Ananas & Palm Trees.

I had a spare hour or so this week in between lots of reading, writing and tiki business to go shopping. I'd been informed by some people over on Facebook that Topshop had some great tiki stuff in. Well, that was excuse enough for me! My work wardrobe needed a bit of spruce up anyway, and topped off with the lovely spring weather that has finally arrived, it was off to town I went!

First off I spotted this pineapple design dress in their beachware section. I think it's supposed to be a beach dress you wear over a swimsuit, but it works fine as a regular dress too - if a little short! I was most surprised by a) the price (a mere £25!) and b) the size (usually I am at least a medium in Topshop, sometimes reaching over into the large spectrum). I went off to the changing room with a medium and a large but had to ask the assistant for a small! I can't deny that it didn't feel good! It is pretty much backless, and I'm sure with the right bikini top it'll look fab, but for now I've just teamed it with a bandeau top from New Look.

(I must apologise for my hair in these photos; I'm trying out a new Aussie product which combines texturing and conditioning so its a little beachy at the moment)

Secondly I found this dress with a cut out midriff. I expected to be a 14 because Topshop busts  in a 12 are usually too small for me, but alas the 14 was too big and so I tried the 12. Perfect! I love the design of Polynesian beach houses and palm trees, and the colouring is bright enough for work but not too garish to wear elsewhere! This one was slightly more expensive, but within the regular range of Topshop dresses, at £36. The amount of wear I'll get out of it though makes it completely worth that extra £11!

Other outfit additions:

Bamboo bangles by Bow & Crossbones

Hair Orchid by me

What do you think?

Have you found an tiki treats out there this spring?

Mahalo xx

Goodbye Money.

I feel I say this every year, but yes, Miss L Fire have released their Spring/Summer 2013 range. And yes, I want them all.

Again, the shoes look absolutely fabulous. The 'L' range are bright and colourful - beyond perfect for summer - and the regular range fills that space between shoes to wear to work and shoes to wear out, all with a lovely little vintage heel so you aren't falling over after one too many martinis!

If work wasn't so messy these would be perfect! Kon Tiki - £56.99

Again, would be ace at work - Mexicali - £56.99

It's a top up between the blue and red ones for me!  Sailor - £64.99

Love the height of the heel on these, perfect for us tall gals! Flora - £104.99

These come in black, red, green and blue, and I will take a pair of each! Tease - £109.99

Those are my favourites, have you chosen your's?

ps: I am accepting donations. Thanks.

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

A Bit of Girl On Girl Action with Sailor Jerry

I'm not one to turn down a competition to win some goodies, especially if the goodies come in the form of Sailor Jerry rum. There was an advert up at work to represent your bar at an arm wrestling competition at Mojo Liverpool so I thought I'd give it a shot. I've been hitting the gym recently so I thought I'd be pretty good at it - that was until I met the all-powerful Karen with her arms of steel! There was a good few pairs of lads to battle it out but the lasses were few on the ground, but we held our ground and put up a fair fight!

We started the night slapping some temporary Sailor Jerry tattoos on ourselves - the Mojo lads looked amazing with anchors, roses and pin up girls all up their arms and necks.

I really like mine! Perhaps a smaller version for real?

Heather wasn't so keen on her's...

It was soon down to business! Starting with a shot of the nectar itself, the lads went first, showing off their muscles and manly strength. Some of the wrestles went on for a while, others were over short and sharp. I got knocked out in the first round to the formidable Karen, but I like to think I would have won against the other girls...

Ash from Aloha also got knocked out in the first round, but Kieran kept it up for the tiki crew, winning the boy's round for the bar!

Me in action. I have seriously never met a stronger woman than Karen!

The winning round for Kieran

Now, although I went out early, the lovely Karen said I put up such a fight she very, very kindly donated some of her prizes to me, including a delicious bottle of Sailor Jerry rum, a Sailor Jerry t-shirt, a CD (which I've yet to listen to), some stickers and a pack of cards (which I gave to Heather for our house next year).

Look at my goodies!

So, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the gorgeous Sailor Jerry team (Emma-Li, Scarlett and Karen) and to Mojo for giving me such a lovely evening! Hopefully there'll be another one in the future!

Mahalo!

Well, haven't I been a busy bunny? Between balancing a mountain of uni work I have finally bagged myself a part-time job. Now, this isn't just any part-time job (nor is it an M&S job) this is a very exciting adventure. You may have read my little review on a vintage fair I went to a long time ago at Liverpool's only tiki bar, Aloha? Well, I only went and got myself a job there! You cannot understand my excitement when I got invited to an interview! Two chats later I got the call for me to jump aboard the crew, and three shifts in (with lots of training too) I am loving it. Apart from the obvious - the rum, the music, the people - one of the ultimate perks of the job is the uniform. This is the best excuse I've ever had to go a bit mad and buy a load of vintage-y tiki things! I have quite a bit in my wardrobe anyway but no time like the present to expand!

I probably won't wear dresses to work, but maybe one might creep it's way into my wardrobe for summer...

Red Sarong Dress - Collectif £55

Blue Tiki Sarong Dress - Collectif £25

I'm currently wearing my old, old, old pair of Freddies of Pinewood jeans but I am thinking this is the perfect time to invest in a new pair. Now, which to choose...?

Maybe a pair of pedal pushers? - £48

I think I prefer them in blue though - £45

Shirts can be picked up from most hightstreets, vintage stores and good ol' eBay for varying prices. I've found some for £5 (usually made of cheap nylon fabrics though, so I avoid them) and then I've also seen some for well over £100 - I've then put them down and walked away...quickly.

Shoes wise, heels are a definite no no. Being on your feet for ten hours and running the gauntlet between the bar and guests definitely requires some comfy shoes! For now I've got my biker boots and some cheapo Primarni pumps, and for summer I'll probably invest in deck shoes that will survive. But if I could wear any tiki shoes for work there is only one shop I would go to...

Ahhh I love them so much! 'Bluebird' Miss L Fire - £54.99

These look so comfy! - 'Capri' Miss L Fire - £54.99

'Monterrey' Miss L Fire - £59.99

These are from their S/S'11 collection but are still available in some sizes - 'Honolulu' Miss L Fire £59.99

Taking some inspiration from Miss Fleur de Guerre I have decided I need to invest in more bangles. I bought some from New Look and will keep my eye out on the high street for more, but these are definitely being added to my collection!

Bow & Crossbones - £3.50 (Also available in 2 packs - £6.50 - and 3 packs - £9)

I need these! Bow & Crossbones - £7.50

I can see where my first wage packet will be going...