Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Feb 8, 2012, 5:41 am
Valentines Day approaches. I made my header a pukey pink to celebrate. I shan’t defend my love of Valentines Day once again, apart from to say I just like any excuse for a theme and a bit of dressing up. What I don’t like (and avoid like the plague) is that much like Christmas the shops are ful...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Feb 6, 2012, 4:56 am
IT’S SNOWING! Well, it was snowing at the weekend and the newspapers are gleefully reporting weeks of travel chaos and arctic temperatures. When it snows there’s really nothing for it but to hunker down under a blanket with some nice warming booze. I mentioned Hot Mars Bar Vodka over the weeke...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Feb 3, 2012, 4:25 am
Today’s Friday Frock Love is the about the gorgeous own brand label at my sponsor, Pin Up Parade. Helen launched Swagger Joint last year, but the problem with internet shopping is you can’t actually see, touch, and feel the quality of things. So she sent me one of the Avril dresses to see for m...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Feb 1, 2012, 6:11 am
Well, I couldn’t let it pass without a mention on here! On Monday night Ree Ree Rockette of Rockalily (see lipstick review here!) held a bloggers meet up as a launch party for her new limited edition lipstick ZOMG (which I think it pronounced ZO-EM-GEE, like OH-EM-GEE but with a Z. No one seems e...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 30, 2012, 7:03 am
Never let it be said that I only show you the interesting and fancy outfits. Today I thought I’d show you a more dressed down, comfortable outfit for a Sunday afternoon. Most people (women!) seem to wear trousers or jeans as their go to comfort outfit, but I’ve never found them a comfortable t...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 27, 2012, 5:00 am
Today I have a bit of an exclusive book review for you! Style Me Vintage: Clothes: A Guide to Sourcing and Creating Retro Looks isn’t due out until next week, but I have an advance review copy, so I’m going to tell you if it’s worth buying! I have to be honest and confess that the reason I h...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 25, 2012, 4:26 am
Happy Burns Night! I hadn’t planned to do this today, then I felt guilty because I’d done Chinese New Year on Monday and I do like a nice haggis supper on Burns Night, so I thought in the interests of fairness I’d take a look at Tartan today! Burns Night is poet Robert Burns birthday on the ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 23, 2012, 7:32 am
... the dragon print halter neck sarong dress from Vivien of Holloway has the right look, especially when worn with the matching bolero. Dragon Print Sarong Dress with matching bolero – £140 All the content in this post belongs to Retro Chick. If you are seeing this post and it is not...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 20, 2012, 5:00 am
... identity and feminism. It, and the comments section, make fascinating reading. ... sexuality. They are modern day Stepford Wives, emotionally passive and sexually ... . Brainwashed by television, magazines and the internet into thinking they can’ ... to demonstrate  an independent spirit,...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 18, 2012, 5:07 am
It’s time for another red lipstick review. I’ve been putting off reviewing this lipstick for a long time, as although it’s a really popular one, I just don’t like it! However, I thought it was time that it got it’s place on the chart so we can see how I find it compares to the other lipst...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Jan 16, 2012, 6:30 am
Brrr. The weathers taken a sudden turn for the chilly. I don’t mind though as it gives me a chance to bring out my most glamorous coat. Yesterday I went to a “Thanksgiving ceremony” for my Sisters 2 children, and I wore my Astrakhan coat with a cosy fur collar to fight off the Church chill. ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Nov 2, 2011, 6:00 am
I LOVE Berets. I think they’re the best hat in the world and I’ll have one in every colour please. Thanks. They’re essentially about 8 hats in one. A slight change in the tilt, how you tuck the brim and how poufy you make it creates a whole new hat. They also don’t blow off as easily in hi...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 31, 2011, 7:35 am
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I hope you’re all feeling suitably spooky? I’m wearing an awful lot of green eyeshadow today, to bring out my inner witchyness. Do you like my special Halloween header? Seeing as I don’t have a party to go to this year I decided Mini Chick ought to dress up for the occasion. ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 28, 2011, 7:38 am
Well hello! Happy Friday! I’m back from my little jaunt to the Cosmo Awards (plus a very enjoyable day at a beer festival yesterday) and I shall tell you all about it as promised! As you may know already I didn’t win, but then, I wasn’t expecting to. The runner up in my category was last yea...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 26, 2011, 5:40 am
Well, Good Morning! Today I am off to London to visit Cosmo, for today is the day of the Cosmo Blog Awards ceremony. I didn’t want to leave it until after the event to say a massive THANK YOU for all your votes and nominations coming up to the awards. I really do appreciate it! My outfits all la...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 24, 2011, 5:00 am
Last year I went to a Halloween Party, so I obsessed about costumes a lot. If you’re looking for costume inspiration I have plenty! Try here, here , here and here if that’s what you’re after! However, this year, with a week to go to Halloween, I don’t have any big parties planned. It’s t...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 21, 2011, 5:00 am
Beautiful 1930s frocks are expensive and hard to come by. That’s a sad and true fact. If you do get your hands on one then you’re probably too scared to wear it half the time in case it falls apart. A lot of my 30s style dresses are actually from the 70s. The right hair and accessories make all...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 19, 2011, 5:51 am
I’ve seen a few of these going around on other blogs I follow recently. I really love reading them. It’s like a tiny little snapshot into the person behind the blog. Little things you might not know, even if you know them personally. I’m old enough to remember when this kind of thing used to ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 17, 2011, 7:29 am
Saturday night was Bo Nanafana, and this time the theme was Vile Bodies. This meant I needed to slip back in time a little to the 1920s. I have an original late 20s dress (found in a drawer by Mr Chicks Mum, does that REALLY happen to people!?) that miraculously fits, so this was the perfect opport...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 14, 2011, 6:38 am
I’m confused. This happens easily. Sometimes the answer is just not to think about things too much, but it’s too late, I already have. I think this has been floating aimlessly around in the back of my head for some time, as a kind of amorphous, shapeless half formed question. But now I finally ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 12, 2011, 4:30 am
It’s realllllly cold. And it’s come as a massive shock after that week of glorious Summer we finally got at the beginning of Autumn. I’ve admitted to myself that it’s not coming back and it’s only going to get colder, so I need to address the holes in my wardrobe. Or more accurately, the ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 10, 2011, 6:59 am
Yep, this again! Back at the beginning of September I urged you to write to your local MP about the issue of Clearer Clothes Sizing. In case you’re not familiar with my witterings on the subject I’ll explain. Currently the number inside your skirt means nothing, for a lot of people it’s a to...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 7, 2011, 4:30 am
A Marvellous Cocktail Party is fast approaching and I’ve had lots of people looking for ideas for what to wear. Of course, in a dream world we could all invest in an original 1930s evening dress in a beautiful bias cut satin. In reality the fact is that even given an unlimited budget these dresse...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 5, 2011, 7:03 am
Well, I’ve had a lovely break! The magic of scheduled posts enabled me to head off down to Kent last week to visit my new nephew, help my parents move house and pay a short visit to our woodland getaway caravan. The caravan has been largely de-spidered. The bedroom has been painted white and the ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Oct 3, 2011, 4:30 am
Back in August I mentioned that Mat from Southern Retro had paid us a visit in Norwich. Well, now the results of that visit are all visible on the Southern Retro website. Southern Retro is an amazing photographic project of “individuals for whom reviving the past is part of their every day lives�...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 30, 2011, 4:30 am
On Wednesday night my style took a little trip back to the early 60s. Under my local alter ego Vintage Norwich I’d been asked to team up with our local independent Cinema – Cinema City -  to organise a very special evening for Norwich Fashion Week. They were planning to screen Breakfast at Ti...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 28, 2011, 4:30 am
Some of you might know I’m a big Weight Watchers fan. I lost 3 stone with them about 4 years ago, and I’m back using the online version now as about a stone of that “crept” back on over the last year. I’m not doing well at this exact moment in time, but that’s a story for another day! ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 26, 2011, 4:30 am
You may remember last year I reviewed Style Me Vintage Hair. Well it seems this is now a series of books, and at the beginning of August Style Me Vintage: Make Up: Easy Step-by-step Techniques for Creating Classic Looks was released. I’d intended to review it earlier than this, but despite the f...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 23, 2011, 4:30 am
I mostly like that title because it rhymes and sounds a bit like “view halloo”. Not that I approve of fox-hunting, it just makes me think of Mary Poppins. Anyway, enough nonsensical wittering. Today I am going to review a pair of shoes. About a week ago I got an email from the Most Wanted peop...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 21, 2011, 7:21 am
Well, today I was going to post about the Sheringham 1940s Weekend. But instead I have far more exciting news…. However, I will start off with a picture from the weekend. Myself, Mr Chick and Mai from Darhling spent Saturday riding around on Steam Trains at the Sheringham 1940s weekend. We were ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 19, 2011, 9:02 am
Last week I should you the finished result of the dress I designed, and you voted for, for Lady K Loves. Well, it wasn’t just me. All the way over on the other side of the world the fabulous Andi B Goode also had you voting for your favourite design, and now hers is ready too! Andi B Goode is fa...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 16, 2011, 5:00 am
As you know I SHOP in Charity Shops a lot. I am a firm Charity Shop fan. I think with a bit of imagination and a change in your attitudes to shopping you can find some amazing bargains and create a style that’s yours, rather than borrowed from the plastic dummies in New Look. But I don’t very o...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 14, 2011, 5:00 am
The winning design for the Lady K Loves dress is finally finished and here! I really love it, and I think that it’ll probably last me into October, and possibly November, depending on how the weather holds. It looks good with a long line cardigan and its smart enough to wear with a navy jacket as...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 12, 2011, 7:56 am
Sometimes people send me product samples to try. Sometimes I like them and I write a whole review on them. Sometimes I don’t like them, and unless they’re actually positively damaging to your health I probably just won’t use them or mention them. But sometimes I DO like them, but there’s re...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 9, 2011, 4:54 am
Following on from a conversation with Landgirl1980 on twitter I decided it was time for a hair post. The most frequent questions I get asked are about my hair. The answer to the MOST frequently asked question is “Live Colour XXL in Red Passion”. Hopefully this post should answer some others, as...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 7, 2011, 4:36 am
I started the campaign for clearer clothes sizing back in May. It proved to be a little more controversial than I expected at the time. It’s worth noting that what I DON’T want is for all brands to cut their clothes to fit a standard body size. What I want is for them to be clear and honest abo...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Sep 5, 2011, 7:58 am
Welcome to September! It’s officially autumn, but hopefully we’ll still have a few more days of sunshine so I’m not quite ready for lace up brogues and shearling lined boots just yet. Court shoes are the perfect transitional shoe for that bit of autumn before it’s quite autumn, and that bi...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 31, 2011, 7:20 am
Well, I guess today is back to work proper. On Bank Holiday Monday I went to Gressenhall Village at War, which you can read all about over at Vintage Norwich, should you so wish! Here, though I get to share the more personal bits of the day. I actually got in free to the museum as I was “all dre...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 30, 2011, 5:24 am
Welcome back! I trust you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend? Today I am waiting for Mat from Southern Retro to come and take my photo, so I need to get off and tidy my house so I can pretend it’s always tidy, and not normally covered with mail I haven’t got around to recycling or filing. ...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 26, 2011, 4:30 am
A few weeks ago I wrote about Jumpsuits. I had an urge for a kind of 1930s lounging pyjama, something like this Top of my lust list was the ASOS Fan Print jumpsuit in mint green, which was £50, too far out of my budget for something so speculative as a jumpsuit! So a few weeks later ASOS helpfull...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 24, 2011, 7:06 am
When I talked about bravery and confidence last week, I mentioned how scary organising that first ever event was. Well, today I am confirming that the next ones don’t get any less scary! I’ve got a couple more things coming up in Norwich in the next few months that I thought I should really let...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 22, 2011, 7:10 am
Last week I told you about the Party, today I tell you about the book. The whole point of that launch was to “bring the book to life” and it certainly did that. I even recognised tea pots from some of the pictures. The book itself is just as beautiful as the party, and incredibly inspiring. Es...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 19, 2011, 5:00 am
On Wednesday night I went to a truly fabulous party. Seriously, it was so amazing that I’m still buzzing about it now. That Angel Adoree from The Vintage Patisserie is a very clever lady. Things weren’t feeling that promising as after a long train journey I struggled down a very rainy Brick La...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 17, 2011, 8:04 am
This post was actually inspired by an incident this weekend where a lovely woman chased me across a car park to ask how I did my hair, but when I started writing it I remembered this post on Diary of a Vintage Girl from a couple of weeks ago. I nearly scrapped the post, but then I decided you can’...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 15, 2011, 8:15 am
Ooooo Aaaaarrr. Or whatever it is stereotypical Sussex country people are supposed to say. This weekend has been distinctly short on glamorous frocks and cocktails and disturbingly high on the stinging nettles and crawling things scale. We own a small patch of woodland in Sussex. It’s useless t...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 12, 2011, 4:30 am
That’s actually the opposite of how I’m feeling. I like a nice bit of sunshine. Picnics by the river. Fanning yourself gently with a sun hat as you rest in the shade while someone brings you freshly squeezed lemonade. Sunny days that feel like these pictures look. Relaxed, a gentle breeze. Love...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 10, 2011, 7:18 am
Today I bring you pretty things. I really have nothing I can add to the commentary on the terrible news of riots across the country that someone else hasn’t already said far more eloquently. So Retro Chick is the place where you can come, have a nice civilised cup of tea and look at some pretty t...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 8, 2011, 7:23 am
You might remember that on my day out at War and Peace at the end of July I came home with some vintage marcel wave clips. They’re hanging around there, at the top of the picture. Well, on Friday, I decided it was time for them to get their first experimental outing. I wasn’t going anywhere fl...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 3, 2011, 6:14 am
My last red lipstick review was in April, would you believe it! I’ve been using this one for a while now. So I thought it was time for a review. The lipstick I’m reviewing today is Boots No. 7 Moisture Drench lipstick in Dare Devil, which costs £10. First, the chart. You’ll notice as it ge...
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Gemma S. posted an article on Retro Chick - Aug 1, 2011, 7:52 am
Monday AGAIN. How does that keep happening? For a change Friday night was my chance to get dressed up and be a bit glamorous this weekend. I was still slightly hungover after “afternoon tea” on Thursday with The Glamourologist and Missy Vintage turned into afternoon drinks, and then “oh, I’...
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