My Rules For Casual Vintage Style

Jumper from Ebay, cigarette pants from 20th Century Foxy, shoes from Dotty Ps, handbag is vintage

1. Everything’s still got to be fitted. Covered up can be good, especially if I want to discourage people from trying to engage my cleavage in direct conversation, but I have to keep it figure-hugging or I look like a floating head atop a giant, unhappy lady.

2. I will only wear flats if I’ve sprained my ankle. Most of my heels are only 2-3″ so sashaying and trotting are still realistic goals. My feet have been disfigured by years in heels so like a chubby ballerina I am permanently on pointe. In flat shoes I’m now actually less stable, both physically and emotionally.

3. Trousers must be high-waisted with just the right amount of stretch. Too much elasticity and I’m accidentally in leggings, too little and I lose the neat, retro look. I wear high-waisted everything, including underwear, because I refuse to live in fear of the muffin top. Remember when a muffin top was something to be savoured not ridiculed? I miss those days. Now eating a muffin is just too poignant to be enjoyed.

Another Day, Another Joan Dress

Dress is custom made by Heart My Closet, handbag and earrings are vintage, scarf is Wheels & Dollbaby, shoes are Aldo

This dress is a Mad Men mash up inspired by two of my favourite frocks from the show, one predictably worn by Joan and the other by the always fabulous Megan. I fell in love with the pink palette of Megan’s shift but knew that the shape would make me look middle-aged and bingo-winged. So I asked my favourite online dressmaker, Heart My Closet, to use the same colours but in the style of Joan’s sky blue office dress.

I’ve raved about Heart My Closet before. The American website will custom make you a vintage style dress to fulfill all your Mad Men fantasies, except the one where Don Draper seduces you over cocktails.

I love having dresses tailor made to fit my apparently freakishly proportioned body. If you’ve never had a dress made for you, me and my freak-bod highly recommend it, especially if you’re not one of the six women in the world who actually have the same measurements as shop-bought clothes.

As Season 7 of Mad Men is about to start, here’s Christina Joaning it up for a promo shot. She’s wearing a shockingly short skirt for the queen of the pencil. Does this mean in the new series she’ll be all babydolls and minis? What’s next? Go-go boots? Actually, I’d love to see that. How sassy would go-go Joan be?!

The ModCloth Uniquely You Outfit Challenge

Everything is available from ModCloth via Wanelo (except Sophia Loren)

I was very excited to be asked to take part in the ModCloth Uniquely You Outfit Challenge. I love their website. It’s a gigantic virtual emporium of vintage style gorgeousness. And creating fantasy outfits online is my Sudoku.

Inspired by the high-waisted polka dot bikini, I’ve gone for a mid-century Mediterranean movie star look because that is who I’d like to have been in a past life.

For full details and links to all items, just click on the picture, guapa.