Premier Pamper Party - The Great Gatsby

Last Friday evening I had the pleasure of attending a Great Gatsby themed event, in honour of the Premier of the new film.  I went along as the 'hair and make up demo model', organised by the fabulous Miss Turnstiles at The Vintage Patisserie.  The official description of the event is as follows:

"For ladies who fancy having an indulgent evening full of glamour helping to transform you into an authentic Gatsby Goddess.

On your arrival you will be welcomed with a fabulous cocktail with top ups throughout the evening as well as a variety of sumptuous cakes and savoury bites to keep you going.

The evening will include a half moon manicure by the fabulous Minnie Moons and your hair set in a 1920s style with finger waves and pin curls in preparation for any plans you have for your Saturday night. Your hair will be set in with an authentic wet set and covered in a glamorous headscarf so that when you wake up on Saturday your hair shall be ready for any parties or events you have that evening!

There will also be a tutorial on how to brush out your set the following morning and a make up tutorial on how to create a 1920s make up look to finish off your new style.

There will also be a rail of amazing vintage clothing for sale so feel free to browse and try on! The vintage clothing is all from the USA where the best vintage pieces are found and sourced by Vintage King and Miss Turnstiles herself.

All of this is hosted at the fabulous Vintage Patisserie venue in East London to add that little bit of extra glamour to your evening with us."

It sounded like my kind of event so I was only too happy to volunteer myself to be the demo model.

Upon arrival, the lucky ladies in attendance, were offered nibbles and a cocktail (in a teacup!), whilst they were handed out a rough schedule of the various activities they would be taking part in.  I was also encouraged to eat and drink...........well it would be rude not to wouldn't it!

In rotation there were two pampering activities for the girls.  One of them being having their hair set in a 1920's style, by the lovely Miss Turnstiles.  Here she is at work, to the right. 

Simone set to work individually crafting each gorgeous girlie's hair into finger waves at the front, and pin curls at the back.  One thing to note is that this is a wet set, which is why it has to be set the night before your 'doo' as this gives it time to dry and set the curls in properly.  The front finger waves were achieved with brute force (manipulating the hair with your fingers and a comb) as well as with gel.  For this look setting lotion at the front isn't strong enough to hold the finger waves.  It needs the gel for its pliability when manipulating the waves, and the stiffness once it has set to keep them in place perfectly.  The picture below is how the waves look up close and personal, on my hair.

The clips just help to keep the set in place, especially as it has to dry overnight.  The ladies hair was then wrapped in a chiffon scarf, a la Land Girls, a little like my own Marilyn headscarf ;).

Also on the schedule was a manicure with the wonderful Sharon of Minnie Moons.  Sorry for the dark photo!  By the time I had remembered to take a photo, it was dark outside and I only had on me my primitive phone camera.  The girls were treated to a vintage style manicure (moons left clear of varnish a la Dita).  Several went for a typically 1920's deep shade to evoke the flapper style, whilst some went for my personal favourite a gloriously sparkly glittery red - the kind where you catch yourself staring at your nails every once in a while as they're so pretty.

Whilst the ladies were waiting in between slots to have their hair and nails done there was lots to do.  There was a Great Gatsby themed quiz to fill in, where there were prizes to be won.  Prizes included What Katie Did stockings, a book about F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife (Mrs Fitzgerald I presume) and yummy treats.  The ladies cups were constantly being topped up with the yummy Earl Grey tea based cocktail, and there was of course the yummy cream tea and cake selection and sandwiches to nibble on whilst chatting.  There was also a rail filled with delightful vintage clothing.  Miss Turnstiles has the good fortune of having a boyfriend who sells Vintage clothing!

There was a great selection on offer.  Everything from 20's flapper fringed dresses, 1940's suits, 50's prom dresses and 60's ensembles.  I did tell Simone to keep me away from the rail, but she was very naughty and did not control me.  The result being I bought the purple gingham summer dress in the above piccy, and a 1940's jumpsuit.  I am now poorer, thanks Simone!!!  A couple of the other ladies also snagged themselves a bargain and it was great fun to try all the beautiful clothes on.  It's like I said on the night, it's always right to treat yourself ;).

Once the ladies had all been thoroughly pampered, it was my turn to be really still as the hair and make up demo model.  Turns out I am rather good at keeping really really still!  I found it quite weird as usually if I'm told to keep still I twitch and find it impossible to keep still.  Anyway, Simone went through a 1920's inspired make-up look.  She went for a slightly toned down, more modern flapper look as a true vintage 20's look is quite extreme and modern gals might be a little scared to attempt such a heavy look.  So it was a smokey eye but in pinks and golds to keep in the flapper theme (as opposed to a grey/black smokey eye).  The base was a porcelain look (lucky for me as that is my natural complexion) with a flush of colour on the cheeks, as well as highlights on the cheekbones and brow bone.  Interestingly Simone also popped a little highlighter above the top lip and contoured below the bottom lip.  This helps to make them look fuller.  The lip colour was a deep red and the eyebrows were kept quite natural as they weren't as heavy as say a 40's or 50's look.  To finish off the eye make-up a light brushing of eyeliner was given that was also blended into the eyeline.  Simone explained that you don't want a flicked/winged eyeliner in an authentic flapper look.  I did take some pictures on the night of the make-up but the lighting wasn't showing it to its best.  So here are some pics from when I was at home and had a light handy to show the colours and the look better.

I really must ask Simone which eye shadows she used, they are so gloriously iridescent!  After the make-up was completed, Simone showed the ladies in attendance how to brush out and style their hair the following day, in preparation for whichever evening doo they were going to.  The front finger waved section was pretty much left as is just a but of neatening with the end of a comb.  The back pin curls were brushed and sweept up and under to create a faux bob.  Obviously the ladies with short hair need not pin up their hair in place.  And here was the overall look with hair and make-up.

A wonderful 1920's inspired look designed with the modern girl in mind - so it's wearable in modern circles with a big nod to the flapper style.  Again I must apologise for my photography.  If I had half a brain cell I would have got someone else to take the photos, in better lighting and with a prettier background!

Anyway, that night, in order to preserve the style the next day, I wrapped my hair in a headscarf like so.

This just protects the set overnight and a quick brush the next day and you have another day of delicious 1920's style hair.  Just a little tip for you for preserving your hair doo as it is a time consuming hair style to put in, in the first place :).

I had a lovely evening and I do recommend you paying a visit to this wonderful event.  I believe others are planned, just get in touch with Simone at: info@missturnstiles.co.uk if you are interested in being pampered (who isn't!!).

Lots of Love
Betty xxx