Last weekend I was a Tart

Yeah only last weekend! Me looking not my best at fab vintage event Tart.

Quite looking forward to this!

QueensOfVintage.com are having a  vintage styling workshop on the 28 November in London.

Here’s the blurb:

Just in time for Christmas QueensOfVintage.com is launching  its first ever workshop. The two-hour session, on vintage styling, is the perfect way to find out where to best shop for vintage, how to build a vintage collection, how to achieve a period look, and for all vintage newbies and all-round fashionistas, how to mix vintage with your existing wardrobe.

QueensOfVintage.com’s two hour workshop on vintage styling will be covering the basics of vintage shopping and styling for both accomplished vintage wearers and those interested in learning how to mix vintage pieces with modern fashion. There are only 20 exlusive places so book your ticket now!

Your stylist
Our very own Vintage Queen and coveted vintage stylist Naomi Thompson has been running her vintage shop and styling service Vintage Secret since 2007.  A ferocious vintage collector for 15 years, and a firm favourite with the international fashion press – she has been featured in the Observer as well as British Vogue among many-  Naomi learnt the trade form her grandmother who in turn had learnt it from her mother.

What
The two hour workshop will include:

-  Naomi’s top tips for collecting vintage
-  How to put together a vintage outfit based on era and body shape
-  Learn how to put together a complete era look 
-  How to mix and match vintage with with modern elements to create your own style
-  Q & A session on where to buy and source your vintage.

Naomi will also be bringing in some of her museum quality treasures, many of which have never been on show. You will have the opportunity to try on a completely new look.

Tickets are £35, click here to book

I’m off to the Lower East Side tonight

Unfortunately this won’t involve an actual trip to NYC (sigh), instead I’ll be heading down to Carnaby Street. Throughout October independent boutiques from New York’s Lower East Side have set up two pop-up shops in Carnaby Street’s Newburgh Quarter. US shops taking part in this Wish You Were Here Swap include vintage shop Hairy Mary’s Vintage and intriguing fashion label  In God We Trust.

Add to this a New York food market and I’m sold. Someone please give me a Greencard!

One thing to look forward to in 2010

Vintage at Goodwood, a new event celebrating five decades of British cool, is the brainchild of designers Gerardine and Wayne Hemmingway and Lord March (him of the Goodwood Revival). Launching in September 2010, the annual event will be a festival celebrating the best of British design, fashion and music from the Forties to the Eighties.

I’ll be attending their launch event at this year’s Goodwood Revival, can’t wait!

Moi je suis Coco

Me at the Chanel flash mob, fifth from the left wearing a hat.

The Chanel fash mob: London’s first ever fashion-themed flash mob

QueensOfVintage.com hosted the Chanel fash mob yesterday in hommage to the grande dame of fashion.

Join the Chanel fash mob

QueensOfVintage.com is organizing a Chanel fash mob for nest week Thursday 30 July.

“Put on your best Chanel or dress as the grande dame of fashion herself in a LBD and faux pearls and join the QueensOfVintage.com fashmob on Thursday, 30 July 2009 at 18.00 at St Pancras International station. The first 15 Chanel lovers to turn up will receive an exlusive Coco Avant Chanel gift. To celebrate the launch of the much anticipated film Coco Before Chanel (UK release 31 July 2009) starring Audrey Tautou, QueensOfVintage.com will be hosting,  the first ever Chanel fashmob (not flashmob) in homage to one of history’s greatest fashion designers.

Fashion lovers and vintage queens will gather in their finest attire to wave at the Eurostar and share their enthusiasm for the legendary Parisian label. The first 5 to join our get-together will be receiving Chanel biographies, while the first fifteen can bag themselves the exclusive soundtrack to Coco Before Chanel.”

Are you in London this Saturday?

If so, come and see me and my fellow Vintage Queen Tara at our stall at the Affordable Vintage Fashion fair. We’re having a raffle and will be handing out free retro cakes. But best of all we’ll be doing free vintage make-overs, so come and chat to our make-up artist and get your victory rolls sorted! The lovely Fleur de Guerre will also be there looking fabulous.

Riding the new wave

I love love love the French Nouvelle Vague, some of the best films ever emerged from this amazing cinematic movement. To celebrate the New Wave’s 50th anniversary, we’ve teamed up with the BFI over at QueensOfVintage.com to give away free cinema tickets, a DVD and a book. Do go and check it out, I’m more than jealous that I can’t enter the competition myself…

Flapper not slapper

I went to a 1920s prohibition party yesterday. It was organized by the same people who did the amazing 40s Blitz party so I had high expectations of a great night of sipping whiskey from tea cups and a spot of gambling. Unfortunately it turned out less a vintage lover’s dream but just an average club night with most of the women confusing the idea of flapper with wearing corsets and Pocahontas feather headband. No, didn’t like it.

My friend Irma. She’s a huge Louise Brooks fan as you can tell!

Me…

My QueensOfVintage.com debuty editor Tara (left) and two of her friends