Kiss Me Kate

Brand love: Mrs Pomeranz

2012-05-12T10:41:00.000-07:00

Whilst browsing the interwebs earlier for vintage reproduction frocks, I came upon this exciting, vintage-inspired line by a lady of the name of Mrs Pomeranz. What I love about her creations is that she uses vintage sewing methods, top quality fabrics and many of her dresses come with interchangeable collars. Take a look!

First of all, there's the bright and sunny blue shirt-waister with a people-print belt...

Then this divine navy blue number with red shirt collar or white lace...

This next dress is so pretty, I'm regretting buying an inferior but similar number from Joules recently...

And finally, this checked shirtwaister with detachable frilly bib (is that the right word?)

The Mrs Pomeranz website is currently undergoing some work, but luckily, all these dresses are available on my new favourite website Pin-Up Polly!

Enjoy!
Kate x

The Kindness of Others

2012-05-08T11:25:00.003-07:00

I am constantly amazed by how thoughtful people can be. A lady at work came into my room this morning with an M&S carrier bag, saying that she had something for me. Inside it was a lovely taffeta dress belonging to her grandmother, who died last week, aged 88. She said that when sorting through her things, she'd come across it and couldn't bear to throw it away, so thought of me. It must have been her grandma's 'best' dress, having not had much money in her youth (her mum was so poor after her dad died that she was sent to an orphanage until she was old enough to work), and I'm so touched that someone wanted to give me this part of their family history.

It does make me so glad that I followed my heart into wearing vintage after holding back for so long. I feel that by being myself and not following the crowd, my colleague understood that I would appreciate, care for and do justice to this precious item. Is it me, or is there something about vintage wearers which makes others feel naturally inclined to share, in a variety of ways?

The dress itself is a tad large around the bust, and could do with being taken in a notch. The label inside states 'Percy Trilnick', who owned a store on Regent Street in the 1940s, I believe. A quick google tells me that he was "leader of the British Womens Fashion Trade Export Group in North America, a forty-three year old bachelor. Apparently he was never seen without a white carnation in his button hole."

Percy Trilnick himself!

I am modelling (badly) this dress with another new acquisition - a Mulberry Ledbury bag, bought unused for half the retail price via a local forum. It's my second Mulberry bag, and I was so upset that my first has to go back for repairs (Mulberry are wonderful and charge pennies for this service) after five years that I decided to cheer myself up in the interim with a replacement! Frivolous, I know, but I have been existing off the same two handbags for 5 years, and I don't have one in black!

Have you ever been gifted something wonderful and vintage out of the blue? I'd love to hear any cheery stories!

Kate xxx

Moving On

2012-05-06T01:45:00.001-07:00

Dear readers,

For the millionth time, I am forced to apologise for my absence on the blogging front - maybe a sign saying 'SORRY' should just be my permanent photo?!

Anyhow, these last few weeks have been tough. I have come to the realisation that not only does my boss not like me, but that the school has no intention of promoting me in the near future, as they had heavily 'hinted' at, probably to stop me from moving on. Well, they've shot themselves in the foot there, as I'm applying for other jobs. The aforementioned school have managed to wear down my confidence so much, that I was just looking at regular teaching jobs at first, until the Head of English at a local school asked me why on earth I was underselling myself and nudged me towards applying for Second in Command. Now that's a title I like!

So, this week I have been spending hours filling in application after application, but I am feeling hopeful of a change. Cross your fingers for me!

Thankfully, this weekend is a Bank Holiday, so I get an extra day of not stressing and definitely not thinking about work. The young man and I are currently in Suffolk, mere minutes from the beach, surrounded by 3 acres of fields in a 1930s pink cottage. Heaven.

Even better, there are some great little boutiques dotted along the coastline, and we spent an hour in a vintage shop yesterday, trawling through their wares. Sadly, I didn't find what I was looking for (a 1940s-50s cotton dress), but P's dad managed to pick up some wing tip collars for a song. Later, as we were trawling through Aldeburgh, I came across this sweet floral dress and just had to have it, as I have a christening coming up and nothing to wear...

It reminds me a lot of the Bernie Dexter Chelsea dress, but I find this shape more forgiving on my figure. Obviously, I won't be pairing it with wellies!

Today, we're off to an airfield, then to the pub for Sunday lunch. Apparently, this pub is infamous for the fact that horses wander in without anyone batting an eyelid! You wouldn't find that in London!

Oh and before I forget, I have discovered the wonders of pinning! Take a look...

Toodle-oo!
Kate x

Birthday Delights

2012-04-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, I turn the grand old age of 26. My day will be spent at school, from 8am to 5pm, with the only good thing being the promise of these presents to come home to...

What Katie Did 'Marlene' underwear set from my young man.

Bernie Dexter 'Swan' dress from my mum.

I'd better keep off the cake, then, so I can enjoy them comfortably!!

Have a good week,

Kate x

Disappointment leads to new frontiers...

2012-04-14T07:48:00.001-07:00

Remember a few weeks back, when I posted in excitement about buying this pink dress which I'd been watching for months?

Well, after a long wait, it finally arrived two weeks ago. In my state of joy (and slight annoyance that the floral flocking was grubby), I dropped it off at the dry cleaner's on my way back from the post office without trying it on. Big error. I then left the seller some feedback saying that the dress was lovely but noting their communication had been poor. Bigger error. Admittedly, the seller emailed right back (which they hadn't done when I'd contacted to ask where on earth my very late package was) and apologised for their slow communication, but even then, they had said they'd ship in 48 hours, and then waited a week to actually do so. If there is going to be a delay in posting, at the very least, you'd expect a quick email apology.

Upon picking the dress up last week and trying it on, I discovered that the measurements were not 35/27/free as stated on the listing, but at least an inch smaller all round. Too small for me. I emailed the seller straight away about this issue, but (big surprise!) they didn't reply. They've clearly decided that seeing I'd already left feedback, they didn't need to please me any further. Seven days later, I have emailed again, but don't anticipate a response.

Therefore, I have two things to share:

If you value good customer service, do not purchase clothes from Very Vintage Store on Etsy.
The doors of my very own Etsy shop are now open (Link now works!)! I have listed only a couple of things so far, including the lovely pink dress, but hope to list more in the coming weeks.

And to continue in the theme of disappointment, how gorgeous are these Norman Hartnell suits which I was outbid on at the local auction house?

I was so desperate for the bow jacket and blouse, but a telephone bidder pipped me to them! Oh woe. Hopefully, next time...

I hope everyone is having a fab weekend!

Kate xxxhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/KissMeKateVintage

Om Nom Nahm

2012-04-13T10:22:00.000-07:00

It must be a year at least since my last jaunt to a Michelin starred restaurant with the young man. As it's the school holidays, P decided to treat me to lunch at Nahm, which is described as "an inimitable experience – for serious gourmets who value originality and strong, fresh flavours." It was mentioned recently on MasterChef when David Thompson appeared in the semi-final Thailand challenge, and as we love Thai flavours, we opted for Nahm!

The restaurant is situated on the ground floor of the Halkin hotel, just off Belgrade Square, and seeing as we were a bit early, we went for a stroll... only to find that Belgrade Square is locked to commoners like you and I!

Squinting in the sunlight in a vintage dress, Able Grable capelet and vintage pearls.

Bag - Mulberry

Shoes - Carvela

Belt - Monsoon

Still, we managed a quick hello to Chris Columbus, and off we trotted for lunch.

The first think you notice about Nahm is that the staff are very friendly. They are so attentive and not at all scary like some Michelin-starred service people I could mention... Our waiter recommended a very lovely wine to go with my starter, and we were off!

To start, I had chive cakes with chilli and soy sauce. Disappointingly, one of my chive cakes was over-cooked, and the soy sauce was tremendously overpowering. More wine needed!

Half eaten starter, luckily the second chive cake was better.

For mains, I had a Thai vegetable salad with deep fried banana blossom (the only vegetarian main on the menu). At first, it was heavenly: creamy coconut rice, crunchy veg with a lime zing and crunchy deep-fried banana blossom. But then, about halfway through my main, the sensory onslaught really took its toll and the abundance of herbs and strong flavours made me sluggish and full. I now understand what Michel Roux Jr. means on MasterChef when he says a portion is too big - I never thought it possible until now! P, on the other hand, loved his crab fried rice and chicken soup, and scoffed every last morsel.

And then for dessert! P's choice of moist coconut cake with some sort of posh rice pudding was delicious (minus bits of corn on the cob..?!) but my Thai wafers with meringue, shredded coconut and nuts seemed dry and unbalanced. Slightly disappointing.

However, it all came right at the end of the meal with a nice cup of Earl Grey with a slice of lemon - and would you believe it? The Michelin starred waiter thought you put milk in it! I only asked for lemon because I knew it was the posh thing to do!!

All in all, service was top notch but the food didn't leave me feeling that satisfied, so I think next time we venture for a posh meal, we'll try one of the other gastronomical delights London has to offer.

On the way home, we stopped off at a shop in town called 'The Button Queen' - a specialist in vintage buttons and the place to get anything you're looking for! I still need to re-button my Horrockses dress and luckily for me, they managed to find me some which are very close to the originals, but minus the dirtying with age!

Finally, I was a little bit weak and splurged on another Benetton cardigan - my third so far. I love the softness of the wool, and the pearl buttons look so ladylike, so with 30% off, I couldn't say no!

Anyhow, I hope everyone has a fab weekend and enjoys the sun!
Kate xxx

Dragging oneself out of the doldrums

2012-04-04T09:01:00.000-07:00

I'm ashamed to say that yesterday and the day before that were spent in my pyjamas. Not only in my PJs, but in bed, in my PJs, feeling thoroughly gloomy and not at all industrious. The black cloud had descended.

Now, in my mind, there's two options when this happens. You let the murk settle, or you don't. And when I say don't, I mean whip up a good old storm of activity around it! So, after being plagued by another night of restless sleep and nightmares, I got up this morning, pincurled my hair into an up-do and pondered: "What would Grace Kelly wear?"

You see, to me, Ms Kelly was the epitome of cool, calm, controlled femininity. You wouldn't see a deadline or a horde of teenagers ruffling her pristine feathers, oh no! And as old as it sounds, getting glammed up really does make a world of difference to one's mood. I admit, I wasn't quite in the glamorous bracket today, but compared to the previous day's Paul Frank tee and floral Gambian trousers, I was fit for the palace! Take a look...

I love this top! It is a cashmere blend and is so soft and snuggly; perfect for cheery-up days!

Glasses inspired by Ms. Kelly herself!

See!

All the best, lovely readers.

Kate xxx

Under Crackers

2012-04-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

...And with a massive sigh of relief, another term is over. Several times in the past few weeks, I've considered throwing in the towel due to the massive pressure I've been under, but what else would I do? I was meant to teach! My problem is that I'm terrible at all the admin that comes with teaching :(

Anyhow, I decided it was time to treat myself, and seeing as my various brassieres and knickers seem to be falling apart at the seams, what better than a What Katie Did lingerie set to cheer me up?

Vicky lingerie - photo property of WKD

Even better, it was rather reasonably priced, as I purchased everything from their Ebay shop at a fraction of the original price! Wonderful!

I can't wait 'til it arrives, as I really meant it when I said my other undies are falling to bits... In other news, I've had a fair few packages this week, including my pink flocked dress and Beach Bash top. The latter has already had an outing, and looks fab paired with dark blue capris.

Photos of my Easter break to follow!

Kate xxx

They can almost be forgiven for mis-spelling 'Paddy'

2012-03-17T04:54:00.000-07:00

Almost.

As I'm sure you're all aware, the Irish do NOT use the term 'Patty' to refer to St Patrick. This kind of misconception from across the pond winds me right up. Given that I will be marrying into an Irish family in just over a year, I feel that I need to show suitable amounts of anger. So, Bettie Page online shop, your culturally ignorant error almost stopped me taking advantage of your 'St Patty's Day' sale today, just because I refuse to support people who do not understand that NOBODY IRISH SAYS PATTY. It's derived from the name Padraig, for goodness sake!

But not quite. I mean, I love my in-laws to be, but seriously, nothing stands between me and discount repro.

And so, the latest purchase winging it's way to Dulwich is...

The green 3/4 Secretary circle dress!

I am feeling massive amounts of guilt right now for buying pretty dresses when I should be saving for home things and my trip to America, but if I keep quiet, maybe Patrick (yes, that's Paddy) won't notice...

Have a good weekend, everyone xxx

Wedding Dress Inspiration!

2012-03-11T05:14:00.000-07:00

All photos from Elizabeth Avey, based in good ol' Blighty.

I was hoping for something that wasn't white, which could be worn again, but that final flapper dress has me thinking otherwise...

Have a great week!

Kate x

To Miss, With Love

2012-03-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Sorry I've been so quiet recently; I've really been trying hard at work now that exam season is drawing nearer. I applied for a promotion this week, which I was the only applicant for, so fingers crossed that good comes of it!

In my attempts to be super teacher, I've invested in these stamps...

And some window crayons, so my GCSE classes can do their revision on the windows!

Aside from being super-teacher, we're hoping to get our flat finished and onto the market within the next couple of weeks. An old victorian flat with a 1930s decor has caught our eye so we're rushing to sell ours before the dream flat disappears!

Toodle-oo!
Kate xxx

Here Comes the Sun

2012-02-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

A bit optimistic, perhaps, but the days are definitely becoming milder and I'm finding that it's no longer pitch black as I drive home from work. February is one of those no-man's-land times where the struggle through the January Blues has ended, but the wind up towards the Easter exam panic has not yet begun... A perfect time to begin planning my summer wardrobe!

First of all, I have a couple of recent Ebay purchases to share. I have long been an admirer of the 'Fables by Barrie' range of swimsuits but unfortunately they always seem to be out of my price range. Imagine my delight, then, when I found this swimsuit on Ebay for a starting price of £12! And now it's all mine...

Perfect for August in America... now, where's the hot tub?

Whilst watching the swimsuit, I was also trawling the wares of my favourite Ebay seller, Bear Flag Republic. My eye was caught by this cute top by a new brand (or so I thought) called 'Beach Bash'. Again, another item I am wildly imagining myself prancing around New England in this summer...

After looking in more detail into this 'Beach Bash' range, I discovered that it is a spin-off range of Bettie Page clothing, described as 'Retro Cheesecake Beach Wear'. Have a look at some of the other delights they have to offer:

Rainbow Romper Suit

Violetta playsuit with detachable skirt

Nautical Yacht Skirt

Dot Me Dress

Hug on the Beach Dress

Ahoy Playsuit

My favourite so far has to be the 'Hug on the Beach' dress. However, after a few unnecessary purchases over the past few days, I think I may have to wait until next month...

I hope everyone is having a great Sunday!

Kate xxx

The absolute opposite to an impulse buy

2012-02-25T04:20:00.000-08:00

Hello fine followers of mine,

I apologise for the silence; I have been receiving a flurry of packages that I wish to share with you but never seem to find the time or light to photograph them! Last week was half term, so the young man and I head up to Suffolk for a romp in the country at his parents' new cottage.

(A rather unflattering photo of myself with a tree, complete with my gorgeous new Boden tweed jacket)

It was great to get out of London and relax in the fresh air whilst wearing highly stylish welly-boots.

Speaking of stylish, check out my latest purchase from Etsy.

I've literally been eyeing up this dress for months, ever since I discovered before Christmas that I'd be attending a wedding this summer. It's just perfect for a sunny family event and hopefully demure enough to charm the future in-laws that I'll meet there!

In terms of my own wedding, the progress is slow. I'm desperate for a 1930s/40s gown but can't find the right one! Any ideas, ladies?

Kate xxx

Cath Kidston vintage inspired frocks

2012-02-06T05:21:00.000-08:00

Cath Kidston: my one high street weakness.
I have amassed a fair collection of Ms. Kidston's clothes over the years, as they're always so well made and distinctive. This summer, she's bringing a vintage feel to some of her frocks:

These lovely ribbon rose stripe dresses are just delightful, and slightly reminiscent of bygone Horrockses prints.

For the child in you, one of these dresses also comes in a fun farm print - I'm desperate to get my hands on one!

Finally, these tea dresses are absolutely ideal to wear under my tweed jacket (but more on that later) for a more relaxed work look.

And if you're a separates kind of gal, then this Guards print skirt is making me squeal with delight!

I do love quirky prints!

I hope you all had lovely weekends; I spent yesterday at Eltham Palace with my parents, checking it out as a potential wedding venue. I just love the idea of getting married in Art Deco surroundings... watch this space!!

Kate x

Copycat Hair and Dressing for DIY

2012-01-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

Today's aftermath of the John Freida 'do has left me with slightly product-y second day curls. I'm reluctant to wash my hair til tonight (so I get an extra ten minutes in bed tomorrow morning!), so I opted for a chic up-do. But not any old up-do, oh no.

A sneak peek of my new 1950s gypsy dress!

This is Annie Pancake's Stylish 60s Chignon. If you're not a follower of the delectable Miss Pancake, then I suggest you head over there pretty sharpish. For a young 'un, she sure does give me inspiration by the bucketload!

Looking back at her post, I realise that my front curl is rather measly in comparison to Annie's glossy, bountiful one, but that's my hair for you. It needs reigning in, or it'll flop everywhere. Despite this, I highly suspect that this will be my go-to style for rushed mornings before school...

And now onto an outfit post! Today, we're heading to B&Q to pick up some laminate flooring for our back room. Bearing in mind that I have 60 books to mark and a floor to lay, I thought overalls would be ideal... But wait, I don't have any! Jeans..? Nope. Hideous tracksuit bottoms..? Nuh-huh.

Ah well, vintage skirt and 'Where's Wally?' t-shirt it is!

Can you find him?

Happy Sunday, ladies!

Kate xxx

Creating Retro Curls: A Review

2012-01-28T04:49:00.000-08:00

My 'Just been to the Post Office' look...

I was absolutely delighted earlier this week to receive a package full of hair styling products from those nice folk at John Frieda for mentioning their hair tutorial a couple of weeks back. The box o' joy included mousse, hairspray, root booster and dry-ends tamer, all of which I desperately needed!

Now my hair is beginning to recover from my various colouring fiascos, I decided it was time to give the aforementioned hair tutorial a go and let you ladies know what I think. So this morning, I wet my hair, moussed and sprayed my roots, and the styling began!

One particular problem I experience, having very fine hair, is that it's very hard to create volume. I was quite hopeful that the drying techniques and products from this tutorial would do the trick, but alas, my roots still lack the oomph that the lady in the video achieves.

However, I anticipated it was the curls that were going to pose the biggest problem; I was pleasantly surprised. Although the first couple of pincurls were difficult to create (probably my fault, given that my curling tongs are 10 years old and rubbish) and hold in place, I soon got the knack and managed to pin the rest with relative ease.

The curled top, ready to set... Spot the dodgy pincurl

Next, time to put the kettle on!
The final step in the tutorial is to brush out the curls and smooth down, but as my hair is all too happy to become flat with the merest pressure, I used my regular trick - spraying the hair before brushing. Admittedly, it makes the curls stiffer and stickier, but if you hold them with spray first, they're less likely to lose their body.

Hairspray face...

A thorough brush through and one more spray and voila! All done! If you are finding that your ends flick outwards in an undesirable fashion, try brushing the hair under and fixing the ends in place with spray whilst the brush is still in. You can also have a fiddle while the ends are still tacky from the spray and it all should settle into place.

Brush under, like so!

And so for the finished look:

I am finding that after an hour, the curls have begun to separate out and lose that glossy 'one-ness' that they had to begin with. However, I'd say that of all the techniques I've used to achieve a look like this in the past, this is one of the easiest, and it's still holding the curls very well.

Until next time!
Kate xxx

Wall Adornments

2012-01-26T02:23:00.000-08:00

Further to my previous post, in which I was desperately searching for some coat hooks, I managed to stumble across this quirky find on Etsy!

Coat hooks from June Bug & Co

I've also been hunting around for pictures to adorn our otherwise bare walls. I took a visit to the 'Picture Palace', a specialist framing shop in Crystal Palace, but the one photo I loved was quite expensive at £90, so instead I opted for this Ebay find at 99p!

It's an original print from a 1851 publication about the Crystal Palace and shows the Central Trancept. Hopefully, it'll be in good enough condition that we can frame it ourselves and put it on display in our living room.

I've still got lots more plans for my interiors, which I'll share soon!

Until then, take care xxx

Impulse Buy

2012-01-22T07:43:00.000-08:00

Uh oh. I haven't done this for a while. I've been so good for the last 9 months, but it was inevitable that I'd crack eventually.

Instead of doing the sensible thing and saving up for a wedding dress, I may just have happened to buy this fab Bettie Page fan skirt on Ebay.

Seeing as my last Ms Page purchase was a bit gapey, I've opted for the small to fit my 27" waist. I can't wait for it to arrive!

On a slightly related note (ie, shopping), I now am looking for the last few bits for our pad... The carpets should be going down soon, so with a few accessories, we'll be done! What we really need, aside from a wardrobe, is a coat rack. We've got a personalised peg each, but our guests have nowhere to hang their garb. Have you seen anything suitably vintage and coat-hangy, dear readers?

Until next time,

Kate xxx

Why I Hate My Hair

2012-01-19T11:58:00.000-08:00

Some people are born with great hair. If you are one of those people, well, I wouldn't stand too close right now.

I have perpetually suffered with this hair, its annoying straightness, flatness and not-quite-blonde-enough-ness and this week I have a new woe to add to that list: Tendency to turn orange.

Back in December, I decided to save money and dye my own hair. Purchasing a mid-blonde L'oreal dye, I applied it as per the instructions and waited. 45 minutes later, my roots were a lovely shade of ginger. Not minding awfully, seeing as it wasn't too brassy, I soldiered on for a month, then opted to use a lighter shade of blonde by Schwarzkopf (never again, L'Oreal!) in an attempt to rectify the problem. Once again, 45 minutes led to a brassy shade of orange. 15 minutes later, the first guests for my engagement party arrived, and my hair matched perfectly with the orange velvet dress I was wearing!

The next day, we took a trip to superdrug and purchased their ash blonde wash-in-wash-out conditioner. It's essentially a purple rinse, but thank heavens, it worked! My hair is now a tacky shade of yellowy white...

To top it all off, the above style began the day with luscious curls which were cemented into place with hairspray. As I say, I hate my ridiculously straight hair.

I don't think I'd mind the colour as much, if I managed to find a style which compliments it. When I first saw the shade, I thought that perhaps a Marilyn do would suit it, but alas, my hair is too long. However, I have seen this vintage-inspired style by John Freida on their YouTube channel, and am tempted to give it a go for a daytime style. It seems to tick a lot of my boxes:

Gives roots a bit of volume - TICK!
Requires curling tongs rather than those hot sticks I don't own - TICK!
Instructions are given without bobby pins in mouth - TICK!

Although I know this style won't amaze you vintage purists out there, I'm going to give it a go this weekend, and with a bit of tweaking, I'm hopeful that it might work.

Wish me luck!!
Kate x

P.S. Almost forgot - I'm a featured 'Best of the Web' blogger here!

The wedding dress hunt begins! HELP!

2012-01-15T04:05:00.000-08:00

Hello, dear followers!

I sit here with a slightly stuffy head and achey back after last night's joyful japery, which was my flat-warming and engagement party. It was great to get dolled up and show off the flat, as well as catching up with some much-neglected friends.

Here's some of the highlights of our abode at present:

V&A Horrockses print - now only £3 in the V&A sale!

Candlestick phone from Portobello Road

Our divine cocktail cabinet, complete with Scrabble coasters

Of course, now the getting ridiculously excited about my engagement is becoming a bit old, I guess I should probably begin planning. We're still waiting to hear back from the venue, so I'm focusing my attentions on the wedding dress. Despite the fact that I always imagined wearing a Whirling Turban frock, it now just doesn't seem right, and I want something that is unusual and less like something I'd wear regularly. So, I guess the circle skirts puffed out by petticoats are out.

Here is a quick whirlwind tour of my thoughts thus far...

This dress from Courtesan Boutique is pretty unusual and a lovely colour. Named 'Jean Harlow', it has a feel of old Hollywood glamour, which is precisely the theme I want for our wedding.

However, I've also dreamed of big bold colours in a floor-length silk gown, and this dress from Glorious 39 has been one which has stuck in my head for a good few years now.

Photo from http://thebutterflybalcony.blogspot.com

In fact, I'd be happy with any outfit from that film! On a side note, Wendy from The Butterfly Balcony did a whole glorious post on the outfits from the film, which is my go-to for vintage inspiration. Find it here!

Revamp have a similar red dress to this, but with a halter top, and I do wonder whether it will make me look horrendously broad shouldered. Take a look...

Basically, ladies, I need help. If, on your vintage travels, you come across a stunning vintage or vintage-inspired wedding dress, please let me know! I need every single suggestion you're willing to share if I am to find my perfect wedding dress.

Thank you in advance!!

Kate xxx

P.S. On an unrelated note, how cute is this 1950s gypsy dress that I picked up for a song on a Facebook swap & sell group? I can't wait for it to arrive! x

Beat those January Blues!

2012-01-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

If, like me, you find yourself greeting the end of the festive season with dread or a sense of melancholy, then it sounds like you could be coming down with the January Blues. In past years, they've crept up on me as early as Boxing Day, but this year, I plan to fend them off with my tried and tested Blues-Busting Techniques. So, without further ado...

1 - Tidy up
As my dear old mum says: "Tidy home, tidy mind". After a whizz round with the hoover and a duster, I'm now feeling far more content!

2 - Plan a trip
There's nothing better to beat the anti-climax of New Years than to book a trip that you can plan and look forward to. A few years ago, when I was feeling particularly low, I booked a holiday with my then boyfriend to Ypres for the end of January. Just my luck, by the 9th we'd split up! This year, I'm hoping a trip to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway is on the cards, so I can speak to a lighthouse keeper about a wedding :)

3 - Make something
I'm a firm believer that keeping busy and maintaining a feeling of achievement is a proven blues-buster. Right now I'm working on a sleeve for a green cardigan. If you're feeling less ambitious, you could try learning to embroider and start with a handkerchief. This website is particularly helpful: http://craftydaisies.com/2007/08/14/embroidery-lesson-1

4 - Exercise
Nothing gets those feel-good chemicals running around your system like a brisk walk or jog. This new year, I resolved to take up yoga, in order to aid my achey back. Hopefully, this form of mild exercise will make me a little less stressed!

5 - Invest in a DVD box set
This was the best piece of advice I received when doing my teacher training. Make sure you have one hour every evening to yourself, where you watch something entertaining, and completely unrelated to your life. Not only does this help you wind down before bed, but I find that as I go to sleep, I'm then not stressing about the various thngs that have happened that day, or what I have to do tomorrow.

Finally, I suppose this final tip is a summation of all the above...

6 - Keep yourself occupied
If you keep yourself busy, then you can't dwell on how rubbish January is, right?

I hope that I'm not teaching my granny how to suck eggs here, but I know for sure that if I'd realised other people other than me felt rubbish during the new year, I would've felt a lot more normal a few years ago. Oh, and a splash of lippy never fails to help!

To all of you, have a happy and healthy 2012.
xxx

The 56th and Final Post of 2011

2011-12-31T09:17:00.000-08:00

This year I have:

Completed a very difficult first year of teaching,
Completed only one knitting project,
Gone six months(ish) without shopping,
Bought my first home,
Learnt how to embroider,
Done lots of DIY,
Got engaged to the kindest young man in the world.

That's not too bad for one year's work, is it?

All the best to every single one of my readers in 2012 xxx

He asked... I said yes!

2011-12-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

This is just a quickie to share my good news. The man who does not like to be photographed popped the question two days ago and I am now offically engaged!

Merry Christmas, everyone xxx

How to dress for a covert shopping mission

2011-12-21T02:57:00.000-08:00

We've all been there: the young man of your affections is at work and you have a limited number of hours to brave the busy streets filled with shoppers in order to purchase him a gift. Mission impossible? It would seem not!

Firstly, set your hair. Badly. You wouldn't want to attract too many stares of awe or stand out amongst the bedraggled shoppers on Oxford Street, would you?

Next, pick a dark coloured dress so you can blend into the shadows ninja-style. I opted for this Tara Starlet creation, complete with a front hole for just a peep of cleavage - perfect for confuzzling doormen, security guards, and shop-boys ("Are you SURE it's not in the sale, dear?").

However, a brave lady is not a foolish lady - dark knitwear and a black beret finish the look and add warmth, French Resistance style.

Want to show you mean business? Try a classic black trenchcoat. These mittens-on-a-string are ideal for the lady who has to grab fast, without wanting to lose her accessories. And, of course, it's all finished off with a splash of red lippy!

Now grab your spy-cam and brave those shops!

Mademoiselle K xx

Getting into the Festive Spirit

2011-12-19T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hello lovely readers,

Apologies for the extended absence; school has been mad-busy in the lead up to Christmas, and any spare moments I have are spent on buying presents and tidying the flat. However, here's a quick update as to my comings and goings...

The dress arrived! Today, I spent 30 whole minutes amongst the yummy mummies in Dulwich post office in order to retrieve my Christmas frock. It's quite thin and summery, but with a petticoat and a cardigan, I'm sure I'll stay toasty warm.

2. The flat is looking altogether more welcoming. I'll tentatively say that the bathroom and kitchen are finished, but we're still waiting for carpets in the rest of the flat.

We had great fun at Portobello Road on Saturday, picking out various antique bits for the place. I just adore the 1920s candlestick phones and can't wait to have one casually perched on my mantlepiece!

3. The annual Christmas ice-skating outing! This year, I made the error of telling some kids that I was going skating at Tower Bridge. To my horror, they managed to turn up exactly at the moment at which I wobbled onto the ice! Luckily, there were no slips or bumps, but how horrifying nonetheless!

The face says it all...

Ah well, I'd best be off. I've got a pile of marking as tall as I am, and I want to get it out of the way so that I can enjoy the break. Check out my festive reading... essays, history and exam texts. Bleurgh.

Merry Christmas!

Kate xxx