Vintage Frilly Things

OK - I am still on a retro lingerie thing. I have been trawling teh interwebs for exciting lingerie and - OMG - look no further!!

I have found (and fell in love with) the FairyGothMother. Don't be fooled by the name. She's not going to show up and pop Cinderella into a black gown with lots of heavy eye-liner*. Oh no. She's gonna show up and make Cinders look like this:

I think Prince Charming would approve!!

*Although, let's be clear. She could do that too. But with STYLE:

FABULOUS!!!

I would also heartily recommend the following sites if this tickles your fancy:

Miss Katie - for her fabulous corsetry

Pleasure State - for some elegant and sensual creations

Ayton Gasson - for some delicate lace dreams

Pandora's Choice - for a great range

Kiss Me Deadly - the name says it all

Burlesque Costumes - for fringed numbers (as shown here by Bettie Page)

**Sigh** I curse my money troubles!!

Mid-week Wonders

Decided to stay in and so Bean and I had a yummy curry (ummmm, side dishes) and watched Sex and the City. I can't believe it took me so long to watch it! I guess the hype was too much for me. However, I actually really enjoyed it (especially the fashion!). Not a fan of Samantha's character at all though - what a selfish b*tch!!!

Not sure I want to star watching the series though - I've not really ever seen any of them and would prefer not to start from the beginning! I also am not sure that they will be the same quality as the film - Bean says she'll road test them for me though - so that's OK! ;-)

Corsets and bullet bras galore!

So, seeing how I'm on a bit of a retro trip at the moment, I decided to see how far you could take it. In doing so, I have come across the most fantastic lingerie collection.

Check this out! They are called What Katie Did (not to be confused with the book by the same name!), and these are some of my highlights:

Just stunning!!!!

A week??

No way.

It cannot have been a week ago that I last posted on this blog? Well. I need to deal with it - because it was. I am shocked. So many things have happened over the last week - where do I begin??

Last weekend was a bank holiday weekend here in the UK. That meant that it was supposed to be a long weekend of doing nothing: chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool etc. Not necessarily how it turned out, I'm afraid.

Still, without giving too much away, here is a synopsis of my bank holiday:

(1) FRIDAY

Friday night was a right off for me, as I sat for 3.5hrs in a traffic jam. 18 miles of tailbacks on the M4 due to a car and a caravan going down an embankment. Brilliant. Needless to say, that didn't put me in the best of moods!

I must admit to not being quite this bad, but I do HATE traffic jams. I would prefer to gouge out my eyeballs with spoons (way to make a Robin Hood Prince of Thieves reference! Woo!).

(2) SATURDAY

On Saturday, D and I went into Cabot Circus (a new shopping development in Bristol). I think we simply wanted to have a bit of a stroll, I certainly didn't purchase anything (which was a good idea, given the debt levels!).

We stopped off in M&S and got some yummy food in. So we decided that we'd cook and just stayed in watching films. It was nice just to be doing nothing. In fact, I don't even remember what film we watched!! It didn't have zombies in though. Which was good.

(3) SUNDAY

Sunday involved a visit to the beautiful Tyntesfield House, which is on the outskirts of Bristol. It is a National Trust property (makes me SOOOO glad for the membership - I know, I know) which is currently being renovated. I was, admittedly, a little gutted that the place was covered in scaffolding and that there are parts you cannot visit - but the place is so pretty and charming that I soon forgave the interruption. It was actually rather nice to see the place so run down - it will certainly be worth another look once the renovations are complete.

D and I had a lovely picnic on the rather fine lawn, which was lovely. We are becoming picnicking fans - which I guess is a little sad. Still, as someone who will hit the ripe old age of 30 next year, I suppose it's time to start acting my age.

(4) MONDAY

The Apprentice!!!!

So, Bean and I got to the studios only to be told that we were in the reserve list, as the audience was already full. However, there were some guest list seats which could be freed up. So, we waited about 30 minutes - nervously counting all the people that went in before us and hoping that we would be allowed in.

The minutes passed, we patiently waited (in the rain) and sure enough - we were in!! What an experience! For those of you who have never been in a studio audience, I would urge you to try. Everything looks bigger on television - and everything seems quite far away. There are huge cameras (obviously) and microphones everywhere. A boom camera occasionally sweeps in front of you. The recording is stopped every so often, maybe because a lapel mike has moved or a light is blinking. It is all very surreal.

Anyway, the format of the experience was this. Firstly, they played the programme which would go out later that week. In this instance, it was the TV Shopping Episode. Candidates had to appear on a shopping channel, at prime-time, and sell goods picked for them by another member of their team. they also had to try their hands at production. Whichever team sold the most, won.

To cut a long story short - the team of Howard, Kate and Lorraine lost. Having watched the episode, we were all sure that Lorraine would go. In fact, when Sir Alan made his decision - there was an actual pantomime **GASP** from the audience. No-one there had predicted that Howard would be fired!

So, after the episode was shown, Adrian Chiles came onto the set (to a lot of applause). He was joined by a lady who owned a shopping channel, Rufus something or other (Bean likes him) and, wait for it... MARGARET MOUNTFORD. None other!!!!!! THE ACTUAL MARGARET. Needless to say, I was quite excited as I think she's fantastic!!

Watching the live recording was a lot of fun - the panel were hilarious and Howard was just lovely. He's a great guy, but far too nice to have won the Apprentice. There has to be a bit of bad behaviour and ego - and he just didn't come across like that. Bye Howard!!

I would just love to be on the Apprentice next season - but I think that D would lose all respect for me and also that I would easily be voted off on week one (the lawyers always are). However, I just would love the experience and the tasks are great. But I think I'll do everyone a favour and stick to the day job.

OMG

So - it turns out that this lady seriously can do nothing wrong - this Jean Paul Gaultier Calligraphy dress was just made for her. STUNNING.

She is *such* a style icon of mine - I think she's fabulous. *Sigh* if only my equally as white skin could look even slightly that alabaster - instead of like corned beef. :-(

I have nelwy found Twitter - and I think I would only rate it at about a 3 out of 10 had I not found Dita online. Now I can actually STALK her as well as love her. FABULOUS.

Kate

I fell in love for the 1,000,000th time today. Look:
OMG - it's just too lovely. This is from Kate Moss's high summer collection for Topshop. Bliss.

You're fired..?

Cool things happened to me today which I just have to share with you!!

(1) I have an interview tomorrow with none other than Coca-Cola! I think that is a pretty impressive name to want to interview little old me. I am quite excited about it, but haven't got time to do much prep for the interview itself (especially as I am currently updating this blog). However - I am quite excited about it (although I am not entirely convinced I want to be in private practice any longer).

I'll report back on progress...

...on the subject of interviews (see what I did there!?)...

(2) I have tickets to see the Apprentice: You're Fired! being filmed on Monday! Woooooooo! I love the Apprentice - it's the best thing on TV.

I am hoping that evil Debra is fired so that I can watch her being dissected - but I would be equally happy to see Ben, Kate, Lorraine, Howard or Yasmina pulled apart! (Can you tell I am voting for James??!!)

Oh - I just can't wait!!!!!!! Eeeeeeeek!!

YOU'RE FIRED!!!