Roxie Reviews: House of Satin Lingerie

(Ooh well I haven't done one of these for a while!)

House of Satin is a new vintage inspired lingerie brand which hit the market late last year. I've heard great things from them and their stuff is super reasonably priced so I thought, why not? In the words of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle "treat yo self!", From their eBay shop, I bought myself their "Vintage Style Full Cover Bra", a pair of briefs and their girdle, all in pale blue. I think the whole set came to just over £30 which is just...wow. Less than one What Katie Did bra!

Delivery was quick and I ripped open the parcel to reveal my goodies. The bra fitted well and definitely gave that vintage shape that us so-inclined lasses desire. What I particularly liked was the subtle shape, as it wasn't as pointy as a harsh 1950s bullet bra but definitely still had that perkiness that's more akin to 1940s and 1960s shapes. I'm yet to wear it under anything but I know it's going to fit well. I have little to comment on the briefs apart from they're comfy, good quality fabric and the elastic doesn't cut too much into my skin.

The girdle...hmmmm. I'm still in two minds about this. It looks great and it does hold my stockings up (always a bonus for long legged ladies like myself), but it doesn't hold much support in the tummy and definitely doesn't nip in the waist like other brands do. This might just be because I bought the wrong size, but the fabric doesn't feel secure or elastic-y enough to have much support no matter the size. I bought a medium, which fits well on my thighs but not so great my waist - maybe if I had bought a small the waist would have fitted better but then I worry it would have cut into my thighs. One last thing I would like to see is adjustable straps on the suspenders as they didn't quite sit well, but that is just a little thing.

All in all, House of Satin is amazing value for someone who wants to fill their lingerie draw with good quality, vintage style pieces. It is much more affordable than other brands but their bras and knickers are just as good quality. Their shapewear could be stronger in hold but it looks pretty and does keep stockings up securely. I'm definitely going to be buying more from House of Satin to add to my collection! Definitely can't wait to see what their Spring/Summer 2015 range brings us!

(Photography by Jae Storer Photography)

Sunglasses, Ice Cream & Hotdogs

That is mostly what my weekend consisted of!

What a glorious weekend of sunshine and friends I had! It made me really remember how amazing summer is in this country, and I can't wait to spend it in my new East Anglian home.

Ipswich doesn't have much in the way of vintage clothes shops or lifestyle things, apart from some pretty decent bands, so I was chuffed to hear Judy's Affordable Vintage Fair was rolling into town. Myself and my friends pootled down to the fair to check it out, and were pleasantly surprised. Recently we in the vintage community have seen a bit of a, how do I put this, decline in actual vintage at the fairs, but it was great to see lots of 1960s clothes on Saturday as well as some modern reproductions of mid-century things. Even the boys had some things to look at - a true rarity nowadays!

Got snapped at Judy's!

I got myself some sunglasses (cat eye, obviously!) from a lovely stall - forget the name, sorry - that was selling prints and knick knacks. Kayla also got herself some sunnies as well as a bowling shirt. Rick picked up a Hawaiian shirt ready for my shindig at the end of the month and I think the other lads got some delights too.

As an Ipswich newbie I had yet to experience Ra Ra's Ice Cream parlour until this weekend. We must have looked a right sight all trooping into there - maybe a little movie set-ish aha! Anyway, the ice cream was delicious, as were the milkshakes and they do root beer! Yum! Now...if only they could so some more food, I think we'd make it a frequent haunt of our's!

That brings me neatly onto my next little segment. What is a summer Saturday without a few pints in the pub? We spent the rest of the afternoon and into the evening sat in a pub garden, drinking cider and eating hot dogs (well I stole chips from Rick's plate). Regardless of the odd yelp from the crowd watching the football it was a lovely evening!

After my little taster, I can't wait for summer to be in full swing!

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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.

Rockabilly Essentials: Hair & Make Up

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.

No rockabilly look is complete without a slick of red lipstick and an edgy hair cut. This entry will show you the basics of hair and make up. It might look scary, but, as with anything, practice makes perfect and soon enough you'll be looking like the perfect pin up!

Hair

There are three very simple hair styles that you can perfect and individualise to your own tastes, whether that's all out or just a subtle touch.

1) The Bettie Bangs 

So named after the Queen of Pin Ups Bettie Page, this is a short fringe cut into a 'U' shape. These, surprisingly, suit most face shapes, and if you don't like it, it grows out in a couple of weeks! If you are going to get it cut in, remember to take a photo of the lady herself so the hair dresser knows exactly what they're doing.

2) Victory Rolls

These look really scary to do, and they will be a little tricky to create at first, but once you get it, you will be on a roll (please, pardon the pun!). You can just do one at the front, two at the side of your head, or as many as you want. Curl the rest of your hair, or roll it up in a bandana for the best result!

Here's my little tutorial on how I do mine...

3) Waves & Curls

Whether you do these with curling irons, heated rollers, foam rollers or pin curls, the result will always be rockabilly. By brushing out the curls in a certain way you can get a variety of looks from page boys to poodles! Just remember to use plenty of hair spray!

Katy Perry sporting a victory roll come Bettie bang fringe

Make Up

The make up is really very simple. Matte foundation, black winged eyeliner, red lipstick. Of course you can complicate things with eyeshadows and what not, but if its simple you're after just stick with that. Mac probably do the best lipsticks, but 'drugstore' brand ones are just as good. Remember to shop around to find the best red lipstick for you; if you have a yellow skin tone orange based reds work well, and if you have a pink skin tone, stick with the blue based reds. The eye liner will take a little practice, and a steady hand, but just be patient and you'll get the hang of it!

For both hair and make up the best Youtube channels are:

LisaFreemontStreet (my personal favourite)

Cherry Dollface (she's a model, she knows what she's doing)

ClassicRetroGlamour (Great for updos and 'second day' hair)

I hope you enjoy that little walk through rockabilly hair and make up! Stay tuned for the fourth and final part: The Music!

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: Accessories

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.

So we got the clothes sorted in the last instalment, and now it's time for the accessories. Personally, I wear very few accessories, but I do always wear one. I'm a little bit famous for my bandannas, always in either red or blue - but mainly blue - as I frequently have one tied around my head. At work, I wear a few bangles, as I feel they add a little vintage tiki to any outfit, and sometimes a necklace, usually in a tattoo design. Although having my ears pierced I very rarely wear earrings; I'm not entirely sure why I don't decorate my aural lobes, but they're just something I never really think about. I make my own hair flowers (it's really very simple!) but there are numerous shops online to cater for these. There aren't really any restrictions for handbags, from wicker, to lucite, to leather satchels to vintage clutches.

Me vainly posing my bandanna wearing

Most online shops sell a mixture of the above so here is my selection of the very best:

Dolly Cool:

I own this! It's awesome! Swallows are a big theme in rockabilly jewellary

This comes ready folded so just tie and go! Like clothing, leopard print is popular with accessories

Bows & Crossbones

I group various colours and shapes altogether for variety

It's wicker, it's cherry-fied, it's tiki, it's everything in one bag.

Razorblade Mermaid:

Great little set (I own the earrings!)

Mexicana style skulls are also popular

Etsy is also great for finding little producers who make their own accessories for you to buy. Just searching 'hair flowers', or prefixing any accessory type with 'rockabilly' with through up numerous results to browse through.

Black anchor hair flower

Hawaiian flowers are a my favourites

What have we learned from this accessory lesson? Well, wear as much or as little as you like, and you can stick to one theme or mix and match!

Stay tuned for my next instalment: Hair & Make Up

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!