You may remember my post on Portsmouth and how it inspires me, and here is part two of sorts. This weekend I spent a day back in my old hood: Hackney. Prior to my descent to the coast I was a firm Hackneyite. I lived in London Fields and Mare Street. I managed to dodge any appearances on Being A Dickhead’s Cool, Hackney Hipster Hate or Vice’s Do’s and Don’ts probably by the skin of my teeth, and frankly there were times when I deserved to be in there. That said, whilst I was there I loved it, and I’m not ashamed to say that – it gave me a million opportunities and I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t spent most of my mid to late 20′s living near the Murder Mile.  Ever wanted to be in Grazia Style Hunter? – just take yourself off to Broadway Market on a Saturday. Drink with Kelly Ozbourne? (BTW she sounds just like her mum and I’m sure she bats for the other side secretly) – all perfectly feasible at the T*at and Mutton, a pub so wanky you would only get served if the staff liked the look of you. It was great for a while, but at some point, thankfully, you grow out of it and either you move elsewhere. Like Clapton, Stokie or in my case Portsmouth.

I had the chance to return as I was in town for the launch of Cate Sevilla’s excellent new weekly on-line TV show Pop Hive (first episode features VS fav’s The Broken Hearts – check it out now!) and happened to be staying with my friend and digital overlord Patrick Hussey. Patrick, when he is not being summoned by the Minister for Culture, lives in a rather splendid Art Deco building. The Strand building was built as ‘Hackney Electricity Demonstration Halls & Offices’ in 1925 and designed by J A Bowden. It was converted in 1995 into flats featuring a roof garden. A few metres down the road we decided to take a gander at St John at Hackney. A church has been on the site since Tudor times. The little house with the red doors has been a public mortuary for over 100 years. This area is just steeped in history. I also took a few snaps of the shellfish vendor by Hackney Central Station. One of the last remains of  proper Cockney right there. In the same vein as my Portsmouth post, all these pictures were taken in a 200m radius, with my iPhone. I bloody love the diversity of this area of London. Its one of the few places in the world where truly ‘anything goes’. I even miss the Hipsters.

Here is an interview I did with the lovely Sadie of Vintage News. I think its sums me up pretty well.

Things to apologise for: I say ‘you know’ far too much. And the claw is attributed to years of living in France, where you learn to speak with your hands before you do with your mouth. Boff!

I also mention our next Ric Rac club – more details can be found here and here. It’s going to be amazing.

This is an unbelievably overdue blog that I have been sitting on for while. I’m sorry, I’m just not a daily run-to-my-computer, kind of writer. I just don’t have the discipline. And as good as my intentions are, life, projects and dramas all tend to crop up at short notice in my life. Anyway I digress! A few months ago I was invited to the launch of Soap and Glory’s new cosmetic range. I rarely tend to go to such things (see above) but I had heard good things about the brand from Fleur and Jeni, so off we went on a mini-mafia outing out West.

Here we are immortalised in Polaroid (which I may have stolen from Fleur’s blog of the same event)

So before I proceed, let me tell you a little story about make-up and my face. They just don’t like each other. One of two things tend to happen. 1) I can put on more make-up than your average drag queen, yet when photographed, I look like I have no features at all 2) it then tends to slide off, sink in completely or run away. Once, I tried a primer in a vain attempt to make it stay and ended up nothing more than a white moustache and little gumballs of foundation all over my face. Either way my face and make up don’t get on, which is why I am generally the least polished of the mafiahood.

I tried most of their products and here are the ones that I would recommend. If these can do anything for me then the odds are they will be amazing on everyone else with a normal, well behaving face.

SHOW GOOD FACE RRP £11 – this foundation is lovely and smooth to apply, and just sits nicely on the skin, like a quiet child. Lightweight and silky, it provides a flawless cover without feeling caked on. Best of all the added primer does the trick without giving me the aforementioned milk ‘tash.

CHEEK MATE RRP £8 – This is amazing value for money. You just need a tiny dab for a lovely sheer natural glow. I think this  would work equally on tanned skin as on a vintage pallor. Make sure you a) blend in quickly before it dries b) wash your hands straight after unless you want rosy digits.

GLOW ALL OUT RRP £11 – Now it is often said that vintage girls don’t do ‘glow’ but I say sod that. This provides a light shimmer which I find gives a youthful touch to a look that can otherwise make your skin look, frankly, a bit dull.

LID STUFF RRP £10 – this is a great ‘vintage’ staple.  I have this palette in ‘whats nude’. These shadows don’t crease which is a god send and the aforementioned version includes all the nudey-beiges that you need for a good 40′s eye. I also use the darkest brown to shape my eyebrows.

The range can be found in Boots or online.

Now, time for a giggle

I like it when modern styling doesn’t really have a ‘style’, it just looks different and pretty. Innovative. That excites my brain. I like art that I don’t quite understand at first because my grey matter hasn’t processed it before. Yes there is a large dollop of vintage in here but I love how fresh Mia Wasikowska looks in these Miu Miu ads. Contemporary Heritage.

I have 3 important writing projects to complete today. Except I can’t as I am completely entranced by this Kodak test film from 1922. You can read more about the techie stuff here

Look at those gently fluttering eyelashes. And the bit where the child jumps in and tickles her chin – that actually made me squeal out loud. I want someone to come and tickle my chin. Beautiful but terribly eerie to think these women are now long gone. Though the child,  maybe not.

Clothing wise the hats are starting to veer away from the huge floral affairs of the previous decade towards the cloche but the ethereal Edwardian influences are still very visible. The 20′s flapper look didn’t arrive till the mid to later half of the decade.

….and back to work.

Some of you may know that after 7 years of being a dedicated Londoner (I even walk like a one, you know that pace? And the look that says ‘no, YOU will move out of the way first, lesser being!’), I am now a born-again Portsmouth dweller. I say born-again in a humorous reference to years of vowing never to live there again. Many summer holidays and one solitary post-university year were quite enough, thank you. However I saw the light (*that light being a the glaring beacon that is a flat on the seafront right by the train to London) AND I refuse to pay 40% more rent this year in Hackney. Who ever said the Olympics would be a good thing for East Londoners needs to be shot. Was it you Boris? I know at least two people who have lost their homes due to rent increases. I also wanted to spend more time with my beloved Grandmothers. God, I love those women too much.

Oh, how things can change.

It turns out that my home town (Pompey born to Pompey parents, bred in Paris darlings) has also provided me with a lot of inspiration. It’s not rocket science: its a fascinating place from a historical point of view and I like old things. This is one side of Old Portsmouth. I took these pictures on my iphone, I hasten to add, to share with you why it inspires me. If I feel at a loose end I simply trot out to the sea front. Its equally therapeutic during a storm or rainy day. On days of particularly dramatic emotion, I have been known to entertain a bored mind (mine) by standing on a windy rampart in a blue velvet Victorian frock coat, looking wistfully out to sea a la *ahem* Fanny Price….(part of Mansfield Park was filmed in Old Portsmouth). I still spend half my time in London – don’t withhold those events invites, have travel card, will travel – but the rest of the time: bliss.

All of these pictures were taken in a 200 yard radius of my flat. Take note friends who have promised to visit! I adjusted the contrast slightly on a few, but as anyone who knows me can attest, I have no photography/photoshop skills what so ever. Nor where they taken on any fancy Hipstamatic app. The light between 2.30 and 4.00 pm today was just magical. One of those days that turns everything into a painting.

Lady-like behaviour at the Ric Rac club, of course. Photo: Hanson Leatherby.

Good morning everyone.  It’s a lovely, mild sunny day here in Old Portsmouth, and as ever I am feeling very inspired by the view from my office (read ‘kitchen table’). There is something about watching the slow transit of submarines, container ships, war vessels and car ferries go by that I find very stimulating. Combined with the mild weather this winter, I have jumped the gun and decided to think ‘Spring’ already.  For me January is all about getting the House of Vintage Secret in order (read tax return *sigh*) and planning a very special Ric Rac club on the 18^th of February. More of this will be revealed soon here, as I know many of you have been asking us when we will do the next one.

It’s now 22 days until publication of Style Me Vintage Clothes. And my website has a lovely new page all about it. You can also find out more and read my ‘manifesto’ and views on dressing via the first tab on my landing page which will also take you straight to it ( have many of you seen the lovely front page on my site?). There is still the pre sale price on Amazon, so hurry!

Fashion Plate from Le Petit Poulailler

To celebrate all this change and my premature declaration on Spring I have decided to have a sale. To help you get in the mood for change I am offering 5 personal shopping days for one £95 (normally £ 145) including a light lunch and a free copy of my book.  Bookings are can be made for a specific day (subject to availability) or can be purchased as a gift voucher, to be booked at a later date (this is also subject to availability, though I always find a date that suits everyone!). As I said, I am limiting this to 5 bookings and the sale ends this Friday. You only need to pay a £40 to secure the booking. I am very, very proud of my testimonials so please take a peek if you need any further insight.

That may be a bit of a dramatic statement considering it’s never going to love me back, like a friend or even maybe a small dog. I do know that every time I watch this it makes my heart fill with the kind of happiness that comes with wearing a really excellent vintage outfit and not giving a damn about what anyone else thinks. Because in my head, I look awesome, and that is all that matters. Why do we not have more women like this in fashion? We need people to promote the idea that dressing is a personal choice and pleasure, not a chore, not an obligation, and certainly not something to get upset over.  Ladies, choose your own style and wear it with pride. As these Grandes Dames demonstrate, your confidence will shine through. Don’t let someone ‘yuck your yum’. These women have grown fashion balls of steel and I love them for it.

This is a taster of a documentary that comes out this year (some reports say spring, others summer) by Ari Cohen and Lithuanin born video maker  Lina Plioplyte.

I have been very much cheered by all the positivity I have noticed seeping out of the web for dear, young 2012. It seems to be the year where everyone is determined to put their best foot forward.

I’m sure the start of 2011 wasn’t this cockle warming. Or maybe that was because the Twitter addiction had yet to kick in and a third of my life didn’t revolve around following yours.  Anyway, I am delighted you all feel so positive.

What’s this babble? Where has the vintage gone? Well one of the things I want to do this year is write more ‘personal’ blogs.  It’s my website, I don’t write for advertising or traffic or stats. So here goes nothing. I promise I will keep it to once a month. It’s cheaper than therapy. So nah!

Things I have to be grateful for, so thank you world:

The best friends ever, who love me just as I am. You know who you are.

A Twitter following full of lovely, encouraging people (Seriously I am very grateful for it, it has answered no end of questions and provided me with a raft of new friends, see below).

A brand spanking new decade to fill with achievements, I hope. I’m finally embracing being 27 +3.

A barmy but supportive family, including a fellow blogger.

For the first time, this year I have some great professional support. If you are in need of a literary agent, accountant or PR company I know some great professionals to recommend.

It never ceases to amaze me how many lovely, interesting and creative people I get to meet and from friendships with. Real ones. That last. Even after they have seen me drunk.

New people I met in the flesh in 2011 that I want to see a lot more of in 2012. They are all well worth a click.

The Bright Young Twins

Liz Trezenga

Sophie Van Der Goltz

Annie Andrews

Hanson Leatheby

Becky Horsbrugh

Annie Pancake

Charly Surry

Cathy Stevens

Sandra Lohmann Newall

Simone Hadfield

Bex Shaw

Tara Starlet

Aunty Maureen

Alice Gabb

Lily La Scala

Emma Block

What do I want to achieve/do/be in 2012?

Some sort of project to encourage people to dress how they want, and not feel bullied by fashion or society. *Thinks hard* *develops squint*.

I want to do some proper thinking  (see above), and write about more in-depth issues. I may have a rather special new platform for this. Once I get my first article done, I can tell you more. It’s very exciting and reminds me that I can be analytical. Not just overexcitable.

I want to get geeky in a tech way so more reading this, me thinks. I’ve owned an iPhone for two years. I have just downloaded my first app. Like last week. Cringe.

If I say it here, I have to do it….I am going to do a weekly round up of the best vintage/repro/vintage style bargains on the web. On that note if you are looking for something, let me know. I enjoy a challenge. On that note take two, if you are a seller, tell me about your business. I am, after all, a shopping addict projecting my illness on others

I am going to make time for volunteering. Seriously, I have been meaning to call Age Concern for about 5 months now to do this. I love old things, and that includes people. Yes, I am busy but I will make time.

I am going to get properly healthy. No more running around fuelled by adrenaline, thank you. Even if it is just 30 minutes walking each day. I live on the coast for crying out loud.

I am going to learn to drive. Something small and safe.

I am going to shop better for myself. I reckon I have one year left of floral 50’s dresses so it’s time to invest in some tailoring.

I am going to be more selective with who I spend my time with and not waste in people who just want something from me. I am still going to network like crazy.

Most of all I am going to learn the art of  patience.

Views, opinions and shopping plugs all welcome. Happy 2012 people x

So here is my round-up of the year, mainly in pictures. Any good ones where taken by the very talented Hanson Leatherby.  I am more or less doing this to see if I can actually remember what happened FOR A WHOLE YEAR.

2011 got off to the worst possible start.  Ever.  Period. I spent Jan 1^st crying like I have never cried before. Out of respect for everyone involved that’s all I will divulge. My blog isn’t really the place for it.  Hence Jan has been left off the list. I guess the only good thing about that is that from then on it only got better really.  And how could it not.

Before I go through the months here are a few things I want to share with you. I met some amazing people. Like Liz Trezenga. If you like vintage, you should read her blog. I started writing a lot more for Homes and Antiques.  This made me very happy. It’s a great mag. Somewhere along the way I filmed 6 TV shows. I loved talking vintage and careers to the Cardiff University Fashion Soc, Mia and Alex thank you for such a warm welcome, you girls rocked – more gigs like that next year please. A few of my friends wrote and published books, notably Angel Adoree’s masterpiece.  If I had a picture of her launch it would be below . So what does next year hold?  Well who knows frankly? I could have never imagined the events good or bad of last year. Especially not making this.

February

Matty and Fay (aka the best dancers and nicest people in the world TM) got married and had the most fun wedding on earth. The bar was set high for everyone else.

March

I had a good old fashioned girly holiday with my besties in France, at my Mamu’s house.  Apart from scaring the locals (it serves them right for tugging Bethy’s hair and asking if it was a wig) it was mainly just a lot of silly fun. It all got a bit mental towards the end. Other times it got all a bit Mallory Towers.  As you can see here…

April

First ever Tweed Run. I was instantly hooked.

I also had this cheeky picture taken by Rockabetty studios, thank you Lex!

May

A relatively quiet month. I went ginger. We drank lots of tea at The Vintage Emporium. It’s the best shop in the world, dont’cha know.

Oh and I filmed a segment for the One Show. Here is a bad TV still of me berating a French man. At the Vintage Emporium. Again (Olly and Jess, thank you so much for letting us make 3 TV programs in your lovely shop, we love you).

June

Swing for Skin organised by Mel to raise money for DebRa. Bad days are banished when I think about how much she achieves despite being in constant pain. That is inspiration for you. With Gemma Seager, Jennifer Siggs, Hanson Leatherby and everyone’s favourite Aunty, Maureen.

We also launched the Vintage Mafia Sale and Social. The idea is a simple one: we, plus special monthly guests, flog our vintage at bargain prices. Then we get drunk. Simples. Below is the ever gorgeous Gemma and our friend Lena from The Vintage Guide to London. We are lucky to have Miss Minna as a staple.

Bethan, Fleur and Torquil had a joint birthday party. Here are the old buggers.

July

My cousin Laura (now Lee) got hitched to Patrick. For some god-unknown reason I was a bridesmaid . You can see more of her lovely 60′s wedding here.

Possibly the highlight of my year. The annual Chap Olympiad. Not only did team Mafia compete (in matching dresses from Heyday). I also won the Silver Cravat, which I think was fair compensation for having to ride an ironing board.

 September

We launched the Ric Rac Club. It rocked. The Bright Young Twins made us feel old

Time Out dubed us the Cosy Nostra and asked for our going out secrets.

October

I became a ‘party basic’. The ever talented Mrs (Polly) Betton’s book came out. Its on how to throw the best parties in the world and can be purchased here.

With Fleur, Amy and Patrick, aka the Vintage Styling Dream Team. We worked on an episode of a very famous, business orientated TV program which culminated with Fleur and I being filmed dancing.  Airs next March. My dancing was baaaaad. And not in a good way. Note to self for 2012: Learn how to dance.

November

Second Tweed Run of the year, this time as a guest of Ralph Lauren Rugby. Thank you Pencil Agency!

December 

I turned 30. I cried, and was sick for a week. Here are some of my friends looking glam. I look like someone who has just thrown-up a number of times, which I had. Massive thanks to Min and Torquil for providing me with a ready made birthday party.

Wishing everyone a happy 2012 xx