Post Modern Jukebox

I just love old music from the 1930's all the way to the 1960's and this band makes my heart sing.
They are a cover band that bring in different singers and musicians for the songs.
Their name is Post Modern JukeBox and they are the kings (and queens) of swing.

I love it! I hope you do too.

Post Modern Jukebox


It would be my dream to sing in a band like this...I might have to start bugging people out here in Korea to give it a go.

A Vintage Resolution

Well it’s 2014 already. I realize it’s been 2014 for most of you for quite a few weeks now but I took my Christmas vacation on the 1^st of January and have only arrived back to my house in Korea so I am starting my resolutions and changes a little later than usual.

2013 was a year of change and adventure. I was whizzing around the world and turning my life upside down. Unfortunately when you are packing for a year, vintage clothing is quite heavy and I was scared to take a lot of it half way across the world. This didn’t completely stop me and I did take a lot with me. The other thing I discovered when I arrived in Korea was that the extreme heat/cold means vintage clothing isn’t that practical. (Trying to wear a corset and waist train in 100% humidity and 40 degree heat wasn’t that enjoyable either)

So 2014 will be my vintage year. I have brought a lot of my favourite pieces over with me, lots of hair accessories, pin curl clips, rollers and holding spray. I know the weather now so I think I can master it a little better the second time around.

So my vintage mission for 2014:

. Stockings – Stocking have fallen off my radar. I brought a few with me but they were all torn before the first month was through. Now I have a full supply. 

.Corset – the waist training is back on. I loved it when I was doing it before so I am excited to get back into it. I’ve also read that it goes hand in hand with my next number.

.Yoga – I realize this isn’t vintage inspired but it’s my new addiction and I can’t get enough of it. I love how it makes me feel (and hopefully how it will make me look.) I’m hoping to take some progression shots to see if I can actually improve over the next few months. 

Very very early progression shot.

. Hair – Come what may THIS year I will master pin curls and a victory roll. I normally end up as a frizz ball so I really would love to master the skills of the 40’s 

This magazine will send me in the right direction

. Heels – I never wear them anymore and I use to love the feeling of getting dressed up so I’m hoping to capture that again this year.

.Teeth – some pearly white this year will make me feel classy in every era.

Lets do this 2014!

 

I need to get nice teeth so I don't have to pout like a fool in my friends pictures

By the light of the silvery moon

After a night of watching my favourite film in the world, It's a Wonderful Life, i'm full of smiles and I will be listening to this on repeat today.
(click the picture for some lovely tunes)

Downton’s back!!!!!

Living in Korea can sometimes feel like a million miles from home. This has never been truer that today when I discovered that one of my favourite shows ‘Downton abbey’ has returned to the British shores. I spent a long time avoiding it as I’m not one for period dramas but oh my I fell in love!

My vintage fetish is normally for the 40’s and 50’s but the more I research and look at different eras the bigger my love grows. I’m already falling in love with the 60’s, 30’s and 20’s so Downton abbey only fueled the fire.

It makes me want to drink tea, dress like a sophisticated lady and be in love.

Anyway I’m already caught up with the two episodes and I eagerly await the rest.

It’s lovely to have you back ladies and gentlemen.

London Calling

Lately I’ve been dreaming of London. Korea is a fabulous place but London has always felt like home and I’m just missing it.

In December I have ‘almost’ confirmed some holiday and I can’t wait to go back and see everything and my family.

My family is all in Wales but I am making sure to take a few sneaky days to get reacquainted with one of my favourite cities.

The rough plan is:

. Hair cut and dyed blonde at Rockalilly cuts

Something like this I hope!

. Clothes shop at Vivian of Holloway and Collectif (sigh so much prettiness!!)

. Lunch at Konditor and cook

. A wander around the national gallery and waterloo

. Savoy for a sneaky celebration cocktail before getting glammed up

. Then it’s off to my favourite bar in the world Gilbert Scotts for a jubilee cocktail and some free BBQ popcorn (sounds disgusting but its heaven).

. Proud Cabaret (of course!)

And ending the night at best piano club in town (but I’m not telling you where that is as it’s small and my secret!)

Sigh!

The perfect day. The only thing that could make it better would be to sneak on the wheel as I’ve never fancied going on it for some reason, until I left of course and now its on my list of ‘to do’.

 

The chances of this happening are slim to none since I have a lot of family and friends to see in Wales plus maybe a sneaky trip to Edinburgh to see my brother and his gorgeous finance but a vintage girl can dream.

Mr Stewart

Life can be so fast paced here that its sometimes easy to exhaust yourself.
I had fantastic plans for tonight but I just couldn't face another evening of crazyness.After a long night that ended in daylight Friday and a Saturday of exploring the humid markets (which were full of the weirdest things you can imagine, including a butchers selling live toads :S ) I was ready to rest.

I came home to get ready to go watch some rugby, saw my bed and realised a night of rest was going to make me a happy camper.

So I popped to the local make up store and bought a face mask, hair mask and eye mask. I coated myself in all Korean mixtures possible that seem to have magical properties, cooked some noodles and watched one of my favourite men, Mr Jimmy Stewart.

The Shop Around The Corner (1940) Is a beautiful movie that shows Jimmy as his best. It was remade a few years ago by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan 'You've got Mail' but the 1940 version just has such a lovely feel to it. Old movies make me feel so happy. They are always filled with such simple ideas and brilliant characters. A world away from crazy Daegu thats for sure.

Fingers crossed my relaxing Saturday means I might actually wake up early and experience the incredible wonders that Daegu has to offer.

Betty's Back

Betty's Back!!!

I love Mad Men but I have to admitt that I was a little sad to see Betty at the start of this season let herself go and become so depressed(and have brown hair :S).
She was still beautiful but Betty had always been someone I wish I looked like and an excuse to stare at some pretty (Yes I am completly evil saying that but sometimes prettiness, especially 50's-60's-70's is needed after a long day).

Here she is in all her fantastic amazingness. Now all she needs to do is look at her personality and she'd be a fantastic lady.

 

Love this lady!

http://www.youtube.com/user/LisaFreemontStreet/videos?query=pin+curl

This lady does the greatest pin curl and hair tutorials. I have horrible hair that hates all vintage styles but i'm going to try the veronica lake tonight...wish me luck x

First Vintage Korean Purchase

It finally arrived. Pay day!

It was a very anticipated and rewarding day for all of the new recruits here in Daegu.

Everyone ran to take pictures and print out pictures of their bank accounts as we are now all millionaires. Only in Won but who cares, the principal is kind of the same.

I desperately needed clothes. I know ladies seem to say this a lot (and a lot of blokes I know too) but I really did.

I was allowed one suitcase for the year and it was mainly filled with laptops, home comforts such as pictures and sheets (since they don’t sell sheets as we know it in Korea) so my clothes, especially the pretty vintage ones, were put into storage.

A lot it seems have migrated into my sister’s closet for safe keeping?!

I did bring a few choice pieces but mainly things that will work for a Korean teacher’s wardrobe which mainly translates as ‘Don’t show chest at all’.

I am so sick of wearing the same clothes that when payday came I ran out to the shops as fast as my in need of new shoes feet could carry me.

I had spied the vintage section of town while out traveling in my first week and I was intrigued.

All were basement shops and all were huge! Packed to the rafters with hundreds of different items. Lots of 70’s and 80’s but a lot of the stuff in their was easily adaptable or made in the 80’s to look 40’s which out in Korea is good enough for me.

As well as pretty things I have been looking for practical comfy things. Being an animator in the UK meant every day was jeans and t-shirt if I wanted so I tried to dress up but here is the exact reverse and I’m craving baggy jumpers and t-shirts.

I found a few purchases that will keep me entertained for a while.

A fantastic 70’s denim shirt, A stripped long sleeve top perfect for my K-pop classes (more on this later!) and a lovely double zipped black pencil skirt.

I was in clothes heaven.

The greatest thing about all of these finds was that they were stupidly cheap.

Clothes in Korea vary. You can go to underground malls and get lovely clothes for dirt cheap or you can go to the Lotte department store and spend the equivalent of 50,000 dollars on a fur coat. 

This shop was really great and luckily had a changing room (another rarity around here) to help me pick what suited me best.

I did arrive in Korea realizing my style was already 60% Korean. They love peter pan collars, they love bows and dots and they love quirky designs. All in all I am almost mistaken for a Korean daily. This isn’t helped with my dark hair and massive glasses which although unique even in London are common place around this area.

I never expected to find this area in Korea but I love exploring it. Who knows, I might have more vintage purchases here than I did in the UK,

I have already taught some Koreans to Jive on nights out and I’m looking into Lindy hop classes. The newest purchase I made was last night and it was a lovely electric curling iron so now there’s nothing to stop me getting my ‘Heyworth’ on. This place is the vintage home away from home.