Ramblings of a Model, Mother and Outspoken Weirdo

So at the back end of April I went to 'The Festival of Vintage' York Racecourse, probably the largest vintage fair I have been too, lovely venue, lovely atmosphere, just had a lovely few hours sauntering around fingering stuff I couldn't afford, imagining myself in all the stunning frocks and damning myself to Lucifer for not being a 26" waist. I was officially there assisting my partner Nicholas as he documented the event. He got some fab images which you can view on his Flickr page and some are to be featured in Vintage Life magazine which you can subscribe to! :)

I set myself a budget, like you have to do with these things or you go on a mental vintage binge and can't actually afford to eat at the end of the month and that's no good for anyone. I am totally into my bright colours, but essentially I need something that fits well and I am likely to wear regularly or shoot in and resell. I am so glad I tried everything on at this event, the ladies in the loos were sweethearts, everyone zipping each other up and keen to give their opinions. It's just nice to see women, all shapes and sizes celebrating vintage finds and looking stunning together.

I purchases three frocks, one of which was £6, one of which I have worn 5 times already! I have had photos taken in all of them, all taken by my fella.

This first image was taken on the 1st of May where I performed in Leeds, so not an official photo shoot image but it has a distinct movie still feel to it. I think this frock is handmade 50's dress or that's what it was sold to me as.

Couple of weeks ago me and Nick did a photo shoot around his, the first image was taken in his bathroom, his Mum just decorated and it just totally worked. The second image was taken in a field 10 minutes from Nick's house.
Just been hunting for the next vintage fair locally, there is one in York on Sunday but I am unable to attend, I did however find some cracking shops in Durham when I was there recently, hopefully I will be revisiting them soon with some gal pals. My main joy in vintage hunting is finding something original, one of main issues with living in Berwick-upon-Tweed was that there was a bunch of NewLook/DorothyPerkins clones because they were the only shops women had access to. Made going out very dull. Probably also the slight smugness you can get when someone says 'Ooh where did you get that from?' and you can basically reply 'Well you can't get one because....' :)

I am so far behind on my blogs its silly, but by the same token I don't want to flood people with my rambling on.

As you know I dyed my hair blue recently, I am now a purple which seems to take better to my hair. I am not natural nor 'vintage' friendly anymore. I sort of feeling I have received a bit of snobbery from some people I used to gabber on with about vintageness, in fact one person seems to be completely ignoring me since I dyed my hair which is utterly pathetic.

I have done quite a few shoots lately because obviously I am no longer a brunette which sort of means my portfolio is out of date. I can't sell myself as the short, curvy girl next door now, I am short, and curvy with violet locks, essentially the only box you can put me in is Alt.

The only gig you can normally get with rad hair colour that involves vaguely vintage shaped items is latex and sadly I think I am too chubby, bumpy, short and long in the tooth for that now. So I am basically doing what I have always done but with an Alt twist.

I did this shoot in the woods in Gainsborough with photographer Nicholas Gray, in a 50's nightie I bought from the Exquisite Bones etsy store. I was aiming for a mental patient that was lost in the woods and I think it really works.


Another example of this is the shoot I did with another one of my favourite photographers, Jonathan Keys, at Newcastle Civic Centre at night time, when I wore my repro vintage blouse by Able Grable.
Sometimes all components of a styling for a shoot can be from different eras and you can put them together and they just work in the correct setting.

I am hopefully having an Alt Wedding shoot at the weekend with a male model, first time I have ever did a shoot with a bloke and next week I will be preparing to perform at the Sunderland Shadow Gallery, with some of my favourite lasses. Also started working on a double act with my friend and talented burlesque artist, Daisy Stays.

I fancied a change, so I decided to go from a brunette which I have always been to attempting a head of blue hair. It's probably just a phase to be fair but a lot of my photos are starting to look the same and I wanted the challenge of working something different and it sure is! I had already booked a shoot with a photographer last week and thought he might want to cancel due to my hair colour change but that wasn't the case he was just as keen.

Took a few shots just in my lounge with my boyfriend, Nicholas Gray, just so I could debut the blue if you know what I mean. It's very different, and my Mum wasn't keen. I also took Nick to meet my Mum for the first time, it was a bit of a non event, I had been really worried leading up to it but it was fine. I also introduced Nick to the delicacy of a deep fried pizza kinda got a combined thumbs up and thumbs down!

Feels like a million years since I last blogged. This blog is mostly about my performance on Saturday the 11th of December in Darlington at a 1940's/Swing themed night called Candlelit Cabaret in aid of Help for Heroes.

It was just a generally lovely evening, I met some amazing talented people the atmosphere was so nice and I felt welcome, everyone made an effort to talk to me, have several new facebook friend's now and I would love to get invited to perform there again. I also got to meet the delicious Darkteaser a personal burlesque idol of mine, she is absolutely stunning in person, I am going to be performing at her charity event in March.

My act was using a song from South Pacific (one of my favourite musicals, the title of my blog seems relevant and is also a lyric from another South Pacific song called Happy Talk). I recently filled out a form for a huge burlesque even and I had to say my main inspiration was musical theatre and from being an operatic society in my early teens. The song I use for this act is 'I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair' and I got to wear my gorgeous Revamp sailor outfit which is normally hanging up unloved and unused in my wardrobe! I also wore a What Katie Did Bikini, normally their stuff is absolutely ace but I have to say this particular bikini is neither nowt nor something, I don't think the top could be any more wrong than it is. Sadly I don't think I am going to have the time or money to replace it before I perform this act again. I did get some absolutely awesome pasties from The Libertarian. Images taken by my delicious lump of man stuff Nicholas Gray.


Christmas is just round the corner, I am actually completely sorted apart from like two things which I am going to pick up on Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to seeing how excited the kids get next week, it's going to be a mental build up of hyper whilst they aren't at school. Not going to see my boyfriend until NYE now, 3 weeks without him is virtually unbearable I have had to do it before turns me into an emo subhuman freak. I know I could end it but essentially I am stubborn and don't want to and love triumphs over logic every time.

Newcastle is a pretty good place to live all in all, it's a city but not a massive one but between Newcastle and Gateshead you will be able to pretty much get your hands on pretty much anything apart from....

a good selection of high quality vintage clothing! Personally buying online just isn't the same, yeah sure you get pictures and accurate measurements but it's not the same as being able to feel the fabric, do a little twirl, take in that vintage smell (which I love and know some people hate) but I think that's what it should be, an experience not just a purchase.

I recently had loads of shoots lined up and I was struggling to find stuff to wear, I am a solo mum I have few pennies so I went on a hunt to find a local vintage emporium my friend Chris (or on Twitter @onion2k) informed me of a placed in Heaton.

This shop called, These Foolish Things, has an amazing selection of clothing, jewellery and homeware. I got some lovely stuff to model and the lady in charge Gena is an absolute delight to have a chat too! Please drop the shop a 'Like' on Facebook and check out the website.

Just thought I would share some images with you.
(Taken by Debbie Sanders, David Evans & Floebob)

Ok! I am three shoots behind on my blog and I am getting all confuzzled! Will probably blog and bore you on the next couple of days too.

Anyway! Still while I was at Nick's for two weeks in the beginning of August, on the same day as I did the shoot in Steel Wheels with Richard Hanley, I headed to Studio 5000 to do a shoot with a photographer called Rob Mackins. He was an amazingly funny guy, I was dancing, laughing and joking and it was a mega comfortable shoot. I wore about a zillion outfits.

Here are a few of my favourite images from the shoot.

I am currently customising my Daisy Stays black corset for my burlesqueness. The Daisy Stays shoot is another one I need to blog about, need to steal some pictures from her site :) My 'Poison' costume consists of sparklness, latex, amazing pasties from this fantastic US based etsy shop. Hoping I can get it all together and get my loverman to take a picture at the weekend, he currently poorly and I wish I was able to nurse him better.

Two shoots lined up this week, one with the kids, will be nice to have some family pics with us three together as I am normally the one taking the pics with me being a 'single' mum. The other is a vintagey shoot I have borrowed some amazing stuff from a vintage shop in Newcastle, the lady Gena is absolutely lovely. Able Grable might sneak in on Thursdays shoot too!

Had a shoot a few weeks ago with a lovely gentleman called Les Higgins, he was very down to earth and I really enjoyed the shoot. It had actually meant to have been with another photographer, one which was very short to the point of virtually being rude in emails so I was glad he hadn't turned up in the end. I actually met the guy a couple of days later and he wasn't all that and sure his work is perfectly lovely but I don't need to work with someone with that attitude.

This was during the two weeks I was at my boyfriend's place, when the kids were with their Daddy and I felt the need to cram in as many shoots as possible.
Anyway the shoot was at Studio 5000, I have some more pics from another shoot there too which I will blog in a bit.

I wore my adorable (new favourite frock!) Able Grable Ready Hedy or as my boyfriend affectionately calls it 'The Cheese Dress'. I love it, I put it on and it makes me feel instantly happy, it's summer in a frock. I did a sort of strip tease thing and I quite like the way the images turned out. My underwear was the stunning yet supportive Josephine Corselette by What Katie Did. I have wore it for a few shoots now so I feel I should pimp it out a bit. Really loving the new Swiss Dot range for A/w10 too!


Funny story actually, probably works better when I do the seedy voice. I was going back to Nick's after doing the shoot and a geezer started talking to me.

"You're a sight for sore eyes, where you off to?"
"My boyfriend's"
"He's a lucky man"
"He probably won't even notice he'll be playing on his Xbox"
"Wish you were my girlfriend"
"See ya!"

Few shoots behind in my blog so I will try and crank them out in the next few days. I had a shoot on 25th of August with a guy called Dave, he doesn't have a website and I didn't ask him for his surname but trust me his name was Dave.

For this shoot I filled my bag with vintage dresses (mostly my Able Grable gear) and headed to Tanfield Railway, Causey Arch, County Durham. This shoot was done about 3 days after my boyfriend had made his decision to leave me up here in the North East and it would be fair to say I was miserable and devastated and it showed in every single picture I received from this shoot, I really hope it wasn't a waste of time for the photographer.

Here are a couple of my faves from the shoot, away from the railway itself there were some totally amazing old, disused, rusty engines! I would love to do another shoot down in that part. I wanted to do some uber pin up implied topless shots but I wasn't in the right frame of mind and also my hair had fallen over by this point.

I love this shot, and I love my Wicked Lady! And the red was just shimmering in the sunlight. (Would love this frock in Olive or Gold!)

This is a shot of new favourite cord and tweed lingerie set from amazing Lilly Wiggler Couture, always a pleasure dealing with this lady! She is an absolute star :)

Finding long distance thing unbelievably difficult, it's just constant paranoia and worry. I only take comfort in sniffing something that's his and even then sometimes it makes me worse. I love him very much and know we can make it work, I will struggle to find another Nicholas Gray, someone who makes me laugh all the time and loves me for the fact I am insane, not despite it so I guess I will just have to deal with the current situation until we buy our castle...ooh actually spaceship and shed for my Iguana and this shitey few months is just a distant memory.

I go through phases where I find an item I like and have it in lost of different colours. My favourite item of this type is my Scarlet Street blouses from Able Grable.

I had a shoot with my partner Nicholas Gray in Bananastudio in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and we had some fun and got some insanely colourful shots of me rocking my blouse. And I thought I would just share some with you.



I teamed my blouses with frilly panties from Lulu & Lush and What Katie Did and Hair Accessories from Flamingo Amy, Sighs and Whispers and Wandering Gypsy Couture.

After I shot all my blouses we also done a few implied nude here is my favourite, it looks kinda 90's but I really like it.

Good Morning!!

I have emailed so many photographers lately they are all just merged into a massive uber gloopy photographic orb, like 'The Blob' or something. Think I have confirmed 3 more shoots though, and one this week in which I will be taking some of my favourite AbleGrable stuff and prancing around a studio!

You should check out the newest addition to the AbleGrable collection the Boudoir Kitten! I am absolutely in love!

I am still wanting to do a shoot in a paddling pool full of jelly. I have sold loads of my bra/boobie items that are too big and I quite fancy a cossie from ForLuna, can't decide which of these three are most 'DeeLaBeau'. Currently leaning towards the Blue Cherry one!

Just before Christmas I developed an unnatural obsession for vintage swimsuits and high waisted shorts. There are loads of shorts of out there with a bit of a vintage flavour, or even to wear with crazy tights and DM's.

I got my very first pair from Tara Starlet I am normally a size 12 (although I have to admit I have quite a curvalicious rear) and the 12 fit me perfectly. I got the red ones, the fabric is really nice reasonably this but with a bit of stretch. At £45 they seem an bit bit steep for how teeny they are but I'd say these are my first and my favourite high waisted shorts. Mega cheesy pic of me wearing aforementioned shorts.

I also have a pair from Big Beautiful Barbara Brown a gorgeous store than does some really pretty dress, hairbands, playsuits and all sorts of repro vintage stuff, I went there because I specifically wanted a pair in tartan and she makes tartan frocks so I asked her to run me up a pair of the shorts. I am not going to complain too much because the shorts are gorgeous but even though I have lost weight the zipper still falls down without any sort of pressure. I am going to get a new zipper put in them. I do love them though they are a really cute shape.

I have also been having a rummage on the High St from cute shorts, I managed to get a stunning floral pair from Topshop, but had to get a size 16! Wish I was shocked about because I am normally a 12 but there is not a snowball in hells chance I was going to get into a 12 of these babies.

Miss Selfridge has a very cute selection like these. And I have seen a cute grey pair in Next I want to invest in.

I needed to buy a really skinny belt, an idea I have to admit I have borrowed from Fleur De Guerre who wore a skinny belt with her gorgeous Able Grable Wicked Lady and Lutie Mae frocks. So I went on a bit of a mission to find one this morning, I just wanted a basic black one, nothing fancy I bought one from http://www.steptoesantiques.co.uk/. I think the belt idea is fabulous because it makes the amazing frocks look a smidge more casual.

I like the fact p&p is free from this site and there is massive selection and range of prices.

Found a few things I love!

I think I could totally rock this dress.

I love this bag! And it's even in the sale :)

And this cute little Lucite Brooch has caught my eye!

Had three shoots in two days! Sort of! And one guy, Nicholas Gray has been super sonic fast in getting the pics back to us (my friend Ellen came along too!) Just thought I'd post a couple of my faves, I'll blog about it properly later.

Had such a lovely day yesterday, every now and again you meet some really interesting new people and that's what happened to me.

Anyhoo, I have to skidaddle will do one properly laters!

Vivien of Holloway vs HeyDay

I am also going to review the stores while I am here because one has a much better level of customer service than the other.

Firstly Viven of Holloway

I ordered a pair of their 1940's style trousers. I know they are mega famous for their halter dresses (the world and their cousin has one especially the spotty ones, can't complain though I love my Purple gingham one!). I ordered a grey pair, they emailed to say they didn't have the grey, I asked for the red, they emailed back to say they didn't have the red, I emailed again to ask which ones they did have, they replied to say they had none in my size and that I would have to wait. Why they didn't do that in the first place I don't know! However eventually they came in and I couldn't get grey, nor red and I ended up getting purple.

The trousers I can't really fault. Lots of people are put off by the vintage sizing, I am a vintage 16 or a modern 12 it doesn't bother me particularly. The fit of the trousers are lovely and very slimming, I love the detail of the pocket. The purple is a bit drab but I really like them, just struggle to find things to match the shade.


Hey Day

I have a pair of the Chocolate Swing Trousers from Hey Day as modelled on the site by the beautiful Fleur De Guerre and the customer service from Shona is absolutely second to none, I had asked her numerous questions about sizing, my friend is getting a custom pair of trousers made and she has been an absolute doll. The selection of colour is amazing and also Hey Day uses regular modern day sizing which I know a lot people prefer.

I much prefer the fit and fabric of my trousers from Hey Day and they feel lots more comfortable. There is a smidge or stretch that you don't get with the VoH ones and also I think they wash and iron better. I do miss the pocket detail a bit from the Viv of Holloway ones but the Hey Day ones are a much nicer pair of trousers and I would recommend them more.


I would also like to add I have quite a sizeable arse and this style of trousers look really good on me, they make my curves look nice. So if you want to treat yourself to some vintage style trousers in the New Year I would recommend HeyDay highly!

So it's almost Christmas its -6 degrees outside what have I been rummaging through ebay/etsy for, Vintage swimsuits! I have a shoot in January and I want to do a summery theme! Also I have been wanting to audition for our local operatic society's production of South Pacific this could have inspired me also. Also the lovely lady from Notorious Kitsch posted a link to her ebay listings on Twitter and I fell in love with her vintage cossie sadly it would have been a bit too small on me :( so I didn't bid too high.

They seem to be a lot more forgiving than modern swimsuits after all I have had two children and I covered in stretchmarks especially as Laurence was 9lb 10oz my 5'4 and half inch body wasn't meant to be stretch in that way!

You can of course get some vintage inspired swimwear from For Luna gorgeous selection and a wonderful service. I would need a cossie because my belly button is defunked but the bikinis have nice deep bottoms to cover that nasty bit you get under your tummy when you have sprogged.

I am wanting something with a bit of a ditzy floral pattern. I love this one on Etsy but I think it would probably be a bit large. I have my beady eye on a couple on ebay which I might get for a steal.

We have had some gorgeous snow up North here lately, in fact all over the UK but now it is just all ice and it's so dangerous and slippy outside. I am so excited for Christmas. Here is a photo of my mischievous son playing in the snow.