Old Style Weekend 2014

Helloooo there.  I know, I know.  It's been another few months since I posted something.  Although not without trying mind.  I just never quite get the time to finish a write-up to post.  Anyhooo, on-wards and upwards...  Feeling the winter air blowing in I cast my mind back to the summer.

I knew I couldn't skip posting about Sweden's Old Style Weekend hosted by A-Bombers.  Especially as I missed going to last years event.  Of course it's more about hanging out and having fun with friends than anything else.  But oh what fun!

Here's a little photo taster of my long weekend away...

On our way.  Woohoo!

Malin joined me as backseat baby for once.

Relaxing a little before the rest of the guys showed up.

Our "Camp" for the weekend :)

Friday night... 

A selfie with my Blondie. Always.

Also sporting my new Luxulite necklace there.

The lovers.

The nice shot...

My favourite shot...!  Hehee.

Saturday fun...

My not so great photo from the hillside.

A video I found from the Hill Climb at Devils Peak.

 The sexiest guy in a band from the weekend ;)

Love a hot guy in a wife-beater. 

Wearing my gorgeous electric blue Vavavoom jumpsuit from Tarantula!

Absolutely love it and thinking of buying it in another colour. 

My hair completely dropped out with all the dancing!

Did a shoe change to keep on dancing...

I spent the majority of the weekend hanging out with friends rather then participating at the event as such.  Missed most of the bands.  It was super fun though!  As always, I hope to go again next year.

Love you Sweden!

Alison xxx

The 1940s Relived - Brooklands Museum

Hi All!

I hope you are all enjoying your Sundays.  I'm not feeling too great myself so am spending the day indoors but the weather doesn't look too bad from this side of the glass doors.  I meant to post this much earlier on but never got round to finishing it.  Since the event happens this coming Saturday I thought; no time like the present to put it up!

So coming up this Saturday 17th is The 1940s Relived event at Brooklands Museum.  I wanted to do a little post on this as I visited the museum a few months back and of course this event caught my eye.  During my visit I had a lot of fun riding some beautiful vintage motors up their Test Hill run.  It's definitely not something you get to do everyday.  If you get a chance to take a ride I recommend taking up the offer!

Passenger seat view of the countdown to going up the Test Hill.

Second photo we're driving on the famous Brooklands race track.

I even appeared in the local paper later that week after a press photographer asked for my photo.

The museum had a big center page spread.

What a privilege it was to have rode on this spectacular piece of machinery! 

  

So back to the event itself.  Here's a few photos I've 'borrowed' from Brooklands FB page from last years event.  It looks rather fun and hopefully I will see you there myself.  It does clash with the Tweed Run this year but you can always head on over afterwards as it runs through to the evening for some dancing and drinking!

A street party, music, dancing, stalls of all kinds, re-enactors, vintage cinema, a 1930s Members’ Bar and their Art Deco Clubhouse awaits you this Saturday.  Go party like it really is the 1940s!


Toodles,
Alison xxx

Puttin' on the Glitz

Gosh, I tried my darn-dist I really did but I never quite managed to continue blogging as I had intended to this last year.  Well, let us start again here shall we...?

Hello All!  Lady of the Parlour/Miss Cherrylicious/Alison here.  How do you do?  Pleased to make your acquaintance... Again.  There has been so much happening in my life, so many events attended, so many people I've met, so many shopping trips.  So much clothing to show you... And all the new shooooes!

Before I do an outfit/shopping/wardrobe post I wanted to write about a recent event I attended at The British Library.  Puttin' on the Glitz - Fashion & Film in the Jazz Age hosted as part of their Spring Festival at the library saw the amazingly fabulous Amber Jane Butchart and Christopher Laverty grace the stage to speak to us about the wonders that was the Jazz Age.  For afters there was a Cocktail Party hosted by the lovely ladies of The Vintage Mafia.  And what a party it was; with live music from the one and only Alex Mendham and his Orchestra.  Such a treat!

Well I say we start with an event post but what's an event post without my event outfit!?
Here's a quick look at my hair and dressage for the evening...

Hair - the higher the better!

It is hard to tell here as my hair is in a net but the length is actually down to my waist.

But isn't it great to have the option to make ones hair appear shorter?

This is probably the best photo of my outfit captured outside the cocktail party venue.

© Luca Sage 

I never like to read too much into any talk if I already know I will be attending as I hate to spoil things for myself by knowing too much.  The lovely Christopher whom I had not had the pleasure of coming across before this event was a wonderful speaker.  Such passion and so very engaging.  I could have listened to him talk all night about men' fashions!  It also happened to be an more interesting talk (for myself) as Christopher based his talk on the costumes of the characters from The Boardwalk Empire series ( a personal favourite; which I am very behind on) due to their historically correct costuming.  Some rather interesting facts that Christopher pointed out was the alignment of ones suiting pattern... which I'm sure everyone was subsequently noticing for the rest of the evening; along with myself.  The wondrous array of colours that were actually worn by the men of the Jazz Age.  Those dandies and gangsters knew how to dress alright!  Such inspiration to the modern world which is usually hidden behind the black and white films and photography that we see around.

I first discovered Amber in my early years in London when I would be out on the town night after night.  Spotting Amber as part of her DJ duo The Broken Hearts whom can be seen at the most fashionable events around!  Amber spoke of the fashions from the silent movie eras through to when the talkies took over.  How Hollywood and Paris fought it out for top spot as fashion leaders to the world.  And surprisingly how movie stars would bring in their own wardrobe as costumes for the films they were stars of!

I am highly anticipating Amber's new project which she is currently working on entitled Nautical Chic due for publish in 2015.  In the meantime her current book Fashion Miscellany is on my to-buy list.

On to the Vintage Mafia hosted Cocktail Party...

It was rather busy as you can imagine whilst trying to capture a shot of Alex and his band.

Everyone was having a whale of a time Charleston-ing it out to the sounds! 

Photo-booth present - Outtakes not ;) 

My own version - Wanted to show you this dreamy car...

As part of the evening the talented Mr Hanson Leatherby had his Vintage Travelling Portrait Studio set up at the cocktail party for guests to have a little souvenir to look back on.  You can have a look through the rest of the shots here.  This below is my still... Hanson making me look good.  I almost feel as if I should autograph it like a Hollywood Starlet!  Almost...

I say, if that was even a slight taster of the Jazz Age parties then take me there.  Sharpish!

Until next time...
Alison xxx


P.S - A little video captured by The Vintage News crew giving you a snippet of the event.  You can also see a lot more photographs taken at the event on their website.

There's a New Man in My Life

I am super excited to show you all the new addition to my left arm.  I have been quite excitable with the run up to my appointment with the one and only Paul Dobleman.  This guy is AMAZING!  I seriously, seriously mean it.  There has not been one piece of work from him which I have not liked.  So you can imagine how much I wanted to be tattooed by Paul.

I first came across Paul at The London Tattoo Convention two years ago.  When a friend I was there with got tattooed by Matt Howse who works at the same parlour as Paul; Spider Murphy's.  I myself subsequently also got tattooed by Matt last year when he kindly squeezed me in as I didn't get my act together to make an appointment.  They were super busy and I did push him back so I'm super grateful that he did that for me!

Coming home last night all wrapped up.

Here he is.....

He may have a girl in every port but when he's with me he's all mine!

This was Matt's work from last year's London Tattoo Convention

I seem to have a thing about tattooing on the back of my body, aside from my actual back.  First my ankle, then my neck and now my arm!  I'm not sure if I will be attending this years Convention but I'd sure love to go just to even catch this gorgeous lady...

Janet Fischietto - The 30's Circus Burlesque Lady 

Are you going to any Tattoo Conventions this year or have any ink coming up?  I always love discovering new artists.  I have a few more designs in mind on my list to have done at some point but not all of them are assigned to an artist as yet so suggestions are most welcome.


Toodles for now,
Alison xxx

Roll VT - High Rockabilly 2012

Heyhey!

So this was just posted and I had to share it with you all!  Especially since I didn't get to go this year and then I find that they made a promotional video from last year.  It's great as it's like a souvenir to me as it was my first year at High Rockabilly!  I love spotting people I know or who I have met.  You may even find a glimpse of me along the way.

Maybe I will be back there next year but for now the plan is to hopefully go to my first Rockabilly Rave for my birthday next year.  Now that will be exciting!

Enjoy,

Alison xxx

Live by the Lake - Give Away

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all well.  I am rather excited about this post as it involves an amazing giveaway for you all.  Before I went on my vacation I was contacted by the people behind Live by the Lake who asked me whether I would like for my readers to win a pair of tickets to an outdoor showing of Singin' in the Rain?  Well of course I would!

Live by the Lake is a series of summer concerts set in sumptuous surroundings at Kenwood House.  The showing sounds pretty fabulous - the movie will be shown on an open-air big screen accompanied with the score performed live by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra!  That's amazing in itself.  You will be able to bring along your own picnic to enjoy or you can even pre-order one from them ready for the evening.

Here are the details for entering...

• You have to be a follower of mine :)
• Unfortunately I have to make this give-away a UK only entrant as the showing is based in London.  If you do not live in London, please make sure you are able to make your own way to and from the venue for the showing on the day.
• You can enter by leaving me a comment below that you are entering.
• You can enter a 2nd time by posting about this competition and linking me on either your Twitter or Instagram with @dressingparlour 
• There will only be one winner chosen at random.
• The prize - 1 pair of tickets to the show on 30th Aug 2013. No alternatives will be given.
• Enter the competition by Monday 12th Aug 2013 23:59 GMT.
• The winner will be announced later on in that week.

If you want to find out more about the various shows or even to pick up some tickets, these are the links to follow -  Facebook: facebook.com/LiveByTheLake | Twitter: @LiveByTheLake | Website: Live by the Lake

Good luck and I will pick the winner after the competition closes.  I look forward to picking a happy winner out of the hat :D 

Take care,

Alison xxx

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