Madame Guillotine

What a beautiful summer we are having in the UK :)

Usually when we are promised a rare sunny weekend a mad supermarket stampede ensues, with people panic buying disposable BBQ's, stripey straws, citronella candles, burger relish, coleslaw and slabs of animal carcass to marinade and grill. We've done the BBQing now, it's out of our systems and not once did we have to escape indoors or cower underneath a gazebo cause the clouds decided to start chucking cats and dogs at us. At the moment we are living like jammy Aussies who can throw a shrimp on the barbie whenever we see fit and it's blooming great!

If the BBC weather website is anything to go by we are set for a few more days of cloudless skies and soaring temperatures before a little bit of rain is forecast.

Yesterday I told you of how parts of the park has been transformed into an arid steppe scattered with skimpy bikini & speedo clad bodies. It has also recently become our dining-room. Mark and I decided that for the duration of this glorious heatwave we'll be having our dinners on a blanket in the park.

So when Mark comes home from work in the afternoon, I stand ready with a cool bag full of goodies to go.

As we were walking up to the park yesterday we spotted something rather random...

A guillotine...maybe en route to Parliament Square, who knows?!

Needless to say it was padlocked and a girl was sitting nearby minding it. I didn't think to ask why it was there but quite often the park is used as a filming location. The girl didn't mind me posing in front of Madame Guillotine, I'm sure I wasn't the first person to do it.

Whenever I wear this skirt I feel an uncontrollable twirl need...

Tie-dye ruffle hem Hippie skirt (charity shop),  Handmade crochet top (a gift from my beloved mother), Frocktasia necklace, soapstone heart & macrame earrings, 80s sunnies (eBay), Havaianas flip-flops (gift from a Brazilian friend).

Larking about in the park with a gory guillotine in the background...
just one of life's little pleasures ;)

Speaking of little pleasures, both Mark and I are really enjoying being able to have our dinner in the park.

Yesterday I made pasta salad that we topped with a bit of grated cheddar cheese. I bought cheese topped rolls, cranberry juice and pretzels from Lidl. I also made a spicy chutney chickpea dip to go with it.

I refuse to by hummus at the supermarket cause a lot of the time shop bought ones are too bland for my taste buds. Making your own is so cheap and easy anyway.

If you want to give it a go...

*Whole can of chickpeas in brine, rinse well cause they smell a bit like cat food straight out of the can.

*Spoonful of tahini paste or more depending on your own preference.

*Some olive oil, salt and pepper.

*Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice.

*A few cloves of garlic.

Before blending I often jazz it up with some more spices (I love paprika powder) and a spoonful of chutney, pesto, vegetarian tapenade or something else that is yummy.

I use my trusty hand-blender to mix it all into a smooth creamy paste and if it's too thick I add a little bit of tap water to get the consistency that I desire.

Easy peasy lemon squeesy with a whole lot of yummy rolled in :)

I made this GIF image after another wonderful day in the park last summer...

 I'll love you and leave you with Yeah Yeah Yeahs, enjoy :)

Take care,

Jennie

xXx

Atomic winter

I sometimes have the oddest thoughts! 

As I was hanging the washing out on the balcony the other day, freezing my fingers off, I started thinking...

"What if this is it, what if winter becomes permanent and this is as good as it will get temperature wise".

I know, the stuff of nightmares right?!

It is thought that the climate would be profoundly effected if for instance nuclear war was to rage across the planet or perhaps a supervolcano decided to erupt or a comet or an asteroid happened to slam into the globe.

The theory goes that if vast amounts of smoke and soot was to be ejected into the earth's stratosphere, the little spinning ball that we call home would be plunged into perpetual winter.

Horrible thought, eh?!

Of course the snow covered naked branches of the trees are pretty and create spectacular backdrop but I have to say that I am now officially fed up with winter and I want spring to march on in and sweep the bastard thing away once and for all!

I was very happy to see that the bird lovers had come out in force today,  there was seed scattered everywhere on top of the snow by the pond.

I'm not the only crazy bird lady around this neck of the woods, I'll have you know ;)

The other day this sweet little girl came up to me as I was hand feeding Lilo and asked if she could have a go. I lent her my "feeding glove" and she was absolutely ecstatic when the Lilo started eating seed from her hand, so sweet!

It's been snowing heaps here today and there's still some snow fall forecast for tonight.

When will this snowy madness end? 

Vintage coat by Spinney, 90s velvet catsuit, hooded cloak dress, Handmade African necklace  gift from my mum, DM boots, 99p stores snood, gloves, slouchy hat & Frocktasia earrings.

I'm playing catch-up with my 'daily ensemble' pics, this is what I wore to go and see Leslie yesterday...

My sister in Copenhagen sent me this awesome 70s bright red needle cord maxi skirt. I'm guessing that the flowers were hand-painted by Inger Leth.

The stunning necklace was a car boot sale bargain from last year, it's a really unusual piece. There's an inscription at the back which reads 'By Laurent Guinci'.

Vintage 70s cord maxi skirt, 70s suede lace-up waistcoat, 80s butterfly belt, 80s boots, 90s floral lace leotard, I also wore a great big faux-fur coat, a faux-fur hat, gloves and snood...it was freezing and damp outside yesterday.

Leslie sent me this pic from last months Can't Buy Me Love market...

There's me peddling my gear to a very dapper chappy. You can also spot  Mark looking on proudly as his wife gets into the swing of things & lovely Sara from Hello The Mushroom :) The pic was borrowed from the CBML blog.

I won't be there this month because my other sister is popping over from Sweden for Easter and we are heading up to Edinburgh for a few days which will be ever so splendid.

If you are in London on the 30th of March you can still go and see Jet-Marie, Leslie and all the other brilliant sellers that will be there at the Can't Buy Me Love Easter Special.

I'm hoping to return there next month, so watch this space ;)

Today's tune is Atomic by Blondie, enjoy :)

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

You make me feel like I am fun again!

Have I told you lately how fabulous you all are and how much I appreciate having you wonderful peeps in my life?

Yes, Jennie stop going on about it or we'll have to make the bucket beside us a permanent feature, K?!

It has to be said though, in the past few months my lust for blogging has returned with a vengeance & a cursory glance at my yearly blog archive spells it out...

...this years post tally is speeding past the previous years at a rate of knots.

I personally put it down to your encouraging continued visits to my little nook of the blogosphere :)

For a long time I isolated myself, I became the silent onlooker to a party that I felt unworthy of part taking in.

I watched you all being fabulous and having fun, interacting with each other and even though I wanted to join in I felt  too craven to do so. 

I felt that through my silence, I'd lost my place in the gang.

Then one day I started taking tentative steps back into the circle and was very happy to find that there were still people there ready to welcome me back with open arms.

Then all of a sudden I felt as if I was fun again!

It was like a flower bomb of colour and warmth had gone off quite unexpectedly.

I started commenting and getting comments in return.

I felt welcomed, encouraged, inspired & enthralled.

I felt like busting open the bags and diving into the drawers to unearth fabulous clobber to wear.

Thank you for rekindling a fire that had all but gone out and thank you for being there for me after my long absence, I guess that is the mark of true friendship, virtual or otherwise.

I just wanted to tell you how much you mean to me...gush over (for now).

Vintage 70s velvet psychedelic print maxi skirt,  60s lace panel top, 70s suede jacket, 50s booties, 60s velvet painters beret, opera gloves, brass bangles & Frocktasia 'Grumpy Suns' earrings.

 Today's tune is 'Lovesong' by The Cure,  enjoy :)

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

I don't want to grow up

In the late 70s I used to watch an animated program on Swedish telly called 'Fabrorn som inte vill va stor' which translates to 'The man who doesn't want to be a grown up'. 

The story is about a 32 year old man who works in an office but spends most his days escaping into dreams about being a kid again.

Here's the opening score...

The idea of never wanting to "grow up" is one that has been quite prevalent in my own life.

It's not that I'm immature or shy away from responsibility but I've just never been able to buy into the whole "You're an adult now, stop doing fun things" malarkey.

If it makes you happy surely you should continue doing it regardless of what age you happen to be?!

The way I see it climbing a tree, having a go on the swings or playing dress up shouldn't have a "best do before date", that's just bullshit!

When I was working at a nursery school in 2003 the other ladies would roll their eyes as I ran around with the kids playing. 

They'd just stand there like playground police, intermittently shouting orders at the kids whilst regurgitating all the crap they'd watched on the telly the previous night.

I'm not one for just standing around and I will find work for myself, if other people struggle to.

Getting involved in the games that the kids were playing made the eight hour working day go a whole lot quicker than if I had just sat on my ass, chin-wagging about absolute nonsense.

I still love swinging around lampposts and walking on walls & balancing on bollards.

Do I ever fear the disapproval or ridicule of others?

Over the years I've become rather indifferent to what other people think cause in the grand scheme of things they don't really matter.

What matters is that I am happy in my own 'big kid' skin.

Thankfully Mark is very similar to me so I don't have to be a completely lone "loon" skipping down the street vaulting over obstacles and swinging off railings.

Vintage jacket, 60s pleated mini dress, tulle skirt, 90s floral lace leotard, 90s scrunch textured leggings, boucle baker boy cap, DM boots  & Frocktasia Earrings and necklace.

 A close-up of my 'Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two' necklace...

I'm dreadfully behind on my blog reading this week but I'm hoping to grab a few hours later to catch up on what you gorgeous peeps have been up to :)

We went to the awesome Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons near Holborn today.

Unfortunately you are not allowed to take photos or film but you can check out some of the rather ghoulish exhibits here.

Hope you are all having a fabulous & funderful weekend.

Today's tune is by The Ramones, enjoy :)

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

Choose Life

"Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourself.

Choose your future...

Like Renton I choose something else too but thankfully it wasn't heroine.

I choose to chase my dreams :)

Life is sweet when you don't have to jostle for space on the tube at seven in the morning to get to work & then spend your day in a drab-ass uniform, working for a complete bunch of wankfists.

Grateful? You bet!

Sometimes I do have to bite the bullet though, when the bills are dropping through the letterbox like evil cluster bombs...usually at this time of year...stinging water rates & another years worth of painful council tax.

When it comes to working for the man I've always had a guerrilla approach, in and out as quick as you like.

It probably has a lot to do with the sort of soul destroying jobs that litter my past.

The longest I've ever lasted in one place was four and a half years at 'The Lamb & Flag' in Covent Garden. The job itself was as brain-numbing as they come but the people were awesome and the owners relished individuals. You could be yourself and dress the way you liked. 

Unfortunately the pub was sold to a big faceless brewery and that's when I jumped ship. 

The mere thought of working for a big company and having to wear a uniform gives me daymares.

I still know a few publicans in the West End so I may be able to get a wee part-time gig in a pub, as long as it doesn't interfere with my Frocktasia marketeering ;)

Today's ensemble was inspired by licorice allsorts...

Vintage 60s bubblegum pink skirt suit, 70s dagger collar shirt, 80s silk tie, J & M pin-badges, layered tights (sheer black & green nets), 80s boots, 50s crochet beret, gloves & Frocktasia earrings.

I'm currently re-reading Trainspotting in Swedish and I'm finding the translation rather hilarious for want of a better word, talk about lost in translation.

Have an awesome Friday folks, enjoy :)

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

Mums are amazing

Last time I wore the dress I am wearing today was on the 18th of May 2010.

Now you're probably thinking that something very special happened on that particular day or that I have a photographic memory but the truth is I cheated.

How?

By looking back in my old style diary ;)

I know I haven't worn it since cause it has been carefully stashed away in a bag of vintage frocks in the loft until yesterday.

This flirty vintage mini frock was a gift from a dear friend that used to live with us, it belonged to her mother who wore it to various dances in Fort William back in the 60s.

This is another one of those frocks that I couldn't possibly bear to part with.

I actually feel as if I'm its safe-keeper rather than owner and I therefore want to keep it pristine should Claire or any of her nieces ever want it back.

I only have a handful of my own mum's garments from the 70s/80s in my wardrobe but they are highly prized possessions indeed. 

There's something really special about wearing them; the feeling is akin to getting a really loving hug just when you need it the most.

I've blogged about my mum's vintage clobber before, you can check the posts out here & here.

My mum is a wonderful & wise woman, she is the kindest and most patient person I know. 

She's been a solid rock for all her six kids throughout our lives and whenever we've fucked up, no matter how many times, she's always been there to bail us out and get us back on track.

When we were on holiday together over Christmas mum was feeling quite overpowered by the heat and even a small physical exertion made her feel almost faint, when they got back to Sweden she went to see her doctor and was diagnosed with an outrageously high blood pressure. 

The doctor even told her that she'd probably had a narrow escape from getting a stroke out in Thailand.

 She's now on pills that are slowly bringing the blood pressure down but most importantly she's lost a bit of weight & knocked booze on the head which is very good. 

You can't tell her to take it easy though, cause she just won't, she makes a workaholic look like an idler. 

She runs her own business, selling mainly kids stuff on Swedish eBay and works on average a ten hour day, I only wish I had inherited her gusto for hardcore toil.

It's not mother's day in Sweden until the last Sunday in May but I'll be sending my beloved mamma lots of positive & loving vibes tomorrow anyway :)

Vintage 60s psychedelic print dress, lurex tights, 80s boots, retro PVC coat, lurex bucket hat & Frocktasia earrings.

Here's the outfit that I wore on the 18th of May 2010...

it's a bit Pippi Longstocking meets the Twilight Saga-esque, not sure if that was what I was aiming for ;)

Hope you will all have a lovely day tomorrow.

If mummy is still around make sure you take the opportunity to reach out and tell her that she's AMAZING!

If mummy lives in your heart, then why not wear something that she used to love in honor of her memory.

Here's to all the mums that have been, are and ever will be...you ROCK!

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

I'm with the band

Many moons ago when Mark & I lived in Glasgow, we had a band called 'Gretchen'.

The boys (Mark, Jim, Dave & Allen) and myself practiced every Sunday and gigged regularly for a year at intimate venues like 'Nice N Sleazy' and 'The 13th Note'. 

We never got to the recording stage before splitting up but thankfully Mark bought me a four track recorder, so I do have a whole heap of live demos, from various rehearsal sessions, that I like to dust off and listen to every now and again ;)

The band didn't split up because of artistic differences, it was simply life pulling us all in different directions.

Mark and I moved to London, Jim changed career and relocated and Dave became a father.

Allen is still living the rock and roll dream though, playing bass in Maiden Scotland an Iron Maiden tribute band.

I actually still have both the trousers and the jacket that I'm wearing in these pictures...

The striped cami was my mums from the early 80s, the pink boucle jacket was bought from the Benetton sale in '96 (with some tax rebate money), the mad space boots I bagged in Copenhagen in '99, they were originally priced at over £100 but the zip was "bust" so they had been marked down to a mere £20. I took the boots to a cobblers in Copenhagen and he had them fixed in two minutes flat and didn't even charge me for it. The trousers I bought in the Topshop winter sale in 2000.

I'm amazed at how brand spanking these trousers still look cause I've worn them a lot...

I know that I usually harp on about how modern High Street clothing have no longevity because of  poor quality but I may have to eat my hat about this conjecture, cause in some cases it is obviously not true.

I told you the lurex jumper would get a few more outings this month...

number one and counting ;)

It was so nice outside today I didn't even have to wear a jacket or coat.

The fabulous fuchsia pink felt is by St Saviours Hats, these hats usually retail at over £50.

Needless to say I paid rather less than that, cause I am the original bargain bint ;)

00s Topshop trousers, cropped lurex jumper, vintage 60s psychedelic print shirt, Indian block print silk scarf, St Saviours  felt hat, velvet gloves, mini cross & safety-pin earrings & 80s boots.

Before I sign off I'd also like to tell you that I have made a fabulous new addition to my little gang of  Legendary Frockstars, namely Ariane of Style Sud-Est. 

She always bowls me over with her amazing style! 

If she's unknown to you, go check her out, you won't regret it :) 

I did want to share a song that Mark and I wrote a few years ago but I can't upload it, so here's a tune that we covered back in the gigging days in Glasgow, enjoy :)

Almost weekend again, huzzah!
Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx

I spy

When I first started blogging back in 2007 on a Swedish fashion blog platform called Modette, my daily blog  post would usually only consist of a picture and a short description of what I was wearing that day.

I blogged on Modette for a year before the site was bought up by a news company that decided that they wanted handpicked & trendy bloggers rather than people like me, so my blog was unceremoniously binned. 

Then I started my first blogspot blog called Calamity Jem's Vintage Vaudeville and although I spent a good few years blogging about charity shop bargains, car boot sale treasures and my daily get-ups (mostly photographed in the same spot on the balcony) I never felt entirely happy with the blog itself.

 So in 2011 I decided I needed a change and Frocktasia was born.

To start off with I had this idea that I wanted to keep my "daily ensembles" in a separate place, however slowly but surely they've crept back in to my regular blog content.

Why?

I love looking at other people's outfits and I love sharing mine, it's as simple as that really :)

Here are my February 2013 outfits...

Have you got a favourite?

I really loved wearing the cropped lurex jumper and I'm sure it'll get a fair few outings this month too :)

Today's ensemble was a bit 'Cold War Spy'...

...mixed with a large dollop of 'Comic Strip Heroine'...

I bought these trippy tie-dye tights from a Swedish High Street store called Indiska in their sale when I was across two years ago. Shortly after I returned home they disappeared without a trace. I found them again the other week whilst going through my stash of vintage bags, they were stuffed inside a very elegant 50s handbag. Very odd but I'm sure that it must have made perfect sense at the time ;)

Vintage 70s leather coat...I do love a good leather coat! I know, I know...not very vegan of me :(
Vintage 80s jumper, satin & lace corset, latex belt by House of Harlot, vintage 80s boots, faux-leather hotpants, opera gloves, Indian sari wrap as scarf & Frocktasia earrings. 

What is your view on outfit posts, do you love them or loathe them?

How many pics of the same outfit do you think is overkill in an outfit post?

I'll leave you with a wee ditty by Norwegian singer songwriter Mikhael Paskalev, 

enjoy :)

Lot's of love,
Jennie
xXx