New Novelty Summer Dress

Look what Mr. Postman delivered - A 1950s flamenco dancer novelty print dress!!!! Once the weather cheers up I shall show it to you in its full glory!

I am thinking of putting together a Carmen Miranda inspired outfit with the above dress - maybe with a few less accessories though!

In my eyes it is all about the novelty dress - I know Liz from  Advantage In Vintage would agree. I simply can't get enough at the moment. They are fun with crazy and unique prints and say alot about what I love about Vintage fashion. Half of me loves the glamour and elegance of a Dior inspired New Look suit or dress with a very full skirt and then the other half just wants to let rip and wear some funny prints. Of course there is no reason why I can't enjoy both styles and I do! I guess it depends on my mood for that particular day - and the weather of course.


Here are a few of my current novelty favourites.

A rare 1940's Spiderweb dress from Etsy

1950s red and black novelty day dress from Wear it Again Sam

1950s homemade novelty skirt from Rainbow Valley Vintage

Are there any other novelty print lovers out there?

Miss Turnstiles xx

Viva Las Vegas and LA - Some outfits!

My camera is the most temperamental piece of technology I own, one minute it will take one nice photo, the next it will be insanely over-exposed. Sony Cybershot I don't understand you!
This meant that I didn't take as many photos as I would have liked while on my trip and those of what I wore are few and far between, but I have managed to pull together a few for your perusal!
I hope you like them!
I'm hoping to be back in LA in a months time for the festival INK 'N' IRON in Long Beach California. If I do manage to go, funds permitting, I will definitely have sorted out my camera by then.

1950s dress with atomic print from MELA MELA - Great vintage shop in Teddington with the most beautiful dresses - for my first night at VLV

1950s two piece gabardine set in pink from Sneaky Tiki

Me at the Car Show in another vintage number

My new favourite outfit, 1940s/1950s Oriental Silk Top and 1950s hot pink satin capris!

In Venice Beach (by far my favourite part of LA) in a 1950s plaid summer dress

View from the Motel in Long Beach - BLISS

I want to go back already!
What a place for great weather and even better vintage shopping.

Miss Turnstiles xx

Review: Remington Hot Rollers

About two years ago I thought to achieve a decent head of curls I would buy a set of Babyliss hot rollers... as I'm sure most of you ladies who aim for a vintage look out there know they are a complete waste of time, great for that modern day tousled look but useless for a 1940s or 1950s wave.
I have a set of hot sticks which work quite well but occasionally I find myself ending up with a scary amount of frizzy curls and I always manage to burn my fingers on them. So I was on the lookout for some smaller hot rollers for when I can't be bothered to do a wet set. Then while perusing ebay I came across Remington tight curls rollers, they have been discontinued now since being made in the 90s. 
These rollers are very small and get very hot (much hotter than the Babyliss ones) which is perfect and have actually given me a lovely 50s curl to my hair. 
If you do come across any at a reasonable price then I would definitely recommend them. I was lucky and the ebay speller had misspelled the title in the listing so I got mine much cheaper then the usual price! Cheeky eh?

My new Remington Hot Rollers

My first attempt

This is how my hair looked when I took the rollers out

And Voila! Final Result - This is my first attempt too, very pleased indeed!

 Miss Turnstiles
xx

Blogger MIA

It is official I may possibly be the worst blogger in the world! Two months without a post is I accept sacrilige in the world of the blog.
I have, in my defence, had a very hectic couple of months, finishing off the taught part of my second Masters and going on a fabulous holiday to Viva Las Vegas and LA.  I had also been saving for my trip so that I could buy countless glamorous outfits whilst on holiday, so had no new outfits to post but now I can say I am well and truly stocked up with vintage goodies. I shall do a post on what I purchased on my travels very soon.
In the mean time here are a few pictures of what I've been up to over the past couple of months.

Given the most gorgeous Art Deco Pendant from a special someone via Passionate About Vintage

Appeared on some flyers for the same company

 And I also got a little bit of partying in! Well it would have been a crime not to, here is me posing being the DJ's groupie, I love it really!

And here is me at Naomi Thompson's Style Me Vintage book launch, so many fabulously dressed people I could barely contain myself!

Photo from Naomi Thompson's Style Me Vintage Book launch by photographer Hanson Leatherby

That's all for now folks.... be back soon I PROMISE
Miss Turnstiles xx

Dreaming of a Summer Holiday

I am off to Vegas in April for Viva Las Vegas....... uncontrollably excited!!
I decided a few months ago to go on my own after reading ReeRee Rockette's experiences of going by herself. Last year was a bit of a failure on the old holiday front so I was determined to go somewhere exciting and far away in 2012. With no friends who could afford or wanted to go to the festival I went ahead and bought a ticket, a few days ago I booked the flights so it is official! I will be sharing with a lovely gal from Twitter in the Orleans Hotel, where the convention is held, and through the world of Social Media I have already 'met' others who are going too. I will then be off to LA for a week afterwards with someone who knows it well and has promised to take me to all the amazing Vintage dealers!


This of course has led to the inevitable - Viva Las Vegas obsession, checking out what people wear, what people say about it etc etc


Lisa Freemont Street's review of VLV


ReeRee Rockette's review of VLV 13


This then will lead to the even more inevitable - What shall I wear??????

Festive outfits!

Sadly the new year has meant my impending deadlines have been swamping all of my free time.

I thought instead of moaning I would show you my outfits over the festive period!

Hope you like them.

Happy New Year!!!!!

Miss Turnstiles xx



Freddies of Pinewood jeans
Vivien of Holloway Blouse



Bakelite bangles - Vintage
Bamboo bangles - Bow and Crossbones



Hairstyle on Christmas Eve



Keeping warm!!



Christmas Eve outfit - G&T of course
Blouse - Vintage
Skirt - Vintage
Hairflower - Ebay



My Christmas Outfit
Shirt - Pin up Couture from Deadly is the Female
Skirt - Vintage - Etsy



Boxing day outfit - Off to the Nutcracker
The outfit was a present from my Nan so both blouse and skirt are vintage from Mela Mela in Teddington.



Leopard brooch - My new favourite
Confetti Lucite Clamp Bracelet



Hairstyle for the ballet

Get yourself a moonicure! Christmas 1930s Nails

Ladies we all know that perfect nails make you feel glamorous!

Having in the past 6 months or so been using my hands a lot more in general manual labour tasks I have started to have acrylic overlays onto my natural nail to make them grow, and what a result! I have tried to grow my natural nails for years and they would always break or split no matter what I tried, thankfully I have long nail beds so my nails often look longer than they actually are. Now when I first decided to get fake nails I got acrylic extensions, BIG mistake, I went to one of those nasty little nail salons that smell vile and the women just butcher your nails with those terrifying drills, needless to say after getting mine done I removed then pretty sharpish after having the fear of getting some form of cancer from the MMA stuff those places use on your nails.

So when a work colleague told me she was a qualified nail technician specialising in vintage style authentic nails I lept at the chance to have her do my nails!

Ever since that day the wonderful Sharon at Minnie Moons has been doing my nails and has become a great friend along with it... what could be better!?

Minnie Moons is a company based in London that come to you and create the perfect vintage half moon design. You can have an original moonicure or one with extensions, overlays, shellac... whatever your heart desires, and even better she has an array of red polishes to suit your mood and you can even have your moons done in a silver colour, or have red glitter on your nails for a festive touch.

My first ever set from Minnie Moons

My amazing nails with red glitter for Christmas... I AM IN LOVE

I couldn't recommend the company highly enough, my nails have never looked better and I get lots of lovely comments!

Check out her Facebook page here

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.172819506135884.44587.172819142802587&type=3#!/pages/Minnie-Moons/172819142802587

Miss Turnstiles xx