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Tag Archives: vintage fashion

Bournemouth Photos!


I had a wonderful time in Bournemouth when I went there to perform at a Blitz Ball! I have never really walked around the town before, but once you look passed the chain stores, there are some real treasures! It is a relatively new town, born in 1810, so the architecture is a gorgeous mix with some fabulous 1920’s bits thrown in (and the obligatory modern catastrophes!). There is one place we found just outside the town with a whole street of vintage and antique shops, so for a whole day we staggered open-mouthed around a treasure trove of curiosities.

The Blitz Ball went really well and was held at the Bournemouth Flying Club at the airport. Unfortunately due to the weather, the daytime event was postponed, making the dance less popular. It was a shame as the DJ was fantastic and the hosts a delight. I have experience myself of hosting Blitz Balls and know what hard work they are and how much money can be lost through the expense and hard work it takes. ST Events did a grand job, but obviously couldn’t help the weather that had scuppered its big day. Ah well, other people’s loss is my gain as there was more room to dance!

The people that were there were dressed up to the nines, whether they were 1940’s enthusiasts or not! I did a singing set early in the evening before donning my bomber girl corset for a fan dance at 10.30. Low and behold one of the staves snapped just as I was finishing my last spin! The feathery swine!!!

For the rest of the evening I wore a gorgeous original 1940’s gown with red and white stripes that I bought at Stoneleigh Militaria and a pair of pale blue Johnson’s Originals shoes, with a hair bow to match.

I hope you enjoy the photos below, I will do a separate post about Russell Cotes House as it was too incredible not to warrant its own article…

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Stoneleigh Militaria 2014


Well what a wonderful show! I haven’t been for 6 years, so was surprised to see no entertainment or music at all at the event. Luckily I had an awful lot of exciting and random reunions that filled my time! Rex from War and Peace Revival, Paul from Wartime in the Vale, Dave King and the boys from Military World Magazine where I signed some copies of Issue 16, photographer Lee Parker, Maria and Ashley Elliot with their gorgeous little bundle, a wonderful chap who was on the Berliner journey and more besides!

I purchased a wonderful military bakelite microphone, which I later found doesn’t flipping work, so will have to try and get it fixed and a few other goodies. We really enjoyed the show and it was great to see some familiar faces and we made some new friends too!

Militaria Show Web

For those interested in fashion – The shoes are Red Cross 1940’s and original 40’s silk fully fashioned stockings. The suit is 1940’s with crepe silk lining and has a matching HUGE stole in the same wool with pale pink fox trim (I did not bring it with me). My wonderful blouse is a waffle texture by Heyday Online! The hat is a beautiful 1930’s original with black velvet detailing and the pin on my lapel is tortoise shell and silver inlay with a George V crest (1st World War). The Muff is 1930’s/ 40’s with a zip purse pocket (I know, sooooo handy!!!) and crepe silk interior.

Heyday Online’s New Spring Range for 2013!


It’s what sooooo many of us have been waiting for! Shona at Heyday Online has been working tirelessly to bring some new lines into her fabulous collection for 2013. PaPa Mew took some lovely shots in the garden and Candee Photography and I did a wonderful shoot just before Christmas. Mr Mew and I took some snaps this January for the men’s line too!

Here are some of the exciting styles that you could be wondering around War and Peace Revival in this year…and yes….the purple dress is THAT yummy…

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Kitten von Mew modelling Heyday’s 50’s dress. Taken by Candee Photography

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Kitten von Mew modelling Heyday Online’s 1950’s style dress. Taken by Candee Photography

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Heyday Online’s new 1940’s style dress modelled by Kitten von Mew. Photograph by Candee Photography

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Kitten von Mew modelling Heyday’s New long sleeved blouse. Taken by Malcolm Davis

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Kitten von Mew modelling new long sleeved blouse by Heyday Online! Taken by Malcolm Davis

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Heyday Online’s new pinstripe trousers, modelled by Richard von Mew. Photo by Kitten von Mew

So start saving up those ration stamps now and treat yourself to some incredible new trousers, blouses or dresses for this year’s events. Keep checking the Heyday website for new items!

Big Beautiful Barbara Brown


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Big Beautiful Barbara Brown Patriotic Playsuit, modelled by Kitten von Mew, Taken by Mr Mew

There are very few repro vintage shops that I really like. The main let down is fabric patterns (and materials on some occasion) more reminiscent of a 1980’s Neighbours wedding ceremony and the lack of authenticity of style.

Everyone knows what a fiend I am for Heyday Online, but I also wanted to draw your attention to Big Beautiful Barbara Brown, who also makes 1940’s and 50’s style women’s clothing.
I was lucky enough to receive a satin playsuit and a GORGEOUS floral dress that has a circle skirt and tie at the chest.

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Big Beautiful Barbara Brown Dress modelled by Kitten von Mew. Taken by Mr Mew

There are a great choice of fabrics and colours and on some things you can choose your own from swatches on the website, making your item rather bespoke! You can select the top half of the play suit and then the bottom half, just for £50! Craaaaaazy!

She has dresses, evening gowns, tops, shorts, playsuits and more. Go take a look…

1940’s Style Hair Snoods


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Kitten von Mew modelling a custom hair snood and matching bag by Arthelia’s Attic. Photographed by Richard von Mew

Hair snoods are the perfect head wear for vintage events, bad hair days and when you are pin curling your hair!

Most are available in the Medieval and Civil War styles,which were popular in WWII thanks to the Gone with the Wind and Robin Hood movies. Crocheted hair nets became popular for factory workers, especially those who fashioned Veronica Lake’s flowing tresses, only to end up with them caught in a machine. Snood stopped such awful accidents from occurring and became a fashionable and useful item for war work and beyond.

There are still a lot of people who recreate these hair snoods today, but not many who also focus on the more unique styles!

Naomi at Arthelia’s Attic on Etsy makes her snoods from original patterns and can even custom make them with crocheted flowers or a matching purse!

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Check our her beautiful designs and treat yourself to something a little different but 100 times more stunning than a standard knitted snood. Check our her swell online store!

Gizmon iPhone 4 Covers


Kitten von Mew with the Gizmon iPhone Case

I HAVE to tell you about these amazing iPhone covers! I have seen some cases that are disguised as old cameras by having a photographic image on the back or silicone rubber moulded into a vague shape, but THIS is the Ferrari of all phone cases.

I contacted Gizmon to say how fantastic their iPhone covers were for vintage peeps like myself, who still need to carry their phones around at events. How amazing would it be to walk around with this, instead of hiding your phone in your bag or pocket? So they sent me one to feature on my blog and show at events. Roll on summer!

There are 3 colours to choose from – Black, brown (shown) or a grey-white. The coloured part is a silicone rubber and the rest is plastic but looks incredibly realistic. With the phone cover you get a carry sock, 2 little rings that fit either side so you can put it on a camera strap, a slightly flatter ‘lens’ for the front, which is less bulky and an attachment for the bottom so that you can put it on a tripod!

Fitting the iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S, it comes apart in 4 pieces and easily assembles. You can use all the functions of the phone when the case is on, including making and taking calls, texting, charging and there is a hole for headphones too.

The 4 parts of the Gizmon phone cover

So, onto taking pictures! You will see the original iPhone camera lens – bottom left. The big lens on the cover in non-functioning, but incredibly convincing! The Gizmon iCA Case uses your volume buttons (top left in photo) to focus and take pictures, so it looks like you are using the shutter button of a real camera!

Currently Gizmon sell these cases in Japan, China and the USA. They are $65, but really worth it if you want to disguise your phone with a realistic cover. I know I will use this all the time at events and sometimes it can be so fiddly taking photos and pressing the right button!

A list of online stores, including Amazon, that are selling the Gizmon iCA phone case can be found HERE.

The great news is that the company now plan to release matching camera straps, tripods and full leather cases too! They already manufacture a macro lens and fish eye lens that screw onto the bottom left of the iPhone cover for great photographic effects.