Wedding Wednesday - G&T...

Many years ago when I worked in the wonderful world of events I met a lovely lady called Becks. Now Becks worked in the creative department and she was AMAZINGLY creative...the way she decorated her flat would have been enough to get anyone to give her work.

She also loved a drink which is how we became friends.

Although I hadn't spoken to her in a good few years I alway knew she would have been headed towards greatness and....I was right.

For the past couple of weeks I have been researching vintage weddings and a name that kept popping up was 'Grace and Tailor' so I decided to contact these lovely people and see what they had to offer only to find out it was none other than my gin loving friend Becks who runs it...what a treat.

Grace and Tailor are basically amazing wedding fairies who you can go to in order to give your wedding that special vintage touch and they are more cost effective than hiring a wedding planner to organise the whole things....vintage and value for money...I LOVE THESE GUYS!!

So...lets have a look and what magic the can weave....

...simply amazing....makes me want to get married ASAP just so I can get this fab team to work their magic over everything..!!

If you are looking for that special vintage touch for your wedding you can find the lovely Becks and crew at www.graceandtailor.co.uk.

If you have any random vintage wedding questions that you would like answered by the professionals or are looking for that special (yet affordable) vintage dress...then just email me at lucy@hummingbirdvintage.co.uk xx

Lumps and bumps...

So last week saw the first official photoshoot for the lingerie range which was amazing.

For those of you that don't know the lingerie range is for women who like myself gain or lose a pound or two from time to time but still want their sexy undies to look fab. So each piece is totally adjustable at the side of the knickers, front of the bra and the straps and they are all covered in gorgeous ribbons and vintage buttons...total luxury..!!

We have also created a Victory Vixens range for woman going through cancer as the weight loss/gain during treatment can be pretty substantial so the adjustableness (not even a word but needs must) works really well. We also have high waisted knickers to hide drains or tubing and pockets in the bra's for prosthesis.

So...we were all set....or so I thought.

On a slightly random night out with the boy last week we met a gentleman who in between teaching us martial arts so we could defend ourselves (he almost broke the boys thumb) and telling me how lovely I was (clearly very drunk) explained to me that maternity underwear could do with a big shake up as some of it is very plain and boring.

Even through the haze of white wine and gin I could tell he was on to something so after a quick bit of market research and chatting to alot of pregnant women (I am VERY broody now) we have decided to add a maternity range to our lingerie empire...!!

So what started out as a curvy girls quest to find undies that didn't make us look like a piece of pork trussed up at the butchers or like a lady of the night ahs now turned into a lingerie line to suit every woman....hurrah for lumps and bumps!!

Jackie O...

Firstly before I say anything let me please apologise for the quality of the pictures in todays blog...my camera is broken and I seem to find it more important to spend my money on vintage clothing than new electronic equipment so I am using the camera on my blackberry.

This weekend was spent in a whirlwind of wine, food and sunshine....perfect.

On Saturday I woke the boy early (he was hungover and not pleased) as I had an urge to go and find some lovely new vintage pieces for the shop. After a good ten minute of persuading (including the offer of lunch in a pub) he got out of bed and ready in record time and off we went.

I love shopping for vintage and London's East End is possibly one of the best places to go. The Truman Brewery has a new AMAZING vintage market on Saturdays and the quality was fab.

I ended up buying three new dresses (as always I want to keep them all) and here is the first...

...it is a cream woollen high neck shift dress and it is PERFECT.

It really reminds me of Jackie Onassis and would be perfect for a wedding with some black courts, black clutch bag and black pillbox hat.

It is perfect for you taller ladies (damn you and your long legs) as it looks best just sat on the knee.

It is a size 10 - 12 and is £35....so if you are interested either tweet me or email lucy@hummingbirdvintage.

Tomorrow I will be showing off a gorgeous mauve maxi dress with off the shoulder ruffle so stay tuned..!!

Photoshoot Fabulousness....

Yesterday was the first official photoshoot for the Hummingbird Boudoir/Victory Vixens lingerie range...how exciting!!

I put the call out for some photoshoot assistance about two weeks ago and some amazing people came to my rescue....firstly the lovely Luna De-Lovely offered to model for me (Luna is a fab Burlesque performer who is a dead ringer for Paloma Faith), then the fab Tigz Rice offered to take the pictures (Tigz is an amazing burlesque photographer) and then to top it all off Kelly aka Miss Honey Bare brought her skills as a make-up and hair stylist to the party....totally great girls!!

The day started off badly when I hopped on the tube to fine it absolutely packed with screaming kids going to see the dinosaurs/Madam Tussaud's/Tower of London etc.....the little 'angels' kept getting various body parts/items of clothing caught in the doors leading to a delay of about thirty minutes.

By the time I got off the tube I was furious especially when I found out I had to wait another thirty minutes for a train....I did however spend the time wisely by purchasing some wine in order to help the photoshoot along. .!!

I finally got to St Mary Cray (random name I know) at about 12pm...VERY LATE....and I then had to try and find my way to the studio. Now I have lived in London for just over 18 months and I still can't find my way around my local area so trying to find my way to the studio was a nightmare. I eventually admitted defeat and asked a friendly looking man for directions.....he was in the middle of explaining when his WAG like wife pulled up in her soft top car and demanded to know what I was doing talking to her husband....trying to look as innocent as possible I explained that I was merely asking for directions and not trying to flirt with him (husband was balding and slightly over weight) in anyway. She obviously did not believe me so demanded that I get in the car so she could give me a lift in an effort to get me away from her hubby. After alot of protesting I finally got into the car where we sat in stony silence until she finally asked...."Well what are you even doing here anyway?" and I explained that I created lingerie for women going through cancer and today was our photoshoot whilst the voice in my head was shouting "I HOPE YOU FEEL REALLY BAD NOW LADY"....childish I know.

So after a few more minutes of silence we arrived at the studio and this is where the day starts getting better. Luna looked amazing in the lingerie (to be honest she would look good in a sack), the make-up and hair were fabulous (I am now a convert to heated rollers after a tutorial) and just wait until you see the photos...!!

Totally fab day top off by a lovely meal with the boy...which led to drinks after and dancing to a band....which led to being taught martial arts in the street by a man we met at the bar...which led to Burger King....all of which has led to a very sore head and my body hating me for filling it with rubbish...!!

Who doesn't love free stuff...

So...as those of you lovely people who read my blog will know I am involved in the newest (and we hope best) upcoming resource for women of all ages going through all types of cancer known as Victory Vixens.

To be honest it is a bloody great cause and I am very proud to be involved and I am also hoping it will help me get to heaven even after all the naughty things I have done whilst drunk!!

So to help this lovely cause I am giving away a gorgeous vintage dress from my boutique and a set of handmade underwear.

The winner will receive a dress of their choice (any price) and we have some fab stuff in at the moment and are getting a ton more this weekend AND a set of our handmade underwear (you get to choose the colours and style)...!!

Here is a sample of our lovely vintage wares....

In order to get this fab prize all you have to do is this....

1. Follow @VictoryVixenss on twitter
2. RT I am supporting @VictoryVixenss

How simple is that...!!

Winners will be announced in two weeks and will receive there prize wrapped up in gorgeous tissue paper and ribbons and there will be a few extra treats thrown in too.

So what are you waiting for....a free vintage dress and some handmade underwear all for a good cause...what could be nicer...??

Vintage Swish...

ONE MONTH TIL VINTAGE SWISH.....!!

As you can tell I am VERY excited indeed.

For those of you that haven't heard here are the details....

Date: May 8th

Venue: Bar Music Hall, London, EC2A

Time: 4.30pm - 11pm

It is a fab new vintage event to raise money for Coppa Feel and Macmillan Cancer

When you arrive you can expect this like this...

Vintage pop-up boutiques, retro hair and make-up, alcoholic afternoon tea, burlesque entertainment and the all important swish....swishing is basically clothes swapping...bring all your old clothes to the event and get shiny new ones...!!

As well as organising we will also be selling some of our lovely vintage at knockdown prices all for charity....

And our wedding dress range will also be available...

So if you fancy a girls afternoon out all for a good cause please pop down.

If you would like to trade at the event there are no stall fees or if you would just like to help us out please email lucy@hummingbirdvintage.co.uk.

I've got the key...I've got the secret...

This weekend I abused my body...not physically through some form of exercise (which is what I should have been doing) but by drinking my body weight in wine, gin, tequila and many other very wrong drinks indeed...yuck.

I was feeling particularly sorry for myself yesterday morning when I stumbled upon something...well...actually in reality I opened a cupboard that I had crammed way too much into and it fell out and hit me on the head....a sign surely...?

The item was a book called The Secret. The Secret is basically a self help book (something I thought I would never read...but desperate hungover times call for desperate measures) which Mother Hummingbird bought for me at Christmas and I had not had a chance (or really wanted to) read yet.

The basic idea is that if you think good thoughts good things will happen to you and if you think bad ones then bad ones will happen.

Although it doesn't seem very likely I have decided to only think positive thoughts from now on in a hope that it will help me get through the masses of work I have to get through at the moment....all for a good cause though!

I will let you know if all this positive thinking works....if it does I will be writing to you from my yacht in the Caribbean whilst drinking cocktails and eating chocolate....!!