Dress Up, Resource Down

The Good Fashion Show is London Fashion Week's largest off-schedule event and features 25 British and international eco-ethical fashion brands.

In addition to the runway shows and emporium - where visitors can make direct orders from the designers - there is a champagne bar, fashion photography & video installations, as well as live performances from artists including Omar and the Maria Chen Jazz Ensemble, who will be wearing a stunning Juno Says Hello vintage dress for her set.

Juno Says Hello has been involved with TGFS since early December, where we accompanied event organizer Antoinette Saxer up to Birmingham for Clothes Show Live at the NEC. Antoinette had a stand in the Designer Pavilion showcasing designers who are taking part in TGFS in February 2012.

Our stand at Clothes Show Live

As well as presenting a selection from the new Juno Says Hello collection on the catwalk, we have a stand in the emporium where customers can chat to our stylist and arrange to visit our Kings Cross studio.

The one-day event will be held in the stunning surroundings of London House in Bloomsbury (pictured above) with the runway shows in their vast neo-classical ballroom. To book tickets click on this link.

The Good Fashion Show

18th February 2012

London House, WC1

Vintage Scent Sessions at Les Senteurs

London's haute parfumerie Les Senteurs has just opened a second branch in Marble Arch. The new space includes an events room, where perfume expert Odette Toilette will be giving a series of talks on vintage perfumes.

Juno Says Hello is providing original vintage dresses as part of the display for each talk. The first event will focus on perfume and costume from the Belle Epoque period, and the ticket includes cocktails, cakes from Konditor & Cook as well as perfume samples.

19th November: Belle Epoque - 1919

28th January: 1920s

10th March: 1930s

19th May: 1940s

14th July 1950s

15th September: 1960s & 1970s

Tickets: £35. Advance booking via this link.

Les Senteurs, 2 Seymour Place, London W1H 7NA

Photo: Odette Toilette wearing Juno Says Hello

New to the boutique: 1960s hostess gown as worn by Julianne Moore in A Single Man

Tom Ford's directorial debut A Single Man came in out in 2009. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Isherwood and stars Colin Firth, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of George Falconer, and Julianne Moore.

Based in California and taking place over the course of a single day, November 30th 1962, the film places emphasis on the culture of the 1960s; the production design is by the same team that designed TV show Mad Men, which is set in the same era.

One of the movie's most memorable moments is the dance scene with Firth and Moore:

The monochrome caped column dress worn by Moore was made by Neusteters, an upmarket department store that closed in 1985. Costume Designer Arianne Phillips sourced this dress for the movie. I'm informed there would have been about 40 dresses made for the store and I've have managed to track down the exact same design.

The dress is size 10-12 and is available to buy here. The back of the gown is covered with a floor-length monochrome cape, as seen in this photo:

The front of the dress has a high neckline and a tapered white panel down the centre:

If you would like to make an appointment to visit our studio in Kings Cross, please get in touch via this link.

Moore's 60s look has inspired several online hair and make-up tutorials:

Stephanie Theobald wrote a really interesting piece on Julianne Moore's character in A Single Man, explaining why a vamp on the verge of a breakdown is irresistible. Read the full article here. The Times called Moore's style 'sloshed chic' when the movie came out - read my previous blog post here.

Two beautiful actresses in Juno Says Hello

Actress Annabel Scholey is playing Lady Anne opposite Kevin Spacey in the Sam Mendes production of Richard III at the Old Vic. For Press Night she picked out a 1930s crimson evening gown from our boutique. Annabel looked absolutely stunning - here she is with Kevin Spacey at the Savoy Hotel in London:

Annabel was accompanied by actress Maimie McCoy - a good friend of Juno Says Hello and pâtissière extraordinaire.

Maimie - also known as Mary - set up Mary's Tea Parties, specialising in elegant afternoon teas; the perfect way to celebrate any occasion, from birthdays to baby showers, to hen parties. Each party is made entirely the way you want it. She will suggest a selection from her carefully prepared menus with delights such as raspberry “fantasy” cake, or delicate lavender shortbread stacks, and together you can create a wonderfully bespoke party. Everything is handmade by Mary in her little kitchen and is delivered to your home, served by professional Afternoon Tea waiting staff, and then cleared up and whisked away, leaving you to play host and delight in cakes.

Mary surrounded by her delicious confections

Mary has supplied delicious treats for several Juno Says Hello late-night sales... the cakes and tarts are so irresistible they are in danger of outshining the dresses! We've had miniature Bakewell tarts, passion-fruit meringues, ice-cream cone cupcakes... all absolutely mouthwatering.


Mary picked out our stunning Scarpetta dress to wear to the Press Night with Annabel. Doesn't she look amazing?!

The chevron-pleated fabric is a black silk-cotton mix and the dress comes with matching belt. Click here to view the dress online.

We're doing another studio sale this afternoon and Mary is about to drop off another tray of delicious goodies... it's very difficult to resist eating all of them before the customers arrive!

If you would like to come along to our next event and sample her cakes for yourself, please get in touch via this link and let us know.

Rebecca x

Our dresses at the V&A Ethical Fashion event

Last week stylist and fashion PR Katie Antoniou gave a talk on ethical fashion at the V&A Museum of Childhood. Other speakers included designer and V&A trustee Betty Jackson, Guardian columnist Lucy Siegle and stylist Jocelyn Whipple.

Juno Says Hello dressed two models who took part in Katie's talk. The 1950s red lace party dress is available to buy here, and the 1930s blue velvet frock is available to buy here.

A big thank you to Katie for getting us involved in such a great event.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.