Granny really would be proud!
The Made In The Shade gals bang on about something called 'vintage lifestyle' a lot. We mention it on our website, we talk about it to our friends – why, it's right there in our little Made In The Shade tagline! 'Showcasing vintage lifestyle'. But what on earth are we really referring to? It takes no super sleuth or cutting edge cultural commentator to deduce that styles of bygone eras act as a spring board - or an inexhaustible mood/story board, I suppose - for all sorts of creative folks. Designers, musicians, writers and film makers et al borrow and rework cultural and stylistic references from a mish mash of historical moments in popular culture (and in high culture too). This phenomena is by no means new and to post a list here entitled 'Interesting Instances of Bricolage' without a more meaty analysis of these instances, would - by and large - instigate a chorus of 'big wows' followed by some big snorey zeds. Instead, during the course of the next few Made In The Shade blogs, we'll take a proper look at the notion of vintage lifestyle and we'll talk to a number of fabulous people who are engaging with it in quite wonderful ways. We'll chat to some folks who have integrated decades past into their lives – not just their wardrobes. We'll talk about Time Warp Wives and The Chaps and we'll offer some tidbits about why vintage lifestyle might be so appealing to guys and gals in the current climate.
However, that's what's coming up. This fortnight's vintage lifestyle blog is really a rundown of some of the fabulous stuff we've been up to over the past couple of weeks. We haven't written to y'all in a month or so and we miss you.
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Coming over all coastal
Tourism clever cats have reported an upturn in UK seaside holidaying this year. No bloomin' wonder. The price of two measly economy flights to measly Malaga cost over £400 the last time I checked! Not only are seaside towns seeing an upsurge in visitors due to (whispers) the credit crunch, but vintage lifestylists are coming over all coastal in the search for an authentic old time holiday experience. Since the Made In The Shade gals are utterly rooked at the moment while we save up our pennies to open our first premises, we decided there was nothing else for it. Armed with our respective bags of 2ps and icecream sundae money, we hopped into the car with our crafty chum Josie and headed to Largs. We did the usual stuff really: overdosed on sugar and deep fried delights at Nardini's, developed a gambling problem at the arcades, caused a rumpus on a helicopter, chatted to an oversized hotdog, poked rock pools with sticks and pulled muscles on the swings. Happy days! More on old time holidaying soon.
Granny Would Be Proud
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Granny Would Be Proud |
If you'd asked me two weeks ago if I thought Glasgow needed another market event, chances are, I would have said no. However, this was before Beardy and I attended the city's latest vintage fair offering, Granny Would Be Proud. Held in the very cute Argyll Hotel on Sauchiehall Street (just opposite the bowling green) Granny Would Be Proud brings together a number of sellers offering the best variety of quality vintage clothing and accessories I've come across at an event of this type. And y'all know how I adore vintage fairs. The space is small but feels cosy and intimate. The stalls are sprawling but perfect for rummaging and the smiley faces of the organisers and sellers really made our visit. Shopping highlights included the utterly fabulous Sylvia & Nicola – business partners and seamstresses who custom make vintage-style clothing from authentic patterns and fabrics. Oh how long I have waited to find this talented twosome! Sam King's suitcases of vintage fashion treats left me practically salivating and Kitsch n Sync's vintage inspired millinery sure did make my eyes pop! The pillbox hat with the enormous flower on will be mine. You can find Granny Would Be Proud at the Argyll Hotel on the last Sunday of every month. See you there!
All Tore Up
For those of you who haven't yet made it along to Glasgow's killer record hop, All Tore Up – shame on you. A rock'n'roll clubbing institution, All Tore Up plays host to some of the UK's most exciting rockabilly acts and guest djs on the first Saturday of the month at Merchant City haunt, Blackfriars
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Aaron with his lovely wife |
This month, the Made In The Shade gals were treated to live music from north eastern outfit, The Skip Rats. Having indulged in a few too many rum and coca colas, it seemed a swell time to learn to do The Stroller. Not so. I should have learned by now that no time is the right time for me to try to learn to dance. I decided to call it a day after I'd managed to stomp on Sailor Tony's lovely wife at least a dozen times and realised I was drawing all the wrong sort of attention to myself. Thanks to Aaron & Sailor Tony for a fabulous party! All Tore Up takes place again on Saturday 5th September. Visit their MySpace for more details.
Blitz Ballroom
Rather unsurprisingly, London Town is a hub of vintage lifestyle activity. Vintage hair parlours, reproduction clothing stores, night clubs, dance parties, restaurants, bars, vintage travel agents, vintage lifestyle magazines - there are opportunities aplenty for a time warp wife to indulge herself and make links with likeminds. In Scotland however, we currently have a much more limited palette of organised vintage lifestyle fun – much of which is in some way related to the UK burlesque circuit. Well – brace yourselves guys and dolls, as Julie Dawson is about to shift things along a little with her tongue in cheek celebration of 1940s style and culture! Hooray for Ms Dawson! Taking inspiration from southern events such as The Blitz Party, Prohibition and The Last Tuesday Society, The Blitz Ballroom launches in Edinburgh on Saturday 13th September at the Drill Hall, Dalmeny Street. We'll be talking about this much more as we get nearer and nearer the party date! You can bet your boots. For now, visit organiser's website here.