The Company Magazine Style Blogger Awards 2012

Last night, I attended the long awaited Company Magazine Style Blogger awards for 2012. It was a really fun night, and a brilliant excuse to catch up with a few of my wonderful blogger buddies. Although I didn't win, it was a genuine joy to see members of the blogging community recognised for all of their hard work and efforts - plus I've discovered some new blogs to add to my reader!

Here's the full list of winners for your reading pleasure:

Best "What I'm Wearing Today" Blog
Winner: 5 Inch and Up

Most Gorgeous Photography

Winner: Wish Wish Wish

Best Celebrity Style Watch Blog

Winner: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Best Blog for Crafty Girls

Winner: Flossie Teacakes

Best "We Love Vintage" Blog

Winner: What Katie Wore

Best Street Style Blog

Winner: Face Hunter

Best Blog for High Street Lovers
Winner: LLYMLRS

Best Fashion Insider Blog

Winner: Style Bubble

Best Blog for Catwalk Coverage

Winner: Style Bubble

Best Overall Blog

Winner: 5 Inch and Up

While it was great to catch up with so many of my friends from the wonderful world of blogging, unfortunately not everyone could be there on the night. My beloved Natasha Bailie, who was also nominated and currently resides in Singapore, really wanted to join us but funnily enough wasn't able to make the commute. As I didn't have the money for a plane ticket, I decided to do the next best thing and bring her beautiful face along with me!

Natasha takes a close look at the Style Blogger Awards

The vintage crew catch up with their favourite Bailie

Carina of Carina 100, Maria of Ruby Cadillac, Reena of Fashion Daydreams and Kristabel of I Want You To Know

Reena gets Natasha liquored up

Natasha and I go head to head

How did she get up there?!

Fiona of Save Our Shoes and Lucy of Shiny Thoughts have a chat with the Bailie

Natasha, I hope you had a good night! I think I speak for everyone when I say it was lovely to see you.

I want to say a huge thank you to Company Magazine for nominating me and inviting me along on the night. I had a great time, and hopefully I'll be back again next year!

Much love,

Frankie

Swell Vintage

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Give us a curl

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

x

In good Company

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

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