Land Girl Chic

I'm currently snowbound and freezing in my little wooden house, because I've run out of heating oil.  This has become a yearly event for me.  Every year I think 'oh, I'm low on oil, I must order some more', and then I forget about it... and then it snows... and then my heating goes off...and then the oil supplier can't get to me for over a week.

This does actually bear a striking resemblance to my home, though mine is a bit draftier...

However, in the true spirit of 'make-do', I've simply piled on layers of cashmere and shoved a cat down each trouser leg, and I'm toasty warm again (if a little scratched from the cats).  I've got to thinking a bit about how I'm going to 'make do' over the next 12 months, which lead to me thinking about my garden, which led to thinking about Land Girls, which lead on to thinking about Dungarees, natch.

You already know about the Land Girls, so I'm not going to re-hash this over and over again.  Suffice it to say that I'm totally on board with their spirit.  It's time to stop complaining about the rising price of food and get out there and grow something.  Of course, if you can do it looking fabulous then more's the better.  I've been having a little lookie on the interweb to see what's on offer and here's a few ideas:



Cord Dungarees by Freddies of Pinewood, £55




Cotton drill reproduction landgirl dungarees by Apple Tree Lane, £49




Land Army Dungarees by Tara Starlet, £68

I'm a bit in love with all of the dunga's I've shown here.  Despite the fact that whenever I mention the word 'dungarees', my husband looks at me as if I've gone mad.  "Just look how pretty they are!", I cry.  He appears not to share my enthusiasm & still glowers.  But I don't care.  I envision myself digging away in my plot looking totally marvellous.

I have to say that, although the Tara Starlet dungarees are my absolute favourite, I can hardly see myself actually gardening in them.  They are far too nice to cover in mud.  Probably a bit too tight on the old bottom to make bending over practical too.  The Freddies of Pinewood ones look pretty hardwearing, and the Apple Tree Lane ones probably the most practical, and the most historically accurate (and the cheapest too).

As I take another look at the original Land Girls, I realise that what they were wearing probably didn't feature very highly in their minds as they dug.  Most of them are wearing mens trousers that are too big for them and their oldest wooly jumper.  So long as it was practical, kept them warm and meant they could grow potatoes, they probably didn't care.

I guess the real spirit of the Womens Land Army lies not so much in what one wears, but what one does.  I hope to make 2012 a 'Land Army' success, as I venture forth and conquer my veg patch.  And nevermind what I wear whilst doing it.

But maybe I'll still save up for those dungaree's anyway.....just to help me get in the mood!

Dirndlfest 2011

Firstly, profuse apologies for the lack of posts lately.  To my great surprise, I have developed a consuming social life over the last month, which left me incapable of blogging.

Over the last year, I have developed a lovely network of online friends of the Vintage persuasion.  I have read their blogs, implemented their haircare tips, purchased their frocks, and joined swap shops with them.  But I had never actually met any of them - until last week!

Miss Matilda from Able Grable (left) arranged our wonderful get-together

The very lovely Miss Matilda from Able Grable announced on twitter that she was visiting London, and suggested a meet up, to be held at Katzenjammers restaurant, and to be German themed.  Since it was several weeks til the event, and as I was full of bravado, I decided (and tweeted), that of course I would be attending. With the aid of my wonderful German-speaking Papa,I bought myself a lovely trachtenkleider dress from ebay Deutschland (from this store).  With actual money spent on an outfit I was therefore fully committed to attending Miss M's Bierfest.

Come the day (last Thursday), I began to have a minor breakdown.  What was I thinking?  I wasn't Vintage enough for these people!  One look at me and they would immediately know I was a fraud!  My nails weren't long enough, the varnish was the wrong colour, and my hair wouldn't work properly.   Additionally, I didn't know anything about dating garments by the type of zip they had. I went out and panic-bought new foundation in the hope that it would magically transform me into 'beautiful and fascinating vintage gal'.

My saving grace was that my wonderful husband was coming with me.  He is fantastically funny, people love him, and he had agreed to wear Lederhosen.  I decided I could just hang onto his arm and smile mysteriously while people admired his knees if I couldn't find anything fascinating to say.

Phwoar! Check out those knees, Ladies!

But....what a FANTASTIC time I had!  It was so lovely to meet up with people I had only known on-line. As well as Miss Matilda, I met Landgirl 1980 , Margaret from Penny Dreadful Vintage , Lena from Style High Club, Colin from Vintage Style Surgery,  Shona from Heyday! Clothing, Liz (@hokulele) Gemma aka. Retrochick, and more!  Everyone was so friendly, and I've definately made some new friends.  I can't wait to meet up with them again.



The beautiful Charly - see her blog, Landgirl 1980 here



I am in love with my outfit here!  Check out those puffy sleeves!  Swoon!





If you're new, or newish, to vintage style, and are nervous about meeting up with the like-minded, I say to you - don't be.  To find an event, take note of the events your online friends are attending.  If you don't feel ready to go to a private social function & make conversation, there are many vintage styled events that you can wonder round without having to risk interacting forceably & directly with others!  Goodwood Revivial is the obvious but by no means the only one.  Then maybe progress to more intimate function - I'm currently thinking about attending the Ric Rac Club held bi-monthly by The Vintage Mafia.  Or just take the plunge like I did and go to a private social function  - if they've invited you, chances are they do actually want you there!  Take a friend or partner if you are nervous, dress up to the nines, smile, realise we all have to start somewhere, and go for it! 

 

I am SO wearing this outfit again!