Retro Chicks Highlights of 2011
Dear Diary

Retro Chicks Highlights of 2011

Ah, the years nearly over!

Now that we don’t have cheques I get even LESS practice at writing the new year. So I expect to catch up with 2012 somewhere around March.

2011 has been a pretty good one for Retro Chick with all kinds of exciting things happening and it’s nice to use this little break between Christmas and New Year to reflect on what’s happened and what you’ve acheived.

Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in the negative things. The things you DIDN’T do, the things you WISH happened, or to convince yourself that things are going so much better for OTHER people. So I decided it was time to reflect and to round up my highlights of this year. I went back over the blog and looked at posts I’d written about things that happened, and these are the things I most enjoyed and was most proud of.

It was very cold. I was utterly terrified. But I’m very proud to have kicked the year off with an appearance on such an amazing program. And I didn’t swear.

Later on, with the luxury of space and time that this being MY blog awards me, I went back and addressed the issue of whether women are too emotional about clothes shopping.

I love writing the lazy girls guide. It sums up everything I believe about looking good, without massive effort. I have more plans for it in 2012 as well….

Not a great month for me personally, but at the start of March I launched Vintage Norwich as a central point to list Norwich vintage events and write up all the amazing shops, bars and restaurants. Since then we’ve collaborated on an event with the local Cinema, and featured in the Guardian and on the National Tourist Boards blog. Not bad!

I’ve never had a paid modelling job in my life. I’m a slightly overweight woman in her 30s, and that’s not putting myself down, it’s just true! So you can imagine my bemused face when I got an email asking me to appear at a photocall for the launch of The Festival of Britain at the Southbank Centre. I really enjoyed the day, though tiring, and since then I’ve gone on to do other bits of modelling, or prancing around in front of a camera as I like to call it.

Or at least the first event that I expected people to pay to come to! In May we held A Marvellous Cocktail Party and it was such a roaring success that we held another, even bigger one in November! Hopefully there’s even more exciting things planned for 2012.

Sadly it never made the final cut for the TV show, but filming a little segment on Vanity Sizing with Claire from Steps was a great experience. Although I was terrified before filming, I was actually pretty calm when it came down to it, which has made me a little more confident should such an opportunity come up again.

Without a doubt the most amazing event I’ve been invited to all year. Meeting Angel was such a pleasure and she’s one of the most inspirational people I’ve ever had the fortune to come across.

I not only had a fabulous night, but I left feeling inspired, enthusiastic, with a great goodie bag and a signed copy of the book which I will treasure.

This was a far longer and more involved process than I, or Lady K, anticipated, I think. I learnt a lot from it, and seeing my original idea turned into an actual finished product was incredibly exciting. These dresses are very limited edition and there’s only 4 left on the Lady K Loves website.

Because it took so much longer than we thought, and it’s a warmer weather dress, I only got to wear it a couple of times. I can’t wait for Spring so I can wear it out again! In Autumn I wore the navy beret with it, but I have an amazing vintage navy straw boater that I can’t wait to team it with come Summer!

I can’t really not include that, can I?! I met some wonderful new people, and being nominated for an award that comes with an awards ceremony, no matter how brief, isn’t to be sniffed at!

A definite 2011 highlight for many reasons.

The lovely Matt came all the way from Brighton to Norwich to make us part of his amazing project to document the lives of people into that world of Vintage and Retro.

It was an honour to be part of it, and to be in a gallery of such fabulous people on his site. I only wish I’d spent less time hoovering and more time making myself look fabulous so that I wasn’t still make up free and in my rollers when he arrived early (or rather, at the exact time he said he would)

This time last year I’d never met The Glamourologist and Missy Vintage, but when we did meet we clicked instantly. We decided there must be a way we could bring our communal message of easy DIY glamour and obsession with history to the world, and thus the Historical Sauces were born. We’ve taken our pop up vintage library to two events so far, and have more lined up for the New Year, plus some events of our own in the pipeline.

I’m so glad to have met 2 such amazing women with the same weird obsessions as me and I hope we can do exciting things next year. Some of which will probably involve cocktails. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, if you’re so inclined!

So, that was the year that was! Hopefully next year will bring even bigger and better things.

What were the highlights of YOUR year?

 

 

 

19 Comments

  • Georgina December 30, 2011

    What an incredible year! Can’t wait to see what you get up to in 2012.

    • Gemma December 30, 2011

      Probably nothing. At the moment I’m thinking I might spend it asleep!

  • Glamourologist December 30, 2011

    What a great year you had and fingers crossed 2012 is going to be even better. Can’t believe we only all met 6 months ago and already have done so much (and drunk so many cocktails). Very excited. xxx

    • Gemma December 30, 2011

      So. So. So many cocktails!

  • Jess December 30, 2011

    What an amazing year you’ve had! I’m popping mine up on NYE.

    Happy new year! xx

  • Perdita December 30, 2011

    Well done! What a super year- your Marvellous Cocktail Party was superb and the vintage guide is a fave of mine as someone who likes a relaxing weekend in the Fine City.

    I must say I’ve had a busy year, we bought our first home (yikes) and had so many fab times meeting fab vintage peeps like you, and boggling at how glam you always look even in torrential rain LOL! Looking forward to another fab vintage year!

    • Gemma December 30, 2011

      Yes, that’s right. Always glam (thanks the gods of vintage no one can see her Scotty Dog pyjamas)

  • Fi Phillips December 30, 2011

    What a wonderful year you’ve had. And you’re right about looking to the positive over the negative. One of the biggest conclusions I’ve come to in 2011 is that there’s no sense in trying to live by other people’s rules.

    Highlights this year have been rather sparse for me personally. Professionally, researching and writing a customer commissioned script based around the 1953 coronation was a joy, if a little lengthier than I’d expected. Looking forward to seeing the results of the production in 2012.

  • Straight Talking Mama December 30, 2011

    What a fabulous year I hope 2012 is just as fabulous for you!

  • LandGirl1980 December 30, 2011

    It has been a fab year for you – and I have enjoyed every post of it 🙂 Hmmm – not too sure about my year – aside from meeting up with so many lovely bloggers – including your good self – natch 😉

  • Rach December 30, 2011

    All the best for 2012 sweetheart, I’m glad that this year has been so great for you

  • louise December 30, 2011

    What a great year. Best wishes for 2012.

  • Jessie in Fashion Limbo December 31, 2011

    A highlight of my year definitively has been featuring you in my site, Fashion Limbo 😉 Thanks so much for doing that for me. Have a fabulous 2012 my dear Gemma, full of only the good stuff xxxxx

  • Lady Cherry December 31, 2011

    I am still gutted I missed the Vintage Tea Party book launch due to being ill. Meh.

    Highlights – meeting other vintage gals through blogging, feeling more comfortable in my own skin, going to Las Vegas, exercising more, starting to learn ballroom and horse riding…just doing things that I have always wanted to do but never had the confidence to. 2011 was, at least, good for that.

  • Shona January 1, 2012

    Wow you have had a monster huge fabbo year!! Looking forward to what you get up to in 2012

  • Natalie January 2, 2012

    wowee some massive achievements there. I am a book blogger who readd 72 books. i am pretty happy with that. I am also hoping to include more fashion on my blog. you have inspired me.

  • Cynthia January 2, 2012

    I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your blog, for being real and for making others feel comfortable with who they are. Your blog is just lovely and so are you. Happy New Year!

  • Old Fashioned Susie January 5, 2012

    What an amazing year. You really are very inspirational you know 😉

  • Gemma January 12, 2012

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