VintageLifeOctober2015.pdf

WINTER?NO WORRIES!SEASONAL LOOKS YOU’LL ADORE...

PLUS: Swing Essentials/ Flirty 30s / For Him Rhythm Riot / Candy Girls / Music / Food / Reviews

VIVIEN LEIGH

EXHIBITION

BEAUTY THROUGH

THE AGES

YOUR STREET

STYLE

LIFE

OCT 2015ISSUE 59

£4.25HER & LIFESTYLEFASHION

OCT 2015ISSUE 59

£4.25

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OctOber 2015Issue 59

MY STYLE

14. Emilio PucciThe life of the famous Italian designer explored.

17. Autumn trEndsVintage styles set to be popular again this season.

20. Your strEEt stYlEOut and about at the Summer of Vintage Festival at Uttoxeter Racecourse.

23. bEAutY Across thE AgEsHow clothing makes you feel – whatever your age!

30. collEctifTake a look at the brand’s autumn/winter range!

36. mY stYlEMarie-Claude Samson from Seattle shares her wardrobe favourites.

37. mEnswEAr drEss codEsThe differences between white and black tie suitsis explored...

39. VintAgE fAshion At clAssic AirforcEBringing together beautiful fashion and engineering.

44. sAVE thE dAtEThe key looks for an Edwardian vintage wedding.

47. swing EssEntiAlsTips on what to wear and look great when dancing the lindy hop.

MY LOOK51. A frightful AffAirCreate a hair, make-up and costume look for Halloween...

54. bEAutY QuEEnsThe duo answer your beauty dilemmas! 56. mArilYn monroE’s EYElinErCreate eye make-up just like the Hollywood starlet would wear!

57. flirtY 30sA stunning hairstyle reminiscent of the 1930s suitable for readers with shorter hair.

MY HEaLTH61. dAncing through thE dEcAdEsWho doesn’t love to dance? Velody looks at the popular dances of the 1900s.

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Issue 60 On sale

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2015

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CONTENTS

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MY LifE67. VintAgE And VictoriAnAOne reader shares her vintage obsession...

69. it’s A fAir dAY’s work!Singer and entertainer Kiki deVille shares her experiences of working in the vintage scene.

70. PionEEr womAnValentina Tereshkova – the first woman in space.

74. thE rEAlitY of thE 50sHaili Hughes takes a look at what life in the 50s was really like...

76. cArrY on cArAVAnningLiza Hollinghurst looks at life on the open road.

MY HOME79. stEP insidEThe Toronto home of vintage enthusiast, Ellen Shraa.

84. ooh lA lA! PrEttY grEY chic...Transforming a table – a great place to rest that cuppa!

85. through thE kEYholETake a look at Max Gate, the former home of novelist Thomas Hardy.

90. good clEAn funTips to keep the bedroom fresh and clean!

92. kitchEns in sYncTake a look at the popular kitchen items of the 50s.

MY fOOD95. Fast Food – frEsh from thE grill Seren Evans- Charrington looks at the popularity of cooking on skewers

96. gin And sunshinE: thE PErfEct cocktAil?Exploring the history of a popular tipple – gin!

99. kEEP cAlm And drink tEA!Elle Douglas explores some of the UK’s most popular tearooms. 100. siEgEl’s 1941Nina Faull finds a hidden gem in Las Vegas...

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100 | VINTAGE LIFE

CONTENTS



VIVIEN LEIGH

EXHIBITION

BEAUTY THROUGH

THE AGES

YOUR STREET

STYLE

LIFE

OCT 2015ISSUE 59


OCT 2015ISSUE 59

£4.25

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UE

59

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R 2

015

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ICE

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Issue 60 On sale On thurs 29th

OctOber2015

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OCTOBER 2015 / ISSUE 59

PHOTO COURTESy OF:COLLECTIF CLOTHING

WWW.COLLECTIF.CO.UK

subscribe to

turn to page 50

MY CuLTurE101. sPotlight: bErlinTake a look at the popular vintage haunts in this capital.

105. ViViEn lEign ExhibitionThe life of the star on display at the Treasurer’s House in york.

107. thE rEViEwThe gothic splendour of Chateau Rhianfa, Anglesey.

112. mY toP 5 rEAdsGemma Miller shares her favourite reads...

113. rEViEwsStick your head in a book!

114. mAkE mE A tootsiE!The Tootsie Rollers give us a glimpse at their new video and the winner of their recent ‘Make Me a Tootsie’ competition. 115. thE AmorEllEsVL chats with the 60s inspired female trio!

117. thE cAndY girlsA look at Rhubarb and Custard, a ‘sweet’ themed album by the Candy Girls.

118. EVErY dAY i hAVE thE bluEsKathryn Levell explores the origins and popularity of influential music genre, the Blues.

119. thE buttErflY childrEnMartin Lee from the Brotherhood of Man discusses his latest project.

MY SOCiETY123. frock uP sYdnEYKitty Von Tastique reports from this popular Australian vintage fair.

124. rhYthm riotTake a look at the upcoming event – one not to be missed!

126. rEtro sundAYsAt lEAfFind out more about this fabulous vintage fair held in the heart of Liverpool.

127. it’s A dAtE!Fair and event listings this month.

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WELCOME

editor’s letterW

ell, it’s been another busy few weeks at Vintage Life HQ and one of the highlights was our trip to this year’s Twinwood Fes-tival. What an event! Myself and the team always enjoy listening to the many different

vintage singers and performers, watching the dancing (prom-ising ourselves that we WILL learn the steps so we can join in next year) and browsing the many fabulous vintage stalls. The team and I spoke to many Vintage Life readers – it was wonderful to meet so many of you!

Once again, I had the opportunity to be one of the judges for the Miss and Mr Twinwood competition and I can honestly say that all contestants were superb! A fellow judge was none other than 60s sensation Anita Harris, who also performed at the event – what a lady! I managed to catch up with two of my favourite girls too – Lo Polidoro of Fleur de Paris and Lola Lamour, they always look so stunning!

It’s sad to say – but the dark nights are drawing in and it will soon be time to put away those fair weather frocks and dig out those winter warmers – check out a great article on page 17 that talks about the vintage inspired looks that are set to be popular this season and with Halloween around the corner as we head into October, there is also frightfully good hair and make-up in-spiration for those of you feeling a little daring with your style!

With that, I’m off to pour myself a rather large mug of coffee, sit in front of my roaring fireplace and cosy up with the cat.

Until next time, you vintage lovelies you...

rae egglestone-evanseditor in chiefFollow me on twitter @iamsimplyrae

Image of rae: photographer - my boudoir (www.myboudoir.co.uk) / hair & make-up - michelle sisson / dress - sharon bowen designs (Fake fur)

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cOmpetItIOnWInners!

Pervalia:Excellent magazine!

Vintiq:What a great magazine!

Happy we stumbled upon it.

Dotty Sewing Union:‎Sew impressed!!!

I subscribed yesterday and got my first copy this morning, with a

fabby free gift. Thank you lovelies!! Xx

@MissLJxxx9 Enjoyed reading the

latest fabulous issue of @VintageLifeMag this

morning in bed :D given me lots of ideas for my

next birthday :-)

@MissEmeraldElleExcited to receive

the September issue of @VintageLifeMag My favourite magazine!

@FashionFarewell Saved September’s

@VintageLifeMag for my Isle of Wight holiday - just opened it and saw this fab

feature. Thank you!

@TVS_Events Can I successfully zone out a house full of noisy

children & enjoy 10 minutes with my new issue of

@VintageLifeMag? Let’s see!

@samperry07 Evening read sorted

#vintagemagazine #vintage

Our readers rOck!

My

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mIssOctOber

The following readers are the lucky winners of the compe-titions run in issue 57 of Vintage

Life Magazine!

Tickets to Salute to the 40s:

Ray Spendley, RainhamClaire Derry, Eynsford

Richard Tyler, Guildford

Copy of Home Fires on DVD:

Karen Hambly, Tunbridge WellsRobert Smith, London

Isabelle Smith, NottinghamChris Bell, TelfordAndrea Critchley

Charles Mallory Compact:

Katherine Lucas, WiganLisa Parker, London

Beth Cannon, PeterboroughNatalia Stanoeva, Tunbridge Wells

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Emilio PucciEmilio Pucci di Barsento was born on 20th November 1914 into one of Florence’s most noble and illustrious families – his father was a wealthy aristocrat. Pucci was well educated and experienced a fantastic lifestyle –

he was multilingual, travelled extensively and enjoyed a range of sports including skiing, fencing, swimming, tennis and motor racing. His sporting prowess meant that at the age of 17 he was selected as a member of the Italian

team for the Winter Olympics in 1932 at Lake Placid, however Pucci did not actually compete at the event.

Illustrious Italian Designer

Pucci spent two years at the University of Milan before moving to the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA, where he studied agriculture. He then won a skiing scholarship to Reed College in Oregon. It was here that he designed his first clothes – skiwear for the Reed College Skiing team, but it wasn’t until later

that his fashion design became his primary concern. In 1937, Pucci received an MA in Social Science and in the same year he won a doctorate in political science from the University of Florence.

In 1938, Pucci joined the Italian airforce where he served as a torpedo bomber during World War Two. He rose to the rank of captain and was later decorated for valour.

During his time in the Italian Airforce, Pucci crossed paths with many people of high rank and importance. One person in particular was Edda, the eldest daughter of Benito Mussolini, and Pucci became her confidant. Later, when Edda’s husband Count Galeazzo Ciano, Mussolini’s former Foreign Minister, was on trial for his involvement in removing Mussolini from power in 1943, Pucci played a key role in planning to save him. A scheme was developed to deliver some of the papers that Ciano had written that criticised Mussolini to the Gestapo, so that they could be used as a trade for Ciano’s life. Hitler rejected the idea so Pucci drove Edda to the Swiss border so that she could escape. Edda had made a final attempt at the plan and sent pleas to various officials, which Pucci delivered to a middle-man. As he attempted to escape to Switzerland, he was caught and arrested by the Germans and handed to the Gestapo, who tortured him to extract the details of where Ciano’s papers were located. He was finally released and sent to Switzerland to warn Edda not to publish anything from the papers, otherwise she would be killed. Pucci remained in Switzerland until the end of the war.

It was in 1947 that Pucci’s designs were first spotted. While on leave in Sermatt in Switzerland, he designed some skiwear for a female friend which was photographed by a photographer who worked for Harper’s Bazaar by the name of Tony Frissell. Frissell’s editor asked Pucci to design some skiwear for an editorial feature on European Winter Fashion, which was published in the 1948 winter issue of the magazine. His designs caused an instant sensation. Various American manufacturers approached Pucci with offers of work, asking him to produce his designs. He left the Italian Air-force and decided to set up his own haute couture house in Canzine del Mare on the Isle of Capri.

Pucci wanted to give women the freedom of movement in his clothing and worked closely with Italian fabric manufacturers to pioneer and patent revolutionary stretch fabrics. He then produced a swimwear line in 1949, followed by a range of brightly coloured, patterned silk scarves. Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus then encouraged Pucci to use his designs to create other clothing items such as blouses and silk dresses.

Other styles developed by Pucci included Capri pants, silk twill shirts, open-toed sandals and striped jersey tops. All of his designs featured fresh colours that reflected the beauty of the Isle of Capri. In the 1950s, Puc-ci developed his signature prints that featured a range of graphic, abstract designs such as batik patterns, mosaics and African motifs, which had not

been seen before. Pucci was crowned the ‘Prince of Prints’ (home.emiliopuc-ci.com/about-emilio-pucci) by the press.

It was during the early 1950s that Pucci began to receive international recognition. He was awarded the Neiman-Marcus award in Dallas in 1954 (and again in 1967) and the Burdine’s Sunshine Award in Miami. His ef-fortlessly elegant, lightweight and wrinkle free designs were a hit, not only because they differed from other styles at the time but also because they were perfect for the jet-set. Pucci later opened a boutique in Rome to sell his designs.

In 1959, Pucci launched his lingerie line, which he was advised to develop abroad. After visiting Chicago he gave the contract to Formfit-Rogers Mills, which proved to be a successful venture. After a year, Pucci was made vice president in charge of design and merchandising. The same year, Pucci was introduced to Roman Baroness Cristina Nannin when she visited his bou-tique in Capri. They later married.

In the early 1960s, Pucci’s career received a further boost when Marilyn Monroe became a huge fan of his designs. Notable people such as Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall and Jackie Kennedy also wore his fashions.

Pucci went from strength to strength. He began branching out into men’s fashions, ceramics, and perfumes – the famous fragrance ‘Vivara’ was launched in 1966. Pucci was also chosen to design a new uniform for Bran-iff International Airways. He designed clothes for the air hostesses, pilots and ground crew between 1965 and 1974, which consisted of turtlenecks, crop jackets, culottes and t-shirts. Air hostesses also had a special ‘bubble’ helmet designed for them made out of plastic, which protected their hair from the affects of rain or air from the jet engines when crossing from air-port terminals to aircraft! In fact, Pucci’s uniform was so iconic that by 1968, Barbie had versions of all of his first four uniform designs!

As well as fashion, Pucci also had an interest in politics. He succeeded Vittorio Fossombroni in the Italian Chamber of Deputie in August 1963. He remained in this position until he lost his seat in 1972.

During the 1980s, Pucci’s daughter Laudomia became more involved in the business. The company’s designs were still popular and in the early 1990s, Madonna was a huge fan.

Emilio Pucci sadly died on 29th November 1992. His daughter Lau-domia Pucci continued to design under the Pucci name and in 2000, the Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy Group acquired 67% of the company – Lau-domia was made image director and bought in designer Julio Espada. In 2002, Christian Lacroix was made creative director, followed by Matthew Williamson in 2005 and Peter Dundas in 2009.

Pucci is still going strong today and has a number of boutiques world-wide; recently, a boutique opened on 855 Monroe Ave in New York. Celeb-rity clients include Kylie Minogue.

Sources:home.emiliopucci.com/about-emilio-pucciwww.biography.com/people/emilio-pucci-9448197www.lifeinitaly.com/fashion/emilio-pucci.asp en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Pucci

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VINTAGE LIFE | 17

AutumnTrends

by Second Hand Rose (thesecondhandrose.blogspot.co.uk)

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AnKLE BOOtsAnkle boots have been a sore feet saviour for the past few years

but this season they need to be fi rmly at the front of your shoe rack. the great thing about ankle boots is that they can be styled so many different ways. they can be classic and casual with jeans or can toughen up a really feminine lacy dress. they also come in a variety of styles and can be heeled or fl at, Chelsea boot or lace ups. Every girl is bound to fi nd the perfect pair, plus they are a winner for all you vintage ladies as there are so many 60s and 70s inspired boots around. go full on 70s with chunky platforms, suede and fringing or get into the 60s groove with block heeled patent styles. Print also looks stylish on boots including snakeskin and leopard, whilst boots made out of velvet will add a luxurious feel to any everyday look. Colour wise, don't just stick with black, go with rich browns and purple and deep reds for an autumnal feel.

sEVEntiEs the 70s is here to stay for yet another season. it was all over the

A/W catwalk with Chloé showcasing billowy sleeves, long shearling overcoats and whimsical maxi skirts, and there were fl oral prints at Anna sui. think corduroy, fl ares and peasant blouses, all topped off with slouchy cardigans and felt fl oppy brimmed hats. Earthy tones are everywhere, with camel, olive, terracotta and ochre being fi rm favourites. if the rusty palette isn't right for you then mustard yellow and deep blue fi t into the 70s trend. Prints are still making a big im-pact and fl ares are still very much in, designed in an array of patterns

and colours. if you're more of a wide legged trouser kind of girl then don't put them away just yet – the wider they are, the better. high waisted trousers are also on trend as well as bootleg styles.

Flares aren't just popular in the trouser department though – bell-bottom sleeves are adorning playsuits, tops and dresses. if it's not too cold outside, pair tops with a gilet or a long waistcoat so you don't have to cover up your fabulous sleeves. Buttoned down skirts are here to stay, as are skirts with a zip front. to keep warm, luscious wools and turtleneck knits are available along with faux fur quilt-ed coats, shearling jackets, capes and suede waistcoats. if you don't want to go full on shepherd then a suede coat with a shearling trim is perfect to stay on trend without going overboard.

A pair of slouchy suede over the knee boots will complete the look whilst stack heel platforms are good for dancing the night away. Plat-form ankle boots are great for a casual style – if worn with fl ares, choose boots that are slightly higher than the ankle so the fl are falls just over the top of them. this will help to lengthen your legs even more.

You don't have to go out and buy a full on 70s wardrobe, if you tap into one thing this season to encompass the 70s then go with something with fringing and tassels. it's on everything from bags and boots to skirts and shoes, coats and capes. the shops are a fren-zy of fringing so you're bound to fi nd something to make your outfi t tassel-tastic – nothing says the 70s quite like it.

this year we have fallen in love again with the Bohemian look and clothes packed with 70s nostalgia. Anything loose, lightweight and earthy toned fi ts the style.

We are in the midst of autumn now so if you haven't already, you need to say goodbye to your summer fl orals until next year and

hello to this season’s hottest trends.

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EightiEsPull out your tulle skirts and break out the glittery platforms be-

cause the 80s disco style is the trend for the party season. Endless Christmas parties and mulled wine hangovers may seem a lifetime away, but be prepared to have a fling with the glitz and shimmer of the decade. Jumpsuits, shiny dresses and skintight sparkle will dom-inate your party wardrobe this A/W and may even sneak into your everyday wardrobe, but just ever so slightly muted down.

Power shoulders, bright knits and multi-coloured combinations along with ruffles, puffy sleeves and asymmetric necklines are bang on trend. the 80s is set to be a big style statement for spring so get in early and show everyone how fashion forward you are. to keep warm go for a big-shouldered coat or an oversized jacket, both in a fantastically bright colour. Metallic trousers can work day and night as well as a muted down trouser length jumpsuit. A belted bodycon dress is sure to pack a punch that you can tone down with black tights or amp up with a glittery cape, which will definitely brighten up any outfit. Work the style subtly by just adding a glittery bag or an amazing pair of shoes. Embellishment is a big thing with this trend and can turn any day dress into an outfit full of after dark appeal. Look for sequins, glittery fabrics and beading – anything that will add some sparkle.

the queen of party fabrics, Lurex, has made a comeback as well but it's not just being saved for the dance floor. the glittery fabric is transforming dresses, tunics, skirts and even trousers with every colour imaginable. there are a lot of knitted tank tops around this season and one in Lurex would look great with a pair of flares. Even just a zipped Lurex jacket in a jewel-toned colour will go well with casual jeans and t-shirt attire.

so, go glam this autumn with lots of glitter and sparkle; start in-corporating the look into your wardrobe now and you'll be a shim-mering pro come party season.

OPtiCAL iLLusiOn One of this season’s biggest print trends is the optical illusion style

print. We've had the optical illusion dresses, skirts and tops that help to make you look a size smaller, but now the prints are having their turn at crossing our eyes. they are hypnotic, mind melting and are incredibly difficult to stop looking at. Bold graphic art inspired prints can be seen on every item of clothing and are a fab way of making an everyday outfit become alluring and mesmerising. Mon-ochromatic checkerboards, zigzag prints, diamonds, cubes, swirls and warped stripes are just a few of the patterns that are playing tricks on every fashionista’s eyes. the prints can be slotted easily into your wardrobe by combining them with plainer separates or acces-sories. try the look with just a scarf added to your normal wardrobe or be daring and go for a richly coloured coat with colour contrast zigzags or swirls.

For all you 60s lovers the optical prints are perfect in autumnal colours on dresses, skirts and tops.

suEdEEven though suede is a 1970s staple it deserves its very own special

mention. Everything is having a suede makeover this season so there are so many ways to incorporate it into your wardrobe, whether it's faux suede or not. it has been one of the top materials for boots this season, in particular knee high styles, along with belted clas-sic trenches, kimonos, capes and long waistcoats that can keep you toasty in the cold weather.

suede has been taking us on a trip down memory lane already this year. the suede skirt was a big hit in the summer and the look could be continued into the autumn. Whether it's a maxi skirt, midi or mini, the luxe material will be perfect for any time of the day. the A-line 60s mini will look great with a 70s suede twist and a tulip or A-line skirt with buttons or a gold zip, which will go perfectly with a crisp white shirt or a comfortable t-shirt. Even a high waisted A-line style with a fitted top and heels will look sleek and sexy. You can even combine two of the biggest style statements this year, a 90s pinafore made of suede worn with a turtleneck. there is a whole range of colours available in the shops, such as lavender, light blue and chalk tones. Add a pop of colour with 60s bright pink or go for 70s tones like khaki, olive green, mustard, terracotta and navy blue. suede makes even the dullest of colours look rich and luscious. if you're feeling brave you can even try mixing and matching colours with patchwork garments but keep the rest of your outfit simple, otherwise you'll end up looking like a colour wheel.

try and experiment with suede – whether you decide to just try it out with a bag or go full on with a coat and a pair of boots, it will look magnificent whatever style you choose.

there are so many trends available to try this season and if none of these take your fancy then the 60s is getting hip with mod dresses, plaids and tweeds sweeping the shops and sleek tailoring that will keep you stylish and chic. Prim and proper Victoriana was all over the catwalks and faux fur is available in every colour imaginable. don't be afraid to combine trends and most of all have fun with it.

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Your Street Style...

Name: Lydia Hamilton

Location: NottinghamStyle: Hand knitted cardigan

Skirt: Lydia’s grandma’s

Bag, earrings and hat: vintage

Blouse: H&MShoes: Miss L Fire

Name: Kerry WilliamsLocation: LeicesterStyle: Jumpsuit: Freddies of PinewoodBangles: SplendetteBag: vintageShoes: Miss L Fire

Name: Hen JohnsonLocation: Newcastle-under-Lyme

Style: Top and trousers: Kitty Lou

Shoes: Salt Water Sandals

Bag and Umbrella: vintage

Headscarf: bought at Afflecks

Words and images by The Street Style Carousel (streetstylesnaps.com)

Street Style 59.indd 2 10/09/2015 10:48

MY STYLE

Name: Samantha MurrayLocation: DerbyStyle: Skirt: vintageTop: PrimarkBrooch and earrings: LuxuliteBelt: WarehouseBangles: charity shop finds

Name: Alex BackhouseLocation: CumbriaStyle: Skirt, blouse, scarf and bag: vintageCape: Tara StarletShoes: HotterSunglasses: Madam’s Vintage

Names: Terry and Tina Lines

Location: SandiacreShe wore: Dress, hat, bag and

gloves: vintage. Shoes: Ruby Shoo

He wore: all vintage, except for

reproduction shoes

This month’s dose of gorgeous street style inspiration comes from The Vintage Suitcase’s The Summer of Vintage Festival, which was one fabulous retro weekend in Uttoxeter!


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Name: Francesca Comerford

Location: Stoke-on-Trent

Style: Dress, brooch, bag and

hat all vintageShoes: Marks and Spencer

Names: Emily Bowden and Rhodri Owen Location: NottinghamShe wore: dress and brooch: vintage. Bag: charity shop find. Shoes: ClarksHe wore: shirt: H&M. Tie, trousers and vest: vintage. Shoes: ASOS

Name: Debbie Foulkes

Location: MansfieldStyle: Dress: Hell Bunny

Cardigan: PrimarkBag and gloves: vintage

Shoes: Dorothy Perkins

Your Street Style... The Street Style Carousel: streetstylesnaps.com www.facebook.com/florencecarousel


VINTAGE LIFE | 23

Beautyacross the

ages

how clothingmakes you

feel...Words and images

by Laura Miucci

My styLe

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VINTAGE LIFE | 25

When thinking of the word ‘vintage’, a few thoughts may cross your mind: iconic, timeless, and beautiful. ‘Vintage’ is a fluid term encompassing any trends that have lived and later been revived, due to

their ability to endure the ages. As Marc Jacobs once said: “Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them”. Whether it is mothers and daughters, sisters and aunties, grandmas or wives – in every memory, the clothing is always present to the moment. A constant source of focus in an ever-changing world. Perhaps it was the twinkle in her eye when you clasped the necklace around her neck, or the adorable dungarees you gave her for her second birthday; clothing and accessories can be very memorable.

In my early teenage years, for example, I was helping my Mum in tidying the seemingly endless attic when I came across a box of clothes from the early 80s. I plucked a black velvet jacket from the massive pile of clothes, and saw my Mum’s face light up as she told me how much she had loved that jacket, and had been wearing it the night she met my father for the first

time. Rather fond of this jacket myself, I wore it for my 21st birthday celebrations, and it became woven into my own memories, becoming relevant to both mother and daughter. Whether to a social group, or to the individual, there are so many fashions that just always seem to be in style. That’s how I feel about a pencil skirt, or a 50s-style up-do; vintage fashion is one that will transcend the ages. One of the biggest reasons for the longevity of vintage clothing is the enamoured success of the items the first time around, and their subsequent revivals.

Consider classic style icons, such as Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Marilyn Monroe or Bette Davis. The fashions that they graced their bodies with increased the popularity of certain styles, working their way into fashion history and becoming timeless, with continuing relevance into the modern day. The way clothing can make you feel plays not only a significant role in the beauty of the piece itself, but in the happiness – synonymous in my mind for true, natural beauty which is exuded from the wearer herself. And this is what I wanted to portray through this shoot.


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VINTAGE LIFE | 27

My styLe

In my mind, perhaps the greatest reason why vintage fashion is always fashionable, is the timeless beauty of the women themselves. Vintage fashion is very much alive and thriving today, and to celebrate its test of time, here is our ‘Beauty through the Ages’ shoot. Vintage exists not only in our hearts and memories, but through the ages; both the eras, and the ages of those who wear it. Beautiful people, with beautiful stories; you are the reason for the steadfastness of vintage dress into the present day.

May I present to you the women behind the vintage, and the timeless beauty that they all possess. Thank you to everyone who was involved in the shoot, you are all fabulous, darlings! To conclude, I leave you with one of my favourite fashion quotes regarding the captivating nature, accessibility and popularity of vintage clothing, in 2015 and beyond, regardless of the season. In the words of Yves Saint Laurent: “Fashions fade, but style is eternal”.


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CreditsLocation: Portreath Beach. With thanks to: The Atlantic Fish & Chip Restaurant and Bar, who kindly let us use their wonderful restaurant to get ready.

Models: Ava Kitchen (21 months), Evelyn Chivers (3), Izabelle Davy (5), Bethany Clemow (7), Anya Wieczorek (7), Megan McGee-Rashleigh (12), Emily Miucci (15), Karris Miucci (16), Briony-Mai Reynolds (20), Keeleigh Remnant (25), Charlene Chivers (27), Agne Sereikaite (27), Ashley Challinor (28), Julie Wieczorek (37), Allison McGee-Harrison (38), Kathryn Moore (41), Pamela Gould (45), Jo Chatterley (45), Gill Moore (70)

Creative TeamHair Stylists: Keeleigh Remnant, Katherine Bamford and Laura-Marie Miucci.Hair Pieces made and provided by: Keeleigh Remnant.Make-Up Artists: Claire Creagh, Julie Wieczorek, Amy Pike and Katherine Bamford.Photographer: Rebekka Werren.Concept: Rebekka Werren and Laura-Marie Miucci.Article Writer and Director: Laura-Marie Miucci.

Pages:Katherine Bamford (MUA) facebook.com/kbamfordbusinessJulie Wieczorek (MUA) www.makeupincornwall.co.ukAmy Pike (MUA) facebook.com/AmyPikeMakeupArtistryKeeleigh Remnant (Hairstylist) facebook.com/KJRhairdressingRebekka Werren (Photographer) facebook.com/pages/Rebekka-Werren-PhotographyClaire Creagh (MUA) facebook.com/clairecreagh.mua


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GREEN 50s DRESSI found this gorgeous gem at a

Seattle vintage shop and simply could not separate myself from it! Its radiant

emerald hued taffeta, crowded with shimmering purple dots have been a

crown jewel of my vintage collection.

POLKA DOT NAVY DRESSOne of my friends owned this

beautiful example of 1950s day wear and I drove 40 miles to save

it from becoming a garage sale casualty. It’s the perfect circle skirt, with a lavish sea of polka dots and comes to life here with this bright

red vintage petticoat.Image by Thomas Foose

HOMEMADE WOOL DRESS CIRCA 1940sIt is one of my favourite pieces, acquired on my travels to Montreal, Canada. I love the idea that a wom-an took weeks to painstakingly make this the best dress she owned. The liner is a delicate flowery fabric – I strongly suspect it belonged to another dress. Up-cycling was such a thing during the war that I can only paint the best story for my favourite vintage dress.

LUCY BLUE 1950s DRESS

I found this little gem

through a friend who owns an Etsy store. It is light, flirty

and feels like a sunny day but

it is also one of the dresses that I believe repre-

sents the fun, lighter side of

me and the one that reminds

me the most of Lucille Ball!

(Photo by Chris Gomez Photography and MUAH

by Beauty by Dawn)

Up Close

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Marie-Claude Samson from Seattle, Washington, USA shares her wardrobe favourites!

GOLD LUREX DRESS This was deadstock from the 60s – another Etsy store find for me with the factory tag still on! I purchased it to attend Tiki Oasis in San Diego this year. The dress was a hit there and I now wear it for special occa-sions and whenever I want to feel feminine and wonderful!Photo – Shogun Photography, MUAH by Dawn at the Olympic Flight Museum, WA, with the P-41 Mustang American Beauty.

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Menswear: Dress Codes

Words by Natalie Ayres

During the 1920s and 1930s, black or white tie were the standard for any formal evening event. Out of the two, white tie has always been considered far more formal. Traditionally, these dress codes are

only correct after 6pm. In the daytime, the dress code for a formal event would be morning dress.

For the average gent, white tie would be saved for a special or prestigious occasion such as a ceremonial event or a wed-ding. Black tie, although still formal, is something that would be donned more regularly. Perfect for a night out at the dance hall or a dinner party, the majority of men from this era would have black tie in their wardrobe. In today’s terms, if you were taking your beloved wife for a one-off, anniversary dinner dance at the Savoy Hotel, white tie would be splendid! If you

were off to watch Alex and the boys play at a London club, black tie would be ideal.

The foundation for a black tie ensemble consists of: patent black lace up shoes, black trousers with a braid down the out-side seam and a black bow tie. As black tie is more relaxed than white tie, there are a couple of variations when wearing it. Either a black double-breasted dinner jacket can be worn or a single breasted dinner jacket with a waistcoat underneath. We advise that single-breasted dinner jackets should only ever have one button. Etiquette deems that the dinner jacket but-tons should always be fastened when standing and open when seated. In the early years, from Edwardian times into the 20s, a white stiff fronted shirt was a must. Towards the late 20s, men took to wearing a white soft shirt with pin-tucking on the

Alex Mendham and his Orchestra perform at many varied events throughout the year, most of which have a dress code – either black tie or white tie. What does this actually mean?

Is it really as simple as changing the colour of your bow tie? Of course, the answer is no! Wardrobe mistress Natalie Ayres explains the basics of these dress codes...

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breast. Nowadays, a soft pin-tucked shirt is a cheaper, easier option however, we would always advise against buttons on evening shirts.

The photo shows Alex wearing a single-breasted jacket and waistcoat. His jacket is made out of barathea. The la-pels are faced in satin to contrast against the wool. This is complimented by his double-ended satin bow tie. A white linen handkerchief in the left pocket is used as an accesso-ry. Only black or onyx shirt studs and cufflinks should be worn. The back view of the jacket shows how the shoulder pads create a broad silhouette, whilst the close cut of the jacket enhances the waist.

With white tie the trousers and shoes remain the same as black tie. A stiff fronted white shirt, white waistcoat, white bow tie and black tailcoat complete the outfi t. The centre front edges of the tailcoat should not be able to touch nor be fas-tened. The waistcoat should never come lower than the front of the tailcoat. A top hat makes a great accompaniment to white tie but you should always remember to take it off when indoors.

The photograph shows Alex wearing a single ended white bow tie and double-breasted, straight edge waistcoat. Both are

made from cotton pique fabric. He wears a gold ribbon watch fob as a functional adornment. White or mother of pearl cuf-fl inks, shirt studs and button on his waistcoat give an elegant fi nish. Only a stiff-fronted white shirt is acceptable when wear-ing white tie. The two buttons on the back of the tailcoat are an added detail. The end of the tails should come just below the back of the knee.

If you are looking to buy vintage formal wear, it is readily available. Look online, or in vintage shops and even charity shops – it isn’t overly expensive if you shop around. Styles of bow ties and cuts of jackets changed slightly throughout the decades, but the same rules apply when wearing it.

Over the next few months, I will be writing a number of articles going into detail on more specifi c areas of the dress code. If you have any questions you would like me to answer, please don’t hesitate to send them to [email protected]. For behind the scenes snaps and more hints and tips on how to achieve the perfect vintage evening look, fol-low me on Instagram and Twitter @amowardrobe. Visit alex-mendham.com for more information on the band and their upcoming performance dates.

Stylist: Natalie Ayres. Shirt and studs: Darcy Clothing. Model: Alex Mendham. Hair Pomade: Layrite. Photography: Jez Brown Photography. Black Bow tie” La Bowtique

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Vintage Fashion atClassic Airforce

Words by Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea Dog,images by Lisa Parkinson of Kernow Dream Photography

When planning any vintage fashion shoot, I always feel that the location of the shoot is as important as the fashions. That’s why I was really excited to be able to shoot at Classic Airforce – a hangar with a large

array of vintage aeroplanes, both military and commer-cial, which can be viewed by the public and are available to hire for pleasure flights.

We were lucky enough to use two of the planes for our shoot – both Dragon Rapides built in Loughborough. The white plane was built for the RAF in 1946 at the de Hav-illand factory; Foxes Glacier Mints later owned it before it became a plane for pleasure flights and parachute jumps between the 1960s-80s.

The blue plane is named Tango Mike and is a Domi-nie, the military version of the Rapide, built for the RAF in 1944. At this time, the de Havilland factory where the planes were normally constructed, were working at their full capacity in order to make planes for the war effort, and therefore this example was made close by at Brush Coach-works of Loughborough. Tango Mike started her military career on May 26th 1944, being issued to the RAF Main-tenance Unit in Dumfries, Scotland, but after the war made her way overseas to Iraq to serve for Iraq Petroleum Trans-port and various other commercial companies between the 1940s-1960s. In 1964 she returned to UK shores, and was purchased for use by the parachute industry in Wiltshire be-fore being acquired for pleasure flights in the 1980s. Classic

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Airforce recused her in 1994 to be restored for the collec-tion, after a bad landing in 1987 had left her grounded.

This shoot brings together beautiful fashion and beauti-ful engineering: two vintage classics… 1950s fashion is my thing. This collection was produced as part of my Fashion Degree. The garments are based around an inspiration of 1950s fashion. I love the silhouettes of the era and the beau-ty that the 1950s woman portrays. The garments themselves totally lend themselves to the surroundings of the hangar and aeroplanes at Classic Airforce!

I created the fabric for the large photo fabric dress using family photographs from the 1950s – mainly taken by my Great Grandfather, Richard Barker, who was a professional photographer. My Dad was lucky enough to have been able to keep hold of a number of his photos, which he had kept in albums detailing their location and year. I was able to take the images from here to enable them to be created into a fabric. This dress is very special to me as it contains im-ages of my Great Grandfather, and my Nana and Grandpa (including images of them on their wedding day) along with my aunts, uncles and various scenery shots. The dress even includes some pictures of the Queen during her Coronation

Tour in which she visited my Great Grandfather’s place of work – Rolls Royce in Derby.

The dress is worn by model Ashlyn with a long hooped petticoat for maximum impact. It was exciting reviewing the photographs to be made into the fabric and learning a little bit more about my family history. I had the fabric printed onto a cotton canvas fabric, and the dress I designed and made myself – I based the design on a classic 1950s evening dress in a similar style to that of the Queen’s Coro-nation Gown in 1953.

The blue dress modelled by Katie is made from a French Lace purchased from a market in London; the market trad-er had purchased it from a seller in France who only had a small roll of the fabric, but luckily there was enough to make this dress! The sleeves are chiffon and the dress has a built-in petticoat. It is again based on a 1950s design and I made the dress pattern using inspiration from traditional patterns and fashion sketches of the era.

Steph is wearing a dress made from a stretch jersey fab-ric on top and a canvas skirt, which gives the skirt a lot of structure. The fabric for the skirt is printed with an image that I hand drew and then created on the computer. The


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dress has a built-in petticoat in a coordinat-ing green fabric, with a green sash.

In addition to the excellent location of Classic Airforce we were lucky enough to be able to borrow a 1969 Volkswagen Karman Ghia, which was shipped from Nevada, USA to its current owners in the UK in 2011 as a 40th birthday gift. When it arrived it was in need of restoration; its current owners re-stored it to its original condition and is in full working order.

You can visit the planes at Classic Airforce at their Coventry Airbase and book pleasure flights from Coventry and Newquay airports, more information can be found on their web-site: www.classicairforce.com

CReDITSWords, Clothing, Styling: Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea DogPhotography by Lisa Parkinson of Kernow Dream PhotographyMUH: Natasha Lark of Madame Tashy’s Beauty BoutiqueModels: Ashlyn Coyne, Katie Louise McLoughlin & Steph Thomas Clothing & Styling: Alison BallardLocation: Classic Air ForceAircraft Information with thanks to Stephen BridgewaterVW Karman Ghia with thanks to Matt & Holly Burt


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save the dateKate Beavis from the National vintage Wedding Fair shares key looks for

an edwardian vintage wedding, all of which are available at her events across the country in the next two months, so make sure you save the date!

1910: theedWardiaN

eraBy Kate Beavis

The Victorian era saw brides corseted and bustled into uncomfortable styles, but with the turn of the century and a new King, wedding dresses changed. Brides were choosing comfort but also fashion,

preferring lighter fabrics and looser shapes which continued until the end of the 1920s.

Hemlines were shorter, with most ending mid-calf revealing simple white pumps or boots. Dresses were

layered over simple slips, shapes were natural with a satin sash nipping in the waist, often with a flower corsage pinned on one side.

The most extravagant dresses would be beaded and embroidered in satins and velvets with multiple layers, teamed with a parasol. A more simple style would be to wear a white cotton blouse and skirt, which would be perfect for a more country wedding. The more fashionable Edwardian brides would have ruffles, long

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opera gloves and stunning large art nouveau jewellery.The veil was long and worn cap style with flowers worn over the top

reminiscent of the flower crowns worn today. Brides chose herbs and ferns to adorn their bouquets, believing that the former would warn off evil spirits.

Photography was increasing in popularity so the Edwardian couple would have had very staged photos taken at their wedding. Clever tricks were introduced to bring through hints of colour within the images, highlighting the bride’s flowers and rouge. She stood transfixed in interesting poses to reveal her new slender form.

This Edwardian look is increasing in popularity for vintage weddings and more cotton and lace styles have survived. However, often the sizes are small but there are some fabulous designers out there inspired by this look catering for all.

The National Vintage Wedding Fair has hundreds of original wedding gowns available to buy on the day as well as everything else you need for your big day. For more information visit www.vintageweddingfair.co.uk

Check out these dates: Manchester Victoria Baths, October 18th and London Chiswick Town Hall, November 8th

Total article credits as follows:Photography: Claire MacintyreModel: Chloe PapworthStyling: Kate BeavisHair and Make-up: Aurora LovesLocation: Mansion House, BedfordshireDresses: Days of Grace, Katya Katya Shehurina, Abigail’s Vintage Bridal, Real Green DressVeils and Wax Flower Headpiece: Real Green DressFlowers: Water Baby FlowersCake: Bake and BloomShoes: Love Lane Wedding Shoe Boutique Boots: Love Art, Wear ArtTiara/Side flowers: Cherished Vintage BridalParasol and Gloves: Bijou and VintageJewellery: Gemma Redmond Vintage

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SwingEssentialsThere are so many gorgeous vintage-style dresses, whether you want to add some

shimmer to your Charleston shimmy in beads and sequins, wear understated bias-cut for the Balboa or cry tally-ho for tea dresses as you launch into the Lindy Hop.

DRESS CHECKLISTA dress with a knee-length, A-line skirt allows for movement and is a good choice for a classic look.

Lightweight, natural fabrics, such as cotton or crepe de Chine, are breathable and will keep you cool.

Make sure you are comfortable and can move freely, but avoid very full, circle skirts, which tend to fl are up when you spin.

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THE SHIRTWAISTERThese classic, workaday dresses were plain and unfussy in shape, with square shoulders, a bodice like a shirt and an A-line skirt.

Pointed collars and lapels for utilitarian chic and belts in

matching fabric cinched the waist.

SWINGThe 1940s created the perfect dresses

for dancing, with puff sleeves, a V-neck and slightly full skirts that

allowed movement and contrasting yokes for classic Hollywood style. But-ton-front dresses meant women could

dress without the help of a maid.

SHIRREDShirred dresses featured

panels in the bodice where the fabric was

gathered into rows for a form-fl attering effect.

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FLOWERSIt was very fashionable to wear a flower

in the hair in the 1940s, and many danc-ers today dress up their look by pinning a bright bloom to the side of their head.

HEADSCARVESThe staple vintage accessory, as worn by Land Girls and made famous by wartime icon Rosie

the Riveter. Headscarves are quick to tie and add a splash of colour or pattern to your outfit. Be

sure to pin them in place if you’re going dancing.

BUTTONSDuring the Second World War, women would often cheer up their dresses with decorative

buttons, which came in all kinds of colours and designs. Vintage buttons are easy to find online

and can be added to any dress.

Swing Dance by Scott Cupit is published by Jacqui Small,

out 17th September, £20.

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PLUS: Swing Essentials/ Flirty 30s / For Him

Rhythm Riot / Candy Girls / Music / Food / Reviews

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MY LOOK

FrightfulWords by Alison Ballard of Silly Old Sea Dog

Images by Lisa Parkinson

(Kernow Dream Photography)

AFFAIR

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Halloween is here! It’s one of the most fun times of the year and for me it really marks the start of the winter season – there’s so much to look forward to: Bonfire Night, Christ-

mas, New Year’s Eve and the possibility of snow!I love to dress up for Halloween but I’ve always preferred my

own take on it, rather than just buying a fancy dress outfit from my local store. It’s nice to bring some personality into your outfit and there are also some great vintage clothing, make-up ideas and hair-styles that can be used as inspiration for a classy yet scary outfit.

Madame Tashy has created three different looks for our models Keeleigh, Jen and Natasha. She has created for Keeleigh a set of horns, made from her own hair to give a vintage Devil inspired look. Although the horns were quite time consuming to construct, they were certainly worth the wait! A frame from wire and foam was created and set onto a headband, which Keeleigh’s hair was then wrapped around to form the shape. Jen has a classic Bride of Frankenstein look, inspired by the 1930s film – here Tashy initially crimped Jen’s hair to allow for more volume and texture and then backcombed this into a beehive, adding a single blonde clip-in hair extension to the side. Scary Halloween inspired hair can also work on short hair too. Natasha’s hair has been backcombed and a lot of hairspray used to keep the volume in place – a feminine take on the look of Frankenstein himself.

For the ladies’ make-up, Keeleigh has a much-chiselled Devil look. The definition was created using just an ordinary ruler (a trick from the 80s) and blusher; this was then blended. Jen’s look is again based on the traditional dead bride, with the use of lots of white base and black around the eyes. White make-up was used as the base of all three looks, along with a dark lip colour but get cre-ative with your Halloween make-up – it’s the one night of the year that you can go crazy, and in all honesty, can’t get it wrong!

Looking in the wardrobe to find pieces suitable is not difficult if you are a fan of black clothing, and pieces throughout the different vintage periods can be totally rocked this Halloween season!

Natasha is wearing: A black and gold long line dress from the 1970s, picked up from Gadabouts Vintage at the Vintage and Mid-Century fair at Bedruthan Steps Hotel in Cornwall (a fair certainly worth a visit, and on again for the 3rd and 4th October). Long dresses to the floor are just divine for Halloween!

Natasha is also wearing a 1980s rara black and gold dress, a

different era and style of dress completely but it still works for the vintage Halloween theme – after all, the 1980s is a decade famed for its big hair!

Jen is wearing a 1940s style black long dress. This was made recently in a crepe de chine fabric but using an original 1940s pat-tern. It has a very Morticia Addams feel about it. The dress has also been paired with an Edwardian cape. Capes are lovely at the best of times and can add a certain ‘bat’ theme to a Halloween look! Although this cape is pink, it still works really well with the black dress and black shoes and brings a little touch of colour.

Jen is also rocking a 1950s Spooky Ghost vintage inspired dress by Silly Old Sea Dog. This dress is made from a glow in the dark fabric, which will look amazing under UV lights at a Halloween party! This has been paired with a petticoat for maximum effect, and works beautifully for a more fun take on Halloween.

Keeleigh wears a lace 1980s black dress – very Madonna inspired but great for the season! We have paired this with a corset by Isabella Corsetry. The corset contains images of bats, monsters and Frankenstein so is just ideal for this look (although I do wear this year round). The dress here is shorter, showing that you can work with all different dress lengths, and black seamed tights or stockings can always be worn to add to the look with a shorter style dress (and to keep warm).

The cape worn by Keeleigh is shorter than the cape worn by Jen, but is in a lovely velvet fabric with a ruffled effect. In addition to this Keeleigh is shown wearing a Zombie Movie Poster Dress by Silly Old Sea Dog; this piece is not only great for a Halloween party but also can be worn casually in the day time for a more relaxed Halloween event. It shows that you can still wear colour around the Halloween season – try reds, oranges and blues. We have paired the dress with a red petticoat and belt to add some colour to a usually all black season.

Good luck with putting together your vintage inspired Hallow-een costumes! Hopefully you have some great pieces in your ward-robe which can be paired with spooky hair and make up for the perfect look – but if not check out your local vintage fairs as there are always lovely pieces from all of the different eras to be found.

Remember to send in your images of you showcasing your outfits with your copy of Vintage Life for our reader gallery.Happy Halloween!

Credits: Photography: Lisa Parkinson – Kernow Dream Photography / Hair and Make Up: Madame Tashys Beauty Boutique / Models: Jen Rule-Ailes, Keeleigh Remnant and Natasha Lark / Clothing: Majority from a selection of models own original vintage / Zombie Movie Poster & Spooky Ghost

dresses with accessories from www.sillyoldseadog.com / Corset from: Isabella Corsetry: www.corsetmaker.com

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I have really dry skin but would love to make my skin look dewy and have a glow for occasions where I want to appear more youthful and healthy! My friend mentioned that I need to be using more cream-based products but I don’t even know what that really means?! Please can you help me?

When we work with brides, this is one of the most requested looks for skin and can be achieved by using several products. After cleansing, toning and moisturising with products suitable for your skin type try layering MAC Strobe Cream (£24.50 mac cosmetics.co.uk). It will leave your skin with a very slight mother-of-pearl effect but also feel soft. Some people stop there and use this as their everyday base. Otherwise, pop a light liquid foundation or BB cream over the top – the glow will still come through the founda-tion. Finish the look with a cream blush in a pop of colour on the apples of your cheeks. Bobbi Brown does wonderful shades for you to choose from in cream blushers from more subtle brown shades to pops of coral or pink (Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge £19.50 bobbibrown.co.uk)

I really like the texture that loose pow-der gives to the face but I’ve yet to fi nd a fl attering colour. I was once told I have a lot of ‘gold’ tones in my skin tone? Can you suggest a brand that I can research into?

A really great loose powder for slightly darker skin tones is the Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder (Avail-able from www.screenface.co.uk, priced £16.85). Like the title sug-gests, it is yellow in tone and when applied it brings out the beautiful natural golden tones in the complex-ion without changing the colour of the face. Many powders can make the complexion look dull and grey because they don’t have the bright-ening elements to them but the Ben Nye Luxury powders are perfect; they come in different shades too depend-ing on your skin tone.

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THE BEAUTY QUEENS ARE A PROFESSIONAL

MAKE-UP ARTISTRY TEAM, FOUNDED BY GINA DOWLE & LAURA HUNT

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pop of colour on the apples of your cheeks. Bobbi Brown does wonderful shades for you to choose from in cream blushers from more subtle brown shades to pops of coral or pink (Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge £19.50 bobbibrown.co.uk)

MY LOOK

feel soft. Some people stop there and use this as their everyday base. Otherwise, pop a light liquid foundation or BB cream over the top – the glow will still come through the founda-tion. Finish the look with a cream blush in a pop of colour on the apples of your cheeks. Bobbi Brown does wonderful shades for you to choose from in cream blushers from more subtle brown shades to pops of coral or pink (Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge £19.50

| VINTAGE LIFE

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BeAuty CRowns

This month’s “Beauty Crowns” are two products we just adore!

Charlotte Tilbury’s Filmstar Bronze & Glow: The vintage feel of the packaging alone of this lovely product had us drool-ing but the product inside is just as lovely! The combination of the bronzer and the beau-tiful highlighter will give you beautiful sculpted features that any Starlet would be proud of! Available from charlottetilbury.com and priced at £49.00.

Soap & Glory’s Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - This gorgeous cleanser not only smells divine but also leaves skin looking healthier, clearer and more radiant. Massage a few pumps onto the face and neck and simply rinse off after. It will melt any make-up and dirt off and feels super soft on the skin. Suitable for all skin types. Avail-able from Boots, priced £8.00.

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I go away quite a lot and I am al-ways trying to fi nd new ways to con-dense my packing. I am quite sick of taking a handful of lipsticks in my makeup bag and was wondering if there were any good mini lip palettes around that offer a range of colours that can be used for day to night make-up?

We are big fans of the MAC lip palettes and my current fave is MAC Preferred Pinks Pro Lip Palette (£35.00 mac cosmetics.co.uk). These palettes come with 6 lipstick colours and you can choose your favourite palette from their range. Preferred Pinks has not only a selection of nudes but also a couple of bright, punchy colours for the evening. The palette is small and slim so the perfect way to carry your lip-stick shades around without them taking up too much space.

I have the frizziest hair in the world and as I am bridesmaid to my best friend in a couple of months I think it’s time I invested in some decent product to tame my unruly locks! Any suggestions? We worked at an event recently where we were faced with lots of frizzy hair and were bowled over with Bumble and Bumble DeFrizz! (Available from www.bumbleand-bumble.co.uk, priced £22.50 for 125ml). It transformed the tresses to make them smooth and shiny. A little goes a long way so depend-ing on your level of frizz, take this into account. It can be used on dry or wet hair and is such a great product as it doesn’t weigh hair down, make it look greasy or feel sticky. A brilliant go-to product for frizzy hair!

This month’s featured reader is Sasha Tokareff.

“I just love vintage style! It’s classic and feminine and classy. I have a large collec-tion of vintage hats, scarfs

and gloves. I love mixing and matching genres and adding modern touches. It’s fun and it makes me feel beautiful!”

If you would like to be featured in next month’s column, tell us why you

love vintage beauty. [email protected]

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VIntAGe BeAuty READER OF THE MONTH

Suitable for all skin types. Avail-able from Boots, priced £8.00.

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Marilyn Monroe’s

Eyeliner

I'm fascinated by marilyn monroe and her long time make-up artist, ‘whitey’ snyder’s intricate make-up routine. the pair worked closely together throughout her career, so close that he even did her make-up for her funeral at her request. his make up tricks enhanced her natural beauty to become one of the most iconic beauty looks of all time. these tricks have inspired my new make up series where I’ll be sharing the key points of her make-up looks for you to use to bring out your own inner monroe! this month I’ll be talking you through marilyn’s eyeliner routine using our new secret weapon Brown eyeliner and Brow Paint; the ultimate dual use product for a naturally gorgeous vintage look, a

true secret weapon for any pinup girl!

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Contrary to popular belief Marilyn would actually wear brown eyeliner rather than black. Marilyn and Whitey preferred to work with shadows and lights to accentuate her features so using a brown eye liner helped to create a naturally glamorous eye liner fl ick to create her sultry eyes.

One of my favourite tricks is to draw a soft line of brown eye liner along the lower lashline and fl ick the end out a little, run-ning downwards, this created the illusion of a shadow cast by the top set of lashes which is such a gorgeously subtle way of adding extra depth and to make your lashes appear full and fl uttering!

TIP: Don't let the top and bottom eye liner lines meet so that when you draw in the white triangle between the two lines (see previous issue for the tutorial) you can make your eyes appear wider and more open for that ultimate 'Marilyn' eye!

TIP: Apply a demi set of lashes rather than a full set, again this will open up the eyes and accentuate that doe-eyed look.

I'll see you next issue for my step by step eyebrow tutorial, with tips on the Marilyn method and how to shape your eyebrows to fl atter your own face-shape!

My Look 59.indd 6 10/09/2015 09:30

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57

FlIRty 30sstyle youR hAIR In A soFt And FemInIne wAy

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MY LOOK

In the 30s, the shorter flapper look of the 20s had fallen out of style and women began to grow out

their hair. This style is for all the vin-tage lovers who wear their hair short-er but would still love to style their hair in a soft and feminine way.

This style is created using:Tongs (small or medium barrel) Soft bristle teaser brushHair sprayPin curl clipsKirby gripsHairspray

Pre hair-styling:This style is created on dry hair with a quick blast of hairspray pre styling.

Styling method:1. Comb a side parting into the hair. From the parting (at the crown) take a deep diagonal section to the oppo-site temple. This will give you an off-set triangular section of hair.

2. On this section, start at the crown and tong the hair in roughly 1x1 inch square sections with each line going in opposite directions – left to right. On releasing the hair from the tongs, roll the hair while still warm, back into a curl (tip to roots) and secure (flat to the head) with pin curl clips (or Kirby grips if you haven’t any). This will give the curl time to set and last longer. Continue right up to the front.

3. Tong/set the sides of the hair back using the same tong/pin-curl method.

4. Continue this method from the crown to the nape of the neck, work-ing from left to right in lines of op-posite directions. This will give the finished curls an eclectic movement in the final styling. Blast again with a layer of hairspray on the completed set for extra staying power.

5. Sets like these are easier to create and last longer if they have had time to cool and ‘set’ so if you’ve time… pop on a net, relax and leave for as long as you can before dressing out the style.

6. Remove the whole of the pin curl clips and pins carefully. It’s impor-tant at this stage to try and keep the curl formation intact.

7. Starting at the front triangular sec-tion at the crown, gently brush with a soft bristle teaser brush through the hair in the direction of the set curls. Keeping the hair as close to the scalp as you can, creating a wave. As you change direction, grip at the ‘bend’ gently with a clip or grip. Tease the end into a curl and again, clip into place. Spray with hairspray.

8. Take the front section and sculpt into a flat, cute kiss curl position that will sit neatly to one side of your fore-head and spray.

9. Working on the back (leave the sides for now) brush the hair smooth from the crown to the halfway point and create a line of grips, horizontal-ly, ear to ear. You may need another mirror to see where you’re going at this point.

10. Flick up and arrange the curls over the line of grips to hide them. If you need a few hairgrips to do this, put them in vertically. This will make sure they are not as visible.

11. Brush the sides into the finished back. At the smaller parting side, tease into a wave and spray into place.

12. Tease the ends of the sides into curls and blend them into the back curls.

13. Finally, add a flower (non-part-ing side).

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MY LOOK

Article hair and make-up: Sarah Clayton at Hair Majesty Model: Nelle St Belle

Photography: Go Photo, Vicky BengeProps/Antiques: Kevin Marshall’s Antique Warehouse

Dress: Carolina Dressroom

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Dancing through the decades: A guide to partner dancing in the 20th century

Dances served – and still serve – a very important purpose in our communities. They provide a welcoming environment

for people to meet, mingle and let off steam.

By Velody

During social dances throughout the ages there was sometimes close, if brief, contact with the opposite sex, and in ‘proper’ society circles – ‘til perhaps even World War Two – this was one of the few places one could (with some measure of freedom) interact with those outside ones direct family or household. We might call partner dancing the original ‘speed dating’!

In Patsy Holden’s article ‘Civilised Dancing’ for

americanenthnology.com, she notes that: “Dances went from being imported to America from Europe to the other way around during the early 1900s”. Many Christians were none too happy that women and men were connecting in this way and much action was taken to discourage partner dancing.

The new century is beginning and the Tower Ballroom has recently opened in Blackpool, England.

Part Two: The Noughties

1900s

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By the 1900s we know that ‘Slow Drag’ was being danced to the emerging Blues music

in Memphis and other musical cities.

Jazz and Blues music continue to make their way across the USA via the musicians travelling from creative hubs like New Orleans and Memphis. Innovation in partner dance is underway, whether it be in Waltz, Blues or what are to become known later as ‘Swing’ dances. Tango hasn’t been exported from Argentina quite yet, but is gaining in momentum during this first decade of the 20th century.

We might these days think of Waltz as ‘straight laced’, given it has exact requirements regarding alignment, the placing of one’s feet and the focus upon ‘correctness’. Watch an episode of Strictly Come Dancing and listen to the judges’ critique of Viennese Waltz and you will see what I mean! It has however, enjoyed sustained popularity for centuries, this author has her fingers crossed for the same happening with the Swing styles!

The Viennese Waltz and Scottische are early examples of dances where a single Lead and Follow couple remained together throughout the dance and the ‘Lead’ chose the steps he would use to progress in the intended/accepted direction of travel around the floor. Though the couples had begun to ‘social dance’ to their own choice of moves, they would still – and still do at Ballroom

dancing events – progress around the dancefloor in a particular direction at once. Any ‘overtaking’ other couples should be executed with finesse!

By the 1900s we know that ‘Slow Drag’ was being danced to the emerging Blues music in Memphis and other musical cities. To picture Slow Drag, imagine alternating your weight from your left to your right foot, and back, feet hip width apart. Now take slightly larger steps side to side and as you step, allow your free foot to ‘slow(ly) drag’ across the floor towards the foot you’ve stepped onto (repeat at will). If you then stand with a partner, connect via holding hands and mirror each other; we now have the beginnings of one style of (partner) Blues dance as it’s known and still danced today.

W. C. Handy wrote some of the first published blues songs, and as we progress to the 1910s and beyond, we will suggest who to listen to, to evoke the mood of the decades as we examine them in turn. Blues and Jazz consistently gain in momentum and popularity for decades to come.

In England, James Finnigan (first President of the Manchester and Salford Association of Teachers

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of Dancing, founded in 1903) is credited with devising the Military Two Step. You can view contemporary clips of dancers emulating military balls from many eras, 1900s included, online. There you will see varying levels of authenticity in wardrobe options. Surveying the dance floor you would have seen gentlemen most often in tailcoats at dances, and women in dresses with modest necklines, mutton chop sleeves, full-length gloves, and, of course, full skirts to the floor (absolutely no ankles on show!)

As the century establishes itself, mass migration for better opportunities continues and cross pollination in both music and dance is one of the many wonderful results of this. Those of us enjoying Jive, Swing or Ballroom today owe a great debt to the incorporation of African movement into the ballroom dances across turn of the century America. European ‘Society’ dances and American vernacular jazz dances eventually lead to Rock ‘n’ Roll and Jive – as danced by many vintage fans today!

Next month: The 1910s.

(Don’t forget, dancing is a great way to exercise the body and the mind. Why not give it a go?)

MY HEALTH

Velody is an internationally touring Swing Dancer & Torch Singer. Find out more about her atFacebook.com/VelodyOnlineTwitter: @VelodyUKwww.velody.co.uk

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Love to take a good selfie?snap one with your copy of Vintage Life Magazine, and we’ll add you to our reader wall!

Send your selfie to [email protected]

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contents.indd 5 15/12/2014 13:13



VIVIEN LEIGH

EXHIBITION

BEAUTY THROUGH

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VINTAGE LIFE | 67

Vintage andVictoriana

Words by Amanda Melnyk

My Vintage Obsession

MY LIFE

I think my interest started when I was little and my Nani would bring home items for my sister and I (late 1800s-early 1900s), given to her by an older couple

she used to work for as a stay-at-home nurse.

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As I got older, I was drawn to items that were unusual and had a lot of detail. I think that’s why the Victorian era appeals to me! I am also not picky between pristine pieces and rusted, pre-loved piec-es. In addition, my husband grew up in a "junk" business; he and his family really fed my obsession.

Where do you fInd your Items?Anywhere and everywhere; mostly estate sales, flea markets, yard sales, antique shops and to be honest, I have no shame in picking through piles left on the side of the road if something catches my eye, haha!

hoW mAny pIeces do you hAVe?I couldn't begin to tell you!

do you hAVe A fAVourIte Item?this was a tough question, but I narrowed it down to one piece, my nani and pop pop’s 1940s chalk-ware wedding cake topper that I had fixed and "al-tered" for my wedding. It was not only repaired but also personalized to have my cat eyeglasses, veil, and hair colour to match my husband and I.

Any collectIng tIps?As far as tips go, you never know where you'll find a great piece so don't be deterred from rust, dirt, or digging! Also, take trips, check places out, and meet people and give, it’s all part of the hunt.

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It’s a fair day’s work!

Singer and vintage personality Kiki deVille

Occupation

How did you become interested in vintage?I’ve always had a passion for old hollywood and my dad and ma (my stepmom) had a huge collection of books on old hol-lywood that I used to devour when I’d go to stay with them. over the years, I had tried to emulate, without success, some of my idols like marilyn, elizabeth taylor and mae West, but it wasn’t until I got into the Burlesque world that I got brave enough to embrace the vintage style as a daily thing. As a young woman I’d always struggled with my body shape; no one ever told me I was a true hourglass. I always wondered why I couldn’t get normal jeans that fitted me! every dress I ever bought had to be taken in to account for my much smaller waist. discovering vintage meant that I could learn to love my body shape as it was and dress for it.

When did you start performing professionally?I’ve been a professional singer for just shy of 25 years. I started singing when I was 14 and started gigging by 16. By 19 I was a studio session singer, singing commercials for television and radio. I was the civilian singer for the Australian Army Band from 21, which led to singing at the sydney 2000 olympics and so on. At times I forget that I am first and foremost a singer, not just a comedic host and personality! I trained as a jazz and blues singer and my love of music will always lie there.

How does your work compare to a ‘modern’ job?over the years I have had what I call “real jobs” and I’m so grateful for the business skills I’ve learnt but the differ-ences in the two careers are many and varied! In my last

day job I worked in organisational development. they loved me because I was fun and different and charismatic, and they hated me because I was fun and different and charismatic. the vintage scene is so full of creative people that there is a true sense of community that I don’t feel you can get in a normal job. Well none that I’ve worked in anyway!

What are your upcoming plans?I’m currently working with a West end director, Kirk Jameson, on a show for next year’s edinburgh fringe, which I will be releasing an album alongside.

I plan to spend a lot more time this next 12 months connecting with more people in the vintage scene, espe-cially working with gemma from the Vintage suitcase. I’ll also be working on more international hosting work.

What advice would you give to someone trying to set up a business in the vintage scene?Know your stuff! research, research, research. you don’t have to pick an era, but you do have to be true to the era you’re working on at the time.

get to know your community and be someone that people want to work with. I’m a big believer in being nice. It will pay off for you, when everyone wants to work with you.

there is a lot of competition out there, but also plenty of room for everyone. Work with your competition, reputa-tion is everything.

www.kikideville.comImage by My Boudoir, hair and make-up by Sarah Elliot

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71VINTAGE LIFE |

Valentina Vladimirovna ‘Valya’ tereshkova was born on 6th March 1937 in the Volga river village of Maslennikovo, about 170 miles northeast of Moscow. Her parents were originally from Belarus – her

father, Vladimir tereshkov, was a tractor driver who had fought as a soldier in the russian army during World War II; sadly he was killed in action when Valentina was two. Her mother, elena Fyodorovna tereshkova was a worker at the Krasny perekop cotton mill. after her husband’s death, elena raised

Valentina, her brother Vladimir and sister ludmilla on her own. as a result, Valentina helped her mother at home and didn’t start school until the age of eight.

COSMONaut ValeNtINa tereSHKOVa FIrSt WOMaN IN SpaCe

pioneer Woman

Words by Louise Jenner

At the age of 16, tereshkova left school. she moved to nearby yaroslavl to live with her grandmother and worked as an apprentice at a tyre factory in 1954. In 1955 she worked as a loom operator

at the cotton mill where her mother and sister worked. Valentina continued her education by taking correspond-ence courses. she later graduated from the light Indus-try technical school. tereshkova was a passionate com-munist and whilst working at the cotton mill, she joined their komsomol (young communist league). she later advanced to the communist party.

In 1959, tereshkova joined the yaroslavl Air sports club and became a proficient amateur parachutist. Inspired by yuri gagarin, the first man in space, she volunteered for the soviet space programme. Although she had no experi-ence as a pilot, the 126 parachute jumps that she had done enabled her to gain a position as a cosmonaut in 1961. the russian space programme required cosmonauts to para-chute from their capsules once in the earth’s atmosphere and was looking for people with parachuting experience.

the programme was shrouded in secrecy. she told her mother when she left for training that she was off to a camp for an elite skydiving team. It wasn’t until her moth-er heard a radio announcement about the programme that she knew about it.

the soviet space programme wanted another first to beat the Americans – the first woman in space. soon, five candi-dates were chosen: tereshkova, tatyana Kuznetsova, Irina solovyova, Zhanna yorkina and Valentina ponomaryova. to be eligible for selection, all women were required to be parachutists under 30 years of age, have a height of less than 5 feet 7 inches and weigh under 154lbs. tereshkova was considered a worthy choice due to her ‘proletarian’ background and because her father was a war hero.

All candidates in the programme undertook arduous training, consisting of tests to see how weightlessness, isolation and centrifugal forces affected them. candidates were also required to learn about spacecraft engineering, rocket theory, and have pilot training in mIg-15utI jet fighters. After training, the four remaining candidates were commissioned as Junior lieutenants in the soviet Air force. tereshkova was a leading candidate along with solovyava and ponomaryova.

on 16th June 1963, Junior lieutenant tereshkova be-came the first woman to be launched into space as pilot of the Vostok VI, aged 26. during her time in space, she ex-perienced nausea and physical discomfort, but was able to maintain a flight log and took pictures of the horizon. her radio callsign was ‘chaika’, which means seagull. teresh-kova was broadcast on soviet and european tV channels

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sources: www.notablebiographies.com/st-tr/tereshkova-Valentina.html / space.about.com/od/cosmonautbiographies/a/tereshkova-bio_2.htm / www.space.com/21571-valentina-tereshkova.html

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and while in space she orbited the earth 48 times – more than any American astronauts who had flown before that date.

tereshkova spent around 70 hours and 50 minutes in space and landed near to Karaganda in Kazakhstan on 19th June, where she was greeted by local villagers who helped her out of her spacesuit and invited her to dinner! Although her landing had been successful, it is believed that it could have ended in tragedy – tereshkova discov-ered a problem with the spacecraft’s automatic navigation software, which caused the ship to move away from the earth. soviet scientists had to develop a new landing al-gorithm for her.

tereshkova’s flight was not only a world first but it con-firmed to scientists that women could withstand the same resistance as men to the physical and psychological stress-es of space. tests also showed that women had a better resistance to g-force than men.

After her return, tereshkova and another cosmonaut, Valery Bykovsky, who was in space in another spacecraft at the same time, were welcomed in moscow’s red square. on 22nd June she was named a hero of the soviet union at the Kremlin and later received the order of lenin, the gold star medal and the order of the october revolution. A crater on the far side of the moon has since been named after tereshkova and she received a military rank in the russian airforce.

tereshkova had been asked how the soviet union should thank her for the service she gave to the country and she asked that the government find out where her

father had been killed in action. It was discovered that this occurred at lemetti in finland, where a monument now stands.

Valentina tereshkova achieved instant fame. she toured the world as a goodwill ambassador, promoting the equality of the sexes in the soviet union, received a standing ovation at the united nations and travelled to cuba with yuri gagarin, as a guest of the cuban Wom-en’s federation. tereshkova then went to the Internation-al Aeronautical federation conference in mexico. sadly, although tereshkova was highly respected and taken se-riously outside of the soviet union, this wasn’t the case inside – the female cosmonauts were used for publicity purposes to show that women were treated equally in their county, yet they were not thought of that way.

on 3rd november 1963, tereshkova married fellow cos-monaut colonel Andrian nikolayev, and a daughter, ye-lena Adrianovna nikolayeva was born on 8th June 1964.

tereshkova continued to work as an aerospace engineer in the space programme and also worked in soviet politics, feminism and culture. she was deputy to the supreme so-viet between 1966 and 1989 and a people’s deputy 1989 to 1991. she served on the soviet Women’s committee and was made head in 1977. tereshkova headed the ussr’s International cultural and friendship union from 1987 – 1991 and later chaired the russian Association of Inter-national co-operation.

Valentina tereshkova still serves as a role model for women of russia and around the world. It is believed that she now lives in moscow.

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cIrcA 1963: stamp printed by romania, shows Valentina tereshkova - soviet cosmonaut, the first

woman-cosmonaut of the planet earth, circa 1963

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the reality of the 50s

like most, when I think of the 50s, I picture a glorious vista of white picket fences, freshly mown lawns and high school dances filled with petticoats and polka-dot wearing teens sipping punch. But is this what the 1950s was really like? per-

haps in parts of wealthy, middle America but certainly not in the uK.In the uK, the early 1950s were a time of post war austerity.

despite the second World War ending in 1945, the ramifications and after effects of years of ‘make do and mend’ and rationing meant that while people were able to gradually start increasing their quality of life, things did not immediately go back to how they had been before hostilities began.

the decade was about more than just rock ‘n’ roll, poodle skirts and hot rods. Beneath the veneer of the perfect housewife and sparkling family home, times were changing and – as with any shift in society – public fears and anxieties were rising.

perhaps one of the biggest changes in the social fabric was the

shifting in gender roles. even prior to the 1950s, women were be-ginning to get options about whether they wanted to carry on into further education. Although their scope of choice was fairly narrow prior to WW2, many capable women proved their worth, by keep-ing the country going while the men were away fighting in foreign lands. this new found sense of independence was something that widened during the 1950s. In his paper, “the explosion of female college attendance, ” John Bishop1 from cornell university says that in 1947, there were only 523,000 women attending a college in the us. By the 1960s, this figure had almost quadrupled. similarly in the uK, when the men returned from active service, many women were reluctant to give up their jobs and were no longer content to just take the traditional roles of wives and mothers. for many, a clerical job enabled them to have a career and still be able to run a household. more ‘professional’ careers might have included being a teacher or a nurse.

Words by Haili Hughes, images by Helen Hughes www.rockingweddings.co.uk

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Another huge shift was the emergence of the teenager; before that children seemed to seamlessly pass straight into adulthood. however with the advent of rock ‘n’ roll, young people were finally given a voice and it symbol-ised a whole new sense of freedom and rebellion, which actors like James dean capitalised on.

however, for the marginalised and different, this sense of liberation didn’t exist. there was still a massive stigma against homosexuals and unmarried mothers. Also, the civil rights movement was in its infancy in the uK and racism was still rife. In the early 50s, many caribbean people were invited to move to the uK to work. the treatment that some of them received was shameful; many were skilled workers, but discrimination and prejudice meant that often unskilled work was the only option.

perhaps the most realistic portrayal of what life could really be like for the marginalised and working class in the 50s was the kitchen sink drama. films such as It always rains on Sunday and Room at the Top show that the decade often enthusiastically lauded to be perfect, was not always a fairy story with a happy ending for many.

perhaps my favourite example of a kitchen sink drama is the shelagh delaney masterpiece A Taste of Honey. re-leased as a play and later as a film in 1961, it tells the story of helen - the single mother with loose morals and her daughter Jo, who has brought herself up while her mother has enjoyed herself at parties. the film reflected many of the problems that were happening in society: whether it be the sexual promiscuity of helen, the continuous flits from a myriad of houses due to not paying rent or the inter-ra-cial relationship of Jo and her lover the ‘Boy.’ the film charted Jo’s teenage pregnancy and later her co-habitation with her homosexual friend, geoffrey. It also allowed a shocking insight into the kind of reaction the marginal-ised received from the public and how difficult it was to be different in the decade.

What is so interesting about the story is that it is filmed in the working class areas of salford, manchester and stockport. seeing the scruffy children playing outside in the cobbled back streets and watching the bedraggled housewives scrubbing down their steps, really gives a new perspective to what the 50s were really like. An advert for perfection they were not.

of course, we all romanticise the era we are interested in or grew up in. maybe it stems from a sense of dissatisfac-tion with the era we live in. After all, psychologists say that nostalgic feelings can be good for you. so perhaps in 50 years’ time, when I am old and grey, I will reminisce on the 1990s; with their bad fashions, tamagotchis and Brit pop. only time will tell...

1Quote from “the explosion of female college attendance,” by John Bishop of cornell university from a cornell university paper published on 11.1.1990

clothes: skirt and blouse from dresses by Julia at okiemo /Jacket is la

riviera.

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Carry OnCaravanningMocked by other road-users and often blamed for causing tailbacks on holiday routes throughout the length

and breadth of the uK, the touring caravan is much maligned, and the butt of many jokes. Yet, owning a caravan is a recreational trend that is on the increase with over 21,000 new caravans being sold in 2014, ac-cording to the National Caravan Council. However, there are folk who prefer the nostalgia of a retro caravan to the pristine shininess of a brand-spanking-new model. a new caravan may be packed with mod-cons, but

it’s the lure of a retro caravan that’s bringing many people back into the fold each year.

the origins of caravanning stem back to the nomadic existence of travelling peoples throughout the world; particularly the romany from europe – otherwise referred to as 'gypsies'. their lifestyle of travelling the countryside in brightly painted horse-drawn caravans

or 'vardos' became romanticised, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries. this interest saw early caravan prototypes emerging in the 1900s as well-to-do people started to indulge themselves in this new leisure hobby. to support this interest, the caravan club of great Britain and Ireland was set up in 1907, aiming to "bring together those interested in van life as a pastime". yet it was in the decades after the first World War, that caravanning significantly increased in popularity in conjunc-tion with the availability of the motor car to the middle-classes; making caravanning a middle-class pastime.

the structure of a caravan dating from the 1920s or early 30s could be very flimsy – depending on how much money an indi-vidual could afford to spend on it. With a framework construct-ed from either soft or hardwood affixed onto a steel chassis, the caravan's side walls comprised of plywood and aluminium sheets, with the roof being made from hardboard covered with treated canvas for an extra level of waterproofing. cream was the preferred exterior colour, often teamed with blue, brown or green to give a modern two-tone effect. the choice of fittings added to the picturesque quality of these caravans as many had diamond-leaded windows that evoked a cottage-style, which was carried through into the interior with its varnished oak units and wall panelling, and floral moquette upholstery. once hitched up to a car with enough horsepower to be able to tow it, the open road and fields awaited the caravan and its inhabitants. As there were no widespread organised camping or caravan sites like there are today, the 1930s caravanner would have asked a farmer or

landowner if they could set up camp in a neighbouring field that took their fancy; other choices included common land and places of historical interest, such as stonehenge. If they were lucky, the intrepid travellers may have parked their caravan next to a fresh water spring or simply obtained water from the farmer's or vil-lage water-pump. you can draw your own conclusions as to what the lavatorial facilities (or lack of) were!

the second World War brought an abrupt halt to the blissful scenic holidays that caravanners had previously enjoyed. fac-tories that had once manufactured caravans were now ordered by the government to change their production lines to manu-facturing military aircraft and vehicles; whilst many caravans were requisitioned by the army and royal Air force as places for servicemen to sleep and relax in whilst they waited for their turn on duty. After the war many manufacturers returned to building caravans, using up leftover stocks of aluminium and sheet metal. one manufacturer, a young man called sam Alper, wanted to build caravans that had mass-market appeal and availability, yet were cost-effective and more affordable. After numerous prototypes, Alper arrived at a model that met with his approv-al. In fact, he was so sure that his caravan would exceed the expectations of the average consumer, that he successfully road tested this model, named the 'sprite', throughout europe on two separate and gruelling road trips. the publicity both at home and abroad garnered from these promotional trips sealed Alper's fate as one of the most influential caravan designers of the post-war decades, and the sprite became an established best-seller.

from the 1950s onwards, caravan holidays became the quintessential family holiday for many Britons. freed from the strict rules of seaside boarding houses and their formidable landladies and the organised routines of holiday camps, many

life on the Open roadWords and images by

Liza Hollinghurst

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families chose to spend their summer holiday out on the road with the freedom to travel to places that had once been out of their reach, such as the lake district, Welsh coast and popular holiday-spots like devon and cornwall. Apart from the initial outlay to buy a caravan - many families often clubbed together to buy one, sharing it throughout the year - and the petrol used on the trip, caravan holidays were a cheap yet fun holiday alternative. organised caravan sites soon sprung up, catering to holi-daymakers’ needs with toilet, shower and washing up/laundry blocks, clubhouses and children’s play areas.

many people now aim to recreate the freedom and enjoyment that caravanning brought to childhood holidays for their own families. And what perfect way to do it than to buy a retro caravan, kit it out with vintage homeware favourites such as 'gaydon' melamine plates, flowery 1970s duvet covers and colourful enamel ware, and revel in life on the open road. even if you don't have room to store a caravan on your drive, there are local storage sites throughout the uK where you can securely park your caravan for an annual fee. perhaps you don't own a caravan but hanker after the experience? Well, plenty of holiday sites offer stays in retro caravans and are often advertised as 'glamping' holidays. Al-though the caravan is static, you can still have a wonderful time without having to hitch it up to a towbar or owning a car with enough oomph to be able to tow it.

A further testament to the caravan's versatility is that it's the choice of summerhouse, play room or garden office for many people. A retro caravan is perfect for these uses and more. Waterproof, cosy and ideal to customise and a morning coffee or full english breakfast can be quickly rustled up on the gas stove. even if it doesn't move from its garden spot for the rest of its caravan-life, it’s bound to be a much-loved bolthole by all the family.

MY LIFE

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MY HOME

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MY HOME

80 | VINTAGE LIFE

STEPINSIDE

Ellen Schraa’s Toronto home...

Home owner Ellen Schraa in 1985

How did you become interested in vintagestyled interior design & homewares?

My inspiration to create a vintage styled home came from my love of vintage clothing. That passion started in 1985, my last year of high school. I searched high and low for the perfect prom dress. By chance a vintage store opened up in my small hometown just days before the prom, probably almost the first and last vintage store to be there. I found the most perfect rose/pink 60s dress with crinoline, and to all my friends’ amazement, the dress fitted me perfectly off the rack!

I began to raid family basements for vintage and antiques; I took any hand-me-downs of clothing and furniture offered to me. Like clothing, only vintage and antique seem to ‘fit’ me. They feel home to me. I buy only the pieces I love, regardless of era-Victorian to mid-century modern.

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STEPI began to raid

family basements for VINTAGE

and antiques

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...simply buy the things

you love, that really speak to you

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83VINTAGE LIFE |

From where did you draw inspiration?My inspiration came from trial and error. I never feel

like my home is done, I’m always moving things around and adding new pieces. I remember when I was five or six one of my most favourite things to do was move my bedroom furniture around. I would then be so excited to go to bed that night because it would be a new room and I would have a new view of my stuff. It’s really funny to think of that experience right now because I remember my white ¾ French provincial bedroom set. At that time it was a hand-me-down from family, with that saggy old mattress. Forty years later and my love for French provincial still exists and has been more recently reignited. I use a 1950s French provincial vanity as my office desk and I love my bedroom dresser set of 1920s original French provincial.

What were the easy parts of the project?The easy part is simply buy the things you love,

that really speak to you. If I’m ever uncertain about a piece I walk away, sit in my home and feel if it is the piece that will work. If I remain uncertain I do not buy it. The hard part is to find the pieces, it is a passion, you cannot go out and buy it when you want it, the piece has to come to you. You must have patience and passion for seeking out your style and it truly becomes a lifestyle and hobby.

Did anything prove particularly challenging?I bought my 1900 Victorian house in 2013. It had

been a rooming house for at least 60-70 years, so it needed a lot of love! What I loved about it was the location and the original plaster work and main floor stairway was still there. Some ‘updating’ had occurred in the 40s when the original owner bequeathed it to her daughter-in-law who lived outside of the city. I was okay that the fireplace was the 40s (I’ve now painted it all white like the rest of the house). I knew I’d be removing walls so the house would need new flooring so the parquet upstairs would go anyway.

My biggest challenge in creating MY vintage inspired home was patience and faith. I doubted myself along the way, doubted it would all come together in the end, at times I thought I’d have to sell all my stuff and replace it. But if you buy the stuff you love, it will come together.

What was your favourite part of the project?The designing of the space, drawing the space out,

placing my furniture pieces around (on paper and then in the final move in), searching for the perfect light, the perfect tile, the perfect iron railing, and along the way meeting all the people in the industry and spending time with them.

Any advice that you would like to share?Trust your instincts and buy only what you love.

Let your home tell you what it needs and let it be the canvas for all the pieces you love.

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OOH LA LA!PrETTY GrEY

cHIcby Beth Swallow

These lovelies found their way to me a few weeks ago. A little battered and bruised, I thought they needed a freshen up rather than a complete revamp. I've been working with a lot of colour recently and

decided that although they could take the bright neon colours, I wanted to take it down a little and use a subtle grey and white palette that works well with the 'french vintage' look that is still going strong with interior design. Whether you love it or hate it, people are still paying over the odds for the boudoir look. However, if you've a nose for a bargain and you can handle a car boot sale on a rainy Bank Holiday Monday, then you might just come across a few gems that won't make your bank balance see the tumble weed over the horizon.

What caught my eye was the detail latticework and the shape of the legs. They had a couple of strange drawer knobs that were hanging on for dear life so I think that someone had already tried a revamp but got a bit bored! The units must have come off a production line as they were spray painted an off white and had a bit of distressed look that was clearly done by a machine as they were pretty much identical. Not the look I

wanted. Matching units are great but it’s the finishing touches that make it look unique and a one off.

I've only ever painted onto wood so this was really interesting for me. I decided not to prime, sand or undercoat. I held my breath and took the grey and started to paint over the original spray paint. To be honest it looked a bit patchy and I thought I'd have to start again as the grey I used was quite light. However, I persisted, let it dry and gave it another coat – much better! After the second coat I knew the third would finish the look off perfectly and I was right. I didn't want to do the whole unit in the same colour (and yes I was very tempted to paint the drawers in bright zesty orange!) so I went with a darker grey on the drawers for a nice contrast and painted the knobs in white.

Distress as much or as little as you like, but always use a fine grade sand paper as rougher papers will rip your paintwork to shreds. Dust and clean up and finish with a couple of coats of good clear wax, buff off and there you have it. Pretty grey chic, a perfect place to park your morning cuppa or before bed glass of champers!

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PEEP THrOUGH THE

KEYHOLEWho lived here?

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MAx GATE:Thomas Hardy was born in 1840 to Thomas, a stonemason and builder and Jemima, in a small village in Dorset. He was the eldest of four children. Hardy was a sickly child but his parents were determined to give him a good education – Jemima taught him until he was eight and he later attended Mr Last’s Academy for Young Gentlemen in Dorchester.

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HOME OF THOMAS HArDY

At the age of 16, Hardy left school and was apprenticed to John Hicks, an architect in his local area. The trade was a good one for Hardy as he enjoyed sketching and liked to pay attention to detail. Later, in 1862, Hardy moved to London to enrol at King’s College London. Whilst in the capital, he became aware of class divisions and felt inferior due to his background. Eventually, Hardy moved back to his home county of Dorset.

Hardy met and eventually married Emma Gifford in 1874 and after renting a few properties he purchased one and a half acres of land to the south west of Dorchester. Hardy, using his architectural experience, set about designing a house for him and his wife, which was built by the family firm on the purchased land. The name of the house, Max Gate, comes from the name of a tollgate keeper, Henry Mack, who lived at the location – it was consequently known as Mack’s Gate.

Hardy lived in the house for 42 years with his first wife Emma and later with his second wife, Florence Dugdale, who was 39 years younger.

Hardy was careful in his design for the house, thinking about how he wanted each room to be. The entrance hall for examples features windows close to the ceiling that allow natural light to filter through. The same applies to the Drawing room, as again Hardy wanted to make use of the available daylight. This is the room where some of the entertaining would take place – Hardy would play the violin and Emma, while still alive, would play the piano. This was also the room where tea was taken each day at four o’clock.

The Drawing room features a stunning overmantle that was especially built to accommodate a Venetian style mirror. The fireplace has its original Delft tiles. A conservatory was added to the room after Hardy married his second wife.

One of the most prolific rooms at Max Gate is the dining room. Hardy and his first wife Emma enjoyed inviting guests to their home and many distinguished people were entertained there, including Edward, Prince of Wales, WB Yeats, Rudyard Kipling, James Barrie (author of Peter Pan) and Lady Cynthia Asquith. One visitor was the sculptor Sir Hamo Thornycroft and his wife Agatha, whom Hardy admitted was the inspiration for the character of Tess in one of his most famous novels, Tess of the d’Urbervilles. (Other inspirations for Tess were Augusta Way, a dairymaid who Hardy met and became struck by her beauty, and Florence Henniker, daughter of Lord Houghton and goddaughter of Florence Nightingale.)

Although the house contains few of Hardy’s actual possessions, a set of removable bookcases that Hardy designed himself are still present in the dining room.

The Hardys employed a handful of servants and they had rooms in the attic. The kitchen and service rooms were located at the rear of the property.

Max Gate was added to and extended, with an expansion taking place in 1894 to have a new, larger kitchen, a scullery, and a third study for Hardy. His first study was turned into a bedroom and he wasn’t entirely happy working in the second, although this was where Tess of the d’Urbervilles and Jude the Obscure were written. It was during this period of alteration that Emma Hardy asked her husband for an area where she could write, paint, and sew in peace.

Hardy was careful in his design for the house, thinking about how he wanted each room to be...

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The house and

most of its contents were sold at

auction

Hardy created space in the attic that Emma used as a daytime retreat. She eventually moved her bedroom up there. It was here where Emma sadly died.

The property has a master bedroom that was possibly shared by Hardy and Emma until she took to her attic rooms. It is possible that his second wife Florence shared the room too.

After his marriage to Florence, she insisted that an upstairs bathroom was added to the house, which was done in 1920 and was supplied by hot running water. Hardy however preferred to take his bath in a metal tub in his bedroom. The house also had a flush lavatory – the tank had to be filled with water by hand before Hardy designed a system that re-used garden waste and also the water that had drained into a tank under the kitchen.

Thomas Hardy died in December 1927 of pleurisy. His wife Florence continued to live at Max Gate until her death in 1937, and the house and most of its contents were sold at auction. Hardy’s youngest sister Kate purchased the property and left it to the National Trust on her death in 1940.For details of opening times and what’s on at Max Gate, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/max-gate

Max Gate, Alington Avenue, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 2AB Call: 01305 262538

Sources:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_HardyA Souvenir Guide – Thomas Hardy’s Homes Dorset by the National Trust

Image © National Trust Images / Chris Lacey



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Good clean Fun: Sweet Dreams!

Tips & Tricks

by Seren Evans-Charrington

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It is estimated that we spend 22 years of our life sleeping. This makes the bedroom one of the most used rooms in the house, and yet the bedroom is often pretty low down on the cleaning list. Waking up to a messy room is not the best start to a day and indeed trying to relax and fall asleep in a cluttered room is not very restful. So, to ensure that you get a lovely restful slumber, here are a few tips and steps that will help you sleep like a baby.

*This article is based on the writer’s own experience and neither the writer or Vintage Life Magazine are responsible for any outcome that arises from following the article above. The solutions produced may not be suitable for the materials used in your home. If you decide to try for yourself, patch test somewhere discreet. Dusters at the ready for some good clean fun!

Step 1Fling the windows open and let the fresh air in. A nice clean smelling room is essential to a relaxing bedroom. Step 2De-clutter, it’s amazing how many miscellaneous objects can creep into the bedroom, so use this opportunity to put things back in their rightful place.

Step 3Let your duvet air. Get the cover off your duvet and on a dry, breezy day get it pegged out on the line. If you want your sheets, blankets and duvets to smell heavenly then you can also make your own linen spray. Simply combine two tablespoons of vodka, with 10 drops of pure lavender oil and six tablespoons of water in a spray bottle and shake well before spraying on your linen. If sprayed on your pillow this can also aid a good night’s sleep.

Step 4Look after that mattress by giving it a thorough clean. You should follow this procedure every three months in order to keep your mattress fresh, clean and free of bed bugs and dust mites.1. Remove all bedding and pop it in the wash.2: Lift up your mattress and vacuum in between the mattress and the base.3: Add 1 teacup of bicarbonate of soda, and 8 drops of pure essential lavender oil to a Tupperware container. Pop the lid on, and shake well.4: Empty the bicarbonate of soda mixture into a sieve and sprinkle it all over your mattress. Allow this mixture to work its magic for one hour.5: Using your vacuum’s hose suck up all the baking soda and say farewell to odours and mites.

Home 59.indd 12 09/09/2015 11:49

Download VL from any of these:12 month digital SubScription only £21.99

www.pocketmagS.com

take Vintage life everywhere with you!

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| VINTAGE LIFE92

Kitchens in SyncNever was the home of greater significance than

in the post-war years as families fractured by the effects of WWII were brought together again. They were aided by an increase in social

housing brought on by the necessary redevelopment of bomb damaged towns and cities, and the dawn of a new decade that promised a brighter future. The austerity years of the late 1940s and early 50s began to recede due to the rise in living standards. As Britain's economy steadily prospered leaving many households better off financially, a greater emphasis was placed upon the home as being central to family stability. The focus was upon making a house a home, with the kitchen now being commercially promoted as the 'heart of the home'. At its centre was its lynchpin: the housewife, who was now happily waving goodbye to post-war rationing and utility products, and

welcoming in a new age of domestic convenience and modernity.

The 'ideal' 1950s housewife was depicted by advertisers as an attractive youthful woman, cheerfully cooking or attending to the family in her gleaming modern kitchen. This new breed of housewife was no longer the household drudge in her utility pinafore and headscarf, but a glamorous creation that her husband looked forward to coming home to. She invariably wore a fashionable full-skirted dress accessorised with court shoes and a brightly patterned apron; her perfectly made-up face smiling as she showed off her latest kitchen appliance. We know that in reality this was far removed from the truth. Yet it was a picture of domestic bliss that many women aspired to as they brought up their young families or started off married life in a new-home, be it a new-build, flat or pre-fab, and

The rise of1950s domesTic

goddessBy Liza Hollinghurst

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with wartime austerity a not so distant memory, who can blame them for wanting a life that was filled with 'mod-cons'?

Whereas the commonplace 1940s unfitted kitchen had hardly changed since Edwardian times with its plain wooden cabinets, scrubbed pine table, 'Belfast' sink and red quarry floor tiles, the well-planned 1950s kitchen was all about sleek lines, bright colours, efficiency and ease of use. Walls were either painted in fresh, pastel shades or zingy bright hues such as lemon yellow, apple green or turquoise; or papered with vinyl wallpaper that veered away from the traditional floral motifs. Instead, wallpaper now featured abstract ‘atomic’ patterns or novelty designs that incorporated elements from the kitchen such as fruit and vegetables, and cooking utensils. Floors were not forgotten either; they had to be practical and hard-wearing enough to resist heat and spillages, but also comfortable underfoot. Vinyl and Linoleum (‘lino’) sheets or tiles could be fitted and came in a range of colours and designs; the tiles especially lended themselves to artistic geometric patterns or a chequerboard effect in bright colour combinations. Cement floors sealed with rubber-based floor paint were also a popular choice and could be livened up with mats.

If the lady of the house was particularly lucky, her new kitchen could include fitted units, the colours of which could complement her décor. An early 50s copy of The Book of Good Housekeeping advocates that “Kitchen planning is now an accepted science” and those starting from scratch would “…have plenty of scope for planning a real labour-saving kitchen to suit your

particular needs.” Units were now being produced that specifically catered to the needs of the busy housewife. These were ergonomically designed to eliminate unnecessary trekking from one end of the kitchen to the other; in addition to providing ample storage and suitable working heights, whilst being attractive and easy to clean. Although units were still traditionally made from wood such as pine or ply, metal was gaining in popularity and was most notably used by CSA Industries who manufactured their now sought after ‘English Rose’ kitchen units from aluminium that was left-over from the drive to build military aircraft during WWII. One of the main attributes of English Rose units highlighted within magazine adverts was their use of ‘Softglow’ Formica work-surfaces that came in an alluring range of colours: Scarlet Red, Steel Blue and Amulet Green. Formica, a composite of laminated plastics, was a must-have work-surface as it was durable, could be wiped clean and perhaps more importantly for the style discerning housewife, it came in a range of colours and designs that could colour-coordinate with her dream kitchen.

Although not a fitted unit, the freestanding larder cupboard that had seen long service in pre-war kitchens was now brought bang-up-to-date with a new facelift. With its paintwork livened up with splashes of colour, the cupboard comprised a space-saving array of drawers, cupboards, bins and a fold-down work surface of either enamelled metal or Formica. The larder cupboard became a kitchen-staple with its

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popularity continuing into the 1960s; many are still put to good use in today’s retro-styled kitchens.

To complement her new kitchen the housewife could now buy a wide range of decorated tablewares. From the onset of WWII up until 1952, the British government had restricted the sale of decorated ceramic tableware to the home market. The lifting of these restrictions in conjunction with the design movement fuelled by the Festival of Britain in London in 1951, gave the country’s potteries free rein to produce colourful and highly creative ceramics that drew on a wide range of inspirational sources; from the zebra stripes of Midwinter Pottery’s ‘Zambesi’ designed by Jessie Tait through to Meakin’s ‘Jivers’ tableware with its design of a couple dancing the latest craze. However, one of the most recognised tablewares of this period has to be the ‘Homemaker’ range designed by Enid Seeney for Ridgeway Potteries. Sold exclusively through the high street store ‘Woolworth’ from 1958, Homemaker’s monochrome design caught the eye of the budget conscious shopper; even its name was an obvious indicator of the market it was intended for. Seeney’s design that incorporated elements of contemporary furniture such as spindly legs, boomerang-shaped tables and reclining chairs, would have undoubtedly resonated with young homeowners who kept afoot of current interior trends. Another brand which typified the design-

led trends of 1950s tablewares was ‘Pyrex’. Manufactured in Britain by J.A. Jobling under licence from its American owners, the strengthened glass and heat resistant properties of Pyrex made it ideal for use direct from cooker to table. It was advertised as being “Everything you need for preparing, cooking, chilling, storing and serving” and came in a range of colours and designs such as the ‘Gaiety’ range with its snowflake and daisy patterns.

“Efficient equipment can save a great deal of time in the kitchen, and can greatly help in achieving good results in cooking” stated Good Housekeeping Magazine in 1952. Women’s magazines were full of adverts for a wide variety of labour-saving gadgets and utensils that aimed to drive this point home to the housewife. One ad for a ‘Dishmaster’ dish-washing machine had a cartoon of a woman proclaiming “I strike!” until she gets her machine as “It’s uncivilised to be a slave to dish-washing, when Dishmaster washes the whole day’s china, glass, cutlery, pots and pans, in just 3 minutes!” Flick through any magazine of the decade and you’ll see that many brands such as Tala, Hoover, Kenwood have stood the test of time (and the kitchen!) and are still available to today’s domestic goddesses!

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MY FOOD

Skewers have become increasingly popular in Western cuisine and if you are looking for a healthy option in a flash, home-made skewers can be a really good option. Skewers can be

delicious and speedy to prepare, but if you don’t get the marinade right and the cooking times, then you can end up with bland and undercooked results, so in search of the key to creating the perfect skewer I headed off to the Scottish Borders to meet Russell Arm-strong – a professional chef and BBQ extraordinaire who spends his Friday nights grilling up a feast in a Victorian Greenhouse in the grounds of Cringlettie House.

Russell explained that the key to a good skewer starts with choosing good ingredients and preparing a good marinade. As I sat in Cringlettie’s beautiful shabby chic greenhouse watching him flambé some chicken and pork skewers with a good Scot-tish whisky, he enlightened me on the importance of marinades. "Marinades are used to enhance seasoning or assist with meat tenderization. For example the pork and chicken skewers I usual-ly prepare for the Friday night BBQ in the Greenhouse are soaked overnight in a Cajun marinade. Tougher cuts of meat need up to 24 hours to marinate before skewering so the marinade can fully penetrate and tenderize the meat, whereas softer meats like sea-food require only half an hour to season since they typically don't need to be tenderized.’’

Some Top Tips for Preparing Skewers:1. When making cooked skewer kebabs, be sure to select foods with common cooking times. Mixing cooking seafood with large chunks of slower cooking chicken, could make it a challenge to produce good results and evenly cooked food. 2. One size doesn’t fit all: Cut your fruit and veg cubes to suit the cooking time of its skewer companions. When using faster cook-ing items such as halloumi cheese, tofu or seafood, cut the accom-panying vegetables smaller so they cook quicker. When pairing with longer cooking meats such as pork or chicken, use larger chunky vegetable sizes so they will not be overcooked.

3. Allow a little space between each item when you prepare skew-ers to assist with even cooking time.4. When using metal skewers apply a light coating of cooking oil before threading foods to ensure they will come off with ease. When planning to grill using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water at least 20 minutes before you plan to thread and cook, as the moisture prevents the wood from catching fire and scorching your food. 5. Flambé is the key to succulent and tender meat. Not only does flambéing produce impressive looking results during the cooking process, but it produces tasty results and makes meat tender and easy to eat. Russell used a squeezy bottle, filled with whisky to flambé his kebabs and the results were excellent, but he suggested any alcohol with a proof above 40% is suitable for the process.

Zingy Marinade Recipe for Skewer Cooking: 150 ml white wine, 3 tbsp. whole grain mustard, 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced, 1 lime (juiced), ½ lemon (juiced), 40g soft brown sugar, 1 tsp. rock salt, 6 tsp. olive oil, ¼ tsp. ground black pepper.

1. In a large, non-reactive jar (I use a Kilner jar or an old sterilised pickle jar), combine all the ingredients, screw the jar lid on tightly and shake vigorously for three minutes.2. Pour the marinade over prepared skewers and cover the skew-ers before placing in the fridge for eight hours. 3. Remove chicken from marinade just before you turn on your grill or BBQ. 4. Discard the used marinade.5. Grill or BBQ the skewers until piping hot and cooked through, remembering a little flambéing along the way.If you want to hand the cooking over to a professional, then pop and see Russell at Crinclettie House (www.cringletie.com/offers/bbq-fridays) and sample his BBQ skills; after all there is nothing better than a chilled glass of wine, freshly mown grass and the smell of food sizzling on the grill.

Fast FOOD...Fresh OFFthe grill

Words and images by Seren Evans-

Charrington

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Food 59.indd 2 08/09/2015 13:40

From gallstone treatments, catalyst of 18th century ri-ots, to ‘mother’s ruin’, this “liquid madness” that we call gin has withstood tee-totalling temperance, Pro-hibition – and the challenge for beverage supremacy

from vodka – to become not just England’s ‘national spirit’, but a firm modern favourite worldwide, with flavours aplen-ty to choose from, and an undeniably classy caché… But what exactly is gin anyway?

It’s a question that still causes discussion (and the odd ar-gument) among gin aficionados, as, unlike other spirits with very strict rules as to what they must and cannot constitute, the stipulations as to what makes gin ‘gin’ are rather blurrier.

Gin is created by blending a base spirit with certain bo-tanicals, and is defined principally by its flavour, which – according to those rather loose regulations – has to taste something like juniper, in order for it to really be consid-ered a gin. These days, there are numerous flavour varia-tions available, most featuring one or several botanicals as flavouring, from raspberry, blackberry and pink grapefruit to ginger, liquorice, lime, orange and beyond.

You could say that we’re in the middle of a gin-flavouring craze, but it’s a revolution that has many of those gin afi-

cionados crying foul; they claim that while it may be aug-mented with other botanicals, without that distinct juniper flavour at its core, a beverage simply cannot be considered a gin at all.

Regardless of the flavoursome quibbling over taste, gin forms the basis of more cocktails than any other spirit, from the classic Martini, to the Tom Collins, Singapore Sling, Long Island Iced Tea, Gimlet and Salty Dog, to name only a few – which may partly explain why it’s so popular here in the British Isles. But while it may seem like there’s nothing more British than a good old G&T, us Brits seem to have first learned of its existence in Holland in the 1600s, where, during the Thirty Years’ War, soldiers of the Dutch Repub-lic would drink (an early version of) gin to ‘help’ them into battle – the origin of the term ‘Dutch courage’.

As far back as the 11th century, the Dutch had used a Juniper-based ‘tonic’ for medicinal purposes, with the Navy later mixing it with lime to battle scurvy and other seafar-ing ailments. It wasn’t until the 19th century that produc-tion of the drink began in England.

Not long after, Plymouth and London became (and re-main) the two principal types of gin available on the mar-

Gin and Sunshine:The Perfect Cocktail?

Words by Simon Olivier scriptsimon.comPhotography by Sarah Olivier saraholivierphotography.com

ViNtage liFe | 97

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| VINTAGE LIFE98

ket, though here again, the guidelines for producing it are a little more lenient than with other spirits. Unlike, for ex-ample, the Champagne region’s eponymous sparkling wine, or Kentucky’s territorial claim over the whiskey type ‘bour-bon’, London Gin doesn’t have to be produced anywhere near London!

Although, it must be said, while a London Gin can be cre-ated anywhere in the world, for a gin to qualify as a London Dry Gin, it must be distilled to at least 70% ABV (alcohol by volume), all its flavour must be created during the distil-lation process, and it must contain only natural ingredients.

All that being said, it’s important to remember that, while its history and definition can seem a little complicat-ed, there are some things about gin that are wonderfully simple – such as the fact that, once added to a glass with

ice, tonic water and a slice or two of fresh lemon (or lime?), few beverages are more satisfying or refreshing, particularly when combined with some sophisticated company to imbibe with, and that rarest of creatures – a warm and sunny Brit-ish summer’s day! When all of those are put together, it’s easy to make the case that gin and sunshine really do make for the finest cocktail of them all.

It’s been a long, complex road for gin, through the ages. It has not only endured, but flourished, now seeing a genuine resurgence and enjoying an all-time high in its popularity. So the next time you and your friends are relaxing on the lawn with a cool G&T, spare a thought for the less-than-straight-and-narrow path the drink you’re enjoying has tak-en to reach you.

And just remember, all gins are not the same. Cheers!

MY FOOD

Credits: Pop up gin bar by Gin & Bear It ginandbearit.co.uk / Gin supplied by Daffy's Gin daffysgin.com / Flowers supplied by The Sussex / Flower Farm sussexflowerfarm.co.uk / Floral arrangements by Nell's / Flowers nellsflowers.co.uk / Dresses by Oh My Honey ohmyhoney.co.uk /

Hair & Make up by Fran Carter (francarter.com) & Louisa Bush facebook.com/LouisaBushHairandMakeupModels: Annamarie Doré, Georgina Robinson, Yolanda Carella, Lauren Reynolds, Crystal King, Madison Prior, Desmond Feehily, Danny Bush

Food 59.indd 4 08/09/2015 13:44

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MY FOOD

Words by Elle Douglas, image courtesy of Jacqueline's tea room

Drink TeaKeeP Calm &

There’s nothing that a good cup of tea can’t solve and you definitely can’t have a cup of tea without a sweet treat. Elle Douglas steps back in time and takes a look at some top vintage tea rooms that are worth a visit! Whether you’re looking for vintage authenticity, a beautiful brew, or a spot of proper afternoon tea,

england has it all on offer!

JACQUELINE’S TEA ROOM – COLCHESTERBased on her granny’s front parlour, Jacqueline’s Tearoom takes you back to 1940s Britain, when times were tough, war was rife and tea was a must! All tea enthusiasts will love Jacqueline’s! Give your taste buds a treat and try over 30 different varieties of loose-leaf teas. If you’re spoilt for choice, there will always be three teas brewing in order for you to sample a sip!More Tea Dear? If the sun is shining in Colchester, you can grab a perfectly packed picnic from Jacqueline’s and discover the histori-cal sites of the town. jacquelinestearoom.co.uk

SUGAR JUNCTION – MANCHESTERSituated in the city of Manchester, this award-winning tearoom doesn’t stop at the typical tea and cake. Enjoy an eclectic breakfast, lunch and dinner menu too and top it off with a selection of freshly baked sweet treats. There’s more! Pop in after the daily grind and enjoy scrummy vintage cocktails from 5pm. After all, cake tastes just as good accompanied with a Cosmo!More Tea Dear? Every day has an afternoon; therefore it should have afternoon tea! Sugar Junction offers their delicious afternoon tea (the best in Manchester!) on a daily basis. sugarjunction.co.uk

BIDDY’S TEAROOM – NORWICHIf you’re wandering the ‘Lanes’ in Norwich, be sure to make a pit stop at Biddy’s Tearoom! Taking inspiration from every era, Biddy’s mismatched vintage comes together creating a perfect en-vironment for relaxing, chatting and most importantly, munching on delicious cakes!More Tea Dear? Every Tuesday evening, Biddy’s hosts a range of events, including swishing (which involves getting rid of your unwanted clothes, shopping for new ones and drinking a brew), stitch and b***h (perfect a new craft and have a natter) and a great biddy’s bake off competition! biddystearoom.com

THE VINTAGE TEA PARTY – NEWCASTLE UPON TYNECan’t pick which tearoom to visit? Let the crockery come to you with The Vintage Tea Party! Whether you’re getting married, having a birthday celebration or just an afternoon tea party at home, The Vintage Tea Party know how to ca-ter for all your needs in any venue. Not only will they bring outstanding vintage tea sets, they will also decorate with the most beautiful bunting too, creating the perfect setting for a tea party! vintageteaparty.org.uk

Food 59.indd 5 08/09/2015 13:45

MY FOOD

Siegel's 1941

Words by Nina Faull

SHU

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/OPE

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| ViNtage liFe100

the lights of las Vegas Boulevard twinkled above me as i made my

way through the ever-present crowd of people. Normally, the energy in the air of "the strip" pulses and charges me, carrying

me from one casino to the next. Yet for some reason, on this particular

evening, something was amiss.

The lights weren't captivating me and even my favourite restaurants weren't calling my name. I wasn't quite sure what was askew, but I

decided to make a change and head down-town, to Fremont Street.

Once again, I found myself walking be-neath countless lights taking, what seemed to be, endless steps toward an unknown destination. Fremont Street is often re-ferred to as "Old Vegas," and the hotels and casinos are undeniably, very dated. Never the less, I was searching for some-thing, and little did I know, I was about to find it. Not long after arriving on Fremont Street, I found myself playing Blackjack at the longest continuously running casino in the state of Nevada, the El Cortez. The people at the table were excited, laughing, and having a good time, and it was infec-tious. Before I knew it, hours had passed and my winnings had begun to stack up in front of me. In good gambler form, I decid-ed to leave the Blackjack table before my winnings began to diminish and I set off to find something to eat.

Still feeling a bit finicky, I took a look around at the casino, which was built in 1941, and once owned by famed gangster, Bugsy Siegel. I saw a red neon sign that simply read, "Siegel's 1941." With a scep-tical eye, I briefly perused a menu before

committing to dining. The prices were rea-sonable for dishes such as Lasagne, Chick-en Piccata, Corned Beef and more, so I de-cided to give Siegel's 1941 a try.

The restaurant was modestly decorated – a few booths and tables – all simply set with bread plates and tiny salt and pepper shakers. A large black and white mural of Siegel and his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, graced one of the main walls, making it the focal point of the restaurant. I didn't realize just how hungry I was until I began to give serious consideration to what I was going to eat that evening. Taking the waiter's rec-ommendation, I chose the meatballs to start and complemented them with the lasagne as my main dish. Both were nothing short of spectacular, and that's saying a lot, consid-ering I don't think anyone can cook Italian like my mom. This meal is undeniably one of the best meals I have had in Las Vegas in almost two decades. I know that sounds lofty, but it is true. This modest hotel and casino had more to offer than I realized.

Some of you may remember a few years ago that I told you about The Golden Steer, the restaurant that host-ed Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Marilyn Mon-roe and many more. It is a fine dining atmosphere, located near Las Vegas Boulevard, serving exquisite food at fine dining prices. Truly, it is one of my fa-

vourite places to visit when in Las Ve-gas. Even though the menu at Siegel's 1941 is not quite as decadent as The Golden Steer, I can honestly say that my meal was equally as delicious, and not nearly as expensive.

My lasagne sat, three-quarters eat-en, when my waiter brought the dessert menu. I was pleasantly full, but knew that I couldn't leave without dessert. But what would it be, the waiter's recommended Chocolate Ganache Cake, Bourbon Bread Pudding or Florida Key Lime Pie? The list seemed to go on forever. I opted for the Bourbon Bread Pudding, even though I knew it was going to have those dreaded raisins throughout. I decided that I was willing to pick them out for the sake of eating a delicious bread pudding. Served à la mode, the bread pudding was a bit firm-er than I had anticipated, but the flavour was sweet and delicious. It was absolutely worth the raisin removal effort.

I sat back and sipped my coffee, sa-vouring its warmth. I was miles from "The Strip," in a quiet restaurant, in an original Las Vegas casino, and I had found what I had been searching for – my personal recipe for satisfaction. All it takes is good food, good company, good atmosphere – and most importantly – a good attitude to appreciate all of it.

Food 59.indd 6 08/09/2015 13:45

101VINTAGE LIFE |

MY CULTURE

Humana, Berlin

Vintage Shopping

Berlin StyleBy Sarah McDougall

A weekend break away is an opportunity to explore the local food, history, architecture and, of course… the vintage shopping opportunities. Whenever I plan a trip, I always begin my research with a look at the vintage

shops in the area. So when the girls suggested a long weekend in Berlin, I began planning my shopping expedition straight away,

and soon realised that in Berlin, you really are spoilt for choice.Whilst I love vintage shopping, not all of my holiday bud-

dies share my passion, so I planned only a couple of hours away from the group to head off and explore. But with a great transport system linking Berlin, a couple of hours was enough to view a lot of vintage fashion.

As we were staying close to Alexanderplatz in the centre of Berlin, I used that as my starting point and headed to Humana, a second hand and vintage store visible from Alexanderplatz due to its home in the base of a tall building which dominates the city’s skyline and its imposing sign above the doorway. Humana’s vintage section is in a separate room at the rear of the store which

is clearly signposted. Humana is not your average vintage store, as it is also part of a charity organisation. With a huge amount of fashion for both men and women, carefully organised into item type, style and colour, I could have easily spent the afternoon happily looking through the many rails. I left with a gorgeous pink 1970s top for 12 euros that I could not put down.

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Garments, BerlinA short walk back to the u-bahn station at Alexander-

platz and two stops north on the U8 u-bahn train found me in Rosenthaler Platz. Five minutes from the station is Garments, a vintage boutique with a wide range of clothes and accessories. Pricier than your average vintage store, they have key pieces perfect for a special occasion that will take pride of place in any vintage lover’s wardrobe and jewellery box. Having looked at every item in the store and wishing there was more space in both my suitcase and on my credit card, I headed back to Rosenthaler Platz to go one stop south to Weinmeisterstrase for a visit to Pick n Weight, a vintage store that sells clothes by the kilo.

Culture 59.indd 2 15/09/2015 16:29

MY CULTURE

Pick n Weight, Berlin

Garments, Berlin

Leaving the u-bahn station exit in the direction signposted Alte Schonhauser Strasse, the Pick n Weight store is directly to the left. And by store, I mean treasure trove! The red carpet leading to the entrance is the first clue that this place is pretty special! Rammed to the rafters with vintage clothes, shoes and accessories, I could have happily spent a whole day exploring this store. Clothes are sold by the kilo and the price tags are colour coded. Red labels are 25 euro per kilo, yellow 35 euro, green 65 euro and blue 85 euro. Shoes and accessories have a set price and are priced individually. There is a wide range of choice for both men and women and the staff are really friendly and helpful. Plus, if you want to keep track of how much you are spending, there are scales for you to weigh your potential purchases. Again cursing the lack of suitcase space and credit card limits (yes I did consider buying another suit-case just for vintage purchases) I settled for a pretty patterned black 1970s tea dress for 16 euros, which can be worn year round, before heading back to Alexanderplatz for an after-noon of sightseeing with the girls.

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Sing Blackbird, Berlin There are many opportunities for vintage shopping in Berlin and I only got to see a small selection on my weekend break. Most of the districts in Berlin have vintage stores and many shops have more than one location. Garments has a sister store in Prenzlauer Berg and Humana has 11 stores in Berlin and their shops on Frankfurter Tor, Schonhauser Allee and Karl Marx Strasse have large vintage departments. With so much vintage to view it is easy to spend a long weekend shopping for vintage clothes alone (yes, I am planning that trip!). There is so much more to see and plenty to revisit! Vintage fashion is my pas-sion and I love to buy clothing and accessories when travelling, as not only do you have new items to love and feel great in, but every time you wear them you will have the memories of where you bought them. And in this case my 1970s top and dress will always make me think of a fabulous weekend in Berlin with the very best of friends!

If you are thinking about adding to your vintage wardrobe, Berlin is definitely worth a visit – just make sure you have plenty of room in your suitcase(s).

Vintage stores websites:Humana: www.humana-second-hand.de (Alexanderstr. 7, 10178 Berlin)

Garments: garments-vintage.de(Linienstrasse 204-205, Mitte)

Pick n Weight: picknweight.de(Alte Schonhauser Strasse 30, Mitte)

Sing Blackbird: singblackbird.tumblr.com(Sanderstrasse 11, Kreuzkölln)

However my vintage exploration didn’t end there. I had one more visit planned and the next day I headed back to Alexanderplatz and the ever useful U8 u-bahn, going south to Schonleinstrasse. Many shops in Berlin are closed on Sun-days, but Sing Blackbird is one of the few vintage stores open. Both a vintage boutique and a café close to a canal along the River Spree, it’s a lovely place to visit on a chilled out Sunday afternoon. The prices are wide ranging with lots to offer, including designer pieces. There is a good choice of vintage clothes, accessories, jewellery and shoes and you are assured of a warm welcome.

Culture 59.indd 4 15/09/2015 16:29

VINTAGE LIFE | 105

public faces, private livesViVieN leigh

MY CULTURE

(Above image – Portrait of Vivien Leigh by Sasha, 1935 ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

the life of one of Britain’s most iconic actresses, vivien Leigh, is the focus of a new exhibition coming to the national trust’s treasurer’s house in York this autumn.

Public Faces, Private Lives is focusing on the juxtaposition of the hollywood persona and home life of celebrated film and stage actress, vivien Leigh, who gained international star-dom with her role as scarlett o’hara in the film Gone with the Wind (1939). the exhibition includes letters, diaries, pho-tographs, film scripts and costume sketches from her personal collection.

this is the first major display of this collection anywhere, since the private archive of more than 10,000 items was ac-quired from Leigh’s family in 2013 by the victoria and albert museum (v&a).

the v&a and national trust have a long history of loaning objects from their collections to each other but this will be the

first time an exhibition organised by the v&a will be shown at a national trust property.

the exhibition ranges from vivien’s life at home, and with husband sir Laurence olivier, to her glamorous public image. It includes annotated film scripts, costume sketches and letters, including some from sir Winston churchill, Queen Elizabeth the Queen mother, and a young Judi Dench, in which she expresses her admiration for vivien Leigh’s acting talents.

treasurer’s house was the home of Edwardian business man Frank Green and it contains his remarkable collection of antiques, furniture, ceramics, textiles and paintings. Frank had a love of fashion, theatre and the arts and entertained royal guests and the theatre elite. although the oliviers didn’t visit the house, earlier actors who did included Lillie Langtry and Ellen terry, who both inspired vivien Leigh, making treasur-er’s house an ideal historic house setting for the exhibition.

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MY CULTURE

the exhibition will be on display throughout the house and contains some of the most remarkable objects from Leigh and olivier’s lives. Leigh and olivier fell in love whilst filming Fire over England (1937). the exhibition looks at their australian tour together (1948) and their joint performances in shake-spearean plays at the stratford memorial theatre (1955).

they adored throwing lavish parties at their home, notley abbey. on display will be their home guestbook, which has an impressive list of signatures including noël coward, orson Welles, terence rattigan and katharine hepburn. Private love letters exchanged between the couple will also be on display along with a selection of photographs showing them at home.

a focus of the exhibition will be dedicated to the cinemat-ic classic Gone with the Wind (1939). original photographs of vivien Leigh in her role as fiery scarlett o’hara, taken by hollywood photographer Laszlo Willinger, will be on display, along with film posters and scrapbooks.

a stunning red christian Dior gown from Leigh’s cos-tume in Duel of Angels (1958) and the headdress from her

role as titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1937) are just some of the objects from her stage performances that visitors can view.

a slideshow of stereoscopic photographs taken from the private archive completes the exhibition. It gives a rare insight into all parts of vivien Leigh’s life, from film and fashion to theatre life and working with olivier. her double appearance on British stamps in 1985 and 2013, also in the collection, signifies the importance of her legacy – it’s highly unusual for a non-royal to be featured more than once.

vivien Leigh: Public Faces, Private Lives will be on dis-play at treasurer’s house from 19 september – 20 Decem-ber 2015 before embarking on a national and international tour. visit the website for opening days and times. treas-urer’s house is situated in the centre of York, behind York minster. normal admission fees apply or free entry to na-tional trust members. For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurershouse or tel: 01904 624247.

Images: Left – Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier in Fire Over England (1936) ©Victoria and Albert Museum, LondonTop right – Vivien Leigh and Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) ©Kobal Collection/Warner Bros

Bottom right: Vivien Leigh on the film set for Lady Hamilton (1941) ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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VINTAGE LIFE | 107

On the picturesque Isle of Anglesey, close to the Menai Strait, this

incredible French-Gothic styled château hotel stands imposing over stunning views, boasting 22 beautiful bedrooms and a range of function rooms sure to cater for any occasion.

CHateau rHianFaAnglesey, WAles

the review

Words by Hazel Young, images courtesy of Chateau Rhianfa

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100 | VINTAGE LIFE

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VINTAGE LIFE | 109

Constructed in 1849, and in-spired by French architectural style, the building retains a great deal of its original charm.

When Vintage Life editor Ra-chel and some of the girls stayed there during a photoshoot, they were treated to an idyllic stay – opting for The Coach House, a three bedroom self-catering cot-tage. Thoughtful features – such as flowers and chocolates in the room, complimentary toiletries and a well-equipped kitchen, meant that modern conveniences were combined with historical charm. In the evening, the team sampled the restaurant, which was amazing. There is plenty to

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For more information visit: www.amazingvenues.co.uk/

venue/chateau-rhianfa/

see inside the hotel itself, as a great many of the rooms are packed with traditional features – the Drawing Room and the Music room have stunning views over Menai Strait, al-though it was a little dark to really enjoy them.

Fortunately the next day’s weather was fine, making it ide-al to take in the landscaped gardens and mountain views. It wasn’t quite warm enough to brave the private beach, and the undeniable charms of the Coach House, such as a log fire and roll top bath, ensured that the party soon retreated back to the cottage.

The hotel provided an incredible backdrop for the photo-shoot – it’s easy to imagine Chateau Rhianfa as a beautiful wedding venue. The staff were friendly and accommodating, and the duty manager in particular went out of his way to ensure our stay was perfect. Rachel said she would definitely stay there again… next time we all want to visit!

Culture 59.indd 10 15/09/2015 16:31

Regular ads.indd 1 07/09/2015 12:09

MY CULTURE

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BooksCulture 59.indd 12 15/09/2015 09:41

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lady Chatterley’S loVerby D.H. Lawrencecompared to 50 Shades of Grey this story of Lady chatterley’s romps with the game-keeper amidst a society where class barriers are breaking apart is rather tame but in-finitely better written. It was first published privately in Italy in 1928 but when Penguin wanted to bring out a full-unexpurgat-ed edition in 1960 the censors got very hot under the cover and took them to an obscenity trial. Penguin won by claiming the novel, with its liberal use of the ‘f’ and ‘c’ words, had literary merit, and ridiculed the prosecution who asked if it was the kind of book “you would wish your wife or servants to read?”Lady chatterley’s husband was paralysed in the First World War. When she faces a future with an emotionally distant husband and without an active sex life she turns to affairs, ultimately ending with a physically passionate relationship with her married servant, oliver mellors. the novel captures the social unrest after the war when work-ing class men, who had fought alongside their supposed betters, don’t wish to go back to the bottom of the class pile.

Review: Penny Batchelor

the fiNe art of faShioN illuStratioNBy Julian Robinson with Gracie Calveythis gorgeous book takes a look at illustrations of fashion over 400 years and captures beautifully the changing styles of clothing from the renaissance to the late 40s/50s. the illustrations featured are stunning – a mixture of black and white and colour images that are also very detailed so that the reader can clearly see the components of garments.this is a wonderful book for anyone interested in fash-ion history or design and would make a great addition to any bookshelf or coffee table.

Quarto Publishing Group

daNCe of eagleSby J.S. Hollowayset in rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Dance of Eagles follows journalist rebecca rawlings as she reports from the front line of a war raging in the country. the story is interspersed with flashbacks to the 14th centu-ry where the reader learns of tcana, a young girl who is to be the wife of the king of tsimbaboue and also a high priestess. the lives of the two women become entwined as the narrative progresses – also with those of two powerful men – culminating in tragic circumstances.Dance with Eagles highlights the horrors of war and also the role of religion in different societies both today and throughout history.

Sunpenny Publishing

reviewsStick your head in a book!

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We’re LiSteninG

tootsie!Make me aThe Tootsie Rollers give us a glimpse into their new video featuring Make Me A Tootsie

competition winner Gemma Miller.

This month we were thrilled to announce the winner of our Make me a Tootsie Competition; Gemma Miller from The Vintage Suitcase! We were absolutely inundated with nominations for Gemma highlighting her love for all things retro

and her passion and hard work in the vintage community. We couldn’t wait to meet her! As part of her prize, we invited her to appear in the music video for our new single Devil in You filmed in Cahoots! London.

We’d like to now hand over to our honorary Tootsie for her account of the day…

"I had an amazing day hanging out with The Tootsie Roll-ers on the set of their new video and no one was more sur-prised than me when I was chosen out of lots of other fab nominations! It was good to head off down to London for the day and forget about being a busy wife and mum for a few hours, get the full on 'Tootsie Roller Treatment' with amazing hair and make-up from Flo and Meg, and generally get fussed over by a bunch of the most super nicest gals I've ever had the honour of meeting! The girls work so hard and it was great to get such an insight into what goes into being a Tootsie. I left knowing lots of inside secrets but I reckon it's best to keep them on side so I'm sorry folks, but those secrets

stay with me! I've yet to see the video and critique my 'acting debut' but take it from me, the song is super catchy and the video just oozes old school glamour.

“I'm going to make it my mission to get them join us at The Summer of Vintage Festival one year, not just because I love their mix of retro tunes and the vintage spin they give to modern classics, but it'll give me a chance to catch up with them and get all the inside gossip again! Thanks girls!"

Gemma was a natural in front of the camera and an ab-solute joy to hang out with. We can’t wait to show you her starring turn in the video, also featuring a flock of other fab-ulous, female, vintage faces. Keep your eyes peeled on our Facebook Page /thetootsierollers for the full cast to be an-nounced very soon and for the final Devil in You video to be exclusively launched by Vintage Life.

Instagram and Twitter @thetootsies

CreditsStyling: Joanna Femi OlaJewels: Amishi LondonDresses: Virgos LoungeGemma's Dress: Voodoo Vixen from Clairebella's Closet

Culture 59.indd 14 15/09/2015 16:32

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theVintage life chats with this 60s inspired female trio!

amorelles

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Image by sarah adam

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thank you for chatting...thanks for having us! the amorelles are a 60s inspired three-piece vocal group, made up of sophie, our soulful supreme, katri-na, our very own tiny tina, and chloe the red-headed ronette. We strive to bring au-thentic 60s music and style to a modern au-dience. We adore everything that is 60s and want to pass on that passion to anyone and everyone who will listen!

how did you get together? We are all trained actress-singers, who met working professionally in the industry. We discovered that we had a mutual love of this era and came up with the idea for the band one night when we were singing along to some 60s classics. We thought how fun it would be to try and capture some of the magic of that music ourselves. From then on we started writing harmonies to our favourite songs, working on dance rou-tines, and perfecting our beehives! We recently celebrated two years together. time has flown.

why did you decide to focus on 60s soul and motown?Because we love it! nothing lifts your heart and makes you wanna move quite like that motown beat. the 60s was also the birth of the modern girl group and it seemed fitting for us to celebrate the 60s through its iconic ladies, the supremes, the ronettes, mar-tha and the vandellas to name but a few, all of whom were essential to the mainstream popularity of motown and soul music. We also have lots of classic 60s Pop and rock songs in our repertoire. We couldn’t miss out our girls Petula and cilla or some little known band called the Beatles could we?!

where do you draw inspiration?our inspiration comes from those trail-blazing groups. their distinctive look and style can be seen in our outfits, choreography and singing style. We also love the 60s mod style and channel our inner twiggy on occasion! the decade is rich in iconic style so we are spoilt for choice when it comes to inspiration!

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my top tuNeSGemma Miller of the Vintage

Suitcase shares her top 5 songs...

# 1: Dreams Fleetwood mac. Rumours was always played on vinyl on sunday’s when I was younger and I adore this whole album. I always preferred christine mcvie’s voice but as I’ve got older it’s the stevie nicks songs and the meaning behind

them that I love.

# 2: You’re So Vain carly simon. I not only love that this song is so richly descriptive and seemingly contains such minute

attention to detail but the secrecy that still surrounds exactly who this song is about is still going strong over 40 years later. modern day artists should definitely take a leaf out of carly’s

songwriting book!

# 3: Sunday Morning no Doubt. If Don’t Speak is the tale of Gwen stefani’s split with bassist tony kamal, this song is the precursor to that break up when you just know someone or

something has changed. It’s my favorite track off Tragic King-dom and the video features terry hall from the specials too!

# 4: Blank Expression the specials. any song that begins with the line “snow is falling on the ground...” Is definitely a christmas song in my book and it’s now become a tradition that every year at the end of our ‘a very vintage christmas’ event myself and our resident DJ vintage monkey play this

and sing along to it very badly!

# 5: This Charming Man the smiths. I used to rent cassette tapes from my local library when I was at high school and I listened to the smiths on my Walkman every day on the way too and from school. this song also reminds me of a student

night at a now closed nightclub called ‘valentinos’ every monday night when there would be a dash to the dance floor

as soon as you heard the jingly jangly opening riff.

MY CULTURE

if you could perform for anyone, who would it be and why? We all have our favourites. chloe would love to do a sort of male/female sing off with the Four tops – they do male vocal harmony with the best of ‘em. katrina loves the divas… the little ladies with big voices so perhaps the late cilla Black or tina turner, and sophie would choose the ultimate girl band of the era, the supremes.

where do you perform?anywhere! We are often travelling over London and the home counties to perform at wedding receptions, corporate events, birthday parties and christmas dos. We regularly sing at vintage Fairs, which is always a joy, as the audiences are so receptive, and we get to do some shopping!Last year we performed in a converted retro air steam caravan, at the chiltern cycling Festival. that was great fun, so really any venue works!

upcoming plans? We’re very busy with private events and have a few very exciting public performances in the pipeline.

where can we find out more about you? hop on over to our website www.theamorelles.com and keep up to date with what we are up to on Facebook (facebook.com/theamorelles) and twitter (@theamorelles).

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the Candy girls rhubarb and Custard

review by john Norris, image by tom Smith

t he candy Girls have chosen a ‘sweet’ selection of songs for their debut album 'rhubarb & custard'. comprising Elkie Jeffery (aka annie Daisy), Freyja sculpher (aka Lizzie Lou) and Debbie Watt (aka Lady Jane), each of the trio simply adore retro music.

Formed in 2011 the candy Girls have been entertaining crowds at vintage-themed events from 1940s weekends through to 1960s gatherings.

the opening track on rhubarb & custard is Lollipop, originally recorded by 'the chordettes'. the candy Girls have given this song their own unique arrangement that allows them to use their voices to produce great harmony. this range of vocalisation is continued on Candyman Can, first performed in 1971 and used in a number of films. Debbie Watt, who also arranges the girls' choreography, ar-ranged the number, which is usually associated with sammy Davis junior, to give a soft rendition that stays with you.

the track Baked a Cake is another of those songs that has been recorded many times since it was first performed in 1950. the candy Girls have fun with this song and deliver a fresh version which bring out the lyrics and will have you humming long after it has played. moving on 58 years the next track is the 2008 number Sweet About Me recorded by the australian singer Gabriella cilmi. the arrange-ment of this track by Freyja sculpher allows the trio to seamlessly deliver a song that was originally a solo artiste's performance. Far from being out of place in a range of songs from an earlier time it fits in well with their style and makes for very pleasing listening.

originally recorded by the mcGuire sisters in 1958, Sugartime was one of those songs that everybody in those days knew the words to. It has been given a new arrangement by Elkie Jeffery,

refreshing it for today's listeners. the song My Boy Lollipop was first recorded in 1964 by a young female singer known simply as millie. the candy Girls have combined their collective talents to make this 51-year-old great clap-along song appealing to all ages in modern audiences.

In 2006 the american singer christine aguilera recorded the 1940s-style Candyman. here the candy Girls once again use their arrangement talents to perform as a trio that allows the listener to appreciate the harmonies of their voices. It is not often that one can say a 'cover' version is equal to, if not better, than the original, but this is one of those rare instances.

the last track is a very clever adaptation of the 2012 rob-bie Williams number Candy which is delivered acapella. Beautifully arranged it allows the candy Girls' voices to be fully appreciated. surely nothing could be more challenging than to arrange a number originally performed by a solo male singer, for a trio of female voices. that is not just clev-er, that is musical talent.

In this one relatively short cD the candy Girls cover a range of musical genres spanning over 60 years, but they are songs that are familiar to us for one reason or another. as live performers, this reviewer has seen them perform at an outside event, they engage with their audience and their personalities really shine through. clever, witty, talented and pretty too, these girls offer a wide appeal and for retro and vintage parties and events they provide great entertainment.

the candy Girls are on Facebook, details of which can be found on their website, where the cD is also available. the website is at: www.the-candy-girls.co.uk

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every day i have the Bluesthe origins and history of the early Blues

As the autumn evenings draw in and weather takes a turn for the worse, many of us will feel a dip in our mood and the temptation to stay indoors with a steaming cuppa (and a packet of biscuits) may seem all too great. October and November will see some of the best Blues artists hitting the club and arena circuit as well as dedicated Blues festivals

across the UK and Europe, so what better time to get out and about to wail and wallow in those moody Blues.

Article by Kathryn Levell

t he Blues originates from the southern states of america and is a fusion of European folk music and traditional african music. common blues mu-sical features include: the ‘call and answer’ holler style originating from plantation workers; grunts

and growls; spiritual songs; the blue note scale and the 12 bar chord progression. the Blues can be traced back to the late 19th century after the emancipation of the slaves, where the form was developed at the juke joints. During this time ragtime music was also created and although the Blues and ragtime share many similarities, ragtime used cuban rhythms whereas Blues retained a more african melodic pattern. ragtime music be-came extremely popular, with the publishing industry printing vast quantities of ragtime sheet music. In the early 20th centu-ry the Blues spread from the southern states to northern cities such as chicago and Detroit, where the Blues became hugely popular. many former slaves moved from the cotton fields to industrial cities, taking their musical styles with them. Due to continuing racial discrimination and a high level of illiteracy, the Blues were very poorly documented and it was not until 1908 that antonio maggio’s I got the Blues became the first published sheet mu-sic including the term Blues. It was much later still, in 1920, when the first Blues record Crazy Blues was recorded with an african american female singer, mamie smith. her version of Crazy Blues sold a record breaking 75,000 cop-ies in the first month. the Blues was tradition-ally either an unaccompanied vocalist or a vo-cal line with accompanying guitar, which then developed to include additional african derived instruments such as the banjo or Diddley Bow (a single string) then later – particularly in the lively memphis style – expanded to embrace the washboard, kazoo, mandolin, and fiddle.

as with most folk genres, Blues lyrics are of upmost signifi-cance, telling tales of lost loves, hardships and injustice, journeys travelled by railroad and the symbolism of the crossroads featur-ing heavily. Early Blues focussed on a simple repetitive structure of four repeated phrases. this developed into the more common structure of verses made from three lines: the first line, repeated again as the second line, and the third line adding a conclusion.

For example:

I've been down hearted, baby ever since the day we met I said, I've been down hearted, baby, ever since the day we metYou know our love is nothing but the blues, baby, how blue can you get?

although the Blues is known for its typically woeful style, the

hokum or Dirty Blues could also be bawdy and witty with an energetic performance style. songs such as Banana In Your Fruit Basket by Bo carter, used thinly disguised innuendos and sexu-alized lyrics lacking in any subtlety, which would make even the Carry On team blush. according to John cephas the Piedmont Blues guitarist, "Bo carter was a master of the single entendre".

It is thought that the name comes from the term ‘Blue Devils’, meaning a melancholy or sadness and is often associated with the Igbo plantation workers as their music often described the woes of slavery with a sorrowful haunting melody. Even though the Blues and spiritual songs are so closely linked, the idea of the Blues and

the Devil crops up time and time again and not only in the lyrics of many Blues songs. Depend-ing on your religious belief, it was considered a sin to play and listen to this ‘low’ style of music as the Blues were thought to encourage violence and inappropriate behaviour! It meant that a musician would fall into one of two categories – either a gospel singer and guitar preacher, or, a Blues singer and ‘songster’. Legend tells of the famous Blues guitarist robert Johnson, who as a young man was so desperate to become a Blues musician he was advised to take his guitar and wait at a crossroad at midnight. allegedly, he met with there with the Devil, who tuned his guitar, played a couple of songs and hand-ed the guitar back to Johnson along with the

ability to play. William c handy, self-proclaimed Father of the Blues, bought his first guitar without his parents’ permission after secretly saving money from picking berries and nuts and making soap. his father believed that musical instruments were in fact tools of the devil and after seeing the guitar, his father asked him, "What possessed you to bring a sinful thing like that into our christian home?" and ordered handy to take it back. afterwards

Culture 59.indd 19 15/09/2015 09:42

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| VINTAGE LIFE

his father quickly enrolled him in organ lessons, which were only short-term. thankfully for us, handy broke his promise to his father again – he secretly studied the cornet and joined a local band. handy is still recognised as one of the most important american songwriters and responsible for bringing the Blues to a non-african american audience, making the genre popular within common culture.

During the 1920s, the Blues transitioned from informal perfor-mances at bars and cafes to top billing entertainment at theatres and nightclubs like the cotton club. Paramount records, okey records and the american record co-operation began record-ing african american artists. Following mamie smith’s success, ma rainey was discovered in 1923 and in just fi ve years had re-corded over 100 Blues records. sadly, at the time, the shellac quality and recording methods of all Paramount records were substandard in com-parison to other labels, meaning that her powerful, charismatic, moaning singing style was never fully captured. the role of female singers in the Blues became a staple of the urban (or city) Blues, where singers would create embellished and elaborate vocal per-formances, showing their dexterity and artistry in interpreting a song. alongside ma rainey and mamie smith, Bessie smith (no relation) and victoria spivey (who set up her own record label spivey records in 1961) all enjoyed great acclaim, working with the likes of Louis armstrong, coleman hawkins, Fletcher henderson, Willie Dixon, king oliver, Lonnie Johnson, muddy Waters and Bob Dylan. another important label of the 1930s was the chicago based Bluebird records, which championed coun-try, Blues and jazz artists. During WWII and the recording ban, Bluebird re-issued rare Blues, ragtime and Boogie Woogie by artists such as Duke Ellington, Jelly roll morton, and mck-inney’s cotton Pickers. male singers of the urban Blues style included: ‘Guitar Wizard’ tampa red, Big Bill Broonzy and Leroy carr, who accompanied himself on piano later infl uenc-ing charles Brown and nat ‘king’ cole.

With so many Blues guitar heroes to choose from, it is charley Patton who is most often cited as the most infl uential, developing the course of the Delta Blues. Born in 1891, he studied guitar un-der henry sloan from a young age. Patton had already written Pony Blues, a seminal song of the era, by the age of 19. Extremely

popular throughout chicago, Illinois and new York, as well as the southern states, Patton was rather ahead of his time and in contrast to the wandering musicians he was booked to play at taverns and plantations. By the 1930s Patton was well known as a showman (in the same vein as hendrix), notorious for his eccen-tric guitar performances on his knees, playing guitar behind his head in combination with his gravelly voice that could, apparent-ly, be heard more than 500 yards away without amplifi cation. his vocal stylings alone inspired his young friend chester Burnett, who later became known as howlin’ Wolf. slide guitar was an integral part of the Delta Blues, fi rst recorded in 1923 by sylvester Weaver. the slide guitar style uses a knife blade or the sawed-off neck of a bottle applied to the frets to create the signature

sound. the fi rst blues recordings from the 1920s are categorized as a tradi-tional, rural country Blues and a more polished urban Blues.

During the 1930s and 40s Boogie Woogie became a feature of the ur-ban Blues scene, linking the ragtime piano style with elaborate melodies – check out Jimmy Yancey, the Boo-gie-Woogie trio, clarence ‘Pine top’ smith and Earl hines. the Big Bands of the time were also focusing on the Blues, using 12 bar patterns and cre-ating up-tempo dance numbers such as Count Basie's One O’Clock Jump and Jumpin’ at the Woodside. the Jump Blues grew from the Boogie Woogie movement and was strongly

infl uenced by big band music; listen to Jump Blues tunes by Louis Jordan and Big Joe turner for a true fl avour of this style. t-Bone Walker performed a successful transition from his early career in the early urban Blues style to the jump Blues style and later electric Blues that dominated the Blues-jazz scene.

the importance of the Blues and its effect on every musical genre since is undeniable. the Blues expanded into many subgen-res of its own: whether through variations from region to region (such as Detroit Blues, kansas city Blues, British Blues) to fusions with other genres (Punk Blues, acid Blues, Jump Blues). the Blues has also infl uenced the development, structures and lyrical pro-gression in Jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, r&B, Pop, soul and orchestral music with an array of composers from Gershwin to the Beatles, Bob Dylan to Jack White, all citing the Blues as their reference.

so should you be suffering from those pesky autumn Blues, this month’s playlist is the perfect remedy!

120 | VINTAGE LIFE120

Got the Blues Playlist

The importance of the Blues and its effect on

every musical genre since is undeniable...

1. W.c. handy – St Louis Blues2. mamie smith – Crazy Blues3. ma rainey – See See Rider Blues4. victoria spivey – Detroit Moan5. Bessie smith – Baby Won’t You Please Come Home6. robert Johnson – Sweet Home Chicago7. memphis minnie – Kissing In The Dark8. muddy Waters – Mannish Boy9. Willie Dixon – Hoochie Coochie Man10. John Lee hooker – Boom Boom

11. screamin' Jay hawkins – I Put a Spell On You12. Fats Domino – Blueberry Hill13. the mississippi sheiks – Sitting on Top of the World14. otis rush – Got To Be Some Changes Made 15. Big mama thornton – Ball n Chain 16. howlin’ Wolf – How Many More Years 17. Leadbelly – Where Did You Sleep Last Night18. Jelly roll morton – King Porter Stomp19. charley Patton – Screamin’ and Hollerin’ the Blues 20. t-Bone Walker – Stormy Monday

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| VINTAGE LIFE

VL: Thanks for chatting about The Butterfly Children! Can you tell

readers more about the project?

ML: The Butterfly Children is a series of children’s books that were published in the 80s and 90s. It was more successful in the late 90s, when we (Brotherhood of Man) first got hold of it. Over half a mil-lion books were sold – we just put them out there in general terms, nothing special – and then someone came along and wanted to do a stage show of it. Then, I just got so busy with the Brotherhood of Man and it sort of just waned really. I sort of let it drift a bit. Now I want to go further with The Butterfly Children – I want to do animation but that costs money and what I actually needed were some people who have got a bit of muscle. Of late, over the last year or so, I’ve got myself a new team and they’ve all been really successful, so we said right, let’s see if we can get these guys flying.

The artwork is just phenomenal – it’s very Disney. However, we have to transform it; what you can do with a pencil can be very dif-ferent from what you can do with animation. We want to still keep it in the same vain as it stands in pencil but unless you are Pixar and have those kinds of millions to throw at it, of course you are a bit more limited.

What we want to do is a two-minute pilot, which is about £50-60,000, just for the top quality animations. This is the hard part. Ap-parently, asking for millions is simple but small amounts is hard!

Each of the wing colours of The Butterfly Children, and including the Moth Gang, are the wing colours and patterns of the real thing. It’s educational from that point of view, it’s environmentally friendly, there is a little moral-istic story, and of course, the guys are lovable – the butterflies – and then there is the Moth Gang who don’t really like the Butterfly chil-dren because they are all too clean and proper. They’re like, “We’re moths, we’re toughies!” and they just want to get rid of the Butterfly Children. There’s a bit of a rivalry there.

You mentioned that all of the stories have a moral behind them –

why do you think that is an important factor?

Well, you don’t want to go off on death and destruction on everything, mind you, kids today take on anything! One of the

stories we have is ‘Finders Keepers’, which would be the first bit of animation that we would do. In the story, the Moth Gang are try-ing to block the stream to the Butterfly Children’s part of the woods with a lolly stick, so that they don’t get any water. Of course, the stick breaks, goes floating on down the stream, and the Butterfly Children find it. Meanwhile, the Moth Gang come running down the stream, saying “That’s our stick!” but the Butterfly Children are like, “We found it, so it’s ours”. Then there’s a little rivalry and all of that sort of stuff going on. It’s moralistic – you can’t keep everything that you find, you have to find out whose it is. There are all those sorts of stories and a bit of rough and tumble, but it all ends up OK again at the end of the day.

Where does the inspiration for the differ-

ent characters come from?

They come from all over the world. The inspiration was literally butterflies. Everyone loves butterflies, especially women. You see butterflies on brooches, t-shirts, tattoos… Also they are becom-ing a little bit rare nowadays because of the climate change and all the rest of it.

We thought that if butterflies come from all over the world, there are no limitations to butterflies or the stories. It doesn’t just contain itself to Britain only. Once we have hit Britain, we have a worldwide project.

It’s on a crowdfunding campaign on kickstarter – how did this come about? Is

it a result of raising money for the pilot?

It’s not just about getting the money from the crowdfunding situation, we could most probably rustle up the money ourselves, but it’s only us that know about it. The whole point is to get it out there to the media and to the people, via Crowdfunding that goes around the

world. The important thing also is that the word is spread about and everybody will have heard of or seen something about The Butterfly Children. That’s what it is about, so that once we get it into animation then whoever signs the project, they’ve already heard about it. That’s really the name of the game. You’ve got to get it out there.

122

Butterfly ChildrenThe

Vintage Life caught up with Martin Lee of the Brotherhood of Man to talk about the latest project that he is involved with – bringing the stories of The Butterfly Children to the screen.

www.thebutterflychildren.com

Culture 59.indd 22 15/09/2015 16:32

MY SOCIETY

100VINTAGE LIFE |

Frock Up Sydney

My friends and I were amongst over 750 vintage fashionistas who enjoyed the recent Frock Up Sydney event at the Randwick Town Hall in Sydney, Australia. The beautiful vintage venue is the perfect spot to host this event, which boasts the cream of the crop of vintage sellers with everything from atomic phones

to spectacular shades that even Jackie O would be proud to be seen in!

The event included a vintage cafe serving homemade scones, cream and jam, pies with rosemary potatoes and homemade soup, plus vintage magazine reading material to keep you entertained while you ate! There was also a We'll Meet Again – Forties Fashion Exhibition with dresses on display that you could actually buy!

My friends and I had so much fun checking out all of the fantastic vintage offerings. We are all lovers of vintage fashion and style, so an event like this means a chance to frock up and be seen.

Amongst our group we share a love of a wide range of eras. I went for 60s this time, other friends went for 40s and 50s, while another looked positively radiant in an apricot, 'flower child' 70s dress that funnily enough was exactly like a dress I wore as a flower girl back in the day! I think that the diversity of our group just shows you that there are no 'right and wrong' eras when it comes to vintage. Follow your heart and wear whatever makes you smile.

The event organisers are passionate vintage lovers themselves and arrange events all over Australia.

Upcoming events include:Frock Up Melbourne – 17th & 18th October 2015Frock Up Sydney – 24th & 25th October 2015Frock Up Canberra – 6th to 8th November 2015

We'll definitely be frocking up again in October, so hope to see you all there!

By Kitty Von TastiqueImages by Stephen Jesson / STEADYC.AM

Society 59.indd 1 09/09/2015 14:46

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100 | VINTAGE LIFE

RhythmRiot

When summer’s over and the days start to get that bit shorter, there’s a beacon of light on

the horizon… an exciting weekend festival where rock’n’roll is king and thousands of fans from all around the world gather to dance, shop and par-ty in real 1950s style.

The Rhythm Riot is one of the UKs top 1950s festivals and this year’s line-up, featuring 25 bands and art-ists, is the biggest ever – American 1950s legends, including multi-mil-lion selling rock’n’roll star, Jack Scott, will rub shoulders with the hottest international bands for three days and nights of non-stop action, with 20 DJs keeping the huge dance floors buzzing ‘til the early hours.

Rhythm Riot’s vintage shopping mall has to be seen to be believed – with an amazing array of top quali-ty vintage and reproduction clothes, shoes and accessories on sale – and there’s also a spectacular Sunday morning flea market where you can pick up even more bargains.

The weekend where everyone parties like it’s 1955!

Image by Nick Grant

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RhythmRiot

Add a dash of burlesque, late night club ses-sions, a classic and custom car cruise, Rhythm Riot TV and a host of other features, including a unique Vintage Surf Riding and Beachwear Parade, and it’s easy to see why so many people travel so far to join the fun.

Full details and online booking are available on the website at www.RhythmRiot.com or you can call 020 8566 5226 for a free 8-page souvenir flyer.

Rhythm Riot Weekend takes place at Pon-tins Holiday Centre, Camber Sands, Sussex, from Friday 13th – Monday 16th November.

Email [email protected] or call Colette on 020 8566 5226 for more information.

Image by John Isaac

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100 | VINTAGE LIFE

Retro Sundays at LEAFR

etro Sundays run by Pillbox Vintage Fairs – who “like Ladies in hats and Gentlemen in spats’ – is Liverpool’s only regular monthly vintage fair and the longest running: over six years! On the last Sunday of every month the first floor of Leaf on Bold Street, a unique independent teashop and bar located in the heart of Liverpool city centre, is transformed into a vintage heaven.

Between the hours of 11-5pm a mix of Liverpool’s best vintage sellers set up their stalls offering a fantastic range and eclectic mix of vintage delights – clothing for men and women, accessories, jewellery, collectables and homeware.

All the stalls featured at the fair sell only vintage and as the stallholders do not have shops, prices are extremely competitive.

Pillbox Vintage, who run this fair and others across the Liverpool City region, are a local independent business who have grown over the years through their ability to keep fresh and relevant whilst continuing to attract and retain a very loyal and regular customer base.

Retro Sundays is a firm favourite in the Liverpool vintage calendar and as with all Pillbox Vintage Fairs it has a free entry, something that Pillbox Vintage are passionate about. After all, ‘why would you pay to shop?’

This boutique fair is the perfect chance to bag something stylish, original and highly af-fordable and in the relaxed setting of Leaf you can enjoy a scrumptious meal and taste the great selection of teas – all this in a little ‘Vintage Heaven”.

Katy & Nadia Tel: 07976905173/0151 932 9530 / [email protected]: Pillbox Vintage / Twitter:@pillboxvintage / Instagram: Pillbox Vintage / pillboxvintage.com

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3rd OctChipping Sodbury Village Flea Market. St John’s Church Centre, Chipping Sodbury.10am-4pm. Raising money for Bristol Cots for Tots. Contact Debbie on 01454885552.

4th OctDiscover Vintage. Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE.11am-4pm, £2.50.discovervintage.co.uk

4th OctPop Up Vintage Fairs London, St Stephen’s Rosslyn Hill, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2PP. 11am – 4pmEntry £2 Adults/£1 NUSwww.popupvintagefairs.co.uk

10th-11th OctThe October Seaside Vintage Fair. Exhibition Hall, Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3EN.9.30am-4pm both days, £2/£1.50 entry, under 16s free.roseandbrownvintage.co.uk

11th OctFrock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair. Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London, SW3 5EE.11am-5.30pm. frockmevintagefashion.com

11th OctThe National Vintage Wedding Fair. Harrogate Old Swan Hotel. 11am-3.30pm, £4 entry.vintageweddingfair.co.uk

17th OctThe Macclesfield Vintage Fashion Fair. The Town Hall, Market Place, Macclesfield, SK10 1EA. 10am-4pm, £2 entry. decorativefairs.com

17th OctPop Up Vintage Fairs London, Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Horner Square, London, E1 6EW. 11am – 5pm, free entry.www.popupvintagefairs.co.uk

18th OctPark Royal Hotel Antiques and Collectors Fair. Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, Warrington,

Cheshire, WA4 4NS. Public: 10am-4pm, trade: 8.30am-10am (free with card). £2 adult entry. vandafairs.com

18th OctThe National Vintage Wedding Fair. Manchester Victoria Baths. 11am-3.30pm, £4 entry. vintageweddingfair.co.uk

25th OctAdVintageous Vintage Fair. The Spa, South Bay, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HD. 60 stalls, 10am - 5pm, £2.50 entry / OAPs £2.00 / U12s [email protected]

25th OctRetro Sundays. Leaf on Bold Street, Bold Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 4EZ.Last Sunday of every month, 11am-5pm, free entry. pillboxvintage.com

25th OctBath VA. Green Park Station, Green Park Road, Bath, BA1 1JB. 9.30am-4pm. Vintageandantiques.co.uk

26th OctThe Vintage Home Show. Victoria Baths, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 0FE.11am-4pm, £3 (Trade 10.30 £5). discovervintage.co.uk

4th OctOberSecret Venue in Shoreditch, London – The Exquisite Secret Vintage Wedding Fair. Join us for an exquisite event at a venue in the heart of Shoreditch, a unique space, with a real industrial vintage vibe, packed full of gorgeous inspiration. Venue revealed just days before on our website and to ticket holders. #SVWF thesecretvintageweddingfair.co.uk

4th OctOberThe Buxton Vintage Fair. The Dome, Devonshire Road, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6RY. 10am ‘til 4pm, £1 entry & under 12s go free.Vintage Clothing & Accessories, Homewares & Furniture, Vintage Inspired Handmade Items, Retro Style Home Bakes, Pop Up Hair Salon. thevintagesuitcase.co.uk/vintage-events

11th OctOberSecret Venue in Liverpool – The Exquisite Secret Vintage Wedding Fair. We are excited to be in the heart of Liverpool City Centre, at this gorgeous historic and stately venue, with a whole host of the best vintage suppliers. Venue revealed just days before on our website and to

ticket holders. #SVWF. thesecretvintageweddingfair.co.uk

18th OctOberSecret Venue in Hackney London – The Exquisite Secret Vintage Wedding Fair. A complete gem of a venue which will be packed full of talented wedding suppliers, a tearoom and catwalk too. Venue revealed just days before on our website and to ticket holders. #SVWFthesecretvintageweddingfair.co.uk

25th OctOberSecret Venue nr Knutsford – The Exquisite Secret Vintage Wedding Fair. A stunning location with a rustic vintage charm, join us for live music, a catwalk, welcome drink and amazing vintage wedding suppliers. Venue revealed just days before on our website and to ticket holders. #SVWF thesecretvintageweddingfair.co.uk

25th OctOberCraft and Vintage Fair. Chalon Court Hotel , St. Helens, WA10 1NG. Free entry. Live music! craftandvintageboutique.com

Want yOur event featured? Email: [email protected]

It’s a date!Don’t miss:

OUT & ABOUT IN

OCT2015

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Contributions in the form of articles are welcomed. Whilst every care will be taken of submitted material and/or photographs the publishers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage which may occur. The material in this magazine (including ad design) is copyright of Dragoon Publishing Ltd 2015 and may not be reproduced in part or whole without permission of the publishers. Any individual providing

material for publication must ensure they have obtained the correct permissions before submission to us. Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders. The editor and publishers apologise for any

unwitting cases of copyright transgression. Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. No political affiliation is implied or intended.

ISSN 2052 8825 Vintage Life Magazine is published twelve times a year.

Features editor Hazel YoungProduction editor Judith Evans

designer Skitt Ze Kaatt art editor Hannah Salisbury

develoPment director Lisa Harrisonsocial media manager Rosie Astburyadvertising manager Cartier Fraser

advertising executive Kathryn Levelladvertisement design Nic Glossop

Finance director Mark Evans Finance manager Pam Carey

distribution manager Keiron Jefferies

intern Lou WebbstaFF PhotograPher Ali Poulton

managing director /Publisher Rae Egglestone-Evans

Publishing director Lisa HarrisonProduction director Judith Evans

Finance director Mark Evans oPerating oFFicer Jonathan Egglestone

digital strategy oFFicer Richard Evans

Printed in the UK by Pensord /Distribution by Warners

Vintage Life Magazine, Dragoon Publishing LtdDane Mill Business Ctr, Broadhurst Lane,

Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 1LA UK

editorial: +44 (0)1260 [email protected]

subscriPtions: +44 (0)1260 291536 [email protected]

marketing: +44 (0)1260 [email protected]

advertising: +44 (0)20 3603 [email protected]

LIFE

Editor-in-CHiEF rae Egglestone-Evans

dePuty editor Lisa Harrison

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BUILDINGCONFIDENCE

50s Fashion / Swinging 60s / Retro Brides Vintage Homes / Ration Recipes / Music / Make It

What’s in your Teapot? Tipsy Tea!

SEASIDESailor Style:Nautical Chic

Story of a STRONG WOMAN

LIFE

JUNE 2015ISSUE 55

£4.25

JUNE 2015ISSUE 55

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HER FASHION & LIFESTYLE

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RETRO-POPSOUL MUSIC

PLUS: 30s Fashion / Festival Boho / 40s LingerieVintage Jewellery / Retro Dancing / Music / Pinup

The Queenof ElectroSWINGStyle your hairin Hollywoodwaves!!!

A VERY STYLISH SUMMER

LIFE

JUNE 2015ISSUE 55

£4.25HER FASHION & LIFESTYLE

JULY 2015 / ISSUE 56 / £4.25

Vintage inspired trends...

Artist Andra Day talks

JULY 2015ISSUE 56

£4.25

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DRESS UPFOR AUTUMN

STUNNING REVOLUTIONARY REPRODUCTIONS THIS SEASON

PLUS: Jean Muir / Tiki-Tastic / 70s Style / Hair Street Style / Tea Time / Music / Food / Reviews

PERFECTYOUR

MARILYNMONROE

EYES

DANCE & FIND LOVE

HATS OFF TOPRETTY HEADWEAR

FABULOUS

GLAMOUR1950S

LIFE

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SEPT 2015ISSUE 58

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SNAPSHOT OF MY LIFE

PLUS: Mary Quant / Summer Suitcase / Starlet StyleBakelite / USA Road Trip / Music / Food / Reviews

YOUR RETRO

STREET STYLE

Summer Swimwear

Lovin’

LIFE

AUGUST 2015ISSUE 57

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You can buy back issues here: www.dragoonpublishing.com (while stocks last!)

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| VINTAGE LIFE130

thebookonmydesk.co.uk

wordFinalMY

VINTAGELIFE

by Sophia Carleton

I have always been a bit of an old soul. I listen exclusively to music made before the 1970s (with a bit of nostalgic 90's cheese thrown in). The majority of my favourite films are either

black and white, or boast at the beginning that they're made in Technicolor. My clothes, while not ostentatiously vintage, all have a 1940s or 50s vibe. My style gurus are Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. And above all, I like nothing better than to sit and read a classic book, rising only to turn over a record of Judy Garland's greatest hits.

I go through books like lightning, and it became a bit of a running joke at my last office. I sat right near the kitchen and people passing by would al-ways stop and look at the latest book taking pride of place on my desk (can't trust it to not get crum-pled in my bag). People were always interested, and I really enjoyed the conversations I had with them about whatever book I was reading at the moment, (although some of them we had while I was reading Lady Chatterley's Lover would make you blush!)

That's why I started my book blog, thebookon-mydesk.uk, to have somewhere to talk about the

wonderful things I read. As I say on my website, there are so many words going in, some have to come out! I've had some great fun while writing my blog; I've visited quirky bookshops, seen some of my favourite plays on stage, and even met some talented new authors from all over the world!

While I have read and reviewed some wonderful contemporary books, my heart is always with the classics. From the Gothic glamour of Daphne du Maurier to the dystopian visions of Anthony Bur-gess; the saccharine innocence of Angela Thirkell, to the champagne-soaked works of F. Scott Fitzger-ald. Whatever decade I'm in the mood for, there's always a book to match. You can find out so much about an era from reading books written in that time, and I now consider myself a bit of a historian – in a literary way at least.

So grab yourself a coffee, and come have a read about the book that's on my desk at the moment. Together we can live in a simpler age for a while.

Find Sophia and say hello at thebookonmydesk.uk and her Twitter page @sophjourns

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100VINTAGE LIFE |

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