Posh B&B and new hats at Sheringham 1940's weekend

Once a year a small seaside town in transported back in time to the 1940's - it is one of my favourite weekends of the season.

Sheringham is the home of the Poppy Line and we had a fabulous time riding on trains, dancing on the platform and chatting to all the lovely peeps that came along and made such an effort with their outfits.

We stayed in a wonderful and very stylish B&B - No 27 - we had a lovely bedroom, sitting room and wet room with the smallest but very cute loo!!

 

 

 

 

The following morning we tucked into a very filling full English breakfast and fresh coffee - delicious.

 

 

 

 

We had great fun catching up with friends and chatting with people on the platform - everyone always make such an effort with dressing up and the town shops all take part too.

 

 

Saturday Night dance with my lovely hubby on the decks.

 

1940's jacket Shazam vintage, skirt from a suit from Prim Vintage, 40's hat and shoes.

Gloves from Retreat Vintage.

Vintage suit Shazam vintage, 40s hat Retreat Vintage (that was one of the  new hats!!)

Shoes Rocket Originals and gloves Retreat Vintage.

Vintage suit and blouse Shazam Vintage and another new hat bought from the

stalls at Holt the previous day!!

 

 

 

 

And I spotted three ladies looking fabulous in the Barbara dresses.

My forgotten passion - I love FASHION!!

I have been wearing vintage since I was around 14 I used to jump at the chance to help my mum out at jumble sales so I could have first dibs - my main aim was re-create the styles of the movie stars I loved and not look the same as anyone else.

Around about 18 I took out a subscription to Vogue - earning my own money meant that I could; previous to this I would spend my pocket money - running to the newsagents every month to get my copy and then rush home to devour it's glossy pages - I adored everything from the designer adverts to fashion spreads created by the interpreters of style. Still wearing vintage I took inspiration from its pages for my own wardrobe.

Working in the industry was all I wanted to do and I am lucky that I have had the opportunity to follow my dream.

Over the years the "vintage scene" has taken over - don't get me wrong I love the events, my 40's style and my love for Old Hollywood movies will never die but I have recently been thinking that I miss fashion. I have never been or will never be a slave to the trends but the buzz I used to get when the new season looks appeared in the pages of the magazines I used drool over, analysing ways the outfits were put together and how I would adapt it to my style.

My personal style has developed over time - I found what suits me and how clothes whether it be high street, vintage or designer can allow me to be whoever  I want  everyday - I may want to channel classic Audrey in a LBD for a cocktail party, masculine Kate Hepburn for a meeting or Carrie for lunch with the girls.

A guest post that I wrote for Missy Vintage sums up my way of thinking and although I know that many vintage peeps didn't like This Old Thing - I like the fact that "non vintage" wearers were encouraged to step out of their comfort zone of the high street was a great idea and getting people to love vintage can't be bad in my book.

Working with my personal shopping clients I have always mixed vintage with high street and designer - vintage in my mind is for EVERYONE and should be worn EVERYDAY not just as part of a "retro" lifestyle.

With that in mind I will be posting regular features on how to add a touch of vintage to your everyday wardrobe, sharing my tips and hints on styling a modern or runway look without the price tag - nothing is new in fashion, designers constantly steal from the past so what better way to shop the seasons with the original inspiration.

Spring/Summer trends

 

Straight out of the 70's from Gucci

 

 

My next workshop with Retreat Vintage is all about shopping the trends - Fashion Forward - Vintage Workshop and you can book on line here.

 

 

There you go my name is Fabulous Miss K and I am a fashion addict!!?? I get excited again when the "fashion" issue of Vogue comes out in September with the new seasons adverts and trends I am once again pouring of the glossy pages and thinking how I can take the elements I love to create a unique look.

 

 

Would love to hear what you think - can I do both???



 

Not murder but magic on the Orient Express

This Saturday was a dream come true for me - I have always loved train travel - the romance and the mystery of where people are going and meeting, I am of course talking about the good old days of porters and carriages with proper seats.

For my 50th and our wedding anniversary we had booked lunch on The British Pullman something I had wanted to do my whole life - it almost didn't happen the Saturday before we had a car crash on the way to an event and I spent a few days in hospital nursing fractured ribs but nothing was going to stop me going on this trip so armed with pain killers and my leg in a surgical bandage we headed of to London to pick up the train.

Walking or should I say hobbling along platform No 2 at Victoria we arrived at the check in

 

We were allocated our carriage - Audrey - built as a first class kitchen car in 1932 making her debut on New Year's day 1933 as part of the first all electric Pullman train. She then spent nearly 40 years of service as part of the Brighton Belle - this was fabulous to know as the Brighton Belle was the train that my father used to take when courting my mum, traveling from London to Brighton at the weekends.

Just a short wait and then the iconic train pulled into the station and my heart skipped a beat - the carriages slowing coming to a stop so we could get on board.

 

Hat - Shazam Vintage, 1940's vintage dress - Paris, gloves - Retreat vintage and shoes Rocket Original. (Surgical stocking courtesy of the NHS!!)

 

 

Once we were seated champagne was served in the most beautiful crystal glasses and the train gently pulled out for the start of our journey.

 

 

 

As we travelled through the Kent countryside fabulous food kept coming and wine glass was refilled as if by magic, stewards effortlessly served our lunch and how they managed to serve soup from a terrine on a moving train I will never know!!

 



 

The food was delicious and the service was fabulous. After a couple of hours the train manager informed us that we would be arriving at Winstable shortly for a short stop with champagne and oysters served on the platform.

 

 

The trip was everything I imagined and then some. I didn't do much running around carriages as I wanted but didn't want to hurt my ribs anymore so here are a here are just a few more fabulous pictures of the carriage.

 

 

Sadly we all to soon arrived back at Victoria Station and our journey was at an end. Leaving the old fashioned style behind us we vowed to return one day and maybe just maybe do the ultimate Paris to Venice.



 



Hep Cats Holiday - the season begins!

Being a vintage lover there are tons of events throughout the year that I love to go to, dress up, dance and see great bands.

This weekend the season kicks off with one of my favourite events of the year Hep Cats - hundreds of vintage guys and gals from all over the world take over a holiday camp to have a jolly time -    http://hepcatsholiday.com/page7.html.

It is fantastic place to meet up with friends, some that I see on a regular basis and others that I only manage to catch up with at events like this.

After settling into our chalet I took a wander around the campsite. Accidently (not really!!) I found the vintage shopping market and just had to take a little look - well it would be rude not to!!

Dress Circle and Shazam vintage stalls sell the most fabulous 40's and 50's clothes - I always manage to find a few things to part me from my cash and this time was no exception - expect new outfit posts when I wear my new purchases out and about soon!!

Friday night and the party started with bands and DJ's, cocktails and dancing. I wore one of my favourite dresses that my hubby bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago,

 

 

Saturday morning and I had to check out the market again and then it was a time to catch up with some friends and a few more bands.

 

I love this suit - vintage 40's suit bought on Ebay, blouse and shoes from Dress Circle Vintage (last year's purchases) and hat from 1940's for You.

 

 

In the evening we had a few friends over for cocktails in the chalet - I always travel with portable cocktail cabinet - a vintage suitcase, filled with glasses, and booze!!

 

The theme was Hollywood so I wore my latest purchase from Lulu Vintage - a long 1930's gown and the fascinator that I made myself and finished off with black gloves to add a bit of glamour.

 

 

 

Sunday's outfit was the Barbara dress from the collection - this is the best seller with very few left to buy so if you want to have your very own you can buy one here - www.fabulousmissk.co.uk.

 

Head scarf from Prim Vintage and the best way to look chic even when you have your curlers in or having a bad hair day!!

 



 

 

 

Sunday night was the night that I waiting for a chance to see one of the best swing bands around at the moment - Emanuele Urso    -   http://www.emanueleurso.it/  - playing swing in the style of Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa - if you get an opportunity to see this band do not miss it they will take your breath away!!

 

 

 

 

Back home it always feels a little strange to see people walking around in normal clothing when you have been used to "living" in the past for a weekend but there are so many more events to look forward to this year - you can check out where I will be and selling some of the collection to on my web site -    http://www.fabulousmissk.co.uk/#!events/cp4r - so see you out and about soon!!

 

 





Looking forward to Spring

Although it's a bit chilly the sun is shining and my thoughts turn to the outfits I can wear when the weather gets warmer and I can leave the winter coat at home.

I am feeling a whole 1930's vibe at the moment and with my "big" birthday celebrations this year there will be some fabulous occasions to try them out.

Finding original 1930's suits is pretty difficult so I will be adapting some of my 40's ones - the style didn't change that much until later when Dior's New Look came in 1947 so I think that I can get away with it.  Last week I had a couple of good charity shop finds though - a cute 70's jacket and cream beret that will look very 30's when styled with the right hair and accessories.

Along with that I think that I may have to invest in a 1930's suit pattern to create some of my own suits as I have lots of ideas of colour combinations and styles I want to recreate. Being a designer I love searching fabrics, looking at trims, buttons and seeing how I can put patterns and styles together.

On my travels I am going to be on the look out for ribbon, feathers and scarves to tie around hats to tone in with my neutral basics.

So here is "look book" for Spring and I am looking forward to finding similar pieces to create the outfits for the warmer days.

 

 

 

 

 

The elegance and chicness of these outfits are so amazing I would die to get my hands on the originals but alas I will have to get the sewing machine out to create my own I think.

 

Watch out for Spring outfit posts to see how I get on. In the meantime what is on your wish list for this Spring??

 

 

A year in outfits!!

It's been an eventful year with the launch of my collection, weddings, vintage events, celebrating my lovely hubby's 50th Birthday in Claridges and Paris. So lots of outfits have been worn so here to end are just a few of my favourites.

Wedding no 1 - vintage 40's dress and hat bought at Hepcats.

Wedding no 2 - vintage dress Prim vintage, shoes Jimmy Choo and fascinator made by me.

 

Wedding no 3 - vintage dress Travilla, shoes Jimmy Choo, bag Louis Vuitton.

 

Cheers to Paris!! Trousers Sandra's sewing, 40's blouse Lulu's vintage and shoes Rocket Revival.

 

Sheringham weekend - dress Mamz'elle Swing, hat and shoes Twinwoods, gloves Retreat Vintage.

Sheringham - suit Prim Vintage, hat Twinwoods and blouse H&M

 

95th Bomb Group softball game and picnic.

Hat Paris, vintage jacket Ruby Tuesday, and 70's skirt Retreat Vintage.

 

Winsor Bishop Christmas party.

Fur cape and hat Lulu's vintage, suit Prim Vintage, gloves Retreat Vintage and shoes Bowhill and Elliot.

 

 

The collection got a few outings too this year below Barbara in navy and white stripe at Bo Nanafana and Charlie in bottle green at Old Buckenham 40's weekend.

 



 

 

 

I have had such fun this year at all the events and with even more planned for the coming year including the fact that I have my 50th birthday so more outfits need to be planned!!!