Monday 20 September 2010

Vintage Hairstyling Challenge - Day One (I Spy a Sixties Tribute)




This week the fabulous Kitty has set us vintage-loving bloggers a hairstyling challenge. For the next five days participants have to create a retro hairstyle using the tools she specifies. There's no winners, it's just for fun so feel free to join in if you'd like to.

Today's tools are:
1. 6 bobby pins (Hair grips to us Brits)
2. Hairspray (any amount, any kind)
3. Brushes and combs, as required
4. One styling aid (can be anything, but only ONE)
5. One decorative piece (again can be anything, but only ONE)



I don't own any hairspray but other than that I've stuck to the specifics, my styling aid is a doughnut (home-made using an old sock stuffed with a pair of laddered tights) and my decorative piece is a 1960's velvet bow tie cunningly masquerading as a hair bow. 


I'm obsessed with spy films and literature and am literally bursting with excitement as the new series of Spooks kicks off on BBC1 tonight so I'm doing a tribute to Modesty Blaise, a sexy female double agent I grew up with.


My love of spying goes right back to childhood, my Mary Quant Havoc doll was a prized posession as a kid. I was a real tomboy, organising spy missions with my brother's Eagle Eye Action Man. I bet she's worth a fortune now, but I wouldn't part with her for the world.


Anyway, enough of my obsessions. Here's the rest of the outfit:

1960's plum leather trench (Cancer Research £3, bought in mid-August 6 years ago), Vintage Biba Go-Go boots (Inherited from my Mum), Leather-backed driving gloves (10p Jumble sale), Velvet bow tie (Salvation Army 50p)


Thanks for your kind words yesterday but when I think my roots need doing nothing can persuade me otherwise.


I wonder what Kitty's got in store for us tomorrow, I'm the world's worst at hairstyling.

54 comments:

  1. Fabulous outfit, actually when I saw the first picture the theme tune of Mission: Impossible started up in my head.....

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  2. Oooh, those boots, that coat, that hair...simply divine - all of it. Look forward to the next style. xx

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  3. superbe tenue et je craque vraiment sur le chignon avec le noeud !

    bonne semaine ;O)

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  4. You look fab...very creative as always. I would love to give it a go but my hair isn't long enough....yet x

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  5. For someone who hates hairstyling, as you say, you did amazingly! Love the use of the bow tie, very clever!

    Lou x - craftyandquirky.blogspot.com

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  6. Your hair looks so good! Good luck at the rest of the challenges
    Ah me loves this as much as your last outfit. The coat, gloves, boots and bow = <3<3<3<3<3<3

    x x x

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  7. That is such a good look and having your hair up really suits you. This challenge looks like its going to be a goodie!

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  8. What is it about gloves? I need me a pair of leather gloves now. I love your hair like that. You should be in Spooks. But IRL spies are apparently meant to look very ordinary and unremarkable and not have people commenting upon the fabness of their outfits or hair. You look great.

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  9. Quite the inventive use of a sock, tights and a bow tie. Very MacGyver of you, Vix! Looks like you are up to the challenge as you are stylin' the spy look Ms. Blaise.

    ~Bonnie :)

    PS - how miraculous your doll survived her many spy missions!

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  10. Ohh the hair is fab, I keep meaning to make myself a rat. You look uber sexy spy in the second from last photo, the smiling assasin?
    Kandi x

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  11. I love these kind of series you do!! I love ur hair and the bow is really cute.u do look like a spy albeit a smartly dressed one:-)

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  12. How cute is your hair do! That bow is like a 'cherry on top' so to say! And you DO look like a stylish Spy! :)

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  13. Very slick - could see you in The Avengers in that outfit!
    Looking forward to Spooks as well, but have to watch on iPlayer - don't like to admit to hubby that I watch it as I have a big crush on a certain member of the cast!

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  14. Dear Vix,
    A truly triumphant channelling of the comic strip heroine; you look awesome honey!
    When I was a kid I favoured hanging out with the boys, as they would play really cool Star Trek, Super Hero, James Bond or Sherlock Holmes related games.
    The mummy & dolly, tea party or Barbie girly games just didn’t rock my boat!
    The kids in the area where I grew up very rarely played indoors, even on the bitterest days of midwinter you’d still be told by your folks to go outside & play.
    Obviously you’d protest, saying it’s freezing/raining out there to which your folks would respond: “Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder” translating to ’there is no bad weather, only inadequate clothing”.
    You’d be wrapped up with ski-jacket, salopettes, teddy-fur lined all-weather boots, thick knitted Lovika hat, scarf & gloves and unceremoniously shoved out the door.
    I know it sounds a bit like child abuse but it certainly made us kids grow up to become hardy peeps ready for anything!
    When I think back on those years today, I feel so grateful that I wasn’t born later, as I believe that kids nowadays do not enjoy the same “freedom” as we did back in the 70s & early 80s.
    …xXx

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  15. Oooh gorgeous! That look really suits you. Seeing you looking so glam gives me a crisis of confidence. I wish I had half of your confidence. xxx

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  16. What another awesome challenge. I love the bow, so adorable. I'm the worst at hair stylinhg too. Hence why I have short hair.

    There is a facebook link on my side bar on my blog.... Just click away on that. x

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  17. You look amazing! The up do suits you and I LOVE that trench!!

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  18. i love that bow in your hair, its a gorgeous colour! x

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  19. Wow - fabulous. Love the hair and clothes and that doll is amazing! You have such a great collection. I wish I'd kept all my belongings over the years but I was rubbish and moved so much.

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  20. your hair looks gorgeous! I am terrible at 'up do's' :( x

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  21. WOWZA!! Love that minxy spy look! Hot to trot!!
    Every detail is sublime,as always! I used to play Famous 5 and war games,as well as with dolls as a child.I have always loved Bond,but knew I would be a useless spy,I'm more suited to being the Plenty O'Toole type!!!
    I'm a bit behind on Kitty';s challenge,as I only saw it when I got to work!Eeep!Will have a bash tomorrow!
    xxxXXXxxx Love Helga!

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  22. No you're not! This looks SO RIGHT! and don't be surprised to be approached by MI5 soon. Vix 007... xxx

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  23. oh, your hair looks lovely, i adore the little bow! genius idea to make your own hair doughnut, too! congrats on the voucher codes comp! what day will you be going down to london fashion weekend? xxx

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  24. i like barbie's machine gun. great accessory for getting peeps out of your way to the car boot sale. i do love your meow kitten hair. you look fantastic cute with extra tap dance clicks. Is is really that cool to wear letha?

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  25. Check you out! You look great :) Love that up-do! And congrats on winning the Voucher Codes comp!! So exciting! x

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  26. The hair looks fab, but the boots are just gorgeous, i'm a little bit in love with them x

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  27. You look just gorgeous here! I don't know what it is, but you are looking so lovely lately! And ack,this jacket! HULLO! And such an AMAZING deal. Vix, you are fantastic.

    heart: miss furnellie

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  28. SO COOL Vix, loving it all! Thanks so much for joining in, I too love all things 'spy', I always wanted to be Emma Peel, or at least just wanted her outfits, but then I got older and started reading Len Deighton.
    I'm off to start on Day 2 now.xx.

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  29. Those are some KILLER boots hunnie!!! LOVE them....and your outfit is fabulous....great hair..how fun!!

    Have a Fashionable Day:)
    Statements in Fashion

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  30. I love how you put this outfit together with much creativity!

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  31. I love your outfit you look amazing, the boots are fantastic and the coat really suits you ..
    The hair is great too of course xx

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  32. you look very good in such hairstyle!

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  33. This looks fantastic - and what a great idea to set a style challenge for bloggers :-)

    The leather jacket and gloves - what BARGAINS!

    Ali x

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  34. il est magnifique ce manteau, j'adore, et bien le gros noeud dans les cheveux

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  35. Le sigh...you and Auntie Helga have faces I would DIE to paint, and add about 3 pounds of fake eyelashes.

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  36. Really suits you Vix! Love it!
    You look very chic and cool. And I love the bow.

    xx

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  37. What a great challenge, love this look xxx

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  38. wow!! loving that coat...goes brilliantly with the hair do!!!

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  39. Ooooh, I like that! Your hair looks gorgeous and goes with the outfit a treat!
    xx

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  40. What a creative challenge, I am rubbish with hair care/styling so this may be the perfect inspiration for me. That doll is such a true keepsake xx

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  41. Hi there-you look totally fabulous here, I adore your look and the hair especially!! Your beloved dolly is so cute too! x

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  42. I'm a little obsessed with plum leather this season, and covet the coat! The homemade hair doughnut is a great idea. I think *I'm* the world's worst hairstylist, and my goal is always hair that hangs fairly smoothly with only a minute or two of work in the morning. But I like tips and tricks for big fancy hair for Hallowe'en or other festivities.

    I'll have to look into this Modesty Blaise character. She sounds fun.

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  43. love the hair do! fantastic xxx the boots and leather coat are gorgeous xxx

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  44. Cute hair bow!

    http://initialed.blogspot.com

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  45. i love your hair bow. so adorable!

    http://7deadlycyns.blogspot.com/

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  46. Fantastic coat!

    And I want to dress exactly like that doll - she's fab!!

    Sal xXx

    Ps congrats on your win - getting to go to London Fashion Week :D wooop how exciting!!!

    x

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  47. Dear Vix, you do Sixties so brilliantly! Great look and outfit. Well done on the tickets. Can't wait to hear all about it and it's wonderful you and Jem are going to meet xx

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  48. You SEXY beast you!!! Straight out of The Avengers you are m'lovely!

    And I LOVE that you love Modesty!! I have all the books, used to read the comic strip and when I was a kid, I too went on (imaginary) 'capers'!!!! Modesty was the BOMB!

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  49. Brilliant. I'm definitely coming round in the middle of the night to steal those boots though, I have to warn you ;)

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  50. I have been missing the fun of seeing you in all these lovely hairdos and outfits
    You look so stunning!!!

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  51. Love your hair like this! That doll is amazing!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix