This weekend it was time to get dressed in my 40s finest and ride the steam trains.
It was Sheringham 1940s weekend time again. I missed last year, so I was looking forward to riding the trains again and seeing everyone all dressed up. I didn’t actually give my outfit much thought until the day before, but realised there was a vintage dress I love that I hadn’t worn at all this year that needed to come out to play. It had been cold, so I teamed it with a 1940s faux fur jacket, which naturally meant the sun came out and it was baking hot all day.
⤠1940s Nelly Don Dress – eBay ⤠Vintage Hat – bought at War & Peace â¤
â¤1940s Faux Fur – Penny Dreadful Vintage ⤠Shoes – Office â¤
â¤Brooch, gloves and handbag – Vintage ⤠Pearls – My Nana’s â¤
One of the things you do have to get used to at Sheringham is a LOT of photographers, and once they see someone taking a photo they assume it’s ok and all of them swarm over and start snapping. So an innocent outfit photo by car rapidly got spotted and nearly turned into a full on photo shoot, until I got all embarrassed and decided that was enough. I had wanted to get more close up photos of some of the details of my outfit, but it was just too difficult to take photos without being swarmed!
We rode the steam train down to Holt where we spent a few hours picnicking in the sunshine, doing a spot of shopping on the stalls and enjoying the live music. We had the hugest and most delicious picnic, cheese scones, sandwiches, a goats cheese and fig tart, vegetarian savoury rolls, peanut butter cookies and macrons were all handmade by my talented friends (I bought crisps and dip. I don’t bake)
(thanks to Sam for this photo of me and Betsy Hatter)
We giggled over a 1950s pamphlet entitled Sex in Marriage (seriously, it’s hilarious), ate far more food than we could possibly fit inside a vintage frock and then rode the steam train back to Sheringham for a beer on the platform before returning to Norwich.
I actually didn’t take very many photos this year. I was too busy lazing around drinking vodka cocktails from cans (not very 1940s, but very portable) but I did attempt to snap a Spitfire on a flyover. I’m so glad I tried.
Sadly, by the end of the day my dress had suffered a bit of damage and I’d ripped a whole arm seam trying to pay a cab driver, plus the fabric started to split along the stripes. I don’t know if it’s going to be properly repairable, but it seems such a shame to get rid of a whole dress for a damaged arm, so I might have to find someone clever to turn it into a skirt, or make it sleeveless or something. That’s why I wear repro or vintage style so often, it breaks my heart when vintage dresses die, even though I love giving them a new life by wearing them.
Sheringham 1940s weekend is on every September, and is a great way to spend a day, there are dances in the evening as well, and if you ever fancy a trip to Norfolk, I recommend it as a weekend to pick!
That was Saturday. On Sunday I finished the weekend with a *slight* change of pace. Representing the Norfolk Brawds in a glass walk for domestic violence charity Leeway. But you can read all about that over on Lipstick, Lettuce & Lycra!
Comments
22 responses to “I Like Riding on the Choo Choo Choo”
RT @Retrochick_uk: Riding the steam trains in my 40s finest at Sheringham: http://t.co/VocPr0uUKL
@Retrochick_uk I’ve really got to break my pair of those shoes in…looking good lady
Siofra Connor liked this on Facebook.
I have noticed some of these events are worse than others for being swamped by photographers and it’s not always the bigger events where it happens. Once a photographer made me put down my sandwich when I was trying to have lunch so he could take some pictures, some of them can be so rude sometimes! You look lovely nonetheless.
At least he asked you to put it down! At an event once a photographer spent ages trying to get photos of me eating a bacon sandwich for my lunch, without even asking!
Sarah Horlock liked this on Facebook.
Jana Beasley liked this on Facebook.
I had the same experience at Goodwood Revival the other week, I was trying to eat my lunch and people were just snapping away and then a harmless photo by a car turned into a shoot. Everytime I tried to walk away someone else would ask for a photo, I got quite embarrassed! You look lovely, I just love your dress.
Turid Oddløkken liked this on Facebook.
RT @Retrochick_uk: A 1940s outfit this weekend or riding the steam trains: http://t.co/VocPr0uUKL
@Retrochick_uk Ive no idea how this happened but you appear to be living my dream life! anytime you fancy a change… ( I walk dogs btw) !!
Janice Jones liked this on Facebook.
@Retrochick_uk you look a beauty ! What a gorgeous day!!
Raymond Seager liked this on Facebook.
Caroline Seager liked this on Facebook.
The macarons look delicious and your outfit is fabulous. So glam! What a fun way to spend a day. I’d love to step into the 1940s. Maybe someday…
Such a shame about your dress – it looks so fantastic on you! I wish there were more events like this where I live! xx
Ooooh! That looks like a top day out! Your eyes are such a gad-daym delicious green. Factoid.
Your blog is really great. Maybe you’re interested in following each other? I would love it. Just let me know in a comment on my blog
http://www.femmfashion.blogspot.com
You look amazing! Like you’ve just stepped out of the 1940’s.
It’s been years since I went on the Sheringham Steam Railway, so next year I’m so there!
It’s such a great day!
This sounds amazing! I am definitely going to have to look out for this next year.