Behind The Scenes

A couple of weeks ago I had my A/W 13/14 photo shoot with Tigz Rice Studios.  Miss Honey Bare was the make up artist and luckily she had her camera on her to take a few behind the scenes pictures.  I say luckily, as I was all stressed from having to get all the garments ready for the shoot in time, so completely forgot to take any snaps!

The shoot was a boudoir themed, on location shoot.  The location being the Murder Mile Studios in Clapton.  It is a beautifully decorated studio with many interesting and quirky rooms.  Here are some of the scenes that we didn't use.

Teehee you can see Fleur in her rollers in the mirror!

The studios are a maze of rooms so there were many more that we didn't get to capture but were just as decadently decked out.

We, however, used just one setting.  Here is the Tigzmeister setting up her equipment.

Tigzy doing a spot of posing

Checking the lighting is correctly positioned

As you can see the boudoir set was perfect for showing the lounging nature of my products!  If only all our houses looked like this for when we wear our Betty Blue's Loungerie!  Once the models had arrived, myself and Fleur de Guerre, the first port of call was the hair and make-up chair.

Miss Honey Bare's kit

Working her magic on Fleur's hair and make-up

And working her magic on me :)

Everyone was amazed with how many pairs of shoes I brought to the shoot........what can I say, I like to prepare for every eventuality!

Considering how many shoes I brought, most of the pictures us models aren't wearing shoes haha, oh well!

I don't want to give too many details away so that's all for the behind the scenes pics, but on the day Fleur did post a cheeky sneak at the new colour way for the Bettie Robe.  Here it is for those of you who missed it/not on twitter/facebook.

Doesn't she look stunning!!  But you will have to wait until later to see the proper pics and the rest of the A/W 13/14 range ;).  For now I am having all the images made into look books so that I can send them out to potential stockists.  World domination is on my mind at the moment so I apologise if there is a lack of posts recently. 

Until next time.  Lots of Love
Betty xxx

P.S.  Much thanks to Miss Honey Bare for taking all the fab behind the scenes photos and letting me use them!!  You saved my bacon!

Free Gift

Hello everybody!  Well sales have been a little slow the last week or so and I am hemorrhaging money left right and centre with the new Nell Robe going into production soon.  So I decided to give away a little gift with the next 5 orders to hit my inbox as a little incentive for y'all.

A super cute little mirror, complete with protective pouch, just the right size for your handbag!  I had these made up by a new acquaintance of mine, Katie, at Oh Squirrel, specifically with the Betty Blue's Logo on. 

Aren't they gorgeous!  Well one could be yours when you order from my website!  There is no minimum spend, it's simply the first 5 people to order will get one.  So GO!

Oh and if you pre-order the Nell Robe, it will be sent with your robe in September when I get them from my factory so worry not if you don't receive your FREE MIRROR just yet.

Lots of Love
Betty xxx

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

NELL ROBE!!!!

Goooooood afternoon all (or morning if you are on foreign shores).  I have just had the first picture of the new and improved Nell Robe back from the wonderful Iberian Black Arts, so as promised I am popping it up on my website for you all to be able to pre-order it!

I know it is pretty impossible to think, but it is back and even better than before.  100 times more luxurious, 100 times more sumptuous and 100 times more alluring.  So without further ado her she is in all her glory.

She is now made in a beautiful stretch satin that drapes around your curves, emphasizing every womanly feature.  The lace is now a stunning corded lace that is based on a vintage design, concealing and revealing in just the right amount to create that certain oo la la.

To add, some of you lovely ladies missed out on owning one of these beauties last time because I did not stock your size.  Well as I have been steadily growing as a brand, thanks to my lovely customers, I am now adding the sizes X Small and X Large, so even more bevvies of beauties can be seen strutting their stuff!!

Of course you may already know, but I recently invested in Betty Blue's Loungerie branded boxes.  So your Nell Robe will come safely tucked up in luxurious tissue paper in your very own box (as all orders now do :)).

The only drawback is that the production slot is end of August/beginning of September, so for a few months you will have to wait with bated breath.  This is because my factory is SO in demand!  They have actually had to turn new customers away because they are so busy!  I think thanks to you the tide is finally turning on British manufactured goods.  Instead of people thinking of it as a luxury, fingers crossed UK manufacturing may be seeing a turn for the better.  The recent tragedy in a Bangladeshi factory has helped highlight international manufacturing issues; and buying British is not only the ethical choice, but is helping us little independent companies to grow in this tough economic time.  So as will all my garments, you are assured this awesome little robe is 100% made in the UK (actually this particular one is made in London!).

So you want to secure your own slice of robe heaven from this production run?   Well now you can!!!  Just head on over to my website to pre-order yours!!!  This is a continuous items so it will be made from now on in bulk so people can buy it all year round, but as I stated above my factory is in demand so there may be a few months in between production runs.  So don't delay in pre-ordering or else you may have to wait longer than September, quel horror!!!  Payed for in full, I will then print out your order and make up your box so that as soon as I get these glorious robes into my office late Aug/early September, I can just slip it in the box, wrap it up and post it out to you, quick as can be.  Nearer the time I will be able to give you more of a precise delivery date, I just wanted to get these up on my website ASAP as I know there are A LOT of you desperate to get your delicately gloved little hands on one.  So get yours HERE!

Lots of Love
Betty xxx

P.S. Back view image will be coming to me a little later, I just put a rush on the front view so I had an image of the robe for you :).

Summer Lovin'

Sorry for the lack of blog posts this month, but I have been a busy little bee.  I have been putting off and putting off sorting out production of the Black Nell Robe which sold out pretty quickly the last time that I put it into production.  So at the beginning of this month I made a concerted effort and sat down to sort out the pattern, fabrics and production.  So hence the quietness this month (plus I had man flu so was out of action for about a week, oh woe is me!).

So update on the Nell Robe.  I know you all love it and want it back asap.....but with various problems with production it is going to be a little while longer before you can get your glamorous mitts on it.  I have the production slot booked...................but I'm afraid it's not booked until end of August/beginning of September.  As I produce in small quantities (compared with other established brands) they have said that if they can slot me in before they will try.  But we are talking about an in demand factory here; I have it on good authority that they have turned down new customers as they are so busy at the moment.  So if one wants the best, one is going to have to wait.  To put myself in the safe zone, I will say that they are due September 2013.  Here is a sneaky peek at what the new (and improved) version looks like:

It is with the beautiful Morgana at the moment waiting to be photographed in all its glory.  Once I have the images and have worked out the RRP, I will pop it up ont website so you can pre order your very own robe!

But anyhoo on to the subject of this blog post.  This summer I will be taking part in the catwalk show at the Americana International Show.  Americana International Show is a celebration of all things American right here in the UK.  It is being held from 11th July - 15th July in Winthorpe (nr. Newark) Nottinghamshire.  The fashion show itself is only on the Saturday 13th July and Sunday 14th July from 2:30pm - 4:30pm.  There will also be a whole host of other awesome brands taking part.

I will be bringing all my lovely items which you can see on my website at the moment, along with a few new additions which are part of my Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 collections.  So come along to see the debut of the BRAND NEW ITEMS!!!  You can see them in person and try them on for size, and if you're really lucky I may even let you pre order some of the new items.  I will bring with me some stock also so you can take away on the day a glam little outfit, should you wish.  Nearer the time I will tweet and facebook and all that jazz about the event, just note it down in your diary for now and get your tickets organised.  I can't wait to meet some of the other brands I have not met before and all of the fabulous models which have been booked.  It is sure to be a big girlie get together!

Anyway I'm off to nag suppliers about this Nell Robe!  I will try and blog more in May (I have a photoshoot booked) I promise.

Lots of Love
Betty xxx

Spring Clean (and freebies)

It's been a little quiet here at Blue's HQ.  I am in the process of making samples and putting brand new items in to production, so news is a little thin on the ground.  The last couple of days I have been doing a stock check for my end of financial year documents.  So I have discovered just how much of each item I have left in stock.

As I am preparing for the new products I need to make room to put all of my new stock.  So for the next 2 weeks (or until stock lasts) I am offering you all a fantastic, one of a kind, special offer!

Offer Number One

Spend £75+ in the Betty Blue's Loungerie online shop and get a free gift worth £25!  In fact it is this free gift:

Your very own Marilyn Headscarf in either Black or Pink.  It won't show up in your basket, just on your doorstep with your beautiful loungerie.*

Offer Number Two

Spend £150+ in the Betty Blue's Loungerie online shop and get a free gift worth a whopping £70!  One of four designs, the beautiful Luna 100% Silk Headscarf.

I know!  I'm awesome right!!  I have said it before, but there is nothing quite like a silk scarf to indulge yourself.  So head on over to my shop and snap up some gorgeous loungerie so you can have a completely free little prezzie from me!**

This offer is only whilst stocks last so hurry on over to the website so you don't miss out.  You'll be doing me a favour clearing out my stock room ready for new little delights.  Win win all round I think!

Lots of Love
Betty xxx

The Small Print
* I'm afraid you don't get a choice of colour, it's whatever I put my hands on first!
** Again it is pot luck which pattern scarf you get, so it will be a lovely surprise when you get it :)
The offer is valid for two weeks only, or until stocks last of the scarves.  The scarves won't appear in your shopping basket but rest assured it will appear on your doorstep with the rest of your order :).  Only valid on www.bettybluesloungerie.com (not my Etsy shop).

Not So Ideal Home Show

Last week I popped along to Earls Court to the Ideal Home Show.  I went with my Mummy who had got free tickets to the show.  It was my first time going, and the last time my Mum had been was about 40/45 years ago with her Mummy!

My Mum had excitedly told me all about how the Ideal Home Show was an exciting place to view all the new and innovative bits and bobs for your home.  There were 7 or 8 show homes that exhibited such items that you could wonder around and look at all the mod cons.  In the 50's/60's when her Mum took her, novel new items such as plastic apple corers, were thought of as exciting and new.  Something I'm sure we all take for granted now!  So I was really looking forward to seeing new and innovative items that will change my life ;), like a plastic apple corer!

On first entering the show, it was exactly that, very exciting.  We wondered past the gardeny section where I spotted the PERFECT garden accessory:

A Bamboo Gazebo! Except that's what the company called it.  I like to call it my Tiki Bar!  Although with the £4250 price tag I am going to have to sell A LOT of loungewear to be able to afford it.  And then I have to fill my bar with booze and glasses and accessories and Hawaiian style outfits.  So it's on my want list, but for the distant future, when I have earned enough money to justify the price tag ;).

Next we headed to the foodie bit.  It was great going around all the stalls sampling their various wares.  We even bought some yummy olive oil and vinegar that was produced in Australia.  And this is where the story took a turn for the worse.  We stumbled on JML territory.  You know the kind, where a sales man does a demmo and claims ridiculous things like "this product is a one of a kind, special show price, will change your life for the better forever".  The cost?  You only have to remortgage your house for it!  One man pounced on my poor Mum.  He was inappropriately touchy feely and invaded both of our personal space trying to sell his miracle face creams.  No word of a lie a tiny bottle of Serum, Moisturiser and Face Mask were £425 EACH FRIGGIN BOTTLE!!!!!  Are you crazy?!?!?!?!  Do we seriously look like we can afford that?!?!  NO!  We tried to leave several times but he kept drawing us back in getting more and more desperate to close the sale.  The final "special price" was £160 for the serum plus the moisturiser..............still ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!?!  What made it even worse was his constant talking in Hebrew to his work colleague, trying to make it look like his boss was reluctantly giving us a great one of a kind deal.  I know your game Mr and no I don't want your shitty face creams.  When my Mum asked if he was from Israel he looked seriously worried that she may have understood what he said.  Haha she didn't but it was funny to see his face.

Anyway this kind of aggressive sales tactics really put a sour spin on the whole day.  To me, the hard sale is not what the Ideal Home Show is about.  To me, and how my Mum remembered it, it is about showcasing all that is innovative and exciting.  So it was a little sad that today's show is all about aggressively selling plastic crap to people.  Fed up with people pouncing on us trying to sell us shit we don't need or want, we headed to the restaurant to revive ourselves.

Bubbleeeeeeeeees!  Ok so we drowned our sorrows and laughed at the cost of the face creams.  Seriously has anyone ever bought three bottles of face cream for £1275?  If they had I assure you it will have been from somewhere like Harrods not the Ideal Home Show!  And they should be locked up because that's an obscene amount of money.  Anyway ranting again lol so here's a picture of the cream tea we enjoyed:

Scrummy and much needed.  And the staff were lovely who served us, so they more than made up for the pooey sales people.  After our little rest we headed downstairs again to try and find the show homes.  On our way we stumbled upon some gardens that were designed by college students in association with Charlie boy (Prince Charles).  I assume he was endorsing it as there was a clip of him playing on various screens urging people to have a look around the show gardens.  This was my favourite:

It is a French style garden with a little seating area with a bottle of plonk on the table - clearly the booze appealed to me.  There were tokens in a box for people to vote for the garden that was their favourite.  However I could neither find a token, nor someone to ask where the tokens were so I could vote.  But if I could have I would have voted for this one.

Onwards to the show homes and no photos I'm afraid.  There were only 3 show homes, an Eco friendly type one, one designed by people again linked to Charlie boy, and the third was a "quiet house".  The quiet house was good in principal.  Every item had been researched to find the quietest in their category - such as hair dryers, washing machines, kettles, showers, computers ect.  But wondering around the house it wasn't clearly explained really and was a little bit of a let down.  And there was a group of people being really loud in the quiet house so it kind of made it a bit pointless.

The Eco house and the Prince's house were better, but still not very inspiring.  They could have been fitted out by any high street shop and be anywhere in middle England.  Not innovative or exciting in any way.  My favourite was the Prince's house as it instilled a bit of heritage and a country cottage type feel to normal suburban houses.  And I know that Charles is keen to highlight traditional British craftsmanship such as carpenters and stone masons.  But honestly the most exciting thing was outside the show homes.

A jive band had set up, The Jive Aces.  We stood and listened to them for a while to revive our weariness.  They managed to inject some fun and liveliness to the crowds!

My favourite part of the show, was actually something that was not meant to really be.  In a separate space, a company had rebuilt two flats side by side.  One was the fabulous homage to 'Kitsch' that is the Only Fools and Horses set, opposite a modern version of the flat with stylish modern furniture.  Only the modern version was horrendous, in my opinion.  First here is the Kitsch-o-rama-tastic, Only Fools and Horses flat.

The height of taste obviously ;).  Then this is what a company (I didn't even bother to look who it was) suggests as a modern, highly tastefully alternative.............

I do actually like the wallpapered corner with reading chair

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.  Excuse me whilst I rouse myself from my grey, boredom induced coma.  With the exception of the library wallpaper with comfy chair corner, this is the most bland, beige and darn right boring flat set up I have ever seen.  Bring on the Kitsch I say!!!  If this is what people are suggesting as an innovative and exciting house/flat layout, we have gone very very wrong somewhere in this modern day.  I imagine an accountant would live in that flat!

All in all I was very disappointed with my visit.  I was expecting to see fun and exciting new home gadgets and innovative furniture and fixtures and fittings.  What I got was a DFS showroom with bland cheap looking (although horrendously £££££) high street furniture I could get anywhere and pushy salesmen trying to sell me a load of crap I don't want, have told them I don't want, and will never want.

I shall leave you with a happy tale though.  On our assault course dodging the shiesters through the plastic crap isles, we came across a fantastic small company that had just won an award from Crufts.  They are called Doggy Bag and are well worth looking up if you have pet hounds.  As you know, I have many hounds.  Their product is a micro fibre bag that you zip all around your doggie to then give them a good rub down.  The bag gets rid of all the sogginess on your pooch and collects all the dirt and grime which can then be turned inside out to get rid of.  You are left with a dramatically drier doggie!  We were so bamboozled by sales tactics that we didn't buy at the show for fear of being duped into buying a useless product.  But have since gone into their website to order some as it wasn't a trick!  This product actually works!  So dog owners check them out!  Your life really will be changed!

Lots of Love
Betty xxx