Blitz party #5, January 28th 2010

Well, the first Blitz of 2010 was another fantastic night. Okay, so I had maybe one too many cocktails and can't remember an awful lot of it, but I'm assured by all my friends that it was another marvelous night, as per usual.

This time I wore my wide-legged '40s sailor trousers by Tara Starlet , a sheer black '30s style blouse from H&M many moons ago, and my Liberty, Equality, Fraternity hat with silk dupion rosette (I was channeling a sort of French resistance, SOE fighter vibe!). Cara and Bridget went as Rosie the Riveter and in my handmade '40s style nurses outfit that I made for an earlier Blitz. Recycling and rotating costumes is the way to go!

As usual music was provided by the ever fabulous Twin and Tonic, and Ta Mere - we all had a good dance - some friends of mine especially so, being the most impressive Lindy Hop dancers I know, they received a well-deserved round of applause at the end of their dance.

Roll on March 24th and the next party - really cannot wait.

Pith Helmet Chic

Jobyna Ralston

Princess Flora headpiece

The Princess Flora headpiece - hand-made large powder blue silk dupion rose on a base of embroidered gold and green silk-dupion leaves, with a spray of soft white goose feathers and white merry widow veiling.

I think this would make a really lovely headpiece for a bride, particularly with the veil. I'm really pleased with it. It's on sale here for £67 ($105). (available with or without the veil)

The Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball

I made this green silk dupion dress before christmas for the Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Chap Ball, and the hat to go with it. The hat has a shaped black felt base, a hand-made golden rose and hand-embroidered green silk dupion leaves, pearls and a pheasant feather. It's called "The Glorious Twelfth" hat (okay, so I know that the Glorious Twelfth is the first day of the red grouse shooting season, not pheasant, but let's not be picky.)

My gals are also wearing hats of mine - Bridget wearing the Rainbow Corner hostess hat, and Cara the lovely Red Deco cap (now sold). And don't they look lovely? We got quite creative trying to make victory rolls for the two of them (my hair is too short, alas) without the use of a proper hair-rat, so had to come up with ingenious uses for everyday objects to use instead....but I won't go into details....

If you've not heard of the Chap magazine - where have you been?! It's a great publication for the caddish dandy in us all. I'm not entirely sure a woman can even be a dandy as such, but there is certainly such a thing as a "Chapette", and I'd like to think I am one of them.

The Chap ball was marvelously fun and everything I'd come to expect from the magazine. There were gentleman in white tie and tails playing the saw as we walked in, old type-writers to bash out messages which could then be delivered by liveried servants to other guests, fantastic live music by such excellent performers as Twin & Tonic, and charleston dancing from The Bees Knees. Highlight of the night for my gals and I though was the wonderful Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer. Such a surreal moment, looking around the dancefloor and seeing men in monocles, top hats and cravats getting down and dirty to the ukulele-enhanced "Chap-Hop" re-imaginings of hip-hop greats!

Mr B performs his set. Cara and I admire a man in tweed

that sings "You've got to fight for your right to paaaartay!"

Cara and I find a passing Cad to pose with.