The Dressing Up Box

I've always liked to think I know what suits me and I've always been one to try and stand out and not be a slave to trends. But this eccentric wardrobe has recently diminished as has my confidence with style, fashion and clothes in general. Not so helpful when you write a fashion blog.

It was actually this post by Fleur De Guerre that got me thinking about my own style and who I was or who I was portraying. In fact, who was I even dressing for?

Often I feel I should be dressing like a 50s girl all of the time or I should be going authentically 60s but the beauty of vintage to me is the vast array of styles on offer to us in the 21st century. And then, one of the traders at The Vintage Fair turned round to me at the weekend and said "You're always changing aren't you?" and it all fell into place. If I want to go all out 40s, I can. If I want to look like I've just walked out of Topshop, I can. My wardrobe is a dressing up box and it's about time I just got over this preoccupation with should and just wear exactly what I bloody well want to.

 So I've attached some of my favourite outfits from this blog to prove all of the above. Hell. I think I look good in any era. 

POP Exhibition: Fashion and Textiles Museum

London constantly draws me in, from the music scene and museums to the vintage thrifting and gloriously high standard of people watching. So I was really looking forward to going down south for a couple of days (especially after Bulgaria - part 2 coming soon!).

Website: click here.

I went to visit my lovely Becky who has made the big move down to LDN and I am very very jealous of her fabulous flat. But the next day I covered all four corners of the city with my friend Dom and he very lovingly, planned it around me and my love of clothes. So, first stop was the London Museum of Fashion and Textiles and the current exhibition, POP.

The exhibition focuses on the influence of music, art and personality on the development of fashion from the rock'n'rolling 1950s to the birth of punk in the 1970s. The space itself is gorgeous, well lit and beautifully arranged. For myself, it was the the colours that really drew me in, the bold primarys in the 1950s to the striking Quant monochrome and the neon of psychedelia. I'm not going to go off on one, but I am going to show you lots of pretty photos.

This Martini skirt from 1956 is a fabulous early example of commercial advertising in fashion. 

The famous Pierre Cardin potato sack dress worn by Marilyn in the 50s spurred a line of imitations and fun interpretations, including this one here. I am desperate to find one. To me it says that absolutely anything can be fashion.

Next in line we see Quant and her massive impact on the fashion of the following decade. Showcased below are the famous monochrome stripes, below that a gorgeous purple Mad Men style dress/tunic suit.

My favourite discovery has to be the paper dressd. I've heard of the 60s paper dress before but had never actually seen one, but me oh my these things are a thing of beauty. They were designed by Harry Gordon in 1967 (L-R) Rose, Audrey Hepburn's eye and hand with Ginsburg poem. The aim for Gordon was to make a new paper dress every week featuring a new pop star starting with Bob Dylan. However, Dylan refused and that is where the line finished, before it had ever really begun. 

Surely colour makes a comeback as we turn away from monochrome. The highlight has to be these cartoon shorts. Fabric by Zandra Rhodes, design by Sylvia Ayton in 1967.

Oh and this absolutely amazing 1969 Sportaville maxi. Note the inflatable cushions in the background - cartoon to the max.

Sticking with the early 70s, (1971 to be precise) take a look at these mens' platforms. Now, did I hear someone say Jeffrey Campbell? I love to see the impact of the past on modern design and the Jeffrey Campbell Litas are certainly no exception. The likeness between these designs are amazing, down to the wooden heel. Apparently Elton John owns a pair of these. 

Dom couldn't have chosen a better exhibition to take me to, so thanks for that sweetcheeks. I highly recommend popping (hohoho) to POP before it closes on 27th October. I've only shown you a small portion of the gorgeous fashion and art on display, so go see for yourselves.

x

ARK Clothing VS Flashmob

Though I love vintage, thrifting the perfect bargain and sales galore, I had the pleasure of choosing an outfit from the Hearts & Bows line at ARK Clothing to gig in over the Tramlines festival weekend.

How come? I hear you mutter. Well...my band Screaming Maldini decided to crack out an a cappella arrangement of Summer Somewhere bang in the middle of Sheffield's ARK on Division Street. Check it.

I'm wearing an 80s dress that I shipped in from the US from Etsy and a bag I got from River Island in the sale years ago. I had to just...sing! In front of the unsuspecting public! But knowing I'd soon be joined by the rest of my band and 25 singers, a trumpet, guitars and a flute. Absolutely loved it. 

In return (!) ARK let us wear their clothes. 

Photo: Georgina Martin

Photos: Georgina Martin

Here is the dress I chose, I loved that I could make it my own by adding the ridiculous Topshop fruit necklace as the black high neck provided a perfect "blank canvas" for the statement necklace.

 Annie had such a huge decision to make! She looked amazing in all the options from Hearts and Bows but I'm glad she went with this leatherette skirt as it's not something she'd ever usually wear. Teamed with the pretty shirt, the leather was softened somewhat.

The boys looked pretty sexy too. But enough about them.

 I do hope you come to a gig soon and check out Screaming Maldini on the internet (we're all over that shizzle). Especially here. Oh and ARK.

G x

Blast From The Past

Now then.

I've not always been particularly stylish or fashion conscious, I used to wear jeans and never straightened my hair. Wore my crappy chewed up glasses and plain t-shirts while doing gigs. But then I bought my first vintage dress aged 17 and things changed.

However, I've just stumbled across this old photo of me from when I was 14...

Needless to say I reckon I've always thought outside of the box when it comes to clothes! You've got to give me that!

Still moving house, so I'm still behind on life and for this I can only apologise.

G x

Polka Pleated

 Hello again, time for a quickie?

I had to nip into town to talk to a gorgeous young man off of SoYo Live on Mondays so felt the need to dress for the occasion. That's not strictly true, previous to this I was in slacks, essentially, but the sun came out and I "hurrah!-ed" and put on polka dots.

I'm a really big fan of bright, clashing colours and have always loved pink VS turquoise so aim to air this colour combo whenever possible. I also seem to wear tan leather with black too much, so have started opting for more white in my accessorising, which I think is working rather well.

Top: Charity Shop

Skirt: Nannan's

Bag: Freshman's

Shoes: New Look

Scarf: Carboot

Earrings: Charity Shop

Belt: River Island 

ta-ta x

Dead Man's Spex

Lovers, I gots me some new specs. I have been after a pair of 50s cat eye frames for a long time as the high street just wasn't quite doing it for me and I just don't have a designer budget. Thankfully, my Mother is wonderful and has delivered me with a cracking early birthday present. These 50s frames are from Dead Men's Spex. The chap there, Darren I think, even fits prescription lenses to most frames, which is incredible, especially since they are really quite affordable. 

I couldn't wait to show you these glasses, so I didn't make as much effort on the hair and make-up as I would usually. These glasses definitely need a bold lip colour (surely Gay Geranium by No7?) and hair up on top of head, but not so messily as this badly done suicide roll. 

The dress is from Miss Selfridge, belt is vintage brown leather and the sparkly shoes are - quite honestly - what I found by the front door - but they are from ASOS.

Much specky four eyes love to you all.
xxx

Oh, hello overdraft!

So...I bought quite a few things the other day. I am terrible at buying separates, I don't wear trousers and I don't spend money on tops, I never think I'll wear them. But this trip saw me buying three new skirts and spending a hell of a lot of time searching for a top to go with them in Meadow-hell. I then figured I'd go for a plain grey T and a statement necklace, which I never found. The search goes on!

However, skirt! I was on the way to have dinner with my Mumma. It's a gorgeous metallic navy blue pleated maxi from M&S for a nifty £19. 

The bag is a swirly golden perspex evening bag from ASOS.

Oh and sorry for the photos. I needs me a decent camera.

The shop is still up and running with new stock!

https://marketplace.asos.com/boutique/pretty-used-things

GO GO GO

XXX

Suit Up Baby

Sorry this is so short but I'm hoping it's sweet. I really, really want a suit. I've said it before, but printed suits are just incredible.

Check out this Celine suit. I love the tapered trousers.

I'm not so fond of this blazer shape but the Peter Som colours are gorgeous...

ASOS have a really varied range of suits at the moment, but my favourites are below...

Not a trouser girl? Pencil skirt option agogo.

I absolutely adore this skirt suit. It'd adorable. And it's my birthday next month...FYI.

Bye for now!

xxx

8 days and counting...

On March 12th Pretty Used Things will be launching on ASOS as a Vintage Boutique. I am so incredibly excited and nervous all wrapped into one. The logo above has been designed by my good friend Becky Roberts. What a gem. Below is my statement for what Pretty Used Things is all about...

“Pretty Used Things offers you exactly that, Pretty Used Things! We have lovingly handpicked every item with both individuality and wear-ability in mind. Vintage clothing should come with no pretensions and make fun, kooky additions to your wardrobe (without the huge mark-ups). We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but there's more to vintage than bunting and teacups! We are passionate about making vintage wearable for all shapes and sizes whether the styles are “on trend“ or not. Vintage is for everyone.”

I'm opening this shop from the point of view of a customer and my experience of buying vintage in recent years. If you feel you have anything to contribute from your experience, please get in touch - I want this to be the best it can be! See below for a sneaky preview of some of the items I will be selling, modeled by the gorgeous Bernadette.

xxx