http://www.boyundschwester.blogspot.com/ 2010-03-30 daily 0.7 boy und schwester: April 2010

Thursday 22 April 2010

Birthday celebrations!

To celebrate my birthday this year I am forgoing drinks for ice-cream. Super childish, age-denying ice-cream. I'm talking knickerbocker glories.

At the seriously swish, rather retro ice-cream parlour at Fortnum and Mason.
I am going to wear a dress that makes me feel like Grayson Perry and possibly even ankle socks.

ps - no vintage as generally they're all too close fitting for the amount of ice-cream I plan to consume

Wednesday 21 April 2010

It's my birthday!

It's my birthday today! Yay! Happy Birthday me!
I would like this please! Or a frosted brownie from Hummingbird Bakery. Since I work about 5 minutes away from the Soho branch, I know what's going to be on my plate at lunchtime... ;)

And no, don't ask how old I am!

Tuesday 20 April 2010

More images from the vintage fashion photo shoot!

Here's another image from the photo shoot, this time taken outdoors.

The dress actually belongs to my friend Charly, I gave her it for Christmas and she kindly lent it back to me for the shoot. Doesn't it look good? I'll put some photos up of Charly in it too when we went to the Grand Vintage Ball at the Rivoli Ballroom last year.

The photographer was Ray Morris-Hill and the model was Rai Quartley.

ps the bag's for sale too, it's on eBay here

pps - the Grand Vintage Ball is happening again! 8th May at the Rivoli Ballroom! Ooh, I want a ticket! More info here, under What We Do.

ppps - and there are a few other things ending on eBay today, check them out! :)

Monday 19 April 2010

New stock: vintage shirt - silk, Italian and handmade

I love this shirt. It's so beautiful. I'd keep it but I just don't need things this smart in my wardrobe any more.

The colours are perfect for this spring, totally on trend for the Celine shades of beige, camel and taupe trend beloved by Garance Dore et al. I think it would look great over capris with a pair of big heels. A vintage twist on the trend of the season.
I found the shirt in Glasgow and the girl I bought it from got it in Italy. It's handmade, or at least at hand finished and is silk. I think it could be as early as 1940s.

Happy bidding! Here's all the other stock available at the moment too.

ps - even my photo looks like Celine!

Saturday 17 April 2010

New stock: super sweet summer vintage dress

This vintage dress is so lovely! I found it in South London earlier this year. It's around 1950s or 1960s. It's a white knit fabric, with contrasting pale cornflower blue strips and a belt. It has a matching cardigan/jacket, which makes it very useful. The hem has been turned up too, so if you're tall, there's another few inches it could be let down (I'm 5' 5").
On sale now on eBay! Happy bidding :)

Friday 16 April 2010

Blogs of interest: The Girl Can't Help It Vintage Blog

I prefer to put blogs up here that are starting out but I couldn't resist 'The Girl Can't Help It Vintage Blog.' Along side posts about vintage, there are some brilliant random finds. For example, check out handerpants...

Yup, that's handwarmers made to look like y-fronts. I kid you not. I think they might actually be real, they have a website and everything.

Full of treats like that!

Thursday 15 April 2010

The great stocking debate

I admit it, I am a dedicated wearer of stockings at every opportunity.

In vintage clothing this presents no problem. But the reality is that I don't wear vintage daily and modern clothes reveal stockings/suspender belts much more easily. I spent all of yesterday terribly conscious that when the wind blew it revealed the outlines of my suspender belt.
Solution: Henry Holland for Pretty Polly. These are GENIUS. Ok, so I'm about 6 months late but I got pair of last seasons' Super Suspenders and the look like stockings but are dark tights! (That's the other problem with stockings, ever tried finding a pair thicker than 15 denier?!)

Problem: this seasons are much lower and potentially more visable under skirts. Great, if that's your look, not so great for the vintage lover.

Why didn't I buy more pairs at the time they were out?!

This seasons are available at lots of retailiers, including ASOS.

Wednesday 14 April 2010

More vintage accessories!

A lovely vintage handbag from the 1960s and a beautiful 1980s vintage belt.

I found them in South London this year. The bag is in very good nick and is a nice size, big enough to be useful (measurements are on the listing.) The belt is brilliant and if it was bigger, I'd be keeping it!


And here's a link to my other stock, more is being transferred from Etsy this week, as part of the ongoing Etsy/eBay.

More images from the vintage fashion photo shoot

Here's Rai wearing one of my favourite dresses, the 'Ike Dress.' I adore this dress - it's from my personal collection - but I've only worn it once as it's rather delicate. We went with a rather pin-up feel for this shot, with the little sailor hat too.

It's American (obviously) on printed cotton. I'm not 100% sure about the age, I feel 1950s.

The model was Rai Quartley and the photographer was Ray Morris-Hill.

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Shoe storage ideas

Loving these shoe storage ideas from one of my favourite blogs! I have soooo many shoes... they regularly spill out from under my bed in an attempt to take over my room!

I like the idea of displaying them on the wall. They certainly deserve it! Maybe just my favourite pairs on artfully arranged on a shelf with a vintage handbag or two? And a beautiful cut glass perfume bottle? I can dream ;)
Do you have many shoes? How many do you have? From memory, I've counted 32... how many is too many?!

ps - and none of them are vintage shoes, do you know how hard it is to find large vintage shoes?!


Sunday 11 April 2010

And a few vintage accessories...

Here's the final few things that are already up and listed on eBay that finish on Monday. The vintage handbag is a little hard to date but it's around the 1960s I think. The vintage headband is much easier - clearly the 80s! Both are really fun! I hope whoever ends up with them enjoys using them.

Oh, and this shirt too! I nearly forgot it! :)
And here's the remainder of my stock :)

Fabulous vintage 70s maxi dress

I love this dress and am slightly surprised it hasn't sold earlier. It's really lovely, a gentle cream colour, full length with slightly puffed sleeves and a high neck. Definitely 70s, it's a cracker of a vintage dress! Here it is on eBay, happy bidding!
And here's my other stock, if should wish to peruse it too!

Awesome vintage jackets

Lots of stock on eBay at the moment. Here are a few of the jackets. Most of the auctions are ending on Monday but more stock is being put up today...



Friday 9 April 2010

First images from the photo shoot...

One of the reasons this week has been quiet on the blogging front is that I have been working on my first ever proper photo shoot!

Just for the photographers' and model's portfolios, we were able to have a lot of fun. I provided the vintage dresses and the styling, such as there was.

Here's the first image, as yet untouched, but looking great! I just love this dress.

Taken by Ray Morris-Hill, his website's got more of his work on. More photos to follow!

Blogs of interest: Small Town Vintage

I often find vintage blogs can be a bit twee (hence the black background for my blog!) but I think Small Town Vintage has got a great balance. Not overly about vintage fashion itself, although the owner has an etsy shop, it has a nice selection of vintage things, food and her pets.

How cute is the picture! So spring like! And finally, apt for London! Woop woop!
And don't forget to check out my stock on eBay, there's lots of bargains to be had!

Wednesday 7 April 2010

how I feel today

How I feel today (for no real reason)
What might solve this (yup, that's the world's largest Easter egg!)

And, I have to prepare for the first ever photo shoot I'm styling for! Excited but nervous! Anyone got any tips?


Tuesday 6 April 2010

And they're off!

So, the election has been announced and the fashion race is on! SamCam v. Saran Brown. My money's on the Cams to win the war but Sarah Brown to fight a strong resistance. Just think of the Osman Yousefzada gown at the Elle Style Awards. One thing's for certain, it's going to make entertaining spectator sport!
Photo from The Daily Mail.

Monday 5 April 2010

The great eBay trial

Given that the majority of people reading this blog are British, I thought I'd try selling via eBay for a while, as Etsy just doesn't have the reputation yet in the UK.

So, I've transferred a selection of items to eBay (by hand I might add, what a fun Easter Monday!)

Now I shall watch with bated breath to see if more is sold this way...

Happy Easter lovely readers!

Thursday 1 April 2010

My stylish family - real vintage fashion

Inspired by the Sartorialist's vintage fashion photo series and My Mom, The Style Icon I thought I'd post a picture of my family.

Here's my grandfather, grandmother, aunt and mother (she's the youngest) walking along the prom in St Helier, Jersey in 1961. Look how swaggeringly cool my grandfather is! And glamorous my grandmother is. And how cute my aunt and mum are? Just look at those white ankle socks. And the handbag my mum is toting. It was the start of a life long love affair.

Vintage fashion from real life not fashion photographs.

Have you got any photos you like submitted? I might do a little series. The other side of my family deserves an airing too!