1960s Vintage Cocktail Dress, Size 12, £85.00; Just Added to NBVCC

Just added to Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company: A super cute 1960s vintage pink shift dress perfect for drinks with the girls or a hot date with the lucky guy you could fit in on a free Thursday.
The perfect sixties vintage dress for parties, weddings, vintage 60s events, special occasions and of course date night.

1950s Vintage Prom & Cocktail dresses: JUST ADDED TO NBVCC

JUST ADDED TO Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company: 1950s Vintage Dresses. Including glamorous 50s cocktail dresses perfect for drinks with your chap. Vintage cotton day dresses for afternoon tea and a read in the garden (No one has to know it's a Danielle Steele novel). Click HERE to go straight to my online Aladdin's cavern of vintage treats and treasures.

Debbie Reynolds is Alive & Fabulous

Debbie Reynolds is a singer, a famous mother, an actress, a dancer and all round entertainer. They certainly don't make them like that anymore... (I mean you J-LO) With three marriages and three divorces, one of which being to the crooner to rival Frank Sinatra; Eddie Fisher. Eddie Fisher famously left Debbie and her two children for Elizabeth Taylor only to be dumped a few months later when Taylor met Richard Burton. (Karma) Despite all this Reynolds has kept a steady career since the 1950s and has kept on performing; the show must go on and all that jazz.

Debbie is currently planning to stage an exhibition of her collection of Hollywood movie memorabilia in London's Royal Albert Hall next year. (I am not over excitedly dancing around my office...no, not me, never). Reynolds has some 5,000 items, from Judy Garland's ruby slippers in The Wizard Of Oz (OMG) to Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress from My Fair Lady and some of John Wayne's many guns.
"All the items come from a time when stars had real glamour. For me, it's not just a hobby, it's a fantastic investment." - Debbie Reynolds

If all of that was not enough for you Debbie Reynolds fans 'then you ain't seen nothing yet'. As Debbie Reynolds is only in London performing. In her one woman show 'Alive and Fabulous' at London's Apollo theatre!
"Performing 10 dates only between 28 April and 9 May, the MGM star, who boasts Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, will use old movie clips as she reminisces about her life, her many husbands and her incredible career in the golden age of song and dance." - Official London Theatre guide.

For the hottest tickets in town click HERE to book now.

An Afternoon spent at Tart in London's 40 Winks

"Launched in November 2009, Tart is a simmering orgy of fun, fashion and frivolity aimed at girls who want to put some old fashioned glamour back in to their lives".

Hosted at the decadent 40 Winks by the very dandy David Carter, pin-up queen Fleur de Guerre and Vintage Secret’s Naomi Thompson.

You may well remember my last post telling you all about Tart and the glamorous shenanigans that were happening in London's smallest boutique hotel...well last Saturday I got to go along with some friends and a very special birthday girl. This thursday it is Zoe Porteous's birthday, you may know her as @mrspboutique or as that PR and social networking maverick? (Pictured below) Either way Mrs P decided she wanted to spend her birthday with her besties drinking gin out of china tea cups and dressed upto the nines. Which is what we did.

The 40 winks hotel was easy to spot as waiting outside was up to twenty women dressed in their finest. 1950s prom dresses, vintage wiggle dresses, tea dresses, vintage furs and seamed stockings were all on display...everyone who attended made such an effort and it made the day even more exclusive and fabulous. (Two ladies were wearing Natasha Bailie Vintage dresses!) Through the door we were all transported to an oasis in the heart of London's East end. Asked to exchange our shoes for slippers we were then ushered down to the kitchen where we were given our Hendrick's gin cocktails to sip from fine bone china tea cups. Cakes, chocolates and cucumber sandwiches were on offer throughout the day so no gal went hungry...or thirsty. (hiccup!)

We had the run of the most decadent hotel in London and it was fabulous. Upstairs ladies were able to get their hair done by the fabulous vintage styling specialists Lipstick and Curls. Benefit ladies were around all day giving make overs and sharing tips on how to achieve the best vintage make up and look. You could get yourself some fake eyelashes attached and even a tarot card reading. If that was not enough you could play dress up in Naomi's boudoir with all her Vintage Secret treasures and shop till you drop with What Katie Did. There were vintage hats, dresses, coats, furs, jewellery, lingerie and even a talk on how to be a forties pin up by Fleur de Guerre!

When you were not dressing up or getting your fortune read you could happily wander around the hotel, sit in the garden with your tea (or gin sssh!) and eat your cake while having a natter with the other ladies in attendance. Dreamy...and ladies, there is no other way to spend a Saturday... See my video below to see for yourself!

A Mad Men Make Over for AOL Stylelist

Today I was invited to the AOL stylelist office in London where I was given the challenge (ok...I mean the pleasure..) of giving Katie Jones, AOL Stylelist's senior style editor's assistant a Mad Men vintage make-over! There is no other way I like to pass time on a Monday...so with the help of the lovely and very talented Natasha from Lipstick & Curls who is a specialist in vintage hair and make up styling we turned an assistant into a LADY. Turns out it only takes two Natasha's to make you Mad Men fabulous. Katie was photographed before and after her Mad Men make over and the whole process was also filmed. I will show you Katie's complete vintage transformation when the video becomes available at the end of the week. Untill then I thought I would post some behind the scenes pictures for you to get excited about...enjoy!

Vintage make-up and Vintage hair styling by Natasha at Lipstick & Curls.

Vintage styling by Natasha Bailie.

EDIT: Here is the link to the AOL STYLELIST pictures and video's of Katie before and after her Mad Men make over: CLICK HERE TO SEE

1960s Vintage Pink Lace Prom Dress, Size 8, £250.00 - Just Added to NBVCC

Be honest...is this dress not the dreamiest dress you have ever laid your eyes on? I nearly fainted from loss of breath and words when I first saw this pink prom dress. It is dreamy personified. I feel special just sitting in the same room with it. Finding vintage prom dresses is a fabulous job, but I am always looking for my next 50s prom dress fix and this early 1960s pink dress found me. Finding the perfect vintage prom dress with the perfect fit and details to match is like finding your perfect wedding dress...you just know!

This vintage prom dress is early 1960s, but it still has all the qualities of a fabulous fifties prom dress with it's full skirt, cinched waist and darted bust. It is salmon pink, covered in beautiful lace with matching pink bows and a taffeta skirt for an extra sturdy 50s silhouette. This dress comes with it's very own petticoat and it has been lined beautifully with a silky pink fabric to match the dress. What more could a gal want?

So what do you think? Dress of vintage dreams? I can imagine Audrey Hepburn wearing this..or Grace Kelly modelling this dress at the Oscars. This 60s vintage dress has Betty Draper written all over it!

If you want to have a closer look click HERE.

WIN! £200 of Natasha Bailie Vouchers and a Mad Men Goody Bag!

We all love a goody bag don't we? How about a goody bag filled with vouchers to spend online at Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company?
Not only will you receive £200 to spend at NBVCC you will also get the most fashionable series of all time; Mad Men series 3 on dvd. If that was not enough you will also win a Sony blu-ray player and an ipod shuffle which is thrown in for good measure! You interested? Do I have your attention?
Right, well all you have to do is enter a competition online (easy, you are online already) so click on over to Glamour Magazine by clicking HERE.
All you have to do is answer the question at the bottom of the page on the Glamour website correctly and you could be in with a chance to win all those goodies I have listed above.
So what you waiting for? Get on over to Glamour and start guessing. Good luck xx

If you want to look at my latest collection of Mad Men inspired vintage dresses click HERE and visit Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company today. All you have to do is decide on whether you are a Peggy, Joan or a Betty!

BBC & Natasha Bailie swoon over Grace Kelly!

I was on the BBC news this morning chatting all things Grace Kelly at 6.50am and then I am afraid I possibly got bumped due to an Ash cloud heading Britain's way from Iceland. Apologies to anyone who sat and waited patiently only to be very disappointed. The news item was great and I am thoroughly chuffed.The BBC website has a more in depth interview of me gassing away about my love of Grace Kelly and her style. You can see it by clicking HERE!

Grace Kelly Exhibit is SENSATIONAL!

Today I got to do something very, very special and I am still pinching my arm in disbelief. Yesterday I got a call from the BBC (an average Tuesday...ahem.) The Beeb wanted to cover the Grace Kelly exhibit which is of course opening this Saturday the 17th of April at London's V&A museum and they wanted me to talk about Grace Kelly.
Grace Kelly is my icon, idol and role model. I first saw 'High Society' when I was very young and to this day it is hands down my favourite film followed closely by 'Rear Window' which also stars Grace Kelly.

For those that know me personally, you will know that this was a huge deal for me, not only was I filmed for the BBC breakfast show I also got to talk about vintage fashion, how I wear it, why I do and of course I got my very own private viewing of the dresses worn by Grace Kelly. Even if you are a regular reader of my humble blog you will also know my pure delight in being asked to be a part of this show case of very special dresses. My face still hurts from all the smiling I have done today.

I arrived at London's V&A museum to be greeted by a BBC Breakfast reporter and camera man who were a pleasure to work with I should add. (The camera man actually told me he flew over to Monaco when Grace died to cover the funeral-WOW). We chatted outside about my choice of clothes, why Grace Kelly is such an icon to me, why vintage and then we proceeded into the building. Through a narrow passage and a secret door we entered the world of Grace Kelly, the actress, the princess and her royal highness. Finishing touches were still being made to the displays as I was looking around. Grace Kelly images, films, interviews and wedding footage were being projected over the walls and the gift shop was being stocked up with Grace Kelly merchandise and faux pearl necklaces. I am so lucky I got to go in and have a very special preview with the BBC and I am so honoured and thankful as I really am a true Grace Kelly fan. Seeing the High Society outfits rendered me almost speechless...the craftsmanship, the fabrics...seeing such iconic dresses up close was simply SENSATIONAL. I would like to thank the BBC and the staff at London's V&A for an amazing day of Grace Kelly heaven.

The Grace Kelly exhibit opens this weekend on April 17th and will end in September 2010. Tickets are just £6. You can book your ticket by clicking HERE.

My TV debut will air tomorrow morning on BBC breakfast news at 6.50, 7.50 and 8.50am. You will also be able to catch it online and failing that I took lots of video so I shall edit it as soon as I can to give you all a sneak peek of the best day of my life.

1950s Fashion & A Passionate Woman

1950s fashion? Billie Piper? A tale of love? BBC1 you have my attention!

'A Passionate Woman' by Kay Mellor has been adapted for our TV viewing pleasure and is currently being screened on BBC1 on a Sunday night. I only heard about this a week ago and that was only because I was being nosey and reading over a strangers shoulder. Now you know I love all things fifties, but I am also a huge Billie Piper fan so I have been really looking forward to this adaptation and I have high expectations. It was even better than I had hoped. Did you see it? I missed it, but the lovely Laura over at Love Miss Daisy reminded me today and I was straight on the BBC iplayer so I did not miss out and I saw the first part in all it's fabulous fifties glory. 

The tale of Kay Mellor's 'A Passionate Woman' follows Betty who is a housewife and mother who has her world turned upside down when she meets Craze, a polish man who asks her to dance at the local dance hall. The first part shows a young Betty in the 1950s played by Billie Piper. Betty meets and falls in love with Craze and begins an affair to remember. The second part will follow Betty as she deals with the consequences of her fling 30 years later when Betty will be played by Sue Johnston. The story is really moving and even more so because every word, action and feeling is true. You can read Kay Mellor's inspiration behind 'A Passionate Woman' on the BBC blog. Just make sure you have a hankerchief...or at least a shoulder to cry on.

Not only is the story line, eye candy (Theo James swoon) and acting excellent, but the fifties fashion is wonderful. It is a whole 90 minute visual vintage clothing feast for the eyes. Starting with Betty's (Billie) yellow dress. Her one and only 'best' dress that she wears every Friday to the dance hall. Betty also sports an amazing blue velvet jacket with exaggerated shoulders which she teams with a floral tea dress and matching white gloves. C-U-T-E.

If you missed the first part please do not worry you can watch it on the BBC iplayer by clicking HERE. The second part of 'A Passionate Woman' will be on BBC1 at 9pm.

London V&A museum to exhibit dresses worn by Grace Kelly.

It has come around so quickly (thank goodness), but April the 17th is fast approaching. On Saturday, London's V&A museum open their doors and showcase some of Grace Kelly's spectacular Hollywood wardrobe.

"Tracing the evolution of her style from her days as one of Hollywoods most popular actresses in the 1950s and as Princess Grace of Monaco, the display will present over 50 of Grace Kelly's outfits together with hats, jewellery and the original Hermès Kelly bag. Dresses from her films, including High Society, will be shown as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar award in 1955".
V&A website.

See you there?

My original Grace Kelly blog post has all the details of the Grace Kelly exhibit at London's V&A museum. Click HERE for all the where, when and how to's. Or simply visit the V&A website by clicking HERE.

This very special exhibit opens April the 17th and ends on the 26th September.

I wish I was as cool as Audrey Horne...

I was a late bloomer when it came to David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks'. (Looks down, scuffs toes). I first watched it only a few years ago...to the complete horror of my other half who insisted we that we spent the whole weekend watching Twin Peaks and of course for afters we then screened "Fire walk with me". (You have to, it's a right of passage or something). A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
I truly fell in love with Twin Peaks, the characters are as mysterious as the town; Twin peaks. Laura Palmer is dead and who knows who committed such an awful crime?! Everyone is a suspect and had a relationship or relations with Palmer. Oh and how can anyone forget...BOB. (Eyes momentarily tightly shut). I still have nightmares. Last but by no way least...Audrey Horne, played by actress Sherilyn Fenn is the girl who has everything, but her fathers love. She has the attitude, sexuality and bright red lips we all wished we could pull off whilst smoking and drinking coffee, but alas we are all too busy thinking 'I have red teeth don't I?' Who can forget Audrey's tight knitted sweaters,pencil skirts matched with brogues? No one has looked so cool leaning against a wall as Horne. Boo. I wish I was as cool as Audrey Horne...now that would be swell.

Turnings are allowed on this pattern

I am not sure if you know this or not, but I love VINTAGE. Vintage dresses, vintage furniture, vintage linens, vintage films, vintage stuff...you get the idea. I heart it.
So last year I decided that it was about god damn time I sorted my sewing skills out and I had a few classes to re-jig the old noggin. Turns out I could not remember a thing so it was defintely the beginners classes for me. I am getting better and I try and make something every week or so. Practise makes perfect. Apparently.
My dream would be to make a dress from scratch...so far I have made cushions, aprons and a peg bag. I am a long way off my dream of becoming a dressmaker.
My weak skills however have not stopped me eyeing all the vintage patterns in every thrift store in the South of England. I recently purchased the one pictured above for £2.00 in Lewes. I love the fifties and this pattern looks like the perfect little prom dress for a summers day walking with my chap along the countryside. No?
The great thing about these colourful pattern packages is that even if you are not using them, they look great on your walls or mantleplace due to the fabulous illustrations and logos.
Have any of you been successful in using one of these vintage patterns? I would love to hear any success stories as all I have are tales of fabric horror and wonky stitching. Is there light at the end of my sewing tunnel?

Sex and the City 2: The Trailer...

Ladies,

Grab a Cosmopolitan and put on your Manolo's for what you will be seeing here is pure unadulterated glamour from my four favourite New Yorkers, Sam, Charlotte, Miranda and Carrie! It is the Sex and the City trailer for the second film. I have now watched it four times and I definitely squealed twice. I am so incredibly excited!! I am a HUGE SATC fan and May the 27th cannot come around fast enough! I will not say anything about what you will see here, but if you love SATC watch now!

The Urban Drive In : London's Very Own Retro Drive In

Coming soon to a town near you...well London actually, The Volvo Starlite Urban Drive-In!

"It's groovier than Grease...badder than the baddest B-movie...and fabber than the fifties!" 

proclaims the starlite urban drive-in website.

Launching July 2010 the Starlite urban drive-in, London's very own drive-in cinema will start with a screening of Twilight on the Friday, (it's no "The Blob", but they have to attract the cool kids) followed by Grease on the Saturday for what I am sure they hope to be a long summer night. (pun intended).

Best news is that you do not even need a car or a driving license as the cars are provided for your viewing pleasure. Starlite has partnered up with Volvo so all you need to do is book one of the shiny pre-parked Volvo cars, sit back and enjoy the err...film. There are only 20 cars so booking as soon as you possibly can is highly advised! You can book your car HERE.

Shiny Volvo cars are of course not very vintage, which yes is disappointing, but Starlite and Volvo have created a completely carbon neutral event for you and your pals, complete with waitresses on rollerskates, whizzing around with popcorn. Also you know whatever happens in that back seat, your always going to be safe in a Volvo.

So where is this cracking vintage drive-in experience happening? It is all going on at The Truman Brewery in London's East End. For directions click HERE.

Please do not worry if you do not live in or around London due to the smog as Starlite are taking their retro drive-in experience nationwide film fans! I will let you know as and when I hear anything, of course. 

I've found another celebrity vintage lover: Rachel Bilson

"The reason I love vintage shopping is the sense of discovery and possibility that goes with the hunt. I can do it for hours. So I can either go it alone or I take someone who can handle it".

Rachel Bilson, Actress.

The Sunday Times: "Small is Beautiful" featuring Natasha Bailie Vintage!

Did you manage to browse through last weekends Sunday Times? The Sunday Times Style supplement...page 19? No...you did not miss much! Yes...Did you see my big face was in it in all it's vintage glory? Apparently I along with the lovely Laura from Love Miss Daisy and the talented Naomi from Vintage Secret are among a group of small NEW capitalists! (read the full article HERE)It was super having my name along side such an influential bunch such as Joe Corre and Julie Meyer. I still cannot believe my face was the cover of such an incredible feature. If you missed it I took some pictures.

Sorry for the poor picture quality, but I hope I can make it up to you by showing you this video above. This video is the footage I filmed when I was being photographed by Julia Boggio for the Sunday Times feature. Enjoy my behind the scenes sneak peek!