I have often sported a leopard print style nail of various colours (most commonly aqua, pink and purple), but the process takes ages! I'm talking at least an hour - and you can guarantee that they will be chipped the very next day. Anyway, I'm getting away from the point of this post. The point of this post is to show off my other animal print style nails: zebra (or is it tiger? I'm not sure...I'm going with zebra). The process is very simple and anyone can do it as long as they have a steady hand and some cocktail sticks. Just paint on two coats of nail varnish (I used #202 Hidden Treasure by Topshop) and then when they have fully dried draw on the pattern with a black varnish (I used Barry M's) using the point of the cocktail stick. Simples!
As you can see the cool colour of the varnish in the bottle isn't reflected on the nails, but it's pretty all the same
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?
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the death of the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Aaron Presley. I think it is only appropriate then that I pay tribute to the man who introduced me to rock'n'roll and rockabilly way back when I was wee. The King is dead, long live the King.
On a recent shopping escapade with my mother to Southampton's shopping mall I went on the, what seems like a never ending, search for clothes that actually fit me. As most of you know, I am a lady of size that is not often represented by the high street or any clothing retailers really, and often rely on my mum to make me lovely garments. I am 6' tall, with 34" legs ending in (large) size 8 feet, and an hour glass figure that has bust and hips of a size 14 and the waist of a size 10. Yeah. Can you see why I generally detest shopping? And vintage shopping is a no-go area, which makes me sad because we all know how much I love vintage! I am, sometimes but rarely, saved by the tall section of high street stores, plus the one and only shop for taller ladies, Long Tall Sally. I say sometimes but rarely because according to these sections and stores long-legged ladies are only allowed to wear a maximum of three outfits:
1) The trouser suit.
2) Jeans/'Lounge wear':
And 3) Evening Dresses - never full length though, that would be far too much fabric (Shops listen up: a 6', size 12 lady uses much less fabric than a 5'5", size 18 lady)
This is quite nice actually...
I have spared you the monstrosity of the shoes...
Moving on to my next point: not only is there a lack of choice in the stores that DO provide taller ladies things, there is just a general lack of stores that provide anything at all. New Look, I am looking at you.This brings us neatly back to the beginning of our story...
New Look and Topshop were the only shops (to my knowledge anyway) that regularly provided a tall section (complete with the three permitted outfits), but as I searched for the section in the blindingly bright white Southampton branch my quest returned fruitless. New Look had stopped their tall section.
Now, I am left with only one shop that is willing to clothe me. They all seem willing to clothe small ladies - every shop seems to have a petite section! So where is my section? Any other tall ladies (and gents! I know you have this issue too!) feeling my pain? And, if anyone knows any vintage repro/rockabilly stores that do a tall section, you will be my hero if you inform me!
This time last week I was walking around the stalls of this years epic Hotrod Hayride. And when I say epic, I mean epic - hence why this post is five days late, it's taken me that long to recover! This was my third venture to the annual event, held at Bisley Shooting Range, and it was by far the best one yet. Both nights the bands were outstanding, the cars were even better than previous years with many coming from across the continent for the weekend, and the people were the nicest they've ever been - but maybe that was the bottle of rum I had consumed...?
Friday, as always was quite a chilled day, people arriving at various times, bikes steaming up and down the roads throughout the day, and the casual beer by the barbie. The highlight, by far, for me on the first day was the performance by the Swedish rockabilly band, The Go Getters. I've been following this band since I first really got into the scene and have wanted to see them for a long, long time. They certainly did not disappoint! I think they were called back for encore four times? I'm not sure, the rum had set in by this point. That's probably also why the photos of the set I took are rather blurry. Anyway, myself and Steve enjoyed ourselves thoroughly, and promptly got very excited any other time in the weekend when we saw any member of the band.
Probably the least blurry of the images
With a slightly sore head I woke up on Saturday in a boiling hot tent, ready to brace the day's racing down at the hill climb. Usually they would have drag racing at this point, but the landing strip they usually use had been commandeered for those pesky Olympics. Anyway, the hill climb was fun, apart from the fact I'd made the foolish decision to wear shorts and was rather cold after an hour under the shade of the trees. Mark, my dad's friend and part of the Bleek Autos team (they like to build customs, rods and bikes in their spare time and call themselves Bleek Autos), nearly took out part of the forest, a number of spectators, and not to mention the fire engine, with a fabulous near-crash as he sped up the dirt track.
Credit to whoever was brave enough to film this!
No sh*t, Sherlock...
So after we'd all recovered, we drove back to site and settled in for the night. Read "settled in for the night" as: got drunk and danced like crazy people. Seriously, my feet the next day, I swear they were physically bruised from the amount of stompin', boppin' and strollin' I did. Best set of the night goes to the fabulous Gizzelle, who's voice could probably knock you off your feet. She was joined for one song by Jake Allen, who I later accosted. Apologies, Jake, once again Mr B. Cardi had reared his drunken head. But seriously, amazing set!
We also saw Big Boy Bloater - an amazing voice by a lovely man...
Watched a Freak Show (how does one realise one has the talent for hammering nails into one's nose exactly?)
And burlesque was brought to us by the ever sexy Anna Fur Laxis...
Sunday was subdued; I was very sore headed, me and mamma sold a few things at the Trunk Of Junk before the heavens opened, we saw the soap box derby - which was a little slow, I won't lie to you, a few needed a little push towards the end - where I spoke to a lovely lady called Lydia, and got packed up to go home. In the car (called Delilah) back Steve and I seat-danced to songs we'd heard that weekend and lamented over it being gone from our lives for another year...
But lets not end this on a sad note! Here are some more photos from the weekend that makes me not feel like a freak! 'Til next year!
Agatha went home, and Steve let his feminine side out
I wish I could dance like these guys...(I also owe them apology - or rather, pardon - as I confused them when I asked for instructions to Sainsbury's, and they didn't speak English...)
Trunk Of Junk
Credit to Steve Biddlecombe for this one. The guy in the background represents how my liver felt the next day.
