Crafty Hen Do

I spent last Saturday at a Hen Do that the Maid of Honour and myself organised and I feel it my duty to spread the love and knowledge of a wonderful business that caters for those that want to provide an alternative to the grotesque world of Hen Dos.

The Make Lounge in Angel, London, provided eight of us with three hours of cutting, ironing, sparking and designing our own pants. The hilarity of sitting around a table of ribbons, Swarovski crystals, embroidered flowers and heaps of colourful scrap material, whilst drinking champagne by the bucket load was well worth the £45... this of course covered the Hen as well.

Take a look at the website, they do cushion cover designing, vintage apron making, dress making and much more. I really do recommend it!

www.themakelounge.com

LLx

Eve Arnold - 9th February to 5th March

"A retrospective of the iconic photographer Eve Arnold coincides with the unveiling of a new gallery at Chris Beetles"

Images of Marylin, life in the 1950s and inspirational icons of the era from today (Wednesday 9th February) to Saturday 5th March.

For further information click onto the website below for more stunning images.

http://www.chrisbeetlesfinephotographs.com/

LLx

Prohibition - Saturday 12th February

There's another night of dancing and debauchery planned for this coming Saturday 12th February. If the roaring 20s tickles your fancy then scoot yourself down to Bloomsbury, London, to drink from tea-cups, gamble and dance the Charleston. Live bands and cabaret throughout the night until 2am and appropriate attire mandatory!

For further info and tickets check out the website here...

http://www.prohibition1920s.com/

Victoria House Basement

37-63 Southampton Row

WC1B 4DA

Have fun! And send me links to photopics if you go!

LLx

Electro-Swing Night...

One for the diary folks, on Saturday 19th February at the infamous Book Club in Old Street the fusion of genres is taking place and it's going to be a hoot!

Swing beats starts at 8pm and dancing until 2am is the least you can do, I've been to one before and it really is fabulous in every possible way. Put those dancing shoes on and come down.

Check it out...

http://www.wearetbc.com/

100-106 Leonard Street,

Hoxton / Shoreditch

London

EC2A 4RH

Chris Tofu, Sound Assembly, The Fungal Brothers, DJ Tommi & Don Ronstone will be playing.

LLx

Rag&Bow Strikes Again...

So much is happening on the 5th of February so get those running shoes on and tick all the vintage boxes!

Rag&Bow are displaying their wonderful pop-up shop at Paradise by The Way of Kensal Green from 12:00 - 17:00.

"From the 10th of January we are now also stocked in Selfridges as part of Supermarket Sarah's In-Store shop!"

19 Kilburn Lane

London

W10 4AE

Bloomsbury Vintage Fair - February

The next date for Bloomsbury Vintage Fair has been announced!

On the Saturday 5th February at Bloomsbury Lanes from 12.00 - 17.00 thirty plus traders will be selling their wares so get there early to find the many gems of vintage clothes, homewear

and homemade jewellery

Bloomsbury Lanes

Bedford Way

London

My Sugarland

It really has been quite a while since I have written here and I'm sorry to those who offered such support and wonderful comments last year, time and life has completely run away with me! But I'm back and have many tales to tell but let me start with an exquisite boutique I found in Angel, London, on the way to see Matthew Bourne's Cinderella (set in the Blitz and completely breathtaking!)


My Sugarland has been written about in all worthy publications and has been talked about more than William and Kate's special day. If you can't make it to the boutique itself then take a look online at all the stunning pieces available.




http://www.mysugarland.co.uk/

Enjoy!

LLx

LadyLuck Black Cotton Weekend

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you're looking for something to entertain you next weekend (11th & 12 September) then check out the Ladyluck Black Cotton Weekend. Friday night will be in Volupte (check out previous post) and Saturday day in Tate Modern for some dancing lessons to continue the evening in the Electricity Showrooms.

"Spin vintage dance sound waves from the 40s, 50s, 60s, live retro bands or burlesque shows"

(Yippee!)

"Ladyluck Club presents a weekend of vintage cool, a jam pack rosta of sizzling hot vintage dance music and retro bands."

www.ladyluckclub.co.uk

The Blitz is back! With vengeance.

On the 18th September you must don the silk stockings, pin the hair and paint on the red lips.

The ever increasing popularity of this event means that you have to book tickets asap, so instead of making that important phone call you've been putting off get yourself online and book book book.

For more information go to www.theblitzparty.com

Village Underground

54 Holywell Lane

London

EC2A 3PQ

8pm - 3am

Go Go GO!

Another Anita's!

Anita's Vintage Fashion Fair strikes again! This time on the 12th September.

Thank the lord it's time to ride the fair again at the BAC for another spectacular day of ground-breaking, room-bursting vintage treats and delights and all under the same roof!
Take a look at the website for AVFF, an Aladdin's cave of online shopping and news about the goings on of the vintage world... my utter idol.

www.vintagefashionfairs.com

AVFF
BAC
Lavender Hill
London
SW11 5TN

9:30 - 4:30pm

Circa Vintage - Fulham Road

The total antithesis of mass-produced, high-street fashion stores, Circa Vintage is a real one-off. Stocking an impressive range of antique garments, from billowing 30s chiffon creations to lung-compressing Victorian corsets, this is the place to come for something truly distinct that looks and feels fantastic. A fantastic place to browse, it almost feels like a museum to fashion, any real lover of clothing will find it hard to leave without indulging in at least one design classic.

Circa Vintage Clothes

64 Fulham High Street

SW6 3LQ

Rag&Bow Sale this Saturday (7th August)

Rag&Bow are having another wondrous vintage market this Saturday (7th August) at Kensal Green for a specatcular summer sale.

Paradise By Way of Kensal Green

19 Kilburn Lane

Kensal Green

W10 4AE

(12 - 5pm)

Alfie's Antique Market

I've been hearing for many months now the wonders that this place holds and I finally managed to find the time to gander through this fabulous haven of old, antique, vintage and glamour.

As I walked into the discreet entrance on Church Street I found myself in Tin Tin Collectables, a boutique of period costumes and accessories. It throws the browser back to the 19th and early 20th Century theatre and fashion world with old props and masks, make-up cases and fans, it is crammed full of exquisite memories.

This is how I started my adventure and I ended with probably the most sensational vintage boutique The Girl Can't Help It which focuses on mid 20th century American vintage. Think Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, gowns, slippers, everything you've always wanted to try on... and you can! Prices range from the small to the large but give yourself enough time cause there is a lot there and although it is well organised you certainly don't want to be caught short with a dinner date across town...

Alfie's Antique Market

18 - 25 Church Street

Marylebone

London

NW8 8DT

www.alfiesantiques.com

ADvintaged - Wimbledon

It's not very often that I walk into a shop and not want to leave, as much as I love fashion I am surprisingly impatient when it comes to clothe finding. However, not only did I refuse to leave this shop when my housemate started to fidget I almost squeezed out a cheeky tear being surrounded my such beauty.

Said shop is in Wimbledon village, newly opened and a haven to all who want to purchase original dresses, hats, shoes, gloves from the the 1920s and up. Prices for dresses start from around £30 all the way up to £750 (an original 1950s Dior, gulp) so if you find yourself in the area please please please go and take a look, or just take a peek online.

ADvintaged

15 High Street

Wimbledon

SW19 5DX

www.ADvintaged.com

Online Vintage... Mmmmm

If you haven't got the time to trawl the markets every weekend well now you don't have to as the clever-clogs at pretaportabello have put everything online. From vintage goodies to young design talent there's even a Let's Trade section where you can haggle from your sofa.

www.pretaportobello.com

House of Magic

Held in a secret location (revealed when you book), Lady Gaga has performed in this house of horrors. Open to the public one night a month, tickets buys you dinner, a fortune-teller reading and a one-off magic show from illusionist, Simon Drake. There's also drinking and dancing until 1am. Magic.

Website

Stoke Newington

Who'd've thought that the hidden away village of Stoke Newington could hold such delights?

As I was badly coping with a hangover from the underworld I stumbled across a plethora of vintage shops, tea rooms, book havens, record treasure troves and antique jungles and soon my troubles extinguished. Not only did I purchase a fabulous 1970s Dorothy Perkins maxi dress the colour of faded sienna I munched away my troubles in their organic cafes on Stoke Newington Church Street. If you get the time check out the old grave yard on the other side of the road... a treasure trove of wildlife and past lives.

Ribbons & Taylor

Space Available...

Check out this diamond of a location if anyone is looking to exhibit, play or party. A hidden gem in East London, still under refurbishment but looking to open again this month I'm desperately thinking what I can use it for... a vintage photo shoot? I think so!

www.wiltons.org.uk

What was vintage in Vintage?

Frock Me - Brighton

Heads Up People... Frock Me Vintage fashion fair is residing in Brighton on the Sunday 6th June from 11am - 5.30pm so get your bootsies down to the seaside town and pennies at the ready.

www.frockmevintagefashion.com

Church Street

Brighton

BN1 1UE