I Want to Ask You Things

I don't much attend the cinema.  I mean I love films.  Absolutely.  But I just don't tend to go to the big screen often.  That is until I get completely drawn in by some visual or poster or soundtrack or other which just makes me want to sit in the dark and absorb every little detail playing out in front of me.  Carol was one of these such movies.

It was mesmerising.  Beautiful.  Absolutely stunning.  It was a feeling beyond words.  I was completely drawn in from the very first flicker of the screen to the very last credit playing against the soundtrack.  It emotionally absorbed me and pulled me in every which way.  I cried a lot.  Heavy crying.  Hot tears.  Not just because of the story which unfolded before my eyes but because it triggered feelings inside me so real.  My heart drowned in its depths.  Their silent knowing glances.

Cate Blanchett whom I just absolutely adore.  Perfectly casted opposite the quiet, shy Rooney Mara.  It was perfection.  One film that will stay with me forever.  Along with its wonderful soundtrack.

Of course I cannot leave without mentioning and crediting the wonderful work of triple Academy Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell for the to-die-for wardrobe.  To have Carols wardrobe would be a dream...  1952.  The fifties style, early enough so that it still captures the essence of the forties.  J'adore.

Alison xxx

VaVa -VaVOOM

Heyhey!

Hope you're all having a lovely day and the week so far has not been dragging since the long BH weekend.  So I've been dying to share this with you all.  Some months ago I felt like the luckiest girl of them all as I had won one of those competitions through Instagram.  You know, the ones that everyone holds where you share their image and tag and hash-tag them to death hoping that you might win at least one in your lifetime?!

Well... How excited was I when I found out that I was the winner of the Tarantula Clothing competition!!!  Best Christmas present ever.  I could choose any item I wanted from their website.  Lucky girl indeed.

Now, choosing was a tough decision.  Just look at this array of beauties they have to offer...

Hard Working Dress - Working hard for your figure!

Continental Circle Skirt which comes in many a fabric options.

Wild Catsuit

Waterfall Dress and Chorus Girl Romper

Can you see how I had a hard time deciding?  Originally I had opted for the Wild Catsuit because I have always wanted one of theirs.  Have you seen photos of the lovely pastel coloured versions?  The gals look absolutely gorgeous in them and I wanted to look just like them!  But just as I was making my mind up Tarantula launched their new number.  Oh boy is it a stunner!

Introducing the VAVA-VAVOOM Catsuit!

I just received the package last week and hopefully I can show it off to you all very soon.  My VaVa-VaVoom is in the most beautiful sparkly electric blue.  Perfect for dancing in!  As soon as I have a photo of me wearing it out and about I'll be sure to make a post on here right away.

Until then, 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.

Shop Swed I Say!

Finally I present to you my goodies transported all the way back from Sweden!
Not a bad collection if I do say so myself.  I didn't even really shop too much this time round.

I absolutely lovelovelove this new old dress!

Cannot wait to wear this come Autumn/Winter.

Two summer numbers ready to wear right now.

All three vintage dresses were purchased at the flea market at Nostalgia Fest.

The lovely lady gave them to me for around £85 together. 

Moomin love! I bought these cookie cutters for my sister.

More cats-eye sunnies... one can never have too many.

Keep smelling sweet with some solid perfume - lychee darlin'

I thought this would be great during this heat and easy to carry around.

Mini Dottie - a little antique pup. She looks pretty old.

I picked her up for less than a pound!

Funny that because I had been searching for a swan planter with no avail.

When you want something, go to a Swedish flea.

From my favourite antique store!

~ Two pairs of beaded clip-on earrings ~

~ Two sets of pearl & diamante hair clips ~

~ A unique pearl studded lucite hairband ~ 

And my delicious straw hat which you have already seen me in at The Chap Olympiad.

This little number was only £2! How can I not love it even more.

Great for adding on accessories of many colours.

Well, that's that for this trip.  Although since coming back to blighty I have managed to acquire many more goodies which I shall make a post of soon.  Unfortunately I will not be making back to Sweden again this summer.  Instead I shall be holidaying with the family with our doggies!  Luxury log cabins and forest wandering ahead!

For now, I will have to love you and leave you as I need to get ready for a launch party.

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

A Very Swedish Birthday!

Well I have been back from Sweden about a week now and what fun it was but I guess it is time to document!  I wanted to get away for my birthday this year, no where crazy.  Just somewhere nice, fun and relaxed.  I thought I was leaving the sunniest weather behind when I left London but apparently it got all "English" on us again so I didn't miss our "summer"!  Sweden was beautiful as always and sunny which was perfect.  I even got some tan lines (unfortunate for me - Miss Sun-Shy) but I can't complain as I'd rather the sun.  It does lift the spirits after all!

My Birth-Day started with a musical rendition of a very famous song but in Swedish from my blondie Malin presenting me with a little sweet with a candle on top :)

Realising I liked to collect miniture animals Malin gifted me these.

They are from her childhood which she was going to sell.

How adorable... little glass pups!

I also received this via the waves from my little brother.... Hahaha... Lazer eyes Dottie!

After breakfast it was time to get ready to hit the town.  To one of my favourite shop that is!  It is hands down one of the best antique stores I have been to and will always visit when I go to Göteborg.  It's one of those ones that you are constantly spotting something glorious.  Not at all like some antique shops I have been to where you are afraid to touch things or are made to feel uneasy.  I love it in here and could easily part with a small fortune.

Vanity Antique

This set of cigarette holder and ashtray was so beautiful.

Naughty, but almost worth smoking for! 

Wandered round town some more and picked up a few bits here and there but I'll do a shopping post separately.  It's called for.  They even had their own version of our Boris Bikes... Although maybe they had them first?  Lovely old style cobbled lanes lined with coffee shops.  Anyone fancy some fika?

For the evening we went to the lovely Liseberg, home to the green rabbit.  My first visit to Liseberg was the first time I came to visit Malin about seven years ago now.  That was my very first trip to Sweden and look how many times I have been back since.  There must be something in the air... Not just the cute Swedish boys ;)

We did a lot on my first visit.  All the touristy things...  I remember it fondly.  I even made a scrapbook of that vacation.  It would be nice to print some more photos of my various visits I think.

Now follow me...

Doesn't it just look so beautiful!

Country trio 'Cookies n Beans' were performing that evening.

The Hives were billed a few days later which sadly I missed out on.

A lot of original 1950s features remain; the ticket box and the lamps above :) 

Double Denim!

Plopp... Always a joke in England

With our 'Winnings'

Ice-cream sundaes were on the agenda whilst at Liseberg but it was getting far too cold out.  I even grabbed a hot chocolate before we stopped for dinner.  It all worked out though as there was scrummy ice-cream back at home!  Washed down with a hot cuppa tea.

So that was my very Swedish Birth-Day!  Beats just going out for drinkies/dinner and the weather hasn't been great the pass few years to even consider a picnic.

I leave you here with my outfit for the special day.  I'll be back with more Sweden fun posts!

Simple 'n' Chic for day-night look.

From top of the head to the tootsies!

All dressed up and ready to go.

Tara until the next time,
Alison xxx