The journey of a vintage dress on BBC Woman's Hour today.

 

Today I'm on radio.  

Happy days!!!

I'm a journalist that loves all things vintage, so I got the chance to indulge in two things that I love.

The radio piece is about the frock I'm wearing above. 

I bought it. 

Then I wondered how often do you get to buy an affordable dress made in Britain.

So I did a little research.

And what I discovered led me to putting a mini doc together for Woman's Hour on BBC.

When I found out it was being aired I felt the same way when I suggested the idea and they said yes - thoroughly delighted.

I remember traveling to the fashion house Shubette of London to meet some of the people who remember making this dress decades ago.  I spent time with a pattern cutter, a seamstress, and the grandson of the founder who now runs the fashion ship. 

I imagined Shubette to be a little like the House of Elliot.  A little bit lived in, a little historic and cramped.  Instead I walked through the glass doors, sat in the pristine white sparse modern reception and spent the next few hours in its sophisticated air talking about the journey of my vintage dress. 

You can listen to it here. 

Happy listening.

The trouble is

I love this dress.  I'd love it better without the new handbag strap stain across my chest, but hey ho - nothings perfect.  I bought it during a wonderfully cheap trip to Paris with my friend Caroline.  

This is the back of it taking at some other time in my life. 

Anyway.

Today it was worn on a trip to Brighton.  We wondered the streets, got a little sun on our backs and had a cook off at Jamie Oliver's recipease place.  Two of us shared the hob. After an hour and a bit we sat down with our creation of chilli pork street food.  Tasty.  Even tastier because of the two for one deal.  So a whole chef, plus ingredients, plus the cooking, plus the lesson and a chilled glass of wine cost £35.

It felt like such a coupley thing to do - but if there is ever a next time -  I think I'll drink more wine during the cook off - there's something pleasant about cooking and slurping wine, listening to music and being too merry to eat or even care to eat the final product - the pleasure being all in the making.

But we laughed lots, chopped lots and I threw a few extra cheeky ingredients in when the chef wasn't looking - happy days me thinks.

Today I wore white

 I bought this dress in Brick Lane, in East London and wasn't too sure I should. 

It was white and I'm not good and keeping white things white.  It was a little breasty and so for a while I wore a little sea blue floral boob tube underneath it to keep my modesty.  Then on this trip I realised that it didn't just have to be dainty - it could be sexy too. 

It's a summer go to dress.  I'm off to a wine bar in a quiet village town.  I wanted to dress up but still feel a little dressed down. It doesn't need much thought or accessorising - so I thought this would do.

I did used to put a turquoise belt under my boob area - but it stopped sitting right - so I stopped wearing it. 

I am a little anti dresses and tops that leave a defined space for your boobs - if you know what I mean.  I think that's why I was apprehensive about this dress.  

Scarf and hair clip H&M. Shoes TK Maxx

Everything's gone yellow

 

Here where I am I've been walking in the shadows and taking comfort in the shade. 

Yellow sun, calls for a yellow dress and a dashing yellow suitcase someone special bought me a few weeks ago.

The yellow van is my neighbours.  I've lived here for 6 months and never met the owner.  But it's been useful - it tells me where I live when I'm confused by a row of houses that look the same.  When my house number 49 never stands out clearly enough because I've lost my glasses, left them at work, left them at home or it's just a little too dark for the taxi driver to figure it out and drop me off at the right place.

A warm day is an opportunity to get some skin out isn't it? Let the sun soak in and nourish all that is good.  Hot weather generally means a lot of flesh on show.  I don't show my midriff, wear shorts that don't flatter the thighs, or dresses too tight and too see-through.  I still want to feel a little elegant even if the sweat is glistening a little too brightly on my back.

I should have, but I don't have pictures of the back of this dress, but I will do when I remember. Promise. :0)

I bought it from my favourite shop in the world - Ribbons and Taylor in London for £28.  I admit I've struggled a little to get it to sit right.  But I've put on a little happy weight and my boobs have filled the spaces perfectly. 

I'm taking this outfit when I take a trip next weekend to this magical place - Burgh Island.  I've been slightly obsessed by it for years and I'm ever so excited that I'm getting to take my yellow suitcase with me.

Burgh Island, Devon.  Picture taken from Telegraph Travel Section

There's going to be 1930s decor and music.  The sea view and it's breeze will make every sip of my champagne feel extra special.  I'm going to try and eat my afternoon tea like a lady does, but I know the Glasgow girl from Anniesland will find its way through and I'll be eyeing up the tea pots and napkins as a possible souvenir.  My cackles may interrupt the pompous air, but I'm ready and completely excited.

Can you see the yellow tractor in the picture? When the tides up it's the only way you can get to my idea of heaven.  So I'm hoping for high tides.  

I am hoping to wear my yellow dress, cross the waters in the yellow tractor all under the gaze of the yellow sun. 

Happy days to you all.

Dress: Ribbons and Taylor, London
Cost: £28

Waiting for spring in 1950s style

It's been cold for too long now.

I have a dainty white shirt I bought from Hepwright's in January and I want to wear it.

The label says 1950s white blouse, so I googled 1950s white blouses and came up with lots of images that had similar Peter Pan collars,  embroidery and puffing down the front.

Today it's been blowing in the breeze in my back garden, but in real life it does look much smaller and more delicate.

I'm sure I'll spend all day a little worried that I'll stain it.  I'll manage somehow to miss the big pad of paper in front of me and get it on my shirt.  I remember patatas bravas tomato oil making a permanent mark on the nipple area of a new white and black striped vintage dress. Uchhhhhhh, I still wear it though with a badge strategically placed - ha - ridiculous?..possibly...do I care?.. nah!!!

I want to wear this skirt and top too. 

Do you think it will be way too much to wear the top and bottom bit together?  I tried it on with a thin burgundy belt - hair pulled back into a high bun and high high heels. 

I think the material is silk.  Old silk that will clearly show every little perspiration mark, but I'll endeavour not to sweat in it.   I'll walk slowly and make sure that I don't leave everything to the last minute.  I'm guessing this is 1950s too because it's the same collar shape as my white blouse. 

How I'd love to wear them tomorrow.

But I can't.

It's too cold.

It's spring, it's April and I'm still waiting for the warmth of the sun.

Blouse: Hepwright's: Southampton: £16
Jacket & Skirt: Hepwright's: Southampton: £28 but she gave it to me for £25 :0)

When can I wear my white and my brights?

I was late.  I am always late.

Running out the house without my coat would normally be a problem in the middle of Feb, but by the time I noticed my body was freer than normal I was too far away to turn back.  Getting it would mean being  noticeably late and that's not good when I'm still trying to make an impression.  

Today I wore a gently pink dress with vines of pink and green faded flowers growing in different directions.



Lady like pink wasn't my intention as I really wanted to wear the one above with deep splashes of bright colours, but I thought no...are you allowed to wear white and be so bright when winter still calls?

I bought three skirts a few months ago all in different shades - old, boiled washed and greyish. One is a dainty 1950s circular skirt from Vintage18.  I have white dresses lined up waiting to be worn.  Film stars, wife's of film legends, music queens, famous people famous for nothing are boldly stepping out in the colour I want to wear.  They look great in the mags and gossip pages, even if they look very very cold.

There have been plans to wear all my summer frocks right through the seasons of rain fall, slushy snow and when the dark colours best fit gloomy days. I was going to wear burgandy, navy, warm chestnut brown cardigans (I don't have any navy, burgandy or warm chestnut cardigans) with heavy boats and layer everything up on top of my white frocks.



But I didn't.

I failed this task as soon as I started trying to find cardigans - I couldn't be bothered.  Topshop did nice overpriced chunky knits, second hand shops had stacks of big bad knits that were way to itchy for my skin.   I did find one cream wollen cardi for £5.  It was tad too big, but now it's a tad too small cause I tumbled dried it to death. Sad face.

Urban Outfitters predictably and drastically reduced their prices, but my focu is now on saving my pennies for a trip to Montenegro rather than perfecting my winter summer look.

I asked someone today if summer was coming so I could start collecting a little courage to wear my whites. He said no and I thought oh.

Then my thinking too much brain thought why do I need courage to put on a weight dress?  Honestly - don't I have bigger things to worry about?  Don't I have to use my courage for other stuff and reserve it to bat away life's beasts when they roar?

But as much as life is about serious stuff, I'm aye ok sewating about the pretty stuff too.  Balance.  The thought of facing life's crap in a decent looking frock isn't so bad is it?




Dresses: Ribbons and Taylor: Church Street: All under £30 each

I like velvet now

 

Velvet is everywhere this winter.  

I've seen lots of red velvet, crushed and shaped into standard dress formats.  Today I contemplated buying a mulled wine coloured skirt in this material  with corduroy trimmings until I tried it on and it just didn't fit.  (sad face)

I've refrained from adding this delicious fabric to my wardrobe because there's already a dark green dress waiting for me at home.

When I was younger I always thought velvet was for older people.  Now that I'm that older person this dress makes me carry myself in in a different way.  I feel like a proper grown up and lady.

I found it amongst the crammed clothes rails at Judy's Vintage Fair in Durham.   When I pulled it out my friend told me it was yuk, but you've just got to trust your instincts and go with it.  So I did.

Why am I reaching for a window sill, in a back yard that looks derelict,  stepping on a dodgy chair?  

Velvet feels like a winter fabric.  But I'm happy to wear it any day of the year.  I bought a nice pink (some pinks are not nice) velvet jacket last year and wish I had never taken it back.  It would have made a great light summer throw on.  I'd love something velvet in navy blue and I was going to say sky blue until I remembered I already have one that I bought nearly 10 years ago.  I'm off to go and dig it out.  I think it's been in my "gone off you, but will like you again soon" drawer for way too long. 

I leave you to look at my feet.  

Shoes: Oasis Sale: £15
Tights: Not in Sale: Tabio

Glasgow and that red dress

This photo is special.  It's the day before Christmas.  I'm with my wonderful quirky cousins.  I am back in the street we all grew up and they still live.  I adore them and they were happy to help me take these pictures, despite the rain.

Sel's outfit isn't meant to mirror mine.  We needed someone to be the umbrella carrier, so he put down his study books, picked his outfit off the floor, put on the new trainers I gave him for xmas and brought his African cane.  Does everyone have a cane in their wardrobe?

I'd bought this dress from one of the vintage shops you should visit.  When you walk in you just want to buy everything.  This is my air hostess dress, well that's what I thought it looked like.

It was only £8, so I couldn't leave without it. It's slightly too big, but I don't mind that.  I might fix it, but I'll probably leave it.  That's one thing about buying second hand clothes.  You don't expect them to sit perfectly.  I sort of celebrate their flaws. 

These pictures remind me of how happy family makes me.  Being back home, the rain, the familiar damp bleak surroundings, the streets stamped with invisible memories, the stories my aunt (their mother) recounts every year like we've never heard them before. We laugh like we are hearing them for the first time.  We laugh very loud.   

Still in love with Vaudeville and Burlesque

I originally bought a Vaudeville & Burlesque dress because I was going to be my special friends bridesmaid.  I always say Julie is the closest thing I have to a sister and so was excited about the chilled out wedding on the family farm.   

We were going to drive tractors, wear wellies and dance in a barn. But then life happened, the wedding was postponed and they decided to elope.

Things changed again at the last minute, so today watched a unique couple say I do.  We had tea and cake at The Spinnaker Tower  and baby Rosie and I played lets make music with the sugar sachets.

I spent a few days searching for something to wear and then gave up.  I remembered this V&B dress in my wardrobe.   I didn't like it enough to buy it when it was £80, but at £12 -  I LOVED IT.  

I've worn it down the pub and when I'm really stuck for something to wear, I just pop it on.

The low V shape is meant to sit at the back, but sometimes I switch it around.  Anyway the wedding went well and I was upgrade to the Best Maid of Honor ever.

powerful but feminine

It skims over your curves in the best way possible.

That's how I would describe Vaudeville & Burlesque designs - a fusion of modern and vintage, contemporary and considered. The  elegance makes you feel pretty when you glide through a room. I think they are slightly provocative without making you feel less of a lady.

This one is my interview or first days at work dress. (I'm freelance so I have a lot of first days).

I accidently the it in the bin  a few weeks ago. Oh my, if I had lost it I would have reminisced about this dress forever.

The length is a wee bit long for me, but I don't plan on taking the hem up.  I've also ignored the dry cleaning label instructions, so it's looks a little weary.  I've mentioned holiday blue doors before.  It's my name for one of my favourite colours.

It's a good coincidence the back door to my old house is this colour, so it's a perfect place to take a photo...I think.

I bought this cream dress before I found the blue one.

It was supposed to be a bridesmaid dress, but that position was postponed and then cancelled. Eeeeeeeek!  It's the only one in my wardrobe that I haven't worn yet.

Summer come soon, so I can wear it

At £120 each, these beauties don't come cheap.  Emelia Wickstead, who is up for newcomer of the year at London's Fashion Week has designed the same shape dresses.  If you have over a grand then it's yours.

I happily watched the prices of my dresses go down.  When the cashier said £40 please, I silently thought I LOVE URBAN OUTFITTERS SALE.  Whoop. Whoop.

I think it was definitely worth the wait.


Dress: Urban Outfitters  
Shoes: Blue brown shoes: Office sale £15
Shoes: Red shoes: Office outlet £10