Cherry Dollface Photo Shoot at Le Keux!

Some people say you should never meet your heroes, WRONG! I'm glad I didn't listen to them, meeting Cherry was one of the best experiences I've had. So forgive me, this post is two years in the making. I'm not entirely sure why it's actually taken me so long.  I've shared these images on my Instagram so it's about time I show them off properly. Cherry Dollface was my gateway into the vintage/pinup scene. I'd always loved it but didn't realise there was a whole world of people out there who lived this life daily, that is until Instagram and Youtube. Since discovering this wonderful world I've met some of the most wonderful women you could imagine, empowering, encouraging and inspiring. It all started for me because I wanted to do my eyebrows in a pinup style and I found Cherry's channel. 

Then I realised she also did videos about how to style your hair, and so the interest grew. I've kept up to date with her videos and posts ever since and I found out she was doing a UK tour and offering photo shoot packages with hair and make up done by her lovely self, I couldn't turn it down so I signed up and patiently waited. 

The shoot took place at Le Keux Vintage Salon in Birmingham, a place I had been wanting to visit for a while actually. They do photo shoots, hair, make up and offer lots of different packages so it's definitely worth a visit. I arrived with a dress I had made especially for this occasion, a leopard and cherry print dress with a huge skirt and underskirt. It was the most complicated dress I've ever made and it was by no means perfect but I loved it. I found the fabric in a little shop in Lyme Regis called Sew-La-Di-Da Vintage and I managed the buy the last of the stock they had of it so I had to make sure I turned it into something fabulous and I feel like I did it justice.

The salon is wonderful and the staff were amazing. Lynsey looked after me and talked me through what would be happening and really put me at ease. Not having done anything like this before I was a bit nervous and really excited to meet Cherry. You could hear her before you could see her, bouncing around and chatting excitedly with the lady she was shooting with before me. Before it was turn I had a little look around at the rooms available to use for shoots. Spoiler - they're all great.

So it was turn, meeting Cherry was lovely, she was so warm and full of fun you instantly felt excited. I hadn't had my make up and hair done professionally a lot so it was a real treat and I had intended to pay a lot of attention so I could replicate it at home. Unfortunately I was too caught up in conversation with Cherry to pay proper attention to all the processes so styling my hair successfully with heat still remains a mystery to me. 

Make up close up (excuse the millions of filters)

I love how she did my make up, I used to always use eyeliner on the bottom of my lids but she didn't and I couldn't believe how big it made my eyes look. She gave me a bright red lip also, I love red lips but never felt too confident with them like I couldn't quite pull them off because my lips were big and I felt I looked like I'd just pushed my face into jam. But then Cherry said something that has forever changed how I feel about my lips, she said I only feel like that because I have big lips, this doesn't mean I can't wear it and basically that my big lips were wonderful. Since then I've worn lipstick almost every day and love when they look big and bold rather than shying away from them. Big lips embraced. Tick.

I have no idea how she did what she did to my hair, she did tell me, and the products she used. But I can never re-create this, it looked perfect. The curls were so silky and defined, and the set held for a couple of days. When I use heat my curls drop in a matter of hours and can use get success from doing wet sets.

A few sneaky dressing room snaps before the shoot began

Suddenly I was ready to get dressed. I really wasn't sure what to expect as I've never looked like this before, but I couldn't have felt more confident and couldn't wait to get started. I had a few sets to shoot in and I wasn't a natural, at all! But soon I felt more at ease and didn't want it to end. Lynsey took the pictures and was great at giving me direction and tips which helped me so much.  It was a wonderful day, I made some great memories which I'm now ready to fully share.

 Ignore the dodgy hem...

Above is probably my favourite 

I feel like this one is perfect for my blog name, I also love how it shows off my dress

If you're thinking of doing a shoot like this but haven't done one before and feel nervous - do it anyway. Give it a try, I see bloggers who do this all the time and I wish I could afford to do it more. I can't recommend Cherry or Le Keux enough.

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Superdrug Haul

 

I never thought I would be one of those girls who love make up, and who loves trawling the aisle of stores like Superdrug for the perfect shade of matte lip stick, but here I am, trawling and loving. 

I always kind of stick to the same colours, a sort of deep, powdery, vintage pink, I really don't know how to explain it but that about sums it up. I do of course love bolder colours but I have quite big lips and sometimes feel like it's too much for the office and you don't have to keep on top of lipstick bleed or it rubbing off too much if it's a bit closer to a natural shade. Plus, I'm a bit clumsy and would 100% wipe half of it across my face so I'm always hunting for that perfect shade. Usually I love Meir by MAC but I wanted a liquid matte lip colour as another option. 

So I went in and had a look around, I always end up around the Makeup Revolution stand, I tend to steer away from their lip products as you generally get what you pay for with lip products and I've never had much luck with them. I did buy a lip kit from them recently but it was so awful there are no pictures of the event...

I did however see a nice cream contour set (£.3.50). I really need to up my contour game so this was a nice affordable step to start with. I've tried to powder ones before but find them too dark for me and struggle to blend so cream was the way to go this time. While I was there I also found a nice primer, they don't have it online anymore but you can see it in the picture. It's different from most primers I've used that are creamy. This one was almost a serum with a shimmer running through it so putting it on makes me feel instantly fabulous. 

The stand is next to Freedom Makeup and my skin has been looking a little red recently so I bought some green camouflage and correct concealer to sort that out. I'm still on the fence about this product, it doesn't feel like it melts into my skin very well, but it does tackle the redness and it's £3.00 so it's fine enough. 

I was still struggling to find the perfect matte colour until I found myself looking at the Barry M stand, they have a new range of 'Matte Me Up' lip kits. The kits comes with a liner and a lip paint for £6.99.  I chose the shade 'Berry' which perfectly fulfills all my colour preferences. 

 I tried it and loved it! I've not used lip liners very much but this was brilliant. The lip paint goes on really well too and dries to a lovely and velvety touch in seconds. This colour was so great I'm going to go back to look at the other shades. I thought for £6.99 it was a really really good value for the quality. I thought I might need to use the liner to keep the bleed from the lip paint in check but you don't actually have to. It actually does stay on all day as well and during eating a huge burger...because I'm classy like that. 

 

p.s. yes I love all the filters

 

Now I'll finally end this post with a bit about the face products from their own Naturally Radiant range. I've felt I needed to finally start using serum and cream and I can have sensitive skin so I thought I'd give this range a go as it was on offer. I actually really love it, I've been using them every day, night cream and serum and will definitely continue. At the moment you can pick up the cream and serum for £2.95 each.

I also bought Micallat water, because you know, it's life. I've always found great buys at Superdrug, any recommendations?

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Pinup Picnic In The Park - I Mean Bar!

It's that time again, has it really been a whole year since the last one? Last year the wonderful ladies known as The British Belles hosted a wonderful picnic in Hyde Park where I met lots of wonderful ladies. This year we were set to attend the same, however. RAIN. Of course, bloody rain. Luckily one of the Belle's, Amber managed to get us all into a fabulous tiki bar instead to save our pincurls, hurrah!

Last time was a bit nerve-racking, I hadn't actually met any of this lovely bunch in person. We had only ever stalked each others social media accounts and shared a love of all things vintage and rockabilly. This year however I was looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting some new lovelies I've been interacting with since last year.  I even had a train buddy! I met Carrie-Ann at a previous Most Marvelous meet up and she is now my vintage partner in crime, I've decided. I may even be helping her plan some meet-ups which will be exciting.

Carrie-Ann, Kariss and I

 

A few of us met at King's Cross to then go on and find the bar together. We got a bit of attention when in a group and was lovely to have a quick catch up before we set off.

What I wore: Hair flowers from Claire's accessories, top from Hell Bunny, mermaid Lucy cardi from Collectif, flamingo bag from Retro Vixens and the skirt I made myself under my little label Vintage Valentina. 

 

When we got to Chancery Lane tube station, the closest to the bar there were hoards of pinups on each side all whooping and waving to each other, it was great!  So we all marched on together getting more and more confused looks as we went, confused and happy looks may I add. Generally speaking a heard of pinups always raises a smile of confusion. 

After a couple of wrong turns and the power of Google Maps we found our way to the bar and started on the cocktails! The club in question is Kanaloa, full of tiki heads, tropical flowers and good vibes. It was nothing but wonderful to have so many like-minded gals (and some guys) in the same place. Loaded up with some gorgeous tiki cocktails we spent the afternoon chatting about hair, vintage clothing, hair colour, Poundland pins and sewing, all fangirling over each other all excited to meet each other for the first time. 

Nicola from Nickabockaglory and I

 

There were so many familiar faces and so many that I didn't get to say hello to. Normally the idea of being in a room with hundreds of people you'd never met you may end up feeling a bit sick with fear. Not here though, we all basically ran at each other like life-long friends. It's hard to explain but you meet up with these guys and you feel like you've found your people. No better feeling!

The lighting was a bit dark inside so many of us ventured out at various points to take some better photos. One of the best things about this meet-up may I add is that no one judges you for all the selfies, make up and hair close ups, we all even encourage them. 

I especially loved seeing Kayla, miss her face lots so was lovely to catch up and take some silly selfies.

All too soon the day was over and we had to head home.  Excited about future meets and finding the new stunners I met online on the train ride home Carrie-Ann and I chatted all the way home, I cannot wait for our next adventure!

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Marverlette Meet-Up St.Neots Edition

 

Who are the marvellettes? I hear you ask. They just happen to be a big, wonderful group of people, lovers of the 1940s/1950s who organise lots of local meets for like-minded lovelies. 

I've not long been part of this specific group but after seeing lots of pictures online I wanted to take part too. The group is HUGE, which is wonderful. It's full of advice, love for others and hilarity, what more could you want? Everyone shares beautiful images of vintage finds, their hair styles, little tips here and there and to be honest it's just bloody nice to be part of something so positive. 

As there are so many of us, we've got local admins who organise meets, you can of course go to any that you want but it's nice to know you can find out about the most local ones too. Our admin is a stunning little lady called Carrie-Ann. A day had been chosen and a few options suggested. We settled on meeting up in St Neots town center and booking a table at Betty Bumbles Vintage Tea Rooms for cocktails, cake and vintage shopping, perfection.

Me and Carrie-Ann

 All dressed up in my tropical Lindy Bop dress, Collectif cardi and Retro Vixens flamingo bag, me and Elvis (the Figaro) headed off - late, of course! Because that's who I am now.  Luckily I was only about ten minutes late and I remembered my way around the town enough to make it in time. A lady I've been following for a while because she also owns a Figaro (the lovely Satah) was going so I stalked her car and parked nearby.

I was a tad nervous as I hadn't actually met and of these ladies before but you walk into the tea rooms, see a big table full of vintage gals and you instantly feel at home, I'd found my people.  

Sitting down I noticed everyone had done their cocktail order so it would have been rude to not indulge...margarita time! Then the afternoon tea arrived, three tiers packed with perfectly cut finger sandwhiches, mountain-sized scones, vintage teacups full of clotted cream and slabs of stunning cakes, Tunnouck Teacakes and Caramel Log's with some grapes and strawberries for good measure.

We managed to work our way all up to the cakes, which had to be take home for dessert. It was a stunning location which had a 1940s bar (Bertie's Bar) which opened in the evening. Hopefully we'll have another meet up there!

Now full of cake it was time of some selfies and group shots before trawling through the town's charity shops. We drew a lot of attention wandering through the town and we all had lots of nice compliments which was lovely. We all had different kinds of vintage looks and all mixed it up, yet we all fit #girlgang.

The charity shops were brilliant and most of us managed to pick up bargains. I always find myself drawn to the homeware. Cats seem to be a big thing in charity shop and for Lucy, it seemed the scarier the better. A particularly terrifying cat trinket found a home with her. It will not continue to haunt and scare her household for many years to come. I found mine in Oxfam, I got this stunning red vanity case for £6.99 and a beautiful little white shell dish for £2.99 which just fuels my mermaid obsession (forgot to get a picture though). 

Soon our parking was running out so we started to chat about the Pinup Picnic In The Park hosted by the Britsh Belles this saturday in Hyde Park. I cannot wait to see some of my vintage lovelies there and meeting new faces (and some I have lovingly stalked online). Anyone else going? 

Here's to the next meet!

(images stolen from Carrie-Ann)

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Review of Voodoo Vixen Katniss, finally it's mine!

For longer than I care to admit, I have been perving and drooling over the Voodoo Vixen Katniss dress (£66.99). I have no idea why it took me so long to cave and purchase it. I was a bit worried about the neck line, I'm not broad enough for my size really so I was worried it would gape. But the cute cat print and stunning colour had me at 'hello'....or 'meow'. When the Boxing Day sales hit I couldn't resist the discount so I put a size 2XL in my basket and ordered that baby to come home to me! 

For some reason it took me a while to try it on, I was worried it wouldn't fit and I'd be gutted so I kept putting it off, just looking at it lovingly in it's packaging. But finally I gave in unwrapped it, I did have to get my boyfriend to help me with the zip, my little T-Rex arms wouldn't reach. 

And how stupid did I feel for putting off trying it on?! It fit so beautifully! The only part that didn't was the shoulders. I'm 5"2 and the size I ordered is a bit too tall for my height, the trouble of being large-chested! But having my seamstress of a mother at home this was resolved in no time, just had to pin them down a bit - no big issue at all. I should be able to do it myself but I'm rubbish at pinning clothes on myself.

Apart from slight adjustment needed on the shoulder it fit so well everywhere else. I don't like to look too busty, which can be difficult. But I like a slightly higher neck so the cleavage isn't too out of control. This was perfect. Still feel totally feminine but also nice and held in.

The waist was lovely and nipped in also. I usually feel like I have to wear a belt with these dresses and sometimes the waist isn't nipped in enough for me but I could easily go belt-less in this. And let's not get started on the colour! Look at it! This is why I fell in love with this dress, it' so vibrant and rich it really does match all the pictures you see online.

I only have a couple of Voodoo Vixen dresses but I definitely need more, my next one? This dress in blue! They're releasing it soon in a gorgeous blue in a pencil and full skirted dress. Check out these pictures! One is a screenshot from Fuller Figure Fuller Bust's Facebook page as I couldn't find a picture of this version anywhere. So excited for this release, please be soon!

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Pinup Picnic in the Park - Hyde Park

 

So as you may know, I love a bit of Instagram and the pinup community that comes with it. I love having a place with so many like-minded people at the tap of my touch screen. I've also been following The British Belle's on there for a while, a group of ten British pinup ladies who decided it was about time we all try to meet up without the IG filters. 

The day was set for last Saturday in Hyde part and I couldn't wait/was nervous about going to London to a big even on my own because I'm a child. But I knew it would be lovely to meet all these guys in person and take lots of silly pictures whilst discussing hair and petticoats. Now what to wear, this was a difficult decision! I didn't want to turn up in the same as someone else so out came the sewing machine and the watermelon fabric. I know I can make a pleated skirt in an evening so that's exactly what I did, it'd match my new watermelon shoes from Asda (£6) perfectly. 

I decided to team it with my Lucy Fruity cardigan by Collectif (£39), the more I wear this the more I love it and it's definitely the most expensive cardigan I've bought and I now want all the cardigans they have! Ahhhh. Collectif won again as I wore my black Dolores top (£25) with my peacock Erstwilder brooch which I bought at the same time as the cardi from the Brighton store which I think was £17.50.

With freshly dyed hair I headed down on the train...always time for selfies and made by way to the meeting point at Marble Arch.

 Straight away I met my Insta friend Kayla, check her out! Pretty sure she's my rockabilly spirit animal. I loved standing in a huge gaggle of pinup ladies, I think everyone around thought something super special was about to happen and there were loads of pictures being taken. I had to hide some serious fan girl moments seeing some of the famous pinup ladies I follow in the flesh, they were all lovely, mental and stunning!

After gathering all of us together we marched over to a nice spot in Hyde Park and set up camp for our picnic. Everyone had cute little picnic hampers, Pimms and prosecco. It was such a great experience meeting all the lovelies I've been following and admiring and meeting and following new girls and swapping hair and clothes secrets. We were all really impressed that no one had the same thing on actually. 

 The sun was glorious! We did eventually all have to move into the sun to maintain our porcelain skin and of course more photos!

Kaylaevans84, secretplussizegoddess, lipstickanddresses and moi

Most of these pictures are my own...a couple are stolen from other IGers so give me a shout if you mind!

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