Chaps & Chappettes - The Chap Olympiad 2013

Well what sweltering weather it has been here in London.  I'm sat here in my flat eating some watermelons to try and cool down and keeping myself out of the suns rays.  The air is so still and apparently it is going to continue like this for the next couple of weeks!  Amazing when I'm not working, haha.

This Saturday gone was once again that time of year where all (well most) of the chaps and chappettes of London and afar gathered together for the event that always makes it into my diary.  The one and only Chap Olympiads.  There's nothing like it.

I missed a few games this year having only turned up mid afternoon and so didn't take as many photos as I usually would.  It did mean that I spent more time with friends and less time running around.  It was a jolly good time!

Having a good catch up with the lovely Sophie.

The girls with the picnic, the strawberries and the smuggled Gin!

Something was happening with some tarts and knocking them out of the opponents cake slice.

Horse-Play... Make as you will.

My outfit for the day...

A newly acquired vintage hat from Sweden

My again new Match necklace by the fabulous Luxulite

Clear Lucite repro handbag from Miss L Fire

Cropped top from Urban Outfitters

Vintage skirt with plaited red belt

Sunnies also from same Sweden trip

This was the hats first outing and well it was quite appropriate with the sun and I absolutely fell in love with it.  And best of all... It only cost me 20kronos/£2 from the flea market at Live & Rockin' which I visited recently held in Sweden!  It's so versatile as I can adorn it with all kinds of accessories and colours to match my outfits!  Dream hat if ever I had one.

Briefcase Phalanx

Bread-roll Basketball

My attempt at a sneak photo of The Vintage News chaps at work but my parasol got in the way!

I loved that this year they had a vintage photo-booth on site!

Here I am with the gorgeous Alice :) 

The much needed said parasol put into good use.

Of course things got a little pyramidy as the event went into the night...

There were many a photographers there; professional & amateur, as well as plenty of press as usual.  It gets international coverage nowadays you know!  I had my photo taken by several people and found this lovely vibrant copy by Soul Stealer Photography.  Hope he doesn't mind my using it!

I'm already looking forward to next year.  Hope you can join me there in 2014 for what is sure to be a spectacular 10th year anniversary for the Olympiad!

Pip pip!
Alison xxx

Oh What The Chap?!

As promised, I am catching up on myself with a little writing.  A couple of weekends ago it was once again time for the fabulousness that was The Chap Olympiad 2012.  What with it being the year of the Olympics, Chap went all sporting on us and made the event a two-dayer.  Now, we all know the importance of choosing the right outfit for any event; let alone a double dayer!  So I thought I would start the post with my outfits and hair.

Day One

One of my bespoke pieces which I had made for me especially last summer.  It was in fact its first ever outing even though it has been sitting in my wardrobe for nearly the past year.  I did bring it to Sweden with me last summer but never actually got round to wearing it as I took so much with me to choose from.  Then the weather was just not that great here and no event  good enough called for it's reveal.  That was until The Chap Olympiad!  I'm sure if the outfit had a mind of its own it would be pretty pleased as it received so many compliments and photo requests.  The outfit is in fact a two-piece and not a dress as it may seem at first glance.  The top half is in the style of a halter style waistcoat with a cut-out waist and waistband fastened by a single vintage button.  On either sides are openings again fastened by some vintage buttons with the front closing using concealed hook and eyes.  The skirt is of the circle style.  I had the fabric sourced with my specification and the pattern is a 1940s one.  I thought it may have been a little too summery but the weather turned out to be just A-Ok that day.

The outfit was finished off with a pair of tiki style wedges and my lovely Miss L Fire reproduction lucite 'Jitterbug' handbag which was also very well received.  Most thought it was an original.  How I wish it was but kudos to MLF!

Here's a back/side view - photo borrowed from here.  You will also find a couple more of moi, plus some other lovely people from the event at the link.

Day Two
So onto my second outfit at The Chap do.  Another bespoke number with an oriental theme.  You may recall a previous post about this particular dress being made for me.  I had it made to order especially for my sisters wedding back in February this year.  This was one of the two amazing dresses; the other which I posted a photo of recently here.

This is my version of a cheongsam dress with the style of In the Mood for Love and 2046 in mind.  The style and setting in both of these films has really embedded itself into my heart.  I had the dress made so that it was more fitted to the body than they are usually made.  The length kept long to mid-calf with high side splits on both sides.  I had to give full body measurements from head to toe (so to speak) which gave me amazing results.  It fits like a glove as bespoke should with the most amazing finishes.  It is not until you come up close will you realise the dress is not of true vintage origin.  The mark of a dress well made I say!  I definitely have more of these lovelies with my name on it to be made soon :)

Accessorised with Pimms and wellies for the great British summer!

Onto Hair.  I spent the evening before the weekend setting it into rollers as I do and spent the morning styling the 'do' before anything else happened whilst eating a breakfast of fruit, crumble, yogurt and honey.  Such work has to be put in I kept the same style for the whole weekend (just like in the good ol' days) managing to keep it in good order when I slept on it.  Only change was the hair accessory.  It really is so much easier to style other peoples hair.  At least you see can what you are doing without having to stop and check with a two way mirror every other turn.  I was very happy with the results I have to say.  These styles doesn't seem to take me any less time the more I create them but more that they seem to come out better each time.

 Thank you to my lovely Beck for taking all these photos for me.

Last but not least... The events photos and videos!

Order of the day

Tristan - The Master of Ceremonies 

In the bar...

Tipple?

Umbrella Jousting  

 

Ironing Board Surfing... As you do.

Free Scones from our neighboring table party.

The Heavy Weights

The Best Victoria Sponge apparently!

Promo Chaps

The lovely Beck & Alice

Musical mayhem

Dancing was had.

Gorgeous Hat and Outfit spotted. 

Mr.B The Gentleman Rhymer doing his ditties for our entertainment!

The only way to behave when you hear Mr.B

Beck sporting her 99 proudly whilst modeling my hair flowers with a dash of cuteness.

A Chap showing some prowess... but that is surely foul play?

Tug of Hair...

turned for the worst.

Luckily nurses were on hand with some Gin!

Ladies line up for Bounders

As do the Chaps

And that's how it's done as expertly shown by Miss Minna!

Nurse now has the job of saving the ladies from Atters!

Briefcase Phalanx

The Last Dance as the sun comes down over what was The Chap Olympiad 2012

Well, that was that.  A wonderful but very tiring weekend with all Chaps and Chappest.  I'm not sure two days of such sporting activities was good for my health.  The bar was far to close to hand!

Righto, what next?  Swweeeeddeeeennnnnnnnnnn!  The A-Bombers Old Style Weekend to be precise.  In a weeks time (I already started counting down the days) I shall have landed in Goteborg.  Yay!  I also just spotted the Caezars are playing.  Double yay!

Until my next post.  Toodle-loo,

Alison xxx

Dancing feet!  Another photo borrowed from here.

Things are Lookin' Up!

This summer is set to be funfunfun!  Tomorrow I shall be resettling back into London living.  Yes!  After 4/5 years of living in Surrey I shall now be moving my abode back to the Big Smoke.  I have been planning this move since the end of last year but things were happening and it just got delayed.  Never the less it is all a reality now and I am all set up to make the most of this summer.  Not that I will be here the whole time mind.  I have a couple of exciting trips abroad already pencilled in but of course there will be the usual shenanigans going ons here in Old London town!


In no particular order, here are a few events I shall be attending...

This will be my first time at High Rockabilly in Spain which I am super duper excited about.  Especially since the weather hasn't been exactly 'summery' to say the least here in the UK, although I am not the biggest fan of the sun(due to the pale & interesting look I tend to keep) I do like the warmth and what it does to peoples happiness.  I shall be joining Malin and friends on this little trip to do some rockin' & rollin' in September which right now seems years away, haha.

The Chap Olympiad comes but once a year and on this particular year of the Olympics itself the event has been made double the fun by hosting a whole full weekend rather than the the usual one dayer.  Lovely Beck shall be joining myself again this year which will be my... 4th?  Along with my Chap loving friends!  Fun and games shall be had along with a tipple or two.

On this very same weekend a friend is also hosting a tiki double birthday party at her home which calls for some themed get-up.  Now, I will have to decide nearer the time whether this can actually work out.  It will be a lot of back and forth between home and destinations.  At least I have the requirements down.  Coconut bra - Check, Leas - Check, Hawaii dresses - Always Checked!

I am back there again!  I had so much fun last year I am going back for more Hot Rod watching and Hot Guys eyeing at Sweden's A-Bombers Old Style Weekend.  This little weekender will be held in August, smack bang in the middle of the two events mentioned above and my first official holiday of the year.  I CANNOT wait :D

You can read all about the frolics I had last year in these posts - 1, 2 & 3.  Yes, I actually posted three separate write ups on it.  It must be a sign of how great it was no?!

My favourite photo from last years event.

This is just a taster of things to come.  As always, things just seem to pop up which you have to attend!  Gosh... think of all the outfits I have to put together.  I am REALLY looking forward to it ;)
What are all your plans this summer lovin'?

Righto, better get back to finishing my packing. Eek!
Alison xxx


Ps. If you are reading this sis I didn't waste any precious packing time writing this up today :P