The Mad Hepcat's Tea Party

I've been holding back on releasing this news since it was first thought up by myself and Sarah (Ruby La Rouge) a few months back whilst taking afternoon tea. We had noticed that Liverpool didn't have nearly enough rockabilly events, so we decided that it was about time we fixed this. So, we combined two loves of ours, tea and rockabilly-ness, and created The Mad Hepcat's Tea Party. Our first event will be held on the 29th September at Aloha in Liverpool, with all the proceeds going towards MacMillan Cancer Support.

So, my faithful readers, please be prepared to be bombarded with news and what not of the event, but in the mean time please follow us on Twitter (@madhepteaparty) and 'like' us over at facebook! 

I Got Stripes.

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

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?

Long Live The King.

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.

And my favourite song of his...

I Suppose I'll Just Have To Go Naked Then.

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!