Swell Vintage

Give us a curl

2012-01-23T10:34:00.004Z

When it comes to hair, my favourite decade has to be the 1940s. With perfectly primped curls and soft, flowing locks, glamorous starlets such as Veronica Lake and Rita Hayworth set the standard with a timeless style that is still seen on the red carpet today.

Veronica and Rita - together in perfect hair-mony...see what I did there?

As much as I love the look, I have one slight problem - I am rubbish with hair! Fortunately, the good people at John Frieda have launched a new YouTube channel that can help. Their series of 'Style on Demand' videos offer brilliant step-by-step guides to help you achieve the looks you've always dreamed of. Hosted by top celebrity stylists, John Frieda have video guides to show you the best ways to achieve classic hairstyles, including videos on creating a 1950s up-do, a French pleat and even how to use rollers.

I have been particularly inspired by this one that shows you how to get retro curls - something I have always struggled with in the past, especially when using modern styling tools. I'll definitely be giving this one a go for my next night out!

So what do you think? What are you favourite vintage hairstyles? Have you tried any of the tips in these videos yourself? I'd love to know!

Thanks for reading, and if you have a spare moment please vote for me in the Company Magazine Style Blogger awards in the "Best 'We Love Vintage' Blog" category - I need all of the help I can get!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

In good Company

2012-01-13T11:09:00.005Z

Hello my lovely friends,

I know we're already 13 days in, but I just want to say Happy New Year! 2012, eh? I have no doubt this year will speed by just as fast as the last one. I guess time flies when you're having fun!

If you follow Swell Vintage on Facebook or Twitter, you may have already seen my exciting news. This very blog that you are reading right now has been nominated for two Company Style Blogger awards! Pretty crazy, huh? I'm in great company too! So many of my lovely friends have also been nominated, and their blogs are all equally amazing. I'm going to have to vote multiple times as there's no way I can pick between them!

I've been nominated in two categories - the "Best 'We Love Vintage' Blog" and "Overall Winner: The Blog You Love The Most". As flattering as this is, I am fairly certain I will not win. I'm not just saying that to sound humble, or to try and get sympathy. That is not how I roll. If you look in my categories, the competition is stiffer than stiff, and includes a number of blogs with far bigger readerships than mine. However, if you like what you read and fancy making my day, I'd be extremely grateful if you'd vote for me (I'm swellvintage.blogspot.com). If you vote and enter your email address, you could also be in with a chance of winning £250 in New Look vouchers, so it would be mutually beneficial. Just saying. Not that you're the kind of person that takes bribes...I know you're better than that. But every little helps, right?

In case you haven't picked up on my subtle linking, you can vote for me here.

I'm going to stop sounding desperate now. Thank you for reading and (hopefully) for voting. You are my whole world.

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Welcome and win!

2011-12-12T16:57:00.002Z

Hello friends!

Guess what? I've only gone and started a beauty vlog! It's (cleverly) called You Look Swell! See what I did there?

On my first video I'm giving you the chance to win some amazing Barefoot Botanicals products! Just hop on over to my YouTube channel to find out how.

I'll be back with an actual proper blog post soon!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Deck the Dials

2011-12-07T21:17:00.005Z

Oh my goodness - it's only 17 days till Christmas! Are you feeling festive yet? I know I am!

Last week I went along to the Christmas shopping event I told you about in my last post. When I arrived at the meeting point (the very swanky Dial Bar at the Mercer Street Hotel), I was very pleased to find the lovely Gemma of Retro Chick and Fritha of Fish Tank Fashion there already. I've know Gemma and Fritha for a long time, so I knew it was going to be a good night! Once we'd enjoyed some delicious festive beverages and snacks, we were ready to go out and explore what the fine retails of Seven Dials and St Martin's Court had on offer.

My favourite retailer of the night was definitely Neal's Yard. Not only were they embracing the Christmas spirit, but they were also celebrating their 30th birthday! And they look pretty damn good for their age too - must be down to all of the natural goodness in their products.

I've always been a fan of Neal's Yard (I'm a big fan of their Organic Wild Rose Beauty Balm). Their products are amazing and smell absolutely delicious. Not only that, but the people who work there are ever so nice! They were handing out drinks and canapes to all of their customers, and were also giving complimentary massages. I had a back and head massage and it was so relaxing! I've since found out that it was one of the lovely Rima of Calm and Clear that worked her magic on me - thanks Rima!

I'd like to thank the lovely ladies at Threepipe for spoiling us, and the brilliant folks over at Neal's Yard. I had a great night, and I look forward to Christmas shopping at Seven Dials again next year!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Christmas Garden, more like!

2011-11-28T20:46:00.002Z

What's that I see over there in the near distance?

It's red and green, and it's getting closer and closer...

Oh my goodness - IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Is it just me, or do I look really good with a beard?!

That's right, people. December is soon upon us, and with it comes my favourite present-giving, binge-eating holiday. If the rest of 2011 is anything to go by, time is going to fly by like a partridge on its way to a pear tree, so it helps to be prepared.

If you haven't starting buying presents yet and you live in the London area (or the surrounding south - I don't mean to exclude you), then have no fear! The festive folks over at Covent Garden’s Seven Dials and St Martin’s Courtyard are holding a special evening shopping event on 1st December were you can get a recession-friendly 20% off in their fancy stores, including their vintage boutiques. Not only that, but they also have a whole Santa's sack load of other stuff going on in their stores, including DJs, live music, makeovers, gifts with purchase, complimentary food and drinks and much much more! Christmas is the season of excess after all...

And as if that weren't enough, I'm going to be there too! I'll be wandering around drinking in some Christmas cheer and taking lots of snaps, so if you see me you must come and say ho ho ho...or just hello. Whichever you prefer.

If you're interested in swinging by and indulging yourself with some discount action, all you need to do is download a voucher from www.sevendials.co.uk to make sure you get that ever so helpful 20% off. And hopefully I'll see you there!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

F'ing good!

2011-11-16T21:22:00.004Z

Yesterday my friend Kyrie and I went to the launch for Florence and Fred's (that's F&F to you and I) collection for Spring/Summer 2012 at Clothing at Tesco.

Those lovely folks at Tesco certainly know how to throw a party! There were pretty things to look out, tasty foods to eat and - what always turns out to be a blogger favourite - a photobooth!

Kyrie and I posing it up.

I must confess, although I've only ever heard great things about F&F, this was the first time I'd had a good look at their pieces close up and they didn't disappoint. Not only was the quality excellent, but it's all very reasonably priced - what more could you ask for?!

There's a good mix of styles on offer too, ranging from fun neon brights to more demure elegant tweeds and lace. There was also an impressive array of Christmas costumes available from a bargainous £6 - definitely worth investing in for the holiday season!

We were also asked to select our favourite pieces from the collection. There were so many items and styles to choose from, but after long and careful deliberation we managed to narrow it down to one each.

Kyrie opted for this sexy leopard print number, which could work for a day at the beach or a night out on the town.

I chose this pretty little lace number. I'd wear it with black tights, black heels and some classic pearls.

So if you fancy treating yourself to a new outfit and don't want to break the bank, I highly recommend F&F at Clothing at Tesco. You'll be very pleasantly surprised!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Partying partying yeah!

2011-11-09T13:18:00.004Z

One of the few things I miss about working in an office is attending an annual Christmas party. While you hard-working folk are all out getting dolled up for a night of canapes and a free bar, I will most likely be sat indoors, drinking tea and watching Poirot...

There's no hope for me, but there is something you can do to make your holiday party season even more special this year - go vintage! There are so many amazing vintage dresses out there, all dreaming of going to a good home and being worn out to your special occasion. Not only will it make you feel like a princess of Grace Kelly proportions, but there is no way on earth you could possible end up wearing the same thing as someone else!

Finding good quality vintage isn't always easy but - like most things in life - if you put in the time, you will be rewarded. Rewarded with a beautiful vintage dress that will last you a lifetime.

To help inspire you to go vintage this year, here are my top five favourite pieces that are available to buy online right now:

1950s Black Vintage Prom Dress, £200 at www.natashabailie.com

I believe the word you're looking for is "stunning"! Team this beautiful dress with some classic pearls, and you will be the belle of the ball.

1950s Coral Vintage Prom Dress by Lorrie Deb, £150 from www.lovemissdaisy.com

This dress is so pretty and elegant while also being incredibly flattering. Dita would be proud.

1980s Red Matte Sequined Wiggle Dress, £120 from www.rokit.co.uk

'Tis the season to be sparkly! Sequins are extremely popular at the moment, and they don't come much better than they did in the 80s.

1960s Black Lace Dress, $88/£56.21 from Dear Golden on Etsy

Sexy, demure and chic - black lace is the perfect way to play the femme fatale this Christmas.

1970s Red Halterneck Maxi Dress with Tassels, £55 from www.candysays.co.uk

How sexy is this dress?! Even Jessica Rabbit would be jealous! Add some jewels and you're ready to go.

So what do you think? I hope this has helped inspire you to consider vintage for this holiday season. But remember - vintage is for life, not just for Christmas.

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Review: New African Fashion by Helen Jennings

2011-10-31T12:30:00.006Z

I have something I need to confess...here goes:

My name is Frankie, and I love African fashion.

I had always had a strong appreciation for it (who doesn't love a strong print and lots of colour?!), and ever since attending Africa Fashion Week a little while ago, my love has blossomed into full-blown obsession. I've even found myself on numerous occasions staring longingly at the local African clothing shops in Dalston, wondering whether or not I could actually pull off a traditional head wrap (I've decided to ease myself into the look with a Charlotte Taylor penguin scarf for now...). I am part-Egyptian after all! So naturally when I was asked to review "New African Fashion", a new book by Helen Jennings, I was overly keen to accept.

According the book blurb, "From Africa-inspired to African-made, this guide is the first to celebrate a new wave of fashion designers who are appearing on the global stage." It's no secret that Africa has been influencing designers for many years, and more recently big names such as Michael Kors, Burberry and Donna Karen have shown clear Africa-inspired collections.

The book starts by talking about the origins of African fashion before leading into current African/Africa-inspired designers, covering both womenswear and menswear. The book features an incredible number of up and comers who are undoubtedly ones to watch. My favourites include Duro Olowu, Mimi Plange and Black Coffee. I was also very happy to see Bunmi Koko featured, as I've been a big fan of her designs for a while now.

As well as featuring African design talent, the book also covers some of Africa's best-known and emerging models, both male and female. It's a given that the legendary Alex Wek would be included, but it was also nice to see models such as Ataui Deng and Ajak Deng (no relation, but very good friends apparently!) in there too.

Overall, I was really impressed with this book. It offers a comprehensive look at the wide ranging talent that Africa has to offer, features interesting interviews and beautiful vibrant photography - what more could you ask for from fashion book?! And, as this blurb from the book says...

The more we all educate ourselves about Africa and embrace what it has to offer, the more fashion can continue to develop and innovate. Retailing at £19.99, I would highly recommend this book for any real fashion lovers or enthusiasts, especially those who are looking to broaden their own person style. You can order your copy from Amazon and many other book retailers right now.

Happy reading!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

Beauty showcase event for Holland and Barrett

2011-10-27T15:19:00.002+01:00

Last week I attended the launch of some new beauty products for Holland and Barrett that will be hitting stores in November. I'm not really a beauty blogger, but I am always on the hunt for new and innovative ways to improve my skin. After hearing a bit about Manuka Doctor and their revolutionary apitherapy products, I was very intrigued and keen to find out more.

If you're not already in the know, the clever minds behind Manuka Doctor have discovered that the mix of deliciously decadent manuka honey and bee venom (that's right - the venom of bees) make for powerful and effective skin care. Already dubbed "nature's alternative to botox", Purified Bee Venom is renowned for its anti-bacterial, anti-wrinkle and regenerating benefits which can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles or scars. Sound too good to be true? I had to find out for myself.

I've been using the Manuka Doctor Facial Moisturising Lotion (£16.99) for a few days now, and I must say I am genuinely impressed. I have already noticed an improvement to my skin - blemishes were quickly reduced, and overall my face is softer, looks clearer and feels more toned. My hairdresser even told me I was looking younger - either this stuff is great or he was angling for a bigger tip...either way, I am sold on this product. The whole range is very affordable too, with prices ranging from £3.49 to £49.99. If you're stuck for stocking-fillers for Christmas, this could be a great way to go.

I'm not going to lie to you - I have no idea how this product is produced, and that is the only thing that's bothering me slightly. I sincerely hope there is a ethical method for extracting the bee venom. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I assume there has to be a way of extracting the venom without killing the bees as they are close to becoming endangered...right? If you happen to know anymore about this, please get in touch and fill me in!

Assuming their products are bee-friendly, I would definitely remcommend and continue to use them myself. If you'd like to try the products for yourself, head over to your local Holland and Barrett store in November and let me know what you think!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Pearl Lowe for DP London

2011-10-18T22:43:00.002+01:00

Last week I attended the launch event for the multi-talented Pearl Lowe's new limited edition candle collection for DP London, held at the ultra-fancy Mayfair Hotel.

Upon entering the Schiaparelli Suite, I was instantly struck by how incredible the room smelled - always a good sign at a candle launch - and after hearing the ingredients list I can understand why! The three candles in Pearl's collection feature a delicious mix of bergamot, orange peel, cedar wood, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla, all of which help to create a beautifully relaxing and warming atmosphere. Not only are the candles gorgeous, they're also made from 100% natural wax and are presented in re-useable packing in the form of a bespoke, handmade Japanese porcelain container.

The Pearl Lowe for DP London Candle Trio is available for the bargain price of £30, and can be purchased from Selfridges and ASOS.com. Having had a good sniff first-hand, I can promise you that they'd make a perfect Christmas present for someone you really, really like, or even as a little treat for yourself. You won't be disappointed.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Fashion foresight with Stylesight

2011-10-07T13:55:00.005+01:00

A little while ago I attended the International Jewellery London (IJL) event with my good friend Nik Thakkar to hear a talk on fashion forecasting. For those of you not in the know (I must confess I knew very little before attending), fashion forecasting is the process by which future trends are predicted so that the fashion houses we all know and love can anticipate the sorts of looks and styles that we consumers will want to buy in the future.

If you're anything like me, you're probably wondering how the hell they do this. How can someone predict what will be possible in the future?! Using witchcraft involving Mystic Meg and her crystal ball, perhaps? Well, it turns out there's a much easier and less satanic way of doing this.

Stylesight is a very clever online service that does all of the hardwork for you. They are constantly researching trends and styles in order to provide concise forecasting and reporting relevant to industry timelines seasons ahead of time. In their own words, "Color Premiere, Megatrends, and Design Developments forecast the upcoming seasons' colour, trend direction, materials, and shapes and silhouettes. Our trend boards provide thorough and insightful analysis of designer collections for each major season, deciphering the core messages by categories such as color, theme and a spectrum of key items from a conglomerate of images."

As a jewellery designer and fashion stylist, this is an incredibly useful tool for me. I found the Stylesight talk at IJL absolutely fascinating, and within 10 minutes of listening I was full briefed on future jewellery trends. In fact, here's a sneaky peak just for you!

(Click on the images to see them nice and big)

If you are serious about working in any kind of fashion design capacity and want to stay ahead of the game, I highly recommend Stylesight. To quote the good folks themselves, they use "state of the art technology is easy to use and makes the tedious work of fashion research simple, immediate and enjoyable". And isn't that what we all want in life - work made fun and easy?!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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We're number 8!

2011-09-25T11:28:00.002+01:00

I have just found out that this very blog that you are reading at this very second is one of the "Top 10 UK Vintage Clothing Blogs"! Number 8, to be exact.

And I'm in great company too! Check out the full list:

1. Vintage Vixen

2. clothes, cameras, & coffee

3. i heart vintage

4. Retro Chick

5. Penny Dreadful Vintage

6. MyStyle-Fashion, Vintage and Me..........

7. My Vintage

8. SWELL VINTAGE (THAT'S ME!)

9. natasha Bailie The Blog!

10. Yesterday Girl

It goes without saying that I am rather chuffed! Thank you, lovely people of Cision - you have made my Sunday!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Jasper Garvida SS12

2011-09-20T19:45:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I attended the Jasper Garvida show to see his collection for Spring/Summer 2012. I'm afraid my camera was behaving very badly, so instead of taking photos I filmed the finale. Check it out.

Needless to say, I don't think I'll be taking up a career as a camera man any time soon...

I have been a fan of Jasper's for a long time now, and while I absolutely loved some of the pieces, there were elements of the collection that didn't really work for me personally. I have fallen in love with his use of metallics and heavy metal embellishment, as well as his decision to feature exposed zips alongside clean cuts and simple lines. My favourite pieces? See below.

(This jacket was the stand out piece for me - I think I dribbled when I saw it!)

All photos courtesy of Christopher Dadey

So what do you think of video and the pieces I have selected? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Corrie Nielsen

2011-09-16T15:01:00.004+01:00

Unless you've been in an internet-free sound-proof cave with tinted windows for the last week or so, you will be fully aware that London Fashion Week kicked off today. So far it's been pretty damn great! Despite getting up far earlier than my usual freelance lifestyle calls for, I have met some lovely people and see some fantastic collections by some incredibly talented designers. My favourite so far? Corrie Nielsen.

Corrie Nielsen's collection was titled, "Arbiter Elegantiarum" (which means "Judge of Tastes") and it was, to put it simply, quite stunning. You can definitely see why Galliano chose her as the winner of Fashion Fringe 2010 - her designs are just so intricate and detailed. Her mix of tailoring, draping and powerful ruffles created a strong silhouette with big shoulders, bustles and exaggerated hips, which were softened by a feminine Japanese influence. The colour palette was calm and elegant. The models walked in a slow, Geisha-like fashion and the show had a wonderfully calming atmosphere despite the usual chaos that Fashion Week brings. It was beautiful.

Please excuse my poor, poor photography. My camera and I are not the best of friends at the moment...

So what do you think? Do you like the collection?

I'd like to say a big thank you to the fantastic folks over at Forward PR for putting on one hell of a show! It was a honour and a pleasure to witness.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Rokit AW11

2011-09-02T10:14:00.004+01:00

It's September, folks. That's right - September. And we all know what that means!

It means our fleeting excuse for a summer is over, and it's now time for my personal favourite season. I love Autumn/Winter because for me it means heavy knits, luxury fabrics and I don't feel like a total idiot for wearing my thick black tights all the time.

But the good news is the cold weather doesn't mean you have to dress like a frump. The catwalks for this season have shown us that by mixing textures, bedazzling ourselves and adding chic mixed layers, you can still look every inch the lady when it's cold outside. The lovely folks over at Rokit vintage have released there lookbook for AW11, and it's ever so sexy. Here are some of my favourite looks.

Styling by Scarlet Shillingford-Blay
Photography by Cat Lane
All images courtesy of Rokit

There's also a super cute video showing behind the scenes of the shoot - see models moving around below!

You can view the full-sized video here.

To browse all of there lovely vintage goodies, head over to www.rokit.co.uk.

What snug-as-a-bug gems will you be rocking this season? I want to see!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Celebrate good times, COME ON!

2011-08-22T22:18:00.003+01:00

Life can (and should) be full of things to celebrate. Whether it's something big, like passing an exam, or something small, like making a particularly excellent cup of tea, there's always an excuse to celebrate and have a little party - especially if it means you can win prizes!

To celebrate their "Aussie-Versary", the very generous and lovely folks over at Aussie are giving seven Swell readers the chance to win a super-cool summer party pack, as shown in the photo above. You will even be able to choose from any of the Aussie-versary Limited Edition Ranges to go in your pack - pretty cool, huh? Not only that, but the winners will also have the opportunity to take part in a challenge, with the chance of one person winning 10 tickets for them and their friends to the HUGE Aussie Summer party in October! Best competition ever? Probably!

To enter, all you have to do is tell me if you have anything to celebrate. It can be anything at all, and I do mean ANYTHING - the more creative and interesting the better. Just leave your answer in the comment box. It's that easy! The only catch is that the competition ends at midnight on Wednesday 22nd August, so you need to get your answers in quickly.

Need a little inspiration for your answer? Here's what I have to celebrate:

This is Barney, my beautiful little baby nephew. He's just over two months old, and he's insanely adorable! He's always smiling and happy, and I am so proud to be his Auntie Frankie. So I would like to celebrate that!

I can't wait to hear all about your celebrations!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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See Africa Differently

2011-08-07T20:58:00.008+01:00

Yesterday I attended Africa Fashion Week London with a number of other bloggers as part of the See Africa Differently campaign. See Africa Differently is an initiative from Comic Relief that aims to re-educate people about Africa, and to celebrate the many positive parts of African culture that are often forgotten.

I really enjoyed the day, and it was very inspiring to see how many of the designers mixed classic elements of African fashion, such as bold prints and statement accessories, to create strong modern looks. I could easily fill this whole post with the many hundreds of pictures I took, but instead I will show you my personal favourites.

I was really taken by these pieces by luxury label Ozora. With a mix of vibrant colours and fusion of textures, their dresses have a definite high-end feel while also being highly wearable. Can't you just see Beyonce rocking that last one?

Colourful, eclectic and ultimately refreshing, Adopted Culture really packs a punch in the statement style stakes. Created by Nana Afua Antwi, who also happens to be the current Top Model of Colour UK, the collection screamed youth and fun. I am now obsessed with these traditional African Head Wraps - aren't they stunning?

Adaora's collection brought a sense of regality to the catwalk, with strong structuring and rich indulgent colours. I particularly loved the detail and luxurious feel of the full-length dress coat - very Elizabethan and elegant.

I would like to say a BIG thank you to the lovely people at 1000heads and Comic Relief for a truly inspiring and enjoyable day. If you'd like to find out more about the See Africa Differently campaign, head over to the website and get involved! They will also be announcing an exciting competition tomorrow where you can win two amazing items from the ASOS Africa range, as seen on the likes of Michelle Obama. Good luck!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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What the world needs now...

2011-07-24T10:45:00.002+01:00

Unless you've been living in a cave with no access to news from the outside world for the last couple of days, you'll have heard about the recent tragedies that have taken place - the shootings in Norway, China's bullet train crash and, of course, Amy Winehouse.

If these last two days have taught us anything, it's just how very precious life is. Although I have been deeply saddened by all of these occurences, I've decided to take today to celebrate life and to tell the people that I love just how much I care about them. And that includes you, my dear reader.

Since I started this blog nearly three years ago , I have met so many new people and have made some great friends. Not just in the "online" sense either - I'm talking about real friends that I care deeply for, and that I am now very close to. Then Twitter came along, and it's allowed a lonely freelancer like me to converse with more wonderful people on a daily basis.

Just some of the great blogger friends I have made...I am a very lucky girl.

In short, I am extremely grateful for you, internet. And I love you. These last few days have reminded me of a quote from 'V for Vendetta'. Yes, I am a massive geek, but the sentiment is true:

I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place. I hope that the worlds turns, and that things get better. But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that, even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you.

So why not go and tell someone you love just how much you care about them right now? I promise you won't regret it.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Creating a spectacle

2011-07-18T13:52:00.004+01:00

A little while ago, I attended the launch party for London Retro, a super-chic new glasses range inspired by the eclectic trends of the coolest parts of London.

Not only are there a wide variety of ultra-cool, flattering frames to choose from, but they're also pretty reasonable too. And because you can order them through Glasses Direct, you're sure to get a bargain as they have some great deals such as buy one get one free - what more can you ask for?!

The lovely Lizzy of Scientist Chic and Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts

The equally lovely Gabby Young

The blogger gang! From left to right: Amy of Wolf Whistle, Katie of London Plinth, Gabby and Lizzy.

The whole night was great, especially the photobooth provided by the enthuisastic gents over at The Mighty Booth, who offer a bespoke unique photobooth experience. In fact, the booth was so much fun I went in twice!

Since attending the event, I have actually ordered myself two pairs of glasses in the 'Shoreditch' frame (I fit my local stereotype, it seems!) - one regular pair, as well as a pair of prescription sunglasses. I had originally planned to write about the event sooner including photos of me in my shiny new specs, but unfortunately they haven't arrived yet. Here's a picture of the 'Shoreditch' frame solo:

What do you think? I personally love me some tortoiseshell, and I think they will look brilliant as sunglasses.

To find out more about London Retro or to browse their lovely frames, visit www.londonretro.com.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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Feel closer

2011-07-05T09:37:00.003+01:00

Since the invention of the internet, there has been a lot of stigma and skepticism surrounding the medium. How many times have you heard a friend or work colleague rant about how impersonal the internet is, how it isolates people from the real world or even real people? As a blogger, I hear it all the time. Despite the fact that I have met a large number of people from the online world in the flesh, a few of my friends still giggle that I have "internet friends".

Whether you love the internet or resent its ever-expanding presence in our lives, the simple truth remains that it's not going anywhere. And that's not a bad thing. The internet is not something to be hated or feared - it's an accessible channel that brings people together. I'm not talking about online dating sites or chat rooms (although, let's face it, they do connect people in a creepy/sexy sort of way...), but more of what a powerful communication tool it can be to keep you close to your loved ones when you can't physically be with him. I can't tell you how grateful I am for the invention of Skype, which allows me to talk to my 81-year-old Nana in Spain or see my cousins all the way over in America for free. In fact, I personally believe that thanks to the internet, we're all closer together than ever before.

NIVEA, the clever people who have been providing the world with affordable skin care for a mind-blowing 100 years, also think that the way the internet keeps people close is pretty damn cool, and have launched a new campain to celebrate this called "A Million Moments of Closeness". NIVEA are inviting you to celebrate 21st century closeness by uploading photos of you sharing a cosy moment with a friend, colleague, sibling, partner, parent or relative over at their Facebook page - www.facebook.com/niveauk. They are also holding road shows across the UK where you and a friend can jump into a photobooth and have your picture instantly uploaded. However you choose to enter, you’re in with the chance to win prizes! Every day a picture of the day will be selected by psychologist, Professor Geoff Beattie, and the winner will receive one of 100 prizes worth £100. They are also encouraging people to wade in on the technology-closeness debate, so if you have a thought or two on the subject be sure to head over to their Facebook page to speak your mind.

If you need inspiration for your submission, here are some wonderfully cheesy stock images to get you in the zone...

This is a Sponsored Post, but I do hope you like it all the same.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

Rokit to a bargain

2011-06-26T21:15:00.002+01:00

Good news, everyone! On 5th July, Rokit Vintage, one of my favourite vintage havens, is having its summer sale on their wonderful website. As the flyer says, new bargains will be added every day, so you can snap up as many truly brilliant pieces of vintage loveliness as you like!

If you can't wait until then, head over to www.rokit.co.uk to start browsing right now.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Where there's a Will...

2011-06-08T22:27:00.005+01:00

Finding good quality high fashion vintage pieces can be tricky. It can take a lot of time and hunting, and let's face it - we're all very busy!

But fret not, my dear vintage-loving friends - help is at hand! Iconic British fashion haven Browns will be stocking an ever changing array of the finest vintage clothing and haute couture by vintage king WilliamVintage. Prices will range from £375 to £16,750, and will include incredible pieces by Balenciaga, Balmain, Cardin, Courreges, Ossie Clark, Desses, Dior, Lanvin, Madame Gres and many others. That may sound rather pricey, but these pieces are historical treasures that are definitely worth investing in.

You can browse part the stunning collection over at the Browns website, but I'd recommend heading to one of their shops to see a fuller array of pieces. You can also follow WilliamVintage on Twitter to read all about his glamorous vintage lifestyle.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Absolutely Fabulous

2011-06-04T21:03:00.006+01:00

The other night I was invited to attend a launch party by Fabulous magazine, a fashion-filled glossy that comes with the News of the World every Sunday. It was an extremely stylish affair, held on the 13th floor of the amazing News International Office - in case you haven't experienced it yourself, here's the sort of view you can expect...

Not too shabby, eh?

We were all thoroughly spoiled to say the least! RUSH were on hand to do hair and make up, New Look kindly provided pieces from the S/S10 collection for us to try on and a professional photographer was there to capture the fun.

Reena of Fashion Daydreams gets her hair 'did

Fiona of Save Our Shoes gets a quick trim

The reason for all of this? Rachel Richardson, the Editor of Fabulous, announced that Fabulous and Next Model Management are launching a nation-wide search for a hot new model!

Rachel Richardson of Fabulous

The winner of the competition will appear on the cover of the magazine and a global modelling contract with top international model agency Next Model Management - a pretty incredible prize, I think you'll agree! So if you or someone you know has got what it takes to grace the cover of Fabulous and live a model lifestyle, then log on to www.facebook.com/fabulous and upload your picture. Entries are then voted on by the public to reach a final shortlist of ten. The competition is open for entries until 2nd July and public voting closes at midnight on 4th July.

So what are you waiting for?! Head over to www.facebook.com/fabulous and get uploading!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Bailie Love

2011-05-31T23:08:00.003+01:00

If you've been a reader of le blog for a while, you will already be with the vintage goddess that is Natasha Bailie. We met one cloudy day back in February 2010, and have been in love ever since. I even had the privilege to buddy up with Natasha on Britain's Next Top Model Live in October to represent vintage geek chic style. We also share an unashamed love for Lauren Conrad. Don't judge us.

Natasha and I at Britain's Next Top Model Live

It turns out that Natasha is not only a brilliant friend and hilarious vlogger (you MUST subscribe to her YouTube channel - you won't regret it!), but she is also a very talented designer! After three years of dreaming and designing, Natasha has finally released her first ready-to-wear dress collection inspired by the classic 1950s prom dress. The dresses are limited editions, and the design comes in a variety of different floral prints so you've got plenty to choose from. Check them out!

"Ava"

"Callie"

"Eliza"

"Grace"

"Betty" - my personal favourite

All of the dresses are available in UK sizes 8-14 and international shipping is FREE! What more could you ask for?!

To browse the collection or to find out more about the lady herself, head over to NatashaBailie.com!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Always Coca Cola

2011-05-22T17:42:00.005+01:00

On Friday I attended an event at the Design Museum to celebrate the 125th anniversary of iconic drink brand Coca Cola. You may be thinking, "What on earth has Coke got to do with vintage or fashion", but let's face it - brand survived generations and has been enjoyed in iconic imagery by the likes of Naomi Campbell, John F. Kennedy and Bill Crosby - if that doesn't make it a fashion icon, I don't know what does!

The event itself was very interesting, and reminded us all of just how much of an impact Coca Cola has had on the world over the years. The Design Museum was filled with coke bottles, advertising imagery and even the man who is draws the curly logo! To celebrate their 125 long years of drinkie-goodness, Coca Cola have also released an ASSOULINE book cleverly titled, "Coca Cola", which is chock full of their advertising genius. There are two versions of the book - one standard version and another super-special hard-bound limited edition version with colour plates that comes in a linen clamshell box with a complimentary ASSOULINE canvas tote bag, which you can buy here.

I was also lucky enough to enjoy the event with my two good friends, Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Nik Thakkar of KARLISMYUNKLE. We had such a lovely time we even made a little video - check it out.

You can view it bigger over on my YouTube page.

I will be back with some actual jewellery related posts soon - promise!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Fashion a soul

2011-05-11T21:49:00.000+01:00

My dear friends,

Sorry for the short period of silence! Things have been rather busy on the styling side of things recently , which you can read all about over at http://frankiemurraystyling.blogspot.com.

And now for something completely different...

A little while ago I was contacted by the lovely people over at the IOU Project, and I was instantly captivated by what they are doing. Watch this short video to see what I mean:

Quite something, isn't it? A very wonderful idea that makes total sense. There is no reason why fashion can't be ethical, and why everyone involved shouldn't be rewarded for their hard work equally.

While moral fashion is all well and good, after watching this video I had one question on my mind - are the clothes actually nice? Well, you can see for yourself!

Pretty cute, don't you think? Not only that, but the site allows you to see "the story" behind each individual item, documenting how it came to be and how was involved in its creation. Not many shops can tell you that!

To find out more about the project or to browse their wonderful wares, head over to the IOU Project website right now and enjoy!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Something blue...

2011-04-28T13:36:00.002+01:00

Got the Royal Wedding fever? Got your something old, something new, something borrow but not your something blue? Then you should enter this SWELL competition!

I'm teamed up with Adorn London, the best website for all things jewellery-related, to give you the chance to win this one-of-a-kind Royal Wedding necklace. As with all of my pieces, this necklace is one-of-a-kind.

I found these striking vintage blue stones on one of my salvaging missions, and decided they would make a perfect centrepiece – not only is it a royal colour, but it could also be Kate’s ‘something blue’! To really make the colour pop and give the necklace an extra luxury feel, I added beautiful and perfectly formed freshwater pearls. Although I mainly used vintage parts, I wanted the necklace to have a modern feel – the asymmetric look is really on trend for this season, and I like how it gives a quirky feel to my designs. This necklace isn’t just right for a bride – it’s fit for a future Queen!

All you have to do to enter our competition is:

Follow Adorn London on Twitter (@AdornLondon) and send us a message saying: ‘Win a bespoke Royal Wedding inspired necklace by Swell Vintage’
OR Retweet the competition details to your followers to have a chance to win. The more you retweet, the more your name will be entered into the prize draw. Remember to use the title: ’Win a bespoke Royal Wedding inspired necklace by Swell Vintage’ so we know you have entered to win this particular piece.

Don't worry if you don't have a Twitter account - you can still enter the competition by heading over to the Adorn London page and leaving a comment telling us what jewellery you would wear to the Royal Wedding. It's easy peasy!
For more information on the competition, including terms and conditions, visit http://www.adorn-london.com/jewellery-blog/something-blue.

Good luck, everyone! I hope you win!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Lighter Self

2011-04-20T18:59:00.010+01:00

Welcome back, my dear friends!

I have two things I'd like to talk to you about today:

1. I now have a whole new website for my styling portfolio! If you fancy having a look at my work so far, head over to www.frankiemurray.com. I have also made a new blog dedicated to my styling-related activities - http://frankiemurraystyling.blogspot.com. I will be writing about all manner of things over there - behind-the-scenes accounts from photoshoots, designers I have worked with or am inspired by, organisations I admire and the events I have attended. If you like that sort of thing then please, head on over. Both sites are a work in progress, but I'd really appreciate your support and feedback.

Photographer: Darren Ruane

Styling: Frankie Murray
Model: 2face Gemini
Make up: Ezme Thomas
Hat: Cleo Pettitt and Claire Strickland, originally made for ‘Aladdin’ at Watford Palace Theatre
Necklace: Swell Vintage

2. Aussie, the lovely Australians who have the power to make your hair super gorgeous and lighter, have set me and the other Aussie Angels a challenge - to lighten our lives with Aussie by de-stressing and getting healthier just in time for summer. Now, when it comes to exercise, my main source normally comes from a walk to and from the bus stop, but Aussie have inspired me to really give this a go - but I will need some help! If you have any words of wisdom or inspiration, please share them with me. I need all of the help I can get! And, if you like, you can go on the Aussie Lusciously Lighter Self journey with us. They have put together a video of handy and (hopefully) easy to do exercises which you (and I) can try out at home or even at work. I'm going to try and do them at least evert other day, so why not join me?

Aussie's Lusciously Light Videos: Part 1 from 1000heads on Vimeo.

Until next time...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Rocking it, vintage-style

2011-04-11T13:26:00.004+01:00

Yesterday I attended the Rokit Vintage bloggers event at their warehouse in Seven Sisters, and you know what? It was bloody amazing!

I've always liked Rokit because they make vintage accessible for everyone, as it should be. Their prices are very reasonable, and I've always found their branches to be friendly and welcoming - not cold with hiked up prices like some vintage boutiques. They also embrace new emerging design talent with their Rokit Designer's Guild while still staying true to their proud sustainable ethos.

More than that, Rokit know how to have FUN with vintage! And fun was definitely had by at their event yesterday!

To say that the Rokit warehouse was like an Aladdin's cave of vintage is almost an understatement - it was more like a Haven of vintage! Boxes and sacks of vintage clothing and accessories surround the walls, stacked to the ceiling, while individual items hang from a network of rails spanning from wall to wall. They stock supply seems never ending, and makes me feel like much less of a hoarder!

We were treated to delicious afternoon tea, courtesy of the famous Vintage Patisserie. Everything was served on the most beautiful vintage china, and I have to say the scones with pink sugar were pretty damn incredible!

My chubby hand reaching for a cake...nails were done on the day by the incredible ladies at The Illustrated Nail - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

The best part of the day, in my opinion, was being allowed to try on ANY of their amazing vintage items. ANY of them. And as much as we wanted! I'm not sure Rokit knew what had hit them, but the afternoon bore a strong resemblance to a classic movie dress-up montage...but with a lot more laughing and jumping in the air.

Fiona of Save Our Shoes evoking some Kate Bush circa Wuthering Heights

Lucy of Snippets of Shiny Thoughts mixes her prints

Me wearing a floral number (that I know own) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams

Sabina from Access Fashion was on a roll with her dress up look!

Kit of Style Slicker looked adorable in floral prints

Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Sabrina of The Science of Style rocking the varisty look - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

Nik, PR genius and founder of KARLISMYUNKLE does Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (styled by Reena and I) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

Me turbaning it out (geddit?) - photo courtesy of Fashion Daydreams.

As if the millions of photos weren't enough, I also made a (very) short video. I originally started filming because Reena of Fashion Daydreams decided to put on rollerskates, and I saw the potential opportunity to make £200 by sending the footage of her falling on her arse into You've Been Framed, but unfortunately it was not to be...

The video can be seen bigger and better on my YouTube page.

I want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone at Rokit Vintage, in particular the lovely Imogen, for having us and letting us run riot in your amazing warehouse like kids in a vintage sweet shop. I also want to praise the efforts of PR legend and all-round handsome devil Nik Thakkar for organising a super-fun day.

Swell Vintage LOVES Rokit Vintage (oh look, we have the same surname!).

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Let me update you

2011-03-31T14:52:00.005+01:00

Today I finally added some new items to the Swell Vintage web shop. Here are some photos to wet your appetite:

Tassled - £50

Tick Tock - £80

The Purple One - £45

Under Lock and Key - £65

Amber bracelet - £35

Muddled bracelet - £35

So what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please let me know.

That's all for now! I will be back with a new video blog post soon. God help us all...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

On the cards

2011-03-15T20:35:00.012Z

Recently I styled a photoshoot for the very lovely and talented Zest of the Loganberry (aka Hannah Coates) and, quite frankly, it was awesome.

I have been a fan of Hannah's work for a while, as her photos have a wonderfully whimsical, romantic quality to them, so when I heard she wanted to do a Tarot card themed shoot, I was over the moon. Although I'm still fairly new to the whole styling game, I'd been wanting to work on something dramatic and creative for a very long time, so it goes without saying that I relished this opportunity. Plus I got to make stuff and use my glue gun! What more could I ask for?

The team was also incredible too, comprising of:

Model: Ellie Weston (Select)
Photographer: Hannah Coates
Make up: Ezme Thomas
Hair: Ritsu - Haruhide Ishizaki
Assistant: Indi Petrucci

Anyway - without further ado, here are the final shots:

'The Lovers'
Lingerie: Ayten Gasson
Shirt: Vintage
Necklace: Swell Vintage
Headband: Loulou Loves You

'The Hanging Man'

Rope hooded top: Made by me

Velvet bodysuit: Primark
Noose belt: Made by me

'Justice'

Dress: Alice Palmer (courtesy of the amazing Young British Designers)

'The Fool'
Dress: Vintage
Headwear: Her Curious Nature

'Death'
Lace dress: ASOS
Black slip: Vintage
Lace caplet: Vintage
Velvet cape: Haberdashery
Headwear: Her Curious Nature
Necklace: Swell Vintage
Alligator head: Ebay

So what do you think? Personally, I couldn't be happier with the photos. The whole team was very strong, and I think that is reflected in these images. I'd love to hear your thoughts though, so please - sock it to me! I've been working on other shoots and have lots more coming up, so I will have more pictures to show you soon.

I'd like to thank Hannah for getting me involved in the shoot, the whole team for being so incredible, Ayten Gasson for lending her beautiful lingerie, Sabrina of Her Curious Nature for making the stunning headwear just for us and Young British Designers for being kind enough to trust me with that unbelievable Alice Palmer dress!

Thanks for taking the time to read and look at my stuff! You know I love you, right?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Style AND comfort

2011-03-10T14:28:00.003Z

I don't usually blog much about interior things, but when my good friend Matthew Zorpas showed me these incredibly cool and fun cushion covers by new British company TwentySevenPalms I knew I had to share them with you!

'Springtime in Paris' print

Mexican 'Day of the Dead' print

'Frida Kahlo' print

Don't you just love the gorgeously quirky vintage-inspired prints? TwentySevenPalms, based in London, sell contemporary and unique cushion covers in all sorts of eye catching statement prints. They source their fabrics from different areas around the world, so you can add a real taste of the exotic to your home without having to splash out on an overpriced plane ticket! As if that weren't enough, their prices are insanely reasonable, ranging from only £10-£12 - so you don't even have to wait till pay day!

To browse their other striking designs, head on over to www.twentysevenpalms.com.

Many thanks,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Where have I been?

2011-02-28T23:00:00.003Z

Here, that's where!

Yes, that's right - for the last 17 days I have had a stall at the most recent Secret Cinema event!

Attending a Secret Cinema event is a pretty mind blowing experience. EVERYTHING is considered down to the tiniest detail, and everyone, from the runners to the dancers, is extremely dedicated. If you've never been to one of their events, I highly recommend it.

As I said in my little video, overall it was a LOT of fun. I don't have much market experience, so dealing with the general public was a little scary at first, but after a while I really started to enjoy it. I got to see some incredible dance displays, meet brilliant people and also make some money - what's not to like?!

I also got to hang out with a really brilliant bunch of talented people, which always makes work a lot more fun. My new friends Martin of The Corner Theatre (awesome t-shirts - check them out!) and illustration genius Alice Gabb of AliceGabb.com kept me sane night after night with their witty banter and encouraging words, and I just know that both of them are going to become even more successful very soon.

Here are some photos of the space (the incredible International Tobacco Docks in Wapping) and my stall:

So there we go! What do you think of my little video and stall? As ever, all feedback is welcomed and greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading, my lovely friends, and remember - tell EVERYONE!

Many thanks,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Love is in the air

2011-02-13T23:50:00.007Z

Happy Valentine's Day, my swell friends!

I took this photo in the summer of last year, and I'm so pleased to finally have a use for it.

I spotted this tiny piece of heart confetti in a fountain at Skinners Hall near Canon Street in London. I hope it makes you smile like I did when I saw it on that beautiful sunny day.

However you spend your Valentines Day, whether you're single or taken, I wish you all the love in the world. And yes, I am fully aware of how cheesy that sounded. Soz.

Much love,
Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Ain't there anyone here for love?

2011-02-03T20:29:00.007Z

(Any excuse for a bit of Jane Russell really!)

What's that I see in the distance? It'sValentine's Day, creeping up on us like a stealthy lioness of love!

What are your thoughts on Valentine's Day? I know it's not for everyone, and that it is popularly believed to have been "created by the greeting card companies" as a way of making even more money. Personally, I quite like Valentine's Day. Even if you don't have a partner when it rolls around, I still think it's a nice excuse to celebrate love - any kind of love - even if it's just for one day. Cheesy? Perhaps. I suppose I'm just a great big softy deep down. Please don't tell anyone, I'd hate to ruin my "tough" street cred...

Queen of Hearts necklace, £50 from Swell Vintage

This year I will actually be working on the day itself, but I'm going to make sure that I take the opportunity to tell everyone I love how much I care about them.

How will you be celebrating Valentine's Day this year?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

The fruits of our collective labour

2011-01-24T21:44:00.006Z

***If nipples offend you, please look away now!***

Here are the final shots from the photoshoot I did recently:

Photography: Murad RM Photography
Model: Clare B
Hair and make up: Beth Alderson
Styling: Frankie Murray
Lingerie: Mint Siren

Photography: Murad RM Photography
Model: Inna S
Hair and make up : Emma Taylor
Styling: Frankie Murray
Jewellery: Swell Vintage
Lingerie : Fred & Ginger

Photography: Murad RM Photography
Model: Clare B
Hair and make up: Beth Alderson
Styling: Frankie Murray
Necklace: Swell Vintage
Ring: ASOS
Lingerie and collar: Loulou Loves You

Photography: Murad RM Photography
Model: Inna S
Hair and make up : Emma Taylor
Styling: Frankie Murray
Ring: ASOS
Lingerie: Ayten Gasson

Photography: Murad RM Photography
Model: Inna S
Hair and make up: Emma Taylor
Styling: Frankie Murray
Necklace: Swell Vintage
Ring: ASOS
Lingerie: Loulou Loves You

So what do you think? I'd love some feedback on the styling and overall look of the pictures, so please let me know.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Behind the scenes: styling a lingerie shoot

2011-01-13T18:42:00.004Z

Here are some behind the scenes snaps of the lingerie shoot I styled last week. It was such a fun day, and it was an honour to work with gorgeous pieces from Mint Siren, Loulou Loves You, Ayten Gasson and Fred & Ginger.

Model: Clare
Make up: Beth Alderson

Model: Inna
Make up: Emma Taylor

Model: Clare
Lingerie and collar: Loulou Loves You
Jewellery: Swell Vintage

Model: Inna
Lingerie: Fred and Ginger
Jewellery: Swell Vintage

Bored of photos? Here's a little video I made about it:

If it doesn't work here, you can watch it at the Swell Vintage YouTube page.

So what do you think? I really enjoy styling, and hopefully have a few more things in the pipeline very soon. Oh, and I'm sorry for the mess ups in my video - I think I should probably stick to writing!

I can't wait to show you the final photos next week.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

A not-so-swell first attempt at video blogging

2011-01-05T23:40:00.005Z

I've just done my first ever video blog post! Ooo err!

You can also watch it over at YouTube if it doesn't work for some reason.

SO - what do you think? Please be honest. I was very nervous about being in front of the camera, but hopefully I'll relax and get more confident soon.

Also, if you have any ideas about video posts you'd like to see, please let me know! I need all of the help I can get.

Happy New Year, by the way!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Wishing you a Swell Christmas!

2010-12-24T22:59:00.004Z

Have a Swell time!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

When Frankie met Elsie

2010-12-22T12:56:00.006Z

Photo courtesy of Shape What's to Come

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing the very talented and lovely Elsie Flannigan of Red Velvet Vintage for Levi's Shape What's to Come. It was so good to speak to her about her business and her gorgeous blog, A Beautiful Mess (if you haven't read it yet, I guarantee you'll fall in love with it). Elsie's story is definitely an inspiring one, and I've definitely learned a few things for my own business.

If you'd like to read the interview, just hop over here and have a look! I'd love to hear what you think about it.

Merry nearly-Christmas!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

New stuff from the house of Swell

2010-12-17T13:41:00.002Z

...although I actually live in a flat!

Although I've been busy with a good few Christmas jewellery commissions recently, I've also made some new pieces that I really want to share with you. As always, I'd be grateful for any feedback or thoughts you may have about the pieces, so please sock it to me. All of these pieces will be available from Swell-Vintage.com in the new year.

This is my Queen of Hearts necklace. It's made from a vintage brooch, hung on vintage chain and is adorned with freshwater pearls. I am really pleased with it's simple beauty - so much so, in fact, I might even wear it to my Christmas party tonight! Turns out I'm very indecisive...

The Luck be a Lady bracelet is a bit of a bold beast, but it still has an air of elegance about it. It's made from a vintage brooch, linked on vintage chain and is, of course, adorned with freshwater pearls. I do so love a bit of wrist bling.

Inspired by everyone's favourite Quality Street treat, this is The Purple One. I do have a confession to make - this is not a new necklace. I made it a long time ago, and it was for sale in a boutique in Edinburgh. Unfortunately that boutique has now closed down, and although I am very sad about it I am very happy to have this necklace back.

So what do you think? Which piece is your favourite? What would you wear them with? Tell me what's on your mind.

Also, it's nearly Christmas! I am so overly excited about it, and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with friends and family. What are your plans for the festive period?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

P-A-R-T-why? Because it's Christmas!

2010-12-07T16:11:00.003Z

I love Christmas. I honestly do. Not just because it's the season where binge eating becomes a socially acceptable activity (they're known as 'mince pies', not 'mince pie'. Thus, I must eat as many as I can fit into my mouth...right?), but also because there 's always a good occasion to get up.

As mentioned a few posts ago, I recently left my full-time office job so that I could devote more of my time to Swell Vintage. It's been a couple of weeks since I left now, and while it has been amazing to explore my passion more, I do really miss the people. I worked with a lot of brilliant and wonderful people, many of whom became very close friends to me, and you just don't get the same level of social interaction when you're sat at home talking to yourself. And I've definitely tried...losing touch with reality, you say? Don't be crazy...

However, before you start playing the world's smallest violin just for me, the good news is there is some light at the end of my anti-social tunnel - the Christmas Party! I'm still allowed to go, and I fully intend to have an awesome night.

But I do need your help, my dear reader. I've got the dress, but I need help choosing a necklace to wear!

Ok, so here's the dress. It's a vintage black lacey number that I got from Vix Vintage on Etsy, and I am in love with it. It fits like a dream and definitely gets me in the mood for a party.

As you can see, the neckline is rather plunging, so I will definitely need a necklace to go with it. I personally love a statement necklace to make an outfit pop, especially with a black dress, so I'm going for something quite bold. And lucky for me, I have lots of lovely necklaces to borrow from Swell Vintage! Here are the options:

Necklace One

My 'Princess Pearl' necklace could work because it's quite striking, but the pearls add a touch of elegance to it. Also - let's face it - it looks a bit like a nipple, so it's quite fun to wear with a low cut dress!

Necklace Two

My 'Rose by any other name' necklace is one of my all-time favourite pieces, and it might be nice to soften the dress with something a bit prettier...but would it work with this dress? What do you think?

Necklace Three

I made this necklace today, and I'm really pleased with how it's come out. I've called it 'Pearl of the Sea' because the jagged shape reminds me of coral. I like it because it has a classic feel to it, and that could go really well with this dress. It will also be available to buy from swell-vintage.com as of tomorrow.

So what do you think? Which is your favourite necklace? If you could place you vote and let me know any ideas or thoughts you have in the comments box, it would be very much appreciated! Also, I'd love to hear about your go-to party outfit for the Christmas season, so please tell me all about it.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

R.I.P Leslie Nielsen

2010-11-29T08:19:00.003Z

This morning I woke up to the very sad news that Leslie Nielsen had died. I am geniunely heartbroken about this. I have grown up watching his films, and I like to think that his genius first inspired my appreciation and love of comedy. I can quote nearly all of his films on demand - a fact that I am very proud of.

Another reason why this makes me so sad is because I never got to see him in person. Earlier in the year I had tickets to see him in conversation over at the BFI, but unfortunately he had to cancel. We all hoped that he'd be able to reschedule the talk at some point, but he didn't. It would have been amazing to see the man himself in the flesh, recounting stories from his incredible career, but I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

“Yes, it’s true - I’ve been called the Laurence Olivier of spoofs. I guess that would make Laurence Olivier the Leslie Nielsen of Shakespeare.”

R.I.P Leslie Nielsen, you absolute legend.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Dear Santa

2010-11-22T19:31:00.008Z

First off, I'd like to say I'm a big fan of your work. Not only do you bring joy to children and young adults all over the world every year, but you also have a very impressive beard. Kudos to you, sir.

I think I've been a very good girl this year, but I know I can be quite hard to buy for. To help you find something you know I'll love, I've put together a little list of amazing things that are available to order online right now (only 33 days to go, Nick...the clock is ticking!). So if you would kindly bring me the following presents, I'd be much obliged!

My hand NEEDS this incredible ring by Alexander McQueen, £150 from Matches

My feet require some epic shoes by issue, $225 from Olive Shoppe

My blog needs videos filmed on this Flip Video Ultra High Definition Camcorder, £109.99 from Amazon

My torso and every day life would be better with this Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Black Drape Dress, £197 from my-wardrobe.com

And finally...no dream list is complete without an amazing handbag, £695 from Mulberry

But enough about me! What will you be asking Santa for this year?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

This could be the start of something Swell...

2010-11-17T21:37:00.004Z

Roughly two years ago, I decided to give jewellery making a go. I can't remember where the idea came from exactly. I didn't have a plan or goal in mind. I just knew it was something I wanted to try.

One of my first ever pieces...please excuse the awful photography!

Since then things have moved on a fair bit. Swell Vintage has gone from a small-time hobby to being my one true passion. So much so, in fact, that I have now quit my full-time office job and will be dedicating more of myself to my Swell love. It's my last day tomorrow, and I still can't quite believe I'm doing it.

A weird mix of feelings come with taking a big leap like this. First and foremost comes the fear - what if it all turns out to be a spectacular failure? What if everyone hates the jewellery I make and it doesn't progress any further? Fortunately, this is massively outweighed by the immense excitement that has been bubbling under the surface for months. Despite any doubts that are lingering, I know I'm doing the right thing. I'm finally going to be living my dream, and I can't wait to see what the future holds.

Please wish me luck, my dear friends! I'm going to need it.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

A tribute to my Grandma

2010-11-07T18:25:00.004Z

On 2nd November 2010, I returned to my desk after a meeting to find two missed calls from my Mother. I called back straight away.

Me: Hi Mum, are you ok?
Mum: I'm ok...but you're Grandmother isn't...

Haemorrhaging had unexpectedly occured in my Grandmother's brain, and she had suffered from a lot of internal bleeding. She died two hours later.

So many people have tried to describe how it feels when you're told someone you care about has died, but few rarely come close. It may seem like an odd point of reference, but I always thought that this quote from the children's book “Lemony Snickett's A Series of Unfortunate Events” sums it up best:

It is a curious thing, the death of a loved one. It's like walking up the stairs to your bedroom in the dark and thinking there is one more stair than there is. Your foot falls down through the air and there's a sickly moment of dark surprise.

Add that winded feeling you get when you've been hit in the stomach to it, and I think you get pretty close.

When I was told that my Grandmother had died, I wasn't sure exactly how to feel. While I instantly felt that gut wrenching mix of shock and sadness, a part of me felt a quiet happiness. Before you go thinking that I am a terrible human being, let me explain: for the last 40 years of her life, my Grandmother had been a professional spiritualist. This meant that she was able to communicate with spirits, and she did so every day (she maintained at all of our dead relatives regularly sat on her sofa at once. They would all merge into one, and she was only able to tell how many were there by counting their feet.).

Now, I know there are a lot of sceptics out there. You may not agree or believe that spiritualism is real or even possible, but it doesn't matter – my Grandmother did. More than that, it made her happy. Unlike a lot of people, my Grandmother had no fear of death at all. In her later years, she even looked forward to it, because to her it meant that she would be reunited with all of her loved ones and that her spirit would live on.

My Grandma at her spiritualist church

I'm sorry if this post was not what you've come to expect from Swell Vintage, but I wanted to make a little tribute to my Grandma. She was a real character with a generous heart. I will miss her enormously, but I know that somewhere she is happy and at peace. This is what she always looked forward to, and I hope that she and all of my past relatives are having one hell of a party somewhere.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Britain's Next Top Montage

2010-10-31T08:34:00.008Z

Can you believe it's been a week since the last day of the Britain's Next Top Model Live event?! Where does the time go?

For those of you who weren't able to make it, the wonderful people at Motorola have put together a lovely video of our catwalk show:

(To get a better view, go directly to the Youtube page)

Please ignore how terrifing my eyes are! Note to self - use your small eyes when talking...

In other news, the very kind people over at So Charming, a rather fancy website that sells designer jewellery, are offering all Swell Vintage readers a generous 10% all purchases! All you have to do is head over to www.socharming.co.uk enter the code "charm10" into the coupon box when you're checking out. This code is good for the next three months, so bag a bargain while you can.

Happy Halloween!

Many thanks,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Britain's Next Top Model Live and Lived

2010-10-24T19:39:00.003+01:00

Best. weekend. ever.

I could try to paint you a vivid word picture to describe just how brilliant the whole Britain's Next Top Model Live event has been this weekend, but instead I will show you my photo highlights!

Y'all ready for this?

My amazing model

I was lucky enough to dress and style the very beautiful, and not to mention lovely, Jessica P from Models1. Jessica is one of their "new faces", and after working with her this weekend I know she is going to be massively successful. But don't just take my word for it - here's the evidence:

Getting made up.

Getting the hair 'did.

Ready to go and born to do it!

This is why Jessica is a model and I am not...

My outfit

Natasha Bailie and I were each challenged to create a vintage outfit that embodies the whole Motorola 'Geek Chic' vibe to go with the super cool FLIPOUT phone. As I said in my post a week or so ago, I wanted my look to be 70s mixed with the relaxed elegance of Chloe. Here's what I did:

When I was putting the outfit together, I knew for sure I wanted to feature this blouse. It's made from a really luxury satin fabric, and it screams Chloe to me - it's ultra feminine and very sophisticated. I also love the burnt orange colour, as it fits like a dream with an autumnal colour palette.
To spice things up a bit and give the look a sexy edge, I teamed it with a nice fitted leopard print skirt. Leopard is a classic vintage print, so there are always plenty of gorgeous items to choose from.
I was really happy to include this leather satchel with my outfit, as not only is it stunning, but it's also very unique and original. Let's face it - there's nothing worse than buying an item and seeing other people with the same thing! Vintage is all about feeling special, and this bag is just that.
For the shoes, I went for comfortable but still very cool brown leather loafers. When the weather starts to turn, it's good to have a reliable pair of shoes that will still look chic around the office.
To round off the look, I added some specs. They're the ultimate geek accessory.

So what do you think? I am personally very pleased with the whole look, especially considering it's my first proper go at styling for the catwalk. I would really appreciate your honest feedback, so please let me know.

Backstage

I'm not going to lie to you - while it was often rather hectic backstage, it was also a lot of fun. Why? Because I was surrounded by so many amazing people! Everyone involved, from my fellow stylist buddies to the wonderful people at Motorola and JCPR, was incredibly supportive and lovely. When we weren't running about find various bits and bobs and dressing our models, we basically spent our time dancing, singing and laughing! What more could anyone want from their job?

Me and my vintage styling buddy, Natasha Bailie

The High Fashion team, Matthew and Alize

High Street vs Vintage! Reena of Fashion Daydreams, Jenny of The Style PA, Natasha Bailie and I

The whole gang

I want to thank everyone who supported us this weekend - whether you were actually sat in the audience or you sent us a good luck tweet, it meant so much to know you were out there rooting for us. I should also have some video footage to show you soon, which should be interesting! Thanks for putting up with my constant blogging/tweeting/facebook status updating too. I promise I'll shh for a while now...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

There can be only one...

2010-10-20T21:12:00.002+01:00

Woah - this is happening this very weekend! Hands up who else is coming?

Hopefully I'll see you there!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Britain's Next Swell Model

2010-10-11T22:08:00.006+01:00

I don't know about you, but I am a total sucker for the whole "Next Top Model" franchise. This years Britain's Next Top Model has definitely been the best season so far - the photoshoots have been more high fashion and, let's be honest, the judges were finally people who we could take seriously!

With my passionate love affair with the Top Model world in mind, I am extremely excited and overjoyed to be involved in Britain's Next Top Model Live, taking place at the London Excel Centre from 22nd-24th October. Not only does the event give you the opportunity to see the model girls up close (who doesn't love staring at models?!), but it also promises fashion, shopping and beauty brilliance.

And for some miraculous reason, the wonderful people at Motorola have invited the lovely Natasha Bailie and I to style the vintage section of what promises to be a pretty incredible catwalk show! We're going to be in great company too, as other stylists include the irresistibly dashing Matthew Zorpas, the beautiful Alize Morand, the stunning Reena Rai of Fashion Daydreams and the gorgeous Jenny of The Style PA. The theme of the show is "geek chic", in tribute to the super cool FLIP OUT phone (remember when I modelled for that? I still can't believe that happened!). The word "fun" doesn't even begin to cover it.

There will be a catwalk show every day of the event, so if you fancy the ultimate fashion weekend, why not come and join us? Not only will you get to see beautiful models in (hopefully) amazing clothes, but you'll also get to see all of us blogger types on the stage! If you're not sure who I am, look for the girl with fear in her eyes as she tries desperately not to cock up or swear...hold on, is "cock" a swear word? This doesn't bode well...

At the moment we're all desperately scrambling about to pull together our looks for the show, but I can exclusively reveal that Natasha will be dressing her model in delightfully quirky 50s chic, and I will be nerding up my model 70s style. If you come back next week, I may even show you a sneaky peak at parts of my outfit...sneakily. For now though, here's a little mood board I pulled together. This shows the kind of style and colour palette I'm going for. The inspiration has definitely been Chloe and the amazing colours that come with autumn.

(Please click the image to see the full size...Blogger is awkward)

So what do you think? Is 70s the way to go? Will you be attending the Britain's Next Top Model event? If you do, PLEASE come and say hello! I will be needing to see as many friendly faces as possible!

Until next time!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Some like it swell

2010-10-05T22:39:00.002+01:00

Joe: ...I've got this thing about girls.
Sugar: What thing?
Joe: They just sort of leave me cold.
Sugar: You mean like frigid?
Joe: Well, it's more like a, a mental block. When I'm with a girl, it does absolutely nothing to me.
Sugar: Have you tried?
Joe: Have I? I'm trying all the time. (He kisses her.) See. Nothing.

R.I.P Tony Curtis, you bloody legend.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

A swell winner!

2010-09-28T09:43:00.003+01:00

My dear friends,

Upon returning from Egypt at the early hours of Monday morning, I was overwhelmed to see just how many entries there had been for my swell competition! Thank you so much to everyone that entered, I really enjoyed reading your ideas and tweets.

Unfortunately, there can only be ONE winner. The name has been chosen by a random name picker, and I am pleased to reveal that the winner is...

THE LOVELY NIKKINAKKILOU!

Congratulations, Nikki! I know you rather like the 'Oh, Sailor' bracelet, so I'll be working to create you something very similar in style to that, but it can be customed however you like. I can't wait to get started!

The Oh, Sailor bracelet that Nikki loves

I think it's also worth mention that Nikki has a rather brilliant blog that's definitely worth a read - head over to www.nikkinakkilou.co.uk to find out about the current fashions she's coveting.

Thanks again to everyone that entered. If you didn't win this time, have no fear - I'll running another competition very soon.

Until next time...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

A swell competition

2010-09-12T17:06:00.002+01:00

So this is my 100th post! How time flies when you're having fun. Thanks for sticking with me all this time, it really does mean a lot.

To prove just how much this means to me, I'm having a SWELL competition (see what I did there?)! I have never done this sort of competition before, so I am very excited. The prize is, shockingly, a piece of Swell Vintage jewellery, but it won't be just any piece of jewellery. The winner will get a super-special CUSTOM piece! You can pick from either a bracelet or a necklace, and you will be able to specify the kind of style you'd like. I'll work with you, and together we will make something truly one-off.

I'm off to Egypt next week, so I'm going to keep the competition open until Sunday 26th September. To enter, all you have to do is tell me the kind of piece you'd like to win and include your email address. If you have Twitter, you can also gain an extra entry by tweeting: "I'd like to win this swell competition! @swellvintage". The winner will be chosen at random.

So what sort of piece would you like to win? Perhaps you'd like to win something pearly and sparkly - a bit like my latest piece, the Isabella bracelet, now available on the Swell Vintage shop?

Made from a vintage doo-dad, freshwater pearls and vintage chain, the Isabella bracelet will make any lady feel like a princess.

I can't wait to hear all of your ideas. Good luck!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Just shoot me

2010-09-05T21:49:00.005+01:00

I'm always incredibly flattered and honoured when people say they like my jewellery. So, if ever a stylist or photographer asks to borrow pieces for shoots, needless to say I'm overwhelmed.

Recently, the very kind Murad Rm got in touch to ask if he could borrow a selection of necklaces and bracelets for a beauty shoot he had coming up. After seeing his pictures, I was definitely keen to get involved - especially when I found out that Melissa Walton, aka Loretta from Hollyoaks, would be one of the models!

Fancy a look at some of the shoots? Oh, go on then...

Melissa in The Sparrow's Pearl necklace

Melissa loves the Princess Pearl necklace

Stephanie looks stunning in the Times, they are a-changing necklace

Models: Mellisa Walton & Stephanie Tripp
Make up: Hannah Serjeant & Sally Watterston
Hair stylist: Tasha Goodhand-tait
Jewellery: Swell Vintage

What do you think? Personally I think Murad and the whole team have done an incredible job, and I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for making my jewellery look so beautiful. Thank you, kind folks!

In other news, my next post will be my 100th! Wow, doesn't time fly when you're having fun?!

To celebrate, I will be running a little competition where you could win a special piece of Swell Vintage jewellery. If you'd like to know more, come back next week and I'll tell you all about it.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Good news, good shoes

2010-09-01T21:33:00.004+01:00

Good news, everyone! A couple of the pieces I've made recently are now for sale at the Swell Vintage shop.

Oh, Sailor bracelet

The Sparrow's Pearl necklace

If you want to have a closer look and see the rest of my things, head on over. I hope you like what you see.

Also, I want to talk a bit about shoes. Who doesn't love shoes? If you're one of those shoe loving types, you'll be pleased to hear that Selfridges will soon be home to the world's largest destination for shoes - The Shoe Galleries.

As if that wasn't enough, the other good news is that the very lovely people at Selfridges are offering you the chance to win a whole years supply of shoes! Can you imagine?!

To enter, all you have to do is tell them your shoe story. Do you have a pair of killer boots that never fail to get you noticed? Do you have some simple ballet pumps that have served you well over the years? Tell Selfridges all about them, upload a picture and you could be in for the prize of a lifetime. But you may have to fight me for it...

That's all for now, folks. Until next time...keep watching the shoes.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

A moment of silence

2010-08-24T20:42:00.005+01:00

My post this week isn't about fashion or jewellery, but it is about one of my other great loves.

I love silent films. I really, really do. Since studying film many years ago, the silent genre has always held a special place in my heart...and my DVD collection. My favourite? The Man Who Laughs. If you can get your hands on a copy, I highly recommend it.

So when I got tickets to see The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog, one of Alfred Hitchcock's early silent films, at the BFI with a live piano accompaniment, needless to say I was very excited. I had seen this film many years ago, but I don't think I fully appreciated how brilliant and important it was.

Loosely based on the story of Jack the Ripper, The Lodger is quite a thriller - a serial killer known as "The Avenger" is on the loose in London, murdering fair haired women. Around the same time, a mysterious man arrives at the house of Mr. and Mrs. Bunting, looking for a room to rent...could he be "The Avenger"? And is Daisy, their beautiful fair haired daughter, his next victim?

The Lodger arrives...

The Lodger gets close to the beautiful (and not to mention stylish) Daisy

If you haven't seen this film already, you must. And if you can see it with a live piano accompaniment, then all the better.

Anyway, all of this is in aid of the work the BFI National Archive are doing to "Rescue the Hitchcock 9". To quote from their website, curators of the BFI National Archive have identified a collection of films in desperate need of restoration with nine of Alfred Hitchcock's early silent films being the first to seek rescue through the Support the BFI campaign. Hitchcock's nine surviving silent films are among the most important in British cinema history. But decades of wear and tear have left them in urgent need of restoration.

These films are:

The Pleasure Garden (1925)
The Lodger (1926)
The Ring (1927)
Downhill (1927)
Easy Virtue (1927)
The Farmers Wife (1927)
Champagne (1928)
The Manxman (1929)
Blackmail (1929)

The BFI needs our help to bring these rare films back from the brink of destruction and into the digital age so that future generations can watch and enjoy. As a huge Hitchcock fan myself, I'll definitely be sparing a few pounds. Every little helps, so if you can afford to give a little something, anything, then please do.

Visit the dedicated donation page now and help save Hitchock!

Many thanks,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

More from the House of Swell

2010-08-16T20:09:00.003+01:00

I'm afraid this is going to be another quickie post, but the good news is I have some pictures to show you. And everyone prefers looking at pictures to reading words, right? Right.

I've been making more new pieces, and I've really been enjoying it. Here are a couple of my favourites:

Don't go chain-ging! This necklace is a beast. It's made from various different vintage chains, adorned with a cheeky vintage faux pearl.

Oh, sailor! This bracelet is made from an old vintage charm, linked on vintage chain and adorned with freshwater pearls.

So what do you think? Feedback is very welcome, as always. The good news is that both of these items will be available to buy through the Swell Vintage shop soon, so keep your eyes peeled.

In other news, there are some exciting things on the horizon for ol' Swell...but more on that soon.

Thanks for reading!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Making some swell jewellery

2010-08-09T12:53:00.005+01:00

I'm afraid this isn't going to be a very long post, but I wanted to show you a little someting.

I haven't made much new jewellery recently. Considering I am a jewellery maker, this might sound a bit strange, but I promise I haven't just been sat around in my pjs watching Poirot...OK, I might have done a little bit of that, but not all the time. Actual promise this time.

In truth, I have been working on my new collection of glasses chains (hopefully coming to the shop in the next couple of months), so jewellery has taken a backseat recently. However, last night I felt inspired for the first time in a little while, so I made this necklace:

So what do you think? Your feedback is so important to me. Sometimes, when I'm locked away in my little room, I worry that no one will like the jewellery I'm making. It's good to know I have lovely friends on the internet that will let me know when I'm doing ok, so please - any feedback is greatly appreciated!

Until next time...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

It's hip to be swell

2010-07-28T20:27:00.009+01:00

The time has come, my lovely friends! FINALLY I can tell you all about the Motorola photoshoot!

Just over two weeks ago, the other four competition winners and I were brought to the glamorous Holborn Studios in the heart of London for a very hip photoshoot. We were there to be snapped with the brand spanking new Motorola FLIPOUT with MOTOBLUR technology and to generally have fun while pretending to be models for the day.

Stu-stu-studio

The FLIPOUT phone of many colours

The shoot was being styled by the gorgeous Alize Morand and Matthew Zorpas of PR Wonderland. I had met Alize and Matthew before, so it was really nice and comforting to see their friendly smiling faces. They did a cracking job sourcing all sorts of dreamy fashion pieces - colour was definitely the theme!

What a pair of beauties - Alize and Morand

All the colours of the rainbow

The INCREDIBLE Georgie Bee shoes I got to wear

Marc Jacobs ring...don't mind if I do!

Not only was the styling amazing, but the rest of the crew were absolutely outstanding. The make up by Becca Harrison was stunning, the hair by John Birchall was totally insane and the photography by Adam Lawrence was mind blowing. In fact, everyone was wonderfully welcoming and talented. It was such a fun day.

Other winners Sabina and Amy get dolled up by Becca and John

Nic gets snapped by Adam

Anyway, I think I've done enough 'behind-the-scenes' stuff. I think it's time to show you the final products:

Lady in blue

Woman in black

So there we have it! What do you think? I'll be honest with you, my dear readers - I was in a state of absolutely terror throughout the whole shoot. As you can see, I am quite obviously not a model, so doing something like this where I was the focus threw my far, far away from my comfort zone. However, I am really pleased with how the photos have come out, and I think it's a testament to how talented all the people behind the scenes are.

I want to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone involved for an amazing day and for giving me this experience. I also want to say special thanks to the gorgeous Nik Thakkar and Milly Hill of JCPR for organising the whole thing and making it so much fun. It's definitely something I will never forget!

To see photos of the other winners, as well as some extra bits about the brilliant FLIPOUT phone, visit http://www.motorolasquare.com/.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

Blogger love, actually

2010-07-19T20:48:00.005+01:00

On Friday I had the distinct pleasure and joy of meeting up with roughly 20 of my closest blogger friends at The Drunken Monkey in Shoreditch. I know it may sound a little strange to have blogger friends to some people, but I believe we have to accept that in this day and age the online world is fast becoming the key place to connect with others. Twitter in particular has introduced me to so many wonderful people that I am extremely proud to now call my friends, and I hope it continues to.

Dim sum was nommed, cocktails were drunk and good chats were in abundance. In short, it was an awesomely fun night. Here's the proof:

My one true love, Natasha Bailie, and I

The lovely Katie of London Plinth, Fiona of Save Our Shoes and Natasha

Alex of Alex Loves, Kate of The Fabric of my Life and Lira Leirner of The Portmanteau

Fiona and the beautiful brain behind Style East

The gorgeous Reena of Fashion Daydreams and I

Maria of mediacation, Mariana of Sketchbook Magazine, Kb of I Want You to Know and the dashing Nik of mediacation

It was geniunely a pleasure to spend the evening in the company of so many brilliant people, and I can't wait for the next opportunity to eat, drink and be merry with them all again. See you there?

In other news, the Motorola shoot went well! I've got behind-the-scenes photos, but I think it'll be better to wait for the final shots...tune in next week if you fancy a look!

Until next time...

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

Phone-a-face

2010-07-13T20:57:00.003+01:00

Apologies for the quickie nature of this post. I hope you don't feel cheap or used at all.

I just wanted to say a HUGE "thank you" to everyone who voted for my face in the Motorola #hip2bsquare competition. Turns out I am one of the five lucky winners, and my photoshoot is taking place this very weekend - eeekk! Between you and I, because you're a good friend of mine, I'm absolutely terrified! I'm not a model by ANY stretch of the imagination, but I think the whole experience will be a lot of fun. Please cross your pretty fingers for me?! I'll need all the luck I can get!

Here's the sexy new Motorola phone that my face will soon be associated with:

Photo courtesy of Motorola

If you're nosey or bored on Saturday, you can see how the shoot is going by following me on Twitter (@swellvintage). While you're there, you should also follow the fabulous brains and stylists behind the whole shoot - Nik Thakkar (@nikthakkar), Matthew Zorpas (@prwonderland) and Alize Morand (@alizemorand).

In other news, I'm also very excited to be attending a brilliant blogger meet up on Friday, kindly organised by my dear friend Fiona of Save Our Shoes. I will be taking lots of pictures for your viewing pleasure. Hopefully I shall see you there, lovely ladies and gents!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

It's a cheap, cheap summer

2010-07-05T20:58:00.015+01:00

A little while ago, I was set a challenge by the ever so lovely people at VoucherCodes.co.uk. VoucherCodes.co.uk offers a great assortment of fashion, eating-out and beauty codes, including this Debenhams Discount Code and Boden Discount Code. My mission? To take part in their 'Thrifty Summer Challenge' to showcase the most cost effective and versatile buys. Each item must be under £40, and an essential staple in any summer wardrobe.

WELL, VoucherCodes.co.uk - consider your challenge accepted! Here are my top six versatile, summer-staple bargain buys:

Pink fitted waist sundress - £22 from ASOS
This dress is perfect, and I'll tell you why - not only is it made from summer skin-loving cotton, but the colour fits the dreamy romantic trend like a dream. The cut is classic and simple, which means it can be worn for work or play, and is easily transferable from day to night with the right accessories. If that's not versatile, I don't know what is!

Image courtesy of ASOS.com

Knitted lace back cardigan - £38 from Topshop
Everyone needs an emergency cover up solution in case the weather takes a cold turn, and this cardigan is ideal. The lace panel on the back is not only on trend, but it'll reduce the chances of that horrible clammy feeling that comes with humid weather - huzzah!

Image courtesy of Topshop.com

Patent loafers - £25 from Kate Kanzier
I was introduced to Kate Kanzier's amazing (and not to mention affordable) range of shoes by my lovely friend Alex Loves, and it's really changed my life! All of her shoes are extremely well-made, fashionable and each pair is a bargain. These loafers are insanely versatile, and could be worn with a pretty summer dress, skinny jeans on cooler days and even to the office. They're like chameleons for your feet!

Image courtesy of KateKanzier.com

Reusable cotton bag - £5 from Cath Kidston
That's face it - no one likes carrying a plastic bag anymore, and with a gorgeous array of reuseable fabric bags on the market, there's no need to. This Cath Kidston one is definitely worth the £5 investment, as it ticks all of the fashion boxes - it's floral, it's versatile (from city shopping to a book bag for the beach) and, simply, it's Cath Kidston! The little bird detail is absolutely adorable too.

Image courtesy of CathKidston.co.uk

Cameo scarf - £12 from Miss Selfridge
It definitely pays to keep a pretty scarf handy in the summer. You can use it to wrap your hair on those days where it's too hot to even comprehend styling it, it can act as a cover up when you're feeling shy in your bikini and it'll keep you warm on those cooler summer evenings. I love the vintage feel of this scarf, and the cameo print is ever so feminine.

Image courtesy of MissSelfridge.com

Me & Zena Leopard necklace - £20 from Lazy Oaf
Everyone needs a statement necklace for the summer, and I think I may be in love with this one. A simple pendant necklace like this is so easy to throw on, but I guarantee it'll get you no end of compliments. Leopard print is also making a come back, so surely you can't go wrong with a whole leopard?

Image courtesy of LazyOaf.co.uk

So that's it! What do you think? What versatile summer bargains would you recommend? I'd love to hear them all, so let me know!

In other news, the winners of the Motorola Hip2bSquare competition for the face of their new FLIPOUT phone have been announced - and I'm one of them! But more on that excitement soon.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

Swell exhibitionist

2010-06-28T21:19:00.005+01:00

Good news, everyone - the Swell Vintage window display is now up at the wonderful Oxfam in Dalston!

Drum roll, please...

That's the window view. And now for the details...let me break it down:

Trench coat - Christian Dior
Suit - Yves Saint Laurent
Tie - Zara
Shirt - Reiss
(All sourced from Oxfam Dalston)

Dress - Natasha Bailie Vintage
Necklace - Swell Vintage
Hat - Oxfam Dalston

Fur hat - Oxfam Dalston
Necklace - Swell Vintage
Dress - Retro Chick
Cape - Oxfam Dalston
Bracelet - Swell Vintage

Hat - Natasha Bailie Vintage
Dress - Vintage, donated by me!
Handbag - Oxfam Dalston
Beads - Oxfam Dalston

What do you think? I've never done a window display before, but it was a lot of fun and hard work in equal measures! I'd really like your feedback, so please let me know.

All I really know for sure is that I couldn't have done it without the help of my dear friend and blogger extraordinaire, Fiona of Save Our Shoes. Thank you so much, Fiona. You are my ROCK. I'd also like to thank the amazing people of Oxfam Dalston, especially Kevin and Steve, for letting me into their window and for being so supportive! They work insanely hard for a brilliant cause, so you should probably follow them on Twitter.

So if you happen to be in the area and you like what you see, why not pop into Oxfam in Dalston from Monday 5th July and see if you can bag a bargain? I'll fight you for the Dior!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell Vintage loves Oxfam

2010-06-21T19:58:00.003+01:00

As any vintage lover will tell you, one of the best places to bag an old school bargain is a charity shop. London is home of some of the UK's very best, and I am extremely fortunate to live just around the corner from the increasingly popular and highly praised Oxfam in Dalston.

One of the things I love about Oxfam Dalston is that it has a unique identity despite being part of a "chain", which embraces and celebrates the surrounding Hackney community and its residents. So when they kindly offered me the opportunity to put together an exhibition for their coveted front window space, needless to say I hopped, skipped and jumped at the chance. I'll be putting up my exhibition bright and early on Monday 28th June.

Oxfam Dalston has had some awesome window displays as of late, including an absolutely cracking one from the visual merchandising girls of Harrods:

Photo courtesy of Dalson Oxfam's blog

The pressure is on, so for the theme I've decided to stick to what I know - vintage. To give the window a sexier, more stylish feel, I'm going with a Mad Men inspired look (no Joan-shaped mannequins I'm afraid though. Sigh...).

Not only will the exhibition feature a couple of official one-of-a-kind Swell Vintage jewellery pieces, but it will also include some very kind donations from some of my favourite vintage sellers - the love of my life, Natasha Bailie, the ever so wonderful Retro Chick and the very brilliant Love Miss Daisy. If you're in the market for some high quality vintage, check out their shops right now! You won't be disappointed.

Today Kevin, one of the brains behind the Dalston Oxfam operation, kindly let me into the basement of the shop to have a rummage through the stock to pick out any extra items I'd like to use. It was absolutely incredible down there! A veritable Aladdin's cave of treasures and wonderment, filled with every possible time of donation you could ever imagine. I don't want to ruin the surprise of what my exhibition will look like, but here are a few photos from behind the scenes to give you a sneaky peek:

Some of the lovely donations from Natasha Bailie and Retro Chick.

Found in the basement - a mint condition men's Christian Dior trench coat

Bargainous brogue beauties

A gorgeous Yves Saint Laurent suit!

A little something I'm putting together...

That's all you're getting for now, folks! Like a drug pusher, the first taste is free, but you'll have to wait till the big day to see more! If you live in London, I highly recommend you pop into Dalston Oxfam. There are so many more gems in there at insanely low prices! Not only that, but the staff are lovely too. What more could you ask?

In other news, you know that Motorola competition I mentioned in my last post? Well, in a moment of pure insanity I decided to enter! If you have a spare couple of seconds, I'd be extremely grateful if you could vote for my geeky face. I doubt I'll win, but it's worth a go!

Thank you for reading, and hopefully I'll see you on 28th June!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Jewellery loving

2010-06-12T10:57:00.005+01:00

As a "jewellery maker", it's always nice to observe the work of other people who are far more talented than myself! Earlier this week I was lucky enough to attend an event at EC One, a gorgeous jewellery boutique on Exmouth Market, to celebrate the fine work of Nicholas King and Fiona Paxton.

Apologies for my terrible photos! In my defence, I don't think I could capture the true beauty of their pieces on film anyway...and yes, I'm a terrible suck up. Both Nicholas King and Fiona Paxton have such bold styles, but each brings a totally different flavour to their work.

King's chunky cuffs have been published all over the place, and it's easy to see why! This Diamante Knot Cuff is absolutely huge, and is totally worth the extra weight.

Image courtesy of ECOne.co.uk

My dear friend Fiona of Save Our Shoes even treated herself to these rave-tastic bangles. The lovely lady from EC One assured us they also glow under black light - what more could you want for your wrists?

Fiona Paxton's jewellery evoke a strong glamazon-warrior feel that would make any outfit a show-stopper. Needless to say I was ever so jealous of Dolly, the shop's mannequin for getting to wear one!

Not only was the jewellery gorgeous, but I also had the pleasure to meet long-time Twitter buddy Alex of Alex Loves in the three-dimensional flesh! Meeting Twitter friends can be somewhat daunting at times, but Alex is just as charming and lovely in real life as she is online. If you haven't read her brilliant blog yet, I highly recommend that you do. You will fall in love with the things she loves!

The lovely Alex

In other news, my dear friends at Motorola are currently running a fantastic competition to find the new face for their super cool new phone, the Motorola FLIPOUT™ with MOTOBLUR™ technology! The theme is "Hip to be Square", so if you think you've got the perfect geek-chic style to front their campain, head over to www.motorolasquare.com and upload your photo right now! The public will judge the hippest, squarest and best photographs, and the selected winners will become one of the faces of the very hip and square Motorola FLIPOUT. The photoshoot will be styled by some pretty amazing bloggers (names to be revealed soooon), so it should be a lot of fun.

That's all for now, folks! I have something VERY exciting to tell you soon, so watch this space.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Fashion confusion and other animals

2010-06-06T18:48:00.004+01:00

One sunny day last week, I walked into my office wearing my brand new cream lace jacket. I like my lace jacket. It's light, dreamy and romantic, not to mention very practical considering England's infamous skitzophrenic weather. As an old lady trapped in the body of a young girl, the very idea of wearing lace sends me to a softly-lit ethereal dreamland, filled with hazy pinks and elegant muted tones.

My lace jacket (from River Island, in case you're wondering)

As soon as I near my desk, my colleague Luke approaches.

"Frankie, my Nan called." He said.
"Oh yeah?" I reply, feigning interest.
"Yeah...she wants her curtains back."

I couldn't believe it! I'd just arrived at work. I'd been there a grand total of three seconds, and already I was being faced with outfit jibes.

I don't know about you, but I have been the victim of what I like to call "fashion confusion" on a number of occasions. There have been several instances where I have met up with friends, colleagues and even members of my own family, and they simply haven't understood what I'm wearing and why I am wearing it. "What's to understand?" I frequently respond. "I just wear things that I like."

I'm sure I'm not alone in this, so I'm opening up my blogger's heart to you, dear reader. Have you been the victim of "fashion confusion"? Are you regularly met with grimaces of horror at your outfit choices? I want to hear about it. As the dashingly handsome Pharrell said on the last episode of Frock Me, "Worry about the comments later. And by the way, if they're commenting on you, they are watching you". Wise words indeed.

Together we can rise up and fight for fashion open mindedness!

Who's with me?

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

An evening with Gumtree

2010-05-31T18:56:00.003+01:00

Happy Bank Holiday Monday, my lovely friends!

Have you had a good weekend? I do hope so.

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who commented on my Gumtree thingy. It was VERY much appreciated, and it's good to know there are many others out there who love East London as much as I do.

To celebrate all of the Gumtree fun, a few bloggers and twitter-types were invited to South Bank for a mysterious meet up and evening of fun. The surprise was a rather glamourous trip on the London Eye, complete with champagne and canapes!

Not only was it pretty incredible to get such a great view of my beloved London, but it was also so nice to meet some new people. I had a good ol' chat with the lovely MJ of dreaming spires and old car tyre and her equally lovely friend Moya, and it was also lovely to finally meet Nicola of 1000 heads! Their company do such good work.

Getting ready for lift off...Moya, my friend Amelia and MJ of dreaming spires and old car tyres

This is just how we roll...

The lovely Nicola of 1000 heads

There's nothing like a good London sunset

It was such a fun night. Thanks again, kind people of Gumtree!

I'm ever so busy at the moment, but I'll have some very exciting news to tell you soon. Watch this very space, ok?

That's all for now, folks.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell needs YOU!

2010-05-22T23:15:00.003+01:00

I love East London - the view from my flat

Lovely, lovely readers of my humble blog - I need your help!

As you may already know, I am very happy and proud to live in East London (Dalston, to be precise). I have lived in this area for nearly a year now, and I absolutely love it. For every horror story you may hear about Dalston, Hackney and the surrounding areas, there are triple the amount of beautiful and charming areas that are worth visiting. If you've never been there before, I think you'd be pleasantly surprised.

So when Gumtree invited me to take part in a competition to help promote my community, needless to say I jumped at the chance. For my entry, I had to write my favourite things about Hackney. It was difficult to pick just five, as there are so many different things! To read my entry, just head on over to my Gumtree advert.

After you've read my advert, I'd be sincerely grateful if you could do me a HUGE favour. All you have to do is visit the Gumtree forum post about my advert and let me know what you think. The only teeny-tiny catch is that you need to register to post, but it only takes a couple of minutes (it's even quicker if you sign up using your Facebook account). The forum thread is right here.

If you do this huge favour and leave your email address in the comment over at Gumtree, I'll give you 15% off to spend at www.swell-vintage.com! Not only that, but you could also be in with a chance of winning a prize yourself - not bad, eh?

Thanks for reading, and thanks x2 if you leave a comment! It'll mean the world to me.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell loves pretaportobello

2010-05-17T11:06:00.003+01:00

I've been a pretty big fan of pretaportobello.com for a long time now. If you haven't been there before, you're in for a treat - not only does this online fashion market stock some cracking independent brands (Dahlia, Toki and Nabi and Blush to name but a few...), but they also have a rather lovely vintage collection.

Needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled to win one of their Facebook competitions! My prize was this absolutely stunning Leonie Saliba leather bag:

Such lovely soft leather! A perfect accompaniment for any spring outfit, don't you agree? It's available in lots of different colours, but I chose 'tan' for a classic satchel look.

However, we have a problem. At the moment I'm trying to be very good with my money, but I have now seen the following things that I NEED in my life as soon as possible:

Image courtesy of pretaportobello.com

This Trollied Dolly floral dress is so Zooey Deschanel it makes me weep inside. I think it could definitely guarantee me 500 days of summer...

Image courtesy of pretaportobello.com

I cannot believe this Ci Ci dress is only £38! With all that ruffle detail and fabric, I would have thought it was double that. I love that it has an adorable bow sash too. It's all about the little details, don't you think?

Image courtesy of pretaportobello.com

The light chiffon and delicate vintage-style detail of this Maggie Cook shrug has got me smitten. I can just see softening a hard all black outfit or adding an elegant touch to a simply dress. NEED.

Image courtesy of pretaportobello.com

I've been eyeing up these Dahlia leather petal shoes for a long time, and I'm convinced they're the shoes for me. It's like wearing flowers ON YOUR FEET! Who doesn't want to do that?! And there's good news, hayfever suffers - the petals aren't real, so anyone can enjoy! Genius.

Anyway, this post has been a very long-winded way of saying a huge THANK YOU to the wonderful people over at pretaportobello.com - I love your site, I love your work and basically, I love you.

What do you think of pretaportobello.com? I'd love to know. Sock it to me, people!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell bloggers

2010-05-09T19:36:00.004+01:00

This week I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to the Motorola Fashion Blogger dinner. Organised by the wonderful Nik Thakkar and Fiona of Save Our Shoes, the dinner was a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and learn more about how Motorola technology can help improve social networking.

Although it was lovely to hang out with my good friends Fiona of Save Our Shoes, Reena of Fashion Daydreams, Sarah of The Enchanted Hunters and Jenny of The Style PA, it was also really nice to meet new people and put some faces to blogger names! Maria (aka Ruby Cadillac), Alize of Alize Morand, Steve Salter of Style Salvage and Matthew from PR Wonderland are all very lovely and friendly.

Here are some photos from the evening:

Fiona of Save Our Shoes and Sarah of The Enchanted Hunters

Bloggers and Fraser King, a product developer for Motorola

Blogger chatter

Maria (aka Ruby Cadillac) and a lovely lady from Motorola

Reena of Fashion Daydreams and I

As part of my Polaroid heart project (more on that sooooon), I also took a couple of Polaroids. Totally worth lugging that beast of a camera out for!

Sarah of The Enchanted Hunters, Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Fiona of Save Our Shoes

All of the above, plus me and Jenny of The Style PA

I had such a fun night, and I look forward to future meet ups. I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to Nik, Fiona and all of the Motorola team for a lovely dinner and an excellent night!

In other news, Swell Vintage jewellery is now officially for sale over in Sweden! I'm ever so excited. Visit the Fanny & Magdalena Kellerman Vintage & Mint boutique blog for more information.

That's all for now.

Many thanks,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

The Swell Family album

2010-05-01T21:39:00.002+01:00

Oh my goodness, it's been a while! Apologies for the unprecedented absense. Life just gets in the way sometimes, you know?

I've blogged about my family before, but now I want to share some of my favourite family photos with you. I've wanted to do this post for SUCH a long time, and I'm feeling extra nostalgic today. I am very proud of my family, and I am especially proud of my English/Egyptian/Italian heritage. My age-defying Nana and my Mother have always been a huge inspiration to me. Both of them modelled when they were younger, and both them were (and actually, still are) incredibly beautiful. Not only that, but when I was looking back through these photos, I was struck by the incredible fashions of the time and how many of them can still be found on the catwalks today. There are so many people out there who desperately try to emulate these looks, but back then it all came very naturally to my Mum and Nana. It was just a part of who they were.

Here are a few of my vintage family photos, including some of my favourite looks:

My Nana
Despite having Italian parents, my Nana grew up in Egypt. It's no wonder she caught the eye of my Granddad, son of the famous Egyptian actor Abbas Fares. I absolutely adore these photos, and amazingly she still looks gorgeous and young today at 80 years old!

No, that's not Rita Hayworth - that's my Nana! I love the cheeky hint of nautical glamour here - perfect for spring/summer 10!

No, that's not Raquel Welch - that's my Nana! Long gold chains are huge at the moment, just as they were then.

Classic vintage style and beauty. I think it's time to dig the heated rollers out!

Looking every inch the exotic beauty. And this was in the days before photoshop! Look at that skin...sigh.

My Mum
She tends to down-play her modelling past, but the fact is my Mum looks amazing in all of her photographs. She worked on Carnaby Street in the Sixties, where she used to do the charts for Music Week - can you get much cooler than that?! I have so many amazing photos of her, but these are my ultimate favourites.

Bond-girl chic with bow detailing - what a stunner. The metallic bikini makes for a hot poolside look. My Mum proves that you don't have to be skin and bones to model swimwear. She's got hips, and she's not afraid to use them. As Tyra would say, she's modelling "H to T" (look at that pointed toe!).

Fresh faced and fancy-free. Is that a jumpsuit, I spy? I've loved to have a good feel of that fabric...looks interesting to say the least!

This is my Mum with my step-grandmother, Bobbie (she was also an amazing person. I miss you, Bobbie!). Hello, statement jacket! Look at that sequin detailing. You can find jackets like this in Topshop and other high street shops for around £100, but this is the real deal. If she's thrown this away, I will be seriously upset...

Big hat - check. Seventies fur trim - check. Patent leather handbag - check. Can you think of a more perfect look for Autumn/Winter 10?

Now this isn't really a look that I would personally wear - in fact, my Mum herself always cringes at this photo - but to me, this photo is all about individuality. Fashion should be about experimenting and trying different looks that are unique to you, and that is exactly what my Mum is doing here. Be brave and create some fashion memories of your very own!

Last but not least, I want to show you a couple of photos of my Granddad, Gamal Fares. I met my Granddad when I was only a few months old (he died of cancer shortly after) so I do not remember him, but I am always told that he was a deeply interesting man. I love these photos of him because they show what a stylish man and powerful man he was. My Granddad wasn't always good to the women in his life, but he certainly had a lot of them!

This is my Granddad with Bobbie, who he left my Nana for. You can see glasses like that on men all over East London, but very few of them can wear this look with the same natural style as my Granddad. Look how enamoured Bobbie was with him in this photo. It's amazing how a photograph can capture an emotion like that.

This is a photo of my Mum, Granddad and his mistress! No word of a lie! Shockingly, there are a number of photos like this mixed in with our family collection. I wonder how Bobbie felt about that! That being said, look at the print his mistress is wearing - with bold prints being huge this season, that outfit wouldn't look out of place on the high street.

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed the Swell Family album! Would you like to see more? Just let me know and I might do another post. In other news, I've been beavering away to make more glasses chains, so expect to see a post on that soon.

Until then, have a lovely long weekend!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell spectacle

2010-04-11T19:01:00.002+01:00

You may not know this (or even care to know this), but I do in fact wear glasses. I'm horribly short sighted, and it's definitely getting worse. For the past year or so, I've been in massive denile about my apalling eyesight, insisting that I only need to wear my glasses at the cinema or when looking at presentations.

I think it's because glasses are annoying to carry around, and most of the time I forget them. This has lead to a new idea for Swell Vintage - glasses chains! Although glasses chains are normally associated with librarians and - let's be honest - the elderly, I don't think they have to be mumsy or cheap looking as they so often are.

This is my prototype! It's made with vintage chain and adorned with freshwater pearls. I'm planning on doing a whole range, using different vintage chains to create one-of-a-kind designs.

So what do you think? Do you think it's a bit too old lady-esque, or is it something you'd considering wearing? I'd love to know what you think, so please let me know - all feedback is welcome, good and bad!

In other news, I was recently interviewed by the wonderful people at DEER BRAINS. If you fancy a read, hop over to their brilliant blog.

That's all for now, folks!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell spring

2010-04-06T20:13:00.003+01:00

Hello everyone!

How are you? Did you have a lovely Easter holiday?

I spent my Bank Holiday Monday beavering away, making some new pieces that I'd love your feedback on:

Apologies for my terrible photography! This necklace is made from a vintage brooch, tweaked and altered with vintage faux pearls, hung on vintage chain with freshwater pearls. It took a looooong time to link all of those pearls individually on sterling silver wire, although it was a labour of love!

This is one of my simpler necklaces, made from a vintage pendant and hung on vintage chain with freshwater pearls.

This necklace is made from a vintage brooch, mounted on a vintage brass locket and linked with vintage chain and freshwater pearls.

So what do you think? These pieces are part of my collection for Fru & Fröken Kellerman, a wonderful boutique in Stockholm, Sweden. I love to hear your thoughts, so please let me know!

Also, I know have one of those Formspring account thingies. If you don't know already, Formspring allows you to ask questions anonymously (or you can be named - it's up to you). You can ask me anything! Just hop on over to the Swell Vintage Formspring profile page.

Anyway, that's enough for one evening. Have a good week, lovely people!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell family

2010-03-29T22:17:00.004+01:00

I'm back!

Apologies for the impromptu break, but I had a very good reason...

Over the last few months, my family and I have been planning a HUGE surprise for my Nana's 80th birthday. My Nana is a brilliantly wonderful and sweet woman, but she is also incredibly modest. When asked what she'd like to do for her birthday, she replied without hesitation, "Nothing. And if you plan anything, I'll kill you."

Undeterred by the (hopefully) light-hearted death threat, we continued with our sneaky birthday planning. My Nana, Aunty, Uncle and three of my little cousins all live in the south of Spain. While we visit when we can, it doesn't happen often, so we knew she'd never expect the British contingent of our family to be there for her big day!

It's always hard to know what to give someone for such a milestone of a birthday. I knew that other family members were planning photo albums and other personal gifts, so I was thrown for a while. "Why don't you make her a necklace?" my Mum suggested.

It took a lot of planning on my part, because I wanted to make my Nana something as beautiful and unique as she is, but she doesn't really like the vintage style. This is the first piece of jewellery I've ever made that contains no vintage or antique parts, but I'm still pretty pleased with how it turned out:

The 'Mirella' necklace is made from freshwater pearls, individually linked with sterling silver and adorned with a nice big swarovski crystal. I wanted to do something a bit different from just pearls, as they can look quite aging and samey.

Luckily, my Nana loved it and she looked absolutely stunning:

She doesn't look 80, does she?! Fingers crossed I've inherited these good genes!

So what do you think of the necklace? Do you prefer a more vintage style, or should I expand Swell to include new styles? I'd love to know what you think.

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell break

2010-03-21T22:44:00.002Z

Swell Vintage is taking some time out...

(Times, they are a-changing - available at www.swell-vintage.com)

...but I'll be back soon!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell Sweden

2010-03-08T20:34:00.002Z

I've mentioned Fru & Fröken Kellerman in past blog posts, but I think it's time to go into a bit more detail...

The lovely Fanny of Fru & Fröken Kellerman, a new boutique in the stunning city of Stockholm, got in touch a little while back to ask about selling some of my jewellery. Of course, I jumped over the moon and back at the chance - not just because it's a new stockist, but also because I could tell that Fanny and her talented Mother, who are the brains behind Fru & Fröken Kellerman, share my love and passion for vintage and fashion (hey, that rhymes!).

Fru & Fröken Kellerman is a lifestyle shop that stocks a mix of vintage, vintage-inspired goods and new designs, so I have no doubt that Swell Vintage will fit in perfectly. I've already shown you some of the pieces that will be Sweden-bound soon, but here's my latest one:

The Goddess Locket: a locket necklace made from a vintage brass locket and vintage cameo, hung on vintage faux pearl and brass chain.

So what do you think? Do you like it? I want to make my collection for Fru & Fröken Kellerman really special, so any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated!

If you fancy reading more about Fanny and Fru & Fröken Kellerman, you should pop over to her lovely blog. It's full of lovely things, news and gorgeous fashion!

That's all for now, folks!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell weekend

2010-02-28T17:51:00.005Z

...and what a weekend it's been!

Yesterday Fiona of Save Our Shoes (my winner) and I went to London Fashion Weekend, courtesy of 3mobilebuzz, to take in some fashion and tweet with some other blogging ladies. If you were on Twitter yesterday, you were probably bombarded by our tweets throughout the day from our 3 mobile phones! I was given a HTC Hero, which took a little getting used to, but over all it's a very fancy phone. If you love a gadget, you'll love this phone.

(Fiona and I)

Fiona, Siobhan of 1000heads, Carrie of Wish Wish Wish, Katie of Unicorn Katie and Michelle of 1000heads.

Natasha of Natasha Bailie and Lindsey of Be Gorgeous

Armed with our special 3 mobile phones, we were ready to take on the day! The first thing we did when we all arrived was head straight to Luella:

I literally couldn't believe my eyes when we got in there - so many beautiful things for ridiculously low sale prices! It is incredibly sad that Luella is no more, so we decided to do our bit for this worthy cause...

(Part of) Carrie, Lindsey, Sarah from 3mobile, Fiona, Michelle and I

I'm head-over-heels in love with my new bag, and Fiona also managed to score a bargain

Natasha Bailie (who owns an awesome vintage shop, by the way) bought the most amazing vintage Christian Dior sunglasses!

After a bit of mooching around some incredible stands, we headed into the tent to watch some catwalk action.

I can't even express in words how much fun this (well, the whole day actually) was. All of these girls are absolutely amazing, and without gushing too much, I'm basically in love with all of them. The catwalk show was brilliant, but I have no doubt that it wouldn't have been as great if these ladies weren't with me.

Here are a couple of my favourite catwalk looks:

(It's Mecia, winner of Britain's Next Top Model!)

I really enjoyed Betty Jackson's pieces (bum ruffles are NOT just for children, FYI...) and all of the romance and floatiness that poured from the catwalk. Dreamy.

Basically I had the best Saturday ever! I got to spend the day looking at beautiful fashion with the loveliest people - what more could a girl want?! I want to say a huge giant THANK YOU to the lovely ladies at 1000heads and 3mobilebuzz for making our day so fantastic, and to all of my new gorgeous blogging friends - same time next year, ladies??

I think I'm rambled on and gushed quite enough for one day! Next week I'll be posting some photos of new designs (promise).

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

x

Swell winning

2010-02-24T20:19:00.003Z

...and the winner of the 3mobilebuzz competition is...

FIONA OF SAVE OUR SHOES!!!

I had such a hard time picking a winner, so in the end I had to use an online random name picker! A HUGE thank you to everyone who entered - the photos were all genius and amazing. The theme was 'the best things in life are free'. Three of my favourites include...

Receiving parcels makes life sweet and amazing by Artichoke Zine

Emails that make you smile by Sarah Drinkwater

Fun things you find in a skip by Lauren Cooke

Fiona and I will be tweeting from London Fashion Weekend this very Saturday, so keep your eye on Twitter if you fancy hearing about our day. We've been given a HTC Hero to tweet from. Needless to say, I'm terrified that I'm going to break it.

In other news, LoveMyDress.net have featured a lovely piece about Swell Vintage. It's such a gorgeous website, and they said some very kind words! If you fancy reading it, head on over there.

That's all for now, folks. See you Saturday!

Much love,

Frankie
Swell Vintage

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