Sheringham 1940's weekend

Last weekend we went to  one of my favourite events of the "vintage season" (if there is such a thing!!)

Sheringham 1940's weekend is the 3rd week in September every year and it is like stepping back in time - the whole town takes part and people come from all over the country to ride steam trains, have picnics and dress in their best 40's outfits.

Although I wear my vintage every day it is not always possible to "really" dress up on a trip to the supermarket so this weekend gives me the chance to wear my fabulous hats and go to town with the outfit.

The weather was glorious and the sun shone so here are my weekend outfits.

 

Suit 40's original -Prim Vintage, 40's hat bought at Twinwoods, and blouse H&M.

Dress original 40's from Mamz'elle Swing Paris, hat Dress Circle Vintage, gloves Retreat Vintage, shoes vintage form Twinwoods and bag Prim Vintage.

 

 

 

I love being able to dress up and wear some fabulous outfits - Autumn is on it's way so more opportunity to wear my suits and hats so watch this space for outfit posts.

Autumn Style

Although I love summer I do adore it when Autumn starts to creep in - the chance to wear my favourite vintage suits, cute hats, matching gloves and a little fur around the collar.  It's those bright, crisp mornings that are chilly enough to need more than a summer frock but not so cold that you need to wear 10 layers to get warm.

You can get more inventive with Autumn outfits and I just love the fabrics - tweeds, wools, felt for hats and the softness of fur, the colours for me are also fabulous - rich browns, deep reds, forest greens and oranges mixed with neutrals in grey and navy.

Each season I put together my little look book with outfit ideas working with what items I already own and a few things that I may have to treat myself to just to update last seasons wardrobe you understand???


This season I am loving greys, and navy as a neutral mixed with peacock blue, rich reds, deep greens and purples.

 

I have a suit just like this, the hat and gloves so now to buy the scarf to finish the outfit off.

Just a few of the outfits I am going to be working this season - what are you planning to wear for Autumn???

Goodbye to Summer frocks and hello Autumn

We have been pretty lucky this year - the sun has shone and I have had a chance to wear some of my lovely summer dresses!! So before I start planning my Autumn wardrobe I thought I would share some of the fabulous outfits I wore this summer. We had lots of events, a trip to Paris and so far 3 weddings to dress up for.

Vintage dress Prim Vintage, fascinator by me and shoes Jimmy Choo.

Vintage dress bought in Paris, Hat Mamie Blue Paris, vintage bag and shoes Lulu Vintage.

 

Vintage dress by Travilla, shoes Jimmy Choo and bag Louis Vuitton.

 

 

Vintage dress - Shazam vintage and hat from vintage stall at Twinwoods (can't remember the name) and shoes Rokit Originals.

It has been so great to see the sun this year as we have had so many miserable ones recently - I love summer but also love Autumn clothes - the chance to wear my vintage suits, fabulous hats, matching gloves and a little bit of fur at the neck so now I will get to plan my outfits for the cooler months ahead.

 

 

 

 

Paris part 3 - Bon appetite!

Paris is full of places to eat - sit down with a coffee or glass of wine and watch the world go by.  You can find everything from a simple salad to a full blown a la carte feast???

Eating and drinking is a national French pastime and the Parisians down tools and enjoy a 2 hour lunch break as opposed to grabbing a soggy sandwich eaten at their desk.

We enjoyed some fabulous food during our stay, put on a few pounds with the rich dishes and wine (well it was probably the wine that did it???) 

With all the walking around stopping off at a café and enjoying an espresso was something we did quite a lot of - by the way it is un-Parisian to drink a café au lait after 11am but if you can't quite take it black a noisette is the chic thing to drink - espresso with a shot of milk!!!

So here is just a few pics to wet your appetite???

A glass of bubbly while waiting to go up to our room.

 

Noisette café.

 

 

Our anniversary dinner at .......

 

 

 

Lunch was usually a simple salad - but delicious!!

 

Spot of people watching with a Kir Royal??

 

Cooling down with a Mojito in our hotel bar.

 

Macaroons for the journey home from

 

 

 

We had a totally fabulous time in Paris - it is one of my favourite places to be and the photos in this picture don't do it justice - you should go see if for yourself,. 

 

Paris part 2 - Gems around every corner??

One of the things I love about Paris is that every where you look there is something fabulous to look at whether it be the architecture, a shop window or flowers growing in window box.

Grand buildings and interesting things pop up where you least expect them, you can't walk around without looking up at the fascinating things around you.

I love wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere or sitting in a café with a glass of wine or coffee.

Here are a few of my favourite images of our visit (didn't take as many as I should have done but it gives me an excuse to go back and find some more fabulous things to photograph??)

A quirky light fitting in a café near to our hotel

 

 

Front doors on a Paris street.

 

 



I want this apartment!!

 

Loved this simple elegant window display.

 

Laduree Bakery Shop window

 

Sacre Coeur - the wedding cake in Montmatre.

 

Tables outside a café

 

Love it!!

 

While we were seating eating dinner one evening they were filming a promotion for Friendly Fishing - watching the guy in the fish trying to walk across the road and avoid the crazy Paris drivers was so funny!!!

 

Hotel staff "dog walking"

 

We spotted Karl Largerfeld shopping for furniture - I didn't manage to snap him in person but spotted him in this window display.

 

Floral window boxes.

 

Decoration on one of the bridges!!

 

The banks of the Seine were turned in to La Plage for summer.

 

 



Hope you like some of my views of Paris - one more post to come - another must do in the City of Lights - food and wine!!!

Paris part 1 - Vintage Heavan

Paris - the centre of fashion and the home of Haute Couture so as part of our recent trip we had to check out what the vintage shops had to offer.

With the help of my vintage guide book (they are quite a few on Amazon so check them out) and our map of Paris - hubby and I ventured out to see what we could find.

Many of the shops are not in the normal tourist areas so quite a lot of seeking out and map reading skills were required!!!

Our first stop was Palais Royal - a covered shopping walk way around a beautiful garden with fountain and flowers - here we discovered Didier Ludot, who deals in vintage Haute Couture - stunning gowns, brocade fabrics, among Chanel Suits and Hermes bags - way out of my price range but it was fabulous to drool.

 

Vintage to die for!!!

 

 

The next shop on my list was Mamz'Elle Swing - full of fabulous 40's and 50's gems in a bright pink shop pumping out swing and R&B music. The owner was lovely bringing out more and more things for me to try and had such a passion for her vintage it was a joy to shop there. I was hot trying things on but I eventually chose -  a beautiful print 40's dress and the cutest little hat complete with veil and flowers.

 

 Mamz'elle Swing outside her bright shop.

Inside the wonderful clothes and painted walls.

 



 

The following day - we hit a completely different area of Paris - 18th arrondissement - Montmartre, the old red light district full of quirky shops and bars. Fuelled by an espresso we headed of in search of more vintage treasures.

 

 

 

Our first stop was not in my guide book but we stumbled across it by accident no 86 Boulevard de Rochechouart  which again was packed with a mixture from all eras but I found another stunning 40's dress ( no doubt all the purchases will feature in up and coming outfit posts very soon).

 

One  of the shops that I did want to visit was Mamie - which was packed from floor to ceiling with everything from hats to sunglasses, jewellery to shoes, men's and women's vintage everywhere!!

 

No purchases for me this time - but the hubby bought a very smart 40's blazer and an original 1940's Hawaiian shirt.

 

 

 

Almost next door was their sister shop Mamie Blue - Bridgette was adorable and has a passion for all things 30's and 40's, with a vast knowledge of her collections. We spent ages chatting - in a mixture of my bad French and her much better English.  She brought out a divine 1930s' straw hat from the back of the shop - one she was possibly saving for herself but let me buy it!!!

 

Mamie Blue!!

 

 

We loved discovering fabulous vintage in the streets of Paris, chatting and sharing our passion with the lovely shop owners and bringing home a little bit of vintage French style!!!





 



 

 



How to get Parisain Chic???

The hubby and I are off to Paris in a few weeks time for a well deserved break so lots of serious outfit planning will be need in the next week or so. I love Paris it is one of my favourite places, just sitting drinking wine and watching the world go by - it is one of the few cities that is OK to stare at how people are dressed.

And I will be doing rather a lot of  people watching because French women seem to look effortless chic whatever the occasion, so what is their secret??

Rule no 1 - buy quality not quantity, you don't see French women's wardrobes bursting full of clothes they never wear, investment pieces are the key.

Rule no 2 - go for classic items - you don't see many new trends in a French wardrobe, they like to dip into the seasons look but work them around their classic pieces.

Rule no 3 - keep it simple French women stay away from fancy frills and fuss favouring clean lines and neutral colours.

Rule 4 - add in some vintage whether it be your grandmothers Hermes Kelly bag or Chanel jacket ( I wish but that's what the French ladies do invest and pass on to the next generation!!!) or something you picked up in the little vintage shop around the corner from your office.

Rule no 5 - accessories, accessories accessories  - a great bag or fabulous pair of shoes, a scarf tied jauntily around the neck or a vintage brooch placed just right.

Rule no 6 - spend a little more on your lingerie, French ladies spend money on their underwear - no basic M&S multi packs or greying bras, go for matching sets in pastel shades or classic black.

Rule no 7 - take your influence from classic French designers - think Chanel, Dior and Givenchy

I've got a few more French flavour posts to come leading up to the visit and then from Paris itself - so watch this space.