A Very Vintage Afternoon

Well, it's been a long time since my last post (sorry!), and what an interesting year so far. In my last blog I mentioned that I was starting a full time degree in Creative Writing, which I am pleased to say I absolutely love! But trying to find the right balance between University work, normal work and Retro Queen has been a challenge. Hopefully I will get everything perfectly balanced from now on and live in harmonious bliss for the rest of my life...err...maybe not quite, but there will be more regular blog posts and a change around coming to the website!

For any book lovers out there, I also started another blog about my love of reading called Literal Satisfaction, which you can take a peek at here: www.literalsatisfaction.wordpress.com, but for now, back to the afternoon tea!

Both of the vintage fairs I have done this year have been organised by the fabulous Dolly Dazzler Presents, and having attended quite a few of her fairs over the years, me and a few others have become 'regulars'. We all try to attend the same fairs, pretty much as an excuse to drink coffee, catch up and talk vintage, but on the other hand trying to meet up outside of a vintage fair...well, it took us about six months, but we did it!

Luckily one of Dolly Dazzlers regular traders is the master baker Lia, from Lia's Cakes & Tearoom in Preston. She brings her tasty wares to the fairs in a pop-up shop and has a super cute little tearoom, which is the perfect place for a vintage ladies meet up. There are home-made cakes galore including a range of Gluten Free goodies and as a proper brew is one of the most important things in life, Lia’s delivers with a brilliant range of leaf tea.

We had delicious platters to share with fresh olives, smoked salmon, roasted veg, feta and home-made bread, including Gluten Free too, all served on beautiful vintage plates. The two lovely vintage ladies: Mary who runs Dolly Dazzler Presents and Leigh-Anne from Luscious Crafts.

Look at these bad boys! Chocolate cups, filled with chocolate ganache and fresh berries! Complete chocolate bliss! Plus me and Cara from Vintage Faith enjoying a fine cup of tea.

I love Lia’s creativity when it comes to new ideas! Naturally flavoured water with no added sugar and an indulgent cookies and cream hot chocolate. It’s the jam jar revolution people! Brilliant and delicious!

And at the end of our feasting a bit of a knees up! Hopefully it won’t take us another six months to plan our next vintage meet up! Heh heh Check out Lia’s page on Facebook: Lia’s Cakes and Tearoom and Twitter: @lias_cakes and keep your eye on www.dollydazzlerpresents.co.uk for the latest updates on the next vintage fair! Leigh-Anne has a new website too, showing her amazing creations: www.lusciouscrafts.co.ukand for some funky vintage pieces see Cara’s Facebook page: Vintage Faith and take a peek at her ‘For Sale’ albums!

Since I've been talking about vintage ladies, our retro song is from a group of iconic vintage gals, doing what they do best! Released in 1956. Enjoy!

The Andrew Sisters - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Catch Up Post - Let it Snow

I am definitely dreaming of a white christmas this year and have managed to incorporate some makeshift snow balls into my latest photo shoot! It has been a while since my last post or photo shoot, there have been some major changes here at Retro Queen HQ and its going to be an interesting and exciting new year! I've changed my day job and will be going to university full-time in January to do a creative writing degree, mixing my love of books and writing with vintage goodness! So there will be some changes coming to our online boutique in the new year and hopefully some more vintage adventures starting in February!

I received an early present this year! I've never owned an item of clothing from the 1940's but I now have my very own 40's party dress! It was very generously given to me by one of my mum's friends and I can't thank her enough! Luckily and amazingly it fits perfectly! I couldn't believe it! Me and this dress were meant to be! Heh heh

The photo shoot lasted about 2 hours, with numerous christmas props too. We took over 700 photos, I managed to pick 52 of the best and then the hard part: which ones to edit and actually use! Here are some of the ones that made it but keep your eye on our Facebook, twitter and instagram pages for some of the others!

And here it is! Wow I love this dress! The colour and cut are perfect! To make the shoot even more special I wore the delicate gloves that were my great grandmas and I managed to dig out some navy shoes to match. I borrowed my grandmas beautiful necklace which was hers as a young woman and just matches the dress so well. And to top it all off the gorgeous evening bag is from my late Step-Grandma. Yep...thats a lot of vintage for one lucky girl!

Sparkle and shine! The photo shoot was great fun to do and you can see the christmas theme peeking through in this photo! The candy cane stockings were not my idea but my partners and I was a little dubious at first, but I love them! With the pop of red from the hair band and lips it all ties in! Plus there a bit silly which I like! 

Twist and shout! This dress was made for dancing in! I've added a petticoat underneath for extra volume, but I think an even bigger one would look great! It's swishy, silky and smooth and I loved wearing it!

A bit of snow ball fun! I couldn't resist! Well I hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and New Year and that 2015 is filled with fun, frolicking and of course vintage! Thank you for all your support over the last year and thanks for reading! 

And on the snow theme, here's our retro christmas song! Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

Let It Snow - Dean Martin