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!!

 

 





Fashion Week - Vintage Avant Garde

After months of planning with blood sweat and tears fashion week came and went really quickly!! This year I managed to get to many of the fabulous events during the week - you can see all the shows here - http://norwichfashion.co.uk/.

With the help of the totally fabulous Kerry aka http://www.missyvintage.co.uk/ we organised the vintage element of the week.

My original concept was too look at vintage differently - there are always so many images of victory rolls and pin up style looks - don't get me wrong I love that but just wanted to do something a little different so Vintage Avant Garde was born!! A mix of Marie Antoinette with just a touch of Vivienne Westwood!!

This year the venue was the stunning Norwich Puppet Theatre - transformed for the evening with flowers and props hanging from the ceiling!!

It was a long day and the show was a sell out. Here are just a few images of the show.

Back stage - getting ready

Photo Laura Gardener

Zipping up back stage.

Photo Laura Gardener

 

The stage set - picture by talented local artist - Simon Pritchard.

 

Barbara dress in red on the runway.

Photo Julia Holland - www.all-about-image.co.uk

 

Just loved these cool dudes dressed in Wake Up Little Susie

Sexy Ladies in Proudlock and Harry lingerie.

 

The finale of the show was the totally amazing burlesque performer - Natalya Umanska -   http://www.natalyaumanska.co.uk/

 

 

Photo Julia Holland.

 

 

 

I must say a big thank you to all involved -   http://www.sandrareynolds.co.uk/ who organised the models with perfection, all the models, hostesses, photographers who captured the evening, the vintage shops and designers who showcased some stunning outfits and to everyone who came along and enjoyed the event.

 

My thoughts have already turned to next year - it is always hard to come up with new ideas and this show was such a success thanks to all involved it's gonna be difficult but I do love a challenge!!

 

Costume and Textiles Association New Members Tea

On Saturday I ventured into Norwich Castle to a room that is not normally open to the public for the new members tea for The Costume and Textile Association - an independent charity which was set up to promote the unique costume and textile collection of the Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service.

Established in 1989 with a current membership of around 500. They put on events throughout the year - talk. exhibitions and tours around normally unseen areas of the museums in Norfolk.  This year they are planning Great War Fashion (think Mr Selfridge) - a history wardrobe presentation, and as they are celebrating the 80's with an afternoon of nostalgia of there 25 year history.

Until I went along I had no idea that such treasures were tucked away including original Horrocks Dresses along side books, and a wealth of information on the clothes we wore and the textile industry in Norwich.

Two of the stunning dresses they had on display.

 

 

And the cupcakes were good too!!

 

 

I am really excited that I will be working with some of the members to create a window display in the reception of The Maids Head for http://norwichfashion.co.uk/ so make sure that you pop along and check out the display.

 

If you want to find out more information or become a member yourself - and I thoroughly recommend it to get a chance to see all the fabulous costumes and textiles that have - www.ctacostume.org.uk

 



 

 

Fashion Galore - Isabella Blow Exhibtion

My hubby and I had an early start on Saturday as we headed to London to Somerset House to see the Isabella Blow exhibition - it was a collection of her clothes, shoes, and hats.

As a fashion stylist working for Vogue, Tatler and Sunday Times Style Magazine she discovered Alexander McQueen, Philip Treacy - extensive collections from these designers were on show along with many pairs of Manolo Blahniks - fashion heaven!! Many of the other people must have thought me slightly mad when I uncontrollably squealed numerous times on walking around!!

Mannequin after mannequin dressed in the most divine fashions, hats and shoes along side a few of her personal items - her note book with her contacts and ideas in pink ink - my hubby reminded me that when we first met I used to sign everything with pink ink - I'd forgotten that - note to self - buy pink ink!!

 

 

Suitable headwear had to be worn in honour of Issie!!

 

 

We headed to the gift shop and drooled over limited edition fashion books and treated myself to the book to go with the exhibition and the cutest little badges with cartoon images of Issie.

 

 

 

 

After a spot of lunch we made our way to Harvey Nicks - I haven't been there for ages and it used to be my old haunt - hubby and I used to sit and chat all afternoon in the 5th floor bar sipping champagne so we thought we had to visit again for old times sake.  One of the barmen that we knew from our first visit was still there and recognised us which was amazing with the amount of people that go through the door everyday!! It mad us feel quite special.

 

My favourite barman!!

 

 

Tired but inspired we left for home - ideas for NFW 2015 running around in my brain!!!!

 

 

 

 



Style Icons - Stylish Couples

I met my lovely hubby 20 years ago, and this year we celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary so in this day and age we are doing OK!!

With both of us being into vintage and love dressing up we can make a stylish couple when we go out and about so for Valentines Day I thought that I would put together a few of my favourite couples that looked fabulous.

Clarke Cable and Carole Lombard

 

Yves Montard and Simone Signoret

 

Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardener

 

Laurence Olivier and Viviene Leigh

 

 

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall

 

 

These are just some of my favourite couple style icons - I just love the time one men looked like men and women were so glamorous. Have I missed one of yours - let me know??





 

 

 

 

How to guide - lunch with the girls!!

One of the things I love to do is have lunch with my vintage gals so when we meet up for lunch it is a great excuse to dress up and go glam.

We are spoilt in Norwich with so many fabulous places to eat and it is great to sit, sip bubbly and catch up on all the gossip.

 

Having a few go to outfits is always a great idea so you can mix and match - add accessories to dress up and down.

 

 

A simple suit will always work.

 

In this weather a faux (or real depending on your principals) coat is chic and warm!!

 

Or how about a bright winter coat to add some colour to dull days?

 

 

What's your favourite outfit for lunch out with the girls??

 

 



Miss K goes to Court!!

Not for anything I did you understand but I was called for jury duty - not the most convenient timing as I am in the throws of organising Norwich Fashion Week Vintage show as well as re-launching my styling services (more of that to come) but I was interested to see what happens so I went along hoping that I wouldn't get a long drawn out case that lasted for weeks!!

The first few days were spent frustratingly sitting around waiting to be called to a case in bad 70's style room with no daylight but on the Thursday I finally got to see inside the court room to be part of a jury.

The court room again was a bad version of 70's décor - I was hoping for dark wood with a judge sitting high up in  grand room - but at least the judge and the lawyers both wore robes and wigs so I wasn't totally disappointed.

 

 

Of course lots of outfits had to be worn all with a legal, murder mystery theme were in order!! So this is what I wore for my week in court.

 

 

Day One.

Vintage 40's suit, blouse and beret Lulu Vintage.

 

Day two.

Vintage 40's suit - Retreat Vintage, hat 1930's trilby,

Blouse H&M and my hubby's 40's tie.

 

Day three.

Vintage 1940's dress Lulu Vintage and bow tie Retreat Vintage.

 

 

Day four.

Vintage 70's suit from charity shop, vintage Richard Allen scarf and hat from Aladdin's Cave.

 

 

 

The week was very interesting and I enjoyed seeing how the system worked but I am glad that it only lasted a week sitting in one place for hours on end is not my idea of fun and it did make me see how lucky I am to have a job I love that is varied, exciting and was itching to get back too!!