On Thursday Liz and I were invited to the Laura Ashley A/W13 Press Day and Archive Exhibition Preview. It takes a lot to get me to London these days but this was something not to be missed, for obvious reasons and others less so - which will become apparent later.

Liz and I have both loved a bit of ‘Lashley’ for a while now and I refer to it in my talks on ‘buying vintage’ as the prime example of a British collectable brand that retains its value. We also sell LA dresses in our regular vintage collections. In honour of the archive collection preview we donned our best vintage pieces and arranged to meet at Victoria station. I was wearing a short 80s skater style dress with a daring low back (rather saucy for Mrs Ashley) and Liz being Liz, of course had a mind-blowingly rare 70s number that featured a  dear print on swathes of blue cotton.

We were rather tickled at the reception bestowed upon our frocks on arrival. Before we even got through the door we had been asked to do numerous shots of us walking into to the venue by the camera men who were recording the event. Cue lots of walking a backwards and forwards up the same steps. When we finally entered (Il Bottacio off Hyde Park no less) we were warmly greeted by the social media team whom we had previously chatted to via twitter. I bought a copy of my book as a gift but it turned out they had it already and were fans which made me feel a bit fluttery, as one does when there is a mutual meeting and appreciation of one’s efforts.

After a beetroot and berry smoothie and a strong coffee I set about examining the new collections with determination (more on why later). I had a chat with their new accessories designer who has been at the company for 6 weeks and we discussed future archive inspired pieces and the vintage girl’s love of the wicker basket bags they bring out each season – both the current tan coloured one and the much coveted white wicker version that came out a few seasons ago. Liz and I both honed in on a delectable plum riding jacket which I promptly decided to try on (probably a press day faux pas). The equestrian theme was carried on in a number of garments featuring horseshoes and even horse heads. The rich plum colours almost made me long for autumn. There were fewer dresses than I had expected but a huge selection of tunics, slim fit trousers and cropped jackets.

We proceeded to have a good gander at the archive collection. Liz rapidly became engrossed in a long conversation with their archivist who looks after the Welsh LA treasure trove…I think she had her eye on Liz’s dress. We had a good look around home wares and we both loved the new geometric print wallpaper and home accessories inspired by a vintage 50s (yes 50s) LA scarf (pictured below). We even bumped into the super hot illustrator Emma Block, who I hadn’t seen since my book launch early last year.

The gathering of ladies in the Home dept. were also quite keen to quiz us on our frocks.  We had a good old chin wag with the design team, the buyers, the PR peeps and the Head of Buying. It was a wonderful opportunity to talk to so many of the current creative force behind LA. We discussed what Liz and I do, who we write for…even our secret project that we have coming up. I then dropped a mini bombshell. I mentioned that, two weeks ago, I started working as a shop girl for…yes, you guessed it, Laura Ashley! I currently work in the Southsea store in the fashion floor and was partly there as a sneaky shop girl spy on strict orders to report back on the new collections. Staff AND writer – a pretty unique position to be in, do you not think? I think it certainly threw them a little.

You may be wondering why I’ve returned to ‘work’? Well for a myriad of reasons, starting with the fact that the shop is a sunny seven minute walk from my house.  More importantly, I am enjoying the return to the ‘front line of fashion’. In my short time as the latest part-time ‘LA gal’, I have met some extraordinary people and it is a joy to have them come back in again and again. I get to share the mixture of exhilaration and relief when the perfect outfit is found for an important life event, or a gift has been found for the person ‘who has it all’. It’s the same kind of satisfaction I got from being a freelance vintage personal shopper, except this time there is more than one size! You are let into the intimate details of a person’s life and then it’s up to you to see how you can help problem solve their dilemmas. I get the feeling that, as a trusted British brand, people expect to find what they need and they rely on us to help them achieve that. I hear about their weddings, families, funerals, first homes and once-in-a-lifetime excursions. I also enjoy hearing their feedback, their likes and dislikes, their views on the new collections and their stories of wearing the brand as children. And of course there is the uniform allowance and the discounts, which are rather generous and certainly not to be sniffed at! Furthermore, I get to assist with visual merchandising, which I very much enjoy. All this is seamlessly held together by a harmonised team of like-minded people who all genuinely care about the customers and pulling together to make the shop a success. It can be exhausting and hard work (ahem, Sale time!) but I don’t take my work home at night and have plenty of time to write.

Importantly, it has actually improved my well being. Although I initially found being on my feet hard, it keeps me active and fit – no need for a gym membership. I enjoy the routine and I get to talk to real people about real clothes, rather than working from home and communicating via the internet. As any freelancer or home work knows, the day can easily become lonely and stagnant. As I explained to the Head of Buying, it’s a life style choice. So there you have it. I’m pretty chuffed to be a LA shop girl and I’m delighted to say I will also be producing a blog for the Laura Ashley website shortly. It’s the perfect combination of the two things I love.

I’ll leave you with a selection of pics from the event and you can read more about the new collections here.

By the end of this summer, it would have been two years since I left the bright lights and hubbub of London, and two years since I returned to my island home town, Portsmouth. Those bright lights were blinding me, causing me all kinds of aches and stresses. I just wanted to sit in the dark for a bit. I came home to the sea and a very different pace of life.

It dawned on me this morning, that since I became a seaside gypsy, I rarely wear make-up or high heels anymore. I have been in heels pretty much every day since I was 13. I loved that elevated feeling, the way my feet arched – I even liked tottering around. My feet weren’t so keen and rebelled. For a long time I couldn’t wear flats; years of said tottering had shortened my plantar fascia and it felt an ice lolly stick was permanently wedged under my arches.

As for make-up, it never really agreed with me in the first place. It used to fall off my face. It was like trying to apply make-up to a waxy lemon. Wearing the amount I wanted turned into blankness in photo shoots. Enough to make me look preened in pictures translated to feeling like a drag queen in real life. Ditching the foundation was easy. The sea air here has done wonders for my skin. Eyeliner, an absolute staple since the early 90s, was gradually phased out. Now I can see the natural shape of my eyes and my freckles.  I do love a slick of mascara and a product like Benetint or Soap & Glory’s Cheekmate (my one has lasted over 2 years) provides a natural rosy glow to lips and cheeks in one tiny dab. I’ve also started drinking Kiki’s Nature’s Living Superfood which is a pricey powder but probably the best thing you could ever put in your body. I’ve since grown a horse-like mane and get ill much less. I also have my natural hair colour for the first time ever. I like it. It matches my eyebrows.

I don’t feel this is ‘letting myself go’ – I’ve never felt more confident since ditching the add-ons. It makes me think that we are wrongly encouraged at a young age to ‘improve ourselves’ when really we should be enjoying what we have. I shudder when I recall almost getting my lips ‘done’ aged 25. There was nothing wrong with them, I just felt it would make me feel ‘perfect’.

I still enjoy dressing up and glamming up. I had my hair and make-up done for Annabel Beeford’s fantastic book launch and I felt tres slinky. I went to a hot rod and custom car show with my new friend Emma last week and I even dug the hair curlers out. I just don’t feel the need to every day.

Hair extensions (had those), fake nails (ditto), fake eyelashes (ditto again) and plastered on make up  are now commonly seen on teens, all day every day. Are we failing our young with this quest for continuous self improvement?

What do you think?

This morning, wet hair – touch of mascara.

If you are a fan of old fashioned bike rides then you most certainly have heard of the Tweed Run. Having experienced it twice I can say it really is one for the bucket list. These days though I prefer a more niche jaunt along the coast. No taxi drivers trying to run over the marshalls, which I have seen in London.

It is with sheer delight therefor that I can announce I will be participating in the Velo Vintage Summer Occasion and Ride in June. On the back of a tandem no less. Velo Vintage is a delightful affair run by father and son team Alistair and Seb Cope, who both attended my book launch last year. I can vouch that they are lovely chaps and cycle pros to boot.

The ride will take us through the coastal resort of Exmouth, in the County of Devonshire. We depart at 11.00 am along a route that will take in a short section of the Jurassic Coast. At midday (ish) there is a surprise! And at 2:00 pm (about) we shall arrive at the very beautiful National Property, A la Ronde for afternoon tea. At 4:00 pm we shall find ourselves back in the centre of Exmouth for, well…..something to pick you up a little and some music.

‘The 3rd Velo Vintage Occasion & Ride is set to be a fabulous day with a record number of registered riders, some fabulous venues and splendid entertainment!’

As if that wasn’t sufficient there are some marvellous prizes to be won.

I will  be judging the Best Dressed Lady and the Best Dressed Gentleman competition, which is being sponsored by Ringtons Tea and an additional prize of a photograph taken in the camera obscura being used by Light-Play.

Chapeau have just come on board to sponsor the best tache for gents and ladies! (ladies can knit, crochet, cut out of cardboard or anything else to join in the fun!)

To celebrate the launch of the Anglo-French cycle route, the Tour de Manche, a luxury hamper of French and English goodies will be awarded to the best dressed dame and the best dressed monsieur (and their bicycles) kitted out in the most “fantastique”French costume!

All this for a contribution of 12 Guineas (£12.60 in new money).  Can you think of anything more delightful to do on a Saturday in June?

PS doesn’t Jeni look fab on her Pashley?

I am delighted to announce that I am part of the Homes and Antiques panel of speakers at the Decorative Living Fair this week. The fair, organised by Caroline Zoob, will be held in the stunning grounds of Eridge Park, just south of Tunbridge Wells (my first visit to Kent). Caroline is a much sought after designer and author of Childhood Treasures (2004). The Handstitched Home is due for publication this year. I am very much looking forward to having a nosey around the stalls as well as dressing my lovely model Kat Zoob. My book will be for sale with the ladies from H&A, or feel free to bring a copy should you wish to have my terrible scrawl across it.

Its my first engagement for quite some time so please be gentle – in fact this is my first bloglette since September last year. I couldn’t even remember my own login. That said please feel free to show me you vintage treasures and I am more than happy to offer any advice as I will be there all day (translation: please talk to me).

Early Bird tickets (9.30am – 5.30pm) £10 Standard tickets ( 11.30am – 5.30pm) £7.50 can be purchased here.

 Hello and welcome to my new (ish) site. So, what’s with all the change huh?

Well nothing and everything.

Nothing because this is still my website which hosts my ramblings and work information. Everything because I’m expanding my horizons beyond the vintage world, something that I have been doing for a while, just now it is official.

The following mantra sums up this change:

‘Don’t do what makes you happy. Be happy with the things you do’

I had some time off this summer for the first time in 5 years. I spent most of it in shorts bombing around Portsmouth on my bike, inhaling the sea air like it was my last chance. I got a tan! I also spent a lot of it feeling quite hollow, and more than a bit lost. I was also severely burnt out post book. So, I did something about it. I moved out of my comfort zone and looked around me. I travelled for the first time in years (New York Baby!). I’m learning to play the drums again. I’ve set up a woman’s culture and education network, the Southsea Sisters. We have a radio show launching next month which makes me feel like Gareth Malone minus the singing as none of us have ever done anything like this before. 

I stripped away my outer aesthetic layer, took a long hard look at what was underneath (scary) and in the process became much more understanding of who and what I am. I reflected and revaluated until answer became clear. I needed a change, and here it is. The outcome? I have never felt more settled and content. And my focus has returned, albeit with a different perspective.

On the aesthetic side I have replaced the photos on my cover page with ones I took this year. They each represent something to me: a happy memory, an important trip or simply where I live. The pink has gone as well. I like pink - a lot, but it had to go.

Yes, I have retired from Personal Shopping! I finish up in October.  I adore dressing women and the satisfaction is immense but I’ve accepted I can’t do and be everything. Sometimes you just have to pick one thing and concentrate on that. If you are looking for a particular vintage item, feel free to ask me on Twitter. Virtual personal shopping for free! Im still doing event styling and you can find me at Mrs Moore’s in November

What really floats my boat is writing, and I’m planning another book. It has always been good, cheap therapy. My blog is indie and has always been a reflection of my life and interests. I’m still going to be talking vintage, glamour and reporting on any unusual goings on that take my fancy, but there will be added travel, beauty (gulp) and lifestyle articles.

Already in the pipeline I have some amazing events which I am going to write about, such as the evening of 50s style that I’ll be hosting at The Times Literature Festival in Cheltenham and I have a pile of fantastic books to review from Craft to Men’s Vintage fashions. I am also starting a new series exploring the links between personal style and identity. My first interview will be with the hair artist, Nina Butkovich-Budden. I can’t wait to share this interview with you. The series will look at fashion and identity in era where we are encouraged to define ourselves by the way we look.

I hope, dear reader, that you will accompany me on this exploration.

Naomi

Bit of an announcement today

Firstly my website will be updated and as such offline from around lunchtime today for about 12 hours.

Secondly I am taking bookings today for personal shopping for the last time. I am retiring! You can book in advance or buy gift vouchers for Christmas but after today I’m not taking on any more new enquiries.

I have enjoyed every single client trip over the last 2 years and I’m staggered at how many people I’ve taken shopping. And I will miss it. More will be explained when my site changes.

Much love

Naomi

Did you all have a nice weekend? I felt like it was the busiest of the year. Goodwood Revival, Southsea Fest, London Fashion Week, Strong Island bike ride and the first ever British Beard and Moustache championship (not that I made it to most of those – just the Southsea Fest and bike ride – both immense but knackering fun). All rounded off by a new series of Downton Abbey. I’m a bit broken today to be honest, so I’m going to keep this blog short and sweet.

To start the new week I’m going to have a competition. The prize: a copy of my book Style Me Vintage, Clothes and two free tickets to the Festival of Vintage which takes place this Sunday at Epsom Racecourse.

I’m looking forward to catching up with Lekeux Events who did hair and make-up at Victorious Vintage. My good friend Liz Tregenza will be there also with her giant collection of Horrockses dresses. We will be judging the best dressed competition, and yes we do accept bribes. I gave a talk at the York festival and the shopping and outfits were outstanding.  It’s up there with Revival in terms of quality.

To win tweet me what you would wear or leave a comment below. Competition ends Wednesday!

Wah! I’ve just been invited to the first London Fashion Week vintage fashion show but I can’t go as im keeping it local and going to the Southsea Fest. I’ve been sucked into coastal living. It’s quite nice.

Here is the low down: Retrospective is an exciting new London Fashion Week show and party that explores the past to predict next season’s trends. Taking place at Bloomsbury Ballroom on Saturday 15^th September 2012, Retrospective will feature catwalk shows exhibiting beautiful one-off pieces from the world’s finest design houses and collections.

Founded by Bourne & Hollingsworth, the creators of the hugely popular Blitz and Prohibition parties Retrospective will be the first event during London Fashion Week to show the cyclical nature of styles and trends, whilst offering the fashion industry the chance to indulge their love of vintage and period design.

Retrospective has teamed up with the best vintage experts in London to create a show that features fashions from the 1920s right through to the 1980s. From shops like Lucy In Disguise, vintage suppliers Peekaboo Vintage and costumiers Violet’s Box, the brands involved in Retrospective are all well respected within the fashion industry and well known in the public consciousness.

Retrospective will be open to the public, allowing ticket holders a glimpse into one of the most exciting events in the capital’s calendar, and offering high fashion for all. The evening begins with a reception of cocktails and canapés. Then guests will be seated to enjoy catwalk shows featuring designs from names such as Mary Quant, Givenchy, Ossie Clark, Chanel and Dior. Mixing gowns, accessories and casual wear from over 50 years of fashion, each look will be selected and styled to reflect the current and future trends being showcased during London Fashion Week.

 After the show, Retrospective will move the party from catwalk to dance floor with a dazzling event that celebrates the finest fashion moments from the last century. With cocktails from Bourne & Hollingsworth, and music courtesy of the finest DJs and bands in London, Retrospective will combine style and spectacle to present a LFW party like no other.

Throughout the party will be a programme of floorshows that captures the key moments in fashion history. Using exciting performers and dancers – from flapper flash mobs to Studio 54 dancers on horseback – Retrospective’s live re-enactments of the most iconic and influential events in the fashion world will amuse, provoke and inspire.

Whether it’s an original Yves Saint Laurent Le Smoking or your Nan’s favourite fur coat, a one off Schiaparelli gown or that amazing prom dress you found from a Hackney charity shop, throw on your finest finds from the last 10 decades and join Retrospective to celebrate the fashion of the past and the future.

Tickets priced at £30 for Cocktail Reception, Show and Party or £20 for Show and Party Only

 Tickets are available through the Retrospective website or by calling 020 7724 1617

                                                                             Reception from 8pm, Show and Party from 9pm

( A design by Briar-Rose Kelleher)

This week sees the launch of Southsea Fashion Week. More of a weekend, but jam packed non the less with local talent showing in some innovative venues, including Portsmouth Cathedral. I catch-up with Creative Director Briar-Rose Kelleher.

The concept of a regional fashion week is a bit of a recent phenomena. Tell me how you came to set up SFW.

Firstly, almost every city in the UK has a fashion week, however big or small. Historically, Southsea has aligned itself with Portsmouth and its Naval heritage, it is only in more recent years with the help of Love Albert Road, Southsea Fest and the regular Boutique markets that the profile has been raised and branched in Arts & culture, but not so much into high fashion. I am a Designer myself, I know how hard it can be to produce and showcase a collection on limited funds, cue SFW which is free to show at.

Do you much contact with the other regional fashion weeks or is this an entirely independent idea/project?

It is entirely independent although it was Brighton Fashion Week that gave me the idea originally. Previously, like many, I had only known of LFW until I was asked to show at Brighton and it brought my attention to others more so.

 LFW is a trade show for buyers and press. How will your fashion week compare to this?

I don’t think another UK based fashion week can ever compare to LFW realistically. What we are trying to do is quite different to LFW; for us it will be picking out the designers fresh out of University who we see potential in and trying to help them on their way. Over the next few years, SFW will aim to become a platform for designers to gain press, recognition and hopefully, a step through the door to LFW.

How receptive have you found designers, press and buyers to the idea of presenting at SFW?

For the first year, what we have to push is that it is the first ever fashion week in Portsmouth. It is new and so naturally some will see it as risqué and others, exciting. Designers and the public have been great, it is refreshing when people are genuinely excited and open to new ideas. Local press have been great too, it is now about pushing that word further to the fashion magazines and bloggers for it to really benefit the designers, models and photographers involved.

How many designers do you have showing?

We have 31 designers showing. There are 16 on the Friday at the Ready to Wear & Demi Couture show and 15 on the Saturday at the Haute Couture & Avant-Garde show. We really wanted to cater for all designers styles to create a fluent yet exciting show.

Ones to watch:

Mai Mai – Ami Lowman will be unveiling a new lingerie collection. I’ve seen a sumptuous bra made out of strands of pearls.

Katie Barret -  lauded by Hilary Alexander for her graduate collection.

 Southsea Fashion Week runs from 24th – 25th August. Tickets are from £13.

Today I thought I would share with you some insight into one of things I do to earn a living: vintage personal shopping. I am going to explain how I got into it, what are the key skills and also explain a little bit about how I personally operate.

So here goes. Like most things I currently do, I am completely self-taught, but with lots of experience. However I didn’t just wake up one day and think ‘I am going to charge people money to dress them in old togs - yes that seems like a cool thing to do’. No, what actually happened is I had the idea when I was thinking of styling work that didn’t involve lugging around large quantities of clothing and kit. After years and years of dressing people at my old flat in London and at events, I realised I had a developed an quick eye for what was going to work on someone (or not). Let me explain more: I used to have rails and rails of vintage clothing and bits of costume that lived pretty much all over my little home in London. I also collected hats, capes, shoes, and headdresses, anything that took my fancy really. I loved bits of old theatrical costume and absolutely pillaged the Angel Costume sale a few years back.  I was also an avid networker and would often invite people over for tea (well gin, actually, thanks to Hendricks who used to send me a drinks’ trolley’s worth each month). As a result of this I would have stylists drop in looking for items for shoots. I had everyone from Dazed and Confused to the Guardian via buyers from Net a Porter looking for dominatrix style pieces. Japanese Madame Figaro came to shoot it and when I had my leaving sale Time Out featured it. Then came the friends who were singers, performers, all looking for that extra special item for a show or music video. I had quite the coterie of now world famous burlesque dancers wanting silk 20′s kimonos for after shows, and smart 50s wiggle suits for walking around town. I also had a list of regular buyers who I would shop for purposefully. What this all boiled down to was an ability to know, at a glance, if something was going to fit or fail. I also got to know with pin point clarity how vintage cuts would sit on the modern woman. Vintage clothing seldom features elastic, and the cuts are very specific so either it will look great or terrible. Combining these skills I could rapidly pluck a dress out of a clients grasp and replace it with a fail safe alternative that would delight rather than depress. This threw up an interesting point: often the stranger the dress looked on the hanger, the better it looked on the person. If I had a pound everytime someone said, ‘ghastly, I don’t even want to try it on’ only to find it fitted like a (posh) glove then I would be typing this from my gin palace in Fiji. Taking all this in hand I thought ‘why not teach people how to shop and buy vintage?’

Once I decided this was a skill I could impart on a professional basis, from beyond the confines of my home I set about deciding the format. It’s is very important to me that following is achieved:

1)      Enjoyment.  A day with me is about having fun and I try and make it as relaxed as possible. For starters I wear vintage in an everyday wearable style, and I tend to turn up dressed quite simply, so as not to create any preconceived perceptions of what I am going to suggest. Only 10% of my clients want an era specific look anyway, and I’m not here to try and make you look like a 40s land girl, unless that is what you are after. This personal style development, not following the crowd.

2)      Education. The truth is vintage shopping or even just shopping for a new style can be a nightmare. During the day I try and impart as much of buying knowledge, as practically as possible so that you can speed learn my skills and come away feeling a little savvier. I also been told that learning about vintage styles and shapes has made high street shopping easier as well.

3)      Value. It is crucial that all my clients find bargains that look great and will last. A garment must tick all the boxes bellow before I make any whiff of a purchase suggestion.

-          It fits, looks great and is a 110% wearable condition. I also look carefully to see how many washes it will last and if I think there are stress points that will shortly give way.

-          The price is right. I have never been in the market of telling people to part with large sums of money just because a dress looks great on them. I value it myself, along the lines of my own criteria and if the price matches what I would pay for it (or less) then great. I actively only encourage a purchase if I believe that the client could resell it for the same price or more.

So who comes shopping? I’ve had everyone from 20 year old Swedish fashion bloggers to ladies in their 60’s. Mothers and daughters, sisters, groups of friends from New Zealand. Interestingly I don’t think I would have predicted how many 50plus ladies would be interested in my services. I am delighted about this as it broke down my preconceptions of who would enjoy wearing vintage. The very best feedback which makes it all worthwhile comes from women who feel like they rediscovered their shape, and what suits them. This is the joy of veering away from trend based high street garments and having the luxury of picking out simply what YOU like. I will never ask a client their age or size beforehand either and people are welcome to bring a friend, chaperone or relative. It’s about feeling comfortable.

People often ask me if I have ever had a nightmare client. The answer is no. That’s not to say I haven’t had some difficult ones. Is it easy? No, it’s extremely exhausting. You have to be 100% on the ball for 6 hours – there is no turning around and saying ‘sorry there is nothing here for you’. I usually feel so drained by the end that I can barely speak. The satisfaction, though, is immense. I am so proud of the testimonials I have. Knowing that you helped someone look and feel special with non high street clothing is quite unique.  I am also passionate about helping people discover their waists. Vintage clothing can seriously enhance a figure and its wonderful seeing women discover their shape. This is part of my secret ploy to reverse the muffin top inducing damage of recent fashions.

I also now consider all the shop keepers my friends. This wasn’t an instant process, and the trust I am now given took a long time to build. You don’t just let anyone walk off with a large armful of precious one off pieces. I wrote a whole chapter in my book on how to get into vintage clothing without damaging it, so I make sure their garments are handles with the utmost care. They now welcome my business, and I in turn am delighted to help support them. They also give my clients extra special love.

Highlights:

-          Taking Jane Garvey shopping for Women’s Hour.

-          Taking a young girl shopping who loved all her new clothes so much that she wore them straight away, and got papped 5 minutes later by legendary Vogue photographer Candice Lake.

What are the key skills:

- patience.

- an ability to size people up very quickly.

- a good knowledge of what is quality vintage and what isn’t.

- an understanding of fabrics.

- a 6th sense that a garment will suit and fit.

- the foresight to see how these garments will work out in their day to day life (this is why we have lunch first)

- good communication skills, and not being afraid of convincing people to step out of their comfort zones.

Top tip: build excellent relationships with your shops. This can result in a whole range of perks from discounts to early opening times.

Shhh. I also do ‘normal’ personal shopping. Its actually A LOT easier as you have a range of sizes, but I am a glutton for a challenge so vintage wins every time

If you have any other questions please ask away in the comments.