Salute to the 40's

Salute to the 40's is one of those events that I had heard friends rave about but had never managed to get to so I decided I was not missing it this year!

Salute to the 40's is held at Chatham Dockyard in Kent, they have a calendar jam packed full of interesting events which you can view here.

Getting there: Getting to Chatham Dockyard is easy, from Victoria Station in London you can get a direct train which takes about an hour and then it's a short bus ride to the Dockyard itself. It's best to book train tickets in advance as it can be pricey to buy these fares on the day.

Music

Adam Hoffman was wonderfully funny as well as having a cracking voice!

The Polka Dot Dolls were fantastic 

The Hotsie Totsies kept everyone entertained

There were various stages hosting music that you could enjoy even when walking around enjoying the exhibitions which was fantastic. 

Experiences

There is plenty to see and do at Salute to the 40's such as....

The 1940's street - visit the tiny little pub to grab a drink or the see confectionery shop and the old fashioned store. So quaint!

 

The bombed out street was a sobering reminder of the period in history being remembered at events like salute to the 40's and always makes me think how lucky we are today that we don't live in such times.

 








As well as hosting Salute to the 40's, Chatham Dockyard is also where some scenes of Call The Midwife were filmed, it was so exciting to walk down the streets that were so familiar from the series. The dockyard do Call The Midwife tours which I am very tempted to do. 

I'm not much of a petrol head myself but I do love the old vehicles at vintage events and Salute to the  40's had plenty to see, I love the curiosity dealer truck, it's a job title to aspire too!

 

There is also a beautiful garden with a lovely nursery and real grapes growing from an awning, great for photo opportunities which some of us vintage people love!

 

Boats

Of course in a dockyard there was plenty of ships, boats and other maritime artifacts on display. You could climb aboard some of the ships and play captain too which was lots of fun.

 

 

Shopping

There were plenty of stalls with a good variety of vintage sellers and at different price points which was lovely to see. I would say that I found most of the sellers cheaper than London fairs, particularly those more local to Kent so it is definitely possible to pick up a bargain.

 

 

 

 

 

I had to give this seller a proper mention as their knitwear was gorgeous (see above), they don't sell online but they attend the big vintage festivals so look out for them! 

Food and drink

There were lots of places to buy food and drink, some traditional English offerings and some more street food styles so there is something for everyone.

Beware the fish and chip queue! It was certainly popular so you'd want to get in line for an early lunch. I settled on pie and mash which was delicious and at £7.95 it was reasonable value.

As well as the little pub there was also a bar on a bus, I always think these are such a fun novelty!

Cost

My one day ticket to Salute to the 40's cost £18 and for the access you get to all the various exhibitions as well as the entertainment I would say this is one of the best value vintage events I have been to so far. It's definitely going in the calendar for next year.

What I Wore

I wore an original 1940's dress which I got at Twinwood, I love this dress as I find the cut really flattering and it is flight enough for daytime events. 

I teamed it with a vintage hat which I picked up at Retromania in Pimlico, if you follow me on Instagram you might have seen me showing this off in a video. 

The gloves and blue bag, which is vintage, came from a carboot sale and I finished this of with some Hotter shoes to match the colour in the hat and which kept me comfortable all day long. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, I am already looking forward to the next Salute to the 40's event! 

Until next time 

Love 

Lucy 

xx

Twinwood Vintage Clothing Haul/Lookbook 2017

Back to School For Grown Ups Autumn Wishlist

I love autumn, the changes the season bring can be seen everywhere and it leads up to my favourite time of year...Halloween!

September always brings something out in me though and I find myself thinking about new black leather shoes and stationary in a warped back to school type calling.

I find that the best of high street tailoring seems to come out in autumn with classic shapes and dense fabrics to shield from the turning weather.

Here is my back to school for grown ups wishlist...

Marks and Spencer Fishtail Pencil Midi Skirt £35

I love that the midi skirt is back and Marks and Spencer's have some great options in this style at the moment. I've only ever found the perfect midi length in second hand clothing so I'll be sure to go and try some of these on.

You can't beat classic black although they do have some coloured and patterned versions too and this shape gives it a more vintage feel. Fishtail shapes are very flattering I find, accentuating and celebrating pre-existing curves or tricking the eye for more straight up and down shaped people.

Monsoon Maris Blouse £45

This shirt caught my eye because of it's nod to Victoriana which I always think comes into it's own in the colder months. I think this would look great alone or with a deep v jacket or cardigan, because you wouldn't want to cover up that amazing detail o the front. It's polyester too and is machine washable, a minor fact that I love!  

Collectif Vintage Layla Cardigan £42

Everyone needs knitwear as the colder weather draws near but you can do it in style in this adorable cardigan, the velvet covered buttons and bow are a little luxe detail making this a versatile piece that could be dressed up or down.

It's a fine knit which is great for the changeable weather as it can be layered up on colder days or worn alone while the sun still graces us.

Clarkes Ellis Mae Shoes £75 

That back to school feeling always has me perusing black Mary Jane style shoes, but I love these ones from Clarks for the finer details which make these more than just another black shoe. The contrast of fabrics used is an interesting feature as well as the contrasting sole. 

I think the balance between being something a little different but consistent enough that they work across multiple outfits is a real selling point of these shoes. 

Dorothy Perkins Green Ruffle Pencil Skirt £22 

According to the DP website this item is selling fast, and I can see why. Pencil skirts with this sarong style detailing have been popular in vintage reproduction clothing forever because it's a classic feature seen in original clothing. 

I love the colour which would be perfect for autumn but also that the fabric is consistent, some brands make these skirts on printed fabrics and I can't stand to see the unprinted side on show so this one ticks a lot of boxes for me.  

Topshop Peplum Fitted Jacket £49

Peplum jackets are a great alternative to more corporate shapes in tailoring. The shape is really flattering and adds another layer of detail and interest. 

I like how this jacket has been kept simplistic in the fastenings so the shape is the main feature creating a classic but dramatic effect. 

New Look Black Satchel  £19.99

I have been after a black satchel for the longest time but hadn't found one I like. When I came across this one from New Look it ticked all the boxes. I wanted classic shape and detailing with some practical thought to it. 

This satchel looks to have a buckle closure but there are actually clips underneath meaning nothing needs to be undone to access the bag and this was what I was looking for. I also like the lack of fussy details as for my day to day bag I want something that will work with whatever I am wearing. 

Claire's Accessories Pearl Crescent Sterling Silver Earrings £8.00

I really liked the unusual shape of these earrings which still give the timeless feel of pearls but with a more interesting shape. The backs to these are sterling silver which is great if, like me, your ears are sensitive to both metals and clips. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, I'm just about keeping myself out of Paperchase and away from buying lots of cutesy notebooks...just! 

Until next time 

Love 

Lucy 

xx

(Images property of Marks and Spencers, Monsoon, Collectif, Clarkes, Dorothy Perkins, Topshop New Look and Claire's Accessories respectively) 

My Pre Vintage Wardrobe

Before I found vintage I never really knew what to wear and what suited me. I wasn't the most confident of people and in my early twenties I flitted from trend to trend never really finding what I felt comfortable in.

In my 10 best things about wearing vintage I touched on how much time and effort I used to put in to being trying to keep up with latest trends, wether of not they suited me.

I thought I would share some of my personal photos of the time before vintage...

I remember buying this dress from a market stall and at the time I thought it was amazing, it only lasted one wash before falling to pieces which was probably a good thing in the end! 

This was another of my "I just want to be cool" outfits but it really didn't suit me, I think pink animal print was a tall order! 

Blazers and jeans were my go to outfits for hiding behind. 

At the peak of my less happy moments I would wear the baggiest things I could, I avoided anything remotely flattering because I felt like it wasn't for me. 

Even in happier times I would wear a lot of black, my sister looked at my wardrobe once and said "How many grey jumpers does a person need?" 

Nights out usually called for some form of bolero or jacket which replaced the daytime blazer. 

Another night out, another blazer.

Its very rare to see a photo where I haven't covered myself up in some way. 

Thank goodness I found vintage! Although the bolero addiction continues!

I enjoyed writing this little look back in time, I hope you enjoyed it too. 

Until next time 

Love 

Lucy 

xx