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.



 



Cosmo's and Carrie's Wardrobe.

Last Thursday I ran my second vintage workshop at Retreat Vintage - fashion loving ladies packed the tiny shop to sip Cosmos and shop till they dropped.

Joline and I spent weeks watching the episodes and films all in the name of research you understand - what a hard life we lead.

We found lots of fabulous outfits from Carrie's Wardrobe and while ladies listened we talked through her iconic style.

Then numerous outfits had to be tried on and bought!! With Joline and myself on hand for style advice.

"What do think of this one?"

Our Carrie outfit - a customer bought the whole outfit the following day!!

More shopping!!

Cartier no less - Carrie would approve!!

Vivienne Westwood - as seen on one of the episodes.

Cute and sooo Carrie!!

 



We have more workshops planed so for more information and to book on line for the next one visit my website - www.fabulousmissk.co.uk/events for all the details.

Come fly with me - Fashion and Feathers

Last week I went to a talk at Norwich Castle Museum by Ruth Battersby-Tooke - the fashion and textiles curator about their recent exhibition on Birds - you can find out more by following this link -

http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/view/ncc131547

Being a vintage gal I do like a bit of feather and frou frou. Ruth talked about how the feather became popular in the Victorian and Edwardian eras with huge plums and in some cases whole birds in full flight perched on large and extravagant hats. This of course caused considerable controversy and in turn led to the Association for the Protection of Birds (Later RSPB).

Feathers continued to be fashionable into the 20th Century with Hollywood movie stars such as Greta Garbo and Jean Harlow in the 30's; And who could forget that feather dress that Ginger Rogers floated in with Fred Astaire.

The 1970's saw a nod to the Native American Indian with jewellery and headdresses inspired by the traditional costumes.

And recently Galliano and McQueen have brought the feather into the 21st century with very strong influences from past decades.

Throughout fashion history there has always been a feather or two especially in the hat and headdress variety.

Victorian Era Hat

 

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2008 Collection

 

1930's feather fantasy

 

 

40's and 50's feather style

 

Cher circa 1970's

 

More McQueen

 

 Dior

 

Philip Treacy

 



 

 

 

Dressing in Style

It has taken a while but I have finally got my dressing room!! For years my spare room was a dumping ground for all things that we didn't have a place for but with an ever growing vintage clothing collection something had to be done.

The first step was fitted wardrobes the length of the wall, we went with a company called Hammonds who were brilliant - a designer talked us through what we needed and drew up a plan - a few weeks later we had stylish new hanging space - modern with an Art Deco twist.

Then the fun part started - finding all the decorative pieces - I have always wanted a glamorous dressing table and found the perfect on, I have a vast collection of pictures and fashion plates that I have picked up over the years, hats and other accessories that are to pretty to hide in cupboards.

Looking forward to getting ready in my fabulous dressing room.

(Photo Missy Vintage)

 

Just a few of the things I love -

Blue hat and shoes - Retreat Vintage

Beige Picture hat - Shazam Vintage.

(Photos Missy Vintage)

 

Fabric by Villa Roma - from http://www.janerichards.co.uk/, blind and stool covered by

 

 

 

It is still work in progress - I need to find some proper storage my vintage hats and bags, put up a few more pictures but for now I am happy and love getting ready the day in my dressing room.

Three Brides, and a Groom - photo shoot diary.

One of the things I love about my job is that I get to work with some fabulous and talented folk. This Sunday was one of those times.

After the success of Norwich Fashion Week photo shoot at a fantastic venue - The Maids Head hotel right in the centre of the city. I was asked by the new owners to get a team together to provide some images to update their promotional material.

So bright and early on Sunday morning - Missy Vintage, Joe Black and his wife Milda arrived at the hotel to work our magic,
 http://www.missyvintage.co.uk/, http://www.joeblackphotography.com/

Weddings were staged - brides and grooms outfits looked amazing - a couple of guests walking through the hotel offered their congratulations to the happy couple!!

After a short break for lunch - the lovely staff at the hotel treated us to yummy sandwiches and salad - we had already had fizz before noon to get us all into a party mood!!

Back to work for the afternoon this time to shoot afternoon tea - and trust me it wasn't your gentile style??  Cocktails and dinner were next up for the day - along with some heckles from customers in the bar but we are professional we can cope!!!

Then there was the final shot of the day - the selfie of all the team!!!

It was a very long day but all worth it with some fabulous images - I can't wait to see the final results but in the meantime here are a few behind the scenes shots from Missy Vintage.

 

 

Well done to the models - Amy, Beckie, Nina and Jake. To the hotel staff that were fabulous and roped into some of the shots. And the shops that lent us some amazing outfits.

 

http://www.thefrockspot.co.uk/

http://www.proudlockandharry.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/RetreatVintage

http://www.johnlewis.com/our-shops/Norwich

http://www.lovecouture.co.uk/