1920's Dresses to Bring in 2013!

This New Years I’m going to a Prohibition themed party and can honestly say I’ve already had a blast just in preparing my outfit.  I may have got slightly carried away and brought three possible outfits but I couldn’t resist - the sales have been incredible! This also gave me the perfect excuse to play dress up and give myself my own little fashion shoot – a little self-indulgent but hey, it’s still technically Christmas, isn’t it? 

I always find myself getting slightly obsessed with a particular era and the 20s are definitely my era of the moment.  I’ve gone through fazes, probably led by many magazines as well as my love of old movies, the 50s has probably been the era whose fashion I've loved the most.  I have a gorgeous 50’s vintage yellow dress that I wore on my 16^th Birthday to dress up as Sandy from Grease, and re-used it at my 19^th Birthday which was movie themed (yes, I created the theme as an excuse to wear the dress again).  I also love Doris Day, I think her voice is so effortlessly beautiful and her movies are brilliant. They vary from the classic rom-com of the time to thrillers by Hitchcock, she’s starred with stars like Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra although my favourite of her many co-stars is Rock Hudson.  Pillow Talk is my absolute favourite and the film, Down With Love, starring Rene Zellweger and Ewan McGregor which is inspired by Doris's films and Pillow Talk in particular, is a treat.

Sandy blowing out the candles at her 19th Birthday

Back to the 20s, and my New Years outfit, I’ve had so much fun deciding on what I’m going to wear. Getting ready is always the best part of a night out, so I’ve just spread this out to last a few days rather than the few hours before you leave. I think I’m going to go with the black playsuit for the party but can't wait to wear the other two at events in the future! I've attempted 20s style hair too although will be getting some vintage styling tips on the day. 

The chosen outfit!

Thanks to my Mum and her expert techniques at making fake cigarettes 

Look how prettyyy it is!

Accidental pic but I quite like the effect!

 I hope everyone has an amazing New Years and has as much fun getting ready as I have so far.

Happy New Year!

So that was Christmas, I hope you had fun

I can’t decide if I like Christmas or not, I think it’s a strange time of year mainly because there’s such expectation that it will be the best day of your year and you will be happy and you will love every second.  I don’t think of myself as a ‘Scrooge’ but I do sometimes struggle to truly embrace the Christmas spirit when Christmas day arrives.  However I love the build up, from buying gifts you know people will love to dancing round the house to my Christmas playlist while covering as much as possible in glitter and tinsel.

Family Gingerbread House creation 

But there is just something about Christmas day itself, which is always slightly disappointing, nothing in particular, there’s always just an air of ‘oh’. Is it just me? I suspect not, anything that is built up that much for weeks on end can never quite live up to expectations.  The huge sense of pressure to have fun is also quite stressful; I don’t think any day can live up to that. Quite often I think spontaneous things are the best, so if we could all just pretend Christmas isn’t happening up until Christmas Eve and then suddenly universally shout “SURPRISE it's Christmas tomorrow!” it would be much more fun in my opinion.

My 2012 Highlights

I think we can all say that 2012 has been one to remember; from major events like the Olympics to more personal ones, it’s not one that I will forget in a hurry.

Here are some of my personal highlights:

New York New York

Taking in the (cloudy) view from the Brooklyn Bridge

So February saw my Mum and I travelling all the way to the Big Apple to celebrate my 21^st and I can truly say it was the trip of a lifetime. We were true tourists seeing the sights and sounds of a city and I loved it, although I did feel slightly like I was cheating on London. I was hoping that our surname, Middleton, would gain us some perks owing to Americas fascination with our royal family and the popularity of a certain Kate Middleton, however all I got was a dodgy chat up line at customs – “Middleton, like Kate? Can I be your prince then?’

The best bit about the city is that it truly is like a film set on every corner – literally for us! On a trip to Greenwich Village we suddenly came across lots of 50s/60s American cars parked up but interestingly they were really dirty, not something you often see with vintage cars. Then we turned another corner and came across a pile of snow (it hadn’t snowed anywhere else in the city) and lots of people dressed in vintage 60s costume. We had stumbled upon a real life film set! The film is about a 60s jazz artist and stars Carey Mulligan and Justin Timberlake, who unfortunately we didn’t bump into, and will be out sometime in 2013.

Film set in Greenwich Village 

We also went on some swings and ate Razzles, which will mean nothing to those of you who haven’t seen 13 Going On 30 but for those of you who have will hopefully understand.

I couldn’t go to New York and not see a Broadway show, so we saw Anything Goes! Perfect show for Broadway especially as I had been a part of a school production of the show. I found myself knowing much of the script as well as the songs, hopefully I kept those to myself. I fear I may be about to sound like my Gran, but the most impressive thing about the theatre was the toilets.  There were hundreds (those of you girls who have been to West End shows know the torture of queuing for the duration of the interval and missing out on an ice cream) and the cleaner kept everyone in order with military precision.

I also nearly saw Coldplay performing in Times Square, they were on a breakfast show programme and it took a while but we soon realised the studio overlooked Times Square and crowds were watching them perform, so I ran the three blocks from the hotel to the studio and got there just in time to see them walk off stage and their crew start packing up, never mind, nothing could dampen my spirits being in such an amazing city.

Watching Coldplay's guys pack up ...  :-(

I don’t think any reflection on a trip to New York would be complete without mentioning the shopping, from the huge Forever 21 and the magic in the Disney shop in Times Square to the glamour in Tiffany’s it was amazing.  We also went to a doll shop that was slightly scary – there was even a hair salon especially for your dolls.

I could go on and on about our trip, from the museums to the cocktails, joining in a student protest on the Brooklyn Bridge and scouring the streets for Carries brownstone steps, it truly was the perfect trip.

Dublin

After our New York trip we had caught the travel bug, going from a family who haven’t been on holiday together for years and years, my Mum and I were off to Dublin in September. Our second holiday in one year, how extravagant.  I loved Dublin! As a child I learnt Irish Dancing and have to admit was slightly obsessed with all things Irish so it was heaven.  We even went to the Museum of Irish Dancing and saw a dance and music show at our hotel. 

Cocktails in Dublin!

We met an old friend of my Mums, she moved back to her home country when I was tiny, and she gave us a tour and forced a pint of Guiness down us, which was actually not as bad as I expected. As theatre lovers, we wanted to find a show to see while in Dublin. We came across a production of Steel Magnolias starring Mischa Barton (Marissa Cooper from The OC), a fantastic production and even if Mischa’s part wasn’t very different from her part in The OC she did it well.

Sea Stacks

Another highlight of my 2012 is playing in Sea Stacks and getting to play at Lee Fest! Definitely a dream come true – playing at a festival with a line up including some of my favourite bands.  A highlight of my summer is definitely dancing around to the Mystery Jets full of strawberry cider knowing I’d performed on the same stage just a matter of hours earlier. Here’s a bit of self promo but check us out at ‪facebook.com/seastacks  or http://www.seastacks.co.uk. We are a slightly curious band, I play violin and there is not a guitar in sight, but that's what makes it so much fun.

Backstage at Lee Fest

Look out for our video for ‘High Tide’ which should be out soon – memories of the filming include freeeezing on the South Bank and dancing in slow motion on a random beach on the Isle of Dogs.

Angel Live Lounge

Another musical highlight of my 2012 was performing with Angel on BBC Radio 1xtra’s Live Lounge sessions.  I’d previously attended a recording session for Angel’s album, not knowing whose album we were recording for until we got to Sarm Studios, where the likes of Bob Marley and Grace Jones have recorded! Being asked to play with his band on the Live Lounge was slightly surreal, especially arriving at Maida Vale and going to a studio that the Beatles had recorded some of their radio shows in. Lets hope that’s just a taste of things to come … I can dream!

Gigs

As well as getting to perform in some amazing situations, I also got to see some of my favourite bands this year. Snow Patrol, Bombay Bicycle Club supported by Lianne La Havas and Elbow are definitely my highlights.  

Elbow at Wembley

Olympics

I think anyone who considers the highlights of 2012 and doesn’t mention the Olympics is slightly mad. Even me, who used to avoid PE like the plague, embraced London 2012 with open arms.  If you had told me I’d be in a sports arena screaming at the top of my voice and almost getting teary I would have laughed in your face, but going to the Stadium for Paralympics Athletics was incredible.  

Our view of the Stadium - good job we don't suffer from vertigo!

Seeing David Weir win yet another gold and hearing the roar of the stadium as it became clear he was leading still gives me goosebumps when I look back on it, although I’m still not convinced whether that or seeing Kirstie Allsop in the Olympic Park was my Mums highlight of the day.

Trooping the Colour

I love the Royals and I’m not afraid to admit it, so this year I decided to attempt to spot them all at the annual Trooping the Colour and I was definitely not disappointed.  We got there nice and early to save our spot and were entertained by watching the soldiers getting into place and having their fluffy hats tweaked ready for the Queen (sorry to any in the army who happen to read this – I don’t know the official language).  

Then the parade started, it was very impressive and seeing the Royal Family pass by in their carriages did cause us to squeal slightly. After they had processed past us on their way back to the Palace we made the run to see them all come out on the balcony of Buckingham Palace ready for the flypast, after seeing this iconic image on TV so many times I have to admit I may have got a bit teary (I’m coming across as a very emotional person in these highlights … which isn’t far from the truth to be honest)

Horniman Museum and Gardens

I couldn’t write about my highlights this year without mentioning my time at the Horniman Museum and Gardens working in the Marketing, Events and Press Department.  I loved my time there and was thrilled to be offered a job after my placement finished to fill up my time before I returned to University for final year.  Highlights within my placement include an event where the guest of honour was Dame Vivienne Westwood, various filming taking place and meeting all the amazing and fascinating people I got to work with, including the giant overstuffed Walrus I walked past on the way to the office everyday.  

Me and my mate, the Walrus

If you haven’t visited the Museum, what are you waiting for! It’s a treasure trove of amazing curiosities and even has a small aquarium, which used to feature a lobster called Lily. www.horniman.ac.uk

So those are my 2012 highlights, unless something amazing happens in the next 5 days – can’t wait to see what 2013 has got in store for me!

Who wants to go and see Viva Forever with me?

As a girl who grew up in the 90s I can’t deny my love for the Spice Girls.  It wasn’t just the catchy songs to re-enact in the playground at school (and yes I was always Baby) it was their personalities and the idea of Girl Power which I must admit I still try to live by today.  I remember I had a Spice Girls sunglasses case and shorts and t-shirt set but unfortunately no one ever brought me the dolls … one day maybe. My Mum has said how she used to watch a bunch of 6 year olds dancing along the street singing “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends” – Spice Girls songs really do teach you life lessons. 

I just watched the documentary about the rise, and fall, of the band as well as how the musical was put together (some critics on twitter commented saying it was just a really long advert for the show – obviously not original fans). In student digs across the country, and maybe even world, girls dance around to Spice Girls songs while getting ready for a night out purely because it’s so much fun– I know I’m not the only one, I live in halls and the walls are thin.  So I’m desperate to go and see the show and just have a really fun night out, and possibly go with four other girls willing to go in fancy dress … but remember I’m always Baby.

Introduction to the mess of ideas in my head

The endless questions are starting: What are you doing after graduation?  Do you have a plan? Are you going to move back home? When are you going to start applying for jobs? Have you applied for any graduate schemes?

Argh! It’s enough to send anyone, who doesn’t have a clear path mapped out, running for the exit faster than you can say 'graduate prospects'. 

After a recent trip to a Uni career fair, and being told that as a musician I can stand in the corner of an office and entertain the rest of the staff, I have to admit I’m not feeling wholly confident. Even after an amazing (but unpaid) placement year in a Museum, I still feel like, while my job was fantastic and inspiring, it will be hard to get the same experience again while also trying to earn a living. There is the added pressure of friends who seem very sorted with career plans or postgraduate study on the agenda and some are even married (very grown up!), while I’m still exploring what I really want and the path I want to set off on.

I’m very aware that the path I choose in 6 months isn’t necessarily the one I have to follow for the rest of my life, but it’s still looking quite intimidating out there!

My ideas change on an almost daily basis from freelance musician to finding a job in PR I’m feeling very fickle.  I love magazines and TV but does that mean a career in these fields is right for me? Am I tough enough to work in a fast paced and cut throat industry? Would I actually get enough work to live on if I give working freelance a go?  Should I go back to Plan A from when I was about 15 and just find a millionaire and marry him … going slightly against my principles as a woman. 

I’ve always dreamed of living right in the city, I love London more than anything and the thought of living someone where I can’t use my Oyster card doesn’t bare thinking about (I just about manage at Uni). Croydon’s my hometown and I do actually like it (although it has its off days … August 2011 springs to mind) but it’s not exactly Soho, Hoxton or Camden is it? But I know living in these places is definitely going to be a pipe dream for the foreseeable future, unless of course Plan A works out.

So that’s a lot of questions – bet you’re glad you’re not in my head right now aren’t you….