7 Vintage gifts that won't break the bank.

It's that time of year again when our thoughts turn to Christmas shopping and it can get to be quite an expensive venture as things are quite so simple as they used to be when all anyone expected was a simple gift, a few nuts and an orange in their stocking.

But now with the internet, supermarkets and the high street hard selling us from the end of October it is hardly surprising we all end up broke and our credit cards groaning,

Buying vintage is a great way of getting something special without breaking the bank and you are supporting independent shops and sellers which is always a good thing to do.

1. Vintage Brooches - any vintage gal would love one of these to pin on her dress, jazz up a hat or add a bit of sparkle to her winter coat.  They can be picked up at vintage shops or fairs and even charity shops for a few pounds.

2. Vintage scarves - another idea for the ladies, again a reasonable price will buy you a fabulous scarf to add a bit of vintage glamour to any outfit.

3. Vintage Tea cups  - always a fabulous gift so what about a matching teacup and saucer and side plate that the recipient can have their afternoon tea and cake in style.

4. Cocktail glasses - if their tastes run a little stronger a set of or individual cocktail glasses make a lovely gift and if you are feeling a little more generous add in a bottle of their favourite tipple to go a long with them.

5. Vintage sewing pattern - for someone who enjoys making their own clothes - how about a vintage pattern from an era you know they love and add some vintage fabric or buttons for a little something extra.

6. Sewing or craft classes - they are lots of knitting, craft and needlework classes around so if there is someone you know would love to learn buy them a voucher along with some knitting needles or small sewing kit.

7. Prints - give someone a vintage print - you can pick up lovely prints on all subjects from fairs, boot sales and antique shops, whether they love fashion or cars the list is endless, frame it and it will be a fabulous addition to their home.

How to wear the collection

You know how it is you get a new dress and you want to try it on with lots of different items in your wardrobe - I know I do I can't wait to create outfits with other things I have in my wardrobe.

So I thought that I would share with you a recent photo shoot that shows you a few different ways to wear your Miss K dress - if you haven't got yours yet don't leave it too long as there are limited available - www.fabulousmissk.co.uk

Charlie styled with classic black pumps and a festive corsage (it is a hair piece by Rosie Alia Designs).

Just the perfect outfit for Christmas day.

You can see more of these lovely hair flowers at

www.etsy.com/shop/RosieAliaDesigns.

 

I love hats and any excuse for me to wear one!! Just loved the green tone of this 40's trilby and the warmth of the faux fur collar.

 

The pop of red lipstick (courtesy of www.missyvintage.co.uk) makes this a stunning winter outfit.

 

Mixing colours together that you wouldn't usually think go is something I love to do - fabulous combo of red of the Charlie dress and purple beret (Lulu's Vintage) and grey gloves (Retreat Vintage).

 

 

More ideas of how to wear your Miss K dress in future posts and outfits too but in the meantime - how would you wear yours??

 

Photo: www.joeblackphotography.com
Model: Nakita Harden

Worn Out Shop - launch

Not much would get me up bright and early on a very dull and drizzly Saturday morning but a new vintage shop opening got me heading for Sheringham for the launch of Worn Out Shop - an adventure and dream for husband and wife team Marie and Shaun. Having spent many a family holiday in North Norfolk, they finally took the plunge and re-located to the area.

Marie's passion for vintage was ignited at the 1940's weekend and since then she has been a firm fixture at the vintage fairs around the county but her dream was to open a shop and now that has become reality.

The shop is in Sheringham specialising in 40's and 50's clothing and accessories for ladies and gentlemen alongside household items and  small pieces of period furniture. They have also commissioned a local lady to reproduce a range of 40's and 50's knitwear form original patterns - and she is an old pro well into her 80's!!

Marie and her special guest outside the new shop.

 

 

 

 

A colourful array of repro vintage sweaters on offer.

 

Very stylish customers!!

 

 

There were lots of tempting goodies and I don't think it will long before  I go back and try a few of the pieces that I have my eye on. Marie has a some fabulous pieces and is always on the hunt for new stock so make sure that keep checking back regularly to see what she has in stock.

 

Worn Out Shop - 2 Melbourne Road Sheringham NR26 8EE - if you can't get there have a little look and their Etsy shop - www.etsy.com/shop/wornoutshop.

 

(Sponsored post)



 

 

 

 

 

Sunday shoot - frills, fancies and nightwear!!!

Sunday saw my house filled with vintage nightwear courtesy of my good friend Wake Up Little Susie - a regular of the vintage fairs around Norfolk and Suffolk selling all sorts of fabulous things from various decades but now she is starting to specialise in vintage nightwear, bed linens and boudoir accessories.

The house was packed with two models - the lovely Heather and Marie, hair and make-up artist - Kerry from www.missyvintage.co.uk and photographer Stephen Plumb -https://www.facebook.com/StephenPlumbPhotography, Susie, her husband Simon and my hubby who kept us going by providing tea and coffee at regular intervals.

It was quite a packed house as we only have a two up two down terrace but you can see in the pictures corners of my rooms and the beginning of my dressing room which is starting to take shape (more to come on the finished result as it is still work in progress).

So here are a few backstage scenes of the days shoot. If you want to see more of Susie's fabulous vintage nightwear have a look at her facebook page - https:www.facebook.com/wakeuplittlesusie.

 

 

 

(photo Missy Vintage)

 

 

I can't wait to see the finished results of the photo shoot and I must admit that I was very tempted by some of the pieces we used and may put them on the Christmas list. I think that I also feel a little post about lounge wear coming on!!

Miss K loves - The Forties Floozy

You come across some lovely people in the vintage scene - some you meet in real life and others you get to know through their blogs one such lady is Alex aka The Forties Floozy.

 So here is a little Q&A so you can find out more about her........................

What got you into vintage?

My parents and all of my family have always been really interested in vintage cars/motorbikes, I grew up around them and that's really where everything kicked off from! I spent a lot of my summers trekking to classic bike shows and it gave me the love of vehicles that takes over my life and also love of clothes/style of that era too.  There was usually lots of rockabilly women or ladies dressed up in polka dots and petticoats and I'd always stop and stare and be completely amazed.

You call yourself The Forties Floozy - what is it about the 40's that
appeals to you?

I think it's the most feminine and beautiful era in terms of cut of clothes and attitude towards appearance as well.  I love all the effort that women (and men!) put into how they looked, it's something that I think we've lost a bit of in modern times.

Tell me about your love for vintage cars?

Oh gosh! Well it was always motorbikes that I loved when I was younger (and still do) but unfortunately after an accident it became apparent that I wasn't going to be able to ride bikes forever so I started becoming more interested in classic cars.  My first car was a Triumph Spitfire and it was the best car in the world, I still dream of having it back some day!  After becoming part of a club for young classic car owners/lovers I met the people that are now my best friends and also my other half too! Calum has 5 classics and I have my little morris minor that takes me everywhere so they keep us very busy!  Most of my holidays are spent on roadtrips or going to vintage events in the cars.

What do you love most about your "vintage lifestyle"?

Everything haha? I've met the most amazing people through events and even chatting about vintage on Twitter has led me to meet some of my best friends! There's nothing more fun that meeting people with similar interests to you and being able to meet up and chat about everything.

You are a student now - would you like to turn your passion for
vintage into a career if so what would you love to do?

I took a fairly big step in June of this year and bought Madam's Vintage, an online spectacles shop, that was definitely my first jump into making vintage more than just a hobby.  It was definitely the scariest thing I could have done whilst I was half way through the exam period of my second year of university, but it's certainly all been worth it! I would absolutely love to make vintage my career and it's something I don't stop thinking about.  I've always considered being an event organiser so combining that with my love of days gone by would be a dream come true.

Looking fabulous in vintage specs.
 




 
Vintage car love!!
 




 
Vintage chic.
(Photo - Men's File Magazine)
 
 
You can take a look at more about Alex  www.thefortiesfloozy.com  and if you need some fabulous vintage glasses have a look at www.madamsvintage.com.
 
 

 

The Collection out and about!!

The dresses have been out and about over the last  couple of weeks with Pop Up Photo shoots for the launch of Norwich Fashion Week - 6th - 13th March 2014 so put the date in your diary now.

Students from CCN along side professional photographer Ryan Bleyswyck took photos from local shops and designers - two of the collection were shot around the Norwich area.

Dress: Barbara in red crepe.

Photo: Jack Cornish

Model: Marie Sandra Reynolds

Hair: Missy Vintage

MUP: Tamsyn Sandra Reynolds.

 

Dress; Charlie in bottle green crepe.

Fascinator : Kitty Hats

Photo: Laura Gardener

Model, hair and mup as before.

 

 

 

 

Last Sunday the dresses had a little outing to Horham - home of the 95th Bomb group. It was the last open day of the season and hubby was playing some music so I set up a few of the dresses.

 

 

And then on Monday I had a photo shoot with Joe Black Photography, Missy Vintage for hair and make up with the lovely Nakita Harden modelling the dresses.

 

 

I am waiting for the official photos to come along but in the meantime here are a few backstage ones that Missy Vintage took.

 

 

 

 

The idea was to get a few more ideas and looks of how to wear the collection, I have a few more ideas up my sleeve so watch this space for more.

 

By the way - which is your favourite and how would you style it?? Leave a comment and let me know.