Fantasy Packing for THE fabulous Art Deco Weekend

It is that time of year when here in the UK we are fervently looking for signs of spring ("Come ON daffodils")... meanwhile, over in my homeland of NZ, the vintage community are sewing, packing and pressing to get themselves off to the Art Deco weekend in Napier.

This is the time of year when I wish I was at home. I've only been once to "Art Deco" as it is known. (I find it kind of neat to call it that, like it is both a place and a era of style. It's quite fitting since one does feel like a time traveller to go there). The last time I was there for the event was before we moved to the UK, and before I had a digital camera!

More recently  my Niece got married there. So here's a pic of my sister-in-law Ness and I doing the quintessential pose in the fountain.

The event is quite hard to dress for, especially if you want to be authentic. It is very very hot, there is lots of walking to do, there are LOTS of events to go to, some of which require different outfits, and of course you are dancing and sitting on the lawn. Not many of those things sit well with original vintage or being glamorous and comfy at the same time. You also really do need a sun hat if you want to get through the day without a headache from the heat and squinting. (I remember one friend packed 24 hats one year!)

So, what would be my fantasy Art Deco wardrobe? If I was going?

It would all be about BEACH PYJAMAS, big hats and a cover up for my shoulders

I like the idea of a long lightweight shawl that I can throw on when I need to hide from the sun, and a blouse would also do the trick, worn as a jacket

A strappy, nautical themed dress with a matching cover up
Patron Journal, May 1938

Necklaces made of seashells Marie Claire, June 1937

Flat shoes and a bag big enough for dance shoes and said shawl. Marie Claire, June 1937

Striped things. I love this long skirt to wear over shorts - who would have thought this was 1937 in France? But this was all inspiration though, not actual reality. The French ideas were often picked up and made overseas (USA in particular) and this meant Paris kept it's identity as a fashion leader, even if in reality they didn't have the resources to produce them at home. Note the visor! Marie Claire, June 1937

Aren't these wonderful seaside outfits? One with a very long sarong wrap and the other with a button through dress Les Jardin des Modes, June 1936

These ladies have it sorted - big hats, parasol, sleeveless jacket easy light weight jacket and flat shoes
Le Jardin des modes, July 1935

I'll be looking forward to next week when my friends will be posting pics. If you can't wait until then, check out The Dreamstress and her 2014 trip

Shake it to make it

Hello lovely people

Firstly, let me apologise for being a slack blogger.  Actually, I never like reading the apologies from blogland, as I tend to be impatient to read real content, being a..."get to the good stuff why don't you?" .. type of gal.  However, I know I have been more quiet than I would like to be so I do apologise for long silences.

This time of year is particularly tiring as we come to the end of a long string of events. Goodwood Revival  last weekend was the last outdoor show and for that I am glad, as it is getting just a bit nippy for camping.  I am however, proficient at wriggling into two sleeping bags.  Ha ha!  It is like Houdini in reverse.

pic from here

But that is not all that is taking up valuable energy as Mr Wolf's family and one of my manufacturers is based in Christchuch, New Zealand, where they have been shaking it all about for a bit too long now.  I do have to say, NZ'ers are kind of used to earthquakes, a bit like Londoners are used to slow tubes, and Australians are used to...um...living with scarey spiders/crocodiles/jellyfish/snakes that could KILL you. Never-the-less, it has been earthquakes on a big, frightening scale, and a lot more than something to chit chat about over your morning cuppa

Thankfully, as far as I am aware, no one has been killed by the large earthquakes they have had and that is due to the exceptionally clever NZ Building code. Well done building code!

I thought you might be interested in the fact that the NZ Building code is very good because it was developed after the Napier earthquake of 1931. Napier was a gorgeous, sunny coastal resort in the North Island, and in 1931 it was pretty much flattened by a massive quake.

image source here.

images sourced here

256 people did loose their lives and families were homeless. From the wreckage, architects and engineers could work out why some buildings (or parts of buildings) remained, and why some fell instantly. Hence our strict building code. Our dwellings are now designed to wiggle and twist, and, if they need to fail, they will do so in a way not to crush the inhabitants.

Chubby wiggling and twisting, source here

Just like London after the blitz, the little town re-built itself in the fashion of the time, and Napier is now Art deco central.

Spirit of Napier fountain, source: here

Masonic Hotel, source here

Rothmans Building, source here

Ellison and Duncan building, source here.

Delightful eh?

If you ever fancy a visit, Napier now has two Art Deco weekends a year, run by the Art Deco Trust.

Napier had a happy ending after a ghastly 10 days of shakes.  Poor Christchurch is now going through something akin to working the hula hoop after knocking back a bottle of bubbles while on a boat, without the hoop or the boat or the fizz. Not too much fun.  Just keep going guys. All fingers crossed it will be over soon.

Shona x