I live on a strange street, strange in that it’s reminiscent of something from bygone times despite the fact we’re all in our thirties/early forties and modern, well, apart from me that is!  We have one of those things you rarely see nowadays ‘a community’.  Every year we get together for a street party, our children play together in the street or in each other’s gardens (fortunately it’s a cul-de-sac away from roads), we all know each other and help each other out in times of need and yet we all lead private lives and don’t feel like we’re watched (probably because most of us have our lounges at the back of the house so no opportunity to be curtain twitchers!).

We moved here six years ago and I now know every single one of my neighbours well enough to send Christmas Cards to, support in times of need and babysit for if needs be.  Four ladies in particular have become my greatest friends.  We have formed quite a little gaggle as we regularly get together for evenings filled with wine and gossip at each other’s houses, various selling parties and the odd movie night.

In addition we walk our children, who are all of similar ages, to school and back each day and catch up regularly over a cuppa.  I love these girls and am so blessed to have found them on my doorstep.  I don’t know how we could have been so lucky as to all get on so well but it works and I’m sure we will be friends for life.

Anyway, last Tuesday the plan was to meet these ladies for a Thai meal (as regular haunt of ours) and spend the evening reminiscing, probably crying and generally do what we do best – drink lots of wine and giggle.

I got myself dressed wearing my turned up 50′s style jeans, my new Swallow cardigan (Swallows are of special significance to our little group) a neck scarf and my new Rocket Original sandals.  I looked in the mirror and was faced with my 50′s style self, which normally would work perfectly but for this evening I decided that for once I would dress down and bit and try and be a bit more regular.  I even went out in my glasses as my eyes were sore after the weekend. What a mistake that was!!!

I headed off to my friend Ange’s house as planned to wait for our taxi.  As ever I was dead on time at 8pm and ring the doorbell to be let in by Ange’s husband (a usual occurrence), I step in the door and suddenly this electric guitar starts up playing ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and my friends all rush out (with a few other neighbours) waving American flags, dressed as 50′s girls and completely and utterly taking me by surprise.

I have never been so amazed in all of my life. The man on the guitar was my lovely friend’s gorgeous and talented Fiance (new Fiance I might add – we’re celebrating that in a couple of weeks!) and after standing still gobsmacked for a good few minutes I eventually got bustled into my friend’s lounge to find that it had been made into a 1950′s Diner – Ryan’s Diner no less (my surname).

The detail was just incredible. The decorations were amazing.  There was a fake jukebox with an iPod hiding behind it playing a list of 1950′s tunes gathered by my very pregnant friend Claire’s husband. Claire then handed me a personalised list of cocktails for me to choose from.  The cocktail bar was beautiful with everything one needs for a copious number of cocktails and I started working my way through those very quickly! My beautiful friend Claire, not being able to drink, took up her position as cocktail waitress.

There were burgers and chips in logo’d Ryan’s Diner chip packets, gorgeous cheesecake for dessert and more cocktails! Later on we did a quiz which Jill and Claire had worked on with Jill’s movie mad husband and was quite a giggle.  They did a whole section on San Jose where I learnt lots of things, some I didn’t want to know, such as the fact that San Jose has suffered numerous earthquakes (fortunately with few lives lost according to Jill who worked hard to reassure me!).

We also had a quiz section on Audrey Hepburn.  Did you know she had size TEN feet?!

I had such an overwhelmingly amazing night.  I am so touched that they went to all of this effort just for me and I hope they know that they’re forever in my heart and I love them to bits – they rock!

My 1950′s Leaving Party

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely ladies and gentleman from the amazing store Heyday!

Heyday stocks the most gorgeous 1940′s revival clothing.  I purchased a pair of their high waisted trousers from their bargain rail which made my weekend, but as today is all about dresses I thought I’d show you the amazing frocks they stock.

Starting with The Fleur.  This dress was designed in collaboration with the gorgeous Fleur de Guerre and is an absolute beauty:

An authentic 1940′s wrap dress made from pure cotton.  I have it on good authority that there is a new version of The Fleur available soon in a beautiful black cotton with the same Rose design – perfect for autumn/winter.  These are limited addition so snap one up quickly if you like it.

As an aside, I managed to get my hands on a pair of Rocket Original white sandals which i’ve just noticed Fleur is wearing in this pic – they’re gorgeous. They don’t have these shoes on their website but Rocket Originals have plenty of others that will compliment any 1940′s dress.

I absolutely adore the Heyday! 1940′s Mary Dresses which are so luxuriously beautiful and add style to any occasion.  I can also tell you that they look just as fabulous with wellies as they do with heels, having witnessed a few of them worn with the obligatory wellies at Twinwood Glenn Miller Festival!

I have my eye on the red one as a perfect addition to my Christmas Party wardrobe or maybe I’ll have to purchase one for my first Thanksgiving in the US.  Either way they’re up their on my wish list.  I must point out too that these dresses are the perfect cut for curvier ladies.  The V neck, slightly wrap-over neck line is extremely flattering for the larger bust and the cinched in waist and loose A line skirt flowing from the natural waist line accentuates the waist and covers those lumps and bumps the lower half may require covering! The oversized shoulders also balance out the larger derriere and give the illusion of a tiny waist!  I LOVE these dresses!

I know in the UK we are moving into autumnal times, bound to be swiftly followed by winter but fear not, I shall be showing you exactly how to frock up over these colder times, so don’t pack the dresses away! I have a job on my hands writing for my UK audience whilst living in an incredibly hot country myself soon. However, I intend to cater for both so that everyone who reads this blog and in particularly Think Frock It’s Friday followers can benefit from my frocking up encouragement.

Hope you all have a smashing weekend and continue to get those frocks out.

Lottie -x-

Think Frock It’s Friday – 1940′s Heyday!

Whilst at Twinwood Glenn Miller Festival last weekend I stumbled across the most amazing exhibition in one of the huts.  I happened across it on my last rounds of the festival and thank goodness I did as it was a gem.

A lady called Leigh has been collecting 1940′s dresses and shoes since the age of 15, she’s now 38, and has the most stunning collection in the most incredible condition I have ever seen out of a museum  In fact, I did my utmost to encourage her to get them all onto a website and even set up her own museum.  They were just amazing and absolutely made my day.

Leigh was happy for me to take photographs but it was difficult to get good ones with the way the exhibition was set out.  However, here are are a few of the gems in the collection which are all from the 1940′s:

 Three of the most stunning dresses I have ever seen.  The detail and finish on them was incredible.  I love the lacing on the middle dress and the Edwardian style neckline.  These were probably wedding dresses.

 

This dress was Leigh’s first ever purchase aged 15! Imagine having such an amazing eye at 15.  She ended up wearing this as her own wedding dress many years later.

 

 

This is simply the most amazing dress I have ever seen.  I am so in love with it i’ve been dreaming about it.  I’m sure if I were to actually wear it the colour would wash me out and look dreadful but it is just sooooooo beautiful.  It was probably a bridesmaid dress.  It’s made from silk and drapes the body beautifully in a classic 1940′s silhouette.  The detail on the bodice is just gorgeous. I shall forever hanker after this dress.

 Another 1940′s Bridesmaid dress.  You can see from these dresses that the glamour of Hollywood during the 1930′s was still influencing fashion during the 1940′s.

 

This dress struck me as being so modern and yet it is an original 1940′s dress.  I love the bow applique detail on the waistline.  Clearly Monochrome has had a place in fashion for many years.  This dress is so wearable today.

And now for some shoes:

Look at these! Those red sandals are just beautiful.  You can get many good copies of this style of red sandal today but these are original and in immaculate condition.  Look at the cute bow on the black suede – I love them.

These are more like you would expect to see from 1940′s – brown but still elegant

Late 40′s shoes.  I was bowled over by the amazing colour of these shoes.

I wish I could give Leigh more credit for this collection and I wish you could all see it.  If she reads this I really, really hope that one day she gets a permanent exhibition of these amazing pieces.  She was a lovely lady who purely collects for the love of it and my goodness doesn’t she just have an amazing eye?!

What I can tell you is that she exhibits at Twinwood every year so do go and catch her if you can.

Lottie -x-

 

Amazing 1940′s Dress Collection