Up the Camden Passage!

Hello Monday magpies,

Hope you haven’t been drenched or frozen solid today by this dreary weather!

Yesterday, I had a great day out with my older sister and my mum up in Islington, checking out all of the little boutiques on and around Upper Street. Unfortunately, I’m lacking funds at the moment, so it was mostly as an exercise in window shopping, but it was very enjoyable nonetheless!

It was the first time I had been shopping in Islington properly, having just had a quick zip around one or two shops earlier in the year, after a family lunch. While Upper Street does have some of the higher-end high street names (Whistles, Jigsaw, Hobbs et al), it also has a lot of wonderful independent shops, catering for the majority of tastes. Unfortunately, I was protecting my freezing cold hands from the wind with a pair of mittens, which weren’t conducive to taking notes (manually or electronically), and so specifics about the modern shops have evaded me. However, I shall going back to report on those, so never fear. Filling your piggy bank before hitting Upper Street is a good idea, as the boutiques vary from “treat yourself” prices to “eek! Better put that back on the rail before I damage it and have to get out a loan to pay for it”. Though even the expensive shops are well worth a look, if only for the unusual but beautiful pieces they have to offer.

My sister was mostly keen for me to visit the Camden Passage for the first time, due to my desire to add to my vintage collection, and I was glad she took me there. The shops were filled with the most wonderful pieces, even offering up real Victorian and Edwardian items (though I’m sure you can imagine the prices). But what caught my eye more than anything else were the original 1920s flapper dresses, in all of their designs and colours, whether tasselled or beaded, I loved them all. I was desperate to try some on, but I was also colder than a snowman without his thermals, so it wasn’t to be. I can’t wait to go back in the spring, ready to strip off and then prance around in every flapper frock I can find to fit me! (I’m all effed out!)

I’m also looking forward to browsing in a shop filled with what have been described as “proper wretched” eighties clothes. Think a maxi skirt that is see-through from the hips down, and some Nick Frisbee-stylee jumpers (ask your parents or have a Google if you don’t get that!). A great shop if you need a bloody good laugh!

Now I have a few more life’s ambitions (in addition to riding a penny-farthing) – I want to own something Victorian, Edwardian, and a real 1920s flapper dress. This means I have to learn a new skill – saving up! I also need to learn the worth of vintage items, as some shops have quite a mark-up. Maybe it’s because their rent is so high, or maybe because they can get away with it. Who knows? Though I’m sure if you have the confidence to haggle (which I don’t), and know what you’re about, you could get some good deals.

There are market stalls, too, which I’m sure are more reasonable. Each is laden with vintage items – my favourite was selling fabulous hats and bags – and the stall holders were very friendly and obliging.

Despite some of the prices, Upper Street and Camden Passage are really enjoyable places to shop, with lots of lovely eateries along the way (you have to try Ottolenghi’s carrot cake  – delicious doesn’t come close!). Not only are there lots of beautiful bits to buy, including some breathtaking jewellery, there are many examples of how to put vintage outfits together, often layering pieces from different eras. One window display showed a Victorian coat over an Edwardian lace over-dress, underneath which was an eighties maxi – and it worked!

I’m really looking forward to revisiting Islington as soon as possible, and returning home with some things old and some things new (nothing borrowed, but maybe something blue…). There are a lot more shops and streets to explore around the area, too. I’m very lucky to have my sister as a tour-guide, making mental notes of all the places I would love. Even if they do end up bankrupting me!

Keep warm in your nests tonight!

Missy Magpie xx

Hallowe’en Hangover

Hello ghouls,

Oops, I mean girls! Hallowe’en has been and gone, and now we have the firework bangs and whizzes ringing in our ears, and jaw ache from munching toffee apples!

So, did we all have a good Hallowe’en? For the first time in years, I actually had a reason to get dressed up, and I relished it somewhat. Unfortunately, time and cash put some restrictions on me, but that just reminded me of why it’s always worth having a very varied wardrobe!

I’ve had a bit of a circus obsession for quite sometime, and really love the ringmaster (or should I say ringmistress?) look. All of the fancy dress shop costumes were a bit too revealing for yours truly (who has little to reveal!), so I had to go down the DIY route.

(not sure why it’s blurry!)

It got a good response, and I felt good in it. A success! Where did it all come from? I shall tell you…from top to bottom

The gorgeous mini top hat was made the wonderful Little Miss B (at short notice, I might add!). It’s beautifully made, and held on by an alice band (my choice over elastic). You can find Little Miss B’s shop on Etsy here, which is full of millinery marvels, or contact Miss B for a commissioned piece via Twitter or by email at littlemissb@live.com I can’t wait to have more hats made by Miss B, and we’re already discussing designs!

Next, the jacket, which I’ve had for about eighteen months. The skull is made of a vinyl material, and unbuttons completely, while on the back there is a big red bow. I just love the way I feel in it, and it is amazingly tailored. This gorgeous piece was made by the owners of Dollchops

The tops underneath were a past season ASOS lace, low back number, and a good old Marks and Spencer black cami. The shorts were from H&M at the start of the year (they feature in another of my posts), and my tights were from Tabio.

The shoes were a little indulgence, but I rarely find glam shoes that are good for me (excuses, excuses!). The beauties were £50 from Office

And, they matched my shorts and bag perfectly! My bag was £28 from Topshop

My eye make up was by the always wonderful Urban Decay – shadow in ‘Jinx’, liner in ‘Binge’ (each only available within sets). Bright red lippie was courtesy of Nars, and their gorgeous ‘Cruella’ Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. Obviously, bright blue and bright red together are strictly fancy dress fodder, but individually they look gorgeous for any night out. Though I can rarely carry them off, and have to stick to neutrals *sob* My fine moustache was created using an Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in ‘Bourbon’. I must say that I go without wearing make up for weeks, hence how I can afford these brands!

Lastly, for those who might be interested, my faux leather riding crop was from In Tack Shop, and cost £9.99.

I hope you all had brilliant Hallowe’ens, and didn’t have any apple bobbing mishaps! I’m already planning next year’s outfit…

Treats to all,

Missy xx

My Vintage chats to Missy Magpie

Hello dear readers,

My last post was all about the marvellous My Vintage clothes and accessories website, owned and run by Ms Emma Brown (follow Emma on Twitter here, and on Facebook here), and the treasures I have found on there.

In true magpie style, we have two for joy…posts about My Vintage, that is! Emma very kindly answered some questions for me about her wonderful website, her style, and vintage in general. It’s a great interview, and I’m sure you will love it too! So here we go…

The gorgeous Emma (nice to put a face to a name, isn’t it?)

What sparked your love for vintage?

Well first and foremost I am a total glamourpuss and I have always loved fashion, especially accessories. I also grew up around very strong and powerful women, namely two very eccentric aunts. Whenever I was with them I was allowed to rifle through their hundreds of drawers, cupboard and boxes brimming with costume jewellery, make up, shoes, feather boas, dresses and more! During my teenage years I used to spend hours in our local vintage shop, playing dress up with everything from flapper frocks to power suits!

Was it difficult to start and establish My Vintage?

Well I honestly believe that it was fate. I have a brilliant partner, Simon, who used to be a graphic and web designer and has fantastic entrepreneurial skills. So when our two loves combined professionally, My Vintage was born! That was almost 2 years ago and we work really hard 24/7 to maintain and develop the business. Even though it’s really hard at times, we both love it so much – it is always worth it!

You always have top quality pieces  – is it hard work to find them?

Yes, without a doubt. We buy from lots of different sources, but we are very fussy and that can make it hard to find just the right stock. We particularly love sourcing vintage designerwear, and our collection is just amazing, it makes me giddy with excitement! I am forever fascinated by the sheer quality and craftsmanship of luxury designer clothing, it is just stunning.

If you could have unlimited clothes from any era, which would it be and why?

Without any shadow of doubt, it would have to be the fifties. I simply adore everything about the era. From the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the classically elegant daywear. Nipped in waists, full puffy skirts, sleek hair, dramatic make up – it’s all just completely stunning and I can’t get enough of it on the site!

Have you got a dream vintage item (clothes/accessories, era and/or designer)?

Easy peasy! It would have to be a Christian Dior New Look dress c1950 (see below)

 

Do you mix vintage and modern?

Definitely! I don’t think that we should be restricted by any rules or regulations! It’s a woman’s perogative to mix and match, styles, eras, trends and colours! What I would say though is that there is no quality like the quality if vintage clothing and it is very rare to find clothing these days that will stand the same test of time.

Which vintage styles should Missy Magpie readers be looking for this season?

Ooooh, I love keeping my eye on the trends! For this autumn/winter it’s all about the fur and shearling jackets and coats. There are loads of great faux furs out there if you’re not comfortable with the real thing, and a cute vintage faux fur gilet is a great way to introduce the look to your wardrobe for the first time. Another one of my favourites at the moment is the baroque style flocked prints. There are some beautiful pieces available, metallic guilded dresses, skirts or handbags are ones to look out for. And for evening wear, the maxi dress is a firm favourite. Gone are the cotton floral styles of the summer and in are the chiffon and slinky styles in blacks, greens, purples and blues. Look for one shoulder, crystal and corsage detailling.

If we see a vintage piece in a charity shop, what should we check for to make sure it’s quality?

A few top tips to rememeber…

• It may sound obvious but check all the labels, so much of the Primark type clothing can look vintage at first glance so be sure it’s old for a start!
• Check for tears, rips and stains but don’t be offput. These can be fixed by professionals or even customised to hide. For example a pretty pearl trim on a raggy hem or a large rose corsage to hide that sunk in stain.
• Feel the material, does it feel good, will it wash well?
• Look at seams, zips and buttons. Does it look like the previous owner(s) took care of the item?

What’s your favourite thing about running and owning My Vintage?

There are loads of reasons, but mainly all the great people I get to meet and speak to each day, the priviledge of being able to do something I love so much as a job and the excitement of being contacted by celebrities, films and TV shows about our pieces! I can’t imagine ever wanting to do anything else…

Here are some of Emma’s favourite pieces from My Vintage’s current stock…

“A great little green tweed jacket with chunky faux fur collar” – buy it here

“Super cute green checked 1950s Prom Dress” – buy it here

“Beautiful 1960s psychedelic evening maxi dress” – buy it here

“Stunning Laura Ashley Floral Prom Dress” – buy it here

“Great for Christmas! Sparkly sequinned 80s prom dress” – buy it here

“Another Christmas winner this Frank Usher full sequin top” – buy it here

“Original 1950s St Michael skirt – sooo pretty!” – buy it here

“Original and bootiful 1950s necklace” – buy it here

(Missy really loves this!)

Huge thanks to Emma for giving such a great interview, and making my first time as an interviewer so enjoyable! Please ladies, check out My Vintage, as I can guarantee you will fall in love with at least one piece on there. But more likely two, three or ten! Being new to vintage shopping, I’m finding that sellers like Emma are invaluable for unbiased advice and fair pricing. It would be so easy to swindle someone new to the scene, but we are safe in the hands of My Vintage. So go and line your nests (or wardrobes) with a gorgeous vintage dress…or shirt…or skirt…or bag…or scarf…or……..!

With love and shiny things,

Missy Magpie xx

 

My oh My Vintage!

Hello my charm of fellow Magpies*,

We’re on the vintage trail again this week! I’m very new to the world of vintage clothes, and I want to keep you up to date with my discoveries along the way. I’ve been astounded by how accessible vintage dressing actually is, and I hope my experience might prove helpful, or inspiring, for other people.

A few months ago, I started tweet-chatting with the lovely Emma Brown (follow her here @emmabphilosophy), just about life and all things related to it. Then I realised that Emma owned her own online vintage boutique, and, of course, I had to have a look. Just out of politeness, you know…!

My Vintage is a superb site, with a wealth of fantastic vintage pieces. One of the first things I noticed was the variety of sizes My Vintage offer, from size sixes to size sixteens, and in styles to suit all body shapes. The only downside? I’m yet to win the lottery, or master the skill of shapeshifting! However, there is plenty to lust after for all sizes and budgets, never fear! In addition to vintage clothes and accessories, My Vintage also sell new retro items, which look back to our heydays (mine being the nineties – though, thank Heavens, there is not a shellsuit in sight!).

Via Twitter and Facebook (find My Vintage’s page here), Emma provides amazing customer service: need an outfit, or just fancy something new? Tell Emma, and she will do her utmost to find it for you! If you’re not quite sure what you want, Emma listens to your likes and shape-needs, and searches her treasures to find the perfect piece for you. I love seeing a tweet from Ms Brown, showing me a newly discovered meant-for-Missy item. Now, how many other online shop owners can say they do the same?

I do have extra reasons to adore Emma, but one is a continuation of her impeccable customer service. Everyone has bits of their body they would rather keep covered, and others they would like to show off, but my body makes choosing clothes a bit more complicated than for most folk. Knowing that I have a few unusual things to consider, Emma assured me that if the dress I ordered wasn’t right, I could of course return it, and even understood when it took me a few days to try the beauty on. Sadly, the dress wasn’t right for me (sob), and back she went, tenderly wrapped in tissue paper. Luckily for one of you, the dress is still available here…and here she is!

(photo from myvintage.co.uk)

I wasn’t perturbed, knowing that perfect my dress was there waiting for me, I just needed to control my indecisive nature. Happily for me, Emma was equally keen to find me my perfect piece, and kept me updated via Twitter. Alas, my body kept throwing up obstacles, until Emma showed me this 1960s gem

(photo from myvintage.co.uk)

It was love before the photo had fully loaded – we finally had a winner! That in itself had me singing my Magpie heart out, but then Emma pointed out that, to equal the price of the astrological dress, I had enough credit to snap up another dreamy dress I had been eyeing. Slightly ironically, I can’t bloody stand The Sound of Music, but I’d fit right in amongst the singing kinder in this gorgeous gown (also from the 1960s – I am obsessed)!

(photo from myvintage.co.uk)

Both can be worn with tights (very important for me), and I even have the perfects pairs of shoes to go with them. Those dresses were destined to be mine!

I was going to show you my favourite items on My Vintage, but then I had a much better idea….Why not ask Emma to show us her top treasures? It’s the perfect excuse to get to know one of my favourite people better, too. So, stand by for part two of this blog post, where Emma will kindly answer a few questions for me, and give you the inside scoop on what vintage clothes you should be shopping for right now.

With a flutter of feathers, I’ll say TTFN.

Missy Magpie xx

*a “charm” is one of the collective nouns for Magpies. Nicer than a “tiding”, a “gulp”, or a “murder”, eh?

Further forays into vintage

Hello? Readers? Are you still out there?

Once again, the gap between my posts is a yawning one (literally and figuratively!), but I hope the wait will be worthwhile. During my absence, I’ve been to Ireland, given a speech, started the process of getting this humble blog spruced up (go on, you can say it, it looks rubbish. But not for much longer!), and begun to plan a vintage themed charity event for next summer. You will be hearing lots about that last part soon!

As you might remember, my last post was about my visit to the lovely Vintage Secret for a meeting with Miss Naomi Thompson. If you don’t remember, or didn’t read it, have a look here. That grand day really opened my eyes to how accessible the world of vintage clothing is, as before I had ideas of tiny sizes and huge prices. I realised that those things need not be true, if you know where to look. And my word, I have been looking!!

At the end of September, I had to visit Dublin for some charity work, with my mum. We were there for less than thirty-six hours, but we did have some time to ourselves on the Friday afternoon; the hotel was right by Grafton Street, the main shopping area. Honestly, what else were we going to do?! Opposite the end of the road on which our hotel stood (check them out here – it was a great place to stay, with fabulously friendly staff), was a little shopping arcade. Our first stop was like an Aladdin’s Cave for Missy and Mummy Magpie – so much to look at and drool over! Om Diva unfortunately don’t have a website yet, but they do have a Facebook page, so go and say hello! If you are headed to Dublin, make sure you pay them a visit. You will not regret it! Om Diva stock vintage and new pieces, as well as mixes of the two, with “upcycled” vintage clothes hidden on the bountiful racks. The same goes for the sparkling trinkets, twinkling at you from cases around the shop. So, do you want to see what I came home with? Okay, I’ll show you.

My mum discovered this bag, hidden on the stairs, and brought it down for me to gaze at. It feels so wonderfully tactile, so smooth and cool, like metallic water. And, of course, it looks luscious, too! The inside is flawless, which is incredible for a bag from the late 1940s to early 1950s.

When I took it to the counter, I started chatting with Om Diva’s lovely owner. She asked where in England I was from, why I was in Dublin, and recognised the charity I was there for from a news article aired that week. We talked about the bag, how fab it was, and the great condition, and why we loved vintage. Then she said she wanted to give me a gift (I won’t massage my ego by telling you why), and ducked behind the counter, apparently looking for something specific. This is what she emerged with…

(thanks to my mum, the hand model)

Such a little gem! I’d never seen a purse like it, which, along with how pretty it is, made me happy enough. Then my delightful Dubliner told me it was from the same era as my bag! Of course I protested, as it was far too generous a gift to be given by someone I’d met fifteen minutes earlier, but she was insistent. And I was thrilled! After many more “thank yous”, “take cares” and “good lucks”, we made our way to the door. But not before we were offered a “lucky dip” prize, and more hugs!

I also grabbed a very cute cardi, but I’ll stick to my vintage, and vintage inspired, pieces for this post.

There were myriad marvellous vintage shops, even in the little roads around Grafton Street. We can’t wait to go back, and spend a whole day investigating them! Vintage lovers – it’s a goldmine for goodies, so get yourselves to the Emerald Isle for some unique pieces!

Twitter has been vital to education in vintage clothes and accessories. I’ve “met” so many people who own fantastic vintage shops online (and off line!), and they have all been so willing to give advice, and find pieces to meet my wants and needs.

My newest vintage buys were from Love Miss Daisy Vintage (follow them on Twitter here), who kindly held on to them while my computer was being fixed! As soon as I saw this dress, I had to have it. You might know that I love sixties styles, but this was so different to all the shift dresses I have. When I tried it on, minutes after it arrived, it fitted like it had been tailor made for me. Plus, it was a real bargain at £35!

(close up of the sweet little buttons)

I thought I might as well have browse before I went to the checkout, and on my web wanderings, I spied a jacket, which was almost the perfect match to my blue sparkly hot pants (see my post about Tart!). At £18, I just couldn’t resist, so that was popped into my basket, too! I’m so sure about a sparkly suit, but it looks great with smart, dark jeans for a night out with the girls, or a pair of black shorts or a black dress for a night on the town. How could Missy Magpie not buy it?

A few weeks ago, I finally caved in and bought this beautiful nautical dress by Tofu (from Dolly Dagger).

(photo from http://www.dollydagger.co.uk)

It called to love of nautical and vintage style in me, and after months of “umming” and “ahhing”, I realised I was just delaying the inevitable. Happily, it fits like a dream, and I feel great in it. The mark of a finely made dress! But…I needed shoes to go with it! You see, dear readers, I’m most often seen in my Converse, biker boots, ankle boots, or silver curly-wurly style shoes. None of which fit this dress at all. My need for a suitable pair of shoes sent me to another website, over which I have been drooling for years. That website was Beyond Skin. Being a vegetarian and animal rights supporter, who is trying to dress ethically, Beyond Skin shoes tick every box on my wish list. As much as I adore their high heels, they are out of bounds for me and my tootsies. Not that it mattered, as these sweet little sandals were waiting for me. Not cheap, but worth the money to me, as finding cruelty-free shoes that fit me very difficult. Plus, they are so versatile, and can be worn with most of my wardrobe. But. most importantly, they are a perfect match for my dress, I think!

(photo from http://www.beyondskin.co.uk)

Unlike lots of faux-leather shoes, they are soft and flexible, and so are very comfortable to wear. Beyond Skin provided great customer service through Twitter (my medium of choice), and you can follow them here. I loved their cheeky despatch email, and gorgeous shoe box, too!

The whole outfit will be topped off with this gorgeous vintage style nautical cloche hat by Lilly Lewis, made exclusively for Dolly Dagger. It wasn’t really a naughty indulgence, as I always need to wear a hat at the moment, and my usual beanies and berets would not do my fabulous frock justice!

(photo from http://www.dollydagger.co.uk)

So, that’s me for now. Watch out for my upcoming posts about vintage goings-on, including another brilliant vintage shop and seller, and my preparations for a very exciting event coming next summer!

Missy Magpie xx

The Loss of my Vintage Innocence (or Ignorance!)

I’ve always been very interested in vintage clothes and vintage styles; my wardrobe is mostly a mix of Victorian, Edwardian, 1920s, and 1960s inspired pieces. Quite a variety!! But up until recently, I’d always believed that real vintage clothes wouldn’t fit my body shape; they all seemed to be tiny, or made for the curvy gals among us. Not boyish with a bum like me!

But, as you might remember from a few posts back, in May I went to a wonderful event called Tart, and things started to change.

The ethos of Tart is vintage glamour, and the first thing I noticed was that gorgeous women of all different body shapes were wearing vintage clothes, in all different styles, and from all different eras. And after having my hair done by the wonderful Lipstick and Curls, in a gorgeous 1940s rolled style, I knew I had to get into vintage dressing properly.

Luckily for me, through Tart, I met a fantastic vintage specialist, the wonderful Miss Naomi Thompson, proprietor of the renown Vintage Secret. After chatting on Twitter (follow Naomi here) for some time, Naomi invited me to her salon in East London for a girly afternoon. So my lovely friend Lou and I hopped in a cab and zoomed off to Hackney, where we found a little vintage oasis!

After drinking some delicious Hendrick’s Gin cocktails (made by Miss Thompson herself) and having a good old chat, Naomi helped me try on some of the clothes in her extensive (and mouthwatering!) collection. Honestly, if I could change my size and shape at will, I would have come home with everything there!! Thankfully for my bank account, I have yet to develop those powers (maybe after a few more x-rays…), so Naomi helped me find the best pieces to suit my shape and interests. As it was a special day, and I was in the hands of an expert, I said I would try any style. Oh how my eyes were opened!! I would never have chosen the first dress Naomi helped me in to; a 1950s full skirted dress. I always thought I would be too short, and too full in the tummy area, for that style, but it was love as the zip was fastened! I will need it taken up a little to suit my height, but I can’t wait to pop a petticoat under it, a white cardi over it (possibly just draped around my shoulders), and a pink slim belt around it. Preppy perfection! Now I just need to find my Danny Zuko…or maybe Kenickie…? Decisions, decisions!

As I mentioned before, I love sixties styles (inherited from my Mod-minded Dad), and when Naomi asked me which eras and styles I favour, swingin’ (oo-er missus!) and shift dresses were an obvious choice. Now, I can imagine the looks on your faces if I said “white background with big brown spots” – bafflement and/or horror, am I right? But let me tell you girls, it is F.A.B! With its ‘Peter Pan’ collar, super flattering fit, and perfect mini length, I couldn’t resist doing some sixties-stylee Top of the Pops dancing in it to express my joy! It’s destined to be worn with tights, a cropped jacket, and some dolly shoes. So what do you think of it?

Then I had a lot of fun trying on a rail of dresses; black knitted with lurex stripes; an evening dress that would be perfectly accessorized with a cigarette in a long, jewelled holder; ’30s tea dresses; 40s day dresses; 80s styles I could remember my lusting after as they sat in the fashion-idol cousin’s wardrobe back in the day. Even though they weren’t right for me, it was still great to try them, and discover exactly what does and doesn’t suit me. I had some surprises in the “no go” area, too – black knitted with lurex stripes was me all over on the rack, but did not look good all over me. Sartorial revelations were coming thick and fast!

But then Miss Thompson presented me with another little gem, and I was drawn to it like a magpie to a bright red jewel. We were back in the sixties, but the style was totally different (excepting the mini length, of course). This beauty was bright red with an all over ditsy flower print; the sleeves were long and loose, with flared cuffs, shirring to the front of the dress, and floaty skirt. Perfect as a summer day dress, or as a saucy evening dress with tights and sexy shoes. The Summer of Love was reignited the moment I slipped in to it! Doesn’t it make you want to run off to Woodstock with flowers in your hair?! I can’t wait to have a rummage through my Mum’s gorgeous hippy jewellery to find the perfect accessories.

My first experience of trying and buying vintage clothes was wonderful. So much so that I can’t wait to do it again! We even came away with goody bags, filled with yummy sweets, and vintage-style, cocktail-sized bottles of gorgeous Hendrick’s Gin! Of course, I’m still rather green when it comes to vintage, and my inner magpie would be grabbing clothes by the beakful, without checking seams, stitching and labels. But that’s not a problem for me at all. Why? Because it just gives me an excuse to raid the riches of Vintage Secret again, and fill an afternoon with all the best things in a girls’ life – clothes, cocktails, chat and cake. Seriously, what else could you want?! With my friends and family already queuing up to “accompany” me (how kind of them!), it won’t be long before I’m Hackney bound once again.

I hope I’ll see you there!

Missy x

Read the Vintage Secret blog here

And be sure to make an appointment with Miss Thompson forthwith – Missy’s orders!

And the award for World’s Slowest Blogger goes to….

…Missy Magpie!

I’m most annoyed with myself at not blogging for such a long time. The fates have been conspiring against me!

I’m give to give you all a few highlights from Missy Magpie’s finds and buys over the past couple of months. It will ease me and you back in to this blog! And, hopefully, you’ll find something interesting, too.

My birthday

Firstly, my super amazing present from my Mum and Dad! I’ve loved Melissa Plastic Dreams shoes ever since I stumbled across them in a magazine a couple of years ago. Not only do we share a name (Melissa, in case you were wondering!), but they are vegan, eco-friendly, and make a positive change to the lives of those who makes the shoes. Oh, and they’re gorgeous and innovative! I’d been pining after a particular pair of Melissa shoes for months and months, and had been saving my pennies for them. Then, on my birthday, I ripped the paper off of my present, and this is what I found underneath…

(Photo from spoiledbrat.co.uk)

The shoes are Ultragirl – J Maskrey ‘Night Sky Edition’ and they are available from Spoiled Brat for £220 (they were a very special present!!)

For my day out, I went to Brick Lane and Spitalfields with a group of my closest friends (minus one – boo to weekend work!). Brick Lane had some great shops, but on bright, hot Sunday, it was far too busy for me, and my friends felt a little harassed, too. I would like to go shopping on a weekday there, investigating all the shops and boutiques, such as Religion, At Work Gallery, and Rokit, as well as many others. We visited the Sunday Up Market on Brick Lane too, which was full of little treasures. Unfortunately, I haven’t photographed what I bought there yet, but one piece was a beautiful handmade and hand-dyed felt cloche hat by Orizu. Go and check her out! I found the market very hot and stuffy (as there are many food stalls), so I would recommend taking a bottle of water, and not hanging around too long…unless you enjoy being red-faced and sweating!

After Brick Lane, we wandered off to Spitalfields, which is only a five minute walk away (if you don’t go in the wrong direction like I did!). We all fell in love with it instantly; it was light and airy, and full of gorgeous stalls and shops. My photographic skills have failed me again, but I bought a great, handmade dark denim dress in a very original design and a mini top hat fascinator. I can’t wait to go back with more funds, and spend a whole day there, exploring the stalls I missed before. If you need a day out over the summer, please head to Spitalfields, especially the market. You won’t regret it!

Playsuit Pleasure

I’ve been dithering about buying a playsuit for months; I love shorts, and I love the styles, but wasn’t sure if they would suit my body shape. A couple of weeks ago, I took the plunge and treated myself to this little summery number

(Photo from topshop.co.uk)

It was £45 from Topshop, and I feel great in it. It holds me in where I need to be held, and gives the illusion of an hourglass figure hiding underneath it. I plan to wear it with either a white cropped cardi, or a white three-quarter sleeve bodysuit from American Apparel.

Then I did something naughty…I had an opportunity to treat myself to a few things, and I was powerless to resist! I’ve adored Stop Staring dresses for an age, but, as I’m a shorty who can’t wear high heels, they’ve always been too long for me. But then I happened across this little wonder…

(Photo from atomretro.com)

It fulfills my desire for anything nautical, a Stop Staring piece, and another playsuit. Spiffing!! This little beauty came from Atom Retro, and cost £94.99 (hey, I resisted the iPhone4!!).

One last naughty thing…

After a particularly rubbish morning a couple of weeks ago, my Mum and I decided that a trip to Covent Garden was in order. And, of course, we couldn’t go to Covent Garden without visiting our lovely new friends in Fifi Wilson (who we met at Tart – see my previous post)! We had great chat with Dawn, and I spoke to Fifi on the phone, as she was in their lovely Chelsea store. There are so many beautiful pieces of clothes and jewellery to be found in Fifi Wilson shops, not to mention the shoes and handbags! And you couldn’t wish to buy from nicer people. During our chat, I kept wandering back to one of the racks, and lusting over a Vivetta jacket. Eventually, I asked Dawn if I could “just try it on”, purely out of interest (!!). But once it was on, we became one, and I knew I couldn’t leave the jacket there, all alone. What else could I do but buy it?!

Look how beautiful it is, with the silver piping and bows covering the buttons! I feel a fifties influence, don’t you? And I think Vivetta could easily become my favourite designer. This gorgeous jacket is now in the sale at Fifi Wilson for £117.60. Be sure to look at all of the other beautiful bargains to be had on the site and in the chic stores right now. (Note: Missy takes no responsibility for over-spending!). And for all of you Twitterers, follow Fifi Wilson here, for fab fashion and cheeky chat!

So that’s brought you almost up to speed! I hope you’ve discovered some new treasures, just like I did. Please let me know if you indulge!

Ta ta for now,

Missy xx

Next blog post – My day of vintage, cocktails and dressing up with the vivacious Naomi Thompson aka Vintage Secret

Just a quickie (oo-er missus!)

Hi everyone,

Firstly, apologies for being such a rubbish blogger. I wish I could say I’ve been doing all kinds of fascinating things, but I haven’t. Just boring, day-to-day, “must be done” things.

But…tomorrow is my birthday! I’m off to the Superette burlesque sale, and then to the Sunday Up Market in the Old Truman Brewery, followed by a possible mooch around Spitalfields (if we don’t weigh ourselves down with cake!). So expect a blog post on Monday, telling you all about what I saw, wanted, said I couldn’t afford, and then bought anyway!!

On Wednesday, I’m going to the opening of an art exhibition at the Wellcome Collection in London. Why? Because portraits of me art being exhibited!! I’m incredibly excited, and very proud to be part of the exhibition. I’ll be writing about that, and what I end up wearing (and what kinds of wonders I see on other people!).

Please check out these links in the meantime…

About the upcoming exhibition (look for Gemma Anderson working on a piece about EB)

Gemma Anderson (the amazing artist)

So please stay tuned, because I’ll be getting stuck into blogging over the coming weeks.

Love,

Missy x

A deliciously decadent day – Tart @ 40 Winks

I’ve been determined to visit 40 Winks boutique hotel ever since it came to my attention last year. Their ‘Bedtime Stories’ sessions (have a Google for some reviews!) sound divine, but either I kept missing out on tickets, or the date wasn’t right. But, luckily, I had signed up to 40 Winks mailing list, and a few months ago, a wonderful email landed in my inbox. That email was all about Tart.

Even their logo is luscious!

In simple terms, Tart is the ultimate girls’ day out. But to say just that would do this amazing event an unforgivable injustice. So this blog post is about my, my friends’, and my marvellous mum’s first Tart experience. And what an experience it was!

When we arrived on Saturday 15th May, we were all wide-eyed with wonder at the beauty and uniqueness of the interior of 40 Winks (all throughout the day, we each would notice something new to gasp and gawp at!), while the friendly, glamourous assistants took our coats and told us where to go first. We made our way down to the cellar kitchen (at which point we were welcomed by the great Mr David Carter, owner of 40 Winks and founder of Tart), where we nibbled on delicious finger sandwiches and yummy cupcakes, accompanied by divine gin cocktails, served in china teacups. I’d never tasted gin before, but after those drinks, I’m a total convert to “mother’s ruin”! After having a chat to Liz Brewer (best known for her etiquette lessons on ‘Ladette to Lady’), we wandered back upstairs to start investigating the wonders on offer. These are two things I learned within minutes…

The first rule of Tart – you must look your glamourous best! No denim or leggings are allowed, and the best way to enjoy the day is to embrace your inner vintage vixen. Don’t worry too much about shoes, though, as they must be left in the hallway, and replaced with slippers. You could always match your slippers to your outfit! Unfortunately, real vintage clothes rarely fit my physique properly, so I had to pay homage to my fashion forebears. My outfit consisted of a cream, puff-sleeved, pussy bow blouse and navy blue sequinned knickers over 110 denier tights (all hail Tabio!), with black patent demi-wedge t-bar shoes, and my black All Saints tailored tail jacket. For jewellery, I wore delicate silver chain earrings, and two one-of-a-kind pieces: my Hoolala ‘fall of Satan’ luxe necklace, and an Eclectic Shock watch bracelet. Both were bought from the ever-tempting Hannah Zakari. Oh, and I mustn’t forget my much lusted after Helen Rochfort ‘Willy Wonka’ metal framed handbag (one smitten kitten asked to buy it from me!).

The second rule of Tart (from my perspective) – get involved! I’ll be honest, me and my group were all a bit worried that it would be full of posh fashionistas, and that we ordinary girls would feel excluded, but that wasn’t the case at all. Everyone, organisers and guests, were so friendly and chatty. Compliments and cocktails were free-flowing, there was a sense of camaraderie, and the sense of girly excitement was crackling in the air. My friends were amazed when I took off my blouse in a crowded room (don’t worry, I wasn’t flashing!) to try on a dress, without giving a thought to the fact that my scars were showing. No one took the slightest bit of notice, and the only comments I received were about how great the dress looked!

On that note, I’d like to say thank you to Fi and Dawn from Fifi Wilson for helping me get into the dress, giving my mum and I their card case to put our sparkly cupcakes in, and generally being absolutely lovely. If you’re on Twitter, give them a tweet here. The dress in question was a beautiful, sky blue Manoush ‘Officier’ dress, and I cannot wait to wear it!

There is such a lot to do at Tart, too, and everything is geared towards becoming a vintage goddess. I adored getting my hair done by the brilliant Lipstick and Curls (check them out!). They lived up to their name, and gave me cute curls to add bounce and shape to my usually very flat hair. Here’s a snap of me and my lovely stylist…

And a gratuitous photo of me posing by the window, showing off my sparkly drawers!

Beautiful belles from Benefit were also there, making guests over and giving advice on how to style make up; they transformed my friend into a fantastic fifties starlet, and had plenty of their products available to buy.

I watched my friends and mum try on corsets with the lovely Katie of What Katie Did fame, and get advice from her about how to adjust to wearing a corset, and which corsets suit which body shapes. Sadly, I didn’t indulge, but I loved watching their wide-eyed looks as the laces were pulled tighter, and all of the ensuing pin-up posing!

There was also a room dedicated to vintage couture, which was available to all guests for the purposes of dressing up, and swanning about like retro royalty! We had a great time with the hats, and a particular pair of vintage glasses, though next time we will make sure to try some pieces on.

Apart from all of the things to do and buy (I also purchased a gorgeous ribbon headband from Katherine Elizabeth), we were privileged to have access to a series of short talks, all of which were on suitably Tart-esque subjects. From making scrummy cocktails (I can’t wait to knock up some ‘English Gardens’, when the summer arrives!), to how to perfect your 1940s hair and make-up, via social etiquette and corseting, we came away much wiser (and better coiffed) women than when we had arrived.

Everyone left with a goody bag, and it was filled with treats, from a vintage china cup and saucer to a Benefit lipstick, held in a great eco-friendly shopper.

From the moment we left, we all said that we couldn’t wait to go back. Our first time was great, but the next would be even better, as we’ve worked out the best way to get the most from the day. I’ll share our plan with you – grab a cocktail, get your hair and make-up done, slip into some vintage treasures to complete the look, and then relax into the talks, general chat, and buying beautiful things. Unfortunately, the once-a-month event is now booked up until at least October, but we will be there, dressed to the nines, and ready to step back in time. We all needed an escape from the cheap, fast everything of modern life, and found that Tart is the perfect place to run away for the day.

And next time, we’ll be ready to hit the town after, and make the most of our rediscovered retro allure!

Tickets cost £60 – this includes all drinks and yummy food, massages, hair and make-up sessions, talks etc. You only pay extra for any bits you buy from the sellers of lovely things there.

Where to find 40 Winks

109 Mile End Road,Stepney Green, London, E1 4UJ

Get in touch with them

Telephone: +44(0)20 7790 0259
Fax: +44(0)20 7790 0259

Email: reservations@40winks.org

Go on, indulge…I promise, you will not regret it! xx

“I can make you feel good” – the song of my wardrobe!

Hey everyone,

I haven’t got anything to show you today, I’m afraid. This is a writing only post!

I’ve been thinking about why some clothes, or shoes, or accessories just make us feel happier than others, and why that is. Why can some piece of material or metal bring instant smiles to our faces?

Today, I looked down at my battered, beaten-up old Converse high tops, peaking out from under my jeans (I am a jeans wearing girl from time to time, I’ll happily admit!), and they just made me happy. So I thought about which other pieces of apparel have that effect on me, and why…

Purple ruffled French Connection dress

I saw it in a magazine, and it was love at first sight! Although I then had to wait six whole weeks before it hit the shops, and I could snap one up. It cost something like £110, but it was a life-long commitment! It makes me feel like a sixties film star, with its basic shift shape, but beautiful shade and materials. When I first wore it to a fancy, black-tie dinner, so many people commented on it – even two very straight-laced research scientists! I loved it so much, that the next season, I bought the same dress in silver. But it didn’t feel as good. The dark purple version just has that special something, something that makes me dance around the room every time I put it on.

Dark denim short shorts

I have a lot of issues with my body (usual and unusual), so wearing shorts was a big leap for me. I wear them with black tights all year round, invoking Edie “the girl in the black tights” Sedgwick, as I don’t like to show certain things. But still, they make me feel great, and make me love my legs. I’m only short, at 5’3″, but they make the most of what I’ve got – people tell me my legs are a perfect shape, and even I think they’re okay. I can dress them up and down, with an embellished top for the evening, or my checked shirt for the day. They suit all kinds of shoes, too, including my beloved Converse, my tan strappy boots, or my cute t-bars.

Black cropped cardigan

Now this I can’t really explain, past the fact that I guess it has become a sort of security blanket. It goes with everything, is very soft, and has extra long sleeves – perfect for the warming of hands! I practically lived with it throughout uni, stuffing it in my bag, lest a lecture room or the library be too cold. It was just enough to warm me up, without making me so snuggly I nodded off (come on, who hasn’t snoozed in a lecture?!). I was devastated when it disappeared, only to catch my sister with it about a year later! I have reclaimed it, bobbly though it may now be, and still go running to it in this changeable weather (boo and hiss!).

Silver bracelet with coloured glass stones

My mum bought me this when I was in hospital, a good fifteen years ago. I’d been upset, and then told off, so the bracelet was a peace offering of sorts. She got it in a little boutique jeweller’s in Lamb’s Conduit Street, just round the corner from the hospital. It’s only small, and dainty, but I still had to grow in to it! People always comment on it, and it serves to remind me that love and support conquer all. Sugary and sentimental, but true. When I put it on, I remember how lucky I am to always have my parents with me for horrible treatments, even now I’m all grown up. And that’s a huge reason to smile!

I would really love to hear about any item of clothing, jewellery, shoes, accessories that make you feel happy, or amazing, or beautiful, whatever the reason is. Please tell me your stories below!

xx