Slick City Style

How do you dress for work? I'm guessing you're a pretty stylish lady or you wouldn't be bothering to read blogs about fashion and style, unless you're a relative of mine.

I bet that despite your obvious style and taste that you so often fall back on black trousers and some kind of jersey or knit top when heading off to work, the place you spend most of your time. Of course it's entirely possible that there is a uniform where you work, or that you work somewhere very formal and have to wear a suit. It is equally possible that I am absolutely wrong and you are one of those women who swans into work in the morning looking like she has just leapt from the pages of Vogue, beautifully accessorized, professional yet stylish. If so, may I add, I hate you.

Most of us are just grateful we can get out of bed and make it to the office in time. I make an effort to accessorize occasionally, adding my chunky bangles, only to discover that it is really not possible to spend all day at a PC wearing the things without going nuts at the noise of them clanking on the desk.

But wouldn't it be *nice* to go to work feeling stylish, professional and dare I say it, attractive, without spending all day fiddling with buttons and pulling things down?

So today I have trawled the wilds of Internet shopping (and my own stock, natch) and put together 3 outfits that I think are professional, stylish and comfortable.

Show them you mean business by going back to 80s Power Dressing.

This navy coat dress is easy to put on in the morning when you can barely see, and looks smart and business like. It costs £14.99 from Retro Chick

Team it with this black bag, £24 from Faith, funky but comfortable court shoes, £55 from Office and these funky black vintage beads from Michelles Vintage Jewellery.

Great for a big meeting day, or when you're looking for a raise!



Mix and match separates by teaming this 1970s Debenhams check skirt, £9.99, from Retro Chick, with a modern ruched sleeve jumper, £28 from Topshop.

Add interest with colourful venetian glass beads from Forzieri and vintage cream woven leather loafers from Retro Chick.

This is a great preppy look that
works every day.



If you're someone who wants to stand out a little bit more at work, or you want something a bit special for a Friday to go day to evening dinner date then wear this beautiful 1950s Betty Barclay red poodle dress, $265 from Posh Girl Vintage.

Go the whole way and team it with 50s style red court shoes, $24.50 from Wet Seal, this vintage lace panel handbag, £30 from Candy Says and pair of winged diamante glasses $6.99 from Girl Props.

This look certainly won't get you overlooked and I don't know about you, but I think it would make my day at work feel more fun...

Rain rain go away.....

It's raining today :o(

After the beautiful weather I've got used to over the last few weeks it's a bit of a shock to the system, though I do like the sound of the rain on my windows, it's very calming, and for some reason rain on Sundays makes me think of being a kid. It must have rained a lot in the 80s....

I'm supposed to be going to a burlesque event in aid of a breast cancer charity this afternoon, and am likely to get quite soggy, so to cheer myself up I thought I'd look at some of the more stylish ways of keeping dry in the rain.

A stylish cover up is essential.



Go classic in this vintage 1970s Burberry Trench Coat. Available on Ebay and going super cheap on the basis it needs a clean!





If your style is a little more funky and retro, then a classic vintage 80s zip front anorak might be more your style.

I am so sure I had one just like this!




Alternatively go dark and glamourous for evening wear in this deep burgundy red satin trench coat.










A more elegant solution to staying dry is an umbrella. I adore umbrellas, I think they are beautiful, however I am also a terrible one for leaving them under chairs in pubs, so I never use anything too expensive or beautiful that I would be sad to lose.

If you are more organised than me then there are some beautiful vintage umbrellas on Ebay.

This beautiful bamboo handled Paragon & Fox umbrella is currently just £5.99 with only 10 hours left to go on the auction.

And I adore the stunning green colour of this vintage Fulton & Co umbrella. Bright colours are a perfect antidote to gloomy grey skies.



Of course, there is always the option of a vintage look umbrella without the possibility of discovering in the middle of a downpour that the preceding 50 years have rendered your beloved umbrella less than waterproof.


This modern reproduction is available from signature bella at $96 it's certainly not cheap, but it is stunning!









So now I have some stylish ways to stay dry suddenly the rain doesn't seen quite so gloomy...

Do you remember the 80s?

Do you remember the 80s? I was born in 1979, so the 80s was my childhood, so I remember it, but was just that little bit too young to REALLY appreciate it. Nethertheless the recent resurgence of 1980s fashion and music took me a little by surprise. At first it was a bit odd, but now it's almost a chance to enjoy all the things I was slightly too young for the first time round.

There were two sides to the 80s fashion, the punky new romantic side. Think Neon and plastic. Prom dresses and skinny ties, boxy jackets worn over skinny jeans.

Personally I had a fantastic pair of neon green cycling shorts in the 80s, and I did odd neon pink and green socks.

This was, typically of teenage fashion, about exagerating the differences between teenagers and their parents who had grown up during the 60s and 70s, and at times harked back to the 50s with prom dresses and pencil skirts being back in vogue.

In stock at the moment I have this funky purple pleated skirt with neon flecks all over it, makes me very nostalgic!

I also have this great neon pink shirt, which is very rockabilly style.

I think it would look great worn with a pencil skirt and heels, and maybe some leather gloves. Very Debbie Harry.

Of course on the other side of this was the grown up power dressing yuppie look. This was all about minimising the differences between men and women in the workplace. Women wanted to be appreciated for their ability to do the job and prove they were as good as any man.

Dallas style shoulder pads, nipped in waists and boxy androgynous suits were worn with big power hair and severe make up.

This 1980s Coat Dress by Alexiane Couture is a perfect example. Taking a traditionally masculine style, a double breasted suit jacket, and subverting it by nipping in the waist.

This is a seriously grown up look and means business. I was way too young for this in the 80s, but I remember my Mum wearing a beautiful Berketex monochrome spotted blouse with shoulder pads and a peplum over a black pencil skirt.

I haven't yet taken the plunge into giving the look a try this time round, my fear of looking like I'm wearing my Mums clothes is still too great as 80s fashion reminds me of being a kid.

I have dug my 80s "Stars of Tomorrow" T shirt out of a drawer (I won it in a talent competition, such a child prodigy) and bought myself a pair of jelly shoes. Which have bought back all the childhood traumas of getting stones stuck in the holes in the soles and scraping round with a limp until you get the chance to dig them out.

Maybe if I'm going to give it a try I'll go the whole hog and next time I go out I'll wear this amazing 1980s power dressing party dress.

Maybe I'll even get a bubble perm and some red lipstick.

To be honest it's more likely I'll incorporate some more subtle piece of 1980s vintage into my wardrobe, maybe the pink shirt, or something like this beautiful Thai silk Piankusol blouse.

Yes, I think the 80s revival is growing on me. I've just heard that Starburst are going back to being Opal Fruits, at least temporarily, and if they bring back Marathons it'll make my day.
Maybe I'll get my milkman to deliver me some fizzy pop in glass bottles and buy myself some penny sweets, even if they cost 5p each these days.

I might be able to deal with the 80s revival, but if someone tells me they're bringing back the 1990s fashions I might find it a little harder to deal with. I still can't look at the photos......

Sneak Preview....

I shall be spending the rest of the day listing a few new finds from the weekend, but I thought I'd give a bit of a sneak preview of my favourite....

I found a great 1970s pleated plum 2 piece by Carnegie of London.

Far too small for me sadly, but really beautiful.


I also found a stunning floral summer dress. It's 1960s in style, but it's condition makes me suspect that it's more likely a recent copy of a 60s pattern. There aren't any labels in it to help me out. Either way it's a great dress!









I also picked up some great 60s square toed woven gleneagles shoes that look completely unworn, a 1970s BHS scarf with flying bird print and a late 70s red leather belt with an interesting asymetric buckle.

High Five Friday!

I've just discovered High Five Fridays. What a great idea!

So my High Fives this week are all blogs and go to

1. Ikonic Vintage. For wishing me a Happy Birthday and linking to me, and also for having the High Five Fridays link on her blog.

2. Vintage A Peel. For a great blog and some stunning photos of vintage 60s boutique clothing

3. A Slip of a Girl for writing a sexy funny and strong blog about pants, and having some great photos.

4. Posh Girl Vintage, for setting me off wondering what gorgeous outfit I should buy for my 30th birthday next year, instead of worrying about getting old.

5. Sew Retro, for giving me the urge to try making my own clothes.

I know you know people that deserve high-fives... I could even be one of them. Find out how to give your High-Five Fridays here!

The purpose of this meme is to give high-fives to 5 people, posts, blogs and/or websites you've admired during the week.

Wedding Season Style

Ah, the weather is heating up, my hayfever is kicking off and that can only mean one thing.

Wedding season is upon us.

Of course, just to be difficult, I got married in November, I also wore red. I wore a Vollers corset from Fairy Goth Mother and a burgundy silk skirt from The Frock Factory with a black net underskirt and a black chiffon shawl. I also sewed some black chiffon into the top of my corset as it was a little low cut and I understand showing your nipples to the Registrar isn't good etiquette.....

My difficult and petulant nature aside, April to September are by far the most popular months for weddings, meaning that around this time the UK is full of brides and guests with some very specific fashion choices to make.

For Brides to be the distinction between white, cream and ivory is something they now know. Choosing a dress is a major decision, and often a major part of the budget and modern Brides have such a huge range of choices.



From the huge Hollywood Dreams, high drama, high price wedding dresses costing £1500 upwards.

To a simple and elegant off the peg dress from Debenhams

The choices are greater than ever! If you want something *really* different you could make your own, commission someone else to make one for you to your design, or you could go vintage....

This is a 1930s lace column dress from The Vintage Wedding Dress Company.

Dresses from The Vintage Wedding Dress Company cost upwards of £1000 and can be tailored to fit.

Posh Girl Vintage is based in the US, but has beautiful vintage dresses that would be great for an understated modern civil wedding.

This beautiful 1950s dress costs $545



Alternatively, you might always be able to grab yourself a bargain on Ebay.

Second hand wedding dresses tend to go for a LOT less than new, and if that helps you get the dress of your dreams, who else but you is going to know?

This Hollywood Dreams dress is currently only £249 on Ebay
, a fraction of the new price.














And, of course, even Retro Chick is in on the act with this stunning simple and elegant Victoria Jane by Ronald Joyce dress selling for £29.99. Significantly less than the hundreds even such a simple style costs in a wedding boutique!

Today is my Birthday!

Feel free to send me gifts of money, cake or pretty shoes.

Alternatively I'd quite like this.....

Green velvet 1950s Dress by Posh Girl Vintage

Summer Style Bypass

The sun has finally arrived in the UK. After snow at Easter and last years rain we thought it would never come again, but here it is.

Summer heat has a strange effect on British women, just because it's hot doesn't mean you've suddenly lost 3 stone. And if you don't have 3 stone to lose it still doesn't make going out in little more than your underwear appropriate or attractive to any one other than inebriated British men with no shirts on (which while I focus my attention on womens fashion is also not appropriate and very rarely attractive. Though I can be persuaded to make the occasional exception....)

So this week the focus is on staying stylish and sophisticated in the heat.

Lets face it, it'll be raining again in a week and you want your clothes to be wearable for more than 2 weeks out of a year.

My personal list of biggest no nos:

• Too short mini skirts especially if you have to wear legging underneath, if your legs aren't up to it go maxi
• Too much make up - it's only going to slide down your face!
• Gladiator sandals on short stubby legs - they may be in but that doesn't make them obligatory
• Bikinis in the city. - Please, you wouldn't go out in your bra, oh, actually maybe you would...
• Wearing a shapeless sack on the basis that it's cool - yes, but you look like a lump.

So, in my humble opinion what *should* you be wearing?

• Get yourself a summer dress. make it short, long or somewhere in between, but please don't make it low cut and short, one end or the other please, and if you want short please be brutally honest about whether you have the legs for it, if you're not sure, don't.
• Keep it simple, when the heat is on fussy details, too tight belts and elaborate hair dos are going to drive you NUTS!
• Wear flat shoes, if you are walking around in the heat those stiletto sandals are going to cripple you within an hour. If you want some height, get some wedges or a pair of kitten heels.
• Add some interest with chunky jewellery, but don't blind everyone when the sun glints off your bling.
  

Of course I lay claim to no qualifications that make any of this true. But deep in your heart, you know I'm right......

My pick of the best summer dresses...

Vintage 1970s Halterneck £21.99 from Retro Chick

Show some cleavage and stay stylish in this vintage halter neck with handkerchief hem.

Perfect with tan leather accessories and chunky bangles for this summers laid back 70s vibe.




Burberry Tallulah Camisole Dress £295 from Net-a-Porter

You know you love it, but you know you can't afford it. It's bright, summery and flat out gorgeous.





Vintage 1960s Hawaiian print shift dress £14.99 from Retro Chick

Fantastic tropical print of palm trees and flowers. Summer brights, loose, comfortable and not too short







Lace Trim Sundress £30 from New Look

Funky vintage look lace trim halter neck dress. Cool and flattering.






And some summer friendly accessories to match


Chunky Duck Egg Blue Bangle £2.50 from Retro Chick

Beautiful summer sky colour chunky bangle









Demeter jewellery set £13.99 from Haven Crystals

Stunning handmade carnelian and emerald jewellery set with a casual summer feel.

Isharya Lily resin bangle £220 from Net a Porter

I know, I know. But isn't it pretty?

Fashion with a conscience?

This week I have been thinking about the social and ecological impact of the fashion industry.

Two things kicked this little train of thought off. The first was accidentally watching the BBC 3 show Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts. This is a 4 part series that started on the 22nd April, but I caught the second part on the 29th, having been unaware of it. 6 young people were sent to India to experience work in the sweat shops of Delhi.

The second was the dropping through my door of the June edition of Marie Claire , the "Eco" edition.

It appears that eco credentials and having a social conscience are now big business and it made me wonder how people who make so much effort to live the rest of their lives in a socially concious way can suddenly become so blind at the sight of a pretty frock.

It doesn't take much to realise that a dress that costs £10 in a high street store is probably not made in the most salubrious of places, we all know you can't buy the fabric for that much in the UK. However there has to be middle line between this and the £1400 vintage lace dress featured in Marie Claire? Surely a social and ecological conscience can't be the preserve of the super rich or the stereotypical hemp wearing hippy?

Many high street stores are starting to make a nod towards green with reusable shopping bags and ranges made from organic cotton, but the range is still fairly limited.

The answer? Recycle!

Buying second hand clothing has not only become a means of saving money, but a means of saving the planet! Ebay, second hand and vintage stores and charity shops make sure that landfills aren't full of used clothes and our wardrobes stay full of lovely things. Always remember that a few new buttons or some slight alterations in length could make an out of date garment into something so now it hurts. But don't forget that it doesn't stop with your purchase, once you are tired of your lovely new purchase, make sure you send it off to become someone elses!

A few handy links to help you "green" your wardrobe.


Not only are the clothes at Retro Chick recycled vintage and pre owned but the website is hosted with a carbon neutral web host so you can feel extra virtuous as you shop.



This site allows you to get online and swop your vintage and designer clothing with others.




Can't beat the feeling of something new? Well it's certainly not cheap, but with Ciel you'll know that your clothing is both environmentally and ethically produced using 100% Azo free dyes, re-cycled fabrics or fabrics certified by 'Oekotex' & 'Confidence in Textiles'.