Suede & Sun Jellies with Georgia May

Aloha, lovelies! I hope you're all well. Today's post marks the first of many in a series as I will be joining forces with my close friend, sassy singer and blogger Georgia Harrup. We started our friendship a while ago through my facebook support group, Retro Mummies & Pregnant Pinups, where we hit it off from the get-go. Georgia kindly invited me to be an extra in her band's (The Northernettes) music video where we met for the first time. Since then myself and Miss Harrup have spoken pretty much every single day via many many many many voice notes ranting, raving and generally rambling.

We decided that we would make a great blogging duo a little while ago and have been eager to put our heads together and work on something fabulous ever since. We are both mummies to little girls who are a couple of months apart so we are both very familiar with striking up the perfect balance between being practical and looking sassy. We are firm believers in not sacrificing your style just because you're a mother. We both love vintage style, especially the 60's. Though we have many similarities we have our differences too which is why we thought it would be great to start this series. I am tall with long legs whereas Georgia is busty and petite. We both love similar things but we style them differently.

1940s Lana Dress by Vivien Of Holloway

Aloha, you gorgeous bunch! A lot of awesome things have been happening at Atomic Amber HQ and I have a feeling this year is going to be an amazing one! (It already has been with the birth of my daughter and all!).  I was lucky enough to be sent the gorgeous Lana dress by Vivien Of Holloway. The Lana dress is a *stunning* 1940's style day dress with features to make any vintage-loving woman swoon. I'm not usually a 1940's gal, as you may know, but after feeling sensational whilst wearing my Glamour Bunny 1940's Maggie dress I know I had to have more forties in my life! I just felt so elegant and ladylike as soon as I put the Lana dress on.

I was advised that the Lana dress sized large so I was sent two sizes - size 10 and size 12 however Vivien of Holloway do vintage sizing so be sure to check their size chart. I could never have dreamed of fitting into the smaller size so naturally I tried on the bigger size first... It fit nicely with breathing space. I thought I would only regret it if I didn't at least try to squeeze the smaller size... Well I did... and it FIT! Very snug admittedly, but I loved the silhouette it gave me. It nipped in my waist and skimmed over my curves beautifully. After much deliberation, I decided to keep the smaller size. I like a well fitted dress - I feel it makes you stand up straight and gives great posture. So, if you're going to give the Lana a go then I would definitely suggest sizing down if you want to be nipped in at the waist!

Top Vintage-Style Winter Coats!

Aloha, strangers! I have been MIA recently due to moving house and not having internet connected yet, but I'm just itching to get back on the blogging-game because I have missed it very much. I will be on maternity leave soon (yipeee!) so my posts will hopefully become a lot more regular and I will even try to set up a proper schedule.
Today's post is going to be a quick one showcasing my top picks for winter coats this season as there are some real gems out there at the moment. I absolutely love autumn/winter however it does mean that you often have to layer up and your gorgeous outfit ends up being completely covered so that's why a fabulous coat is a necessity. Winter coats often don't come cheap so it is definitely worth investing in one that you are head over heels with! Every year, our favourite reproduction stores wow us with their latest designs and new colour ways so it can be hard to pick your favourite, so I have whittled down my most-lusted-after to share with you!



Banned 'Simple Game' Coat

Comes in Grey and Green

£79.99

 

 

Retro Review & OOTD: Dressed To Kill Clothing

Aloha, plums! Today's post will be a review and styling post featuring Dressed To Kill Clothing. They are an amazing USA-based retro-inspired clothing brand that I am just head over heels for. Their latest Fall line is to die for - literally everything is on my wish list.  I was lucky enough to be sent their Flamingo Skirt and their Vamp T-shirt. Instead of doing a normal review post, I wanted to show you I styled my pieces, especially seeing as I am also pregnant!
Dressed To Kill shipping is a $12 flat rate for domestic shipping within the USA and they do offer international shipping at an extra cost of $12 ($24 in total) which is very reasonable.

If you're interested I also have a new tutorial for the poodle hairstyle that is featured in both of these outfit photo's. Click here to check it out! I'd love for you to go over and leave me a comment there :)

OOTD: Collectif Cheeky Tiki

Aloha! (Pretty appropriate greeting, right?) 

This is my first of many outfit posts, or Outfit Of The Day's and I love it. Firstly because my dress was a total bargain on sale for £14.99 and my totally amazing hair flower is by my gorgeous friend Natalie (Vintagious Hair). I'd also like to thank my other gorgeous friend Tanya for helping me by taking the photo's for this blog post:-)

In these posts, I'd also like to include make up as I know I always want to know what lipstick/foundation you gorgeous girls are wearing and it's good to actually see what certain products look like on.

Hair: Everything You Need For Vintage Styling!

Aloha Dolls! Here's a post to tell you my must-haves for vintage styling. From the basics to the not-so-basic... I've got you covered!

Retro Homeware On The Highstreet #2

I was just going back through old posts and the last one I did of these was waaaay back in January! I know everyone and their Mother's have said this but where the heck has 2014 gone? It feels like it was only just Christmas! Moving house has just been an excuse to actually buy the gorgeous homeware I have been lusting for and seeing as I have been given full control over the interior design (Thanks, honey!) I really want to make this house our own. With a mid-century modern vibe going through the living room and a kitsch-y vintage vibe through the rest of the house - it has been interesting to see what the high street has to offer!


WARNING: This post may be Asda heavy and that's just because I think their range is fabulous!

A Week Of Outfits (+Update!)

Oh goodness me! I've been MIA (Unpacking, working, becoming an Aunty). I am really going to start making blogging a regular thing as I do really enjoy it. I've got a few projects in the works (Working with Tesco's Opticians, giveaways, tutorials, OOTD's) which is spurring me on to stay on top of regular blog posts. I've had a blog make-over! Do you like? I certainly do! My gorgeous boyfriend made me a fabulous new blog header to go with my new blog name Atomic Amber. I just felt like my original blog name was a tad too long and I don't think it reflected me and my blog well enough.
I finally have a garden which means I can do detailed OOTD's and take full length pictures for here. What's news? Well I got my picture published in Perfectly PinUp Magazine (Purchase here). Here's a very proud pointy finger... Right in the middle too! ;-D

Vintage Doll Q&A: A Vintage Vanity

Good day, you gorgeous people! In March, I started a little Q&A series where I will (hopefully!) get my favourite retro Gal's to answer a set of questions I have conjured up. Firstly, I have got the amazing Jennifer from A Vintage Vanity - who is one of my all time favourite Youtubers (Click here to go to her channel!). She is so charismatic and a real joy to watch. Her links are all at the bottom of the page :-) She does amazing tutorials and my personal fav is her 'Its Tea Time' series! So let's be nosey and have a little peek into her lovely life!

 

How To Embrace Retro EVERY DAY? Casual Pin Up!

Today's post is going to be about how to achieve that polished Pin Up look every single day. I lot of people are shocked when I tell them that I dress this way all the time. To be honest, a lot of people are shocked when I tell them I'm not in fancy dress! (I'm just fancy;D!) So I've put together this little guide about how to be recognizably 'Pin Up' or Rockabilly whether you're just going out to the post office or you're going to take the dog for a walk. Always dress as if you're going to see your worst enemy! As they say! Now, I have a puppy myself so I know what it's like - you don't want to be hauling yourself through a field with a dog in a wiggle dress (If you do then POWER TO YOU, girl!) but you also don't want to completely loose the style that you love by wearing dodgy leggings and a t-shirt! However, you can wear a t-shirt and leggings... Just the right ones!

The blog post is definitely catered for the more Pin Up/Rockabilly gals out there opposed to the Classic Vintage beauties, so bear that in mind... I embrace a bit of both, so let's go!

Vintage Doll Q&A: Myself! ;-D

Hola! Two posts in one day, by golly! I am starting up a little Q&A series where I will *hopefully* get all my favorite Vintage-inspired bloggers/hairdressers or just general Dolls (Well as many of them as I can persuade to!) to answer a series of questions because well I am just very nosey  interested ;-D. I think it will be fun to compare answers between different bloggers (and myself!) and see if us Ladies learn a little something new! Anyway, let me know what you think and also if you'd like to be part of this little interview series.

I thought it's only right if I actually answer the questions myself... So here we go!

How long have you been dressing vintage?

I have worn vintage clothing for about 5ish years now, but only have properly starting embracing the 'pin-up' vintage look for just over a year now.

What made you want to start dressing this way?

 Where do I start? I love everything about this style! It is so feminine and ladylike. It has no restrictions or rules! It's like a big vintage party and everyone is invited!

40's or 50's?

 It depends. I like to incorporate a bit of both. However, in Spring/Summer I'm much more 50's and in Autumn/Winter I'm more 40s.

Favorite colour? 

Pink, green and red.

5 staples every vintage girl should own?

A variety of circle skirts. A good well-fitting wiggle dress. Swing dresses. Nylon hair scarves. Red lipstick!

Signature hair do'?

 Oh goodness, however it turns out in the morning! Does that count? Normally it's just a brushed out curl with either a side roll or  high 'wave' fringe.

Authentic or Reproduction?

 A healthy mix of both. They both have their pros and cons. Authentic is unique and normally one of a kind but Repro is easily available and comes in all sizes.

Your biggest style icon?

 Diana Dors and Betty Grable.

Tea or coffee?

 Tea. Tea. Tea. Tea.

Best tip for anyone who wants to start embracing vintage/pin up style?

 Invest in a few staple pieces (read above answer) and DO YOUR RESEARCH. Find out what style you like the most - whether is pin up, classic, rockabilly, alternative etc.

Dream classic car?

 A pink Cadillac Convertible.

Favorite place to shop? 

 Charity shops and eBay

To accessorize or not to accessorize?

 Meh, I'm very much a 'not to', but this year is my goal to become a full on accessorizer.

Cash or Presley?

 Eeeeeeeeee. This is hard. Like asking would you rather have your heart or your brain removed haha! I love them equally.

Are you looking forward to any events this year?

 Urm, not that I can think of. Would like to go to Goodwood but nothing is planned yet!

Summer or Winter gal?

 Summer. All. The. Damn. Way. Where are my sunnies?

Dream holiday?

 American road trip

 Can you recommend any retro-inspired blogs?

Yes (THIS ONE OBVIOUSLY, tehe!)

www.diaryofavintagegirl.com

www.junebugsandgeorgiapeaches.blogspot.co.uk

www.abrightonbelle.blogspot.com

 Phew! And we are FINISHED. I must get emailing now and find some proper gals to answer my questions! :-)

I hope you enjoyed! And maybe found out something new and pointless! Yay!

With love,

Retro Reviews: RockaBabyBibsNBobz

Reviews are something that I am  really keen to do more of! I am really honored when small businesses are willing to send me some of their gorgeous products to feature and review on my blog. It gives them a bit more publicity and also gives me a chance to recommend and give my honest opinion on their brand. When I read reviews I don't just want to hear about the product itself, I want to know about customer service, postage, packaging and overall shopping experience - so that is what I am going to be discussing in my reviews! Side note: If you have a business, no matter how small or big, and you'd like me to review your products and service then please feel free to drop me an email at ambernicolesmith@hotmail.co.uk as I'd really love for reviews to become a regular feature on here! Anyway on the show!

Retro Homeware On The Highstreet

Long time no speak! I hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and a beautiful New Years! I was gifted the most fantasic microwave (yes, you read that right!) for Christmas from my Dad. I saw it on the Wilkinsons website and instantly fell in love! I'm sure you will too when you see it! And I'm sure if it was in an expensive kitchenware shop, you'd be expecting to pay well over £100 for it. I, however, found it for the unbelievable price of just £50! If any of you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you will have already seen it, but here is my perfect microwave (I never thought I be pairing those two words together!)



It looks even better in real life!

And here's how it looks in my kitchen :-)

Vintage Style On A Budget: Part 1

So, I have been meaning to do this post for a while as it incorporates two things that I completely adore - Vintage style AND affordability. Now, when I say 'vintage style' that can range from rockabilly to pin up to classic vintage as I feel my fashion spreads across all of those (However, I have spoken about that in a previous post!) so I should have at least SOMETHING that suits your taste here! I am an avid eBay shopper so a lot of my bargains will be from there. Although, I have only listed things that are Buy It Now from sellers that have a large stock of the items and the listing has a very long time left (In most cases, when the item finishes, the seller usually just relists again). I have been shopping second hand for years now and there are fewer things in life that get me as excited as discovering a perfect find for a perfect price (£4 and under, hehe!). I found a Collectif Anchor Skirt in my size in a charity shop for £2. I am rather lucky when it comes to charity shopping, but good things come to those who wait!

Vintage In The Winter - Warm AND Glamorous?!

When I first starting dressing in the Vintage style, living in England, one of the first things that crossed my mind was how do I pull off this look in the colder months!? However, as time has gone on, I have become very much excited to dress for Autumn/Winter. From faux fur to berets, I am going to tell you what I will be wearing when the temperature drops!

Embracing The Vintage Style

Now, I know that the 'vintage style' isn't for everyone, all I know is that it is one of the best decisions that I have ever made! I am by no means an expert on it, but I know I would have found a post like this very handy whilst I was making my style transition. I am basically going to ramble about my opinions and discuss what I know about dressing in the 1940s/1950s style.

And for any girls that are thinking about a vintage style change, there will be a list of things, such as clothes and make up, that I think are essential for achieving the perfect vintage look! :-)

Wish List - September



This is a collection of things that I am greatly lusting after. I am very excited for autumn/winter as I feel there is something so glamorous about wearing a sassy fur collar (faux, of course) with a cute cardigan. You also don't have to worry about your make up melting down your face! I'll just have to aquire a nice umbrella.
I don't usually shop in Topshop and if I do it is when things are heavily reduced, and even then it's pushing my budget, haha! However, I took a visit into my local store and I was surprised to see many items I reallllllly wanted. They have a LookBook called 'Margot's World' and it features all kinds of vintage-inspired ice-cream coloured delights and lots of fluffy jumpers (my favourite!). As you can imagine, this is the part of Topshop that I was in love with, so a few of my lusts are from this collection. Right, anyway! Back to the wish list...

Favorite Vintage Girls!

Here is a little collection of Girls who embrace the vintage style who I absolutely love (stalker?). Anyway, I'll leave you with a link to their instagram as that is where I probably follow them (..not in real life) so you can check these lovely ladies out for yourself! :-)

Various Outfits

Here are a few of my outfits that I've been loving over the past few weeks. I got all of these of my instagram, which is @amberrosetheron - it is my most used social networking site and I'm sure 80% of my readers (if I even get any haha!) will be from instagram. I've included information of where my outfit is from underneath each image, but feel free to ask me any questions etc :-)

 Top- Vintage
Capris- Matalan

Nice to meet you!

I should probably introduce myself...
I'm Amber Rose,I am 18 years old and I recently completed my Fashion & Clothing course which meant II could persue my dream of living by the (Sussex) seaside with my much loved Boyfriend. Over the recent good few months, I aquired a completely new style... I have always loved vintage but was mainly into a more 'street' (cringe!) look. Think gold chains, camo print, Nikes and bomber jackets. However, now I think I have found my true style and era - 1940's/1950's. So, therefore this blog will be all about highstreet finds that I feel do a really good job of embracing the vintage style- because let's face it, most people my age are on a budget and I know this style can be very expensive, with brands like Hell Bunny and Vivien Of Holloway being the most popular (and  most expensive ££). I will also be talking about make-up, hair and general OOTD and activities.

So, lets hope I can keep this blog up with regular postings and shinanigans! :-)

With love,
Amber Rose

xx