of vintage clothes and style comes from.

Movie stars back then were glamorous on and off the movie set you wouldn't have seen them in the tabloids in tracksuits and Ugg boots.

There have been some iconic movie outfits so here are some of my all time favourites.

The Women 1939 starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell about a group of women - their loves and lives with amazing costumes by Adrian the famed Hollywood designer of the 40's and stunning jewellery by Eugene Josett.

 

 

 

 

 

Another favourite is Barclay's of Broadway starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as a feuding husband and wife dance act. Fred looks dapper as always and Ginger wears some fabulous outfits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audrey Hepburn is a style icon of course and although I love the classic LBD in Breakfast at Tiffany's my favourite fashion is in Sabrina 1954 with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, and Audrey transforms from the plain chauffeur's daughter into an elegant lady after time in Paris. Edith Head won an Oscar for best costume design on this film but the clothes were Givenchy who is un-credited!!

 

 

 

 

I could go on listing fabulous fashion in film but my final one for now is Rear Window 1954 with Grace Kelly and Jimmy Stewart, Edith Head again with the costumes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More fabulous fashion in films coming in future blogs and watch this space for more news on NFW Vintage Fashion Show and Fair with an Old Hollywood theme and maybe just one or two more influences some my favourite films turning up on the catwalk!!!



 





Making the most of your LBD .... so no one will know it's the same dress???

It's that time of year again when thoughts turn to festive parties and the inevitable cry when you open the wardrobe - "I've got nothing wear"

Well every woman should have a least one LBD (Little Black Dress - if you didn't know) in her wardrobe, it will take you anywhere from cocktails to clubbing, from dinner to dancing by investing in a classic style and shape you will be able to dress it up or down to suit any occasion - by adding accessories and adornments no one will ever guess it is the same dress??

So here are my top tips to dress up your LBD......

Wear it very classic a la Chanel or Audrey with layers of pearls and long black gloves.

 

Add a bright coloured sash around your waist and pin at the back. Or drape a chiffon scarf around creating a shawl collar effect on the dress.

 

 

 

Wear a vintage brooch or two on your shoulder or pin it to the waist of your dress,  you could even use one to create a slimmer silhouette on a full skirt.

 

 

 

 

 

And these tips from one of my favourite books that I have posted about before Orchids on Your Budget .......

 

 

 

An emerald green taffeta jacket and slippers

Two ruby clips and bracelet to match worn with black slippers and bag

Pink chiffon roses and pink chiffon scarf worn with black slippers and bag

A gold lame jacket with black bag and slippers

A black sequin jacket

Gold chunky jewellery

So with a little imagination no-one will ever know it's the same dress and you will look fabulous throughout the party season.

Don't forget that I can help you find your perfect LBD to suit your style and body shape during November and December I am offering a very special price for  a half day shopping trip - £35 instead of £75 (including coffee and cake!!)


 



 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Films, updates and fashion shows

Things have been very busy over the last few days so just a quick post this week.

Since the official announcement of the Fabulous Miss K collection I have been sourcing fabrics and getting ideas to my pattern cutter!!

I am also helping to find costumes for a short documentary film highlighting dementia, set in 1952 I have been tracking down lots of outfits from all sorts of places!!!

And more exciting news I am going to present a fashion show at Old Spitafields Market on 17th November - Pop Up Vintage Fairs have put together various bloggers and traders to style vintage outfits and I am giving styling advice and hosting the show.  I am used to speaking in public but it is a little scary to be at such a big venue.

 

 

 

Don't forget that I am on hand for all your vintage styling needs whether you want a couple of pieces to jazz up your current wardrobe or a whole outfit for an event.  And with the festive season coming up why not go vintage this year to you Christmas parties.

 

 

For the whole of November and December I will be offering a very special price for a shopping trip just £35 for a half day (usual price £75).  Just mention this post to get your discount.

 

 

 



Features and fabulous frocks!!

This week saw I had a feature in Life Matters in the Eastern Evening News - it is very strange to read about your life in print.

One of the biggest things to come out of it is the official announcement that Fabulous Miss K is launching a vintage inspired fashion collection at Norwich Fashion Week next March!!!!

I am no designer but I have lots of ideas of how I want the collection to look and taking inspiration from my own vintage wardrobe there will be 6 pieces in all - 3 day dresses, a suit and 2 LBD's.

The collection is aimed at those who want a really authentic vintage look, with a classic and sophisticated feel with quality fabrics and cut.

It is very scary and exciting at the same time, working on the design with my pattern cutter and getting inspiration for the photo shoot to launch it. This is something that I have dreamed of doing for years and one lady has given my the opportunity to realise it - the first collection will be dedicated to my Mum, a lady who was always well groomed and stylish as were all women of her era so the Barbara dress will have it's debut in a few months time.

So watch this space as the collection unfolds I will keep you posted with updates and inspiration.

 

 

Mum and Dad looking very stylish out and about.

 

Mum and my grandmother.

 

 

Mum, Uncle Alan and Grandmother.

Come the country pile - this weekend?

I have always wanted someone to say that to me!! Just like in the 30's when friends with a stately a home invited everyone "down from London" for the weekend.

Days spent wandering around the gardens, watching the hunt or just generally lazing around drinking cocktails and listening to Jazz (the reality would probably be a drafty old pile that had a leaking roof and freezing but we are talking fantasy here!!)

Then dressing for dinner and sitting with more cocktails by an open fire - maybe one day you never know.

I am a city gal so a weekend in the country is about as much as I could bear but I love the thought of dressing up in tweeds so here is the look I would go for should I ever get invited???

 

 

And then for the evening something totally glamorous because dressing for cocktails and dinner should have a come back.

So if anyone does have a "country pile" that you would like to invite me too please feel free - I can bring glamour, style and alcohol!!!

Autumn Style Inspriation

I can't put it off any longer Autumn is defiantly here and so it is time to update the wardrobe for the new season.

Sadly I am putting the summer dresses into storage until hopefully next year the sun comes out a little more that it did this year???

With a small two up two down terrace house and an every increasing vintage clothing collection I need to pack away the summer items an bring out the warmer fabrics and winter styles.  The dressing room is still work in progress but I have a promise from Hubby that we WILL get it finished this year!!

So how do I go about switching from summer to winter - the first step is to pack away the summer items, I put them into vintage suitcases and store them on top of the wardrobes or for some of the more delicate pieces I put them into those vacuum pack things and store in the loft or under the bed.

Winter wool suits and coats come out of storage into the wardrobe and heavier sweaters are folded on the shelves.

I always like to add a few more pieces each season (well a gal has too doesn't she!!), but I stick to a colour palette so that all my clothes work together.

 

These are the colours that I work with and if you ever get inside my wardrobe it really does look like this??

(Autumnal Palette Jane Fardon)

 

 

 

Next for me is a mood board - although I always wear a vintage look mainly mainly from the 40's to early 50's I like to pin up some images that I like to inspire me to create outfits on a daily basis.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a few of the ideas that I have for this season - there are many more so watch for the outfit posts and see how I interpret them.

 

 

I would love to see your outfits for Autumn/Winter so send them to me and I may feature you on my blog?

 

 



 

 

 

 



Miss K loves ... Worn Out Shop

Continuing the Miss K Loves series with a lovely lady called Marie who has a fabulous collection of vintage clothes and accessories.

We have met a couple of times now and like me she has a passion for vintage and period pieces, every time I see her she has something wonderful to show me!!

Marie showcases her collections at various vintage fairs around the county and will be at NFW Vintage Fair and fashion show next year but if you can't wait that long to see what she has to offer check out her Etsy shop - www.etsy.com/shop/wornoutshop.

Here are a few of the fabulous items they have for sale.

1940's suit Birds eye print £110

 

1950's pineapple print skirt and top £58

 

 

1930's/40's shoes £52

 

 

1950's snakeskin bag £50

 

 

Mention you saw this blog and you may get a little discount.

Corners of my home

With a love of all things vintage for over 30 years you can imagine that Hubby and I have a vast collection of "vintage stuff"!!!

It is not limited to the wardrobe of clothes but spills over into all aspects of our home too. We are planning a little re-vamp of some areas and so I thought I would share with you a few of my favourite pieces that we have and will update with the progress that goes on with the renovation of our home.

My display cabinet that houses the ever increasing collection of china and glassware.

 

 

 

Our Art Deco lady

 

 

One of the G Plan units inherited from my Mum

 

 

One of a pair of 50's chairs awaiting it's revamp!!

 

Not quite sure what she is advertising - hair or nail polish?

 

 

The other G Plan!!

 

 

The fireplace with Art Deco statues - La Danse and Le Music - I spotted the same ones in an episode of Poriot the other day!!!

 

 

 

So just a few of the pieces I love and the collection is constantly getting added to that's the thing with vintage you see something you love and you just have to buy it - can't help myself???