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!

Trust me, trust yourself, there's nothing wrong with the weird.

Have you seen Evelyn The cutest evil dead girl? Creepy, grim, adorable, hilarious. I found this short film on youtube recently and I can't stop watching it, Think Emily the Strange but in motion. Not only am I completely in love with Evelyn and her ...kooky characteristics but it's so aesthetically pleasing! The set, make up and costumes remind me of Burtons work, especially the 'live' village which is reminiscent of the sickly happy town in Edward Scissorhands as well as vibes of The nightmare before Christmas coming through in Evelyn's world. Oh, and the cardboard aspect reminds me of Play Days (90's British kids TV programme to those who missed out)!

Most importantly (for me anyway) are the costumes, those dresses are so adorable, the gruesome trio's remind me of the mini shift dresses sold to the masses in the 60's and Evelyn's reminds me of a patchwork version of Wednesday Addams. I'm going to have to make myself one.

Eat my shorts

Saturday, March 24,1984. Shermer High School, Shermer, Illinois, 60062. Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. What do you care? You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. You see us as a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal. Correct? That's the way we saw each other at 7:00 this morning. We were brainwashed.

 

 

Ah man, I love The Breakfast Club so much. I'm completely infactuated with John Bender for the whole film, anyone else?

Spring project 2011

This year I feel like I've learned so much at University, since before I got there I couldn't pattern cut and my sewing skills were a bit of a joke. Here is my outfit for the first year show, all pattern cut and sewn by myself.

 

(please ignore how much the back of the dress needs pressing after sitting in a garment bag for 12 hours, it makes me grimace)

The show itself was also absolutely amazing, I'll put some pictures up of that very soon!