waves

                        Â

I am ever so obsessed with this woman.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake

I’m spending my boxing day eve watching the marvelous adaption of Swan Lake by Matthew Bourne, only just a 3rd of the way through but I thought I’d express my delight at the Queen (Fiona Chadwick) and her delightful dresses.

     Â

          Â

This is just the most stunning and witty performance! I can’t believe it’s taken me 16 years to see it. Larvly.

I'VE FOUND A LOVELY BLOG

http://my-laced-corset.tumblr.com/

A feast for the eyes. Oh my.

Christmas day dress from Lottiebell Boutique in the Forum

£1.99 wonder glitter polish!

I AM DESPERATE

FOR THE SALES

Incredible.

Jessica Brown Findlay

I have a new girl crush. Actress, Miss Jessica Brown Findlay. Lips to rival Lana Del Ray and an enviable english rose complexion. I really enjoyed her performance in Misfits and in Black Mirror and when compared to her role as Lady Sybil in Downtown Abbey really shows her versatility shines through. One to watch on screen but also one to look out for in magazines methinks. Babe.

Jessica also has an admirable tale. She trained to be a professional ballerina and was asked to join Kirov aged only 15 but due to an ankle injury, her dreams were crushed. After studying fine art and acting, she was spotted by an agent and voila. “There is life without ballet.” So she has said. 

Victoriana, lace, sleek dark locks, girly frocks, simple and elegant colour palette.

           Â        Â

                 Â

                       Â

                         Â

                                                      xxxxx

Christmas Video by Screaming Maldini

Dress: Primark

Belt: Vintage

Shoes: new look

Earrings (can you see them?): Topshop

Antique Me Up, Baby.

It is my first day off from school for the holidays so my immediate thought is shopping. But not just the high street or meadowhall or even my favourite charity shops, oh no. Today is Antique Shops day.  My other thought today is that if I had a normal job, I’d be getting ready for my Christmas do…alas!

                                 Â

I start off with Sheffield Antiques which I’ve never actually been to before. Garden furniture lines the walkway to the entrance and the centre itself has a fair variety of units and cabinets. This is not the place to go for affordable vintage clothing, but it is the place to go for trinkets, railway collectables and vintage crockery and china. Despite the lack of said “affordable vintage clothing” there is some very very lovely yet overpriced clothing. I especially loved the accessories on one particular unit. Some absolutely gorgeous hats and furs. I bought something (to be gifted….and therefore not written down!) but I will say it’s beautiful. Here are some photos of things I particularly loved.

                              Â

                              Â

                               

                              Â

                Opposite the road lies the Antiques Emporium…

                              Â

The Antique Emporium is fairly new addition to the antique circuit having taken over a fireplace shop (thank goodness…although the fireplace shop took over an old antiques place…huh). The centre looks modern and sides more to the local crafts and furniture sides of things. Immediately to your left when you enter is a unit full of hand made and vintage costume jewelry which doesn’t quite tickle me and since I’m not quite ready to furnish my own home, the furniture doesn’t really do anything for me either. The lack of clutter leaves me a little disinterested, however I find a unit full of great bags and belts. And though I am being quite negative so far…I will post a few photos of the things that DID catch my eye!

                               Â

                               Â

                               Â

                               Â

                               Â

The Vault is a new antiques place on Abbeydale Road, it’s a new place so I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s obviously a great place for local artists and crafts, but I’m not so sure antiques is the word to go for. As time goes by I’m sure it will get going and find the right crowd, having said that, I did find an awesome cardigan and two children’s books with colourful covers I may make into bags at some point. 

                              Â

                              Â

I’m intending to cover the other antique shops (Langtons’, Chapel etc) on Monday with Revis, so will report back. I really am never happier than when I’m surrounded by Pretty Used Things.

x

ASOS SAVVY SUNDAY

I bought some shoes. I went with the party flat theme. Plus I’ve wanted a Louis Vuitton bow detail shoe forever. And both for £36. Bravo ASOS!

                                                                                  Â

The most fabulous sunday

Oh I have had a day worthy of blogging and sharing to the world. It all began with a lie in and a lazy X Factor slagging off session over breakfast. Then I walked down to the Union to meet my lovely Lucy Revis to go to Sharrowvale Market.

                                  Â

                            http://sharrowvale.co.uk/sharrow-vale-market/

Despite the most hideous weather, we looked around the stalls and bought various crafty goods for relatives and friends alike - though there will be no mention of those purchases on here! But they’ll make great pressies. 

The market lined both sides of the road, mainly various crafty stalls, locally produced food and Christmas decorations and foliage. Not only is this market a fantastic opportunity for local businesses to showcase they’re wares but also for the independent shops that make Sharrowvale road a quirk-cool hub. 

My favourite shop is a stunning little antique turned vintage clothes shop called The Front Parlour. They only open three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) and are run by the incredibly friendly Jane and her mum Betty and has been for 33 and a half years. A success story if ever I heard one. Though I was naturally captivated by the clothing and accessories, the shop is home to a host of books and magazines, ornaments, trinkets, craft essentials and china. As well as a good selection of vintage menswear and I’m not talking Christmas jumpers and checked shirts, I’m talking hunting jackets, smoking jackets and crisp white shirts.

I purchased a stunning 1970s fur coat for a ridiculously cheap £35 and a 1930s handmade leather bag (albeit with a wonky handle) for £8.50. 

                              Â

I went back into the shop to take some photos for you, it really is a hidden gem in Sheffield and I urge everyone to make the effort to go down and have a look, everything is so well priced. I asked Jane why everything is so affordable and her reply was refreshing:

“If I get a good deal on something, why wouldn’t I want to pass on the same bargain? Our customers aren’t well off, if I’d have sold that coat for £65 you wouldn’t have bought it, but now you own something you’ve always wanted for a fair price.”

Photos…

                           Â

                      Â

                            Â

                            Â

                            Â

These 50s glasses are £25…I may have to return on Wednesday to buy these. And this shop is complete with antique till! It makes a very satisfying kerching. 

                            Â

After my chat with Jane and Betty I ventured back outside and landed in a coffee shop with Fiona and Revis and some dominoes. We’d collectively forgotten the rules so made it up, but we certainly enjoyed our coffee time even if we weren’t playing properly. 

Ooh! And I’ve just made some Christmas cash on eBay. Bosh.

I have my work night out tonight so I should probably go and faff. But I hope you go and visit Jane and Betty when you have a minute. (Or an hour)

beyond retro

You know that awful moment when you walk out of Topshop with a new dress then the next night see 1,2…3..4 other girls in the same one? Or how about this, I went to Meadowhell today, walked into New Look having seen “50% off party wear” to find that everything was…ok. All the dresses were fine and the tops were nice. Nothing stands out. This is my nightmare. It’s the reason I love second hand clothes, the likelihood of seeing anyone in the same outfit is so incredibly slight. 

Are you struggling to find a swish outfit for the festive season? Well me too. I’ve just had a little nosey on the super funky Beyond Retro website and found some great stuff I’d like to share with you. 

All of these dresses are under £30 and YES I KNOW they’re second hand - but who else will have them? I can pretty much guarantee they’ll be better made than anything on our High Street  - have you looked at the stitching on your most recent Topshop purchase? eeek. 

Oh and if you subscribe to the Beyond Retro mailing list, you’ll be in with a chance of winning £50 in vouchers. Bingo. 

Feeling adventurous? Hello hats!

BUY BUY X

Today I went promoting for the vintage fair and I wore…

Playsuit: Topshop

Faux Fur: charity shop

Fruit Necklace: Topshop

Scarf: Charity Shop

Brogues: Primark

no fashion for bands on tour:part 2

      Â

Oh how I was depressed the day tour ended. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep…for at least 1 hour. So where did we leave things? Ah I do believe we had just rocked L’Orient. 

Onwards. In many’a car we drove to the hostel where we thought we might be butchered in our sleep as it looked like a horror film set. There were suggestions of hide and seek but when it came to the fact that I had to make Lex stand outside the toilet while I went for a wee, I opted out. It was THAT scary. However, we did make mischief, inspired by the likes of Joe Pharaohs. We ruined stuff then went on the roof. I don’t think Jeff was very impressed. 

BEDTIME. “Hey Junior, Lex…it’s 5:15am” they reply “It’s cool we’re up at 12.” WRONG “GARBLED LOUD FRENCH TRANSLATING TO GET UP AND GET OUT AND NEVER RETURN” at 9am. 

oopsie. 

So we head to the market after a little chill around a lake where the entire population of L’Orient go jogging. I bought a really unsatisfying crepe, some apples and some clementines. Inigio Pharoahs and I share a love of courgettes. Joe Pharaohs likes Kelly Brook. Food envy made an appearance when I see most of Maldini eating incredible pork sandwiches, then , as soon as I want one they run out of bread. IN FRANCE. RUN OUT OF BREAD? I know, right? After this we left, this journey was probably like most of the other ones. 

One of the first things that happened in Brest was tres drole. Tim Maldini collided with Jon Maldini and they rolled, oh how they rolled gleefully among the grass and the dog poo. Oh yes, that is (maybe) true. The venue was awesome like an old Cabaret hall with a lovely big stage, lights and a muscly sound engineer. The next interesting thing to happen was seeing Papa Jeff  sing with his band Heliport - that man has some moves. I’m getting me a stage kick. Je t’aime, Jeff!

 PHOTOS

    Â

     Â

     Â

     Â

     Â

     Â

Photos: Ray LeMann 

Oh and this happened too:

     Â

Drunk hairdresser Pharaoh meets willing Maldini. Thankfully, all things worked out for the best. “I’ve never cut hair so well being this drunk.” Brilliant. 

The venue gave us lots of cheese and bread again, naturally we took as much of the other stuff in the van as we could and after packing up, we all piled into the van, minus Pharaohs. After an emotional farewell we hit the road, for 18 long hours. 

All I can say is that it was such a pleasure to tour with Johnny Foreigner again, they are fast becoming three of my favourite people and I cannae wait to see them again. I can also say that Pharaohs are four top lads, it’s always a worry to go on tour and fear you won’t be with people who are on the same wavelength, thankfully we all melded into one massive ball of musical fluff. Last but not least, monsieur Jeff of HipHipHip! an enormous MERCI for you. It could not have happened without you!

I want tour again. But as you can see, we all look bloody awful. So maybe we’ll leave it for a bit. BYE BYE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX