I was rummaging through some pictures that hadn't yet made it onto the blog, and came across these; destined for an outfit post that never materialised. So here they are now!

This is what I decided to wear to this years Brighton Tattoo Convention back in the depths of chilly winter. Not that I'm complaining about the current glorious sunshine and warmth, but I doubt I'll be getting a chance to throw this jacket on again for a while, and it seems a shame to hide it away another 6 months, heh. 

I don't tend to frequent Beyond Retro very often, but popped in to show a family friend's teenage daughter that vintage clothes didn't equate to grandma's clothes and that I wasn't weird for wearing something someone else didn't want. She changed her tune pretty quickly once inside, and I happened to stumble across this jaw dropper of a jacket. Wowser, are those some shoulders or what?! I like to call this one my Cruella Deville jacket.

I also got twiddling with my hair, one does have to make an effort for the Tattoo Convention, and I love the people watching! Looking at these pictures has reminded me that I've gotten lazy with my hair of late and really should start putting a bit more of an effort back into it. I can't even remember how I did this, but I'm sure going to give it another go :)

Outfit details:

Vintage fur Jacket - Beyond Retro, Brighton

Dress - Etsy

Vintage wool Scarf - raided from the Mister's stash

Vintage black velvet Hat - Lewes Flea Market

Sunglasses - Betsy Johnson

Bag - Christmas Present

Yellow Pumps - Primarni

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

XXX

And now you're back, from outer space...

...however no sad faces being sported here!

I'm back again! I can't believe the last time I popped on here was in April, how time has flown! Hope you've all been well?

So you might have been wondering where I disappeared to after my previous promise of returning. Well, I've been spending a little time really thinking about what it is I want to do, what's important, makes me happy and gives me fulfillment in life. I've realised I've recently been moaning and groaning that I never had enough time to do the things that I'd enjoyed, such as crafting, spending time catching up with friends and family, and making plans for the future. A lot of my time had been wrapped up in work and studying for work, and the dark winter and frightfully chilly miserable spring just wasn't motivating me to do anything other than the essentials. I've finally got a summer break from evening classes, and I'm taking a slightly scary jump into a new job starting a week on Monday (wish me luck!). I finally have the time and freedom again to get creative, which includes a long overdue and missed return to blogging. 

The Mister and I have also just returned from a 3 day holiday along the coast on a little beach just down the road from Bexhill. We've had the most amazing time exploring Hastings and Rye for the first time, and met some lovely people as well as found some amazing beauty spots to take in the views. I feel totally refreshed and recharged, and today's sunshine back in Brighton has just put the cherry on the cake. I feel like a new person. A new person who's been a busy bee crocheting away at a new project. Can you see what it is yet?

For anyone who keeps an eye on my Facebook page, I posted a few pictures up of crochet bits and bobs I've been churning out, including some red roses which I fashioned into a makeshift hair-slide. I got some really lovely feedback off the back of it, and so I thought I'd try my hand at a more finished crochet piece. 

Featuring a green crochet base and two crochet roses in pinks, I added some snowdrops, a little robin (picked up in Hastings!) and a couple of vintage buttons from my stash, I'm rather pleased with this one! What do you think?

I've made a couple of these in different colours with different flowers and bits and bobs from my overflowing hoard of haberdashery. The Mister and I will be holding a stall at the July Johnny loves June Vintage fair in Shoreham on the 21st and I'm hoping to be able to test the water and see if anyone would like to take one home with them. Keeping my fingers crossed, it would be a dream to someday somehow make a living from a hobby! 

So on to today's happenings. The Mister and I decided that 3 rounds of Crazy Golf at the Hastings International Championship Mini Golf course on Thursday wasn't enough, and that we had a score to settle. If you didn't know already, we're a little Crazy Gold mad and play quite a lot! Today's arena: Brighton Adventure Golf on Madeira Drive. Here's me sporting my best golfer's pose:

For any fellow lovers of The Chap Magazine you might recognise the setting from one of their covers. Unfortunately for me, the Mister won this round after I royally ballsed up on the first 2 holes (the course was faster than I thought...my excuse and I'm sticking to it, hehe!), although I did managed to score at least 1 hole-in-one. Next time!!

Outfit:

Flower hair-slide - Made by Me!

Vintage bangle - Roedean Vintage & Collectors Fair

Vintage pale pink knitted top - Charity Shop, Haywards Heath

Vintage pink wool cardi - Lewes Flea Market

High waisted pedal pushers - Rye

Mexican blanket pumps - Primarni

Much love from sunny Brighton,

L.J.

XXX

A very Seventies Sunday Best

The Mister's Mum has just passed on a couple of her 70's dresses to me after a bit of a clear out at home. I don't normally think of wearing 70's bits as I didn't think they were my style, but after being given some, and playing around a little with some other bits in my wardrobe, I've finally managed to find a way of making 70's work for me!

I've teamed it up with a a very wide brimmed fedora hat, a crochet shrug made by moi with a vintage fur collar attached and a chunkywood necklace purchased from a flea market, so date and origin a mystery heh. 

It turned out quite the windy day. Wind + Fedora = chasing after hats through the park. Our neighbours must think we are rather odd, but at least it gives them something to natter about ;) 

Dress - 70's family hand-me-down

Hat - T K Maxx

Shrug - made-by-me!

Vintage Fur Collar - Marina Boot Fair

Necklace - Seaford Flea Market

Boots - T K Maxx

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

A Frosty Spring Walk

These pictures were taken in February, I never got around to putting them up on here but still wanted to share them with you because it was such a pretty afternoon in Tilgate Park, even if it was freezing cold!

We were out on our weekly Saturday afternoon walk with Charlie Beagle and stopped to take a couple of snaps of one of my recent acquisition; a thick 70's wool tweed jacket to keep out the chills.

I fell in love with the lapels of the jacket, that curve! And the green white flecked wool went perfectly against my freshly dyed auburn hair. People ask if it's my natural colour, alas it is not! I've wanted to be a natural red head all my life though, does that count? 

(should have remembered to move our cups of tea out the way though, oops!)

As I've mentioned previously I've not really been curling my hair much recently, but have been pinning up the front bits and playing around instead. Here is one such example, I've pinned up 3 curls from the centre front down the side to swoop it out of my face. Quite liked how this one turned out :)

And some detailing from the back. I don't know what the technical terminology for it is, but I really like the triangular reinforcement bits either end of the back vent, I'd really like to try something like that out on a future project...not quite sure what yet....just know I'd like to. Any ideas what that's called?

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

XXX

Tilgate Park, Crawley

She's Alive!

Well hello there, long time no blog! 

I cannot believe I haven't been back on here since January... I swear I've lost the plot a little of late, because I have no idea where the last 3 months have gone! I am putting it down to studying by night, working by day, and stuffing in as many woolly crochet projects as I possible could in between, I just haven't had the time to get myself blogging again. But I really have missed it, and all your lovely messages while I've been on a little blog-break have made me itch to get back into it. 

And I had to pinch myself when I logged on earlier this week...I've sped past the 100+ followers mark in my absence *jaw drops* THANK YOU!!!!

So I thought I should get back into things with a little outfit post, a Sunday Best! Thank you everyone who has been taking part and spreading the love of the Sunday Best Campaign, I have a lot of reading to catch up on and can't wait to see :) 

Without further ado, a collection of snaps prancing about on Kemptown seafront, in a nice quiet spot down from our flat:

The Mister and I headed over to Shoreham yesterday for the 1st Johnny loves June Vintage Fair. For a first time, it was packed and now on my favourites list! Forgot to take my camera along, d'oh, but managed to pick up this pretty little springtime dress for £10. Bargain! 

I paired it up with a little jacket from a To Be Worn Again kilo sale and it being super light, probably set me back around £2. Have I mentioned that I love a good bargain?  It has the cutest elephant buttons and an embroidered elephant on the collar, super sweet! 

In my time away I've got a little lazy when it comes to doing my hair, and have been keeping it in its natural state and haven't curled it (apart from an aaaaaaaamazing photoshoot I did recently which I will tell you all about this week, promise!). However, I've been loving playing around with pinning bits of it up, and have nearly mastered the art of finishing getting up and out the house in under 20 minutes; there are upshots of being super busy sometimes, heh. 

Also, my hair seems to have grown a hell of a lot!

It's really lovely to be back again, and I'm finding it really inspiring getting back into reading all the blogs out there and finding new ones again. I've missed it, and I shall try my best to get back into being online again as often as possible, but please do bear with me should I seem to disappear off the planet again, I will be back!

Dress - Johnny Loves June Vintage Fair, Shoreham

Jacket - To Be Worn Again

Petticoat - family hand-me-down

Gloves - Flea Market, Lewes

Sunglasses - Betsey Johnson

Much Love from Brighton,

 L.J.

XXX

Oh I do love to be beside the Seaside!

I do love Brighton Beach, but sometimes it's nice to head along the coast to the less touristy parts of our beautiful Sussex Coast. 

Having worked in Worthing for 5 years up until a recent change in career, I forgot how much I love the more rustic and old-school seaside town it is. Lancing is just round the corner, and on a recent charity shop hunting trip, the Mister and I decided to finish the day with a stroll along the promenade, and a spot of posing with the fishing boats...as you do!

On a windy day like this, headscarves are called for!

You will very rarely spot me in jeans, these are the only pair I own, but am looking to invest in some new ones. If anyone has managed to find some perfect jeans, please do tell! I have spent years on the look out to no avail.

I've also been messing about and experimenting with hair-do's a little more after having picked up a few tips from the Vintage Hair Lounge. Would highly recommend you pay them a visit if you ever get the chance, they are a lovely duo and have so much knowledge to share, very inspirational! I shall be posting up a picture tutorial very shortly as requested :) thank you for all your lovely comments!

On a hint from a charity shop manager in Shoreham, we made our way to Green House in Lancing, the most humongous charity shop I have ever had the luck of coming across. Jaw dropping stuff, the place was an actual warehouse and was stuffed to bursting point with furniture, bric a brac, clothes and an amazing haberdashery section to boot. Not only that, but they were selling some 70's G-plan-esque furniture from £20!!!! If we only had room in our little den... 

Go bag yourself a bargain!

Much Love from Lancing,

L.J.

xxx

A furrrry Sunday Best

Another sunny Sunday, another Sunday Best!

Winter has most certainly arrived, I opened the curtains this morning and had the very first frost of the season, so what better way to prepare for a day out walking than wrap up warm with layers of wool, petticoats and fur :)

We took a stroll into town along the seafront to blow off those cobwebs (quite fitting this weekend, nay?), and in-between rain showers and sunshine managed to take a few snaps.

This jacket is starting to make a lot of appearances on the blog now the weather has turned, and still has to be my favourite item of clothing. If I haven't mentioned before, this is a 1940's Cyril A. Castle Saville Row Suit jacket, and I have the matching skirt! Woop! Gloat much.....sorry! ;) This time however I've teamed it up with a 50's floral tea dress, padded out with 2 layers of petticoats for added warmth, white jumper and fleece tights (hallelujah Primark, finally something I actually needed!).  

A little on the controversial side perhaps, but I'm not ashamed to admit that yes, the fur that I am wearing is real. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I am completely against the 'production' of new fur, but don't see why that should mean that vintage fur should be left to be eaten by moths in a darkened cupboard. What's your opinion on the matter?

I also finally got around to dying my hair again this week, long overdue indeed but I am totally in love with being a fiery red head once again. If only this could be my natural colour, hah. Pinned up at the front in swirls and in a big birds nest at the back, one of my recent favourites.

And of course Charlie had to join in and wear his Sunday Best. This is a made-by-me coat I rustled up in time for last Christmas. There were two, one for Charlie and one for his brother Buster (RIP), they're fleece lined, with a waterproof inside layer, their 'family' tartan and finished off with green pipping and their initial embroidered on the fleece collar. Sure to keep old Charlie warm in the coming months, and sure to attract plenty of attention from passers by. I think Charlie got more comments than either the Mister or myself! The people of Brighton sure do love a beagle in a coat heh.

I see quite a few fellow bloggers have now joined me in the Sunday Best Campaign, and I'm loving seeing all the effort you've been going to to crack out your Sunday Best, no excuses needed! Please do remember to let me know when you've posted up a Sunday Best post so I can start creating a monthly round up of all your frilly frocks, looking forward to it!

1940's Suit Jacket - Martlets Charity Shop, Brighton

1950's Brown Floral Tea Dress - Upper Gardner Street Flea Market, Brighton

Fur Ear Muffs - Christmas present

Fur Headband - Pop Up Vintage, Hassocks

Fur Collar - Brighton Marina Car Boot

Vintage Glass Bead Necklace - Brighton Marina Car Boot

Yellow Fleece Tights - Primark

1950's Floral Umbrella - Seaford Flea Market

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

A Sunny Sunday Best

Not actually from this Sunday, but from a few weeks back when we were still enjoying some late summer sun at a friends wedding in the beautiful Sussex countryside.

 

I wore my 1960's royal blue dress from a Horsham charity shop as seen here with gold and orange accessories to brighten it up even more.

 

Hair all curled and pinned up in anticipation for an evening filled with throwing shapes on the dancefloor as the Mister spun some tunes. What a fantastic day it turned out to be!

 

Sheer royal blue pleated dress - Horsham Martlets Charity shop

Vintage Necklace - Brighton Marina Boot sale

Earring - New Look

Sunglasses - Primark

Shoes - L.K. Bennet



 

Much Love from Brighton,

 

L.J.

xxx

Happy Birthday to Me! Sunday Best

If you hadn't guest already, it's my Birthday today! Woop! And naturally, as it happens to fall on a Sunday this year, I get the chance to wear my Sunday Best :)

 

Celebrations were held last night, so today is just a nice relaxing, car booting and film watching recovery day. Due to car-booting activities, it was a necessity to also be warm and practical with outfit choices. So I dug out my most smart country wear; tweed jacket, riding skirt, boots and fur. I also got to wear my birthday present from the Mister. This beautiful feather earring from a local stall. I absolutely love it :) I've been very spoilt this year, but more on that in another post! 

 

 

I wore my big mess of morning after curly hair in a pinned up birds nest. And this is what it looked like after an afternoon of rummaging at the Brighton Racecourse Car Boot. It held amazingly considering the gale it was blowing up there, hah!

Tweed Jacket -  Part of a 1940's Cyrril A. Castle Suit

(the chap behind Roger Moore's James Bond suits! Lucky charity shop find!!)

1950's Riding Skirt - To Be Worn Again, Brighton

Fur scarf - from our trip to Berlin

Earring - Present from the Mister

 

 

Thank you to everyone who made it out last night! Now I shall start putting my feet up, tucking in to some popcorn and stuff my face with pizza for a night of films films films :)

 

 

Much Love from Brighton,

 

 

L.J.

xxx



Vintage Hair Lounge visit Harlem Hair, Hove

On Monday, I joined the girls for an afternoon being models for a training session run by the amazingly talented Gloria and Sharon of Vintage Hair Lounge, at Harlem Hair in Hove.

The team spent a busy afternoon curling our hair into beautiful vintage styles, some of us receiving 1940's pin curls, 50's victory rolls or 60's beehives. I had no idea how many layers went into making these styles the proper way, it was incredible to watch them all slowly building up. Now I truely understand why girls used to say they couldn't come out, they had to do their hair! 4 hours later, with make up done and hair perfetly in place, we went downstairs for a little photoshoot with photographer Scott Chalmers.

Here's the first picture they've posted up so far :)

As soon as they've finished loading all the other girls, I will share them all with you, you have to see their hair!! Jaw dropping stuff I tell you!

Hair - Anna Lewis

Make-Up - Molly Dickie

Dress - Oh! So Vintage, Isle of Wight

Cardi - Made by Me!

Bracelet - Antiques Fair, Rottingdean

Harlem Hair will be offering Vintage hair styling in the future, so next time you are planning a night out in Brighton, I would thoroughly recommend you go pay them a visit. I have been waiting for somewhere in town to start doing this, and my prayers have finally been answered! I'm sure I'll be visiting them again, can't wait to see next time's creation :)

Jenny Mearns of Frantic about Frances was also having her hair done on the day and she had THE most amazing Beehive. Being all dressed up at 5pm and nothing to do, we had to go for cocktails with the boys after! It would have been silly not to ;) hehe. Naughty Naughty, drinking on a school night!

 

I even managed to sleep with a headscarf on and keep the front up the next day! That hair was rrock solid, perfect for a windy day at the seaside.

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx