Volupté

Never ever in my student lifetime will I ever be able to afford to visit Volupté but I often like go on the website and pretend I have loads of money and can afford to go.

Volupté  embraces all things vintage and beautiful, it describes itself as 'the most decadent little supper club in town, with burlesque shows, great food and cocktails' and it's hard to argue, with DJ set's, a restaurant with a very sophisticated menu, tea parties, cabaret, burlesque performances, live bands and most importantly an extensive cocktail menu, all oozing glamour with a pinch of mischief.
The website does a lot better job of selling itself than I do.

Pictures from the Volupte gallery

Calling all London based Vintage Fanatics!

Vintage fashion has had a big chunk of my heart ever since I was 13 and bought my first Vintage dress - a Victorian night gown. I never wore it out because one of the meanest girls in school (whom, may I point out left much to be desired in the wardrobe department) told me I looked like a grandma, which is something I'm used to hearing now but was not ready to accept at the beginning of my teenage years. 

It could also stem from years of hand me downs, there was nothing more exciting than receiving a bag of new clothes the cool girls down the road had outgrown, although the majority of it was tat and involved bullying my little brother into wearing it resulting in his overtly macho self in present day.

I love the way Vintage has evolved in recent years, mixed with newer or self made pieces these old garments get a breath of new life BUT for me there's always something more wonderful about a girl throwing on a 50's dress with the perfect pin curls and scarlet lips as if she just stepped out from the era itself. 

On the 29th to the 31st of July Vintage will take over London's Southbank in the form of 'Vintage by Hemmingway', a festival arranged by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway celebrating everything from the 1920's through to the 1980's in the forms of film, fashion, music and culture. Last year brought gigs that catered for all sorts of musical tastes, from soul to disco, a sock hop, best in show, vintage art and my personal favourite, a roller disco!
for more information and tickets click here!


Here's a taster from last year!

Pictures from http://www.vintagebyhemingway.co.uk/downloads/pdf/vintageatgoodwood.pdf

Ingrid will make a wonderful wife

I've lived with Ingrid now for nearly 9 months, she's literally insane and always has a story to tell. Strong willed, intelligent, beautiful and multi skilled, from modelling to arranging charity gigs and tea parties to baking to preparing picnics for rendezvous, to me she is the perfect woman. Don't let it fool you, she belches like nothing you have ever heard before! 

(picture from http://londelhifashion.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/as-new-as-vintage-oxymoron/)

Name:Ingrid Aukrust Rones

Occupation:Student

Dream occupation:Muse

What first drew you towards the pin up style?The red lips and the models' confidence in their lovely, healthy bodies.

What's you favourite era for dress?
I love the doll-like beauty of the Roaring Twenties, the elegance and simplicity of the 60s and the 1950s figure.

Who are you style icons?
Grace Kelly - Because she always looked graceful, and because her style was consistent without being boring or old-fashioned.

Joan Harris (neé Holloway) - Yes, this is a fictional character from Mad Men. She's so confident and sexy, but at the same time sensitive. She's ambitious and professional, and dresses extremely well according to her gorgeous body.

Then there's Angelina Jolie's character Elise in the new film 'the tourist', dressed by Colleen Atwood. And, of course, the casual, laid-back elegance of Humphrey Bogart.

what's your perfect day out?
When I have the time to spend embarrassingly long doing my make-up, then walk around London watching all the inspiring people and discover new places and cafés.

And your perfect day in?Alone in bed with great films and food easily accessible from the bed.

Do you have a party trick?
I accept all challenges.

If you were a burlesque dancer what would your name be?
Miss Scarlet

Favourite film?
I just saw the King's Speech, and fell in love.

Favourite band/artist?
I have many, but if there is one record everyone should hear it's a recording of Vivaldi's Gloria with Nidarosdomens Pikekor (it's on Spotify).

Favourite place?
I have so many!

Favourite person?
I'm a tiny bit in love with Obama.

If you could bring back three people from the dead for a tea party who would they be and why?
I'd like to hear how Oscar Wilde talks, listen to J.S. Bach play and become John Holmes' widow.

Hot or cold?
Cold, you can always put on more clothes.

Sweet or savoury?
Savory, a perfect dinner is always better than sweets.

Boys or girls?
Can't live with or without boys, but I have huge respect for women and our unity and strength.

Summer or winter?
Summer as season, but winter for the Olympics!

Heels or flats?
Heels

What would you take to a desert island?
Company

What's the best advice you ever received?
My mother once advised me to never stop dreaming.

And finally, tell us a secret about yourself?
I wish I could save the world.

Betty Paige, Babylon, Burlesque

With all my university projects handed in I've finally got time to catch up with all my favourite fashion publications on and offline. The one below, entitiled 'Hackney Road Babylon' made me choke on my cuppa, it ties in perfectly with all the burlesque and pin up styles I've been looking at for my university project! The combination of beautiful garments, edgy, unique looking models and a gritty, urban environment is what always makes the Vice photo shoots so interesting, I particularly like this one because it reminds me of Betty Paige!

Speaking of Betty Paige, if you you have never seen 'the Notorious Betty Paige' then you should be ashamed of yourself!

Pin up obsessed

When you spend too long googling pin ups (waaaay too much mad men this week guys, one step away from chain smoking and an up do) you end up reading lots and lots. Which results into me writing lots and lots. I've recently been looking at high end fashion and how pin up has influenced it, suprisingly I didn't find as much as I expected to, what with modern day pin ups growing ever more popular. Here are some I did find, dating all the way back to 2009 which is basically dead in fashion terms.

Luella 

The last ever collection from Luella (sob) was pin up chick at its most adorable. Pastel colours such as pale lemon and a sugary pink that wouldn’t go amiss on your Nan and cutesy bows and peter pan collars with large buttons make the whole affair as sweet as hell. Top knots adorned with big plastic bows decorated the models hair and clashing shoes prevented some looks appearing a little grown up. 

I remember when I first saw this collection a couple of years ago, I lusted over the cut out heart dresses in particular and was brought to tears when she went bankrupt a few weeks later (moreso when Primark and Peacocks began to do tacky copies of the cut out heart dresses, shameful guys, shameful!) 

For me, everything about this collection shouts candy coated pin up. Firstly the print, ditzy florals and polka dots, reminiscent of the 50’s these prints wouldn’t look at all out of place on a full body circle skirt and the polka dot reminds me of a red and white print (similar to what I found on brick lane in an earlier post) that you can easily visualise on the bikini of a cheeky cheesecake pin up.  Secondly, hips exaggerated with padding (anyone else think of diors new look?) and nipped in waists create the ideal hourglass figure on even the most petite models. Thirdly, both the neckline and heart cut out reveals just enough cleavage (not so much here though, bloody models) to be subtly sexy, the important thing about pin up is that it isn’t in your face smutty, it’s very much about being subtle. FINALLY the bows, big buttons, peter pan collars, plastic accessories keep this look really cute and stop it from being too dressed up and serious, if this look was edible it would rot your teeth.

Whenever I envision someone wearing this collection I always think of a really innocent looking, clumsy girl, flashing a little too much of her stockings, walking her candy cane poodle.

 

Miu Miu

Is there anybody who didn’t love the S/S2010 collection from Miu Miu? How could you not! The print was absolutely divine, the collars were adorable and it all felt so fresh and new, it does even now with versions still trickling down the highstreet, from River Island to H&M to Zara although nothing could compete with the real thing. 

In my eyes, this whole collection reflects a much more modern pin up, especially the trouser and top combinations which aren’t as obviously pin up as the dresses. Prints of nudes lazily sprawl on collars  and dresses mixed in amongst cats and dogs and delicate beading. The fishtail plait and Mary Jane style shoes keep this look young. I’m really surprised I like this look because I usually prefer much more minimal clean cut styles but the prints and embellishments that adorn this collection work so well, it clashes without becoming overkill.

The silhouette of this collection works wonderfully well, nipping in at the waist and following the contours of the body without being too fitted. The dare to bare dresses and embroided chiffon make this Lolita-esque look a little naughtier and flash flesh in a tasteful way, as any respectable pin up knows it’s not revealing skin in the form of an overspilling cleavage, it’s about being more subtle and creative about the way you show off your skin. The trouser suits allow a more grown up pin up style, with keeping literally all skin covered whilst still looking sexy.

ALSO, let’s not forget the shoes (as if you could) they are seriously the most beautiful things I have seen in shoe land for such a long time, they give me shenvy, shorgasms, I shove them (shoe-love..doesn’t really work as well but you get the idea.)

 

 Vena Cava

 

Vena Cava’s Resort 2011 collection offers a diverse range of garments in colours ranging from light greys and white tones to vibrant violets and corals to deep navy and black. Despite having such a wide range of garments with jumpsuits, skirts, dresses, crop tops, vests, jackets, waistcoats and more included in the line up, the collection works well and with repetition of patterns and details the whole lot comes together well. 

The collection was inspired by a trip to Death Valley, a desert valley in East California and a 1970’s film that was, in parts, shot there entitled Zabriskie Point which takes a look at life in 1960’s America, I rate this film even though I haven’t seen it because one of the main characters is called Daria and I love the TV show Daria so much (though I doubt they are connected). Layers of Fabric and uneven hemlines along with shades of orange and beige echo the landscape of Death Valley and the whole collection is so summery, with hats and sunglasses and sandals adorning models and flirty hemlines each look is perfect for the desert sunshine, when combined with a stylish factor 60 sun cream.

Fitted mini dresses and tops teamed with short shorts give this collection a really youthful pin up feel, subtly attracting attention to the natural curves of the female figure without being smutty yet showing off enough leg to be a little more than cheeky. The whole look is what I can only seem to describe as cool, it’s eye catching for all the right reasons, the patterns are very modern and the colours work with each other so well.  My favourite pieces are the black jumpsuit with adorable dungaree style clips injecting another bout of youth to the collection aaaand the sleeveless blouse and shorts combo, which to me feel’s very pin up indeed!

Alt pin up girls

From the early 1840’s burlesque to late 19^th century cheesecake pin ups to the movie stars of the 1950’s, pin ups have evolved into many different aesthetics over the decades HOWEVER they all carry a few of the same themes;

• Sex appeal

• Fabulous attire

• A penchant for glamour

• Flawless beauty

In my opinion the modern day pin up is the alternative pin up. Most often seen wearing vintage fashion (think 1950’s housewife in an American car ad) into their look, cat like eyes, strong eyebrows, painted lips and well groomed hair. Alt pin ups differ from those of previous years with their body modifications, these can come in the form of piercings, coloured hair and tattoos, usually nautical ‘Sailor Jerry’ styles. 

You can see these vixens watching, and commonly performing, burlesque at a swish venue, attending 50’s style gigs, trawling vintage shops and frequenting tea shops, the key to an ideal pin up hot spot is retro although it’s not uncommon to see such girls in rock bars and gigs. Music tastes may include; Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Johnny Ace, Little Richard and Johnny Cash aswell as a mixture of punk, metal and rock. 

missy malone 

 Photo by Jayne Emsley

To open my eyes to this glamourous-not-a-hair-out-of-place world I interview Daisy Cutter, a tea guzzling/cake munching/burlesque dancing/costume making/modelling wonder of a woman all squeezed into a petite and beautifully decorated body;

Name/profession:  

Gemma Haigh aka daisy cutter
Costume maker extrodinere 

Home:  

Is where you feel safe (or Huddersfield) 

Favourite animal:

Meow

What are you currently working on?:

An outfit for skin two, rubber ball, for myself and morning star (my other limb) 

Do you have a party trick?: 

That funny thing I do with my fingers, when I bend the tip, where it doesn't bend on regular folks.....

 If you could only listen to three bands for the rest of your life who would you pick?: 

Rancid, because there my fave EVER! Horrorpops, cheer me up, no end
Johnny cash, the king 

What was the last book you read?:

I'm reading pride and prejudice and zombies right now

Favourite place to shop?:

The second hand markets!!

if you could visit anywhere in the world where would you go and why?:

Japan, it looks exciting and fun!
The most amazing person in the world is?
 There are sooooo many!!! but if I had to name one.....Gypsy Rose Lee, I'd love to have met her.
Favourite place to go out?
A burlesque night, fetish club or some other such nonsense place!
What makes you smile?
Simple things, like my kittens waking me up, walking the dog in a pretty place or being told I'm loved.
What makes you frown?
Hahahahaaha, ignorance and stupidity
Whats the naughtiest thing you’ve done?
Now that would be telling!!
What are you most proud of?
All the things I've achieved in the face of adversion.
Who would you raise from the dead?
Tura satana!
Tell me something I don’t know about you?
This is hard cos I think you know most things about me silly!

punk/hippie/pin up

So, last week at University we basically had a whole afternoon to walk around East London playing dress up which was AWESOME. Here are some pictures of my mate Emma dressed up, such a good sport!

Punk

A combination of studs, leather, tartan and docs make this outfit scream punk, if only it was all as beaten up as the docs it would be (almost) perfect.

Hippy

The term hippy for me conjures up images of men in flares playing guitars and women dancing in super long maxi dresses, flowers plaited and matted in the hair and psychedilia. Our take on modern hippy included flower printed hareems and a knitted vest (which isn't actually very hippy at all but we really liked the combination)

Pin up

From a cheeky cheesecake picture (google it) to burleqsue to just capturing the style, pin up has creeped up over the last few years in a big way, blame Dita Von Teese or the Mad Men craze. A modern day twist on this look is tonnes of tattoo's (usually nautical) and coloured hair. This dress with its halterneck tie, cutesy print and figuire hugging top is a classic pin up piece.

(as per all pictures from google images except my own, if you own any then holla)