UK High Street Fashion - TV inspired Outfits

Every time I turn on the TV or read the listings (which, if I'm honest, is not very often!) a new retro/vintage style television programme or series seems to jump out at me. The American series Mad Men has almost single handedly brought back late 50's/early 60's fashion. The womanly silhouette has never been more fashionable and luckily for us here in the UK our high street shops have become full of lovely clothes. I'm using the three big ones in this post; New Look, Topshop and River Island to show how you can get the retro TV show look.

Mad Men

I've got to start with this show. It's pretty much the most stylish programme I have ever seen. Christina Hendricks (far right) has become my #1 jealousy fuel. That body is insanely feminine!

A belted in waist, collar details and cute patterns/use of colour are a key look here. This is what I found on the high street...

New Look (apologies for the awful picture quality!!)



This dress has the classic 50s/60's neckline AND the nipped in waist...result!



The Peter Pan collar on this lovely shift dress really gives it an early 60's vibe. Love the colour too.

No retro siren is complete without a good wiggle dress!

River Island

This one almost matched Christina Hendricks' one. And the bow is so cute!

This print is the cutest!

I love this neckline. The bold print is spot on too.

Topshop




This dress would be PERFECT with a nice big underskirt. Pure style.



This dress would be ideal for a summers day.

Capped sleeves - check. Cute collar - check. Flared skirt - check.

I'm going to be hunting for a lot more things on the high street that mimic the styles of our favourite retro TV dames. If you've got any suggestions for TV shows that you think would work then let me know!

Rockabilly Summer Fashion

Since I've transformed myself into a bonafide Rockabilly chick it's been pretty chilly here in rainy old England. My thoughts keep wandering towards the summer and warmer weather that will (hopefully) soon be upon us and if I'm perfectly honest - I'm a little worried about what to wear!
I love the whole high waisted shorts with a tied up shirt look but I am certainly not as toned as I used to be and, let's be honest, hardly anyone can pull off that look...except for maybe Bernie Dexter!

Nevertheless I went out today and bought a pair of high waisted shorts as I needed them for an up and coming fancy dress party. Now, any of you who know me will know that I am NOT a shorts person. I have a fear of wearing shorts. I think it stems from the fact that as a child I was forced to wear horrid ones for P.E at school. They were baggy and my little white legs with their horrendously knobbly knees were the subject of much teasing from the pretty girls with the shapely, tanned pins. Sigh.
I've decided to put all that to bed now and be proud of my legs, yeah they're still a little weedy but they look much better than when I was a nervous little 12 year old. Sod it - I'm wearing shorts this summer!
These are the ones I got today. I think I'm going to buy some anchor sew-on patches for the back pockets.

 I think I'll wear them with cute, tucked in tops and a pair of wedges. Roll on the warm weather!

Has Anyone Noticed The Rockabilly Hair On Celebs Recently?

In the past year the 50's trend has been slowly infiltrating the high street and, true to form, most celebs have been following fashion to the max. Rolled bangs, victory rolls and awesome quiffs have been spotted on many a celeb in the last few months and to be quite honest with you, I'm not entirely sure what to think.
I love Rockabilly for its alternative, individual feel. I like to mix it up with a bit of Goth now and again. I take pride in the fact that I'm NOT a follower of mainstream fashion. Harem pants? Urgh. Maxi dresses? Puke.

Now the 40's and 50's trend is pretty much mainstream fashion and I don't feel so individual any more.
On the plus side - I can buy retro style pieces from the high street. Accessible, cheap and plenty!
By the time I decide whether it's a good thing or not fashion will have moved on, no doubt about it. I'm looking forward to this. The charity shops will be full of amazing bargains!

Here's some celebs who's hair has caught my eye recently.
Back in June/July 2010 I started to notice the trend. Katy Perry was always a little 50's with her looks but this blue style totally blew me away! I want blue hair. I want it now!

She usually dons the rolled bangs for performances when she doesn't have a wig on.

Another singer who's style has been swinging the fashion needle towards retro is Christina Aguilera. She rocks the red lips but her ohmygodblinding platinum hair makes me cringe a lot of the time. This style looks pretty good though. I love a good quiff.

Slightly more recently than this the ever colourful, new to our shores Nicki Minaj has been pinging up on my radar. Her hair changes every time I see a picture of her but those rolled bangs are a staple. I know it's a wig, but I'm still jealous!

And last but not least are the current offerings from Nicole Scherzinger. She's given the Betty bangs and victory rolls a go, but there's something about it that grates on me. It's just not quite right.  What do you all think?

It's Red Carpet Time! Helena Bonham Carter Wows In Westwood

It's awards season again and although I pretend I'm not that bothered I actually LOVE looking at what the ladies have been wearing on the red carpet. This year we have seen a rise in popularity of 40's/50's fashion, partly due to the success of Mad Men, so I was extra excited to see what Hollywood's take on this would be at the Golden Globes.
For me, the best dressed of the night has to be Helena Bonham Carter. I know for most that is a strange choice, but she looked absolutely gorgeous, and you all know I like something a bit alternative! Check her out in Vivienne Westwood and mismatched shoes. Such a Hollywood rebel!

Her skin is perfect! Oh the jealousy!
My next hit of the night is Catherine Zeta Jones, who wore a deep green, extremely heavy looking dress, but managed to look rather classy. The deep shade couldn't be pulled off by many, yet she completely nails it. There's much to love.

My third favourite of the night goes to January Jones. Her dress is tres risky, but it's her hair and make-up that really caught my eye. Gorgeous 40's style and glamour will never look bad. Team that with a sexy pillar box red dress and it's top marks all round!

Unfortunately, not all Hollywood's lovely ladies managed to deliver the goods. My very least favourite dress was this monstrosity worn by Lea Michelle. It looks like bubblegum that's just been scraped off my shoe. Why would you engulf yourself in this much pink?! Gah!

So there you have it; the first red carpet installment of the year. Let me know what you all thought!

Putting the ROCK in ROCKABILLY

I've recently re-invented myself and the way I dress as I was becoming one of these boring people that just wore a random mix of plain tops teamed with some mediocre jeans. Yawn. I always knew deep down that this wasn't me. When I was 12/13 years old and was just beginning to find my own style and buy my own clothes I was a goth. I, much to my parents horror, dyed my hair black, wore only red, black and purple and clomped around in a pair of deep red Doc Martens. Over the years my style mellowed out until one day I looked in the mirror and thought - 'Bloody hell...who are you?'
I'd come to realise that I'd been dressing according to what pleased others rather than what pleased myself. I have always loved the Rockabilly look and I started to trawl eBay around the middle of last year in the hope of changing my style into something that really gave me some identity. I'm now exactly where I want to be, although I'm finding my style is evolving even now.
For Xmas my gorgeous boyfriend got me a pair of these bad boys -

which I completely ADORE. Up until now I had been wearing cute Mary Janes or T-Bar mid-heels with my pencil skirts. I had begun to follow the 40's and 50's trend quite literally and had stopped adding the Rock or the Psycho to my Billy. With the introduction of these however, I'm falling back into my lovely alternative self again.
It's been about 10 years since I last wore a pair of Doc's and I don't know why I left it so long!
Long live the Doc's!

Any Human Heart - Genius Retro-Style Television!

Over the last two days I've sat and watched all four episodes of 'Any Human Heart' which is an adaptation of a book by William Boyd and has been shown in the UK on Channel 4. It's safe to say that it's blown me away, both in story and in style.
The story is set over the life of Logan Mountstuart, an English writer. His life spans the 20th century and the program is rich in the settings, costume and feel of the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and a tiny bit of the 80's. The 40's and 50's are the prevailing time-zones in this programme though, and the imagery was gorgeous.
The hair, the clothes, the make-up - it was all so inspiring! I loved how the mannerisms of the character changed throughout his life; how wonderful were the 40's when everyone raced to light your cigarette for you?!
I suggest you all go and watch it immediately! I'm not sure if anyone from the USA will be able to view it, although I don't see why they shouldn't be able to. The link to it is here. There are only 8 days left on the first episode, so hurry! It can also be bought here.
If you have seen it, let me know what you thought. Personally, I thought it was one of the most beautiful dramas to ever hit our screens, apart from 'Small Island' which is also a book adaptation (highly recommended!).

Brr! Rockabilly Fashion In Freezing Temperatures - Does It Exist?!

I've had to have a serious wardrobe re-think over the last week as England has been hit with such bloody freezing weather! It snowed here last night which was quite nice because it meant that the temperature got above minus for a while! We are not used to this here, it's not so fun...especially when it comes to dressing up for the day.
I love sorting out my outfits now that I'm a self confessed rockabilly/50's/40's/retro chick but during this cold weather I've really struggled! There's only so much a cute cardigan can do for you warmth wise.
My solution at the moment is teaming a warm pencil skirt with double tights, warm innersoles in my mary janes and an extra vest top underneath everything else. To make sure I don't lose the look completely I have taken to wearing more make-up than usual - which I don't really like to do but it keeps my eyes warm (that's my excuse anyway!).
Anyone got any tips on how to keep stylish in the cold? I'm so looking forward to the summer when I can start wearing tea dresses, capri pants and halter neck tops....sigh.

Oooh, my eyes are so warm!