How to be a Goddess....with a little help...

Now....over the past couple of blogs I have discussed a couple of my favourite things...vintage clothing and underwear....two of the greatest loves of my life. However now it is time to discuss the third...books...and one book in particular...my bible or as it is more commonly known...The Goddess Experience...

Now I fell across this book in early January while rummaging through piles of sale items and as soon as I felt its flocked cover I knew it was something I had to have...!!

Now as much as my style is very girly and am not in fact much of a girl...I never ever take my make-up off, my moisturiser (including my face) is whatever I happen to have in the cupboard, I never use toner, eye cream, night cream, anti wrinkle anything....you get the picture.
Even my make-up routine is very much slap dash involving tinted moisturiser, mascara, eyeliner and blusher....I have tried to do more but end up looking like a drag queen.

However....recently as I descend towards the big 3-0 I have decided I need to start pulling my finger out and take a more grown up approach to my beauty and make-up regime. This is all well and good but I had no idea where to start, what brands to use to where to go until I read this beauty of a book.

Now I am the proud owner of rose bath oil...amazing for dry skin, an amazing day cream which makes me look all glowy and I have learnt how to make the best of all my features...including lining the inside of my upper lashes...who knew.

There are also tips on how to best flatter your figure, where to get the best burger, how to make your home gorgeous, how to make great chips and best of all where to find the best cup of tea and cake almost anywhere in the world.

The book itself is like a mini scrap book masterpiece and every page is just beautiful.

This book is full of hidden treasures and (for me) is an invaluable guide to being if not a goddess then a lot more girly than before...hurrah!!

I cannot recommend enough getting a copy of this book...if it doesn't change your life then it will at least make you smile...

Curvy girls hunt for sexy underwear.....

Now...todays post was actually going to be about my first attempt to make cupcakes (just in time for Valentines Day). I had envisioned pictures of me lovingly stirring ingredients whilst wearing a gorgeous dress and Kath Kidson apron...looking every inch the perfect housewife...!!

Instead I ended up going out for Sunday lunch with three very close friends and drinking my body weight in red wine....ouch!!

So this morning I woke with a sore head and vague memories of yesterdays conversations.....now as you can imagine when four girls get together for drinks the topic of conversation invariably leads to sex at some point...or in yesterdays case sexy underwear.

Now I have a real thing for underwear....I love it....in fact I love it almost as much as buying books or eating creme eggs.

One of this years New Years resolutions was to wear matching underwear everyday....and apart from the odd slip up I have kept to this rule.....however my underwear although lovely is not particularly sexy and the reason for this is that sexy underwear can be uncomfortable and not all that flattering for a lady with curves.

Thongs for example....I never ever wear these as I end up looking like a trussed up piece of pork which is not really strongest bedroom look.

Corsets...hmmm....well unless they are beautifully cut and therefore a bit pricier these give me a beautiful love handle in between the end of the corset and the start of the knickers.

So with Valentines Day approaching I decided to see what was out there that didn't make me look a) like I should be on display at the butchers...and b) like a lady of the night....

So I started my hunt in Ann Summers.....I never normally go in here as it doesn't really cater for ladies of the big bottomed deposition but I thought I would give it a try...

I tried on this outfit

Bra £25 - Suspender knickers £14

...sadly this is not a picture of me modelling it...!!

The bra was great but in order to stop the dreaded muffin top I had to try on knickers two sizes up which then gaped everywhere else....it just looked wrong...so my hunt continued...

My next visit was to trusty M&S....not a sexy brand but I love their underwear and I am creeping towards an age where M&S undies will be considered sexy...

I went for the middle option which fit really well but didn't have the va va voom I was after....I also loved the pink printed option but as previously discussed I don't do thongs.

So I decided to stop mucking around and head to the place wear big bottomed girls can always find something...H&M.

I bloody love H&M underwear....and accessories, bags, shoes...you get the idea.

I always buy the knickers two sizes up to keep the muffin top at bay but they always fit everywhere else, come in great colours and fabrics and wear really well....here are my current favs....

Bra £9.99 - Knickers £4.99

Bra £9.99 - Knickers £5.99

Bra £9.99 - Knickers £5.99

I bought one of each set (the bottom one come with a french knicker option) and a top tip of mine is that I always but two or three pairs of knickers to each, that way if you want to wear the set again you don't have to wait for everything to be washed.

So off I happily went with a bag full of lovely underwear when I went past my wildcard underwear shop....some times I get amazing things in here and other times not so much...New Look.

And lo and behold my trip was worth it as I found this lovely set waiting for me inside...

Bra £12.99 - Knickers £5.99

...absolutely lovely and I only had to go a size up in the knickers which made me feel very slinky indeed...!!

So I am all sorted for the day of love. I would like to think that next year I will be super slim and looking like the first model above and therefore not have to search for underwear that flatters but if last nights roast dinner + red wine + McDonalds is anything to go by the chances of this are slim....and anyway I am sure they say curvy girls have more fun...!!

McQueen...need I say more...

Now....as we learnt yesterday I am one curvy lady and find it hard to find clothes to fit.

However...one man that understood this is...the greatly missed....Alexander McQueen....he loved women and curves and in return they loved him.


Bio - Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE (17 March 1969 – 11 February 2010) was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his tendency to juxtapose female strength and sensuality with fragility in his collections, as well as the emotional power and raw energy of his provocative fashion shows.

He is also known for having worked as chief designer at the French Haute Couture House Givenchy and for founding his own label under the name Alexander McQueen....

Born in London...did an apprenticeship in Saville Row...before going on to be one of the greatest designers of all time.

Sadly a year ago today the world learnt the shocking news that Alexander McQueen had died...this news sent shock waves throughout the fashion industry.

McQueen...I and many other curvy ladies salute you and just so I can have a lust moment here are my favourite McQueen looks....enjoy...

Curves....friend or foe...

I will let you into a secret....one of the main reasons I love vintage clothing is that is fits me. Don't get me wrong I love the feeling of walking down the street knowing that it is extremely unlikely that anyone else will be wearing the same outfit but in all reality I have a hell of a time finding clothes to fit and vintage clothes seem to do the trick.

You see....my problem is that I am curvy....VERY CURVY....I go in and out everywhere...!! I am 5ft 3, have a 34C bust, 26 inch waist and hips that hover around 38 inches. Now....as I learnt this week on Goks Fashion Fix...I have an hourglass shape and this is what most women should aspire to...great....and in fact I am joined in the hourglass club by Kim Kardashian, Kelly Brook and Dita Von Teese. 

Now this is bloody amazing...who wouldn't want to be compared to these gorgeous creatures...however all of these women have legs that would make bambi jealous. 

When people look at my legs (thighs in particular) the words that will spring to mind are tree trunk and thunder. I am not being self deprecating....they are HUGE...I am almost like a cartoon figure as they are not in proportion at all. Also I doubt any of the women mentioned above have arms that would make the most ardent of bingo players jealous.....yes....as well as rugby players legs I also have bingo wings of joy....which is ironic as I am the most unsporty person ever.

So here I am....on a never ending quest to find clothing that perform the following miracles....cover the legs, cover the arms, nip in at the waist and show a bit of cleavage (my one asset)....

Most days you will find me in outfits like this....

        

 ......I LOVE DRESSES.....you can cinch them in at the waist and best thing about vintage dresses is that they almost always fall below the knee..hurrah.

However...as my vintage dresses are very distinctive it means I can't wear them everyday so here are my other options to cover the bad bits and enhance the good bits...

High waisted skirts....I love these little beauties....I often wear a black highwaisted ballet type skirt with stripey breton tops or vest tops and tiny glittery cardies.
The only down side to these is that if you eat too much they can become uncomfortable...but they still look good and what is a bit of pain in the effort to look good..?
I have found that Zara and Mango do a great line in high wasted skirts....This check skirt from Mango looks great with a black vest, tan belt and tan heels

...I wore it to the theatre recently and although it did become uncomfortable after I had glugged about a litre of wine and then ate my body weight in chocolate it still looked great...!!

Another favourite our the hourglass/bad leg crowd is the pencil skirt....as long as it is below the knee.
On a flat stomach day I love rocking a pencil skirt and cowboy shirt combo....however this outfit does prevent from eating a big lunch and if we get burritos in the office it makes me curse the god of pencil skirts for making me wear it.

Now trousers/jeans.....hmmmmm......these are my biggest issue ever....I have spent almost all of my twenties living in the era of Kate Moss and the skinny jean.
Now if I ever manage to wrestle a pair of skinny jeans on my legs resemble uncomfortable sausages....not a good look.
If I wear straight leg jeans they look like skinny jeans and due to the fact I rarely wear heels bootcuts just look funny with my pumps.
So....in order to wear jeans successfully I have to wait until summer and then break out the flared babies...these perform the ultimate miracle...giving me the illusion of slightly slimmer legs....!!
On a skinny day I wear them with a vest top tucked in and a lot of jewellery and on a not so slim day I team them with a floaty top.
My absolute favourite flared jeans are Miss Sixty...they are a great colour, have a bit of stretch and make me look slightly fab...

Now for the best news ever...according to the magazines...CURVES ARE BACK....hurrah. So I will be scouring the high street and vintage shops like a curvy superhero in order to find clothes that both fit and look a treat....I will post my findings on here....stay tuned...

I bloody love a wedding....

...I really do. I love the dresses, the dancing, the whole 'I do' bit but I especially love the chance to get dressed up....as I am sure you can imagine.

My favourite wedding ever was last April and involved one of my oldest and dearest friends. Set in the lovely seaside town of Rye it was a masterpiece and I have to share some pics if only to have a 'wedding moment' myself

Now this year I have five weddings...three of which are all in the same week....hurrah...so as you can imagine I have had my 'wedding guest' shopping head on.

Since opening the store I have had a chance to sift through many amazing dresses and here are two of  my favourites for the upcoming wedding season.....

1940's Formal

The dress would be great with a full black net skirt underneath it and topped of by a black clutch bag and black gloves.....perfect for a more formal wedding.....

1950's Summer Wedding

This dress is absolutely beautiful and although I have put it with cream accessories it would also look fab picking out any of the other colours of the dress....

One of my absolute best friends is getting married this year....in a barn....brilliant so my next mission is to find a classic vintage number suitable for barn wear.....answers on a postcard please...!!

Sequins, Seventies and Summer Dresses......vintage vs fashion

Yesterday I got to spend the day doing my favourite things...eating and shopping for vintage.

After a huge roast dinner and plenty of red wine at Dirty Dicks (just off Liverpool Street) I hit the shops and found some simply gorgeous items...!!

This dress is possibly one of my most favourite things I have ever bought....colour is amazing, it is in perfect condition and it is just lots of fun...

And just look how amazing the back is.....

Now I love a bit of sequin action and I am not the only one....but I have to say that I prefer my vintage version just a tiny bit more.....

After my delightful shopping adventure yesterday I was worn out so decided that an evening of flicking through the fashion mags was in order....and it seems that even though it is freezing and the thought of baring my white legs literally gives me the shivers it seems like the summer styles are starting to come through.

I love bright summer dresses and it looks like they are going to be big this year

.....just gorgeous and as always here is my version....beautiful print and looks stunning on and you can be sure no one else is wearing it....

And finally....looks like the 70's revival is not going away....hurrah.....I bloody love the seventies style

Total 70's disco......

As always everything on here is available on the website www.hummingbirdvintage.co.uk or email me lucy@hummingbirdvintage.co.uk xx

A little bit more about me....

Whilst checking out some other rather very good blogs over the weekend I found this one - http://momstyleicons.blogspot.com/ which is basically a blog celebrating a girls first style icon....their Mom or  as we like to say in the UK...Mum.

Now my Mum or Nina Ballerina as she is more commonly known is one of the most stylish and well put together women I know...and what make this even more remarkable is that at the moment she is currently undergoing chemotherapy. However rather than using this as an excuse to tone down her normal fabulousness she has fully embraced her new situation and informed me on Friday that next time I see her she will be looking like one of these people due to her new wig purchases

I like to think of it as a little bit like the game Guess Who.

One thing I love about Nina is that she constantly evolves her look...for example she went from a skinhead in the 70's to a shoulder pad loving power dressing woman in the 80's....it was a strong look and at times I miss those shoulder pads.

So to celebrate the lady who gave me great skin, fun hair and knees that should always be covered here are some of my favourite looks from her fashion past....

Girls night out...

I adore this picture but the white flare are the winner...

I wish this dress had been kept but am glad that the bridesmaids dresses were not...

1970's polyester dresses....I love these....the brighter the better...

Caravan Chic...not a look many can get away with..!!