An Afternoon spent at Tart in London's 40 Winks

"Launched in November 2009, Tart is a simmering orgy of fun, fashion and frivolity aimed at girls who want to put some old fashioned glamour back in to their lives".

Hosted at the decadent 40 Winks by the very dandy David Carter, pin-up queen Fleur de Guerre and Vintage Secret’s Naomi Thompson.

You may well remember my last post telling you all about Tart and the glamorous shenanigans that were happening in London's smallest boutique hotel...well last Saturday I got to go along with some friends and a very special birthday girl. This thursday it is Zoe Porteous's birthday, you may know her as @mrspboutique or as that PR and social networking maverick? (Pictured below) Either way Mrs P decided she wanted to spend her birthday with her besties drinking gin out of china tea cups and dressed upto the nines. Which is what we did.

The 40 winks hotel was easy to spot as waiting outside was up to twenty women dressed in their finest. 1950s prom dresses, vintage wiggle dresses, tea dresses, vintage furs and seamed stockings were all on display...everyone who attended made such an effort and it made the day even more exclusive and fabulous. (Two ladies were wearing Natasha Bailie Vintage dresses!) Through the door we were all transported to an oasis in the heart of London's East end. Asked to exchange our shoes for slippers we were then ushered down to the kitchen where we were given our Hendrick's gin cocktails to sip from fine bone china tea cups. Cakes, chocolates and cucumber sandwiches were on offer throughout the day so no gal went hungry...or thirsty. (hiccup!)

We had the run of the most decadent hotel in London and it was fabulous. Upstairs ladies were able to get their hair done by the fabulous vintage styling specialists Lipstick and Curls. Benefit ladies were around all day giving make overs and sharing tips on how to achieve the best vintage make up and look. You could get yourself some fake eyelashes attached and even a tarot card reading. If that was not enough you could play dress up in Naomi's boudoir with all her Vintage Secret treasures and shop till you drop with What Katie Did. There were vintage hats, dresses, coats, furs, jewellery, lingerie and even a talk on how to be a forties pin up by Fleur de Guerre!

When you were not dressing up or getting your fortune read you could happily wander around the hotel, sit in the garden with your tea (or gin sssh!) and eat your cake while having a natter with the other ladies in attendance. Dreamy...and ladies, there is no other way to spend a Saturday... See my video below to see for yourself!

Vintage Make Up and Retro Hair Styling - Lipstick & Curls

I first met Natasha and Amanda, the candy striped apron wearing, vintage make up and hair styling experts behind Lipsticks and Curls at a vintage event in London town. The fab duo were like well oiled vintage styling machines. Perfecting pouts, raising 60s beehive do's and rolling victory rolls on over 30 vintage loving ladies. It was impressive. 

Shortly after I went along to style a Mad Men shoot and Natasha from Lipstick and Curls was there too to complete the look with fabulous Betty Draper hair and make up. The running joke being how many Natasha's does it take to create the perfect Mad Men look? I can tell you, it is two!

Not only do these gals look the part, but they live, breathe and eat it too. I would trust no one else to create and finish the perfect vintage look. Lipstick and Curls offer many services from manicured brows to pompadore curls and can style weddings, events and parties. So Let the Lipstick and Curls girls add some glamour to your life and visit their lovely website www.lipstickandcurls.co.uk

Contact: Amanda 07879 076449   Natasha 07765 166460
Email: info@lipstickandcurls.co.uk

A Mad Men Make Over for AOL Stylelist

Today I was invited to the AOL stylelist office in London where I was given the challenge (ok...I mean the pleasure..) of giving Katie Jones, AOL Stylelist's senior style editor's assistant a Mad Men vintage make-over! There is no other way I like to pass time on a Monday...so with the help of the lovely and very talented Natasha from Lipstick & Curls who is a specialist in vintage hair and make up styling we turned an assistant into a LADY. Turns out it only takes two Natasha's to make you Mad Men fabulous. Katie was photographed before and after her Mad Men make over and the whole process was also filmed. I will show you Katie's complete vintage transformation when the video becomes available at the end of the week. Untill then I thought I would post some behind the scenes pictures for you to get excited about...enjoy!

Vintage make-up and Vintage hair styling by Natasha at Lipstick & Curls.

Vintage styling by Natasha Bailie.

EDIT: Here is the link to the AOL STYLELIST pictures and video's of Katie before and after her Mad Men make over: CLICK HERE TO SEE

Vintage at Goodwood?

I travelled to West Sussex on Saturday for a day out at Goodwood to celebrate all things vintage and “British Cool” at the all new singing and dancing Vintage at Goodwood event designed by Wayne Hemingway. Described as THE summer festival where fashion, culture and music all come together. I have been pushing Vintage at Goodwood heavily for over a year now and had very high hopes for the event after attending Goodwood Revival last year which genuinely felt like you were stepping back in time. Goodwood Revivals main focus has always been about vintage motors, but every visitor is dressed up like they have just stepped out of a 40s time capsule. I remember spotting one person in a pair of jeans who looked very ashamed of himself and kept to the corners of the Goodwood site. (Quite rightly).

So arriving at the Vintage at Goodwood site I was filled with excitement and anticipation; I could not wait to see all the vintage outfits, meet with some fabulous friends, spot Lily Allen and shop around the high street and vintage market. “When in Rome”...

Walking along the path up to the ticket area I was shocked; I had not seen one other person in vintage. With not a victory roll in sight and surrounded by a sea of denim and fleeces I reminded myself that the previous day the site had experienced a downpour of unexpected rain and that maybe people were just prepared for the worst and that a costume change was going to happen on site. Seeing as Vintage at Goodwood was the event where glamour and festival merge?

Once you had made your way through the fairy lit path way to the site you were confronted with a number of fabulous vintage cars and bikes all leading you to the central point of the festival; the man made high street. The high street shop fronts included a “Beauty Box” where you could go to get your hair and makeup done by the fabulous Lipstick and Curls girls. A cinema that was screening vintage classics such as “Bugsy Malone” and “The Lavender Hill Mob”. A museum of “Future Vintage Classics” which according to Hemingway will include a stack of pizza boxes, yellow pages and crocs. A curry house, a pub, a gin sponsored bar, Bonham’s auctioneers, a Vintage at Goodwood gift shop, a fashion pavilion that showcased fashion shows throughout the day including the “Bathing Beauties” pop up show orchestrated by Miss Naomi Thompson from Vintage Secret. Fortnum and Mason had a huge presence on the high street as did John Lewis, The Body Shop and The Style Studio which was sponsored by none other than PRIMARK!!! This confused me as when I think British I think Marks and Spencer’s...not John Lewis. When discussing all things British and cool I never think of Primark!? No, it just never comes up. I understand that events need to make money by getting sponsorship, but for an event to spam my Facebook feed constantly telling me all about how wonderfully true Hemingway’s designs are to all things vintage and cool I have to say I was more than disappointed.

Walking around the site was pleasant enough but for such large grounds the high street was small as was the market place. The vintage stalls were tiny and often had one to four different stall holders under them. Just with their staff members and their stock, the stalls were packed and UN inviting. I managed to walk in to one only to retreat in an instant. My fabulous buddies and I searched long and hard for Lily Allen and her new vintage venture, but it did not exist at Vintage at Goodwood. For a music event the tunes were sparse to nonexistent. I have been to Glastonbury festival a few times and the music starts at 10am and yes it is mainly bands or musicians you have never heard of but that is part of what makes a festival great. I love discovering new music and having music playing throughout the day can create a wonderful atmosphere. With all the really great vintage tribute bands in this country I was really confused why Vintage at Goodwood just wasted their stage space with air throughout the day?! The music did not start till the evening...why?

In conclusion Vintage at Goodwood promised to be the event that celebrates vintage fashion and music...apart from my style gallery post I did not see as much vintage as I would of liked. I saw fancy dress and fleeces. I saw a band playing vegetables under a clock tower in the afternoon but as far as music goes...I did not see any and yes I paid £55 + £5 parking for the privilege.

Don't take my word for it...
More Vintage at Goodwood reviews:
Diary of a Vintage Girl
Vintage Secret
Amelia's Magazine
Retro Chick for Queens of Vintage
London Plinth
Mien Magazine
Alex Loves

Lipstick & Curls, Pop Up at Topshop!

I love these gals and I am so happy for all their success as they truly deserve it. The hardest working vintage stylists I know, victory rolling their way through vintage events, parties and vintage loving dames. There is not a gal I know who has not been visited by either Natasha or Amanda and their candy cane striped uniforms. 

Lucky for everyone the Lipstick and Curls gals now have their own pop up shop in Topshop on Oxford Circus. Opened since Thursday the 9th June. Go along and get a retro hairstyle, 40s red lip, pin curl or simply ask their advice on eyebrows and lipstick. They love everything vintage and have a wide knowledge on looks from the 1920s through to today so you will be very safe in their hands. 

Call 0207 927 0040 to book your appointment today.