Waves On D-Day.

Phew! I have been working my little tush off recently! Yesterday I completed my dissertation - all 9,562 words of it! That's not to say my toils are over, I still have two more massive assignments to complete, but come the 22nd May I will have completed my university life and will be out there in the big wide world.

Here it is, my finished baby...

Look at it all bound and looking official!

In other news, I tried out a new hair set this week and utterly fell in love with the results. It is much looser than the more 50s style I usually wear but is just as elegant. I think it has quite a late 30s early 40s vibe to it which is something I've never achieved before. I used bigger foam rollers (I'm going to guess they're about 1.5") and set them around the base of my head at the back, and then in two rows on the heavy side of my hair so I could structure in the wave the next day. It's the first time I've set a successful finger wave so I was pretty chuffed - the photos really don't do it justice!

Definitely trying this set again soon - I might even do a tutorial for it over on my Youtube channel!

Sunday Soundtrack.

Sunday for me is all about mellow music to help me recover from the hectic nature of the Saturday night before. Ever since I was little this soundtrack was usually brought in the form of some kind of jazz, and I've continued this onto my adult life. And, as it would be her 98th birthday today, this Sunday's soundtrack is brought to you by Billie Holiday. If I could sound like anyone when I sing, it would be this amazing lady...

'Summertime'

'Them There Eyes'

'A Sailboat In the Moonlight'

Same Old Story.

Ahh it's that time of year again. Along with New Year's Eve, I genuinely dread Valentine's Day. I try to make myself feel positive about it every year, but there is no escaping the loneliness. Sob sob. Yet again, I am single this year - I've just come to accept that - and so won't be receiving any cards, kisses or fine dining. Instead I'll have a nice hot shower, put on clean pj's and crack open a bottle of wine - I'll just love me instead.

Fully what I expect to look like tonight

That's enough of my Valentine's sob story - you've heard it all before anyway - so I thought I'd just share with you some stunning vintage Valentine's beauties instead.

Vogue #3

And so we conclude this series with the third and final part to my Madonna/Vogue series. I've had to guess a few - I take it Madge meant Lauren Bacall, Katherine Herpburn and Lana Turner...I hope you've enjoyed it!

They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you

Rita Hayworth (originally Margarita Cansino) is probably my favourite screen icon. I once got told I looked like her - I wish!

Lauren Bacall - What a sultry lady

Katherine Hepburn - Cheekbones, cheekbones, cheekbones!

Lana Turner - I love the casualness of this photo

Bette Davis - personally she is the epitome of 1930s style for me

(Well that was a very lady heavy entry...)

Vogue #2

Hello! I'm back again with the second installment/verse of my Vogue series, covering my favourite photos of the stars of yesteryear as dictated by the one and only Madonna. Catch part one here

Grace Kelly; Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers, dance on air

Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco on the cover of the magazine itself!

I've always thought Jean Harlow looked forever cheeky - you know if you went on a night out with her it would be one to remember...or not! (Also...I think she looks a lot like my mum but that's another story!)

My, my Mr Kelly was a handsome man!

Oh to have danced with Fred Astaire!

I always have serious hair envy for Ginger Rogers. Even upside down it looks amazing!

Vogue #1

During my absence from blogging (due to yet more technical issues) I spent a lot of time listening to my music collection - I managed to listen to every track on my iPod on shuffle, quite an achievement! One track led to the inspiration for this post, and the following ones of the theme. Madonna. I haven't done anything on this woman on this blog, and yet I love her. So, here it is, the Vogue rap, verse by verse, in my favourite pictures of the stars.

Greta Garbo, and Monroe
Dietrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine

Greta Garbo - I love her simple 1930s style with the iconic thin eyebrows

Marilyn Monroe - Controversially I'm not a big fan of the classic Marilyn look, but I think she is one of the most natural beauties in her earlier photos

Marlene Dietrich - I was going to do the stereotypical Marlene-in-a-suit photo but then I came across this and just...wow. I want this on my wall!

Joe DiMaggio - apparently he's 'boning his bat'...no, that's not a euphemism 

Marlon Brando - Words do not describe my love, love, for this man.

James Dean - I used to have this as a poster on my wall from the age of 11. Most kids had Blue/McFly/Busted...I had Jimmy Dean.

Chaps at Goodwood

As I said in my little ditty on this years Goodwood Revival my personal highlight was the antics of the Chap Olympiad. Usually held in July, the fellas over at The Chap magazine also put on their alternative (and, in some counts, far superior) Olympic events. The afternoon started with the ceremonial lighting of the Olympic pipe and continued with events such as Bicycle Jousting (two chaps - or chappettes - stride forward on their triumphant steeds brandishing umbrellas and briefcases), the deadly duel with lobsters (first to pluck bodily hair from his opponent is the winner), and moustache tug-of-war. There were three instalments of the event, culminating in the award ceremony, with Mr Marlowe taking first place, and the ceremonial extinguishing of the Olympic Pipe.

I shall say very little else on the event, and let my 'wonderful' photographing do the talking...

Editor-in-Chief Mr Gustav Temple starts things off

Chappette Bethan looking the pinnacle of British elegance

Bicycle Jousting was my personal favourite. I don't think Agatha could handle it though.

Not a fragment of Lycra in sight

No lobsters were harmed in the duel

Heave Ho!

Bravo, chaps! Splendid show!

Goodwood Revival 2012

Oh where to start? Words cannot express how much I absolutely love this event. This event was where my decision to dress/live(ish) vintage was born; when I was thirteen I saw beautiful ladies and gentlemen walking around just looking so stylish and sophisticated I aspired to be just like them. Ever since then we, that is the family and I, try to go every year, but this has been hard for me, what with the move to university up north. So it was an immense pleasure to go this year! Well, we sort of went...we went into the 'car park' where they had moved the majority of the stalls, the fair ground and the hair dressing parts - better known as the parts where myself and mother spend most of the day! Our logic worked that as we had not had to pay for tickets we had thus saved around £100 (and 3 gin and tonics thanks to the Gordon's vouchers!) and so needed to spend that amount to balance the books out. My personal highlight of the day was the Chap Olympiad, which was put on three times in the day, just after brunch, lunch and tea. I loved this event so much I am going to dedicate an entire entry to it, so stay tuned for that! I am also going to be dedicating an entry to my purchases as I think they need a special mention because they were absolute bargains! Hopefully next year I shall get a ticket to go into the show ground as I do enjoy some of the racing and the general atmosphere, but this was the perfect supplement!

For now then I shall leave you with some photos of the day...

The ladies working miracles on vintage styled hair - supplied by my old friends the Vintage Hair Lounge

Some of the action moved outside to where we were

I absolutely fell in love with this suit

Anyone got £2.8million spare?

I think that's a Hurricane, a Spitfire and a Messerschmitt but don't quote me on that... 

Chaps & Chappettes looking splendid, but more on them later...

And finally, what I wore:

Topshop Jumper (I've got to guess from 2009)

Freddies of Pinewood Dungarees

Vintage sunglasses bought at the event - up coming blog on that business soon!

Rockabilly Essentials: The Clothes

With my upcoming rockabilly tea party (The Mad Hepcat's Tea Party) I'm putting together a mini series of entries of everything rockabilly: Clothes, Accessories, Hair & Make Up, and Music.

Gladrags are ridiculously important to a rockabilly lass; they are what set us apart from the rest of the crowd. Whether it's a casual day look or a sumptuous night life outfit, it's all about embodying the ladies' curves, emphasising those chests, waists and hips - as Wanda Woodward said in Cry Baby "our bazooms are our weapons!"! So here is my guide to the garments every rockabilly kitten needs in her wardrobe:

Jeans. Everyone needs at least two pairs of jeans in their wardrobe, and the best ones by far are by Freddies of Pinewood. I first discovered this company at Goodwood Revival about three or four years ago, and I've never bought another brand of retro reproduction jeans since. The jeans are measured at the waist so they fit really nice and snug, and have a 33" inside leg so are a great length for turn-ups (unless you're me who requires a 36"). My personal favourites are the Classic Indigo and the Dungaree Dolls, but there are also shorts, 3/4 jeans and ones set to patterns from the 1940s and 1950s (Check out the Norma Jeans, inspired by Marilyn Monroe herself!). Freddies also do a selection of tops that fit perfectly with their jeans, and have just brought out their first range of dresses, modelled by the beautiful Stephanie Jay.

Me in my Freddies Dungarees

Isn't she lovely?

Staying with tops, Rocket Originals have what I think is my favourite top of all time! It's taken from an original 1940s pattern, and it's diamond decoration fits perfectly with rockabilly style. It's definitely going on my Christmas list!

It's also available in black

When it comes to dresses, it's all about the wiggle dress. I have several in my wardrobe in various styles, patterns and fabrics. Teamed with some killer heels (or flats, like me!), a fancy hair do, and red lippy you are ready to dance the night away!

Vivien of Holloway 

Collectif Clothing

Under all those clothes you're going to need some decent undies. Rockabilly style is based heavily on the 1950s when 'bazooms' were pointed. What Katie Did have a great range of bullet bras perfect for this, as well as some of the best shapewear in the business, and stockings to swear by.

Finally, moving onto shoes. There are many options for shoes: biker boots, pumps, brogues, creepers (sadly claimed by hipsters this season), wedges, stilettos - basically anything that takes your fancy but still has that retro, rockabilly edge. Probably the most famous shop for shoes is Miss L Fire, and boy oh boy do they have some delights! I could spend thousands with them!

Rocket Originals also have some great shoes that are much more 'pure' (ie: they resemble 1950s shoes rather than modern rockabilly style)

These are perfect for jiving!

Every rockabilly needs a decent pair of boots. Yes, they look good, but mainly their really warm when you're trekking around shows in the depths of winter! Mine have got a big hole in the sole so this year I think I'll be splashing out and getting this pair from Clarks:

I hope you enjoyed my walk through rockabilly clothing! Stay tuned for my next instalment: Accessories!