Little Miss Bossy

Baby it's cold outside!

2012-01-14T12:14:00.000Z

I love my elaborate hair dos and I love my berets - but funnily enough I don't like berets on elaborate hair dos. Well at least not on my head. Whenever I try to put my berets further back behind my ears it just doesn't look right on me - to me. And my ears get cold!

So during the very cold days I am very happy to ditch the hair styling and just plonk a beret on my head. The school-run is also much more on time that way :-)

Moustache-pin on my beloved grey beret - I made it. Watch this space - soon to be on sale!

For the New Year I made the superficial resolution not to buy so many polka dotted garments anymore - I own so many! But this LOVELY dress I bought just after Christmas - didn't count then!


Digging brown accessories at the moment - I am all in love with this black polka dotted very comfortable dress.

I am also very much in love with the beehive currently! And yes same dress again!

Practice makes perfect - I still need a little while to get ready when sporting a beehive but I get faster every time. I crocheted myself some padding and yes there's a giant moustache in my hair. I told you - watch this space!

When I was around 17 I was totally into the late 60s - very short black and white dresses, big round dangly earrings, bouffant hair, the make-up and big big knee high boots - but these days it's the early 60s that make my heart beat faster.

Watching my current favourite series Pan Am certainly inspired me!

Christmas is over - Happy New Year!

2011-12-29T15:47:00.000Z

I hope you all had a fabulous christmas!

I was indeed spoilt and spent the day with people I love - and even though I should have spent this year back home in Austria it was still a magical day with the in-laws here in the UK.

Again I have not much time - the small one is stirring and waking up so just a quick post to show you my fabulous frocks I wore on Christmas and Boxing Day - both dresses I have swapped for a gorgeous coat that didn't fit me with my friend Sarah. I love the dresses!

Christmas Day in a green wool dress - I felt very christmassy! And yes there's a birdie coming out of my head!

80s does 40s - totally overdressed on Boxing Day. But I loved it anyway. :-)

Could have done a better job with hair photos though - just rubbish phone pics in the dark hallway...

The upcoming year will be a big one for me - not only will I become Mrs. Bossy and finally get married but I also have a wee little business venture going on. The young Bossy will start proper school which means I will actually brave full time work life again and I also hope that we can add to the family with a baby Bossy. And in terms of vanity I have 4 photoshoots coming up in the first half of the year - plus an engagement and a wedding shoot. Having a bit of an age crisis I do admit that it's good for my ego :-)

I may also get my laptop going again and dive into proper blogging - now that would be something!

I wish you all a wonderful 2012!

Calendar girl again!

2011-12-16T13:50:00.000Z

Can't belive it's over a month - my last blog post!

We've been ill on an endless spiral or busy with nativity plays, christmas stuff - etc. etc. I hardly have any online time (apart from 24/7 on my phone :-))!

Hence my lack of posting and spreading the great news that I had the privilege to be a calendar girl once more. I won a voting in November via Facebbok for Pin-Ups in Pinnies - check out their blog, I am currently Pin-Up of the month!


(c) Jez Brown Photography - the pic that won the votes for the Pin-Ups in Pinnies calendar 2013

In the new year I will be invited to a photoshoot for a calendar for 2013. Exciting!

It's Pin-Ups in pinnies - so I am sure it will include pinnies and some sort of baking! Very me indeed!

And quite coincidentally I will be Miss December again - the second pic above is featured in the Reckless Girl Calendar 2012 (now available at Rose-tinted Vintage) as Miss December!

December is clearly my month!

It's all the good Christmas Karma - because I love Christmas so much! (she says and is seriously lacking the spirit this year...)

Not the newest news anymore I know and a shame I couldn't post earlier - but I am still very excited about it!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Swing dancing for charity

2011-11-10T10:52:00.000Z

I have very little braincells left over that are not covering anything child related. Normally those few ones left are taken up by my hair and this blog but currently they are totally consumed by my wedding planning. So I totally forgot to promote this great event happening tomorrow on the 11th of November!

Swing dancing for charity at the Addison Centre in Kempston near Bedford!

Have a dance, browse some vintage clothing and have your hair done (by Sarah's Doo-Wop Dos of course!) and get your pic taken in the 40s style photo booth!

For tickets contact:

Project 229: 01234 840 880

Grace: 01234 851 508

Sadly I can't make it but it sounds like so much fun!

Want to win a Fleur dress?

2011-11-02T13:02:00.000Z

Would you like to win a most beautiful Daisy Chain Fleur dress?

(it is actually my fave of all Fleur dresses)

AND this gorgeous matching jewellery?

Fleur Dress

Hop over to Heydays GIVE AWAY!

Summer's definitely gone!

2011-11-01T10:40:00.000Z

We've changed to winter time, it's November and I'm gearing up towards Christmas. So why not show you some summer outfits!

Obvious, no?

Well being such a lazy blogger over the summer months I have collected a few outfit pics and I thought why not share. Some of these are "new" to me and some I have owned for years.

Sweet playsuit bought via Ebay - it's an American brand and a size to big but it's so cute anyway. I assume it's 80s does retro but it's a good quality, cotton and is really comfortable to wear. I did start wearing it with brown accessories but do now prefer it with blue shoes, belt and scarf.

My favourite of my "uniform" - white fitted shirt and a floaty skirt. I have owned both for many years, the scarf and the pin used to be my nans.

My most favourite purchase of the summer - 80s does retro, cotton, nautical and it has pockets. My heart skips a beat any time I see a dress with pockets! I bought it via Ebay for less than £5 and it's actually a Burberrys dress. I don't care about this but I was surprised by the seller not advertising this. My luck!

Going incognito on one of the few very hot days. Dress I have shown many times, hat is from Primark.

And this is the lovliest surprise of my summer outfits - Mr. Bossy runs a homeless shelter and gets lots of donations. Somehow I never managed to have a look at the stuff (because many grannies just dump their vintage wardrobe there) - but one warm summer day Mr. Bossy came home with these charming culottes - he saw polka dots, had to think of his darling Bossy girl, gave a donation and they are now mine!

Little Miss Bossy becomes a calendar girl!

2011-10-30T14:35:00.000Z

I have told you all about Jez Brown Photography HERE!

But I also promised you my first collaboration with him and here they are - the pics!

Yesterday I got told that one of them made the cut to be in the Reckless Girls Calendar 2012 - say hello to Miss December!

Be surprised which pic will be featured!

At my ripe old age of 32 I am ridiculously excited about this!

I am wearing a lot of my own wardrobe but some (especially the fabulous hat) is the stylists own - and who was the stylist? Of course Sarah's Doo-Wop-Dos - to be read about HERE!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Sarah's Doo-Wop-Dos

2011-10-10T11:20:00.000+01:00

A 2 months hiatus and then 2 blog posts in a day?

Ladies get your smelling salts out!

You've heard about Sarah before - she's also the owner of 4th time round curiosity shop (blogged about HERE) and you've seen her amazing work in my previous post. Sarah is my personal vintage guru in Bedford. If you want something, need something, like something - she will know or probably possess it. She's one colourful and great lady!

Her newest venture is a vintage hairstyling business - Sarah's Doo-Wop-Do's. Specialising in the 40s, 50s and 60s she can also cover all other eras and has great experience with psychobilly style and synthetic dreads.

One of the most squee-worthy events in Bedford recently was the start of a vintage Shop - Rose-tined Vintage has opened it's doors (blog post to follow) and Sarah has her own little hairstyling booth in the shop. It looks so pretty and like so much fun you want to move into the little booth!

Sarah's flyers

The booth in Rose-tinted vintage

The gorgeous lady herself

Have a look at more of her work - Sarah's Doo-Wop-Dos

You can find Sarah at the Rose-tinted Vintage shop (4 Clair Court, Bedford) every Saturday. Book appointments there Saturdays between 10am - 5pm, other times by request.

Styling prices:
Just victory rolls £10
Simple full vintage do £15
Vintage up do £20 (but price will depend on complexity of style)
You can always email a picture of a style you'd like her to re-create.

Email Sarah at curiosityshop4@hotmail.co.uk for more details or to make a booking or just pop in and see her one Saturday!

She's also holding a vintage hairstyling workshop this Thursday the 13th - there's only one place left, so hurry if you are interested!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Jez Brown Photography

2011-10-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

Call me Phoenix.

I am back blogging rising from the ashes.

Or with a little less drama - I've stopped sulking and I'm getting on with it.

In the past year I've gotten to know the vintage scene in Bedford and the quite exciting members of this circle. Jez Brown is one of them.

Being hooked on all things American already as a child - like comics and Happy Days (I am not getting the theme song out of my head now!) he fell in love with the 50s very early on.

In his youth he was heavily involved in the psychobilly scene (one of my regrets - something I never knew of and would have loved in my youth) and up to this day he is a huge supporter of rockabilly music and organises quite a few music events in Bedford.

He is also a selftaught pin-up photographer who created the world of "Reckless Girls" - they are his take on a pin-up and vintage loving community in Bedford. And the community is thriving!

For the upcoming year he'll bring out a Reckless Girls calendar!

Recently I also had the pleasure to work with Jez - it was really good fun with a very pretty outcome - will share very soon.

Have a look at his photography - Jez Brown Photography and Reckless Girls.

If you would like to book a session prices start as litte as £25 per hour and negotiable editing rates. If you'd like to have a stylist, he can organise Sarah's Doo-Wop-Do's who did all the styling and hair on the pictures shown. I will blog about her and her prices very shortly. Hair accessories are by Lil' Mischief - and again, I am repeating myself, will blog about it soon.

Contact Jez - brown.jez@gmail.com

Versatility of Victory Rolls

2011-08-23T19:05:00.000+01:00

I am a bad blogger.

But I am such a moody cow these days that I just can't be bothered.

With a better mood more inspiration will come.

I hope.

Anyhoo, this cheered me up. My son thinks my victory rolls are a great home for his lego knights

When I unravelled them at night I actually found a helmet and another sword. Hadn't even noticed half of the day. :-)

Playsuit #1

2011-08-01T11:02:00.000+01:00

I have no idea what's going on with blogger - it wouldn't let me upload pics for days. Still can only upload them one by one....

But with my boy's birthday last week I had been very busy anyway - hope to be back again now from my short hiatus.

I'd been selling my old clothes on Ebay again recently and things went fairly well - so I was able to stock up on some vintage! A few more outfit-posts are to come!

First I got my hands on this adorable playsuit! Brown is hardly ever the colour of my preference but brown with white polka dots makes me feel like Pretty Woman herself!

I am sure the suit is 80s does 40s vintage but it's a beautiful and comfortable rayon, sits perfectly and was such a bargain. Ever since purchasing I've been kind of living in it.

I also tried all brown accessories - Mr. Bossy got me lovely brown brogues at the market a few weeks ago - but in the end I decided all brown is too much of a Safari look for me. But I like the brown-white scarf with white shoes and a white belt - that's my favourite.

Note to myself - tie the belt tighter!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Beach Belles Burlesque All Dayer

2011-07-15T08:17:00.000+01:00

There's another GREAT upcoming event in Bedford!

And I can't bloody make it because it's my sons birthday! I can tell you I am so peeved about this - but of course my baby comes first.

On the 23rd of July

Bedford Esquires presents the 'BEACH BELLES BURLESQUE ALL DAYER'

12.00 - 4.00PM - HOLY MOLY'S - BIZARRE BAZAAR in association with Bedford Burlesque - A veritable bevvy of fabulous stalls selling the best in hand-made and vintage...FREE ENTRY TO BAZAAR

8.00PM - MAINSTAGE - 'BEACH BELLES BURLESQUE SHOW' featuring:
- Lexi Sexx
- Daisy Cutter
- Nelly Plum
- Glorian Gray
- Madame Treacle
Compere: the infamous Mister Joe Black
Musical hilarity from Elliot Mason

11.00PM - 2.00AM - HOLY MOLY'S - FOXYBELLES CLUB NIGHT

SEASIDE FOOD AND SAUCY SEASIDE TREATS AVAILABLE ALL DAY

TICKETS: £8.00 advance from Danny's Bar or online at www.wegottickets.com

Ticket price includes entry to Holy Moly's after the Main Event.

Have a look at this cute little promo vid!

Find the event on Facebook.

Home is where the vintage heart is - Bedford Vintage Market

2011-07-07T12:52:00.001+01:00

Come and have a look at the Bedford Vintage market - it's part of the Handmade Market Bedford and takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month in Bedford town center from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm!

4th Time Around Curiosity Shop and Rose-tinted Vintage (amongst others) will be trading this Saturday July 9th! Go and buy gorgeous handmade gifts, great vintage clothing, retro homewares & books and then browse the handmade section of the market too!

Extra special this upcoming Saturday: besides her "4th time Around Curiosity Shop" stall Sarah will also have a vintage styling salon at the market for the day - so if you are in need of a vintage make-over - this is the place to be for you!


Sarah with her 4th time around Curiosity shop and Kat with her Rose-tinted Vintage are always trading there!

I shall have a wander round this month!

Find it on Facebook.

Sucker for nautical goods

2011-07-04T17:46:00.000+01:00

Yes that's me. Guilty as charged.

Right after worshipping polkadots I am obsessed with anything nautical. I see it and I want to possess it. Badly.

This loverrrrly dress I found months ago at the Flitwick Originate Fayre in February - it cost a mere £3! I loved it straight away, obviously. It's an interesting dress - it has an (I think) expensive looking top with two golden sailor themed buttons at the back and a fairly long skirt but with a drawstring. I think it's very typically 80s does retro.

Ever since I took the shoulderpads out I love it even more. And it has pockets!

Heels would be better of course but I do a LOT of walking a day (I am talking about 3 hours at the minimum) so even wedges leave me sometimes crippled at night. These also very nautically looking red flats are from Primark about 5 years ago.

Attached is my 1940s bow brooch which I have shown several times before.

And the obligatory shots of my hair....

Ship ahoy!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Tea Dance in Bushey

2011-07-01T20:31:00.000+01:00

This event is not really local to me (though not too far) but nevertheless sounds like a lovely one!

So in case you'd like to go I cannot leave it unblogged!

As I have no car at the moment I won't be there but hopefully there will be a more local one for Bedford.

"Come and join us for a lovely afternoon of social dancing. Whether you can Lindy, Jive, Jitterbug, Foxtrot, Waltz or Quickstep all dance styles are welcome. There will be a fun taster class at 2pm to get you moving on the dance floor.

The Dance Hall has a Beautiful Wooden Sprung Dance Floor.

Complimentary Tea, Coffee & Cake.

Admission £5
Tickets in advance available at: www.Busheyfestival.org.uk
Tickets available on the door on the day

Organised by www.Swingsters.co.uk in conjunction with www.Busheyfestival.org.uk and www.Lincolnsfields.co.uk
Lincolnsfields Childrens Charity – reg. No. 298392"

Sounds like good fun!

Sunday the 3rd of July

2-5pm

The Dance Hall at The Lincolnsfields Centre

Bushey Hall Drive

Bushey, Herts, WD23 2ES

Facebook

Retro inspired swimwear

2011-06-29T23:11:00.000+01:00

This morning my trusted postman brought me a very charming little packet. My much coveted swimming costume!

Months ago I have blogged HERE about this darling little swim dress from Bon Marche which costs an affordable £20. Well affordable for the average person - not so much for me. So I went - as usual - on an ebay hunt and tracked one down for less and it's as good as new! It is a size too big but never mind. I am such a sucker for navy and white polka dots I just had to have it!

The built-in cups are very bullet-bra like .....

..... and I was delighted to see that underneath the skirt is peeking a very low cut leg line!

The high street is bursting with vintage inspired swim wear! I had a good look around and really all shops have some kind of wrap-around retro style on offer, a few stores do swim dresses. Even the leg line is cut fairly low on a lot of pieces - though the truly retro looking ones with the lowest cut legs are the priciest!

Now I need a swimming cap to preserve my set!

Again they are very easily obtainable online but as always Ebay seems to be the winner in prize. I'll either look for a yellow one or even better for a daisy one similiar to the picture below!

Add caption

My son got new trunks and floats the other week - so swimming pools here we come!

Quick fix set - video tutorial review

2011-06-28T10:17:00.000+01:00

Over at Lina Sofia's fabulous Spiffing Sporadics I came across this little video tutorial.

I was intrigued - you are meant to put an alice band on your head, twist your hair around and et voilà - curls in record time!

I washed my hair, used setting lotion and attempted a wet set with a plain elastic alice band. Indeed the set itself was done in a jiffy - but I had troubles at the back and because my hair is so fine and slippery it just kept coming out again. Instead of the suggested 70s flick at the front I opted for an elevated pin curl with my fringe rolled under. I then had the head band across my forehead which gave me a headache within a minute. I kept on moving it and settled for having it very near my roots - now that was a bad mistake because when I woke up the next day I had the band deeply - really deeply - imprinted in my skin. And bloody hell was that sore. So in the morning I moved it behind the pin curl - like on the picture below. I wish I'd done that straight away because the imprint lasted for 2 days! And it's still a little sore to the touch. I may have very sensitive skin (or head) or my band was just to tight - but I won't be doing it like that again. But on the plus side - it was really comfy to sleep on, much more so than pin curls.

The outcome wasn't bad but certainly not groundbreakingly good. It curled a bit more at the sides but the back was only wavy at the most. I suppose it would be ok for a Veronica Lake peeka-boo look - but for some odd reason I could not brush the curls/waves over my hand - they liked staying very separated. I have to mention that my formerly blue Lottabody setting lotion turned purple in the sun. Maybe it has lost it's magic? Has that ever happened to anyone before?

I did not like the very very flat back, elongated front section and a flat back - that is a style that doesn't suit me.

I also didn't quite like that the ends seemed to be very - strawy. With pin curling you tuck them in and they get curled aswell and I suppose with this method they just get stuffed into the band without actually bending them around.

I didn't trust this set so I decided to do a little Vivian Leigh and pin it back at the front - and I was quite right it only lasted a few hours. By the evening my hair looked like tousled california girl beach hair - which isn't a bad look per se but it's not my kind of look.

And on a different note - maybe it's the summer (well the 3 days of sunshine we had here recently) or maybe I have just watched to much Ugly Betty - I am really into yellow at the moment. I never disliked yellow but I was always quite indifferent to it. I'd never buy anything yellow nor choose a yellow thing. This skirt I only bought 3 summers ago because I just had a baby, could only fit into skirts and it was reduced to a £1 in Primark. And now 3 years later I wear it all the time! I suddenly love yellow!

Maybe it's just my constant sunny disposition! Cough, splutter...

Home is where the vintage heart is - 4th time round curiosity shop

2011-06-27T14:25:00.000+01:00

This is a blog post I've wanted to get out for months!

4th Time Around is a curiosity cabinet of all things weird and wonderful, from retro tea sets to eye-catching fabrics, statuettes and bric à brac - owned by Sarah Dunn.
After a fair few years of hording, exploring and rummaging, and with Sarah's home now full to bursting at the seams, ‘4th Time Around’ was born.

Each of these unusual items has been lovingly sourced and sold to you in all of their one-of-a-kind, retro, glory! So in the spirit of the great collectors and enthusiasts of the bizarre, ‘4th Time Around’ aims to bring you all the best in oddities and curiosities.

Things to truly treasure and love!

With the unique name Sarah pays hommage to Bob Dylan - she is a huge fan and one of his songs is called "4th time around" - and the pre-loved items are possibly on their way to their 3rd, 4th or 5th home!

Sarah's also quite an artist - the logo is her own design

The 4th time curiosity shop trades at all kinds of vintage events in and around Bedford - like the Flitwick Fayre and the Bedford Vintage Market (more about this in a different post).

The 4th time round curiosity shop trades all kinds of... curiosities!

Stall at the "We are Bedford" event

At the Bedford Handcrafted and Vintage Market with Kat of Rose-tinted vintage

At the Originate Fayre in Flitwick

This beautiful set of crockery is sold - but there's lot's more to be found in the 4th time round curiosity shop!

Sarah herself is quite a dazzling character and certainly one to look out for in the vintage scene in Bedford. She lives the vintage lifestyle , her home is full of retro furniture and her wardrobe is fit to bursting with vintage clothing! In her own words: "I really love the look of the 1940’s so prim & proper but so very, very glamorous. I’m always running around in a ‘nice dress’ and love to find one off’s in charity shops, although I generally customise all my clothes. I love local places like Bletchley Park & Shuttleworth and the Twinwoods Festival as I get a chance to really dress up and meet like minded vintage loving people!"

Sarah with one of her elaborate daily looks

There's even more to Sarah - she's also quite an accomplished vintage stylist and is setting up her own styling business - but this new venture deserves it's own post. So stay tuned!

Email contact: 4thtime@aol.co.uk
http://www.etsy.com/shop/4thtimecuriosities
http://4thtimearoundcs.tumblr.com/
http://twitter.com/#!/4thtimearoundcs

Breastfeeding Awareness Week

2011-06-24T13:56:00.001+01:00

It was breastfeeding week in the UK this week and I'd like to raise awareness within the vintage blogosphere!

I know there's a lot of preaching out there but it IS a really good thing - something I am quite passionate about.

Have a look at this most fantastic video - vintage mummys doing breastfeeding burlesque! I cannot tell you how much I love the video - though I'd prefer it without the Big Brother guy!

http://www.sexy-sassy-breastfeeding-women.co.uk/

I am an active La Leche League member - a support organisation whose praises I can't sing high enough. And there's a new exciting thing going on - in many of the Sure Start Centres across central Bedfordshire they are doing so-called Baby Brasseries - friendly drop-in groups where mummy can sit, chat and eat cake, baby or toddler can play, mummy can breastfeed without inhibition and there is always a trained peer supporter to help onsite. Have a look at your local Sure Start Centre for your weekly Baby Brasserie!

In my local one we celebrated the breastfeeding week today - several mums brought amazing bakery and yummy stuff and the staff of the centre provided the most relaxing massages for mums and babes!

Boobie cupcakes - my culinary contribution to the breastfeeding awareness week 2011

Home is where the vintage heart is - Vintage Fayre in Flitwick

2011-06-21T21:39:00.000+01:00

The Flitwick Originate Creative Craft and Vintage Fayre is on again!

The second one I had to sadly miss but I hope I can pop in again on the 9th of July.

If you happen to be a crafter or a vintage seller - a stall costs £15 and she's not fully booked yet, e-mail Donna at dlkurly@yahoo.com. Admission for the public is free!

Flitwick is a village in Bedfordshire north of junction 12 on the M1 so in easy reach for all around!

HERE's how you get there and more info about the location!

Reinventing frumpy clothes

2011-06-20T20:59:00.000+01:00

I am - like every other vintage loving gal - very partial to charity shops. Apart from the odd gem here and there you find a lot of frumpy looking grandma stuff from the 80s - but said items have huge potential. Shortening hems and sleeves, nipping the waist in or just a different use than intended - all great ways to give granny chic a new lease of life.

When my Dad came to visit the other week he brought me an old blouse which once belonged to my late Nan. My family thought I would like it because it looked "vintagey" - and quite right they were!

This blouse is very typically 80s - crinkly rayon, baggy cut, no collar, long wide sleeves and no shape at all - but indeed a very 40s-esque print! At first I wanted to give it to charity because it was just wrong on me (or anyone else for that matter) but I couldn't do it because it was my Nan's.

And this morning I tried to tie it at waistlevel - a style I always thought I'd look absolutely hideous with. Well I don't think I did - not with high waisted trousers anyway. Granted those are not ideal but I am on the hunt for white ones at the moment - black ones would be better than my grey ones aswell of course.

click to enlarge
Please excuse these badly lit pics - we tried to get a pic in without my son hopping into the frame and before we could take pics in the park my camera broke again... Blogging really isn't easy without a camera or your own computer...

And I finally found a garment that goes with my peach scarf my mum gave to me!

I have not quite decided if I like peach on me or not - I am not sure if it accentuates my paleness or if it simply drains me.

Anyhoo - I dress vintagey every day and I always get stares but this outfit today was quite the show stopper - though I also got a really nice compliment so it's definately coming out again!

By the way - these lovely little wedges I purchased from Littlewoods!

I know catalouge shopping is a bit tacky but I really love it. If you look carefully you always find something great and it's so gentle to the wallet - I like a quick fix retail therapy I can pay in small installments! These great white shoes I found in the teenage section of all places! I have tiny feet...

Vintage Beauty Pageant

2011-06-13T17:06:00.000+01:00

Fancy being a beauty queen?

A vintage beauty queen to be precise?

Check this competition out! I myself have not quite decided yet if I'll take part but I shall make my mind up in the next few days!

You have time until the 20th of June to send a picture in - dressed to the nines in your favourite vintage gear and of course don't forget hair and make-up!

Find Twinwood Events on Facebook and like 'em - they will upload your pic to a dedicated album and make sure you get people to "like" you. The beauty with the most votes wins!

Click the pic to enlarge for more details!

More info about the festival to be read HERE.

Home is where the vintage heart is - Twinwood Festival

2011-06-12T14:02:00.000+01:00

I can't believe I haven't gotten round yet to blog about this event!

THE event on my hometurf!

The Twinwood Festival is a huge 1940s and 1950s music and dance event dedicated to Glenn Miller!

And this year is a very special one because it's the 10th anniversary! I've been living in this area for a while now but I have never made it there, can you believe it? Last year I had visitors, the previous years I'd been to Austria or just plainly out of money. But this year I am more than determined to go! Come what may!

The festival is from the 27th of August until the 29th of August and takes place in Clapham, which is a village very near Bedford. It is also the home of the Glenn Miller museum, Glenn Millers history with Bedford and Clapham is so very intriguing - read HERE more about the background.

The festival will provide non-stop live music throughout the days and nights with various dancefloors to hop around to swing, jazz, jive and rock'n'roll from our favourite eras the 40s and 50s!

And of course countless stalls with vintage clothing and accessories, make-up and hairstyling, etc. I am also very excited about the fashion shows, air displays, re-enactors and all the living history around!

Another great excitement for this year is the attempt to break the Guinness World Record at the world largest swing dance! This will happen on Sunday the 28th at approx. 7.30 pm in the main arena.

Come and hop along!

Please have a look at the website for the brilliant line-up, more information about ticket prices and the campsite and don't forget to check out the photo gallery!

http://www.twinwoodevents.com/

All pictures are courtesy of Twinwood Events and were all taken at the Festival 2010!

Jumping on the bandwagon

2011-06-09T13:43:00.000+01:00

With a jumpsuit! Now that actually calls for a bad pun...

Following fashion trends has never been my thing no matter what era or what style I prefered over the years. And jumpsuits are certainly a trend that EVERYONE seems to follow - young girls, teenagers, women, bloody everyone is wearing them. The natural thing for me would be to totally dismiss it but I have to admit I rather like them. There are so many out there it's hard to decide.

I chose one via Littlewoods - obviously because of the polkadots!

Even though a short one would be much more 40s I went for a long legged one. I wear skirts nearly all the time - frankly I 'm quite sick of them. Even though the suit is so not authentic vintage looking I think with the right hair and accessories (yes to my vintage brooch, not so much my very modern Hello Kitty watch) it has quite a nostalgic feel to it.

Suit is from Littlewoods (came with a yellow belt), so are the red wedges, I paired an old H&M t-shirt underneath and I hardly ever go out without my trusted red Primark cardigan.

The suit doesn't only look like a giant pyjama it also feels like one. It is so super comfy I don't ever want to get out of it. The downside - it is so not flattering and makes me rather look humongous around my mid area. But what the heck if I look like a whale, at least I look like a cute one!

Polkadots, victory rolls and vintage jewellery - that will do for me!

Being a good housewife 50s girl - freebie list

2011-06-05T12:38:00.000+01:00

Which I am so not. Capital NOT.

I hate tidying, I am chaos personified and I am really unorganised. Really.

It is on most part of my life also the cause of a lot of friction between men and me. Most important between THE man and me. Mr. Bossy.

Everey few months I make a new resolution to be more tidy and more organised. It works for a little while and then I go back to my messy ways. Like now. At the moment I have just finished cleaning all bathrooms but instead of getting on with our bedroom I decided to rather write about cleaning. Makes sense, no?

In my kitchen I have hung up 2 lists which are meant to help me get more organised during the day and week. Both are filled in with my daily or weekly chores. It's up to your guess if I really stick to them. You've propably guessed right there. I don't. But I try!

Those lists were heavily inspired by this faboulus post by Brittany of Va-Va-Voom-Vintage and the cute drawings are free images from this beautiful and ever so lovely blog. If you are interested in this list - feel free to drop me a comment and I send you a better printable version.

Little Miss Bossy goes Facebook

2011-05-25T10:05:00.000+01:00

I have made my blog alter ego a public figure on Facebook!
And no I haven't lost my sanity and no my 138 followers on my blog have not gone to my head. But after some timely consideration and an argument with Mr. Bossy I have come to the conclusion that I need a different platform than my private Facebook profile page to share my vintage adventures and Twitter is just not my thing. I was very lucky recently in gaining so much knowledge about what's happening in and around Bedford in vintage regards and I met - some only virtually - many new people. But that also meant that I have broken my rule to never add anyone I don't know personally (with very little exceptions I have stuck to this self applied rule for 4 years of having a Facebook account).
So there we go - I have created a public figure page which I hope you will all "like". Please do not think I have gone completely doolally in exploiting myself - it is the complete opposite I want to protect my loved ones!

The profile page is of course a brand new work in progress but to be found HERE!

How long do you take?

2011-05-24T22:53:00.001+01:00

Now look into my eyes!

Look into my eyes and tell me how long do YOU take to get ready?

But seriously - this is a question every vintage gal is propably asked a zillion times at least. I certainly get it very often and the questions vary of course! It ranges from unbelieving exclaims like "It must take you hours to get ready!" to ruder comments like "Bloody hell how much time have you got on your hands!". My favourite ever was - "You clearly don't spend only 5 minutes in front of the mirror!".

No I don't, I never did and I certainly hope I never look like it.

But that doesn't mean that I spend hours of my day getting ready.

For absolute donkeys years I have always given myself an hour to get ready. This hour includes breakfast, shower, getting dressed, daytime make-up and hair. And this "rule" is still applied ever since I went into vintage mode on a daily basis. Of course I have days where I faff around for ages and I also have days where I am much much quicker. I also have a stropping toddler to dress - that sometimes takes way longer!

I still haven't quite gotten used to people now seeing me as "elegant" (that's a word I would have never linked with me when I was younger, it makes me very proud now), "glam" and "perfectly groomed". I am not always but I try and a few tricks of the trade help tricking people in thinking so!

Faux bangs and a ponytail are propably my favourite hairdo and also one of the quickest of my repertoire. How I do them I told already HERE! A pretty bow tied around my ponytail and a matching flower near the bangs and my hair is done in 10 minutes good to go!

Even quicker is this quiff-roll. I shall do a how-to tutorial very soon! This do takes me under 10 minutes!

Victory rolls of course take a tad longer but with some practice they just need double the time of the do shown above - but with the back shoved into a snood I don't even need to pre-set my hair!

And that brings me to the most tedious and lengthy part of vintage hair. The set! I like to wet-set my hair the previous night when my child is already asleep - so again not much time is taken out of my precious daytime. I do admit I am not great at setting my hair but here again - practice will make me perfect and more important: quicker!

Brushing it out in the morning takes no time at all - so actually pre-setting hair on a sunday night is good for rushed monday mornings! But with all that wind going on currently I prefer my barnet in rock solid faux bangs or victory rolls. Ah what would I do sans my hair spray!

And quite contrary to popular believe I don't wear a lot of make-up. I love make-up and I enjoy applying it but ever since I had my son I use it very sparingly!

Tinted moisturizer, concealer, a dab of powder, brow pencil (why that one so obviously you can read HERE), blusher and lot's of mascara. Lippy I don't wear every day, some days I also use eye shadow and at night an eye liner. But that's it! I've been putting my face on for a good 16-17 years - I have so much practice it only takes me a few minutes!

The end result does look well groomed but that is because vintage styling is perceived as very ladylike and elegant.

And I say thank you!

Which brings me to this mental leap!

Stepping out in vintage gear causes a lot of attention. No denying that and it would be a lie to deny that I enjoy the attention. I get a comment a day and nearly all of them are kind and nice. People at check-out tills or market tenders comment the most. But the other day I got stopped in the street by a random woman who actually made me blush because she was so sincere and nice in what she said. And all I was wearing was this measly unexciting outfit:

When I went to Austria a few months ago I was astounded by the hostility of people. I was so show stopping that I even caused a little accident on the road. But it was really striking how openly rude people stared, one woman even gaped with a kind of disgusted look in her eyes. Given that she herself was sporting a 80s short hair permed head and an upper-lip moustache it wasn't that offending but it still showed me how much different the polite English are. Here in sleepy little Bedford Vintage seems to be quite widely spread and as mentioned I get a nice comment a day.

I didn't take many pictures back home in Austria but above were all taken at my parents flat.

So tell me fellow bloggers - how long do you take and how does your envoirement perceive you?

The very beautiful Lindsay of Vintage Rose has asked a similar question HERE!

Feeling the 50s

2011-05-13T23:50:00.000+01:00

In the winter months I found myself strongly favouring the 40s - high waisted trousers, woolly snoods and such! But now the weather is getting warmer - albeit the sun seems to be always accompanied by a frosty breeze - I'm really feeling the 50s.

Floaty skirts and high ponytails feel ever so summery to me!

And I realised I had never tried a certain hair do. Whereas I've been living in rolled bangs and a ponytail in the previous month or two I now really discovered this hair style for me. Ever so easy and quick and I suppose I'd do Gwen Stefani proud!

My old school Gwen Stefani hair interpretation - though currently made popular by Imelda May.

I took these pics when it was getting a bit warmer - but I had just ran out of my last pair of intact natural tights so the dark ones had to make do. They came off during the day as it was really a bit too warm like this.
I really like this outfit - this is actually a long top (New Look) worn under a linen skirt (Primark) which I hoisted up and cinched in, the cardigan (French Connection) is a sheer thin fabric and unfortunately I have broken my beloved sweater-guard! All the items I have owned for many years.

But actually I am living in this "uniform" - I totally adore my simple white shirt and I am combining it nearly daily (I do wash it inbetween!) with various floaty skirts I have. As I still haven't won the lottery I still have to be creative with my not growing wardrobe!

The shirt is from Primark, the skirt from New Look - both items I had for ages. Here again I have pulled the skirt up and cinched it in - it does fall nice and puffy but a little too short!

Different brooch but the same outfit in a yellow variation - skirt also from Primark. And a very weird grin on my son's face!

I am absolutely no sun worshipper, I quite like my pale skin and I really don't like baking in the sun. But I do admit a few rays of sunlight in my face do make me happier!

So let's see what the English summer brings for us!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Rose-tinted Vintage Bedford

2011-05-12T14:42:00.000+01:00

Finally I want to put the spotlight on a few local Vintage lovers and sellers. I've been keen to do this ever since I started up my blog again but as you know technology was not my friend recently (camera broke, computer broke, car broke...)

When I started researching for this series I found incredible sources in and around Bedford. Our little town is ever so vintagey, there is quite a lot going on. I embrace my mummyhood and I don't crave going out much but I do sometimes wish I had more energy and opportunity to actually check out the many vintage events at night!

But first things first! Let's begin with putting the spotlight on Kat from Rose-tinted Vintage in Bedford!

The lovely Kat manning her stall at a vintage fayre in Flitwick

Rose-tinted Vinatge is based in Bedford and they offer an array of affordable casual vintage clothing, handbags, jewellery, scarfs and lot's more!

Kat from Rose-tinted Vintage aims to make vintage clothing affordable! And it is!

You can check her events page to see at what market or fayre they are to be admired or you can also ring or e-mail and book an appointment - Kat is like Vintage on wheels, she brings it to yor house! And of course there's also Etsy!

I hope she can fulfil her dream one day and open a shop in Bedford! I'll certainly be a regular!

What are you wearing to the Royal Wedding today?

2011-04-29T09:01:00.001+01:00

Mr. Bossy, who is 100% British, has been looking at me for the last couple of days as if I'd hit my head a bit too hard. But I don't care - I love revelling completely shamelessly in the guilty pleasure of the Royal Wedding.

Here I am all decked out in union jack colours ready to celebrate with the in-laws!

I also made some crazy patriotic cakes - yummy!

Have a fun weddingy day today!

Style Icon on screen - Sophie-Anne Leclerq

2011-04-28T00:22:00.002+01:00

No post in April yet? Jeez Louise - how the heck did I manage that?

Never mind. Let us indulge in another style icon!

This one is inspired by my most favourite readable trash. I say trash very lovingly because I adore these books but to be honest - of course it's trashy. I am talking about the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris also known as the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I simply love them. Love with a capital L.

Currently I am reading the series again - for the nth time. The books - 10 so far - are fairly thin so I can easily finish one book a day or at least within 2 days - even read again and again I just can't put them down. I'm indulging in these guilty pleasures AGAIN because I'm eagerly awaiting book #11 which will be released on 3rd of May!

The books were made into the highly successful HBO series True Blood - but to be honest I cannot stand the series. Yes it does have it's perks, it's very very funny moments, it's clever twists and certainly some eye candy but that's about it. I think I would have loved the series if I'd never laid eyes on the books. But I simply hate how they altered the characters. I am not talking about the plot, I understand some things do and some things don't work on the screen. But Alan Ball has altered the very heart of the charm of the books - the souls of the protagonists. I hate screaming Sookie in True Blood with a passion. A witty and funny heroine on paper but a stupid damsel in distress on screen. Awful.

But that's besides the point - let's focus on the perks. Sophie-Anne's wardrobe! Sophie-Anne Leclerq, the vampire queen of Louisiana, is well cast with Evan Rachel Wood and clearly sports a fantastic dress sense favouring the 40s and 50s. Though portrayed a bit bratty and less elegant than in the books she certainly looks elegant. She is not seen in many scenes but the ones she does star in make it definitely worthwile to watch!

The other perk in True Blood is the casting of Eric - vampire head honcho. Alexander Skarsgard certainly is cast more than perfect and very easy on the eye. To say the least. Though he's clearly my favourite character in the series he still lacks the charm of the same but oh so different character of the books.

Series 3 ended with a fight between the queen and Bill the vampire - when he opened the door to Sophie-Anne in THIS outfit I applauded. I absolutely love this ensemble - for a very short moment - just a glimpse - she reveals the inside - the tealength coat worn over a few petticoats is lined blood red - stunning!

Series 4 will also start soon - and even though I don't like it very much I do have to watch it. And drool over Sophie-Anne's outfits! And Eric.

And on this note I cannot leave unmentioned my old friend Petra, who is an Austrian Fashion designer. Her label Pebelle will be worn by Tara in Episode 5 (she thinks). Here a little trailer with Tara in a Pebelle shirt (under her coat). I am very proud of my friend!

Check out her blog!

Outfits to fill the boring gap

2011-03-29T23:15:00.001+01:00

It's gotten so boring on my blog it's sad!

I am back in the UK but my laptop is still down and no silver lining in these regards. That means hardly any online time and the little I get has to be divided between various course work, picture editing (a zillion pics I took in Austria), general chit chat and of course blogging. So first things first - a blog post! And as I have no time to research I'll delight you with two outfits! :-)

40s inspired playsuit by Jasmine Guinness

I love this suit, it is the most expensive clothing item I ever bought or owned. But I bought it via Littlewoods which means no big amount of money all at once! Yay for deluding yourself!

When it arrived in the mail order just before Christmas Mr. Bossy loved it so much on me he happily accepted the price. It is indeed quite short and daring (well at least for me it is) but despite the shortness it still has an elegance to it.

And please do not forget the true model in my house.
Le poser extraordinaire!

Suit - Jasmine Guinness via Littlewoods (not available anymore)

Shoes - Peacocks (years ago)

Cardigan - Primark (dito)

Bag - Marks & Spencers (last year)

Sweater Guard - Ebay

Snood - homemade

I particularily like the Gerbera, my favourite flowers, print.
Very punchy colours!

And here a land girl inspired outfit.

I really like knitted tank tops - I've had a few sitting in my wardrobe for years but hardly ever wore them. They certainly get their wear now! I also do a similar version of this outfit in grey/pink.

Trousers - Marks & Spencers via Ebay
Shirt - Pimkie in Austria (about 10 years ago)
Tank - Primark (few years ago)
Snood - homemade

What a failure to try to photograph my hair and my black snood. Blame the toddler who made me laugh.

These little lovelies I bought in Austria (at Deichmann) a few weeks ago. I love them! They were cheap as chips, have exactly the look I wanted and the heel is so reasonably low that they are comfortable for the whole day!

You may have noticed my new brooch. This was actually a birthday present my great aunt gave to my mum many years ago. She doesn't know what era it exactly came from but it certainly matches my growing collection. I hope my great aunt doesn't mind - I love it and wear it a lot!

And talking about family heirloom - as you know my nan recently passed away and I brought a few treasures (treasured by my heart and by my vintage loving eye) with me. But this one is my true precious. I inherited her seal ring with my grandad's - her late husband's - family's coat of arms. My mother and aunts all have one as well and my nan would always say I'd get one for my 18th birthday. I suppose because suddenly so many grandchildren appeared in the family or maybe because my grandad got ill around my 18th birthday and died the following year we never talked about this again. So I was very touched when I inherited her very own ring. And it fits like a glove.

Which is a stupid saying by the way because I have such tiny hands - no glove ever fits me. Unless it's a child's glove.

My true precious

I have just discovered photoscape. Indeed I don't know what I am doing yet but you can see I already had some more fun with these pics than with boring old Picasa. It will take me a little while to get the hang of it but I'll get there!

Pop pop popppppp art

2011-03-16T23:20:00.000Z

I am certainly no true aficionado of the fine arts but I am also no unaware rookie. I have grown up surrounded by art as my dad is a fine arts photographer and an amateur fine art historian (knowledge comes with the job). Art nouveau was the most appreciated art form and era in our house. I completely disregarded it as a child or a teen, my love for art nouveau awoke much later.

When I was a teenie I discovered pop art for myself and fell in love with it. The vibrant colours, the bold statements, the cheekyness - I admired everything about it and always considered it very me. These days I am much calmer and I like to spread my tastes in my house. It's not only a colourful explosion of pop art with some 50s pin-ups in between, I like to dabble in a lot of eras. I adore art nouveau, I like art deco, I adore pop art and I also really worship vintage kitsch and modern Kawaii. So a mix of all these is me or my interior!

And when I realised that there's currently a Mel Ramos and Roy Lichtenstein exhibition in Vienna I just had to go. No I ran.

Both artists mean a lot to me and my personal history. Earlier today I stood in front of one of the nearly life size big candy coloured naked pin-ups of Mel Ramos and I just smiled at her. She really made me happy, I wanted to touch her, stroke her. I know that sounds a bit iffy but you know what I mean, don't cha?

Unfortunately two of my favourite Ramos images were missing in the exhibition. Amongst lots others, but those I personally missed as I had them up my wall in my very first flat donkeys years ago.

Roy Lichtenstein inspired art you can find everywhere all over the world. And I always loved him. I cannot tell you why but he is certainly amongst my top 5 artists.

Again my favourite work by him was not shown.

I had planned to elaborate much more on the two artists but quite honestly I am really beat. And I don't want to miss blogging all the time. So there you go. I had a lovely time today as my dad looked after my son and my middle sister accompanied me in enjoying the exhibition. Just the two of us. Great feeling!

I've been very lucky in recent years with exhibitions in Vienna. There are always tons all around the year but I seem to catch my favs. Last year I went to see Alphonse Mucha, another one of my top 5. How I loved it!

Evening - by Mucha. I bought a print in Muchas hometown Prague years ago and still haven't had it framed!

So next year I expect de Lempicka, Vargas or Elvgren. Got it?

Tamara de Lempicka's self portrait

Pin-up girl by Alberto Vargas

The Fence - by Gil Elvgren

And talking about Gil Elvgren - in the museum gift shop I snatched up the Gil Elvgren Taschen Anniversary book. It contains all his illustrations and frankly it left me speechless. I did not know all his work and it's beyond beauty. I love it. I was surprised by the size of the book, judging from the Amazon pic and prize I assumed it was pocket-ish in size!

I am already half in my pjs and I look quite tired. But I really liked my hair today. And the book :-)

So people in Vienna - if you have not done so yet go and see Mel Ramos and Roy Lichtenstein at the Albertina. The're on until May!

Victory rolls like magic!

2011-03-12T14:47:00.001Z

A few days ago the beautiful Fleur posted this video tutorial.

I've been doing Victory rolls for a little while now and I do them quite often, so I thought - well what else can be new? I already tried a few techniques but nonetheless I watched it because it was Fleurs.

And I am glad I did because even though I do them in a very similar way - roll them half way down around the fingers because neither rolling from the base nor rolling from the tips worked well for me (I could never achieve the desired stability) - I never tried this very simple alteration: Fleur rolls around only one finger whereas I always roll around two - I have teeny tiny fingers I never thought this would work with only one bony stick like mine - but it does and how it does!

I rolled around one finger and like magic I had much more control over the placing and shaping of the roll - it even works with uncurled poker straight hair. And my hair is not only poker straight it's also very fine and silky - backcombing doesn't last and the ends just spring out, they just want to stretch and be free (they are such a pain while pincurling I tell ya!)

I am still in Vienna at my parents - I took these pics a minute before we all left the house in quite a hurry. So please excuse the blurriness etc. But just before we left I took out the very obvious pin and added an obligatory vintage brooch to my cardigan.

And since this is a vintage blog - Vienna in general is quite the vintage mecca - not neccessarily for the 40s or 50s but for the periods Biedermeier (obviously) and Art Nouveau (my very favourite). It is such a pleasure to look around for vintage loving eyes and ever since my parents moved into the inner city (which is the very oldest part of Vienna) I see daily many different antiques traders - you can find little shops all over the city, also in the neighbouring building. But as it is very much appreciated in this country it is also very, very expensive.

Note the floor in the background of the pics in my parents flat - this is a truly vintage floor, it dates back to medieval times. My mum is not 100% - it's an original floor from anytime between 1200-1600. The building they now live in (which has about 10-20 appartments) is the second oldest building in the district and a very historical one. Beautiful!

Proof of life - and death

2011-03-05T18:11:00.001Z

First of all thank you so much to the many new followers! Despite my lack of attendance the number keeps rising - I am in awe! I promise there will be a time where I can show my gratitude and I will browse, follow other blogs and comment.

At the moment I am at home in Vienna in Austria. Sadly my beloved nan passed away 2 days ago but I got here in time, I was able to say good bye and she died at home surrounded by her 3 daughters and me, I am her eldest grandchild. We basically held her and watched her dying and as horrible as this sounds - it was a beautiful moment, she was able to let go after a number of years of suffering, she managed to just fall asleep peacefully without a fight and I perceived it as a very bonding moment between my mother, my aunts and me.

My nan, or Omi as I called her, partly raised me, for at least 10 years of my life I lived with her - for parts of my childhood full time and later on in my very late teens/early 20s I lived across the hall from her in the flat opposite of hers. To me she was more than just a nan, she was my second mother. A woman who always took care of me - my whole life, even as a severely handicapped old lady in the last years she supported me financially. My parents are great people and I love them dearly but the one rock who was reliable was my nan. Her flat is is the only steady home I ever had as my parents always moved around. The street, the district, the appartment she lived in - to me this is where I come from, my roots.

3 1/2 years ago she suffered a very bad stroke which she - amazingly - against all odds survived. Her whole life she had a very, very strong spirit, a true fighter and this amazing stamina and spirit also showed after the stroke - she even gained some speech again, she managed to walk a little but she had to have full time care. Once a very elegant and proud woman she still kept her pride and died very much loved. I hope she can rest in peace now with my equally beloved grandad who died nearly 13 years ago.

I want to scan some old pics of me and my nan and some of her as a young woman but for now a pic of me and my boy yesterday, the day after she died.

The church is just opposite of my parents flat, tomorrow I will say a little prayer for my nan and light a candle in the church.

Mastering the art of faux bangs

2011-02-20T14:36:00.000Z

Well I haven't really but I am getting there.

Alone the expression "faux bangs" is just great. A French and American fusion of words. In the world of hair on your forehead there are many different expressions - the Brits call it "fringe" (fairly obvious why) and the Americans "bangs" - which I like better but I wanted to know why. I am always keen on etymology so of course I had to look it up - this is what I found:

The term bangs, always used in the plural, is, as you know the fringe of hair usually cut squarely across the forehead. According to etymology scholar Robert Barnhart, the term is strictly American in origin first surfacing in 1878. It was believed influenced by the adverbial use of bang in the meaning of abruptly, as in hair cut bang off; some sources offer a relation to earlier bangtailed (1861) of a horse's tail that has been cut horizontally across.

The Germans call it a "pony" - the German word for pony (the neighing kind) is the same word as in English so because of the resemblance of a Pony's fringe it's called simply a pony! And I guess it's not called horse (which would be a much less glamouros word anyway both in German and English) beacuse a pony tail is called a horse taul. Confused yet? Well the Austrians on the other hand call it a "forehead fringe" though I do know Austrians who also call it a pony. I thought you might be interested in this terribly important trivia....

Now on to the actual faux bangs! The photos (click to enlarge) are based on a mix of these two great video tutorials by the swanky FLEUR and the equally elegant CASEY.

Fleur's 40s tut - click

Casey's 50s tut - click

(for some unknown reason blogger does not like me inserting a video link, that's why the videos are posted like that I'm afraid)

I shyed away from faux bangs for quite a while - thinking it would look plain weird having a roll on the forehead. I guess because I do think it does look weird if it's not well done and I have seen some pics that must have put me off. But I take it all back, it looks fantastic if I may say so myself.

The back is based on the first part of Casey's video but I used a rat like in Fleurs video. I crochteted myself a small and short rat as I have currently a growing out fringe/bangs so I can't roll a big section of my hair.

Different day and this time the back is based on the latter part of Caseys video but again I used my now much beloved little rat.

And of course soon I have to try this iconic Dita look with a victory roll on either side!

And while I am at it - can someone tell Nicole Scherzinger that she's doing this exceptionally badly - she looks like a superhero gone wrong. Dreadful!

This is a superhero doing it well!
Carla Gugino as Sally Jupiter in Watchmen.

Outfits'n'hair

2011-02-19T23:07:00.001Z

I am showing these outfits not because I think they are so great - by golly I really don't - but because it amazes me what I can find in my wardrobe with a bit of rethinking. It's the wardrobe of Narnia! I find old forgotten pieces in there and pieces I wanted to throw out but deserve new love - all kinds of things. I really consider my hesitation to go full time vintage (inspired) so silly. For years I would always don a full skirted dress with a petticoat and 50s hair for occassions but never dreamt of the possibility to do it every day. All it took was some rethinking, some "new" vintage jewllery and of course the hair. I still think that is what makes or breaks the outfit.

(click to enlarge all pics)

I really liked the pink number, not so keen in hindsight on the navy-red combo (in the mirror the 2 navy tones didn't look that different) and I have never been fully convinced of the teal cardigan. I think I just need to find an ideal item to wear it with.

As mentioned before I started selling bits of my wardrobe to fund new vintage or vintage inspired items. One of my first treasures is this pair of grey M&S high waisted trousers. Blimey do I love them. I live in them at the moment. Currently I am trying to hunt down a navy pair on Ebay. These grey ones were in mint condition and cheap as chips.

The floral cardigan from Primark is also a newer aquisition via ebay and the leopard print one I had for a while - also Ebay but originally Next.

2 brooches from my vintage jewllery treasure chest

I thought my hair is also blogworthy

These were taken the day after the vintage event in Letchworth after the hairdresser told me to roll at the base around 2 fingers. I managed to get the victory rolls more standing up but I still have not got the hang of it.

I crocheted myself a rat - what a difference! I love it how neat and tidy the back looks now - and when I am in not such a rush in the morning I could also try hiding the pins...

I absolutely love this pic of my lil' man and me.

The little scallywag always tries to hog the limelight - here's the proof!

Add caption

Pimp my coat

2011-02-18T13:26:00.000Z

For months I'd been trying to hunt down a nice vintage coat for a reasonable price. Always unlucky - lost the auctions, wrong sizes or wrong cuts. I do love the look of swing coats but in reality they just don't suit me, I need something more tailored. If my waist is not cinched in I look like I'm wearing a tent. Tough luck.

So here's my solution. Take my old but well fitting dreary Primark coat with only half of the original black plastic buttons (I kind of lost one a day in the last few weeks) and exchange them for some vintage buttons!

Actually already not so dreary anymore with my beautiful vintage brooch pinned on.

Successfully I found these beautiful original 50s buttons on Ebay.

The buttons I used for the coat in detail

Et voilà - a perfectly fitting coat with a vintage twist!

The other day someone asked me if I found my "vintage" coat on Ebay. So I guess - result!

Finally the review of the vintage event in Letchworth

2011-02-16T13:55:00.002Z

Finally!

THIS event was indeed very interesting!

The beautifully restored Mrs. Howard Memorial Hall in Letchworth was the perfect setting for a very pleasant but a tad quiet evening organised by the FIRST GARDEN CITY HERITAGE MUSEUM. Mellow 1940s music in the background, homemade cakes to die for and endless servings of tea - served on the most beautiful vintage crockery.

Beautiful ladies of Buns and Buntings

Please do have a look at http://bunsandbunting.blogspot.com/ - what a wonderful local vintage catering service! Just to look at their wardrobe, swoon over the crockery and not least of all indulge in their cakes was worth going for!

Weird pic of myself but the only one we took of the crockery! And one of my victory rolls was drooping!

The other very interesting part was the vintage stylist DANI RICHARDSON. She gave an informative presentation of 2 40s hairstyles and daytime make-up and did not leave interesting historic facts regarding rationing out. I also took away a very helpful tip (of course she spotted my dropped roll straight away) - to roll at the hair base around 2 fingers instead rolling the hair from the tips down. I still have not fully worked it out but I am getting there!

Dani and her model

There was also a stall run by JOLLY BROWN, a vintage shop in Hitchin!

Apart from maybe too quiet music there was one major hiccup - even though I love love love the idea of "SWISHING". It was advertised as a vintage swap shop. So one could expect that you actually swap vintage, couldn't you? Well there was not much vintage (no obvious vintage enthusiasts as guests either) and I even spotted a Tescos t-shirt with it's tags on. I would have been gutted, really gutted, if I would have brought anything to swap. So my advise for next time is to actually police more what people put into the swishing pot - or not proclaim it as a vintage swap.

My own outfit I wore

Pretty sure it is a 70s dress but I love it anyway. Found it via ebay (it's one of my fist purchases I got with the money I got from selling bits of my old wardrobe - so it's part of my very own swishing!). Cardigan is my trusted Primark one and the Mary Janes are from Peacocks - but years ago.

And my hair in more detail - no roll dropped yet on these piccies!

2 more reviews of the event: http://www.gardencitymuseum.org/blog/swap_shop_fun_and_upcoming_events and http://bunsandbunting.blogspot.com/2011/02/vintage-swap-shop-success.html

Happy belated Valentine's day!

2011-02-15T21:45:00.000Z

I hope you all had a loved up day!

Mine was full of shopping (for food, not that exciting), baking and cooking. And the always working Mr. Bossy managed to come home at a reasonable time to appreciate cakes and one of his favourite meals.

I love my cakes - so pretty.

Red food colouring is notoriously the worst of all and as I am the proud mother of a highly energetic toddler (a friend dubbed him the cannon ball child) it's really not something I want to give him voluntarily. These cakes look amazingly pink but it's all natural! We love beetroot!

The recipe is my trusted favourite cake recipe - blogged about HERE, just substitute the bananas with grated beetroot (I used 2 pre-cooked beetroots) and added about 1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract (1-2 because I nearly dropped the bottle and it overflowed...). The dough itself was a vibrant raspberry pink but when baked it looked rather golden with pink speckles. They do taste nice but I personally prefer beetroot in combination with chocolate - yummy. Blogged about HERE.

The icing contains about a ton of sugar so not all healthy cakes - but never mind. The recipe is taken from THIS lovely book:

110g unsalted butter, at room temperature

60ml semi-skimmed milk, at room temperature

500g icing sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

I substituted some of the milk with beetroot juice - how much is utterly up to you. I think I used at least a good 20ml and they came out such a vibrant pink - but you cannot taste it.

Whisk all together until smooth and ice the fully cooled cakes with a palette knife. If you have any decoration put it on the minute you iced the cake as it hardens up fairly fast. The red hearts are shop bought and do propably contain artificial colouring - my son had a cake with only one heart on it and I suppose he'll live!

I love baking anyway - but themed baking is even better!

When I woke up yesterday morning this was waiting for me in the lounge.

That was a lovely surprise which I did not expect at all. My child was nearly hyperventilating and could hardly contain himself and then told me all about it that they bought this at the shop! According to Mr. Bossy the great big balloon was Bossy juniors idea. Now who would have thought that!

Photoshop up but camera down!

2011-02-15T16:33:00.001Z

Seriously. Is this sod's law or what? I have now photoshop on Mr. Bossys PC and will upload a good handful of outfit and hair posts of recent weeks over the next few days starting tonight - but now my camera is down! My toddler - again! - broke off the capture button. Seriously. I need to get a new camera. But first I hope Mr. Bossy can fix the old one again and Bossy junior needs his own camera!

And my phone takes dreadful pics, look at this!

But I rather love my "new" vintage scarf which I think is genuinely 50s. Also in the background you can spot a little teaser for the upcoming give away!

Tweet Tweet

2011-02-13T00:49:00.000Z

For years now I have been refusing to tweet. I am totally aware of the fact that it is propably quite addictive but so far I was happy with exploiting myself via my Facebook status updates.

I want to keep my Facebook profile private but still muse and ramble on about terribly important vintage related thoughts. Obviously I have to have Twitter now. Obviously.

I am just now trying to get the hang of it. So please FOLLOW ME - needless to say.

Home is where the vintage heart is - Vintage fair in Northampton

2011-02-12T21:12:00.000Z

My vain little self misses pictures of me on here! As this is a long term problem with my laptop I just have to give in and install photoshop on Mr. Bossys PC and beg for some online time. So hopefully soon lots of outfit and hair posts.

I had a lovely time today at the vintage fayre in Flitwick!

(Blogged about HERE)

I met fellow vintage ladies in the flesh who I had met online before - 2 shops I will soon tell you about! The fayre was full of beautiful vintage crockery and a bit (enough for me!) affordable clothing (picked up a few dresses myself). Not to forget plenty of vintage haberdashery stuff and all the crafting!

And talking about vintage fairs - there's another one coming up! This one will be in Northampton on the 19th of March. I won't make it as I will be back home in Austria for a few weeks but they have more dates coming up. Check out the blog!

http://northamptonvintagefair.blogspot.com/

I absolutely adore this flyer!

So many vintage events in the area - my head is spinning with excitement!

Style Icon on screen - Charlotte "Chuck" Charles

2011-02-10T23:08:00.000Z

Pushing Daisies is in my opinion one of the best series ever made. I intsantly fell in love with all the characters and could not help smile all the way through every episode. Unfortunately there are only 2 seasons. It got such praise by the critics, many emmy nominations and wins but the ratings dropped. Why?

What a shame!

Costume designer Robert Blackman and the whole creative team did such an inspiring job - it's a colourful feast for our eyes! Indeed it's a visual explosion of bright colours in warm tones - the majority is shown in reds, oranges or yellows and there's virtually no blue seen. Often you can see circular background shapes and round windows - they even shot most frames within circles - it was all done reminiscent to storybooks. Absolutely beautiful I say.

And then there's my own personal highlight. Chucks wardrobe.

Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (nearly all characters have aliterative names) is the female lead and has a distinctive eye for a vintagey wardrobe. She especially likes the 50s and occassionally dabbles in the 60s but is always such a gorgeous little thing to look at. The actress Anna Friel is one stunning woman!

(My laptop is broken - remember? So no picture collages, just a few plonked on here - just like that)

If you haven't seen Pushing Daisies yet - go on and watch it! This is a very limited selection of her wardrobe - I promise Chuck Charles and her bright dresses, her perky demeanor and quirky ideas will make you smile!

Home is where the vintage heart is - Vintage fair in Harpenden

2011-02-10T13:22:00.000Z

I have a 100 followers! Unbelievable!

Promised give away will follow - soon(ish)!

My laptop is down and my child a bit under the weather - so hardly any online time and no photoshop on the "big" PC here equals hardly any blogging. Crap, I know.

But there's another very exciting event to promote!

Please have a look at the website http://www.hertfordshire-vintage-fairs.com/ - really exciting stuff!

Looks like paradise to me.

The upcoming event in Harpenden is still in reach for me from where I am based - so I'll be there!

DIRECTIONS to the location

Home is where the vintage heart is - Vintage swap shop in Letchworth

2011-02-03T13:06:00.000Z

I am currently having severe technical difficulties with my laptop. I've got a few hair and outfit posts lined up but no laptop to upload pics.

Nevermind because this brilliant event was brought to my attention by a friend and I have to share!

On Saturday the 5th of February there's a vintage event in Letchworth, Hertfordshire!

Vintage Swap Shop, Howard Hall, 5pm-8pm

Get swishing - bring along some vintage clothes to swap

Buy vintage styles & accessories (from a stall run by local vintage shop, Jolly Brown)

Get professional vintage hair & make-up tips (from Dani Richardson)

Enjoy Tea & Cakes on vintage crockery from local newcomers, Buns & Buntings!…

Hop to some 1940s music

Bring along some friends and meet other 40s fashionistas!

Taken from the official announcement HERE.

Not sure if I can make it (who wants to babysit?) but obviously I really want to go.

DIRECTIONS to the location

Style Icon: Kirstie Allsopp

2011-01-31T23:48:00.000Z

I don't give a monkeys about real estate but I cannot stop watching various famed property programs - if they are fronted by Kirstie Allsopp. Simply because I like to gape at her frocks!

Kirstie Allsopp must be one of THE vintage icons of current day British television. No matter what she puts on she always oozes 40s or 50s glamour. Big skirts, shirt dresses or tailored suits. Not to forget an array of beautiful coats - and those killer heels she's always seen in!

Kirstie and her onscreen presenting partner Phil Spencer - I love their banter!

She's a clever woman, clearly well educated. If you don't love her for her style you have to adore her for her feistiness.

Very, very small selection of what I could find online. It is so worth watching her programs just to oogle over her outfits.

Apart from the property programs with Phil Spencer she also did Kirstie's Homemade Home in which she explored all kinds of crafting and promoted 2nd hand. Just brilliant! I also loved Kirstie and Phils homemade Christmas series a few weeks ago.

Kirstie sticks to her signature 50s lines on the red carpet. Beautiful maternity coat on the right by the way!

But a dressed down make-up free Kirstie also exudes 50s glam

Perfect!

Please do excuse that there is not much more substance to this post but I am very tired, busy week behind me, busy week ahead - so no more!

Thank you speech

2011-01-30T23:23:00.000Z

In the last 2 weeks I have recived the same award by two different fellow vintage bloggers - Kiki La Mer of http://rockabillyview.blogspot.com/ and Fraeulein Lin of http://petticoatsandpinup.blogspot.com/.

Thank you very much lovely ladies, it is much appreciated!

We are not exactly at the Oscars here and neither am I clad in a frock - but I have my set wrapped in my most beautiful scarf and the couch I am sitting on is on a red carpet. So that will do!

The conditions of this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Award 10 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So here are my 7 incredibly interesting facts!

I was born and bred in Vienna in Austria. Last Friday 6 years ago I came to England. Why? I had to clear my head, needed a break from myself, from people, I needed to change my life. I think I can only do radical things, just changing wouldn’t do, I actually needed to leave the country. To stay that long I had never intended but after only 2 and a bit months I met Mr. Bossy and the rest is the famous history....

My beautiful hometown Vienna

I used to have fire engine red hair, chain smoke, drink heavily and enjoyed the very hedonistic lifestyle of a right floozy. No regrets but I guess it makes you understand my first point better. When I met Mr. Bossy I soon turned into mumsy Little Miss Boring. So goal achieved. I changed!

This is one of my fav old pics of me, it was taken the night before my 24th birthday - 7 years ago.

I am a big advocator of attachment parenting. I myself was raised like this (though only partly) so to me it is only natural. At the beginning of his life my son was brought up according to the continuum concept, we stuck pretty well to it. I carried him exclusively for 25 months (of course he also walked but never owned a pram before that), we always co-slept with absolutely no exception (still do), we try to practice gentle disciplining - i.e. no punishment, no forcing to say sorry, logical consequences is the form of disciplinary (I do have to admit I find this rather hard, I am quite a short tempered person and so is my boy – we clash very loudly). And I am very, very passionate about breastfeeding. I am an active member of the La Leche League and intend to feed my boy as long as he wants. I am aware of the fact that a lot of people find this icky but I am very open about this and stand up for my decision. We feed everywhere, we don’t hide. To me this is important to show people that it’s ok to do this. I know there’s this big stigma that mums who use wraps, who feed their “fully grown” toddlers (because a small child is practically a teenager?) and try to be healthy (though I am terribly failing at this) all look like Birkenstock wearing eco-warriors. Well I don’t. Of course it’s absolutely fine if someone chooses to look like Mayim Bialik (who I adore, she is THE celebrity spokesperson for attachment parenting) but I know so many mums who don’t and still do it that way. I unfortunately also heard of quite a number of people who steered clear of wraps because of said stigma.

This photo was taken last summer when my sisters came to visit me. We feed everywhere but discreetly. The picture of me above is much much more revealing.

I love baking. Especially cupcakes. One day I’d like to open a small cupcake bakery in Bedford. All decked out in a 50s diner style. Dreams.... We are actually really planning something but for now it is just a dream as I don’t know how to fit child and setting up a business together. And of course money doesn’t grow on trees but I guess you already know that.

Cakes I made for my son's last birthday party

I am obsessed with polka dots. I guess that is a fairly obvious one. I see anything red with white polka dots and I really want to possess it but I am a sucker for all things dotty. And anything that contains bows, daisies, fruit prints or stripes.

I thought you might like to see some polka dots on here, such a rare sight...

I am very British when it comes to tea. Before I came here I already loved to drink English breakfast tea with milk but ever since I live here I do drink at least 3 cups a day. Which is nothing in comparison to the 7 odd cups Mr. Bossy downs a day, I know. I sometimes have to smile at myself when my first move is to make a cuppa when we have a crisis situation going on. That is SO British.

Vintage tea party

This year I want to learn how to knit and sew. And I mean properly. I want to knit myself so many cardis and sweaters and - well, obviously - sew myself a zillion pretty dresses. I am a self taught crocheter so that should give me confidence – but it doesn’t. I only took up crocheting because I wouldn’t understand knitting patterns! I am more confident with sewing patterns (though not really as I left fashion school donkeys years ago because of the fact that I didn’t understand patterns) – I am very worried though that a sewing machine would wake my son. I have no idea how to solve this the best way – so I guess we’ll see what the year will bring!

Beautiful 40s knitting pattern to be found online

This style award has been going back and forth on various vintage blogs - so I guess you've all received this already! I'd like to give the award to the following brilliant dames:

http://betteontoast.blogspot.com/

http://annieanniepancake.blogspot.com/

http://ironorchidvintage.blogspot.com/

http://lexymademyday.blogspot.com/

http://smuterella.blogspot.com/

http://spiffingsporadics.blogspot.com/

http://vavoomvintage.blogspot.com/
http://goldengirlofthewest.blogspot.com/
http://callmelucille.blogspot.com/
http://www.andibgoode.com/

Just a quick note...

2011-01-28T22:15:00.000Z

... to say that my internet has abandoned me. Hence my absence.

My promised give away when I reach the big 100 will have to wait I think - that number is approaching so fast I cannot believe it! Need to actually make the things I planned to give away first!

2 outfits and hair of course...

2011-01-24T18:50:00.002Z

Oh deary me - when I embarked on this revived blog journey a few weeks ago I had (still have) so many blog ideas and I was more than keen to keep up to date with blog browsing and leaving comments. But yet again I underestimated time (or better the lack of). So again I have not more time to do more than a quick outfit post. Within the week I shall return comments and also acknowledge a lovely blog award I have received.

(click to enlarge)

Outfit one day last week, just another combination of my various skirts and cardis.
And of course the trusted outtake - but could I pose any stiffer?

I am not sure if I like this hair. I kinda do but really I don't. They look more like huge pincurls than victory rolls. Though I do think that it looks cute and playful and like a modern take on it I still reckon it's too cutsey.

This bakelite beauty came with one of the 2 much talked about ebay purchases - this came from the US one.

I wore this yesterday to my friend's little boy's bithday party.

This red dress with white polkadots from Select I bought ages ago (for literally pennies) via ebay - I was going to wear it at my registry office wedding (which has not happened yet) but I won't anymore. It's a lovely v neck dress with wide straps and beautiful ruching around the waist. I paired a simple white fitted shirt underneath - it looked just perfect to me. I did mention before that I LOVE this Primark cardigan (still there to buy) and the lovely shoes, the very retro heels I have to show another day, are also Primark, but bought a while ago.

And I proudly present my most favourite piece of jewllery. My much much beloved sweater guard (if anyone could tell me how you call it in German I'd be greatful - my mother doesn't know). I am not sure and always open for a lesson in fashion history - it seems to me that they were much more popular in the states than in Europe in the 1950s. Is that correct vintage history buffs?

Also ebayed. I unfortunately lost a faux pearl but never mind, will be easily replaced if I want to.

Lena Hoschek new collection A/W 2011/12

2011-01-22T22:08:00.000Z

First of all - thank you so much to all my new followers (that sounds so strange though I quite fancy myself as a deity) - my last few days were quite short of online time so I was surprised to see so many new followers today. Soon I'll have time to check your blogs out!

Lena Hoschel showed her new A/W 2011/12 collection on Wednesday in Berlin at the Mercedes-Benz fashion week.

And it was a great success!

(Personally my heart beats even faster for the previous A/W 2010 collection but the new one is still just beautiful.)

I am loving all the plaid dresses and blouses and the colourful tights but I wish the hemlines would get longer again. Seems to me they get shorter with every collection?

(click to enlarge)

Photocredits: Boris Marberg

Don't forget to stay tuned for my interview with the brilliant designer!

A few outfits, snooded and casual hair...

2011-01-19T23:05:00.001Z

With our current financial issues I cannot just go out and buy a whole lot of "new" vintage dresses or some of the most gorgeous repro stuff out there. I have to make do with what I have and just combine it with more effort and vintage inspired hair.

It's a new challenge every day and the fancy hair is indeed very glam for play groups but what the heck - I am loving it.

I did not manage to capture every day of the last week as I have a tendency to rush to places and be late everywhere I go :-)

Dressed up in a little black cardigan and 2 different skirts and dressed down in a polkadotted number

I think the lovely shoulder detail makes the blue dress very vintage reminiscent but that huge zip down the front obviously destroys the look. But it makes it IDEAL for discreet breastfeeding and that's why I still got it in the first place. It's from LoveLabel, the fake leather belt I have added, it's 2nd hand via Ebay.
The black cardigan is from South, it's a bit short in the body and also short sleeved (I am wearing a H&M breastfeeding top underneath) but I love love love the frilly ruffles and the bow attached to it!

I don't know if my outtakes amuse you but they sure amuse me :-)
My darling son always wanting the spotlight and in the middle I had bashed my elbow walking backwards and really hit the famous funny bone.

The hair is the really exciting part for me at the moment. I am always on the lookout for dressed down casual vintage styles. Any tips? This updo is so quick it counts for me as casual but it does look rather glam I think. Just a little pompadour, twisted back and pushed forward side parts and the back is rolled up - which would look neater if I'd had a rat. And it was such a rainy grey day I just needed a flower in my hair.

And I adoooooooore snoods. So elegant! This one I made myself and I will make more. I guess if I make one in black or brown it would be more casual. I'm in love with victory rolls at the moment but they are rather dressy. So beautiful!

Recently I was asking myself if people are really interested in my musings or if I am taking my vanity a step to far in waffling endlessly about my hair and clothes. But yesterday a friend told me that she went out and bought stuff I had shown on my blog and wouldn't have thought of going there before and that gave me new confidence. I have purpose :-)

Also thank you so much to all the people who are following me - it's a crazy addition of about 65 people in the last 1 1/2 months.

When I reach the 100 I'll do a give away which will include a snood!

Promised Lena Hoschek A/W 2010 pictures

2011-01-18T10:37:00.000Z

The pictures I tried uploading last night.

Just gorgeous. Beautiful. Fantastic. To die for!

Please don't forget my interview with this great designer - if you have questions to ask her please leave me a comment. More info HERE.

(please click to enlarge the pics, they are all high resolution)

Photocredits: Lupis Puma

Have a browse through her CATALOGUE - more pics to swoon over!

Lena Hoschek inspired low cost outfit

2011-01-18T00:10:00.000Z

I was actually going to show you many high-res Lena Hoschek A/W 2010 pictures as she is presenting the A/W 2011 collection in Berlin fashion week this Wednesday. But my internet keeps playing up so I leave you with only one gorgeous picture and something to smile about.

Photocredit: Lupis Puma

Look at this most beautiful outfit. Now take this Bon Marche skirt, pair with a white shirt and a black cardi and one of those t-bar shoes. And don't forget a beret (Primark sells berets every year for around £2-4). And et voilà the budget end of the high street provides you a Hoschek inspired style.

All 3 t-bar shoes are from Littlewoods and under £35 - the shoe on the far right is very much on top of my wish list.
Such a low heel is just perfect for me!

Granny chic on a budget

2011-01-16T00:39:00.001Z

Buying more genuine vintage will be a slow process. First of all they are not that easily obtained here and genuine garments from the 40s and 50s are just too expensive at the moment. 70s/80s does 40s/50s is a good start for me but nevertheless still a slow one.

But I do want to expand my wardrobe with a few more staple items like a plain multi-functional tweed skirt or/and classic trousers. And let's not forget more knits. More. And more. I love knits!

And then I had an epiphany! Where do grannys go and buy their granny clothes? Grannys must be on a budget considering their small pensions, right? Apart from the obvious - charity shops - I thought the en vogue place for grannys in Bedford must be Bon Marche. It think it's THE granny shop. So I had a browse through on their website - and I was so surprised!

Not only is it really affordable, I really like it.

A selection of tops and blouses currently on offer:

(click to enlarge all pictures)

I was quite surprised to find pretty skirts

These tweed skirts make my heart beat faster. Must go and get one!
The plain black pencil skirt is just £4 at the moment - clearance sale!

I like these very classic trousers

Surely that awful belt in the middle must be detachable...

Of course Bon Marche offers lovely old lady knits - I dig them

But also surprisingly interesting pieces!

I love this peter pan collar sweater and quite like the ruffle collar on the right

Great dresses!

Some more interesting looking ones

The coats are also worth to be looked at

And I absolutely adore these swimsuits!

I am really not one for a bikini and I like plain nautical swimsuits. They are perfect!

The swim dress is so darling I must go and get one!

BON MARCHE has a clearance sale going on at the moment!

All items shown are below £20 (with the exception of I believe 3 dresses and the coats) and quite a few are under £10.

It is really worth looking at!

Little Miss Bossy will interview Lena Hoschek

2011-01-14T20:48:00.001Z

I know, I know another post today. But I am really excited about this one!

The beautiful designs of LENA HOSCHEK have been emerging on various vintage blogs in the last year and quite rightly so - she's incredible!

As a fellow Austrian I don't only want to show support and show her newer collection - the spring/summer 2011 catalogue was released today - I will also interview her!

Lena and her team have kindly agreed to answer questions as a video interview - and I give you my fellow lovers of vintage and fashion now the possibility to ask Lena!

If you have a question please leave a comment until Friday next week - I will then sort through and forward the questions to Lena and her equally nice press team.

And then look out for the interview and the video on here!

Please be so kind and spread the word and link back here.

The more support we show this great designer the merrier!

The ladyship herself.
Photocredits: Spooky Sally Cherrymuffin

The spring/summer collection is very rockabilly and features not only pretty frocks....

Photocredits: Lupis Puma

.... and adorable summer wear....

Photocredits: Lupis Puma

... but also a lot of fetish!

Photocredits: Lupis Puma

Lena Hoschek eyewear

Photocredits: Robert La Roche

I am in total awe of her winter 2010 catalouge but the new collection is also entirely swoonworthy. Look at the busty and tattooed models! Real women! That alone should inspire some questions!

To tide us over until the interview I will post more pictures of previous collections, more about Lena and her story so far during the next 2 weeks - and please ask away!

Copycat?

2011-01-14T11:24:00.001Z

Please excuse the waffling this might be a very non-interesting post but I had a comment on Facebook yesterday in which a dear old friend was criticising me for copying style and loosing my own style.

And dear old friend when you read this - I was and am not affronted, I think it's great if we can talk about things openly but nevertheless it made me think so I want to comment on it officially :-)

I was quite baffled by this comment as I didn't understand it.

Who am I copying? Emma (see previous post), other vintage ladies, other blogs? After asking her she told me she misses the old funky colourful Little Miss Bossy who used to mix trends and retro in a very own way.

I still didn't understand because I don't have the feeling that I lost this but tastes and styles evolve over the years just like my mind evolves. You can also broaden your fashion horizon, no?

I have been gone from my home country for nearly 6 years and I guess I keep forgetting that. My dear old friends don't see me very often and are all completely missing out on the biggest influence in my life - my child. My personal style had already drastically changed when I left home (I changed haircolour to find a job faster) and also when I met Mr. Bossy shortly after. It was not neccessary anymore to dress that "loudly". I also lost a lot of weight and suddenly fit into high street stuff. This was exciting. There was no need anymore to customise things I could just go out and buy them!

But of course my good friends from back home always kept the memory and did not see me change or better evolve first hand.

In May 2008 I blogged THIS - so this whole changing of style is not a sudden thing. But I went home for visits in between, my friend in question saw me a few times in recent years. Some of the pics in my header are from 2007. I was honestly very surprised by her comment to say the least.

And then when I went to bed it dawned on me what she meant and I understood. I guess her point was if I'd go authentic vintage, which is based on other women of former times no denying that, than I would lose my own personal quirkiness. And yes she ist totally right in that. Absolutely and a 100%. But exactly for this reason I don't want to go authentic vintage on a strict daily basis because indeed I could see my own style personality fading. But sometimes I like it. Very much so.

So all along we had been on the same page. I think what led to the misunderstanding was my "new years resolution" to have a vintagey feel every day and fully commit to vintage hair. I don't see anything wrong with tweaking your style every now and then. At the moment I feel so attracted to the 40s because of the elegance. And yes elegance is newish to me. The late 50s and early 60s will propably always be my favourite area and the most flattering to my body and hair shape. They are much more "me" but I can still have a dabble in other eras too, can't I? Who knows maybe in a few years time I am suddenly very interested in the 20s or 30s - which I am not so much at the moment.

There is one very important reason why this is all being so broadcasted at the moment. I still breastfeed my son but I don't have to whip them out at every possible moment anymore. I also used to exclusively carry him in a sling and only recently started using a buggy. And that's the main reason - being freed of fabric slung around me or not having to dress all easy access anymore means I can explore again.

And I am SO enjoying this!

Style Icon on screen: Emma Pillsbury

2011-01-14T00:22:00.004Z

First of all - UK readers:

Here might be Glee spoilers as season 2 is well on it's way on FOX in the states and I have already watched it online.

I am a Gleek.

Only through Glee Beyonce and the likes find their way to my ears without me wincing or turning it off.

I am so hooked on the gripping story lines and I think all the young actors (and the older ones) are doing a marvelous job. But most of all I could swoon over the styling of the show all the time.

There's one clear stand-out character. And that is - of course - Emma Pillsbury.

(click to enlarge all pictures)

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Emma is the guidance counsellor of the school and one of the most complex characters. She divides her day between her OCDs, handing out pamphlets, giving advice and drooling over Will (well at least she used to) and buying the most incredible clothes. Her wardrobe presents an eclectic vintage, modern, prim and proper but still cheerful mix. Simply adorable. Emma somehow manages to mix the 70s (look at that flick of her hair in season 1 and all those pussybows) with a flair of the 50s and still looks so immaculately modern and fresh. At the beginning of season 1 she seemed to always go for one colour and wear many items in different tones - and it worked! Later on she combined more colours but never more than 3.

Bows, bows, bows. Emma sometimes sports 3-4 bows within one single outfit.

I love bows. Amongst polkadots and fruit prints (she's got cherry earrings!) my most favourite thing.

Miss Pillsbury has an amazing collection of cardigans. In every episode she appears there's for sure more than just one cardigan to admire.

This is only a very very small selection of some of her cardigans. I think sometimes she wears vintage cardigans and sometimes modern day ones. Please note the most fantastic Mary Poppins one (by Forever 21) - second from the right at the bottom. Mary Poppins on a cardigan - it's just dreamy!

Emma always wears skirts or dresses. Full stop. As seen above in the bow collage she either wears uni coloured pencil skirts (especially one with bows by J.Crew, she wears that one in many colours) or floral ones (the only items in her wardrobe I am not keen on) or colourful A-line skirts like these ones. Or polkadotted ones! Emma also has signature shoes - these beautiful Mary Janes - "Penelope" by J.Crew which she has at least in those 2 colours.

Obviously she needs coats to match her cute outfits - I particularily like the green stripey Kate Spade coat.

And when she emerged in THAT wedding dress (by J.Crew) I looked about the same as Will - wide eyed, gasping for air and ready to lick the telly (though in a puppy kind of way, I wouldn't want to scare Emma with any dirtyness)

Miss Pillsbury (or shall I call her Mrs. Howell? No I simply refuse) also has an amazing collection of jewllery

Emma often wears huge vintage enamel flower brooches or beaded necklaces with big enamel flowers attached. There's so much jewllery like this on Etsy at the moment!

But the most important - to me - jewllery she wears are her sweater guards. I adore them. I have to thank Miss Pillsbury for bringing them to my attention. I liked them so much on her that I got myself one and that led to my vintage journey. So basically it's all her fault.

A.d.or.a.b.l.e.! I also love it when she clips them to her collar!

Obviously Emma Pillsbury is a fictional character played by the incredibly cute actress Jayma Mays.

So who is behind Emmas - or Glees - incredible styling? Costume designer Lou Eyrich who did Nip/Tuck (which I found very stylish) before Glee. I love this woman - such great work.

I love it how Lou recycles all the clothes - on Glee you will see staple items many a times but mostly combined differently - like a real person would do. The characters have obviously their favourite pieces!

And many of those just mentioned have the most tremendous wardrobe - i.e. Kurt. But my second favourite is Rachel - in season 1 Rachel had a great mix of granny-toddler going on (it worked!) but in season 2 she upgraded a bit to a more polished version of herself.

She actually wears a lot of similar items to Emma but styled very differently.

Like this beautiful Marc Jacobs dress - Emma more grown up pairs a cardi, a belt, a brooch and her trusted MJs whereas Rachel prefers loud matching tights and flats. Same dress in a different colour scheme but such a different look!

I love Emma. SO adorable. She's with Carrie Bradshaw my most favourite style icon on screen - ever. And I am for sure not the only one of this opinion - if you type Emma Pillsbury into Google "clothes" is the first suggestion. Emma Pillsbury has a whole worshipping following which is led by one of the most fantastic blogs I have come across. Please have a look at "WHAT WOULD EMMA PILLSBURY WEAR" - the ladies who've set this blog up have put their heart and soul into research, they live and breathe Emma. There are guest writers who channel Emma on a daily basis and reproduce her outfits - amazing pictures. One of them also gives a tremendously heplful "Gleebay" update - she searches for Emmas (and some of Rachels and Quinns) outfits on Ebay and posts the links. Truly marvelous!

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Sadly in season 2 there's not much Emma to admire. Admittedly the whole Kurt storyline is very touching and gripping but I miss Emma and Will. Yes I loved Uncle Jesse when he was Uncle Jesse but now I want Will! And I don't like it that they are only touching upon their relationship on the surface. It's kind of lost in the glee club tornado of emotions though it was such a shocker when she got married. I truly heart Will Schuester and hopefully they find a way to each other again! She seems to have loosened up a lot - it also shows in her wardrobe. She looks much less prim and proper in season 2. Well what we get to see of her. I do have to say I dislike her hair - whereas it was her perfect 70s flick before it now seems to have curled up and looks sometimes quite untidy throughout various episodes. Very un-Emma! Let's hope the second half of season 2 has more Emma clothes and more Emma hearting Will to offer!

I leave you now with a great quote by Jayma Mays and some links of Emmas favourite labels!

The great revelation

2011-01-11T16:09:00.000Z

Yesterday I made the decision which Mr. Bossy has been trying to convince me of for years. Though for very different reasons. To downsize my wardrobe and sell a whole lot of items that are just sitting there. His reason to urge me on is to have more room and mine are - well mine are obvious. I want to sell so I can buy more vintage. Simple maths.

I rummaged around in my cupboard and actually had quite the revelation. I have no clue why I pussyfooted around committing to daily vintagey outfits because most of my wardrobe is anyway 50s inspired. That said I have hardly any genuine vintage items but I have a ton of big skirts and cardigans. I even have 2 pencil skirts I had for about 13 years but hardly ever wore, I was actually quite excited about 2 particular outfits I found! I always loved the 50s I just never made the concious effort to pair hair with clothes in a vintage style on a daily basis. And as I said before the 40s are new to me.

Personally I like themed outfits or dressing for the occassion. And as Season 2 of Glee (finally) started yesterday in the UK I felt very Emma Pillsburyish today. I went to my regular La Leche League meeting in the morning but even though no glamour is needed there I can still channel a bit of Emma!

Who will be my next featured style icon tomorrow by the way.

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First I have to say I really need to get a new camera if I keep doing outfit posts because this is just dreadful. And how do I do this when Mr. Bossy is back to work on normal weekdays?

Terrible pics.

This skirt is one of my most beloved items ever. I bought it about 5 years ago at H&M. The red, white and navy flowery print resembles a bit folklore to me and the fabric is a textured cotton which is thick enough in winter and light enough in summer - I wear this skirt quite a lot. The cardigan though is new. Hurrah for Christmas! It's actually Primark but the most perfect little cardigan - navy, a white bow (I ♥ bows) and a perfect 50s cut. Add a little red belt and all good to go!

And yes I am aware that my 90s penny loafers are not the ideal pairing but I love them. I like their weird nerdy grannyish "chic" and they are so bloody comfortable. I do heels only now and then. On heels I can't chase after my cannon ball child, I can't carry and juggle toddler and 15 things safely and simply I just can't survive in them all day.

And brogues I can't count to my possessions yet. But soon.

The lovely new coat is also Primark, cheap as chips anyway but had so many threads fraying (easily snipped off) that they gave me a discount. Mr. Bossy actually found it and chose it - and did I mention I love Christmas? Yes another present or to be precise - the last item I spent the last of my Christmas money on.

Pinned to the new coat is this adorable 1940s brooch. It is just beautiful. Came with the UK sale on Ebay I mentioned in previous posts.

Sod it!

2011-01-10T14:06:00.002Z

2 Posts ago I was blabbing on about big curls for playgroup are too much. But if the fabulous Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street can do a VIDEO on how to be glamorous in hospital after giving birth (seriously - how loveably crazy is that?) I can most certainly do curls at playgroup.

So I thought sod it and pin curled my hair last night.

With only my second try I have already learned so much now thanks to all the great blogs out there. This time I didn't do it as tight and didn't roll it up too close to my head. And there you go - no afro but beautiful curls all ready to go! Actually brushing out curls and shaping them around my hand is much more relaxing and easier than trying to get a pretty ponytail up on my head - so really not more effort than usual on a monday morning.

The pictures I took around lunchtime after I was already out and about for a while - by then the curls drooped a bit but not much.

As mentioned before I only started my vintage journey so dressing accordingly every day means pulling out what is (or passes as) vintage inspired. These very old slacks from New Look are so much more comfy than tight jeans and are my most wide-legged pair of trousers. For now they work. The cardigan is a newer aquisition from Oasis, when I bought it I wasn't sure about the colour, I normally wear block colours, but surprisingly the colour enhances my paleness in a beautiful way and does not wash me out as I had feared.
And look how beautifully my engagement ring has caught the light!

For the outtake gallery - my little gnome really tries to get in all the pictures. To get one just by myself is a matter of milliseconds and good luck. I actually need to find a good spot for the self timer. Today Mr. Bossy was home but usually by the time he gets home it's so dark that my crappy old camera only manages the most horrendous pictures with a flash.

You may have noticed the brooch I am wearing.

I ebayed a little while ago two lots (estate sales) - one by one I will show you all of my treasures.

This flower pin came all the way from the states. I am in love with it, I wear it nearly every time I wear something black.

I might aswell also show you the other flower pin from the same sale which is currently pinned to my black coat.

I never cared much for jewllery. If it wasn't made from plastic and shaped like a strawberry or apple. Or any other fruit. Or like Hello Kitty. I always said to everyone - the day I like jewllery I start getting old. Well I must be really getting old now not only the wrinkles slowly emerging are proving this but also my new obsession with vintage costume jewllery. I am in love with goldtone brooches, sweater guards, glove and scarf clips mostly from the 40s and 50s. SO beautiful! I always appreciated art deco jewllery because my mother always had a thing for it but I myself was never interested in it. But that's my next exploration after fashion and accessories - the history of jewllery.

No privacy here it seems

2011-01-10T00:37:00.000Z

In my quest to broaden my blog audience I decided not to blog about my child anymore, I took down all the pictures on the sidebar and was even contemplating to remove all the old posts. Privacy reasons.

But I can't help it. I have to show another picture.

Before he's all grown up. :-)

Home is where the vintage heart is - Part I

2011-01-09T14:09:00.001Z

I am so excited! I have blogged more this year than the whole of 2010! Last year was a shit year. Excuse my french but that's about it in a nut shell. Big things should have happened, crap things happened instead.

Also reason why I didn't feel like blogging or sharing.

So 2011 will be better, I am SO motivated. I'll turn my life around, I'll get more organised, life will be great again! I am currently giving myself a make-over (much blogged about already) - but also in attitude. I will share more about this in the future.

The blog also had a revitalisation and I am so buzzed about it. It gives me great motivation and within the last month I gained over 30 followers - silly thing to make you happy but it does, just last week over 20!

In 2010 I really didn't want to craft, didn't know what to blog about, thought I never get to my vintage goals anyway... I shan't drone on about 2010 anymore I promise!

And now I have so many ideas for the blog up my sleeve, my mind is boggling! I am planning quite a few series, the style icon series I have already started, I want to feature vintage blog heroes but also real life ones I find locally and the one I am most excited about I am starting with this post:

Home is where the vintage heart is!

I'll source local (or surrounding area, I don't live in a big city) vintage sellers/shops/venues and blog about them to promote and spread the vintage love - the series will start with a fayre I am going to tell you about in a minute, then a vintage seller in Bedford I have already chatted to about it, a burlesque shop in Bedford and also the Bedford Burlesque Club. Soon you'll know more!

I also plan lot's more hair posts, maybe even day to day wear and let's not forget a pinch of baking and crocheting! I think I like my main focus on vintage but I really don't want to forget my love for kawaii!

Ok enough rambling. Let's get to the point!

I was so excited to find out about this:

ORIGINATE, creative craft and vintage fayre

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Flitwick is a village very near me and nearly all my in-laws happen to live there! So it's kind of my home turf!

The fayre in the village hall is combining crafting with vintage clothing sellers - seriously this is paradise for me! I found out too late about it otherwise I would get myself a stall to sell a bit of my own crochet stuff and whip up some 40s snoods as my very own vintage inspired part to sell. But with the sleeping troubles my little boy is going through at the moment there is just no way to crochet enough. But never mind the lovely lady who is organising this great event told me there will be another one in April if this one goes well.

So please come, browse and buy!

If you happen to be a crafter or a vintage seller - a stall costs £15 and she's not fully booked yet, e-mail Donna at dlkurly@yahoo.com. Admission for the public is free!

Flitwick is a village in Bedfordshire north of junction 12 on the M1 so in easy reach for all around!

HERE's how you get there and more info about the location!

How to do vintage inspired hair in a few minutes - with straight hair!

2011-01-08T23:31:00.003Z

I have dead straight hair. I am taking to the idea of pin curling my hair more often and sleeping on the set but I still doubt I will do it every three days.

Apart from that - I have serious difficulties in showing up in time for all our morning appointments as it is. And I go to toddler playgroups most mornings - though I always had a tendency to overdress and for sure have no problem with this - big curls or rolls at playgroup is even a bit too much for me :-)

So what's the solution? Rosie is!

Rosie the Riveter was an American feminist icon during WWII - she represented the female factory workers who took over the predominantly male roles in the factories while the men had gone to war. This image by J. Howard Miller became associated with Rosie but originally she was a fictional character in a song. Nevertheless is THIS picture the inspiration for many!

And the Rosie style is so easy to do - a much closer interpretation I have shown HERE but it took much more effort than today.

This is an even easier version.

This is obviously no make-up tutorial - I looked after my friends kids today so yours truly sans make-up was good enough for the kiddos!

And this is all you need:

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I normally tie a much smaller square scarf folded into a triangle around my head - this quite long and large vintage beauty was a lovely gift from Mr. Bossys sister and her fiancee (who is very much into vintage herself hence the great resourcing - I think the scarf is from the 80s, polkadots were very trendy then aswell, the brand is St. Michaels). The long long shape was a new thing for my head. You'll also need a hair band, a few kirby grips and some of those hair clips (how do you call them?)

Tie your hair into a high ponytail, if you don't have a fringe/bangs leave out a small section at the front.

Put the fringe or the section of hair back into a pompadour, if teasing is needed - well tease happily away, secure with kirby grips (I put them criss cross).

Part the ponytail in many smaller sections, roll each section around your finger and pin down with those black clips (or whatever you prefer - any clip will do, I find those hold up the best and are so easy to use, easier than kirby grips).

Fold the scarf in half and tie around your head, let it sit right behind the pompadour and right behind your ears. I like to secure it with a few kirby grips. Today I tied the scarf twice around my head as I didn't need to dress up, but I also like a big bow on my head!

Et voilà - done in just a few minutes. With this look I like it if it looks a bit messy, stray hair is fine to me.
It adds to the playfulness of that look methinks!

Style Icon: Nigella Lawson

2011-01-07T13:59:00.001Z

Nigella Lawson is certainly not an adventurous dresser but she knows what works for her. And she sticks to it. And that makes her a style icon. Furthermore anyone with curves like that is an icon to me as she's someone who proves it does look good if it's all hoisted up :-)

Nigella obviously loves basic little cardigans. Well so do I. A red one like that is one of my staple items in my wardrobe. And I want more!

Pairing block colours with black seems to be her schtick - whereas it could be quite naff on someone else it really works for her. With those boobs and that bum bold patterns quickly look frumpy and she would look big instead of deliciously curvy. I know what I am talking about, I have a very similar body shape.

Always the same kind of dress but different colours. She really knows what suits her best. And it is a clever tailoring for her body shape - not too tight but cinched in and hoisted up at the right places, she's showing off her slender bone structure around her neckline but cleverly covering her arms.

Naturally I like her best in vintage inspired outfits.
Just perfect for her!

What a beauty. She oozes old Hollywood glamour!

I have quite a girl crush on this woman, always had. I cannot stop looking at her I find her that beautiful. I even find her endless waffling quite endearing. And yes she does play her tricks but looking like that she would be perceived as a sex kitten anyway. Why not play with this image?

I also really like what she does. I love her books, her recipes are just brilliant, her kitchen ware range is just beautiful and did I mention that she is just SO watchable? :-)

http://www.nigella.com/

Mr. Bossy has a Doppelganger

2011-01-06T15:10:00.004Z

In the Mad Men world Don Draper is of course the uber-uber-sexy alpha male. And yes I do find him very attractive. But more than having the hots for Don Draper I have an especially soft spot for Harry Crane. He actually warms my heart. Why is easily explained. The resemblance to Mr. Bossy is SO uncanny it makes me chuckle every time I see Harry Crane.

And the oddest thing - Mr. Bossy has never seen Mad Men, when I showed him the pictures he does not see it himself. Mr. Bossy has been sporting this hair style for years, always had similar glasses and used to have a tendency towards retro fashion though abandoned this a bit in the last few years. Both also have a very similar eye colour and the same cute dimples when they smile!

For those of you who know neither - on the left is Harry Crane, a character played by the actor Rich Sommer in the series Mad Men. And on the right is my very own Mr. Bossy.

Mr. Bossy not quite sober anymore but Harry Crane still looking fresh

A fan and Rich Sommer as Harry Crane at a party and Miss and Mr. Bossy also at a party. Not the same :-)

Seriously. I find this so hilarious.
If Mr. Bossy ever gets famous (most likely as a politician, can't see him rise to fame for anything else) and needs an actor to portray him - well Rich Sommar is the man.