Competition Time - The Great Garment Giveaway!

Hi Dainties and Dandies,

Absolutely bursting to share the final install of our competition, and at last, the time has come! The third Prick-me-Dainty garment in our giveaway is a marvellous 1960's, shades of purple and blue, fitted maxi dress. It really is a stunner with its deep navy background and riotous cacophony of muted purple psychedelic flowers! Sleeveless, fitted bodice with four pearly buttons, this floor length vintage beauty is also fully lined with a back zip fastening.

WOW, so fancy getting your hands on this gorgeous dress?  Here's what you have to do- pop across to our FaceBook page, like the page, like the post (you'll see it pinned to the top of our page) and leave a comment- simple!

Good luck!
Lots of love, Prick-me-Dainty xxx

  

Competition Giveaway From Prick-me-Dainty Vintage Boutique!

As a thank you to everyone who has supported Prick-me-Dainty, we decided to run a little competition to give away one of three lovely vintage pieces!

This gorgeous tiered hem gyspy skirt with an allover patchwork print of vintage urns and flowers is the second item up for grabs. So, if you like what we do and would like to enter, simply pop over to the Prick-me-Dainty Facebook page, ‘like’ the page, 'like' the post  and leave a comment! 

The competition will run until 8pm on Monday 4th November, and the winner announced on Tuesday 5th November.

The winner will be chosen at random and can decide which one of the three items they want- simple!

 

Remember, you need to pop over to our Facebook page to be in with a chance to win! Good luck and thanks again for all your support!

Love, Prick-me-Dainty xxx 

Grab Yourself A Fabulous Freebie!

As a thank you to everyone who has supported Prick-me-Dainty, we have decided to run a little competition to give away one of three lovely vintage pieces!

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting 3 vintage garments, so if you like what we do and would like to enter, simply pop over to the Prick-me-Dainty Facebook page, ‘like’ the page, 'like' the post  and leave a comment! 

The competition will run until 8pm on Monday 4th November, and the winner announced on Tuesday 5th November.

The winner will be chosen at random and can decide which one of the three items they want- couldn’t be easier!

Vintage St. Michael blouse, green with self stripe paisley pattern. Long sleeved, deep single button cuffs and pretty pussy bow tie neck.

Remember, you need to pop over to our Facebook page to be in with a chance to win! Good luck and thanks again for all your support!

Love, Prick-me-Dainty xxx 

Let It Rain!

This has got to have been one of the BEST summers Britain has seen in a long while. For a start, it has lasted more than 2 days! After weeks and weeks of rain, we have been blessed with weeks and weeks of the most glorious sunshine and any downpours and thunder in-between have, in my opinion, only added to the beauty of it all.

So, eyes back up to the title of today’s blog (ñ)... I'm not really wishing for rain, I'm just looking for an opportunity to show off my new 'old' umbrella! (Cue Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella,’ cue Tracy Chapman’s ‘Let it Rain,’ cue Gene Kelly’s ‘Singing in the Rain’).  I'm just plain excited to get my vintage inspired rain cover out there!

At the extremely affordable price of £9.99, this Impressionist painting umbrella from TK Maxx is very generously sized and as is very important with umbrellas in the English weather, very strong to ward of those whipped up winds. But best of all? (Ok, can I have two best of all’s?) Firstly, it’s the vintage inspired shape. It’s very indicative of a 'gentleman’s' umbrella- beautiful hot air balloon shape, tipped spokes, curved wooden handle and second best of all? The pattern! Just feast your eyes on the Parisian ladies and gents going about their business astride your umbrella.

In those cold grey misty moments of waiting for that ever elusive bus or train (its September now, so they will soon be with us…) you could always brighten yourself up by engaging in fevered stories about what is happening in your umbrella scene- Are the couple just engaged? Newly wed? Illicit love affair? Oh the possibilities are endless and bound to cheer up any journey to work. But for the true story behind Gustave Caillebotte’s 1877 painting, ‘Paris Street; Rainy Day’ you can always check out THIS website.

...Still no rain but I love my umbrella so much, I may just have to consider using it as a parasol if a few drops of rain don’t appear soon!

DollyRocker Girl is wearing:

Vintage denim jacket from a charity shop that I have up-cycled by removing sleeves and pinching in waist

Vintage inspired ivory coloured lace dress from Topshop

Lace trim ankle socks 

Pale blue denim creepers

Barry M nail varnish in Strawberry Ice Cream and Blue Moon

Lots of love,
Prick-me-Dainty xxx

Mosey On Down To Moseley!

Yesterday I traded at the Moseley Retro and Vintage Fair and can honestly say that I met some of the nicest people there! Moseley is a funky little fair run by Graziella and Steve. They keep it very low key and chilled with some of the most banging tunes playing in the background to keep your feet tapping as you mosey (see what I did there?) down the isles and marvel at the myriad of different stalls! There is an eclectic mix of home ware, jewellery, clothing and little curiosities so that you are always kept inspired, interested and oohing and aahing! 

 
Yesterdays customers had me salsaing on my stall, talking James Bond and discussing the merits of paper over plastic (bags!). I was also tantalised about a hoard of 1950's dresses and spoke to a lady who had a vintage collection of Vivienne Westwood (swoon!)   I wish I'd had time to take snaps of some of the beauties I sold yesterday, but was literally run off my feet. My sales included a gorgeous fine cord double button fronted Laura Ashley dress, Radley's, original label Top Shop and Jaeger blouses, Frank Usher tops and knitted waistcoats and floral skirts.
 
I was feeling rather flirtatious in the sun yesterday so opted to release my 70's goddess thus donned my floor length red alter-back maxi dress by John Charles and completed the look with chunky ponytails and rose bud flower crown.
 

 

(In the picture I'm wearing a vintage inspired lace over-jacket, but that was later swapped for vintage Levi jacket as I do love a bit of denim teamed up with red!)

Thank you to everyone who visited my stall yesterday, both customers and those who just wanted to say hi! I love meeting you all and look forward to seeing you again in October. Oh, and just before I go, thanks also to 'MakeUp by Sandra' who helped me out yesterday. She will be at the October fair in her own right, offering vintage makeovers and showing you how to replicate the looks for your Christmas night out (gosh, did I just say the 'C' word?!) So, for all your makeup tips from a professional who has worked with Dior, MAC, Versace and Yves St. Laurent to name but a few, make sure you pop by and get yourself booked in! 

The next Moseley fair takes place on 27th October 2013 from 1pm-5pm at St. Columba Church Hall, Chantry Road, Moseley B13 8DJ.
 

Prick-me-Dainty xx

Piercing Screams, Pellegrino and Pimms!

It was all hushed calm at Prick-me-Dainty Towers, until the chilled vibes I had created (wafting incense sticks) was broken by a piercing scream. To cut a very long story short, this girl...

sent this man...

 

this tweet...

and he replied...

Now thumbs are flying faster than a ball hit by Serena Williams at Wimbledon, notifications are coming in faster than rockets, phones are ringing and DollyRocker and friends are talking in a language that quite frankly has left me exhausted and in need of a large Pimms- who would have known that a one word answer could create such excitement! I do have to wonder what would have happened had he replied with a full sentence... xxx

 

Prick-me-Dainty Has Arrived!

 

 www.prickmedainty.co.uk

The New Prick-me-Dainty On line Store Has Arrived!

Oh, the excitement! 

It's taken a long time (and a few cocktails to sooth rattled nerves!) but the brand new Prick-me-Dainty website is officially launched (and a few more cocktails to celebrate!)

Please pop across and have a rummage around! As you would find in a bricks and mortar store, we have an eclectic mix of stylish and unique vintage clothes, ranging from acid pastel culottes, vibrant wiggle skirts, dandy blouses and of course flowing maxi dresses a plenty- there is something for everyone and new items will be shared with you on a regular basis, so keep checking back.

PS, 
Forgot to add that you will also find a gorgeous Samuel Sherman Dollyrocker dress at a ridiculously low price, the tantalising give-a-way of a free headscarf with your order and at present we are offering free shipping to the UK!  
Love PmD xx

Visit: www.prickmedainty.co.uk 

Let's Go Polka Dot At The Vintage Garden Party!

Wolverhampton's Vintage Fairs are today putting on an event at the historic and lovingly restored  Edwardian museum, Bantock House, situated in 43 acres of beautiful parkland just outside Wolverhampton. The house was once the family home of Mayor of Wolverhampton, Baldwin Bantock and his wife Kitty (and their ten children!) so is the perfect setting for a vintage fair with its lush gardens and exquisite rooms.

Bantock House and its world famous rose garden

Todays event isn't just a fair featuring some of the Midlands finest vintage and handcrafted sellers and makers, its also a garden party with outdoor stalls, children's corner, afternoon teas, as well as live entertainment- it promises to be a great family day out.

But let me get back to the subject I love best- clothes! In the run up to this event, Dawn Melis organised photoshoots with the local press and wore her Prick-me-Dainty vintage dress. 'Lets Go Polka Dot!' is a cool, sleeveless, white, swing styled dress with all-over red polka dot print, elasticated waist and tie belt- very reminiscent of the 1950's and perfect for a summer jive!

Lets go Polka Dot! 

For the occasion Dawn teamed up 'Lets Go Polka Dot!' with a short sleeved red jacket and red ballet pumps to complete the look- and doesn't she look absolutely fabulous, darling!

Dawn and friends getting in the mood for a tea party!

The Vintage Garden Party is taking place today from 10.00am-4.00pm at Bantock House Museum, Wolverhampton, WV3 9LQ.

Lots of love,
PmD xx

We Made It To The National Vintage Awards, Almost...

'The National Vintage Awards' took place at the lush Fazeley Studios in Birmingham last night (27.06.13) and even though it was a grey and wet evening, those dainty ladies and dapper gents arrived in their hoards to show how glamour should be done.

Unfortunately Prick-me-Dainty weren't able to attend, but we were very much there in spirit, or should I say style? Yes, we were honoured to discover that a finalist in the 'Best Vintage Fair' category had chosen to wear one of our dresses to the ceremony!

'The Lady in Red' vintage dress

Harking back to the overt glamour of the late 1970s, this tiny dress designed by Oleg Cassini, boasts a whole lot of detail- shoulder pads, pussy-bow tie neck with self-cover button shoulder fastening, dropped waist and hidden side slant pockets. But the detail doesn't end there, 'The Lady in Red' also has beautiful bellowing sleeves with deep cuff detailing, box pleats to the front for extra shape and glamour and is crafted in a silky jacquard rose material. Oh, and just in case you didn't notice, this little beauty is vintage telephone box red! 

And here we have the lovely Ellen Roberts rocking the look with a sleek 70's do, red lipstick, nail varnish, peep toe heels and chunky jewellery. I think you'll all agree, she looks amazing! We have heard nothing but rave reviews about the evening and can't wait for next year when we will definitely be there in all our vintage finery. 

To find out more about events organised by Ellen including vintage fairs and themed dance nights please visit Blondies Vintage Events 

To find out who won awards, visit The National Vintage Awards website or their Facebook page. 

Lots of love, 

PmD xx

Dress Like A Starlet For A Fraction Of The Cost!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love history and clothes, hence my delight at finding a picture of this exquisite Givenchy gown that currently resides in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

Givenchy silk, organza and crepe dress, 1972

Therefore you may understand my absolute delight when this morning while sorting through my clothes at Prick-me-Dainty Head Quarters (the fancy moniker for my stock room), I was reacquainted with this marvellous maxi dress and the angels sang to me, rhapsodising at their similarity in style!

Block colour maxi dress, 1970s

By the 1970s, svelte lines of the maxi dress where replacing the more angular lines of the 1960s mini dress

Both dresses comprise of a V-neck bodice with wide frill collar. Both are full skirted, flouncing from the waist with sash belts. Each dress has a decorative hem that echoes the design of the collar.

Hubert de Givenchy was born in 1927 and designed for Schiaparelli's boutique before launching his own label in 1952, producing beautiful ball gowns and evening dresses.
By the 1970s, Western Society was becoming increasingly multicultural and this was reflected in the clothing- you only have to look at the Asian and African inspired 'hippie' fashions and prints of the time.
Both dresses have taken inspiration from the gypsy dress; retaining the classic fluid lines while dispensing with the use of bright colours or patterns in order to create sophisticated and timeless pieces.

I couldn't even hazard a guess at the price of the Givenchy dress, but my handpicked beauty will be available to purchase on the Prick-me-Dainty website, giving you the chance to dress like a starlet at a fraction of the cost!

Lots of love,
PmD xx