Last week was rather quiet for me as I was nursing a cold, so not only was my poor little blog neglected, but I didn’t even manage to do a shop update. It will be quiet in blogland again tomorrow, as I will be down in Brighton to see a preview of the [...]
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The World’s First Bikini in 1946
Nowadays it is the most popular type of swimming costume around, but when the string bikini was first launched in 1946, the world was scandalised. Louis Réard and fashion designer Jacques Heim came up with similar designs around the same time, so neither could really be said to be the ‘inventor’. But it was Reard who gave [...]
Vintage History: The CC41 Utility Label
One of the things I enjoy about vintage fashion is that it helps us to relate to the past in a very intimate way. It is interesting, of course, to read about dates and places and facts and figures in a book. But being able to wear something of the time next [...]
1940s ‘Liquid Stockings’
Once upon a time, in a galaxy far away, stockings were as much an essential part of a woman’s outfit as hats and gloves. Even by the 60s, Jean Shrimpton shocked the Australian media by wearing an above the knee dress without leg coverings to the Melbourne Cup. Now, we tend to wear [...]
Museum Review: York Castle Museum
The final post in my series on vintage York is a review of the marvellous York Castle Museum (for previous York guides see Vintage Shopping in York, Eating and Drinking in York, and Barley Hall in York). A very short review of the museum: It is wonderful. Utterly wonderful. It is worth [...]
Heritage Toys: Steiff Animals
The German company Steiff is one of the most collectable names for vintage teddy bears and stuffed animals, but the company is still in existence and making toys today. They have managed to keep their reputation for quality for over 120 years. The business was started in 1880 by Margarete Steiff, who for all [...]
Join Me for a 1950s Tour of London’s Southbank!
In conjunction with The Vintage Guide to London, Penny Dreadful Vintage (aka, moi) will be giving tours around the Southbank site on the 29 – 31 of this month. This is timed to be on the same weekend as the Vintage at Southbank festival, so while people are enjoying the sights and sounds of [...]
1960s Go-Go Dancing: Pictures and Videos
Hullabaloo Last week I joined my friend Lena from the Style High Club for a 60s dancing lesson from The Soul Dance Company. I wasn’t at all sure what to expect, and when our white-booted instructor announced we were going to be learning how to go-go dance I was actually a bit disappointed. That [...]
1940s Wedges: History and Modern Picks
Office grey raffia wedges £46 Reading Tea and Crumpets this morning, I was struck by these wedges that Lauren posted about. Aren’t they lovely? What grabbed me is how 1940s they look, with their mid-height wedge, ankle strap, modest vamp and raffia detail. I decided to do a little more searching to see if [...]
Ugg Boots: a History and a Scandal
A very old photo of my brothers pretending to be bogans in their ugg boots. Faces covered to protect the guilty. This is a little bit different from what I usually write about, but I hope you all find it interesting. No pictures as yet, but I hope to add some tomorrow – if there [...]
1960s polka dot mod dress by Berketex
1970s green and red tartan knit jumper dress
1960s black and white check blanket dress
1970s floral print hippy smock dress by Emanuelle
