No Debutante - A Great British Wedding

Today's post features what I wore and what others wore to my friend Abbie's wedding. Abbie and Dan actually got married at the same venue that my husband and I married in four years ago, there is an on-going joke with me and Abbie about the venue's wedding book that they use to promote their venue, Paintworks, to possible couples who are considering tying the knot at this somewhat unconventional event space. I say unconventional as it is a large open plan space which used to be Bristol Paintworks factory dating back to the late 1800's, which is now used as an art gallery and events space and is seen as a blank canvas that you it is can turn into anything you wish. We decorated with coloured lanterns, flowers, cushions and fairy lights with Spanish tapas, Abbie and Dan went for a great British wedding with bunting, tea- cups and a fish and chip supper. Anyway, back to the on-going joke, apparntly, Paintworks use my wedding as an example wedding and have loads of photographs of my wedding in a big wedding book! I had no idea about this but do remember saying they could use some images, anyway, Abbie always teases me about it being my wedding book. It is a bit wierd though isn't it?? 

Like me, Abbie really loves 1950s style and Dan is really into hot rods so I dressed accordingly in a 1950s cut Vivien of Holloway halterneck pencil dress and wedges. A Vivien of Holloway dress is very beautiful and nipped in in all the right places but I really don't go to enough events to wear the two I currently own (the other being my wedding dress), so any excuse to wear them, I do!

I attended the wedding with my other work buddy Rudi, who looked stunning in her vintage Topshop dress and yellow stilettos ( I also own these yellow Topshop stilettos, I'm glad to see Rudi is also a hoarder, we both got these shoes as a birthday gifts before either of us had kids!! They really are amazing shoes!!) Rudi looked great in her outfit and I love her dip dyed hair colour.

As soon, as I saw Abbie's dress I loved it, I loved the 1950s cut and the red ribbon, white and red is so beautiful, it was perfect for her. Abbie wore her dress with Vivienne Westwood red glitter heels, which I was totally jealous of but later on went a bit more casual in red baseball style pumps, her bridesmaids (who also wore 1950s style dresses with pin up hair) did the same. I loved it and almost wished I had bought my Converse along, it would have been a damn site easier to dance in Converse, that's for sure!! I unfortunately do not have photographs of the bridesmaids, since I don't really know them, although I'm sure they wouldn't  mind and if I'm honest Rudi and I got a little bit drunk and danced for hours!! Good times!!

A massive congratulations and thanks so much for inviting us Abbie and Dan!!!!

More of what I've been wearing lately coming up next and hopefully  some more of my current obsessions and how I will be wearing next seasons looks! 

Thanks for reading.

ND xx

And she'll have fun, fun, fun til her daddy takes the T-bird away

Vintage Americana is the next look from the S/S 2012 shows that I am going to delve into. As much as I am, at heart, a very British girl,  I do love a bit of 1950s Americana, the big shiny cars, Hot Rods, rockabilly, diners, preppy high school look, rock'n' roll and the good old 1950s housewife, glamourously running the home and not a hair out of place - a look I could never keep up, I'm not dedicated enough and when would I fit social networking in?

The Vintage Americana trend focuses on the 1950s boom, with it's Cadillac rockabilly style car prints, glossy coloured leather skirts (inspired by the big shiny cars and Hot Rods), cute ginghams, preppy plaids, cats eye sunglasses and not forgetting the new exposed midriff - think more 1950s hourglass figure than cheerleader. It's much more subtle than the 1990s midriff show off, as I have said before, it's all about a sneak peek of the torso and not a belly button in sight.

Here are my favourite looks from the High Street.

I have struggled to find a midi skirt that actually suits my style let alone  a bright coloured, leather one. I found this one on Asos.com, it's a bit expensive for me at £90 but I like the styling of the outfit and inspires me to wear the A-line midi's I already own, just need to lose that last bit of baby podge from my tummy!

 I do love a pair of cats eye sunglasses, these are from asos.com, I've ordered the tortoise shell one's above and some plain black ones. I'm very excited about this!

Here's a cute preppy look from asos.com (yeah the Americana look is all about Asos!) The diner style shirt, gingham skirt and I love the peep-toe heels with white ankle socks.

This cute gingham bowling shirt is from the Fred Perry By Amy Winehouse S/S 2012 collection. As we all know Amy herself loved a bit of 1950s Americana styling, so get this shirt and the gingham pumps below (also Fred Perry By Amy Winehouse) in memory of the fabulous Miss Winehouse.

 

I liked this image from Topshop.com from their Twice As Nice promo for Short Suits. This one fits the Americana trend with it's pastel shades and bra top ensemble, I think I was drawn to the image by her hair, love it!

I thought these pep hole white brogues from Topshop.com would look real preppy with a pair of ankle socks and a gingham or pastel shade midi full skirt.

Of course I couldn't do 1950s Americana without a few Vivien of Holloway lovelies. The gingham Bustier halter top above is fantastic and a great alternative to the crop bra tops. I have this one on order along with the new 1950s jeans and a gypsy top. I shall blog about these asap as I wait for my parcel to arrive....very impatiently!!

I was very excited to find this image on vivienofholloway.com I, of course, love the pink halter circle dress, but check out the car and the male model, he's just stepped out of the diner to go pick up his sweetheart in his chevy! Haha! I have no idea what the car is, even my car enthusiast husband Phil didn't know. I thought i'd just blag it.

Black sateen halter pencil dress (above) and black and white large gingham check halter circle dress (below) both from Vivien Of Holloway

 This car print top (above) is from Primark, it is amazing, I bought it yesterday for £8!!!! It wins the prize for the best catwalk copy this season, the original version from Prada is seen below on the Elle UK February cover girl Dakota Fanning. I tried on the matching Primark pleat midi skirt too but laughed myself out of the changing rooms, it was hideous on me! ND xx

Les fleurs -Will somebody wear me to the fair?

It's all about Flower prints this Spring / Summer, digital florals if you can but any flowers will do, as long as they are bright and you wear them clashed up with other floral prints. Nice! I had a look what's about on the High Street and have chosen my favourites below. Remember you can and should mix up your florals!!! It makes things a bit more interesting so it's not the same old look, like every other Spring Summer season when they say flowers are big. Mix new floral items with your old florals for even more individuality.

 All images courtesy of Topshop.com, newlook.com, vivienofholloway.com and google images.

 Topshop seemed to be the best for florals at the moment, but it is only the start of the new season on the High Street, so there will be more to come as the season progresses.

I love this 1950s bustier style top from Topshop, the bright colours and print are great and it's a slightly more covered up version of the cropped bustier tops that are currently appearing on the High Street, for those who don't want to attempt showing off their torsos.

There is a trick to wearing the new cropped tops though, pair them with highwaisted shorts, jeans and skirts so you are only showing off a tiny bit of your torso rather than your whole midriff. Also that 1990s showing off your midriff thing is still too raw for me to consider even if I did have a flat stomach, which I don't!

 Good old Vivienne of Holloway, my favourite vintage style boutique, never fail to have a dress or skirt available for each season. I love this floral 1950s halter top pencil dress. These dresses are so flattering!!

I know jumpsuits have been doing the rounds for a few years now but I really liked the print on this one from Topshop and they are so practical and can be dressed up or down. This one would look really cute with some Converse for the day and with bright wedges at night. It's really cute. 

Here's a great example of clashing your florals from Topshop's online Look Book, mixing a floral vest and trousers with a leopard print bag. The trousers are very Versace for H&M, I have a close up of them below.

 A great example of digital printing here from Mary Katrantzou from designers at Topshop, this was all over the catwalks in London Fashion week for S/S 2012. I love it!

I found these cute mix print slip ons from New Look. Great for those who don't feel confident enough to mix match their whole outfit. Florals, spots, Leopard print, you can't go wrong! 

Love these limited edition Nike High tops available at Office. These would look great with floral jeans, leggings or a bodycon style dress. 

 Here are the Versace style jeans from Topshop, Great print.

 More skinny floral jeans from Topshop.

 And to finish how about this retro style swimsuit from Topshop ( I told you they have all the florals at the moment! It's so cute! Worn with a headscarf (floral clash of course) and 1950s sunglasses, it's a winner.

Don't wait until the summer is here, start clashing up your florals this weekend, get shopping or mixing up your current florals NOW! Good luck ND xx