Spring Style

Sitting in the office with the sun shining through the window (although it is still only 4* outside!!!), my thoughts turn to outfits for spring days which are hopefully just around the corner - it has been cold for so long that I have forgotten what it feels like to step outside without having to wrap myself in fur to keep warm??

At the beginning of each season I take a little look at what I have already got in my wardrobe and how I can make it work this time around, the advantage vintage is that it is  so classic you can wear it season after season with just a change of accessories - add a scarf at the neck, change the belt on a dress or put mix a skirt with a new blouse or top.

At the moment I am finding that I have quite a lot of dresses and suits - the suits are fine for cooler days but can be a little too formal for everyday wear so my style goal this season is to find a few pieces that are still smart and chic but a little more casual - which is a challenge for me as I don't do dress down well!!

I have a couple of very lovely 50's cotton skirts, a navy pleated 40's one and have my eye on a rather fetching 70's does 40's in one of the vintage shops so what is needed are a few tops so that I can mix and match to create lots of different outfits to take me through the summer months.

So on my wish list are .....

A fitted white shirt - I have been after the "perfect" one for years and never quite found the right one (maybe that is something for The Collection - now there's a thought hmmm???)

A simple cotton dress - similar to Claire McCardel's wrap one that is so easy to wear.

Some little cotton sweaters or cardigans in some bright shades to go with my navy skirt and white Heyday trousers - maybe a little stripe for a classic nautical feel.

 

I actually bought a pair of sandals very similar to these so just need to find the dress now???

 

 

Sweater and pearls - not quite casual but hey ho!!

 

 

The white shirt???

 

 

So what's on your wish list for Spring - don't forget if you need a hand to sort out your own wardrobe you can book a re-vamp - where I will edit and create new outfits from you existing clothes or take you shopping to add a few new pieces to breathe a little life your wardrobe - check out www.fabulousmissk.co.uk for more details.

 

After the storm

It's been a couple of weeks since  the madness of Norwich Fashion Week and the Vintage show with the launch of the collection.

After taking a few days off from total exhaustion and then off for a weekend of fun at Hepcats (sorry no outfit pictures as I bought a new camera to use and forgot to get the memory card so I couldn't take any photos!!!), it was a fantastic weekend with great bands and lovely to meet up with friends and make some new ones too.

Now it is back to the reality of working and trying to get the collection under way - I was totally overwhelmed by the reaction of the launch and the demand has been so great that I need to have them manufactured to fulfil the demand.

I really didn't imagine that so many people would want my little dresses - maybe one or two friends would order one so it will take a while to get things sorted and get the production right.  So over the next couple of weeks I will be visiting factories and fabric shops, talking patterns and finishings - all a little scary but very exciting.

One of the dresses did have a little outing at Hepcats ...........

 

Photo Stephen Plumb

I am also working on changing the logos and stationery for the Fabulous Miss K brand so here  is the new logo........

By Simon Pritchard.

 

 

 

There are very exciting time ahead but rather daunting too but nothing ventured nothing gained and with my mother's strength and inspiration behind me I can't fail!!!

All sytems go at Fabulous HQ

Well the run up to Norwich Fashion Week has started and Abi and I are running around at full speed!!

The Vintage Fair and Fashion Show plans are going well apart from a few hiccups and unforeseen problems we seem to have everything under control.  Models are being booked, vintage sellers are signing up for stands and shops are sorting out fabulous Old Hollywood inspired frocks for the catwalk.

As part of the day we are putting on an amazing - "Vintage A la Mode" - vintage dresses but with a high fashion edge - photographic exhibition featuring the Vintage Norwich finalist in the Best Photographer category and Missy Vintage also a finalist in both hair and make-up and style by me and assisted by Abi.

 

Don't quite know what I was pointing at but a sneak peek of one of the fabulous dresses.

 



 

The Fabulous Miss K collection is coming together, thanks to the amazing Carmen Kennedy, I have samples of two of the classic collection, and the LBD's are very close to finishing, fabric for Spring dress and suit will be ordered at the weekend. 

 

I was interviewed by Emma Harrowing  today for a little feature on the collection and I have heard some rather exciting news sorry but I can't reveal just yet but I will tell you very soon and show pictures too!!!

 

Tickets for the fashion show go on sale very soon and will be available from Retreat Vintage and on this blog.

 

We are also if there wasn't enough to do organising Lanes Night Out on  Saturday 9th March - keep a check on Facebook - Norwich Lanes Weekend for more details and we are proud to be sponsoring the Vintage Fashion Shop category and will be presenting the award to the winning shop at Vintage Norwich Awards on Monday 11th March .

 

So you can see that it is all go at Fabulous HQ - but it is very exciting and I just love being busy!!!



A fabulous treat!!!

This year my lovely hubby is celebrating a BIG birthday so as treat for him (and me too!!) I have booked us in for a night here .......

So now I have to find lots of suitable outfits that I can float around the fabulous Art Deco reception and descend the staircase in style as if I was in an episode of Poirot!!

It is very decadent and expensive but hey you only live once and we would fit in so well in the amazing surroundings it just had to be done!!!

So here are a few ideas of the look I think I would go for

Now I need to see if I can find outfits similar to these or create them from some of the clothes I have in my wardrobe and it might have to be the latter as I have got to save up for the room!!!

So watch this space for outfit updates and purchases and of course the actual stay too!!!

Looking forward ..... Spring wardrobe plans.

The snow is starting to disappear here in Norwich, and we are getting an if not brief glimpse of blue sky again so while we wait for the Spring to arrive why not take a little time to sort out and organise your wardrobe so you can look fabulous when the sun comes out??

The first thing I do when I start thinking about a new season wardrobe is - what look do I want to go for and I gather pictures of styles and clothes I want to wear, being a vintage gal there are lots of fabulous images out there of movie stars and inspiration so this is what is influencing me for the following months.......

 

 

 

 

 

This next thing I do is put the images up the wall of my dressing room or on the wardrobe door and have a little look through my clothes and see what I already have that will work for the style I am going for and then make a little list of items that I need to buy to create the look.

 

 

While I am going through I check if anything needs to be mended or dry cleaned so when the weather gets warmer I am ready to go.

 

 

I already have a few of the pieces to work these looks but one thing I don't seem to have is a slim black skirt so that will have to go on my wish list for this season - I love black and tan together so chic!!

 

 

So get your inspiration going as Spring will be here before we know it and we all want to get out there and look our fabulous best after months of cold and covering up!!!

 

 

 

Ski Bunnies

With the first few flurries of snow here in Norwich and the promise of more to come  a  little post about skiing!!!

I have always thought that I would like to go skiing but it does seem all a bit to energetic for me??? I like the idea of the cute vintage outfits and drinking egg nog by a roaring open fire and a bit off après ski but as I am not a huge winter fan it may not be a good idea.

The fantasy is that you will look like a Bond girl or Audrey Hepburn in Charade.

The reality is a lobster coloured face due to sun burn and panda eyes from the wind and snow blowing in your face???

So maybe booking the holiday to the Swiss Alps will go on hold for another year and  I will make do with watching the snow drift from my window with my own hot toddy, a blanket with a good movie on the TV and here are a few outfits that I would choose if I DID ever book that holiday??!!

 

 

 

 

Keep warm, wrap up  and try to have a little touch of vintage glamour when you venture outdoors or if you are anything like me you will stay inside and watch from a far as much as I can!!!

 

 

 

 

What's happening and a sneaky peak at things to come!!

It's going to be a busy year for me with NFW plans and the launch of the Vintage Inspired collection at the Old Hollywood fashion show and fair at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday 10th March.

I have taken on an assistant - the fabulous Abi Gray who is going to help with all the planning and take a little weight off my shoulders during this exciting time - you can check out her blog and follow our adventures at www.mylemonadelifestyle.blogspot.com.

Days at the moment are spent looking at patterns and tweaking designs, find fabric sources, looking at buttons and zips and booking appointments to see manufacturers.

Along side all of this I am or should I say we are planning the Vintage Fashion Show and Fair for NFW, styling photo shoots and posters to promote the event.

And after a rather productive meeting this morning with www.missyvintageblog.com and Stephen Plumb Photography we have a  new element to the event which if all goes to plan is going to be fabulous - more details to follow when we have something a little more concrete to tell you about??

So just to wet your appetite here is a sneaky look at the shoot we did Old Hollywood Style.