M&S: Sixties Revival

So there I was flicking through George's mums fashion magazines when I saw the new M&S advert that was advertising their new collection 'Sixties Revival.' I was instantly drawn towards the amount of blue that was sprawled all over the double page spread. Blue coats, blue dresses, blue bags even the model had blue eyes! So I couldn't help but to have a look. It definitely brings the 60's back into autumn this season, and what a way to do it. From daring bright reds, to dusty pastel colours. Here are my most favourite of the stunning new collection!

Double Breasted Borg Collar Coat with Wool

£79.00

This coat is absolutely gorgeous, the first thing I noticed when I saw M&S's advert in a magazine was this coat, which was what made me give the trend a look. The collared neck and the button through fastening just screams retro, and the colour is a lovely pale blue (my favourite colour!)

Roll Neck Cap Sleeve Top

£19.50

The best thing about cap sleeve tops is that they literally go with trousers or skirts, so it's a good piece to mix and match. It also has a roll neck which is top of the 60's check list! 

Open Collar Spotted Jacket

£59.00

The nights are getting chilly so now's the time to invest in a jacket, and what perfect little piece M&S have bought out! Lovely with the geometric prints! 

Embellished Collar Fit & Flare Dress

£35.00

WOW! How amazing is this dress!! This is the outfit that majorly stuck out to me. I love the colour, the style and the collar, such a 60's style dress. And seeing as it's my birthday (a week today!!!!) this dress is definitely on my birthday list - for any of you desperately thinking of what to buy me... 

Circle Jacquard A-Line Skirt

£35.00

I loooove A-line, for both skirts and dresses! My weakness when it comes to style of skirts, my wardrobe is full of them! Pair with a nice crop top and you'll be up and ready to look retro.

Fit & Flare Sleeveless Dress

£45.00

I saw this dress on the M&S advert, which I have to say is super cool, and loved it from then on. Fit and Flare styled dresses are so cute and can be worn anywhere from casual to dress up.

So, did you like what you see? Have a look on their website, but be prepared for the sudden urge for you bank card. 

http://www.marksandspencer.com/s/women/sixties-revival

Get 60's style eyes in under 5 minutes

I am pleased to announce the start of my new 'feature' Vintage beauty! This category will include all sorts of tips, photos, tutorials and must haves of all my favorite beauty products and how they will allow you to achieve that slick, timeless look. I will vary from makeup to skincare products to hairstyles to top tips! So make sure you stay tuned all you beauty lovers. 

Now I'm not the most makeup-ified person there is out there, and to be honest I hardly wear any on a daily basis, so you may think my tutorials are a bit simple. But I'm going to write my first blog post for the 'women on the go.' The ladies that don't have time to spend hours and hours in front of the mirror to make themselves shine, because to be realistic who has that sort of time. Also, my first post will be dedicated to my favourite era, and will also be my most over used beauty must have that I use on my self! The '60's eye makeup.' You know the one, the decade where makeup is allllll about the eye! The bolder the makeup, the better. With stars like Twiggy, Pattie Boyd and Elizabeth Taylor covering the front of fashion magazines for years, i'm not surprised it's now the most overused makeup style still to this day! Think cat eye and you're half way there. 

And not only can this tip be completed in under 5 minutes, it can literally be created with just these above. So this is perfect if you're feeling a tad bit skint right now, but still want to bring back that magnificent decade! My products that I use are Rimmel London's Extra Wow Lash and Collection 2000's Extreme 24 hour felt tip liner (but you obviously don't have to use these, I'm sure you're makeup at home will be perfect.)

So let's start with the flick. I've already applied my mascara on to my lashes as I just find that easier, there is no right way though! I also find eyeliner creates a better flick if you use a felt tip liner, I've used pencil and liquid and neither of them create the same effect as the felt tip. Stroke your eyeliner away from your eye and create a little flick at the end. It's up to you how '60's' you want to go with this, there is no limit. (Well except making your flick travel all the way up to your ear - that'll just be silly)

Mine is quite tiny compared to most, but I like mine classic. See Jean Shrimpton and Pattie Boyd.

The next step will be to bold-up your lower lashes, if you look at icons like Twiggy, you'll see the lower lashes are just as bold as the upper. To create this, use the eyeliner to make little lines that fall down from your bottom lashes, as if creating new lashes, as shown above and below. 

Now the next part can be tricker, as you have to create a half oval line that starts from the inner corner of your eyelid to the end just above where your eye finishes. You will see a crease that appears in your eyelid when you open your eyes, I tend to use that as my invisible dotted line. This may take a few tries to acccomplish, but it's not impossible. As you will see below, the line is shown slightly and make sure the line is approximately 2 cms away from your flick. 

So as you can see, 60's eyes can be created (simply) in under 5 minutes! You may think its too simple, but in the 60's it was all about the eyes and to be honest any makeup on the eyes stands out more than any other part of your face. If you want to take a step further into 60's heaven, you could dust your eyelid with white/beige eyeshadow to make your eyes really pop!

Here is a previous post where I discussed 60's eye makeup and a review of some false eyelashes from the company Kissed Lashes http://lily-patricia.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/want-eyes-like-twiggy-get-some-kissed.html

I hope you've enjoyed my first tutorial, it's a work in progress so be sure to stay with You had me at Vintage and watch this space! Any requests on makeup tutorials that you would love to see created please leave a comment below and I would love to get involved!

Key looks: 1980's

No decade stands out quite like the 80's. It was big, bold, bright and very notorious. It was the decade of neon coloured fashion, leg warmers and spandex gear. It was a continuation of the late 70's with high unemployment, people power demonstrations against the government probably no more bigger than the poll tax demonstrations which led to wide spread riots. It was the decade of Margaret Thatcher which allowed the women role to rise and lead to female equality in business. It was also the start of alternative and political comedy, with the likes of The Young Ones and Not the Nine O'Clock News. As well as comedy, the music differed drastically, some began protesting through music, while some just wanted to have some fun. So want to feel like "You're Acceptable in the 80's?" Here are some key looks that will keep you looking 'Ace!'

Shoulder pads

Possibly the most defined 80's look; the shoulder pads. Not just for the high flying women but for everyone! 

Power suits

The decade of the 'Yuppie's!' Thatcher's Britain, everyone was focused on power, money and their business. The outfit was never complete without their mobile (brick) phone in one hand and filo-fax in other. 

Oversized sweaters and T-shirts

Big tops twice their size, with statement words printed across. Most popular ones were 'Frankie Says Relax' and Wham's 'Choose Life.'

Leg warmers

With the success of Fame came the leg warmers and lycra, not a flattering look for everybody.

Scrunchies

Owned by every child and teenager throughout the 80's and into the 90's, and don't forget wear it in a side pony!

Shell suits

Became popular in the break dancing and hip hop scene of the decade, and was based on the tracksuit. Manufactured by polyester and covered in brightly coloured neon prints.

Peplum dresses

This trend has done full circle and is now available to buy in shops, so definitely the most easiest look to follow. Peplum was popular worn with shoulder pads so add them for the ultimate 80's look! 

Tropical Print

One of the most popular prints for jetting of on your summer holidays with the sudden rise of holidays abroad.


Any key looks from the 80's you think should of made my list?
Leave in the comments below!

+ I do not own any of these photos

"Vintage" Hair we go!

Vintage clothing is becoming more popular in your day to day outfit but no outfit would be complete without the hair to match. Hairstyles have differed over the years, from the short bob to the extravagant beehive to the skinhead and so on. Yet every style is still as big today as it was in yesteryear. Let's take a wonder down memory lane to either awe or cringe over the hairstyles throughout time. 

1920's

Bobbed Cut : Think Louise Brooks! Short cut with clean cut fringe.

Eton Cut : A shorter version of the bob, the hair was slicked down and curls were created on either side of the face. It also exposed the womens ear.
Finger waves : These were to create a softer appearance compared to the hard bobbed cut. 

1930's

Half up-do : Very Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind.

Pin Curls : Soft waves created using pins, the curl fits so it frames the face. Probably the oldest form of curling.

1940's

Wavy hair : The most timeless, sophisticated hairstyle there is, still used today. Such an effortless style that still leaves you feeling glamorous.  

Victory rolls : This hairstyle was worn by all sorts of film starlets, and still is one of the most recognised vintage hairstyles. The rolls were supposed to acquire their name from the fighter plane maneuvers of World War II.

1950's

Bouffant : Hair on the top of the head is raised to create a more fuller effect. Also know to be 'puffed out.'

Short fringe : Most fringes of the 50's were short and curled, this was achieved by cutting the fringe just above the eyebrow. 

1960's

Beehive: The most famous hairstyle of the 60's, this look is distinctively hive-shaped backcombed and lacquered mountain of hair.

Pixie cut : Twiggy's signature look. Short hair was popularized with geometric and asymmetrical cuts. 

Hair flips : Carried on from the 1950's, the bouffant got a lot bigger in size and could now be flicked at the ends to create a curl.

1970's

Wavy, feathered hair : This look was popularized from the TV programme 'Charlie's Angels', it involved hair being flicked into small wings at the temples. 

Straight hair : Throughout most of the decade, girls wore their hair long and straight, which was carried on from the later part of the 60's.

1980's

The Big Perm : Permed hair became very popular in the 80's, and was seen on both men and women throughout the country. It allowed hair to achieve your desired volume.

Crimping : A must have for any teenage girl was to create crimped hair with the use of a ridged iron

+ I do not own any of these photos

Retro me: flapper girl

When people think 1920's, the first thing that springs to mind is Flapper Girls. "Flappers" were young women that swore, drunk, danced and dressed in ensembles that at the time were frowned upon, or considered taboo. These past "rebels" helped create the turning point of women's fashion for years to come. The style was inspired by the geometric forms of the Art Deco movement. The key looks of the "flapper girl" can easily be replicated for you to copy today!

Basque Dress

photo: rambova.com

The basque dress became a popular design in 1923, and was worn by many flapper girls. The designs consists of a three tiered skirt, low waist line and the several rows of shirring underneath the upper tier. The flapper basque dress is very slimming and flattering for the female figure. 

Drop Waist

photo: fashionwiki

photo: shop ruche

The dresses in the 1920's were designed to hide the womanly shape so the drop waist was the perfect style to create that popular boyish figure. Most skirts contained pleats or ruffles to the design for decoration.

Bobbed hair

photo: vintagedancer.com

The most popular hairstyle of the 1920's; The crop. Hair had been transformed from the long locks of the Gibson girl to the daring bobbed hair. Styles included 'The Shingle' cut and 'The Eton' cut.

Cloche hat

photo: pinterest.com

To compliment the change of hairstyle, you need a good hat to match. And that's what the Cloche hat did, with the introduction of the bob came the small Cloche hat that fit shapely around the head the same way as the hair structure. 

Beads

Long pearl necklace's are a must have accessory for a 1920's Flapper girl. They're the classic and timeless piece that stemmed from this decade. The long beaded necklace is a sophisticated best and will top your outfit off with the added touch of glamour.

Stockings

Women's legs started to receive more attention than ever before in the 1920's with the hemlines getting shorter more flesh was on show, which introduced the Stockings.  Stockings were made from silk, wool, cotton and synthetic rayon and they wore worn in beige, ivory or pastel colours. Flapper girls became more risque with their stockings, they started to roll them down to mid calf. 

Short Skirts

photo: pinterest.com

Short skirts in the decade were midi skirts to us nowadays, yet this style was very risque as the hemline were shortened to above the knee. The skirts came in all sorts of different styles, such as pleats, long column plaid skirts and handkerchief hem chiffon skirts.

+I do not own any of these photos

Feline frenzy

The suns out (occasionally) but at least its out for longer than a couple of hours, so that gives you an excuse for HOLIDAY SHOPPING! And a must have on the checklist is always sunglasses, and why not go retro with 'Cat eye' sunglasses, a major key look in the 1950's, just watch Grease! Or just watch Breakfast at Tiffany's and copy Holly Golighty's look. So whilst skimming for my own holiday clothes (can't be helped) I found some lovely, affordable sunglasses just for you, all to be bought on the good ol' high street. 

NEW LOOK

Limited Black and Gold Cat Eye Sunglasses

£9.99

TOPSHOP

Simone Fine Cateye Sunglasses

£16.00

FOREVER 21

Mod Cat Eye Sunglasses

£6.00

ASOS

ASOS Flat Top Cat Eye Sunglasses

£12.00

BOOHOO

Annie Cat Eye Metal Sunglasses

£12.00

RIVER ISLAND

Black patterned Cat Eye Sunglasses

£13.00

With all these retro styled frames, they will bring a definite vintage feel to all your summery outfits.