Gizzi Erskine wears our dress for series finale

Glamorous TV chef and cookery writer Gizzi Erskine is wearing a Juno Says Hello vintage gown for the series finale of her new Channel 4 show, Cookery School.

She chose our ultra-stylish 1960s Ursula gown, available to buy here.

The show airs next month - look out for many more Juno Says Hello dresses throughout the series!

Win this vintage evening bag!

To be entered into our competition to win this stunning vintage evening bag just sign up to our newsletter via this link.

The bag is a 1960s evening purse made by Le Soir, with contrasting bead patterns on each side. There are diamante studs on the clasp and a slip-through chain.

This is a stunning bag but due to age marks on the fabric (barely noticeable - see photo) we can't sell it in the boutique. But it needs a loving home!

Good luck ladies x

Shopping for Vintage in NYC

I was lucky enough to spend the last five days in New York visiting PINTA, catching up with friends and checking out the vintage stores in Manhattan.

PINTA is a modern and contemporary Latin American art show - not the sort of place where I expected to see any recognition of fashion - but a large stand was dedicated to the designs of Nicolas Felizola, a Miami-based couturier. The exhibit featured several mannequins wearing gowns inspired by Maria Felix, widely regarded to be the most beautiful face in the history of Mexican cinema. Costumes below:


All very interesting, but the clothes weren't for sale and I was determined to find some amazing vintage dresses for Juno Says Hello during my short stay. I have tried well-known places like Resurrection before and found the selection very underwhelming - more 80s retro jumpers than 40s or 50s cocktail dresses, but with stellar price tags. The first shop I visited was called Zachary's Smile on Lafayette St, which sells mainly 60s and 70s vintage alongside a selection of clothes by contemporary independent designers. I bought a stunning early 1950s blue and ivory silk frock - perfect for an alternative wedding dress - with a rigid aluminium frame in the corset. Faut souffrir pour être belle!

I also picked up a primrose yellow shantung silk cocktail dress with bow details. All my new purchases are being photographed on Thursday and will be uploaded to our online boutique before the end of month! Please sign up to our newsletter on this page for special previews.

One of the reasons I buy almost all our stock from the US and Canada is because the quality and condition of the dresses is far superior to most of what is available in Europe. In addition, the sizes are slightly more generous. Many women are put off buying vintage because they believe it will be too small - the waist too tiny, the sleeves too short - but this is simply not the case if you know where to source it. We currently have ten size 16+ dresses in our online boutique and we're about to upload several more - stay tuned.

My next stop was Screaming Mimi's, also on Lafayette. This place was fantastic but better for accessories and club-wear rather than cocktail dresses. There was a rail dedicated to 'Bad Christmas Sweaters' which made me laugh. I was wondering whether to buy a 1970s red and yellow skintight satin jumpsuit for my friend Juliette, but just couldn't justify the price tag. Sorry darling! I'll make you one instead.

So far, OK, but I didn't strike gold until I found Stella Dallas on Thompson. This amazing shop is named after the 1937 film starring Barbara Stanwyck and had an exquisite selection of vintage dresses, coats and accessories. I found eight or nine incredible frocks that are being loaded on to the aeroplane back to London as I type... then uploaded to our online boutique ASAP. The quality of the fabrics was unlike anything I had seen before - couture gowns and flirty 60s shifts - and I couldn't help but pick up a mink-trimmed winter coat for myself! At this point smoke started coming out of the credit card machine so I held back from visiting anywhere else.

Next time I'm in NYC I'm going to try out Rare Vintage - supposedly where Anna dello Russo (pictured right) gets some of her vintage gowns - and the many boutiques in Williamsburg. In the meantime, follow us on Twitter or Facebook for previews of all the dresses I sourced in New York. We had a bumper consignment from a lovely lady in Dorset earlier in the month so those dresses will also be featured in our new collection.

**We're open daytime or early evening for private appointments in our central London studio - no obligation to buy - click here and let us help you find the perfect Christmas party dress**

Our frock makes Vogue's Best Dressed List!

The lovely Gizzi Erskine attended the Observer Food Monthly awards ceremony last week wearing a Juno Says Hello dress. Vogue chose Gizzi in this outfit for their weekly Best Dressed List... check out the photo here! Dress available to buy from Juno Says Hello - click on this link.

NARS launches vintage nail polish collection

Classic cinema is the theme for these five autumnal shades. Left to right:

MASH - army green infused with gold

KING KONG - copper brown

MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - deep navy

ZULU - forest green

FULL METAL JACKET - metallic grey

The best manicure I've found in London is at Bella Nails on 23a Tavistock Place, WC1. These guys gave me a 40s-style manicure for £15 and it only took 20 minutes! Creepy hand photo below:

Gizzi Erskine visits our studio

The lovely Gizzi Erskine popped into the studio recently to buy some dresses. Here she is modelling our Abigail shift!

Gizzi has just been commissioned to star in a brand new 50-episode cookery show, and we're thrilled to announce that Juno Says Hello is supplying a large chunk of the wardrobe throughout filming. She also picked out a stunning early 60s peplum silk dress for her launch party last week - it looked fabulous!

Thames Revival

The Thames Revival is an annual event that celebrates vintage glamour, classic boats and the golden days of sailing. The event is being held as part of The Mayor’s Thames Festival, London’s largest free outdoor arts festival, taking place on 11th & 12th September 2010.

Entering the historic St Katharine Docks will be like stepping back in time as you cast your eye around a fabulous variety of craft. To add to the period feel, all the boat crews will be dressed in the period of their boat. If you would like to be part of the spectacle and get a hands on look at the boats you can spend the day in the members enclosure. There is also a fashion show, a paper boat race for children, live music, and vintage clothing stalls. Entry is free to all festival goers.

My new column for The Collective Review..

I'm delighted to have been asked to be a guest contributor for The Collective Review, a network of 250 writers – 'from acclaimed journalists, to top bloggers and industry insiders'... which apparently includes little old me!

Covering a broad spectrum of topics and interests, The Collective Review is a daily look at the biggest issues and talking points of the moment – whether it’s a review of the latest Hollywood blockbuster, indepth commentary on the latest fashion industry news or a polemic on a recent parliamentary debate.

My column will be based on reporting from fashion and arts-related events. Check out my first missive here. Next week: St Tropez!

Just uploaded: new collection

September starts with a big bang: a stunning new collection of luxury vintage dresses from Juno Says Hello. Check out our dedicated link here.

Model Emma Rice wears our Lola dress, available to buy here.

Minxy TV chef Gizzi Erskine gives us a mention!

The lovely Gizzi Erskine mentions JunoSaysHello.com as one of her favourite boutiques to look for vintage dresses in the Sunday Telegraph Stella Magazine.

Thanks Gizzi we love you back!

Summer-to-autumn wardrobes: vintage shifts

All women love the shift dress - it is totally versatile, and is the easiest thing to throw on in between seasons. Bare legs, opaque tights, heels or flats... it's all good!

We currently have a couple of beautiful silk shifts at JunoSaysHello.com: our Nyasha dress has a bold floral pattern with an unusual double hem, and our Tamara shift is made from the softest silk we have ever seen. Both garments are in mint condition and are perfect for work-to-play dressing.

The simple silhouette of these dresses make them very easy and comfortable to wear. Our Biarritz olive shift works beautifully on its own, or it can be styled up with strong accessories. We have a fantastic monochrome shift dress that would look amazing on tanned or darker skin, and our Sadie shift has femme fatale written all over it. Just add these and these!

These dresses are available to buy online or can be reserved to try on at our next studio sale, which is on Thursday 30th September. Please visit our Facebook event page here to sign up. Ladies are invited to relax with a glass of wine and browse our beautiful vintage dresses. There is a special goodie bag for the first ten guests and a seamstress will be available to help with fittings.

Vintage at Goodwood

I was full of enthusiasm and curiosity when I went to check out this new festival, brainchild of Wayne Hemingway. There had been a huge amount of hype (not to mention a couple of unfavourable previews) whizzing around the blogosphere but I was determined to give it a fighting chance.

Well... I was a little bit underwhelmed. There are some excellent reviews out there, complete with superb photographs - so I am going to pass the baton on to fellow vintage dealer Natasha Bailie, 1940s enthusiast and model Fleur de Guerre, journalist and fashion PR Katie Antoniou, and a whole host of reviews at QueensOfVintage.com. Enjoy!

Mad Men fashion: how to look good when behaving bad

Mad Men's costume designer Janie Bryant was once asked if the show's vintage style rubs off on her current wardrobe. "Sure," she replied, "But there's a fine line between looking like you've been influenced by the early '60s, and looking like you're going to a theme party for the early '60s!" In other words: A little period styling goes a very long way.

The dresses at Juno Says Hello definitely chime with this aesthetic. All of our vintage frocks are chosen because they look amazing on 21st century women.

In the new series Anna Camp plays Bethanny, below, Draper's 25 year-old love interest. Get her formal dinner-date look here.


After years of putting up with Don's infidelities, this season sees Betty Draper embark on an affair of her own. Channel her butter-wouldn't-melt look in this stunning floral print dress, below, or dip into her evening wardrobe and style up this sexy black shift with killer heels and immaculate make-up.


Bombshell Joan Holloway (below) knows exactly how to work her curves. We can definitely see her sashaying down those agency corridors wearing this number.


Nothing emphasizes the silhouette better than vintage. Our emerald silk dress (below) is a great example of early 1960s tailoring. Necklace by Little15.


This season also sees Peggy Olsen finally step out of Don's shadow. She gets a new haircut and smartens up her office wardrobe - our Abigail Day Dress or John Camery suit would be perfect.

Mad Men Season 4 comes to the UK on BBC4 in the autumn.

Source: AMCTV.COM

Photos from our latest collection

Nora Mixova models a stunning 1950s cocktail dress, made from textured black satin, available to view and buy online here.


The next dress is one of the most beautiful we have ever seen, an original 1940s swing dress in printed silk. Click here to see more images.



Our third photo is of an early 1960s tassel dress with jet beading on the neckline. Click here for details.


We uploaded eight more dresses today, available to view by clicking on this link. We have had some incredible consignments recently and will be uploading 30 more dresses before the end of the summer - sign up to our newsletter via our homepage for previews and special offers.

All photography © Jonas Persson

The Chap Olympiad & Amwell Street Fête

Taking place in a beautiful Georgian square in central London, The Chap Olympiad is a delightful day of themed sporting events, live music, sideshows and refreshments.

The Olympiad has become Britain's most eccentric sportsday, attracting Londoners to this now famous celebration of athletic ineptitude and immaculate trouser creases.

Hosted by The Chap magazine (a monthly journal filled with articles on tweed, hat doffing and martinis) and Bourne & Hollingsworth, the Olympiad is an eye-catching spectacle, full of oddball elegance and quirky panache.

All guests are invited to come in period dress. We have some amazing original 40s dresses that would be perfect for the look - our Romilly outfit or summery Justine frock need no accessorizing and allow enough movement for the Cucumber Sandwich Discus, one of the event highlights.

For inspiration, check out some photos and a video of last year's event. If you're the mood for more retro frolics this weekend then Amwell Street is hosting a swing party as part of their annual 'village fête'. There will be stalls for cakes and vintage fayre, bingo, a tug-of-war, a dog show, a 1940s wedding parade, and a period fancy dress competition all played out to live music.

The Chap Olympiad
11am - 12 midnight
Saturday 17th July 2010
Beford Square, WC1.

Amwell Street Fête
12.30-5.30pm
Sunday 18th July
Amwell Street, N1.

STUDIO SALE - Tuesday 13th July, 3pm-9pm

Unwind after work with a glass of wine and browse our beautiful vintage dresses. Many items not available online until August!

Places are limited so RSVP on this event page or contact events@junosayshello.com. Our last sale was Daily Candy's selected shopping event - don't miss this one!

Our in-house seamstress will be available to take fittings on the evening. Ladies only.


Dress worn by model available to buy online here.

Win 2 tickets to see Lucia van der Post

Create a wishlist at our vintage e-boutique Juno Says Hello to be entered into a draw for two tickets to see Lucia van der Post at the Last Tuesday Society on Wednesday 7th July.

Lucia wrote the indispensable style guides "Things I Wish My Mother Had Told Me" and "Celebrate: The Art of the Special Occasion". She also had a weekly advice column, 'Ask Lucia', in The Times and was the founding editor of the FT's How to Spend It magazine.

The event will focus on the importance of glamour and elegance... something that all aficionados of vintage clothing can appreciate!

Click on to Juno Says Hello and sign up that wishlist now! Winners will be notified by email on Wednesday morning.

Royal weddings - the original red carpet!

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling last week. It was a very modern romance: Daniel was Victoria's personal trainer and their big day was filmed for reality TV show The Royal Wedding, which has become the most watched show in the country. Fifty million people across Europe watched the nuptials live!

The heir to the throne wore an ivory silk Par Engsheden gown and her mother's 1976 wedding tiara. Royals don't do accessories, they do decorations. There were sashes and medals galore, and Grazia magazine wickedly described The King of Norway as wearing 'a full canteen of silverware'.

The wedding dress was stunning, but the guests didn't disappoint either. My vote for best dress goes to Princess Elena of Spain's striking fuschia ensemble (above) with dramatic detailing on the bolero and in her hair.

Guests included Princess Letizia of Asturias in a nude floor-length dress:

Queen Rania of Jordan looked serene in an Armani Privé gown:


Margarethe II of Denmark in a stunning chartreuse silk gown:

Queen Silvia of Sweden in a pitch-perfect Mother-of-the-Princess-Bride ensemble:

Queen Sonja of Norway in a fabulous coral chiffon gown (homage to Margot Ledbetter?):

And finally, Princess Rosario Nadal of Bulgaria:

Check out a video of the Swedish Royal Wedding here. I've never been one to get excited about weddings - all that attention, horrible! - but I do love getting dressed up as a guest. One of our most popular categories at Juno Says Hello is Weddings & Races. On 10th July we will be uploading 25 more dresses... stay tuned!

Stars choose vintage for SATC2 premiere

Sex and the City fever is here again. The plotlines are fun, but the real kick comes from checking out what the girls are wearing. We've been hooked since 1998 - and there is a reason why: wardrobe supervisor Patricia Field's quirky outfits single-handedly introduced vintage styling to a mass audience.

A decade later, the actresses remain true to the vision created by Pat Field. At the recent SATC2 premiere in London, Kim Cattrall chose to wear a stunning vintage Thierry Mugler gown, reminiscent of the John Singer Sargent portrait of Madame X. Kristin Davis chose a ravishing vintage Norman Norell sequinned gown, which she found online from California's fabulous boutique, Decades Inc.

We found the original post on the Decades blog announcing the provenance of this dress here. It is fascinating to see the 50-year journey this dress has taken to arrive on the red carpet at one of the most anticipated premieres of the year.

Louboutin's Magical Mystery Tour

Shoe designer extraordinaire Christian Louboutin has created a series of short films in which a mysterious silhouetted figure in a top hat (Mr Loubi) sends three beautiful ladies on a road trip. With cameos from Mika and Dita von Teese, costumes by Martin Grant and Rouland Mouret, and previews on Graziadaily.co.uk, this is a gorgeous, glamorous, epic enigma.

Check out the films here.

FT.com interviews Browns boutique owner Joan Burstein

The London boutique Browns, sophisticated go-to store for original international design, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with an exhibition and a book consisting of famous designers’ recollections of the fashion institution. Here, Joan Burstein (affectionately known within the industry as Mrs B), the eighty-something owner who launched a hundred fashion careers, recalls her memories of the world’s most colourful fashion designers.

Read the full interview here.

‘Browns: 40 Years of Fashion Innovation’, Regent Penthouses and Lofts, 1618 Marshall Street, London W1, May 1330.

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Grace Kelly: Style Icon at the V&A

The long-anticipated exhibition of Grace Kelly's dresses opens this weekend at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

'I don't want to dress up a picture with just my face', said the actress. Her look continues to inspire the catwalk and her demure style of dress harks back to a more delicate femininity. Hitchcock might have called her the original ice queen but still waters run deep: behind the scenes she was a rather passionate woman. She had a tendency t0 sleep with everyone on the set of her movies (including the writers) and was labelled a nymphomaniac by Hollywood's then gossip queen Hedda Hopper.

Vintage fashion guru and blogger Natasha Bailie was interviewed by the BBC about the new show at the V&A. Check out her post here . At Juno Says Hello we have made a selection of Grace Kelly-inspired dresses: a High Society-style frock, a Dial M for Murder fur-trimmed suit, and an Oscar de la Renta gown capable of redeeming even the naughtiest of princesses. Click here to watch original news footage of her 1956 marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Grace Kelly: Style Icon
(sponsored by Van Cleef & Arpels)
17th April - 26th September 2010
Victoria & Albert Museum, SW7

Sunday Tea Dance @ Finsbury Town Hall

Ragroof Theatre is putting on one of their ever-popular dress-to-impress tea dances, suitable for experienced dancers and beginners alike.

Scintillating rhythms from DJ Champagne Charlie. Instant dance classes from Dorothy's Shoes to ease you onto the dancefloor. Tea and cakes (and gin) on sale to keep you refreshed and energised for an afternoon of fun and frolics!

Have a quick look at this amazing footage of the legendary Lily Farling playing the piano at Old Finsbury Town Hall.

2-5pm Sunday 4th April
Finsbury Old Town Hall, EC1
Tickets £3/£6 on the door

Image: Oli Longmore

And the bride wore vintage...

We're coming up to that time of year.. wedding season! All brides want to look beautiful - and unique. Many are shunning bespoke designs in order for something equally breathtaking: a vintage wedding dress.

I visited the Designer Wedding Show in Battersea last year and was surprised to see at least two very chic stands dedicated to vintage wedding gowns. The quality of these garments was outstanding and a range of accessories (veils, jewellery, stoles) was also available.

Renowned stylist Charlie Brear has brought together her years of experience in fashion to create The Vintage Wedding Dress Company, for brides who would love to wear something completely original but don't have the time, energy or faintest idea where to start. The central London showroom has a rare and diverse selection of gorgeous gowns and accessories from the Victoria era through to early 1970s, which can be tailored to a couture finish.

Other London-based vintage wedding dress boutiques include Heirloom Couture, Circa Vintage Brides and Halfpenny London. Butler & Wilson remains a favourite for costume jewellery and accessories. Vintage Dress is an online shop selling a selection of vintage wedding gowns at very competitive prices.

One of the most popular categories at Juno Says Hello is our Wedding & Races collection. Although originally designed for wedding guests rather than brides, we have had several enquiries from ladies who want an alternative to a big white gown on their special day.

As any net-savvy bride-to-be knows, there are thousands of wedding blogs out there. Most of these are fashioned as style diaries providing inspiration for everything from hairstyles to table settings. Some of the most well-researched include Love My Dress and Once Wed, although I know there are plenty of other wonderful blogs out there - feel free to add them in the comments section!

Vintage Clothing for Men

Since launching my shop Juno Says Hello, I've had several enquiries about whether I sell vintage clothes for men. Sadly not, nor do I have any plans to... so I thought I should write a little post about where gents can go to kit themselves out properly. The most popular request seems to be for sporting tweeds, but there are plenty of suppliers out there who also sell immaculately tailored suits and beautiful vintage accessories.

Many men seem to have been inspired by programmes like MadMen, for example, but others are simply after a one-off 'look' for an event like Goodwood Revival or the Chap Olympiad.

One of the biggest online shops is Tweedmans Vintage. You can browse their stock by era or garment type, and delivery within the UK is free. New items are uploaded every day and the quality really is very, very good.

David Saxby has a shop specialising in sporting tweeds and formal wear. A selection of their stock is available online and their shop is in Fulham. David also owns Old Hat, which sells vintage clothing for men.

Hornets of Kensington sells an amazing selection of vintage menswear including Savile Row suits and fur coats.

Another London-based vintage men's clothing shop is Thrifty Beatnik, which used to be a store in Victoria but has now moved online.

I also came across an online guide to 007's tailoring - check it out here. Recommended gentleman's outfitters are Kilgour, Darren Beaman and Henry Poole & Co.

All other suggestions welcome - please add links in the comments section.

Burlesque Undressed

The Grand Vintage Ball @ the Rivoli Ballroom

The next Grand Vintage Ball will take place in the sumptuous environs of the Rivoli Ballroom down in South London.

Guests are invited to enter the Vintage Attire Pageant, where they can be crowned Best in Show. Categories include:

• Dictator's wife
• Champagne Socialist
• Dressed to Kill
• DIY Delight - I made it myself!
• Fur Coat & No Knickers
• The Margot Leadbetter Award for lifetime services to synthetic fabrics

The venue (pictured) started life as the Crofton Park Picture Palace in July 1913 and was converted into a ballroom in 1957, reopening in 1959 with a large sprung maple dance floor. It is now priately owned.

Famous for its original decor and interior fittings (red velvet, flock wallpaper, chandeliers, glitter balls and over-sized Chinese lanterns) it is often used as a film location and plays host to many dance and musical events. Some of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing programs have also been filmed here.

Music on the night will be an aural extravaganza of jive, rock n' roll, 1970s glam stomp, 80s new romantic pop, Studio 54 and Motown.

The Grand Vintage Ball
7pm - 1am Saturday 8th May 2010
Rivoli Ballroom, London SE

For tickets and information click here.

London Fashion Week Digital Schedule

Catch live streamed shows and digitally presented films from the comfort of your own home. All the front-row shows, none of the catfights. Check it out here.

Image: Osman Yousefzada

Source: Daily Candy

Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE (1969-2010)

McQueen's death was announced on the afternoon of 11 February 2010. He was found dead that morning by his housekeeper at his home on Green Street, London W1.

His dramatic designs met with critical acclaim and earned him the British Designer of the Year award four times.

Friends of the late designer respond to the tragic news:

Detmar Blow, husband of fashion icon Isabella Blow, recalls the deep bond that united the designer and his muse

Lisa Markwell celebrates the extraordinary legacy of the designer

Joan Smith on McQueen's supposedly sinister view of women's bodies

Vogue recounts in pictures McQueen's most memorable fashion moments

Plum Sykes looks back over their long friendship, the wedding dress he made for her - and the time he stood her up

Crystal Renn: Fashion's biggest model on why size matters

When Crystal Renn began modelling, she starved herself to fit the industry ideal. Then she had an epiphany, started eating again – and, as a size 16, now has the world at her feet. Harriet Walker (Independent) meets a woman whose figure is changing the face of fashion.

Read the brilliant article here.