A/W2010: Back to the 50s, It's a good time to be a Lady!

Designers have been looking to the 1950s for inspiration for this season’s trendy creation. A/W 2010 is all about the fifties and no I am not talking about a girl sitting in a diner covered in polka dots and a bow chewing gum waiting for a prom date. I am talking Grace Kelly sophistication...think Betty Draper hosting a dinner party. Hems are lower, waists are cinched, skirts are full or pencil thin and trousers are tailored. I am in love with the Louis Vuitton collection designed by Marc Jacobs; it is feminine, demure and sophisticated. Everything from the shoes, the gloves, and the handbag and of course the dress is perfection. It is a 50s Dior dream.

Prada have also created a collection full of 50s glamour that harks back to the days of beehives, structured silhouettes and cat eyes sunglasses. 

Nina Ricci's sharp tailoring, pencil thin silhouettes are also to die for...literally...you need to like your body to pull off this fifties femme fatale look. I love the first look; it reminds me of something you would see in a Hitchcock movie. A force of femininity:

So what do you think? I was so excited to see the fifties silhouette was coming back and I am curious to see how the high street will translate the designer’s creations. Time will tell, but until then why not buy the real thing: http://www.natashabailie.com/

It is a good time to be a lady!

Lara Stone for US Vogue: Vintage Pictorial

Lara Stone for US Vogue's September Issue 2010.

Shot by Mert & Marcus, Styled by Grace Coddington.

To see more pictures from this vintage inspired pictorial visit http://www.fashiongonerogue.com/

Natasha Bailie is one of the Top 10 UK Vintage Clothing Blogs!

Natasha Bailie: Photo by Julia Boggio

This blog, this very blog you are reading right now...is number 10 in a list of Top 10 UK Vintage Clothing Blogs by Cision. You can judge me by the fabulous company I keep:

Top 10 UK Vintage Clothing Blogs:

1. Diary of a Vintage Girl
2. Vint Junky
3. Mademoiselle Robot
4. MyStyle-Thrifting, Fashion, Me.......
5. house of marmalade
6. Retro Chick
7. Get some Vintage-a-peel
8. Vintage Vixen
9. CALAMITY JEM'S VINTAGE VAUDEVILLE
10. NATASHA BAILIE

I am so thrilled to be included in such a list!

JFK & Jackie O!

More pictures are being released, blogged and leaked from The Kennedy film set showing Katie Holmes dressed up as Mrs.Jackie Kennedy. I originally posted about The Kennedy's (HERE) a mini series to be shown on the History Channel starring Katie Holmes as Jackie Onassis and Greg Kinnear as JFK. I am a huge Jackie fan and I love discovering new JFK conspiracies. I really cannot wait to see this series...I really want to see how The Kennedy's worked together. If the costumes are anything to go by...this is a show to watch out for. What do you think of Mrs Cruise and Greg Kinnear playing such legendary and iconic roles? Agree? Disagree? Leave your comments below.

Greg Kinnear (left) and JFK (right)

mylifetime

Vintage at Goodwood : The Video

We went along to Vintage at Goodwood this year to see what all the fuss was about! Here is what we saw, ate, experienced all at Goodwood's first Vintage festival.

Filmed and edited by Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company.

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE channel and be the first to see some fabulous vintage footage!

V&A Friday Late: Retro Hollywood Glamour

Friday 27 August 2010
18.30-22.00
V&A

This August, bask in Technicolor 1950s Hollywood glamour at the V&A with the likes of Grace Kelly, Alfred Hitchcock and Marilyn Monroe. Join the V&A team for an evening of displays, projections, workshops and performances celebrating the fabulous fifties.
All events are free and drop-in, unless stipulated otherwise.

This looks set to be a fun packed event where you can watch a collection of 1950s Hollywood film trailers and even pin up your favourite fifties Pin up in a badge making workshop. Don your finest dinner jacket, as you are invited to an exclusive Fitzrovia Radio Hour performance. Using original scripts and live sound effects, Fitzrovia execute brilliant pastiches of British radio dramas from the 1950s. 'Whisky In The Jar!' recounts a story of ghostly possessions, supernatural cocktails, several nasty murders and the spirit of a dead London gangster returning to haunt the guests at an elegant V&A party. www.fitzroviaradio.com

You will get the chance to get involved in a screen-Printing Workshop with I Dress Myself , designs by Sally Elford. Whether you wear it on your head like Princess Margaret in the Mosquito Islands, around your neck like Grace Kelly on the French Riviera or even keep it in your ice-box with your underwear like Marilyn Monroe during hot Hollywood summer days, the 1950s printed scarf is everyone's favourite. Enrol with eco-friendly screen-printing company I Dress Myself for the chance to create your own limited-edition scarf featuring designs of iconic 1950s V&A objects by illustrator Sally Elford. www.idressmyself.co.uk www.sallyelford.co.uk

Take part in the Hitchcock and Friends Club Quiz with the McGuffin Film Society where you can test your knowledge of Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and many other great legends of Hollywood Cinema in a quiz which will have you on the edge of your seat. Hosted by the McGuffin Film Society, of the Film and TV Quiz Night fame, for one night only. If you survive the gruelling interrogation, you could win a selection of prizes including cinema tickets, books, DVDs and film memorabilia. www.mcguffin.info
Attend an exclusive and one-off masterclass by renowned illustrator Daisy de Villeneuve. Discover the series of four portraits of beauty icons Daisy created for shopping channel QVC using only makeup products. Get the opportunity to see Daisy at work on another such portrait as she answers questions about her creative process. www.daisydevilleneuve.com
Join curator Jenny Lister for a tour of the exhibition Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition. Jenny will offer insights into the development and execution of the exhibition, as well as speaking about the world famous V&A fashion collection.

Places are limited. Free tickets will be available from the Information Desk in the Grand Entrance from 18.30. Participation is on a first come, first served basis so get there early dolls! See you there.
For more information on the V&A Friday late events click HERE.

Bid for Betty Draper's Dress on Mad Men's Ebay Charity Auction!

Not content with buying my fabulous 1950s and 60s vintage cocktail dresses you can now bid for a dress worn by Betty Draper!!

The City Hope charity is holding a large 10 day ebay auction. The auction includes props, dresses, furniture and even a walk on part on the award winning series MAD MEN.

Bidding began on the 12th and the auction already looks set to raise alot of money for the charity. Visit the online auction by clicking HERE.

Vintage at Goodwood?

I travelled to West Sussex on Saturday for a day out at Goodwood to celebrate all things vintage and “British Cool” at the all new singing and dancing Vintage at Goodwood event designed by Wayne Hemingway. Described as THE summer festival where fashion, culture and music all come together. I have been pushing Vintage at Goodwood heavily for over a year now and had very high hopes for the event after attending Goodwood Revival last year which genuinely felt like you were stepping back in time. Goodwood Revivals main focus has always been about vintage motors, but every visitor is dressed up like they have just stepped out of a 40s time capsule. I remember spotting one person in a pair of jeans who looked very ashamed of himself and kept to the corners of the Goodwood site. (Quite rightly).

So arriving at the Vintage at Goodwood site I was filled with excitement and anticipation; I could not wait to see all the vintage outfits, meet with some fabulous friends, spot Lily Allen and shop around the high street and vintage market. “When in Rome”...

Walking along the path up to the ticket area I was shocked; I had not seen one other person in vintage. With not a victory roll in sight and surrounded by a sea of denim and fleeces I reminded myself that the previous day the site had experienced a downpour of unexpected rain and that maybe people were just prepared for the worst and that a costume change was going to happen on site. Seeing as Vintage at Goodwood was the event where glamour and festival merge?

Once you had made your way through the fairy lit path way to the site you were confronted with a number of fabulous vintage cars and bikes all leading you to the central point of the festival; the man made high street. The high street shop fronts included a “Beauty Box” where you could go to get your hair and makeup done by the fabulous Lipstick and Curls girls. A cinema that was screening vintage classics such as “Bugsy Malone” and “The Lavender Hill Mob”. A museum of “Future Vintage Classics” which according to Hemingway will include a stack of pizza boxes, yellow pages and crocs. A curry house, a pub, a gin sponsored bar, Bonham’s auctioneers, a Vintage at Goodwood gift shop, a fashion pavilion that showcased fashion shows throughout the day including the “Bathing Beauties” pop up show orchestrated by Miss Naomi Thompson from Vintage Secret. Fortnum and Mason had a huge presence on the high street as did John Lewis, The Body Shop and The Style Studio which was sponsored by none other than PRIMARK!!! This confused me as when I think British I think Marks and Spencer’s...not John Lewis. When discussing all things British and cool I never think of Primark!? No, it just never comes up. I understand that events need to make money by getting sponsorship, but for an event to spam my Facebook feed constantly telling me all about how wonderfully true Hemingway’s designs are to all things vintage and cool I have to say I was more than disappointed.

Walking around the site was pleasant enough but for such large grounds the high street was small as was the market place. The vintage stalls were tiny and often had one to four different stall holders under them. Just with their staff members and their stock, the stalls were packed and UN inviting. I managed to walk in to one only to retreat in an instant. My fabulous buddies and I searched long and hard for Lily Allen and her new vintage venture, but it did not exist at Vintage at Goodwood. For a music event the tunes were sparse to nonexistent. I have been to Glastonbury festival a few times and the music starts at 10am and yes it is mainly bands or musicians you have never heard of but that is part of what makes a festival great. I love discovering new music and having music playing throughout the day can create a wonderful atmosphere. With all the really great vintage tribute bands in this country I was really confused why Vintage at Goodwood just wasted their stage space with air throughout the day?! The music did not start till the evening...why?

In conclusion Vintage at Goodwood promised to be the event that celebrates vintage fashion and music...apart from my style gallery post I did not see as much vintage as I would of liked. I saw fancy dress and fleeces. I saw a band playing vegetables under a clock tower in the afternoon but as far as music goes...I did not see any and yes I paid £55 + £5 parking for the privilege.

Don't take my word for it...
More Vintage at Goodwood reviews:
Diary of a Vintage Girl
Vintage Secret
Amelia's Magazine
Retro Chick for Queens of Vintage
London Plinth
Mien Magazine
Alex Loves

Vintage at Goodwood Style Gallery

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz turns 71!

The Wizard of Oz is 71! Filmed in 1939 and starring Judy Garland as Dorothy. I would have missed this if it had not been for the google doodle celebrating The Wizard of Oz's 71st birthday. I am a huge Judy Garland fan and The Wizard of Oz movie will always have a special place in my heart...who wouldn't want a pair of ruby slippers to click you home? **sigh**

Searching through Google I found a fun article on The Guardian website presenting 71 Wizard of Oz facts for it's 71st Birthday.

My favourite fact:

41) Judy Garland couldn't stop giggling while filming the scene in which Dorothy slaps the Cowardly Lion. So the director, Victor Fleming, took her aside and slapped her. She returned to the set and filmed the scene in one take.

It appears Fleming took directing very seriously and I find this fact so surprising as I found that particular scene terrifying as a child...and err...still to this day ACTUALLY.

RIP Patricia Neal...A Very Stylish Girl!

Paul Varjak to Emily Eustace: "you're a very stylish girl. Can't we end this....stylishly?"
To which Eustace purrs; "I am a very stylish girl".

You might of know her as the fabulous other women in Breakfast at Tiffanys who writes big cheques for the handsome Paul Varjak and describes herself to Holly Golightly as his "...decorator", but sadly Hollywood announced that Patricia Neal died this morning. The Oscar winning actress starred in many iconic movies including The Fountainhead and Hud for which she won an Oscar. Neal was also romantically linked with Gary Cooper, Paul Newman and even Ronald Reagan before she married the children's author Roald Dahl.

Katie Holmes as Jackie O >> Behind the scenes of The Kennedys.

Yes, I do know that my last post was about Jackie Kennedy, but when I saw these pictures of Katie Holmes dressed up as the iconic first lady I had to do a double take. This is also the first time I have heard about the history channels planned series about The Kennedys. If these pictures are anything to go by...I cannot wait to watch it. What do you think? Will you watch it? Also what do you think of Katie Holmes playing Jackie? Those are some stylish shoes to fill...

Bid for Jackie Kennedy's Pearl Necklace at Vintage!

Jackie Kennedy in her triple strand "pearl" necklace as she addresses the crowd in Bogota, Colombia in December 1961. Photo: AP/Press Association Images

Part of the Pioneers of Popular Culture sale, the triple-strand simulated pearl necklace belonging to America's first lady is up for sale at Bonhams on the 15th August at the Vintage at Goodwood festival. Just another fabulous reason to go! 

The necklace is made up of champagne-coloured pearls with an imitation emerald-and-diamond sterling silver clasp.

The first lady wore the necklace while living at the White House and on a state visit to Colombia in 1961.

Jackie Kennedy was and is such a huge style icon, but how much would you pay for the presidential pearls?

Sookie Stackhouse Style

Holy Maynard! I just finished series two of True Blood and apart from Eric something else caught my eye...Sookie Stackhouse and her dresses.
I had got used to seeing Sookie Stackhouse the waitress dressed in a white tee and shorter than short shorts that I never gave Sookie's style a second thought.
Series two sees Sookie out of Merlotts bar and in Dallas with Bill where they fall into a whole load of vampy trouble. Sookie is the ultimate damsel in distress why wouldn't she dress in pretty dresses?  In this season of True Blood we see Sookie dressed in halter neck prom dresses in large floral prints matched with all American hair and ballet pumps. High waisted A-line skirts teamed with preppy cardigans and an alice band for every occasion. Every outfit makes her positively bite-able!

MARIE CLAIRE LAUNCHES DESIGNER COLLABORATION WITH SEPTEMBER ISSUE

To celebrate London Fashion Week and the launch of its September issue, fashion glossy Marie Claire is proud to announce an exciting new designer collaboration. British designers Alice Temperley, Clements Ribeiro, William Tempest, PPQ and Felder Felder have each created an exclusive tote bag which will be available with the September issue of Marie Claire.

The designer totes will feature an image or print from each of the five designers autumn/winter collections such as William Tempest’s pink abstract print and Alice Temperley’s blue and red stripe. All designs will be available free with the September issue of Marie Claire.

In addition, Marie Claire will be celebrating the designers every day from 9th to 14th August with exclusive competitions on marieclaire.co.uk and marieclaire’s facebook page. Is it in the bag? asks readers to post pictures of themselves with one of the five designer bags. Marie Claire chooses the 10 most stylish readers and facebook fans then have to vote for their favourite to win the designer goodies that day.

The AMAZING prizes are:

William Tempest T shirt and a goodie bag

Felder Felder 2 Cuffs and 2 Belts

PPQ Dress

Alice by Temperly Coat, T Shirt and Scarf
Clements Riberio Dress and t shirt

Check out the Marie Claire Website for the Prize details everyday and become a fan of Marie Claire on Facebook to win some fabulously prizes.

Join http://www.facebook.com/MarieClaireUK  

Log onto http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/ for further details.

Follow http://twitter.com/marieclaire

The September issue of Marie Claire is on sale 5th August.

Good luck Dolls, I hope you are not camera shy?! x

If Jerry Lewis had Blogged...

I grew up watching Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin and Lewis still never fails to make me giggle! Watch Jerry use his typewriter....it is exactly how I blog. I tell you.

Jumble & Pearls

Jumble and Pearls is one of London's best kept secrets and I am letting you in on it: It is a monthly jumble sale full of fabulous vintage finds, designer threads, shoes and accessories for pennies no less! Held at The Horatia on Holloway Road you will find it easy to lose hours browsing through the racks of clothing and rummaging through trying to find a your bargain.

Jumble and Pearls

The Horatia

98-102 Holloway Road
N7

Dates for 2010: Sat 7 August , 4 September and the Jumble and Pearls 2nd Birthday Special on 2 October
Free entry from 1.00 pm – 6.00 pm


Nearest Tube: Highbury & Islington, Holloway Road

An Event with a Difference!

I have so many posts in my head at the moment...July and August are always so busy with vintage events, swarees, not to mention friends weddings, birthdays and mini breaks along the British coast! (Not that I am complaining). I just want to tell you everything...NOW.

Last Thursday I bought a ticket for a charity event in London's Covent Garden. The charity is One Difference. (please click on the link to see the great work that they do).  I have just heard that the nights proceedings raised £19,000 and apparently the total is still growing!! Congratulations to Amy Wilson who organised this fabulous event.

The event was held at Jewel and of course with Laura from Love Miss Daisy involved it was always going to be a vintage affair. The dress code was of course vintage and so was the entertainment. The Rockabellas crooned their hearts out and sang a hit from every decade including a very vintage rendition of Michael jackson's Billie Jean. You could not help but dance!

It was also a fabulous night due to the very glamorous company I kept that evening. Spotted at the event was none other than Miss Fleur De Guerre herself who looked every inch the pin up star along with Miss Vintage Secret; Naomi Thompson who won a prize in the raffle! ( I have never seen anyone so happy upon collecting her prize - see left pic).  Lira Lierner was also in attendance fresh from Nina's hair parlour looking like a 40s sweetheart. (Picture above - Naomi, Lira and Fleur).

Alex from Alex Loves bought her very new Chanel handbag for a night out which we were all pleased about. (Something strange happens to girls when Chanel is present). I finally got to put a face to the tweets and blog and I met Sarah Williams from Sarah scribbles who was wearing a custom made dress by Lira Leirner. (Jealous). My boogie companion was the Motorola coverstar Frankie who owns and runs Swell Vintage. Frankie was also wearing a Natasha Bailie Vintage DRESS! I chose to support Love Miss Daisy on the night and wore a LMD dress which turned out to be a huge hit teamed with my new birthday cherry heels by Vivienne Westwood for Melissa.

Alex, Frankie, Sarah

                                                                Me and Laura

Burgh Island: The Great Escape

For my birthday last week I got to go and stay the night in the infamous Burgh Island Hotel. Burgh Island is situated by Bigbury-On-Sea on the South Devon coast and is a tidal island. We were instructed to get to the coast at a certain time whilst the tide was out so it would be possible for us to travel to the island safely by sea tractor. Once across it was clear we had entered a unique escapism you don't usually get when staying in a hotel.

The Burgh Island hotel was built in 1929, but it was not until 1932 when the hotel became the place to be for young cosmopolitan Londoners. Located on Burgh Island are both the iconic art deco hotel and one pub called the "Pilchard Inn". The rest of the island is made up of cliff edge walks and sea views as far as the eye can see.

Staying at the Burgh Island hotel is a real treat and is such an experience. You genuinely feel like you are stepping back in time. The service and facilities are impeccable even by 21st century standards. With mementos of the jazz era, pictures of Hollywood starlets and art deco furnishings everywhere Burgh Island's hotel is the place to stay for any vintage lover who enjoys a nice sea view with a night of art deco living and sophistication.

Every room has its own character and is named after them. Each room is decorated and individually furnished; this is just one of the many touches that make this hotel unique and exclusive to its guests. We stayed in the Bentley room named after Walter Owen Bentley MBE who was the founder of Bentley Motors. Furnished with an art deco dresser and matching wardrobe I felt like I had died and Burgh Island was my heaven. Other names included the Noel Coward room, Miss Dorothy Button, Christie amongst others. The hotel boasts an impressive 25 rooms.

Dinner is a black tie and “proper” dress affair and children are not permitted in the public areas of the hotel. (bliss). So whilst enjoying canapés and cocktails on the terrace you can observe 20 other couples decked out in their dickie bows and glamorous dresses whilst you await your dinner. Which by the way is outstanding, unforgettable and you will have no regrets!

If that has not whet your appetite than you should also know that Agatha Christie wrote two books whilst staying on Burgh Island, a Poirot was filmed here; "Evil under the sun" and the island has its very own sea water pool called the "Mermaid Pool" where you can paddle away an afternoon with a gin and juice.

Burgh Island is complete luxury and the hotel is a place of decadence and vintage appreciation. Just be careful on your way back as the reality of leaving Burgh Island hits you harder than you may think. Yes, it is everything you think it is and more.