Bring out the pin up girl in you

Who can deny the charming sexiness oozing from behind that innocent (oh, I still have my shoes on do I?) pose in this shot? Yes love.  You do.  And we can all see they're Louboutins. And who wouldn't want to look like that? 

Well, the model in this photograph is clearly of the catwalk variety but as we all know from the success of Bettie Page, the girl next door can be just such a star and it's all about curves. As the UK fashion industry has finally conceded with its first 'Fat Fashion' week, curvy girls have more fun.

So don't be shy, come and sit on Cloud Nine and let us bring out the pin-up girl in you... Don't worry, we won't ask you to strip down to your knickers, unless you really want us to ;)

In a Cherry Mood

As the next Cherry Picked Pop Up Pamper Parlour event, Cloud Nine draws near, I'm seeing cherries everywhere.  Just look at these little beauties courtesy of our very own, Vivienne [Westwood].  They've got a very vintage feel with a modern twist.  The perfect mix.

Tired of Stylist Magazine?

Is it just me? Or has anyone else become a little tired of having unaffordable ‘must-have’ items shoved under our noses on a daily basis?  Call me miserable but, I don’t know if anyone noticed that we’re in the middle of the worst recession for many years.  I can't help but feel that free magazines like Stylist seem to me, to be rubbing my nose in the fact that, I couldn’t afford their weekly ‘must have item’ in a year, let alone a week.  Nor the ridiculously expensive holidays that they regularly feature nor the double page spread call ‘The Style List.’   Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not as though they are the only magazine or newspaper guilty of this sin but usually, we purchase these.  I think it’s the fact that it’s a free magazine that bothers me and is therefore, picked up by a particularly high number of us ladies - the greater numbers of whom are more likely to be shopping in H&M or Topshop, Urban Outfitters and the like than Mulberry or Dior.  It's a shame, because on the whole, it's actually a pretty good magazine. Maybe they could include a 'this week's affordable item'?

The good news is, that there are blogs out there such as mine and other alternative reading sources that are picking up on the growing trend for Vintage, Second-Hand and other affordable fashion trends.  So if you’re bored of the high street and no seamstress can make your purse fit designer labels and beauty salons, get yourself along to Cloud Nine.  Or book yourself a pin-up makeover and we’ll show you how to adopt a style without breaking the budget.

Seasons A-changing

It's that undeniable time of year again when the shops empty of their floaty, frilly summer wares and become filled with heavy knits and Winter woollens and we must once again, drag out our Winter clothing storage boxes from the loft and sift out any moth-eaten casualties.  But if you're unsure where to begin with slipping in the new season fashion and must-have items, I was walking past Oasis when I spied this list.  And where better to go hunting for some of these items than the Cloud Nine event?

Cloud Nine Event Combines Best of Beauty & Fashion, Old & New to bring out the Glam in You

Hello my little cherries,

Have you been a bit stressed lately?  Could you do with some 'me' time?  If so, let us take you to 'Cloud Nine'

Cherry Picked Pop-Up Pamper Parlour has teamed up with Youlovefashion.com to take you to ‘Cloud Nine’ on the 8th September at The Lodge in East Dulwich, SE22 8EW, for only £8 including wine, a cupcake and entry to the outfit exchange (more on the door).

Prize Draw: Anyone who purchases a ticket before the 25th August will be entered into a prize draw to win a makeover on the night.

It’s evening combining the best of beauty and fashion, old and new to bring out the glam in you. The Youlovefashion.com Bazaar will be overflowing with handmade, original and vintage clothing and accessory bargains with stalls from Belle Coco and the like. Or swap some of your less cherished clothes in the outfit exchange. A seamstress will be on hand to make sure it all fits. Email roisin.wilson@youlovefashion.com to book a stall.

The Cherry Picked Pop-Up Pamper Parlour will be a haven of relaxation and pampering bliss. 9 beauty treatments are available on the ‘Pamper Production Line’, bookable in advance, with prices starting at just £5. They include everything from a reflexology session to a mini-manicure, massage or facial. Email cherrypickedstyling@yahoo.co.uk for prices and booking or if you'd like to offer services.

But we’re not stopping there. Why not treat yourself to a ‘Pin-Up’ style makeover and emerge a princess? You’ll get professional hair, make-up and clothes styling, a lesson in re-creating the look yourself and you can purchase the photographs that record your new look.

Or find out how fashionable your future will be with a tarot reading from the Sassy Sorceress whilst sipping on a Cloud Nine Cocktail. So don’t delay, book your tickets today here.

Starting at 7pm at The Lodge above the East Dulwich Tavern and running all evening, exclusive tunes from DJ KiRA will keep everyone chilled at this hot event. Tickets are priced at only £8 including a glass of wine and a cupcake (courtesy of Cory’s Mum’s Cupcakes) along with entry to the outfit exchange.

So come on girls, any glam-loving lady would be nuts to miss it. Why not pop along and get pampered!

The Basics 

Nearest Station - East Dulwich overground, 13 minutes from London Bridge  see map  

Outfit Exchange - clothes drop off 7pm.  The exchange will be running all evening and forms a small part of the event.

All clothes will be graded - please bring clothes you care about

No more than 3 complete outfits per person
3 pairs of shoes
3 bags
3 belts

How to Vintage-ise your wardrobe - Look 3

For this look, I decided to vamp it up a little. I found a really feminine stripey red top in H&M for only £8.99 which I thought would look great with my red lippy and the red poppy in my hair I bought from Accessorise (sadly you can't see it in this pic).  I bought the bag from Radio Days in Waterloo, it's from Charles Jourdan originally and hopped on the Merry Go Round in my Havaiana Flip Flops!  Fifties Glam - or at least that's where I was aiming! I'm starting to get addicted to this vintage clothes lark.