Super Secret Modelling!

So, last Monday I got the chance to do something I have been dreaming of forever. Miss Naomi of Vintage Secret is writing a book of which I cannot name or go into too much detail about! As much as I hate to tease you, it sounds like it's going to be a really awesome and interesting book and I can't wait to get my hands on it not least because I will be in it!

....'before', looking incredibly attractive.

Yes! That's right, if you hadn't gathered from the title of this post - I have been modelling! In a studio in Shoreditch no less! I hauled myself out of bed at 5:20am wearing modern (ish) clothes and not a scrap of make-up to go down to London and strut around as a flapper and frankly, feel a little insecure. Ladies and Gentleman, it was fabulous. Firstly, the studio was amazing, with huge windows and white walls and vintage-y sofas and mirrors abound. Lipstick and Curls were on stand-by to flapper-ify me and Naomi had borrowed and begged loads of squeal-inducing vintage. Obviously it wasn't all for me to wear, but just helping to take it all out of the bags and hang it up was enough to induce an 'Excitement Headache'. Don't laugh!

The Beautifying Process

In my opinion, I got to wear the best outfit of all, a real, 1920s sequinned flapper dress. I loved the outfit, It was just the modelling that was hard, I've decided I need lessons... or more experience! (any offers?... no?) It was so difficult to look elegant and natural and I was so impressed with Kezia (a fellow model!) and how beautiful and elegant she looked. Mind you, she looked beautiful and elegant from when she walked through the door. *sigh*. In the end the decent shots were thanks to Gemma of Bake Do and Mend who is possibly the World's Leading Expert in 20s posing! Gemma was also modelling and it was so awesome to meet her - she is funny and lovely and so easy to talk to.

I also met Fleur (and of course, Naomi) again, both of whom I met at Swing for Skin! Fleur was being her usual fabulous forties self and showcasing some shapely runners-calves ;).

This is the sort of thing I wish I could blog about every day. It was so fun and special and exciting and I really wish I could do more things like this. Ah well, a gal can dream. 

I shan't be posting as regularly due to my imminent holiday but I know of several wifi spots around the place and have a brother with a laptop! I'm hoping to bring you outfit posts regularly because I have some new clothes and of course, a bathing suit! 

Stay Tuned,

Miss P xxxx

Be Careful, It's My Heart

The other day I was casually browsing ebay when I stumbled across a lot of three items. They were poorly sized and described - obvious guesswork, for a Buy It Now of £60 or Best Offer. The photographs were pretty sketchy and I assumed that this seller either didn't sell vintage very often or were clearing out a large amount of stock. I ummed and ahhed for a day or two, whilst I waited for some money to be withdrawn into my account. When it finally did, I only had £40 in there. Gutted.

Well, I had to take a chance, didn't it? I mean, I couldn't not. I put in a 'Best Offer' of £40, risking the sizes and the condition. I lucked out! (sort of) Part of the lot were some not properly matching but matchy-matchy shorts and a circle skirt. They are definitely handmade and I'd bet the shorts were made with the left over fabric from the circle skirt - probably not even using a pattern. Unfortunately, I'm separating the two :( because I just couldn't force my arse into the shorts, but the skirt fitted me. I know it seems terrible to separate them, but they are not properly matching, different sizes and would never be worn together anyway! 

So, without further ado, here is me in my new Circle Skirt: Lookses at the heart-shaped Pocketses!?!

It has this soft, thick cotton lining that makes it ultra swishy. I'm so in love! This is my first ever circle skirt and I am happy! Worn with my aforementioned Heyday Blouse and some cheapy Tesco shoes.

...and this is where I got the title of this post from ;)

Lots of Love,
Miss P xxxx
P.s, these are the shorts, but they have already sold! :'( 

Stop Traffic Clothing: Discounts, Sales and Summer!

The other day, Rebecca of Stop Traffic Clothing contacted me after reading my post on Heyday asking me if I would be interested in featuring her site and offering my readers a discount code. I of course said yes. Almost immediately. So, I am proud to present: Stop Traffic Clothing - stockists of US repro available to all of us Brits!

Rebecca makes a point of sourcing the items herself, and brings you only the finest Repro vintage, so that we can get our hands on the Bettie Page Clothing, without the Postage and Customs fees.

They have some lovely stuff in at the moment, beautiful dresses from Stop Staring, Bettie Page Clothing and more!  They also stock Helen Rochfort bags, some awesome jewellery and some cute fascinators. Observe some of my favourite pieces:

Stop Staring

Bettie Page Clothing

Anna Lou of London

Vintage Allure -
Made in Enlgand!

...and now for the discount! If my lovely readers enter ANNIE15 into the voucher code box you will receive 

15% off with free UK delivery until September 14th. If you can afford it, go for it! I'd love a floral Stop Staring dress and a Nautical Nancy skirt. Le sigh! A girl will continue to dream, right?

Hope all is well lovely followers, oh, and thank you for being the lovely followers that you are, and for the lovely comments you leave!

Miss P ;)

xxx

What-I-Thought-Wednesday: Heyday!

Squee! I have been waiting to purchase this little beauty for ages now, and it's finally here! It actually arrived on Monday and try as I might to conceal it, you keen eyed readers still noticed it in my picture.! Its the beautiful Olivia Blouse in Deco Circles in Blue by the glorious repro clothes company, Heyday! Here I am sporting the blouse, along with my aforementioned Tara Starlet shorts and some trusty Topshop pumps.

I can absolutely vouch for Heyday after purchasing this blouse. I am absolutely sold and really hope to be able to buy more lovely clothes from them soon. I was won over from the start really, when I was having some difficulty even paying for my blouse, lovely Shona was so prompt and helpful. The second delight came when postie turned up on my doorstep and I discovered my new blouse was wrapped in crisp tissue paper and came with a sweet little note, from Helen. (Shona, if you're reading this, who's Helen? I feel Helen probably deserves some credit. Thankyou Helen!)

What officially sold it for me was just the quality of the fabric. It has such a light, feedsack-y feel in 100% Cotton and the colours were rich and vibrant. The print itself is adorable and very authentic. I have yet to wash it, so I can't comment on how it fares, although I will let you know if I have any problems. As for the price, obviously I love a good bargain as much as the next person and this isn't the cheapest blouse i've ever bought, but it certainly isn't expensive. I feel like it is an investment. It'll go with virtually anything, and is much more resilient than a real vintage blouse - and I'd be far more confident about washing this one! I'm really looking forward to wearing this with everything, haha! I feel like it really 30s/40s a potentially 'modern' outfit up. Overall I think we can summarise: Go Heyday! If I ever get a job I want a Fleur dress in every colour and a load of their beautiful trousers for when I go back to school. Ah well, we can dream can't we! ;)

I now leave you with lots of pictures of me posing in my new blouse!

Have a great evening/day!

Love, Miss P 

xxx

What-I-Thought-Wednesday: Tara Starlet

Most of my lovely readers will have probably heard of Tara Starlet. I've mentioned them enough times on this blog, sung their praises for Lottie Loves. If I had lots of money, I would already own about 90% of the stuff in their shop. How I would love to live in London and go to the Sample Sales they hold, but alas, I don't and the Train Fare is horrendous! I've been considering reviewing them for some time, and finally got around to it this week!

Being my lowly, teenagery self, I haven't the funds to buy whole outfits from repro shops or ebay or etsy. I generally get to treat myself to one item of vintage or repro per month. Two if I'm lucky. I have to sell stuff on ebay or etsy if I want more than that. As it stands, I only have two pieces from Tara Starlet's beautiful shop. I had to make a painful decision, but decide I did.

I love Tara Starlet for many reasons. First, that it suits me. I sometimes find 'The Forties' is a bit ageing on someone as young as me, but everything from Tara Starlet is light and youthful yet still sophisticated. Secondly because they're ethical: "On top of this, all of our clothes are made locally in London, to keep our carbon footprint dainty. These ecological techniques help to make our collection authentic, unique and exclusive, and at the same time, keep our conscience clear as crystal!" 


I myself own the Sailor Shorts and a blouse that they are no longer selling. I'll review the shorts as you can actually still purchase them! When my sailor shorts first arrived I was pleased by the colour. Just as vivid as the pictures suggests and the buttons were beautifully shiny and new. After a good wash in the machine, I can report that the shorts are still red and the buttons are still shiny!


For the most part, I love the fit of these shorts. The waist sits in the right place (even for my high waist) and skims just over your hips and your bum, not too tightly but not too baggily. One thing that can get annoying is that these shorts easily ride up. I'm not sure if it's because of my body shape or just the fit of the shorts but I did find myself repeatedly pulling the legs down! another thing, although I assume that is to be expected, is that the legs wrinkle up a lot on the inside of the thigh, however, it was solved with a quick ironing. 


They ironed pretty well apart from one alarming moment when I put the iron to the shorts and the fabric turned darker and shiny! All was well when they cooled though, and returned to their original colour.


I love these shorts because they don't look too typically like 'reproduction vintage' - which is often what puts me off repro - and they go with loads of stuff. I've worn stripy t-shirts tucked in for a nautical look, the same shirts tied under my bust for a pin-up look, with peasant blouses and even my other Tara Starlet purchase. I love these shorts and despite the occasional wrenching-down they require I can see me wearing them all through the summer!*


*Providing we see a bit more than a weeks worth of sun this summer!

Hope this helps, Lots of Love

Miss Pancake

xxx

Homemaker Heaven: Vintage Storage Ideas!

More Vintage than you know what do do with? Are you finding bobby pins stuck to your feet (and the carpet!), Pincurl clips in odd places and more Sponge rollers and rags than you know what to do with? Never fear, Lady Pancake is here with a few quick ideas to keep your falsies and your florals in order!

Being a gal of the vintage persuasion is arguably more hassle than being your average fashionista. Not only are we weighed down with piles of jewellery and a gallon of hairspray, we also have to compensate for the gruelling hair-pinning, setting, accessory-sporting and eyeliner-applying, which understandably is a drain on our free space! On top of that we have a ton of other ordinary-person crap - lotions and potions, miscellaneous wires and a truckload of DVDs, books, and heaven knows what else. 

Oh woe, so much vital stuff and with seemingly only one solution: Tupperware. Your average vintage dolly does not do Tupperware. Tupperware is for keeping dainty sandwiches in for this afternoon's picnic in the park. Tupperware is not an appropriate place to keep your rhinestones and your powder puffs! Fear not - here are some delightful vintage-y storage ideas that won't blandify and plastic-up your home!

*Please Click for Close-Ups!*

Kitschy tins and boxes for hairpins, brushes, pens and cotton
pads!

A vintage dressing table set for a place to pop your powder,
rings and erm... candles?

Hoist up a ribbon over your dressing table and display all
your hair-pretties as well as having easy access!

nooks in the dressing table provide ample
shoving-space for headscarves!

Dressing table draws to keep your modern makeup looking
sweet and neat and tidy!

Tupperware be gone, Hello floral Treasure Chest!

A 30s cigarette box, perfect for my bobby pins.

Hat box - full of DVDs
Suitcase  - full of books
30s Trunk - brimming with china and ephemera!

And for gloriously decorative and organisational purposes,
an idea I saw somewhere but can't for the life
of me remember where: Storing your jewellery
never was so b-e-a-utiful!

Catch-Up Part Two: Prom!

Yay! Pictures from my prom!

and even a professional photograph, which I eventually plan to buy...!

property of easyphoto.co.uk !!

Vintage Inspired Shoe Buys!

We all love a good bit of shopping-enabling, and I am currently so poor it might do me good to do some virtual shopping that we can all enjoy! I am in loves with shoesis and I really feel like when you see NORMAL sized shoes that look vaguely vintage, you have to snatch them up before the highstreet because it goes all ruddy modern on us again. ;)

Without further ado, here are my favourite VI Buys of the moment:

Office 
Overloaded with vintage-y goodness at the moment, and had I any funds whatsoever I'd be on it. (like a car bonnet...?) Starting with some good 'ole heeled brogues in multiple colours. I love cream ones, the cut out makes me think '30s-ish sports shoe. As well as that, some lovely dancing-style shoes and some more low heels, as well as TURQUOISE SUEDE MARY JANES!

Schuh 
Always have something a little vintage-y due to their stocking of Irregular Choice and they always have some great little flat sandals which I'm hoping to get instead of your conventional flip-flops for the Summer Holidays! I particularly love the middle pair - 'Marilyn' shoes.

Old Woogies
is kind of cheating, they're not Vintage Inspired, they're Reproduction but I only recently discovered them. Aren't they divine? If you are the anti-me (essentially have a load of cash to splash) these are for you. Swoon!

ASOS,
stockists of Miss L Fire amongst other painfully priced and wonderfully priced shoes alike. I particularly fancy a pair of the Miss L Fire Hibiscus T-Bars. I think I have a love affair with T-Bars.

Let me know what you think and let me know if you spot any more gorgeous shoes!

Lots of Love

Miss P ;)

xxxx

Homemaker Heaven: Get Perfectly Shaped Cupcakes

First of all, let me begin by apologising for all you vintage folk who, like I, hate the association between vintage and cupcakes. Vintage does not = Cupcake. Cupcake does not = Vintage. I can't even imagine mothers of Wartime baking up a batch of beetroot cupcakes. It just wouldn't happen?! That said, I love baking and I love baking cupcakes, or as they are more British-ly known: Fairy Cakes. After baking up over 100 cake-ettes in one day, (wedding-tasting session) I have somewhat honed my cupcaking talents and have reached a sturdy, professional-looking cupcake shape. 

You Will Need:
- An Oven
- Baking Sheets
- Silicone Cupcake Cases or Silicone Cupcake Trays
- Paper Cupcake Cases
- A Recipe, Ingredients and general Baking Know-How
- A spoon.

First, whip up your cake mix, following your recipe and using your ingredients and know-how.

Preheat your oven to the required temperate, and lay out as many baking sheets as you own.

Pop your silicone cupcake cases or trays on top of the baking sheet.

Line each silicone case/tray with a paper case.

Spoon up some of the mixture and fill the paper case 2/3 of the way full.

Finally, Pop 'em in the oven and watch them blossom.

When Cooked, Leave to cool in their cases before popping out the paper cases and allowing to entirely cool. Decorate.

Re-Load your silicone cases and repeat for round two!


The genius behind the whole operation is the Silicone. Yes, admittedly not very vintage, but then, cupcakes are not very vintage. In this instance, what we're striving for is that tall, perfectly proportioned cupcake that you see only in Cupcakeries. (This is what I have now christened all the Cupcake Shops of the world.) It's already the perfect shape, unlike the metal, yorkshire-pudding shaped 'muffin trays'. Observe:

Specimen 1: A hilariously shaped cupcake cooked atop a baking sheet in only a paper case.

Specimen Two: The same fate as Specimen 1, It is possibly more pathetically-shaped. Poor cupcake.

Specimen 3: More agreeably shaped, it at least resembles a cupcake, but is still a little short-and-fat for my tastes. Cooked in a metal 'muffin tray' in only a paper case.

Specimen 4: Mighty Cupcake of Beauty! These cakes are far more upright, and when iced look positively perfect piled high on mismatched cake plates and Lazy Susans alike!

Of Course, if you aren't baking 8 Bazillion cupcakes like myself, you needn't buy hundreds of Silicone cases. The idea is that they are re-usable and at around £5 a packet, they should be! If you are baking for home, pass up the paper cases and fill the silicone cases by themselves. The only reason I have used the paper cases is because it allows the silicone cases to be re-used immediately (so cakes can be cooked in 'batches') and so we don't have to buy 50 silicone ones when the wedding rolls around.

Hope you enjoyed, there's more where that came from!

Lots of Love, Auntie Pancake! ;)

xxxx