Minnie Moons and Seamed Stockings

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

My vacation started with a bang (or should I say victory roll) by having a successful and fabulous trip to Rockalily Cuts. So how was I to match this on day two? By going to What Katie Did and having a moonicure by Minnie Moons of course! The last event I attended at What Katie Did with Lipstick and Curls was a real delight so when I saw 'Vintage Manicures with Minnie Moons' advertised I just jumped on it. I've always wanted my nails like this as it was a big part of the 1940s/ 1950s look. I've looked at many websites and blogs for inspiration - a great blog is Fashionable Forties: The buildings of a 1940s wardrobe (link: http://fortieswardrobe.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/1940s-nails.html ) so without hesitation, I looked what was on the menu and went for the 'Full Moonicure (extensive cuticle work, buffing, shaping and painting with half moons/tips)'. With this in mind, I started to grow my nails and look after them like they have never been looked after before.

Nails on my honeymoon (2008)

From a young age my nails have had a battering - the main reason was netball. I started playing netball at the young age of 10 and continued until I was 25. Netball being an alleged non-contact sport required short nails otherwise they were deemed as a lethal weapon (well, they are the way we played in the West Country!) so at the beginning of each game out came the nail clippers and snip snip they were gone. With this and the added bonus of having weak nails my nails have been constantly ignored. The only time they have looked any good was when I got married...and they were not even mine! Anyway, I thought I would treat myself and have these adorable nails done and embarked on growing them for two weeks.

Nails before...plus a slipper

The day arrived, so with my new hair, I left my home wrapped up to keep away the arctic hurricane and went to What Katie Did, Portobello Rd. Now, as you all ready know, I totally love this shop. It just sells the finest vintage lingerie, well fitting and beautiful stockings, glamorous Besame make-up, stunning Bernie Dexter dresses and now Miss L Fire shoes as well - I don't think this shop will ever stop pleasing me. I arrived at the door and was welcomed in by the friendly staff. Sharon from Minnie Moons was there - so I went in and started to have my nails beautified.

Sharon from Minnie Moons

Before starting on my nails, Sharon (aka Minnie Moons) discussed what colours I would like on my nails. There was a wide range of colours from red to green, but as it was my first time I went for the classic red (OPI Big Apple Red) and silver moons. Once the selection was made Sharon dipped, creamed, buffed, cuticled and filed my little nails before starting to paint. As she was doing this we talked about everything and anything from foxes to nails (obviously)! Sharon told me some great tips about how to look after my nails - none of them which I do but from now on I will! 

Red with silver moons

After an hour in the hot seat my nails were complete... gleaming and sparkly in all their moonicure glory. Now comes the hard bit - not to touch anything to stop them from smudging - and I'm pleased to inform you I was a good girl and did not smudge any of them! On my way out I was handed a little goodie bag of some What Katie Did black seamed stockings and a Lindt Easter egg - perfect!

I'd like to say a massive thank you to Sharon of Minnie Moons and to all at What Katie Did for a wonderful morning. Please, please, please get together again, I will be first to book. 

Happy Moonicures x

P.S. I'm writing this 4 days on and they still look as good as when they were done!!

Hosiery... mission complete

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

With the weather still being horrific, I have had plenty of extra time to surf the world wide web and look at things all weird and wonderful. It was during one of my random searches that I stumbled across a brand of hosiery I've not heard of before called 'Silkies'. 

Now this is where my dilemma starts... hosiery and my legs aren't a match made in heaven. For years I have battled with it -  either they ladder as soon as you put them on, the gusset is down to my knees, hold-ups and stockings only end up at my knees, it says it fits size up 160 lbs and they don't, etc, etc - I just don't understand why sizings aren't more uniform! My legs are 32" long and my thigh is 24" wide - which I'm unsure if this is unusual or not, but finding hosiery seems to be a mission... until now.

So by considering the dilemmas I thought 'what the hay' and bought the 'Silkies' in a size large. A couple of days later the tights arrived - I ripped open the bag to try them on and I was amazed - it was like these tights were made for me. Snug, good bum support, sheer and a good colour (taupe) - the sizing on the packet actually was right! 

Because of my elation I thought I would share with you the other hosiery items I have had great success with...

Silkies (size large)
http://www.silkies.com/
I think I have gone on about these enough. The only snag is that they are an American company so need to buy these online or if you find them in a store in the UK please let me know!

Tabio (size medium/ large)
http://www.tabio.com/uk/ - my favourite store is in Covent Garden.
I love tabio opaque tights. These are a great every day tight and they fit really well and the elastic holds even after 100's of washes! I wear the 60 denier opaque black tights to work and they have never let me down. In all my years of wearing them they have worn out before they laddered so this, to me, is an awesome thick tight. They also do great footless tights which I wear in the summer and along with some cute socks.

Wolford (size medium to large) - my favourite store is on Regent Street.
http://www.wolfordshop.co.uk/home/index
Now these are a great tight for body shaping. I have a pair of their footless tights and they hold you in at at all the right places. They also do great hold ups (which I wore to my wedding) and other sexy undergarments.

What Katie Did (size large in stockings/ size extra large in hold ups) -  Portabello Rd, Notting Hill
http://www.whatkatiedid.com/
This shop will not only satisfy your lingerie needs, but will also complete your hosiery requirements. As mentioned in a previous blog, they have sadly discontinued their hold ups but they were a perfect fit and I still have three unopened packs in storage! For stockings the large fits me like a glove and I love the fact you can wash them and they don't snag even on a thin denier.

I think the key to hosiery shopping is to know your body. This may sound simple, but I know this is where I have fallen into the trap. I have now taken to measuring every part of my body so I stop making mistakes and wasting my hard earned cash. If it just says 'to fit 160 lbs' I'm going to resist the bargain (that is always followed by disappoint) and just buy what I know looks good and feels right OR thoroughly look into the size guide before purchasing.

Happy Hosiery x

P.S. I'm going shopping for thread today so I can continue on my sewing journey...