Styling it up with Cherry Dollface and The Vintage Beauty Parlour

One of Manchester's best hidden gems can be found hidden in a smart, unassuming street in suburbia. Bethany Jane's 'Vintage Beauty Parlour' has been over for a little over a year now and boy are we northern gals lucky to have this place on our doorstep!

I was luck enough to have my hair done by Bethany at the Haworth 1940s weekend a few weeks ago and have her booked to do my wedding hair and make up later in the year. She is true genius when it comes to creating those intricate, beautiful styles from the past that most of us would never dream of attempting on our own hair. Check out my poodle do!

Anyway, imagine how excited I was to see that youtube sensation and my favourite American pin-up gal, Cherry Dollface, was set to run a hair and make up seminar at The Vintage Beauty Parlour! I booked my place at the show months before the event and was a little nervous about going on my own and what to expect. I shouldn't have been nervous at all. Cherry was an absolute doll; beautiful, gracious, funny and relaxed. She talked our class of lovely like-minded ladies through a full pin-up make up look as well as two vintage hairstyles, taking questions and queries from the class as she went. 

The three hour class flew by and at the end, in celebration of her birthday, Cherry was surprised with a birthday cake along with cards and gifts from many of us girls attending the class. I met so many wonderful ladies that night, that I hope to keep in touch with and meet again in the future.

Don't let nerves hold you back, take every opportunity to have fun and meet new people. Your life will be all the richer for it!

Sail Away With Voodoo Vixen

I'd been eyeing up the Joni dress by Voodoo Vixen since I saw it launch online, so when I came across it in Manchester's 'Rockers', I couldn't resist taking it home with me.

I am a fan of anything nautical and have a few sailor-inspired dresses to my name but this dress has several cute features that made it a must-have. I love the smooth stretch cotton, the belt and hemline, both edged with cotton lace, the sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves. It's a dress I know I'll wear over and over again throughout the summer.

I wore Joni to go and see the fabulous production Of Rebecca by Kneehigh Theatre last night so I got a few snaps before we left the house. Do you have a favourite Voodoo Vixen dress?

Buy the Joni Dress here... http://campbell-crafts.com/product/642/voodoo-vixen-blue-sailor-anchor-joni-50s-dress

Bag by Disaster Designs

Necklace by Punkyfish at Collectif

Peeptoes by Schuh

I wish...

I am a little bit obsessive when it comes to fairytales. I love old storybooks and traditional folk tales and this filters into many areas of my every day life. I was ridiculously excited when I found out that Into The Woods was going to be made into a film and when I ventured out to see it in all it's red cloaked, blue haired, big voiced glory, I found it difficult to wipe the smile from my face from beginning to end.

Over Christmas, like many children (big and small) across the world, G and I made our own own fairytale Gingerbread houses. However, unlike many other people, we found it impossible to consider easting our creations and after 4 weeks of letting them decorate our little cottage kitchen, we decided the time had come to go into the woods and set them free!

On a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon, we headed through Liverpool, into Waterloo -stopping for egg custard macaroons on the way-and onto the National Trust's beautiful Formby Point. Formby is famous for it's red squirrel population, it's woodland and beautiful sandy beaches.

We took a walk through the woodlands and spotted the perfect spot to plant our fairytale houses, in the roots of a tree on a gentle hill in the middle of the forest. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Wednesday Wants -20th Century Foxy

I'm a big fan of 20th Century Foxy designs and I wore my 'Trudy Scrumptious Day Dress' to death on my recent trip to the States. Their dresses fit like a dream, are extremely well made and because they aren't quite as  popular (yet!) as similarly priced brands like Vivien of Holloway or Collectif, it is extremely unlikely that you will bump into another gal wearing the same thing at an event (nightmare, no?).

 

I always have a wish list as long as my arm for this website but here are a few of current favourites. The fuchsia and grey dress is perfect for Autumn/Winter parties all the way through to Christmas. The fabric reminds me of a Pinup Girl Dress I've had my eye on for the last year but with the added bonus of the cover up.

The green dress is just perfect for Autumn accessorised with a pair of Mary-Janes, victory rolls and curls. The candy stripe shirt dress and red 40s dress just scream 'Christmas' to me although they could be worn tall year round (how cute would the striped dress be for a summer picnic?).

The blue summer dress appears to be the same shape as my Trudy Srumptious dress but with a super cute tea-time print featuring little kettles, daisies and spoons. I can't really justify spending so much on a summer dress at this point in the year so I just hope they bring it back next spring time!

Have you bought anything from 20th Century Foxy? I'd love to see your pictures!

Buy direct from 20th Century Foxy here... http://www.20thcenturyfoxy.com/en/index/a1