Louise Brooks

Prohibition, November '09

A long-time fan of the Blitz parties, I was very intrigued to hear that the organisers were returning to the event they are most famous for, "Prohibition". This night is, as the name suggests, a 1920s themed night. It's not, as the name suggests, a "dry" event. Far from it.

I've always loved the '40s and '50s, but recently I've fallen hard for the 1920s. Maybe it's the haircut? I'd love to think I would have been a flapper - albeit not a very good one (I went to a charleston class last week and failed in the most epic fashion. I've come to the conclusion that I have dyslexic legs...)

I'd roped a few people along this time, and I have to admit that I was worrying slightly about whether they would enjoy it - nights like this are quite difficult to dress for, especially for normal people, who's wardrobes (unlike mine) do not resemble dressing up boxes. In the end though, my friends dressed wonderfully and really looked and felt the part. I wore a glittery headband and my handmade red flower with embroidered leaves, and my friend wore a black and white feather and pearl headpiece I made for the occasion.


We began the night in truly decadent style, sipping extortionately-priced cocktails from the private penthouse bar at the top of the Centre Point building on Tottenham Court Road. The view from the top was incredible, the whole of London twinkling beneath us.

After a cocktail or two we shimmied over to Old Street and hit the party - and what a party it was! Fantastic bands, great music played, gorgeous people. The cocktail menus hidden inside old books was a nice touch, as were the candles in old champagne bottles, the silent Louise Brooks film projected on one wall, the roulette table and, here and there, the guests innocuously sipping cocktails from china teacups.

I had a bit of a dance with an old friend, a fantastic dancer who always asks me to dance even though he knows how rubbish I am. We did however get a round of applause from all the people on the dancefloor this time - presumably applauding him for keeping me upright. Fun though! The tempo of the 20s jazz is so upbeat - it's a great workout, and also, I defy anyone to not feel happy whilst listening to such fun music!

A little tip though: fringed dresses? Yeah, they kind of get stuck on EVERYTHING that comes within a meter radius of you. Amusing when it's the back pocket button of a rather nice gentleman, not so amusing when you're attached arse-to-arse with another girl and have to end up ripping her gorgeous beaded vintage dress to free yourself. It's either that or resign yourself to the fact that you are going to be siamese-dress-twins with a complete stranger for the rest of the night.

Little Red Robin Hood hats

I must keep up to date with this blog, but life seems so busy at the moment I can barely catch my breath! I have decided to really throw myself into making hats - a little business which will probably never take off, but gives me so much enjoyment. There's something about slowing down and taking things one stitch at a time, which is a really nice way to calm down at the end of a busy day.

I've set up an etsy shop but really need to get some proper photos taken - I've asked a friend to take the photos, and another to model for me. Problem is everyone is so busy in the run-up to Christmas, it's so hard to find time, so for now there are photos of me doing the honours. I'm waiting for the delivery of a wooden canvas mannequin head too, so that I can take some good clear pictures, which seems to be the thing that really helps sell an item.

Green Burlesque Bruiser hat - mini black felt bowler hat with green trimming and ribbon, black feather spray and merry-widow veil - £25 (plus p&p)

Visit my etsy shop...

Saturday the 17th of October was my fourth Blitz party - and they just keep getting better and better.

In the past I've booked tickets for this event as soon as they're released, and a good thing too as it's often completely sold-out by the night itself. This time though, I had decided not to go. Things have been a bit tough lately and I was firmly resolved that all I wanted to do was crawl under the duvet and sleep for a hundred years. In the end though, the siren call of the Blitz sirens was one that I could not resist.

Enlisting Cara, my old partner in crime, we snapped up some last minute tickets and set about planning our outfits. So far I've attended as a sort of home-made WAF, a 40s nurse (literally home-made, putting my newly acquired sewing machines to good use), but have never gone in Civvys. However, with my grand master plan of world domination (or failing that, a bit of pocket money) through hand-made hats led me to think that I should be seen out and about sporting some of my creations, if I'm ever going to persuade people that they would also like to perch them atop their heads.

My "Little Red Robin Hood" hat looked even more fabulous than usual against Cara's pale hair. I wrapped up in my furs and feathers, we donned our red lipstick, my seamed stockings and Cara's truly authentic eyeliner lined legs, and set out into the night.

As usual the event was packed, the drinks expensive, the music fabulous. Everywhere you looked were people of above average looks, wonderfully turned out. So many gorgeous gals in tea-dresses and victory-rolls! So many men in smartly pressed uniform and shined shoes, garrison caps at rakish angles. Myself having recently joined the ranks of the spurned and cast-off, and this being my first Blitz party footloose and fancy free, and must say I quite enjoyed the view!

Music provided by the gorgeously exotic Twin and Tonic, and the toe-tapping Ta Mer.

The SS:Atlantica party was fun, but as usual the most fun part was the dressing up! I really want to try out the Prohibition party now, but the Blitz party is definitely my favourite.



Got a few compliments on my hat though, which is nice! It's the first time I've ever made a hat but I'm really excited and inspired about making some more....

I'm hoping to go to the above event next weekend. I've been to 3 Blitz parties so far and they've just been fabulous fun! Lovely lovely people, fantastic music, some wonderful dancers and a great time all round. The S.S Atlantica is organised by the same people who brought us the Blitz parties (and Prohibition, a '20s night that I've not had the pleasure of attending yet, but really want to!) and it looks fantastic.

But I need an outift. Ideally I'd love something flowing and silky and elegant, but that's not so easy to come across and my budget is rather restricted by my recently moving flat (and the fact that I may be unemployed come December...). For a while I thought about trying to track down a pattern and some material to make one, similar to Keira Knightley's green dress in the film "Atonement", but this soon fell through. Buying patterns and fabric is pretty much expensive as buying the dress ready made. I had a look around some of Soho's vintage and second-hand shops on a lunchbreak and came across Beyond Retro. I've not found much in here before, as I'm often a little bit too intimidated to even set foot in the place, but I stumbled across a blue wool dress there, and discovered that it fit me like a glove. It's very hard to place an era for it - I think the zip dates it as reasonably modern, but I also think it could get away with being a late '30s or '40s dress, even though it's got quite a fitted pencil skirt and 1930s dresses seem to be more fluted. It could even pass as a dress from the 50s. But I'm hoping with accessories, as shown in the photo below, I can get away with it. Although it's not nearly as formal as I'd like.

I wonder if there will be as many people at the 30s party, compared to the 40s? The Blitz parties were rather easier when it came to costumes, as there was a wider range and a lot of allied uniforms to chose from.

Royal blue wool dress - Beyond Retro, £30
Fake fur stole - H&M, £9.99
Vintage gloves - Circus, (Kingly Court) £12
Cloche hat - Urban Outfitters (last autumn, about £30)

The pearl necklace is from my mother and I believe it's real, the blazer was inherited from a friend.

The Ditty Bops - I am loving both their music and style right now!

"Why does blood turn brown when it dries

Why do the tears well up in your eyes

Why didn't I learn to ride my bike

When it was warm and sunny outside

Why can't little kids tie their shoes

Why can't the white people play the blues

Why can't I fall in love with you

It must be because of the seasons

When the leaves start falling from the trees

When the birds start flirting with the bees

When the wind starts blowing from the East to the West

Maybe you'll be the one that I like best"

Check out the Square America site, there are the most amazing photos throughout history, documenting social change, fashion etc. It's just incredible, and all photo collections organised around a theme, all real people. My favourite is a collection of animated photo booth images - one chronicles a woman's life from what looks like about the age of 6-60. The ones above are just a few of a beautifully stylish girl - what a gorgeous smile, and look at that kiss curl!

Rose Byrne and James Marsden, for Vanity Fair.
Lovely. :)

I'm going to cut that man right outta my hair...

So I cut my hair yesterday, part of my new Cheer Up You're Not The First Girl To Be Heartbroken programme. I wanted "Amelie" but ended up with Lillian Gish. A fair cop, I'd say. :)

Yesterday I had the day off work, with nothing much planned, which was wonderful. I started off by ambling up to the J.W.Waterhouse exhibition at the Royal Academy, which was absolutely packed. I didn't much mind though as it's great to see his work getting so much publicity and attention. The paintings were fabulous, as you can imagine - the skin tones so luminous it looked as though there was a light shining from behind each painting.

After that I went to Fortnum & Masons on Piccadilly -- I'd never been to this old department store before but have often walked past and admired the fabulously creative window displays. Inside it's wonderfully plush and opulent, everything laid out wonderfully and the staff so polite. The bathrooms (sorry, "powder rooms") were a joy too, with lovely Molten Brown soaps and creams and real towels to dry your hands. After browsing for a little I wandered up to the first floor to the Parlour cafe for Earl Grey and scones with clotted cream and jam - such a treat!




After this I went to the upper floors to sample all the lovely perfumes and potions and lotions, and admire the beautiful hats, books, leather goods and hampers.



You just don't seem to get shops like this anymore - I felt as though I'd wondered back in time! It reminded me of the Simpsons store where the girls go to collect their horrible inherited furs in "I Capture The Castle", or Edyth's beauty salon in "Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day", where shopping is meant to be an experience, a joy, just in itself. Bring back shops like this, I say!

It broke my heart to have to walk away from this dress today, but considering I'm moving flat soon and might have a few cash-flow problems, the wiser side of me cautioned against it.

Good old M&S. They're celebrating their 100th birthday this year and are re-issuing best-selling dresses from various different eras - this is their 1950s one. And it's only £40!

(psst, don't tell anyone, but I've put it behind the counter and might go back for it when I get paid at the end of this week...)

Cara and I at the Blitz Party, April 09.