It All Went Peachy Keen!

I think I have just about recovered from the first Peachy Keen Vintage Fair. It was a long old day, starting at 8am and finishing just before 5, jam packed of lifting and shifting, selling and singing!

I had such a good time doing it, and have even set the date for the next one - Saturday 30th May!

Doors opened at 11am at St Peter's By The Waterfront and the public came streaming in. Over 230 people came through the doors that day, and the vast majority (I think there were two grumbles) had a swell time. Traders were super happy with their day's work, and many have booked in to trade again in May! 

Photo credits to John 'Swampy' French

If you would like information on the next Peachy Keen Vintage Fair please get in touch via email peachykeenvintagefair@outlook.com - spaces are filling up fast for traders but I'm always looking for contacts!

Here is the link to the Facebook event

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)

A Mid Century Marvellous Market!

So, you may remember that I mentioned Bettina Scarlett's Mid Century Christmas Market in a previous post? Well this is what I thought of it! (Hint: I thought it was swell!)

After a little journey to London, a long walk down the wrong road and many confused looks at my map, I found the location. Stepping inside I was greeted by Bettina, who was looking like a swan in water gliding around in a gorgeous Bernie Dexter dress, and I signed up the raffle - sadly I did not win, boo!

But, I did certainly come away with some bargains anyway! I had had my eye on a hair ornament (I say ornament because they are far more than just a flower!) from Rosie Alia, so when I saw a trio of silver glittery poinsettias I had to have it! It was pride of place in my hair on Christmas day. Sticking with the sparkly things I got my hands on a late 1950s/early 1960s gold top from Miss Turnstiles. I picked it up off the hanger and immediately fell in love, never did I think it would fit me, but alas it was perfect! I wore it with a pencil skirt to my parents friends' soiree and everyone admired the sparkles like little magpies! My last buy was a pair of bauble earrings; sadly no photos of those, but I loved the novelty of them!

Look at it's beauty!!

It was perfect with my poodle!

It was such a lovely excuse to go to London, and I spent the entire day with friends from all over the south who I didn't think I would get to see again until at least the springtime. Bettina had put so much work and effort into the day, and I'm so happy that it came off swimmingly for her. As London's only Mid Century market it is a refreshing take on the vintage fair that is often plagued with what I think of as charity shop fodder.

Catch Bettina Scarlett presenting her next market on 12th April, at Hammersmith Club, W6 9DH - just in time for Easter!

A Most Blustery Day.

Some of you may well know that I am trying to reignite my modelling antics. I've done a fair bit in the past and got busy this summer being an Atomic Bombshell. It is something I would really like to do more of in the future, especially now I am back in the south and can get out and about more.

So, last Friday I had a shoot planned with two photographers. Well, actually it was originally just the one but Annette came along too to snap some extras. I have yet to receive Annette's photos (she's a very busy lady!) but here are Ray Haynes' shots.

The shoot took place on Weston Shore, in Netley and on Southampton Common as they provided us with some amazing natural backdrops.

I wore a two outfits consisting of:

• Skirt from Shanghai Lil
• Jumper from TK Maxx
• Scarf from Accessorize (I think...)
• Dungarees from Freddies of Pinewood
• Jumper from Topshop
• Boots from Jones'
• Jacket from a kilo sale

If you would like to shoot with me, please email me at roxieroulette@outlook.com

If you have enjoyed this post, please head to my Facebook page and give it a like for all my updates!

Open For Business!

I've had a bit of a career change...gone is the trowel, gone are the cocktail shakers and in with the vintage clobber! You all know that I love vintage clothing and vintage home ware so I decided to turn this passion into a business venture.

With the help of my parents and their friends, Mick and Sandy Mears, we have opened Shanghai Lil Vintage. It is a very small business for now, only based online and at the odd vintage fair, but hopefully it will grow and flourish into a successful business that I can get my main (or majority) income from.

The stock mainly revolves around vintage clothing from the 1950s to the 1980s, but also incorporates reproduction and some of the things Mama Roulette and Sandy cleverly make. At the fairs I will also be taking a range of home wares, mainly courtesy of the parents and the Mears' who have been avid collection for many a year. There is also a large collection of jewellery to finish off the outfits.

This blog is just an introduction to Shanghai Lil with links and that, but fret not! I shall show my wares (oooh matron!) to you in separate posts, giving you an in depth look into the pretties I shall be selling.

Please here for our shop, and why not check out our Facebook and Twitter too.

If you would like to feature our stall at your vintage fair, or know of a vintage fair that might interest us, please email us at:

shanghaililvintage@outlook.com

If you have liked this post, please 'like' my Facebook for more updates

That There Londinium.

Phew! Where have the last few weeks gone? How long has it been? Two and a half months? What?! Well I'm back. One dissertation, three essays, two exams, one house move, and a graduation later I have caught a couple of minutes to write to you about a little trip down to our capital I took on 27th May...

You may have read about it from the other lovely ladies I met that the 27th May was a little meet up of vintage lovers and bloggers in London. The weather was truly glorious (as it is right now!) and London was buzzing on the sunny bank holiday. Myself and Adele (of My Last Dollar Dress) travelled down from the north and met the other ladies on Brick Lane where we explored the vintage shops there before venturing to Crouch End. I personally did not buy anything but the other troopers made some purchases - my personal favourite being Ruby Armoire's hat from Crouch End.

We finished the day off in Joe's Kitchen in Camden town for a cocktail or two mmm...

 One thing we did notice was the amount of attention that we got throughout the day. We hardly expected to go unnoticed all day but the amount we did get got kind of...frustrating. It got especially annoying when we were harassed for photos by people in Camden thinking we were some kind of tourist attraction. I don't know. We should expect that kind of attention because we do look different, but the constant flash of cameras and iPhones being stuck under our noses began to grate after about half an hour. How celebrities do it I do not know...

Well, that was our trip in a nutshell! I hope there are more to come in the future! I think now would be a jolly good time for you to all go over and visit the other ladies' blogs and say a quick hello!

Mel at Incendiary Blonde

Emmie at My Oh Sew Vintage Life

Hollie (aka The War Bride) at We'll Meet Again

Hannah at A Brighton Belle

Votes For Roxie!

If you are on my Facebook or follow me on Twitter you would have already seen that I plan on spamming you all with my face for a wee while. This is all because I NEED YOUR VOTES!

This is an opportunity for me to model at The Rockabilly Rave on the 15th June this year. It's all really simple, all you need to do is click here and 'like' the photo!

I'm not doing too badly at the moment but I really am in need of your votes so it would be a massive favour if all my lovely followers voted for me :)

Thank you all so much!

Mwah! xx

Bargain Booty.

A couple of weeks ago - the 16th February to be exact, the same day as the aforementioned Speakeasy - I went along to a vintage kilo sale in Liverpool, ran by Little Red Vintage of Bold Street. If you don't know what a kilo sale is it's basically a first come, first served basis and is a way of vintage shops to shift lots of stock quickly; you find garments you like, and you pay for them by the weight, this time £15 per kilo. Now, I must admit Little Red Vintage isn't my favourite vintage shop in Liverpool as I sometimes wonder if I've accidentally wandered into the wardrobe department of Midsomer Murders c.1997, but I was pleasantly surprised at the array of items available. Naturally, you're not going to find a mint condition 1930s ball gown at one of these events but there are plenty of later items along the lines of 'the 1980s does the 1950s' with most of the stock coming from the 1980s to the present. I did find a 1960s wedding dress, but as I have no purpose for one, and it definitely weighed over a kilo, I put it back - sadly onto a large pile which was going to end up on the floor, sob!

Enough rambling about the event, what did I get?! In total I got four items, one of which doesn't fit me so I'll be selling that on some how, and my total spend came to £10.80! Bargain!

(Apologies for not modelling these - I'm having a frump day with messy hair, no make up and nasty nails)

A little out of character for me, I spotted this 1970s (I think...correct me if I'm wrong) crop top. Initially I thought of it as a birthday present for my sister, but then I tried it on...why yes, this would look lovely with a pair of high waisted denim shorts! As soon as the weather is warm enough I'll be throwing this on for a night out!

This really is one of those items of clothing that looks disgusting on the hanger but trust me folks, this is a really nice playsuit. As a tall girl I find it hard to fit my long body into playsuits but this one doesn't cut me in half. It's green rose pattern on black give it a bit of a psychobilly edge, and the little wrap-over tie nips it in at the waist making it much more fitted.

Right, so...this looks really creased (and it is!) but when I put it on the creases do stretch out. I'm a bit scared of ironing it because the material feels really delicate, and I have tried everything from using the hair dryer on it to putting it in the bathroom when I shower to steam out the creases but alas, nothing is working. This dress is a little tight in the ol' chesticle department - everything is on me! - but it does look fabulous when it's on. I love the detail in the skirt, and the layering hugs the hips whilst not clinging to the tummy.

Finally the item I'll be selling on. This photo is cunningly deceptive into making you think that it is a shapely pencil skirt, but actually it's a frumpy wrap-around (this seems to be the theme of my purchases) skirt that is too tight at my waist but too loose at the bottom. But it probably cost me 50p so I'm not exactly complaining!

And that's it! I did find some bargains so I'll be looking out for another event like this in the future  but I'll save up my energy for the furious foraging that it requires!

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!

Tag You're It!

I got 'tagged' by the lovely LisaFreemontStreet on Youtube to do this vintage tag. Now, before you get your hopes up that I've been fraternising with people who have such high-standing in the community...she tagged everyone on youtube, not just little old me individually. So, here is my tuppence worth of opinions and factoids on what I think of the vintage style and how I blend it into my everyday life.

And now I tag you! If you're interested here are the questions for you to answer in a video, or if you're camera shy just in good old fashioned writing.

1) Who's your style icon?
2) Whats your favorite way to get inspired?
3) What's your most used hair tool(s)?
4) Whats your favorite hair tool/ gadget?
5) Up-do, down, or half and half?
6) Is vintage styling something you do daily?
7) Whats your favorite blush/ lipstick?
8) Dress, skirt or trousers? Heels or flats?
9) Homemade or off the rack?
10) Do you swing dance?
11) Small subtle touches incorporated into everyday wear ( flavor of vintage, if you will) or all out extreme? 
12) Favorite perfume/ skincare?)
13) What does the rest of the family think of your "style"?
14) Favorite accessory?
15) Do you find the vintage community warm and inviting, or cliquish and snooty?
16) What drew you to this style? 
17) Your favorite place(s) to shop vintage?

Is It Spring Yet?

After Thursday's glorious weather I dabbled in the thought that spring might finally be here - alas the  rain in the early morning of Friday dashed these thoughts! Nevertheless, it certainly got me thinking: I need to sort my summer wardrobe out. Specifically, I need to sort my swimwear out. I haven't been abroad on a proper summer holiday for nearly four years and so am really hoping to get away for a week or two in between working and digging this summer. This has resulted in me not buying a decent bikini for a while (well, I bought one in Primarni for just general trips to the beach last summer, but that doesn't count!) so I've done a little bit of hunting and concluded that Topshop - oh that old haunt! - have certainly got a brilliant collection of vintage styled swimwear this season.

Bird Outline Bikini - £26 (I love the brightness of this and the bow adds a cute detail)

Push-Up Bikini with High Waisted Pants - £32 (What is not to love about this bikini?! High waisted bottoms look great on every shape)

Hibiscus Print Bandeau & High Waisted Pants - £30 (Ahhh Hawaiian prints! Love them!)

Pink Gingham Bikini - £30 (Bit more rockabilly, but still fabulous! Also available in mint green)

Red Palm Print One-Piece - £32 (Looks great from the front but not sure on the back though...Also available in a bikini)

There are lots more on the site that I haven't included, equally as lovely, including little beach dresses to cover up with. I shall definitely be purchasing one for this summer but which one...?

Lili Bizarre & The Unwearable Beauty

As a vintage enthusiast that prefers the 1950s over the 1980s I'm often left feeling disappointed by the selection at vintage shops and fayres. The racks always seem to be swamped by polyster dresses and dodgy trousers that were left at the back of cupboards for a reason, until now. Liverpool, I suppose, is slightly more my cup of tea because of it's 1960s heritage so I can pick up a few things if I see them and if they fit. However, finally I have found a vintage shop in Liverpool that had  a marvellous selection of 1940s, 1950s and 1960s dresses for prices as teensy weensy as the waists on the skirts...

Let me introduce you to Lili Bizarre. Although they are first and foremost a fancy dress costume hire store they have the most amazing vintage dresses available for as little as £20. Now, you do have to be 'vintage sized' to fit into them (ie: waist as small as my thigh) so it does narrow the availability to most. I bought one dress in there, which I will never ever fit into because of my rather buxom chest but when I saw it and then clocked the price tag I could not resist it's charm. It was just beautiful! You couldn't buy a modern or vintage dress of such quality and detail for £20 anywhere else! It has a little damage, like the tear in one of the seams that just needs a few stitches with invisible thread and then a few wear-and-tear stains that can be steamed out, but still, it's very much worth the money!

Just imagine it with a full petticoat underneath! Beautiful!



The detail is incredible, don't you think?

They have a few more fancy dresses and a lot more day dresses in stock so if you're in the area I'd strongly recommend having a browse!

Miss L Fire A/W '11

I feel I write a lot of posts about clothes and shoes I would like but I could never afford...

Well here's another! The brilliant Miss L Fire have released photos for their Autumn/Winter 2011 collection - available 1st September! - and I want...hmm...quite a few pairs! I think I'll have to wait until the sale though as their shoes are notoriously expensive, even though these prices haven't been revealed yet! At least their classic yet eclectic pieces will never go out of fashion with me! What I love about their shoes though is they do a great selection for those ladies of a bigger foot size and they do a range of heel sizes from flats, to middy heels to skyscrapers.

'Ivy' in black and red



Pocahontas (I won't lie, the name sold these to me!)

'Clara' in ruby

 'Edith' in black

'Goddess' in nude - I like the idea of having a nude goddess on my tootsies



'Lauren' in tan - although this pair is, apparently, too much like the pair in this blog

I think I'll be asking Santa for a pair of these (well I have to get my list to him early!) this Christmas time, but what pair shall I go for?

(All photography belongs to Miss L Fire)