Trip Back In Time | 1940s

This post is a bit of a 'throwback' to last year, but I wasn't blogging then so I'm sure you'll be able to forgive me.

I was in a production, last November, of a show called 'Happy as a Sandbag', which is in essence a collection of songs and sketches from World War Two. Although irrelevant to the nature of the post, it was also the show in which I was lucky enough to sing a duet of 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square', one of my favourite songs from the era, with one of my very best friends.
Of course, along with a World War Two based show comes the copious amounts of beautiful 1930/40s costumes. Along with photos taken during a dress rehearsal, I've also got a few promotional photos that we took at a local museum which I will share with you. The blue/green dress with the lace collar (which I'm pictured wearing above) was definitely my favourite, but the other paler floral dress (which I affectionately named 'the dinner-lady dress') was an original Laura Ashley.

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the 1940s look was tying the headscarf which I wore during a factory-based scene. There seems to be a real technique to the bundling of the hair and knotting of the scarf - a technique which I only managed to properly grasp on the last night of the show - darn!

The costumes are definitely one of the most interesting things about acting. There really were moments, particularly during poignant air raid sirens and heart-wrenching songs, when the costumes truly help you to feel like that evacuee, running to the safety of an air-raid shelter, or the grief-stricken woman, lamenting the loss of a loved one through song. I guess it's like being able to time travel, try on beautiful clothes from your favourite past eras (of which the second world war is one of mine), but still be safe in the knowledge that once the curtain closes, you can return to your computer to blog about the experience, rather than facing the hardship and uncertainty of war.

'Happy' with our 'Sandbag'

Paul and I singing 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Sqaure'

 

Factory Workers (Dancing to 'Thing-Ummy-Bob') - Note the headscarves.

 

The 'Dinner Lady Dress' complete with snood. Posing backstage with my friend Nathan.

 

I'm all for the return of seamed stockings and cotton gloves - who's with me?!

 

Set for Summer 2014

It is definitely worth a trip to the No7 counter in Boots this summer for this fab free gift after purchasing two products. Personally, No7 features heavily in my makeup collection so this initial purchase was not difficult.

 

With some brands I often feel a little bit disheartened at the unimaginative selection in their freebie gifts, but I never seem to be disappointed with No7. This one was no exception.

The set includes:
BB Lips Beauty Balm in Blink Pink
Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara (Black)
Stay Perfect Eye Shadow (The middle shade in the Good Earth Trio)
Stay Perfect Nail Colour in (Special edition!) Duck Egg Blue

 

I'll briefly go through each product in turn:

First up, the BB Lips Beauty Balm.
I've seen this balm on the shelves before, but never with the intention of buying it. But now, (proving the power of freebies!) it's a product I would class as a summer hand bag essential. It is super nourishing, natural-looking, not at all sticky and having SPF 15 is an added bonus.

Secondly, the Extreme Length Waterproof Mascara.
Without wanting to deceive you, I'm going to come clean. I have yet to try this. However, what I will say is that I've read quite a few negative reviews about this mascara, so I am looking forward to seeing what it's like for myself (and sharing my feedback with you at a later point) in the hope that I can prove them wrong.

Thirdly, the Stay Perfect Eye Shadow.
This is a great natural-looking colour, and although I don't find the No7 eye shadows fantastic for pigmentation, it is definitely buildable. I have seen this shadow before in its trio form, a form which I tend to steer clear of because I find the different sections in them are too thin to smoothly run a brush through. However, I find this freebie size much more appealing - why don't you make them all like this No7?!

Finally, the Stay Perfect Nail Colour.
I l-o-v-e all No7 nail colours and this really is no exception. It's a gorgeous pastel colour, fast drying, special edition and, in my opinion, faultless.
 

 

   

                     

 

 

 Do you have a favourite brand when it comes to free gift offers?
 

Getting Gatsby

A couple of weeks ago my college hosted their annual midsummer ball for all of us students to attend and for which a vote is taken earlier in the year to establish a theme. This year was 'The Great Gatsby' and my excitement levels rocketed to 100%.

I really wanted to prove to myself that I could create a classy 20s look without spending a huge amount of money and without going down the commercial flapper dress route.

My first port of call in my search for 'the Gatsby look' were the vintage shops of Norwich, but although the original 20s dresses I found there were beautiful, there was nothing that had that sparkle that is a must for an end of college shindig.

Walking back down Magdalen street, where my favourite vintage shop 'Retreat' is situated, myself and my Mum, who I was with, instantly had our eyes drawn to a mass of black sparkle just inside the door of a charity shop.

It was in fact a long, black, Mark and John By Gopal, completely embellished, pure silk evening dress, and at £7 how could I not? It was however a large, too big as it was for me, but after a couple of tucks under the arms, it had a very much 20s look to it; reflecting the styles at the time which were more 'straight up and down' than figure-hugging!

 

 

Customary 'in front of the hedge' photos

  

With the ball being outside on the college lawns, something with a bit of warmth was also much needed and so I went back down the vintage route and initially started looking for a black fur jacket - to no avail. They were either too big, too long, or too 'dull' - I thought the fur would need a little bit of sheen to it in order to compliment my dress.

Worried I wasn't going to find anything in time, we returned to Retreat, where just that morning a crushed black velvet cape with a scalloped edge had been put out. Although it was undated, I was told it was no later than the 50s and it definitely had the classy Gastby look to it that I so desperately wanted to achieve.



I added a pearl and diamanté brooch to secure the cape asymmetrically

I finally teamed it with my trusty suede-look heels from Barratts (although a T-bar shoe would have been more period specific, a night of dancing called for comfort!), diamante and pearl earrings, and tah dah...

  

  

Do I blame my brother's bad photography or my bad posing for this?


 

It was a great evening with Charleston lessons, casino tables and an obscene amount of dancing.


For those interested, Retreat Vintage are on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/RetreatVintage

Have I found perfection with Perfection Lumière?

I have been absolutely hooked on this product since using a tester at some point last year. Since then it really has been my one and only 'go-to' foundation.

I personally use it in 'beige (30)' although I'm aware that it comes in an impressive colour range of over 20 different shades. I also find that it has a pretty, light fragrance upon application, but this becomes unnoticeable after a few minutes wear.

 

It is of a medium coverage (yet is buildable!) and has a lightweight consistency, overall giving a pretty much natural feel. This foundation does dry relatively matte (not everyone's cup of tea!) and I find that it simply leaves my skin looking and feeling smooth. Not to mention the fact that it is, as the product itself suggests on the packaging, long wearing.

                

I have to admit though, consistent use of this product has made me become a bit stuck in my ways, and is causing an increasingly large dent in my bank account at £36 (though I don't begrudge spending money on quality products!). Any recommendations for a foundation that you think would match up to how satisfied I have been with this one?