Dear Valentine,

Please can I have this beautiful Pair of Vintage Sparkly shoe clips?

Black Suede and Rhinestone Vintage Shoe Clips from Janne's Vintage in Reigate Surey

Each black suede petal of the flowers is wired so you can fluff them up exactly as you wish. The centre of each flower has a diamante/rhinestone centre surrounded by sixteen smaller stones.

You can find them at Janne’s Vintage Shop in Reigate, Surrey, UK. We’ve not been able to visit in person yet, but cannot resist their website with its unusual accessories and understated elegance.

I’ve loved them for so long…brownie points would be earned for originality…pretty please (fluttering of eye lashes)…

Hello! Quick question readers…

Is it Paloma Faith we spotted in this video; The Beat That My Heart Skipped’ by Dan Le Sac vs Scroobuious Pip?

Let us know what you think…

Paloma Faith Album Cover

We are loving Paloma Faith, her style is wonderfully playful and so beautifully put together – inspiration! Her album ‘Do you want the Truth or Something Beautiful?’ is a great collection and unique – it was a highlight of 2009 for us.

Do try the album for yourself…try compare download for prices…we need to save pennies for beautiful clothes after all!

We’ll check out her style highlights in another post…but let us know if you spot her…enough gushing…Toodle Pip!

Wow! How has it been so long? Happy New Year!

Apologies for the late start to 2010 – we’ve been gallivanting around Europe with a snowy stop in Austria, before settling back down to the New Year.

Deco Light Fitting Hotel Heitzmann

Check out this 1920’s Inspired lampshade we spotted in the lovely Hotel Hetizman, in Zell am Zee Austria, earlier this month.

Sparkly goodness for the walls with a lovely pretty shadow, we thought it was almost drawing a deco style chandelier pattern on the wall – they looked stunning in the dining room.

It reminded us of another gorgeous lamp, the Ariel Wall Lamp by designers Ivan Lolli & Mario Memmoli on the ECC Lighting and Furniture site (Australia and New Zealand Stockists of European Lighting Designers). Stunning! (check out the site link for a picture)

Love the way we can see beautiful modern design still inspired by the glamour of a bygone era such as the 1920’s.

Lots more film reviews, shop reviews, Paris shopping tips, Hairstyle guides tried and tested and our adventures into the world of vintage to follow in 2010 – Toodle Pip!

Firstly,  I will admit that technically this is before the ‘birth of cool’ period, but the zoot suit is not only a fashion classic but a cultural icon and movement and I couldn’t miss it out of this series!

Zoot Suit and Other Plays Luis Valdez - Poster

The Zoot suit is said to have come from the New York jazz scene in the late 1930’s and very quickly became the uniform of young Black and Mexican Americans. It’s a totally exaggerated style, almost cartoon like with really wide baggy legged trousers, worn high on the waist with tight cuffs at the ankles.

The jackets are long, almost 3/4 length with exaggerated shoulder pads and wide lapels. The finishing touches were the classic wide brim felt hat with a long feather and a watch and chain that hung down to the knee. Spatz were also common and pin stripes were definitely in.

“A killer -driller coat with a drape shape, reet pleats and shoulders padded like a lunatics cell…” Malcom X

Cab Calloway in a typical Zoot Suit

The second world war saw Americans of all colour fighting for a common cause, but on return to the states post war, the racial division was still apparant. Due to the war, the extravagance of such a suit led it to become a symbol of independence but also rebelliousness. It was also viewed as a symbol of racial divide and symbolised to some a lack of patriotism.

The Zoot Suit Riots

In 1943 a group of sailors on leave in Los Angeles clashed with a group of Zoot Suited young Mexicans, this over the following days turned nasty with stabbings and violence as more and more sailors and gangs joined in. Mexicans were hunted out and dragged from cars, bars shops, buses and cinemas and beaten in the street with a ’sadistic frenzy.’

The blame was put entirely onto the Mexicans by the press, while Police were seen to turn a blind eye. Los Angeles banned the Zoot Suit and the racial violence it provoked spread to Chicago, Detroit, San Diego, Philadelphia and New York, with attacks on anyone wearing a Zoot Suit; in particular Phillipinos, Mexicans and African Americans.

Zoot Suit Riots - Los Angeles

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt commented, “The question goes deeper than just [zoot] suits. It is a racial protest. I have been worried for a long time about the Mexican racial situation. It is a problem with roots going a long way back, and we do not always face these problems as we should.”

I can think of very few fashion styles that have become so representative and symbolic; rebelliousness and independence, youth and music culture, racial identity and discrimination. The Zoot Suit was an iconic fashion statement that opened the door to other fashion/cultural fusions such as Teddy Boys, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Punk,  Ska and even the baggy trousers and chains of skaters and hip-hop fashions today.

At the time, a powerful and brave statement – All hail the Zoot Suit!

Bakelite Jewellery on Deco Girl

As How to do Vintage were researching our fun filled Paris trip, we came across the excellent Paris Advice on Deco Girl.

We’ve seen some beautifully unique and rare items on Deco Girl – top tip – check their site regularly to get in there first.

We’re getting ready for our Christmas party and wondering how to accessorise a lovely Cherry adorned wiggle dress – we came across Deco Girl’s exciting collection of Bakelite Jewellery that we just had to share with you.

Dita von Teese in a Cherry Necklace

Look at this wonderful necklace – what a find!

And even more exciting, as Wanda at Deco Girl points out – its a Dita von Teese Style classic.

Wanda, buys and sells vintage clothing, jewellery and accessories on Deco Girl. You’ll find vintage Bakelite, plastics, costume jewellery, amazing brooches, deco period vintage jewellery and even a great collection of Lea Stein.

And..if you really want to go out like Carmen Miranda, you could get the earrings too!

Bakelite Cherry Earrings on Deco Girl

Its the perfect site to find a Christmas gift for your girlfriend who seems to have everything! You can join Deco Girl on Facebook here too. We are definitely fans.

Happy Shopping – Toodle Pip!

Phew…back from Paris – what an adventure! More on that later as we have some useful shopping tips.

We’ve since been to Leeds and London, where we were told to look out for Tess Daly on some lovely theatrical Billboards for La Senza’s new Christmas advertising campaign ‘Steal the Show.’ She’s probably adorning La Senza shop fronts too – lucky us!

Tess Daly La Senza Christmas Ads

Tess Daly in La Senza Christmas Ads/PA Wire

Love the style and lighting used in these ads. They are injecting a little bit of glamour back into the underwear world.

Its good to see a move away from the Wonderbra lusty world of big boobs which has become a bit boring and a move to a celebration of almost burlesque glamour…makes me want to buy underwear!

Do you agree?

For those that don’t know her, Tess Daly is a mother of two and wife of Vernon Kay, currently presenting with Bruce Forsyth on Strictly Come Dancing TV show in the UK.

We love the ads hint at Moulin Rouge showgirl style and can’t wait to see them in real life.

Happy Friday – Toodle Pip!

Welcome to Richard Lear guest writing on How To Do Vintage, sharing his experience of 2009’s Goodwood Revival!

1940's/50's Glamour at Goodwood Revival 2009 - Pictured by Richard Lear

There is no better way to travel back and experience the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s and 60’s than to go to the Goodwood Revival meeting. It is a true celebration of the era, with a primary focus on Vintage Cars the highlights include vintage costume and music, making you feel like you have walked through a time machine.

This year was my first experience of the revival meeting and I decided to take along my Dad and 85 year old Grandad, as it seemed like an event for all generations and I was not mistaken.

Although not compulsory, it did seem the done thing to attend in period dress and Vintage Clothing from the 1930′3 and 1940’s, not a baseball cap in sight! We saw people in all kinds of outfits, which I would best describe as seeing from TV programs such as Heart Beat, Dad’s Army or even Happy Days and movies such as Austin Powers and Pearl Harbour, it was all there.

It was a time before computers, multi-point fuel injection, microwaves or social networks. In fact I’m sure mentioning any of those items within the gates of the show would have brought a frown to anyone’s face. All day it felt my Grandad was giving me a guided tour of his time. He knew where he was and he settled back in very comfortably.

It was interesting how our experiences of our days differed. For me it was about experiencing a time I had only heard about, for my Dad it was revisiting childhood memories and for my Grandad it was a visit back to his day.

Vintage Cars at Goodwood Revivial 2009 - Pictured by Richard Lear

My Grandad was really in his element, he used to work at Jaguar for 35 years so had extensive knowledge of how the cars were constructed, often telling me which parts he would have made on the different cars.

One of the nicest experiences of the day started before we even walked thought the gates. Owners of Pre- 1966 cars were invited to park in an area near the front of the entrance, where we could wander round admiring the hundreds of privately owned Vintage Cars.

This was like the warm up before entering the time machine gates. As we walked up to the entrance the atmosphere intensified as a roaring German Messerschmidt 109 WW2 fighter plane fell into an attack dive above our heads.

Wartime Costume at Goodwood Revival 2009 - Pictured by Richard Lear

Is it strange that I was slightly relieved when half a minute later a low flying Spitfire came out of nowhere and started tailing the Messerschmidt performing combat manoeuvres?

Through the gates there was a buzzing market area where traders were offering all kinds of vintage items from clothes, antiques, paintings or even travel luggage.

The bustling crowds were often brought to a standstill by a platoon of marching WW2 solders, rifles in hand or simply Laurel and Hardy passing through in their 1930s car.

Trackside at Goodwood Revival 2009

Further on was the race track where there was never any shortage of action. We set up camp on the verge looking out towards the bottom of the straight.

We watched several races, the highlight being the RAC TT Celebration, where for an hour we watched a 1960 Vintage Ferrari and an E-Type Jaguar fight it out for first place.

Fortunately after a bitter battle and to my Grandad’s delight the Jag won, which I thought was perfect!

1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB/C

Through the tunnel, the inside of the track was home to more exhibitions; manufacturer garages displaying vintage cars which were so well cared for it seemed they were as good as when sold 50 years ago.

Unfortunately,  the end of the afternoon signalled time machine experience had to come to an end.

I think everyone felt an odd feeling as they came back to their 21^st century cars, straight into the 21^st century traffic around Chichester, knowing it will be another year before the next chance to step back in time again.

If you have never been to the Goodwood Revival Meeting before I would thoroughly recommend you try it at least once.

Provisional dates for the Goodwood Revival 2010 are 17-19 September 2010. But keep an eye on the Goodwood revival website for full details. Thanks Richard – toodle pip!

We were perusing the lovely blog from 100 Layer Cake earlier and couldn’t resist telling you all about a wonderful project we’d found from them for Project Wedding.

If you have a collecting habit like we do and have ended up with some vintage wallpaper that isn’t long enough to cover your wall – 100 Layer Cake have come up with a great way to use up those beautiful snippets.

DIY Vintage Wallpaper Envelopes - Project from 100 Layer Cake

When we tried this, we ended up dismantling some good quality pre-bought envelopes from Hobbycraft.

We used their shape outline as a cut out template and then stuck the carefully cut wallpaper insert into the envelope, then re-folded and glued.

As we used a prit-stick to glue, we pressed the envelopes for a day inside some books, just to make sure they stuck nice and flat. This worked a treat!

So, where do we get our vintage wallpaper from?

We tend to find great bargains in house clearance shops, charity shops and garage sales. But, for designer wallpapers from the likes of Ram, Son & Crocker check out Vintage Wallpaper Online.

We’ve not found many Vintage Wallpaper suppliers in the UK, if you are one, get in touch!

Happy Vintage DIY – Have fun!

For those of you that are still learning when it comes to make-up (I am!), I’d like to share this easy to follow video tutorial from Ladyleelu.