Bloglovin!
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12896695/?claim=9mp7fptryjy">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
Boxing Day Sales Wishlist
Dear Readers,
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas which was filled with all the things you love. Something which is getting a bigger deal these days is the boxing day sales which I hear some people began queueing for at 10pm on Christmas Day. That's a little extreme for me and I much more prefer to do a spot of online shopping. For a start there's much more online that interests me and I think that the postage fee is a small price to pay for the luxury of not having to bother with the high street. We all have a few things that we had hoped to receive for Christmas or that we are particularly looking out for in the sales so here's my little wishlist of what I would like from the Boxing Day sales. I have been very good and only bought one thing, which was terribly difficult.
Vivien of Holloway has an amazing sale on at the moment and most of the things I found seem to come from this shop. I do not own anything from Vivien of Holloway which is something I would love to correct. This dress immediately jumped out at me and is their 1940's dress in Meadow Navy. I love the detailing in the design down the side and it looks like it would give you a good nip in at the waist which is something that is very important to me. I find that I don't feel as attractive if my waist is all covered up and it avoids that dreaded granny vibe that I sometimes feel with wearing vintage. This dress is a bargain £49.00 at the moment.
The next item that my heart instantly desired as soon as I saw it was these lovely swing trousers in a smart brown herringbone tweed. So stylish and practical in the current weather we are experiencing. I find these look incredibly flattering and they don't look to have the masses of fabric in the leg which most swing trousers have. While I know the large amount of fabric is a part of the style I do find it gets a little flappy and annoying. Having a side closure on trousers is also very flattering to the old tum as the fabric skims right over instead of accentuating anything. These are are bargainous £35.00 of your English pounds!
Next I tootled over to Collectif and even though their sale started before Christmas and it was so popular that it crashed their site there was still a few items to peruse. My eye was caught by this, the charming Betty Lou polka dot chiffon dress, and as I am nautical theme mad I just had to have it in navy. It looks so floaty and light for summer wear so I may have to wait until the summer before I get to wear it. While the model seems to be wearing a white slip beneath I would probably experiment with a black one as this will make the dots pop out more without being too noticeable beneath. This was only £29.75.
Freddies of Pinewood has to be one of my all time favourite reproduction brands. I own two pairs of their jeans and they are such good quality. I could wear my 1940's work jeans all of the time which is why I suppose I was drawn to this lovely little 1940s work blouse. I just loved it in peach though it is not in the sales it is still only £35.00. It's compadre in ice blue is in the sale at £25.00.
I then popped over to Lady K Loves and it's crazy but I have never even looked at this site before. It's crazy because they have so many lovely clothes that look so stunning and flattering. Now I realise I seem to have gone for mainly 1940s things and I thought this Rodeo Queen Top would be just the thing to shake it up and end on a high note. The bright red, the stars, the fringing! All of it is just so much it's amazing. Can you imagine me marching down Lincoln high street in this? I can! And for only £11.00, you heard right folks, I could cry that this is not available in my size.
Anyway folks I hope you find something lovely to treat yourselves with this boxing day. Even if you're all spent out with Christmas there's some real bargains out there for nearly any purse. While I did buy one dress I had to be very strict with myself because of my New Year's Resolution, though it could be argued that it's not the New Year yet, hhmmm how very tempting!
ttfn!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas which was filled with all the things you love. Something which is getting a bigger deal these days is the boxing day sales which I hear some people began queueing for at 10pm on Christmas Day. That's a little extreme for me and I much more prefer to do a spot of online shopping. For a start there's much more online that interests me and I think that the postage fee is a small price to pay for the luxury of not having to bother with the high street. We all have a few things that we had hoped to receive for Christmas or that we are particularly looking out for in the sales so here's my little wishlist of what I would like from the Boxing Day sales. I have been very good and only bought one thing, which was terribly difficult.
Vivien of Holloway has an amazing sale on at the moment and most of the things I found seem to come from this shop. I do not own anything from Vivien of Holloway which is something I would love to correct. This dress immediately jumped out at me and is their 1940's dress in Meadow Navy. I love the detailing in the design down the side and it looks like it would give you a good nip in at the waist which is something that is very important to me. I find that I don't feel as attractive if my waist is all covered up and it avoids that dreaded granny vibe that I sometimes feel with wearing vintage. This dress is a bargain £49.00 at the moment.
The next item that my heart instantly desired as soon as I saw it was these lovely swing trousers in a smart brown herringbone tweed. So stylish and practical in the current weather we are experiencing. I find these look incredibly flattering and they don't look to have the masses of fabric in the leg which most swing trousers have. While I know the large amount of fabric is a part of the style I do find it gets a little flappy and annoying. Having a side closure on trousers is also very flattering to the old tum as the fabric skims right over instead of accentuating anything. These are are bargainous £35.00 of your English pounds!
Next I tootled over to Collectif and even though their sale started before Christmas and it was so popular that it crashed their site there was still a few items to peruse. My eye was caught by this, the charming Betty Lou polka dot chiffon dress, and as I am nautical theme mad I just had to have it in navy. It looks so floaty and light for summer wear so I may have to wait until the summer before I get to wear it. While the model seems to be wearing a white slip beneath I would probably experiment with a black one as this will make the dots pop out more without being too noticeable beneath. This was only £29.75.
Freddies of Pinewood has to be one of my all time favourite reproduction brands. I own two pairs of their jeans and they are such good quality. I could wear my 1940's work jeans all of the time which is why I suppose I was drawn to this lovely little 1940s work blouse. I just loved it in peach though it is not in the sales it is still only £35.00. It's compadre in ice blue is in the sale at £25.00.
I then popped over to Lady K Loves and it's crazy but I have never even looked at this site before. It's crazy because they have so many lovely clothes that look so stunning and flattering. Now I realise I seem to have gone for mainly 1940s things and I thought this Rodeo Queen Top would be just the thing to shake it up and end on a high note. The bright red, the stars, the fringing! All of it is just so much it's amazing. Can you imagine me marching down Lincoln high street in this? I can! And for only £11.00, you heard right folks, I could cry that this is not available in my size.
Anyway folks I hope you find something lovely to treat yourselves with this boxing day. Even if you're all spent out with Christmas there's some real bargains out there for nearly any purse. While I did buy one dress I had to be very strict with myself because of my New Year's Resolution, though it could be argued that it's not the New Year yet, hhmmm how very tempting!
ttfn!
Why I Wear Vintage
Dear Readers,
I must apologise for having not written to you for so long. I've recently been under a great deal of stress for a number of reasons and while I feel I have got much better at handling stress I also recognised that instead of sitting in front of a laptop on my evenings and weekends what I needed was to focus on myself for a little while; have bubble baths, get back to doing the things that bring me joy, and occasionally spend a few evenings on the sofa as a blubbering mess. It's good, gets it all out.
While I have been away I have not forgotten my little corner of the internet and so I wanted to get back into it by talking about something which has been on my mind for some time. I feel I must be honest with you now and come right out with it. I don't wear vintage all of the time. And before anyone points it out I am aware of the irony that this is a self titled vintage blog and yet here I am confessing that I don't wear vintage all of the time. But how interesting that language is! I feel I am "confessing" as if this is something which shouldn't be so, which is a crime.
I wear vintage because I enjoy it, because I want to go against the modern "norms" of what women should, and shouldn't, be wearing but most of all I wear it because it makes me feel like "me". I feel comfortable in it and as though it is a window to my personality. In my opinion what I wear is a means to display my character but that character has many different interests, expressions, facets; if I were to wear only one thing or one style I would feel very one dimensional indeed. For example some days I enjoy wearing little flowery dresses with chunky black boots; I feel the juxtaposition is interesting and it's also downright practical and comfy.
However sometimes when I don't wear vintage I get a strange reaction from some people. As if I am out of place or do not quite fit with what their mental image of me is and they do not like it. They say in disappointed tones "oh you're not wearing vintage today" and then I feel like I've let them down for some reason which I realise is crazy. I don't wear vintage to please other people I wear it to please me. After these little encounters I usually end up with "I'm not enough" thoughts which I find most unpleasant as I sit there looking on-line at vintage shops thinking "I'm not vintage enough, I need a whole new wardrobe".
In my life I enjoy a great many influences on my likes and passions, including the clothes I wear. I wear my clothes as ever changing painting of the personality within, to show different parts of my character or depending on different moods I am in. I hope you all dear readers feel able to express your personalities in whatever outlet works best for you. And most of all I hope you do not experience the "I'm not enough" thoughts, they are pesky yet destructive creatures, and you most definitely are enough.
ttfn!
ttfn!
Just Me
Dear Readers,
2. I have been with Indi for about 3 and a half years now but I met him when I was 16 (a decade ago eek!).
14. I drink tea, earl grey, hot.
15. I love Disney movies and once someone said I am a real life Disney princess. That was a great day.
The other day I was tagged by the lovely Jess over at Just That Girl Online who I met at Lincoln Bloggers Club the other week. It's called the Just Me tag and it's a nice way for you all to get to know a little more about me. So the first part is 25 facts about me which I don't know if I can manage because I'm really not that interesting but here goes!
1. I sing classical soprano in a choir. I absolutely love singing and sing all of the time. There's something about it that I find that gives me a boost and releases lots of stress.
2. I have been with Indi for about 3 and a half years now but I met him when I was 16 (a decade ago eek!).
3. My name is Rowena but my Mum and Indi call me Beens; though I hate it when people call me Row. Unfortunately though a lot of people do call me Row because I feel the moment has passed in which I can say anything.
4. I'm guessing it's already quite apparent but I love vintage; particularly the 1940's and 1950's.
5. I am a strident feminist.
6. I have a rabbit called Philip and if you follow me on instagram you will probably see many pictures of him. He's the most handsome rabbit I have ever met, but then I suppose all bunny mummies think that.
7. I still have my childhood teddy. He is a lion called Brian and I won him on a tombola which was raising money for the Lincolnshire Lions.
8. I love yoga but don't do it nearly enough.
9. I have never been to a gymnasium. And I never shall.
10. I love Hallowe'en!
11. I love my body. Isn't that a crazy thought, to love our bodies, and yet so many of us don't and actually I feel quite vain for coming out and saying it. I feel that since I have started wearing vintage I have come to accept that my body doesn't really fit in with modern beauty standards but that's not my body's fault so I'm not going to punish it or hate it and you know what? Modern beauty standards don't fit in with my body!
12. I am a nerd. Particularly a Dr Who nerd.
13. I swear a lot which people find a bit of a shock really. I think it's because they assume I'm going to be prim and proper based on the way I look but really I think swearing is good. It's expressive and I enjoy creative swears.
14. I drink tea, earl grey, hot.15. I love Disney movies and once someone said I am a real life Disney princess. That was a great day.
16. I really want to visit the Deep South one day.
17. I started wearing vintage about 4 or 5 years ago.
18. When I started wearing vintage my biggest hero was Lola Lamour and I have now met her a few times.
19. I'm quite a daddy's girl; he's honestly the most hilarious person I have ever met.
20. I love doing my hair in different styles and I think it's the one thing I get the most compliments on.
21. My biggest guilty pleasure music-wise is 1980s music. Well actually I don't even think I feel guilty about it. I particularly love Kate Bush and Ultravox. Oh but also I enjoy metal music every now and again.
22. I don't like the Bake Off or the Sewing Bee and yet people always assume I must love both of those shows. In fact my favourite shows are Dr Who (obviously because I am a massive Whovian) and Gogglebox.
23. I can't stand "shabby chic" and think it is better described as shabby vandalism.
24. I enjoy sewing, or more accurately I enjoy the idea of sewing.
25. I have an older sister, Jess, she lives in London and writes what not over at Two Thirds Nerd.
Wow I made it, but trust me there was lots of tea consumed to get this far. But wait, there's more! I now have to answer some questions.
 |
| Add caption |
1. What is the meaning behind your blog name?
Well I pretty much chose it because I wanted people to instantly know that this was a blog about vintage and I'm based in Lincoln.
2. Best thing that happened to you this year?
Indi proposed to me and after snatching the ring out of his fingers I said yes. I can't say any more otherwise it will get really saccharine and I don't want to inflict that on you, dear readers.
3. Why do you blog?
I'm not totally sure really. I think I started because we go to so many vintage events throughout the year that I wanted to record them in a way but more lately I think I am going to blog as a way of keeping a diary of the things that make me happy.
4. What are you afraid of?
The UKIP party getting to power.
5. One beauty product you would recommend to your readers?
I'm really not a beauty blogger and tend to stick quite rigidly to my same old routine. I guess the thing I love the most is distilled which hazel. It can be a bit strong if used neat on your skin but my skin is fine with it. I use it as a toner because it is an natural astringent but it's also great for cuts, bites, bruises, you name it! My friend once told me that I am like the Dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding only I'm obsessed with which hazel and he is obsessed with window-lean.
So anyway folks I hope that was interesting or if it was boring that it lulled you into the most amazing sleep you have had for a long time. I am going to tag Miss Botha, Mr Wharff, and Nella to tell us some facts about themselves or answer the above questions.
ttfn!
ttfn!
East Bridgford Hill Wedding Fair
We loved seeing the flowers made by the lovely and very talented Bryony at Ledger's Florals and I got all giddy holding the bouquets. I think it still hasn't quite sunk in so when we do things like look at wedding rings or look at flowers it gradually becomes more real and "this is happening" and then I get all goofy as my Dad would say. We really loved the orchid buttonhole flower because orchids are special to us since we went to see the orchid exhibition at Kew Gardens for one of our first dates.
Like I said we had a really wonderful time and everyone was so helpful and nice but my only slight bugbear was that it didn't seem all that vintage to me. Maybe it's because we are very interested in the 1940s and 1950s and have been for so long but even then we have never been too particular about everything being period accurate so long as we are happy. But more and more these days I really wonder just what constitutes as vintage. Oh dear that sounds like a right moan and it wasn't meant to be; perhaps it is a ponder for another blog post one day!
ttfn!
Exciting Announcement!
Dear Readers,
Something very exciting happened in our little house after we got back from Whitby. We were sitting on the sofa discussing the weekend and had just finished watching Doctor Who; well when I say discussing I was actually giving Indi a ticking off for not having proposed to me while we were away. "Do you know how freezing cold I got walking up and down that pier thinking you were going to propose?" I demanded. He looked down and then to my actual surprise pulled out a ring from his pocket. I frantically waved my hands over it saying "no no no!" but only because I then felt that I had forced him into the situation when it might not be right. He repeated said will you marry me until I realised that this was it, he was determined to propose and as it happened it was the right time; for us anyway. On the sofa watching nerdy telly is something we really love and I have such wonderful times with him laughing and being dorky. Well once I had realised that I promptly stopped saying no, said yes and popped that ring on my finger.
And that ring! Oh it's only 1920's sapphire and diamond set in white gold with a yellow gold band. It is my most prized possession and I love everything about it. It's vintage, romantic, and not too flashy. I like that the diamonds are small as I've never been a big diamond kind of girl. I like the arrangement too and it reminds me of two stars and the night sky. Anyway I really am getting soppy now, aren't I!
Anyway there is it folks; sorry about the photograph but it was taken just after he had proposed, and yes those are my pyjama's in the background!
ttfn!
Something very exciting happened in our little house after we got back from Whitby. We were sitting on the sofa discussing the weekend and had just finished watching Doctor Who; well when I say discussing I was actually giving Indi a ticking off for not having proposed to me while we were away. "Do you know how freezing cold I got walking up and down that pier thinking you were going to propose?" I demanded. He looked down and then to my actual surprise pulled out a ring from his pocket. I frantically waved my hands over it saying "no no no!" but only because I then felt that I had forced him into the situation when it might not be right. He repeated said will you marry me until I realised that this was it, he was determined to propose and as it happened it was the right time; for us anyway. On the sofa watching nerdy telly is something we really love and I have such wonderful times with him laughing and being dorky. Well once I had realised that I promptly stopped saying no, said yes and popped that ring on my finger.
And that ring! Oh it's only 1920's sapphire and diamond set in white gold with a yellow gold band. It is my most prized possession and I love everything about it. It's vintage, romantic, and not too flashy. I like that the diamonds are small as I've never been a big diamond kind of girl. I like the arrangement too and it reminds me of two stars and the night sky. Anyway I really am getting soppy now, aren't I!
Anyway there is it folks; sorry about the photograph but it was taken just after he had proposed, and yes those are my pyjama's in the background!
ttfn!
Lincoln Bloggers Club 2014
Dear Readers,
Yesterday I attended my first ever blogger meet up which was amazing! I have to admit that beforehand I was pretty nervous and even unsure about going as I was worried it would be purely beauty bloggers there and that my blog wouldn't really fit in with that. How wrong I was as there were all sorts of bloggers there including a human rights activist blogger! Still this post is a shift away from the vintage and is more in the lifestyle direction of my blog.
The first part of the afternoon was spent at Lush who did lots of demonstrations of their products for us and even some exclusives on products which are not yet out in the shops. What really caught my eye was the lipsticks though; this is no surprise as I'm a massive lipstick addict. They had quite a large range of colours were actually a liquid applied with a doe foot applicator. Like the Velvetines by Limecrime and their corresponding dupe Luxe Lip Lacquer by MUA they dry matt and are highly pigmented. I was very taken with these products but so close to Christmas I refrained as Velvetines are actually on my Christmas list already. I did, however, treat myself to a bath bomb and I also bought a Christmas present for someone else.
After that we headed over to Rock, Paper, Scissors for afternoon tea and also a demonstration by Suzie at Xenica products. They have a great range of organic and cruelty free skincare and make up products. They also do nutritional products and she kindly swapped the eye shadow gifts she had given us all for a pot of their Five a Day +V as I really never wear colourful eyeshadow. I'm really looking forward to trying this product out as it provides the same nutritional content as 5 fruit and veg. Being a pescetarian I feel I already have a relatively healthy diet but I occasionally take supplements when I feel I need it.
The demonstration took place while we helped ourselves to a lovely afternoon tea which was put on for us by Rock, Paper, Scissors. I already love this place and if you have never been then I highly recommend you do! I have done three classes with her now and have made a shift dress, half circle skirt, and a tea dress. I love them all plus you get a slice of cake at the end; or very close to the end when you start to get a little grumpy and need a little pick me up!
All in all it as a great afternoon but what I loved the most was meeting other bloggers in the area who I had no idea were out there. Finding out about them, their style, and what they enjoy writing about was really interesting. Thank you so much to Aimee over at aimee belle blog for organising such an interesting and friendly event.
ttfn!
Yesterday I attended my first ever blogger meet up which was amazing! I have to admit that beforehand I was pretty nervous and even unsure about going as I was worried it would be purely beauty bloggers there and that my blog wouldn't really fit in with that. How wrong I was as there were all sorts of bloggers there including a human rights activist blogger! Still this post is a shift away from the vintage and is more in the lifestyle direction of my blog.
The first part of the afternoon was spent at Lush who did lots of demonstrations of their products for us and even some exclusives on products which are not yet out in the shops. What really caught my eye was the lipsticks though; this is no surprise as I'm a massive lipstick addict. They had quite a large range of colours were actually a liquid applied with a doe foot applicator. Like the Velvetines by Limecrime and their corresponding dupe Luxe Lip Lacquer by MUA they dry matt and are highly pigmented. I was very taken with these products but so close to Christmas I refrained as Velvetines are actually on my Christmas list already. I did, however, treat myself to a bath bomb and I also bought a Christmas present for someone else.After that we headed over to Rock, Paper, Scissors for afternoon tea and also a demonstration by Suzie at Xenica products. They have a great range of organic and cruelty free skincare and make up products. They also do nutritional products and she kindly swapped the eye shadow gifts she had given us all for a pot of their Five a Day +V as I really never wear colourful eyeshadow. I'm really looking forward to trying this product out as it provides the same nutritional content as 5 fruit and veg. Being a pescetarian I feel I already have a relatively healthy diet but I occasionally take supplements when I feel I need it.
The demonstration took place while we helped ourselves to a lovely afternoon tea which was put on for us by Rock, Paper, Scissors. I already love this place and if you have never been then I highly recommend you do! I have done three classes with her now and have made a shift dress, half circle skirt, and a tea dress. I love them all plus you get a slice of cake at the end; or very close to the end when you start to get a little grumpy and need a little pick me up!
All in all it as a great afternoon but what I loved the most was meeting other bloggers in the area who I had no idea were out there. Finding out about them, their style, and what they enjoy writing about was really interesting. Thank you so much to Aimee over at aimee belle blog for organising such an interesting and friendly event.
ttfn!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)