Singing and the 1950's...and me!

Hello everyone!

I'm well aware that I haven't posted anything in absolutely ages - the past couple of weeks have been a bit manic with work etc so I haven't had the time to sit and think about what I want to write! I've had a few ideas now though so hopefully I can devote a few hours over the next week :)

So...!

Something has happened that I am REALLY excited about. I'm a singer and have been since I was 6, mainly singing choral music and show tunes. When I was 14 I joined a group called 'Ye Essex Baebes' (I know, cheesy name right?) who sing medieval and Tudor music - and dress up in medieval and Tudor dresses!

This is a picture from a quick Google search that shows a dress really similar to the one I wore.

 It is actually really fun, we have such a good laugh and have loads of lovely feedback from people who come to watch us at our gigs. After a name change to Sweete Harmonie, Nikki our sort of 'choir mistress' recently decided to go in a different direction having felt the Tudor and medieval stuff had run its course and decided to concentrate on a different era...the 1950s!!!!

We are learning some of the music sung by girl groups in the Fifties such as The Beverly Sisters, The Chordettes and some later ones such as The Chiffons and The Marvelettes. Amazing!

The earliest one we are doing is one of my favourite songs - Rum and Coca Cola by The Andrews Sisters. We're also thinking of learning Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree as well.

It's so catchy and makes me feel summery!

My next favourite is It's Illegal, It's Immoral Or It Makes You Fat by The Beverly Sisters. This song is absolutely hilarious, the lyrics are genius! In addition, we've included Long Black Nylons and a few others I can't remember the names of right now.

This is a recording from 1962, I love how giggly they are.

And of course, our 50s vocal set just would not be complete without a rendition of Mr Sandman by The Chordettes, the ultimate 1950s song. This has been the hardest one to learn of the entire set as the harmonies are really hard to pick up and gel together as a group. Lollipop is another classic we're going to add to our repertoire, and also a slower one called Eddie My Love.

I love how glamorous they are!

After the music itself, I'm ridiculously excited about our styling! Obviously we are gonna deck ourselves out in 1950s gear. I for one am going to wear my lovely Vivien of Holloway dress, and I'm pretty sure the other Charlotte in the group is going to purchase one sometime soon as I've converted her! We're all going to set our hair before every gig and wear a staple red lipstick but we're going to wear different dresses. Mine is black with a red and pink rose pattern. Its a circle skirt with a halterneck so its quite dressy! This is a photo I've nabbed off their website. Lush ain't it!

We have a few gigs lined up over the summer, mainly fairs over Essex but after we rehearse some more we're hoping to approach some more fairs across London - including vintage ones!

So, I hope you've enjoyed reading about my singing exploits and listening to the music of the 1950s. Are any of these songs your favourites? Would you enjoy and appreciate a vocal group singing this music live?

Much love! x

Beautiful shoes thanks to Dolly Mixture Clothing...

I won something! And best of all I won a fabulous pair of high heels! I am one happy girl, that's for sure. These are the Iron Fist All Hope Abandoned Heels and I won them courtesy of  Dolly Mixture Clothing. Their website offers 1950s style clothing, handmade kitsch jewellery and footwear by Iron Fist and TUK. After reaching a certain amount of followers on Twitter, they decided to hold a giveaway for a free pair of Iron Fists to one follower picked at random, and it happened to be me :)

I got a choice of which ones I wanted and All Hope Abandoned were the definite winners seeing as they have a Mexican sugar skull type print on them which I love! I've not owned a pair of Iron Fists before but I think I've been converted! 

Dolly Mixture Clothing have been absolutely brilliant, their customer service is impeccable and they are so friendly and nice! Even when I was being a complete nuisance as it took ages to pick my package up from the postie. I simply cannot recommend them highly enough.

I would have taken a better picture of me wearing the shoes but I've not been feeling too great over the past couple of days and I look awful! 

Do you own any Iron Fists? And if so which pair?

Much love! x

(Almost) Mid-Week Wants!

I am rather skint at the moment but that doesn't stop me from daydreaming about all the lovely things on my wishlist that will (hopefully) become a reality once payday arrives!

First up is this gorgeous Rhonda Dress in Dot Flock by Collectif. It's so classy, hugs in all the right places, has a polka dot print...and it's only £25! WANT. As it comes in lots of colours, I'll have a hard time picking just one.

Next up are some black platform plimsolls from H&M, priced at £12.99. They aren't the kind of shoes I would typically wear being quite chunky and more like trainers than my usual brogues (plus the boyfriend hates them!). Buuuuut, they look comfy and remind me of a similar pair I owned once upon a time when the Spice Girls ruled. So on the wishlist they go. I tried to link them but for some reason they aren't listed on the website at the moment, so here is a picture of some random ones that look pretty much the same to visualise them!


I'm sure many of you have heard of and possibly own a few Rockalily lipsticks, and as a self-confessed lipstick obsessive I cannot sing it's praises loud enough! I already own Rockette Red and have now set my sights on the new ZOMG! Limited Edition lipstick. It's such a lush shade of pink that I must own it - I've read a few great reviews of this shade already and they have convinced me. Unfortunately this one is currently out of stock but I'm praying it'll come back in. If you haven't heard of Rockalily then may I suggest you head over the the website and have a look for yourself!

A more practical item is next on the list, namely this pretty flask from Paperchase. I commute into London from Essex everyday for work and so on the train in the morning I'm dreaming of a piping hot cup of tea or coffee to wake me up. This will keep me awake and double up as hand candy at the same time!





And finally (drumroll please!) is the ultimate item on my wishlist, the one I've wanted for ever but am ALWAYS too skint to buy...is the famous Kit Cat Clock! I LOVE IT SO MUCH. You always see one in the background in American films and I just think they are hilarious. I'm a bit of a catlady as well so cat memorabilia is always welcome in my house! At £48 its very much out of my price range until the day comes when I can afford it and buy it for myself once and for all! Available now from Tatty Devine.

What do you think of my wishlist? And what's on yours?

Much love! x