Sparkling Solutions for festive fun..

Dazzle in Sequins Dorothy Wood

Black Tie party -what to wear? Dorothy Wood

Black Tie party -what to wear? Dorothy Wood

Red Shoes And Dorothy: Curvy Girl and Halloween

My Halloween distraction

Curvy Girl and Halloween

Curvy Girl and Halloween

Despite knowing some delightful Americans, I am not a great fan of American culture and Halloween is just one such craze I detest.  That horrid realisation after a long day at work that it's the 31^st,  and ‘Other People’s Children’ (mostly taller than me) will knock my door for treats, dripping in fake blood and realistic massacre induced attire. My dogs will bark themselves hoarse in terror, and I will nervously await ‘Freddie’ to finish me off. (Did I say I dislike their films also?) And worse.  I have forgotten to purchase the contents of a confectionary warehouse to appease the ‘not so little’ dears.

Pumpkin Soup Recipe.

Now back in the day, your Mother would throw half an old paint sheet over you with two holes for you to see out, possibly a plastic ‘false face’ held on with a piece of elastic, and you were rewarded at each door with either a handful of monkey nuts, or (drum roll) An Apple.  But only if you were happy to dunk for it in a plastic baby bath or nappy bucket. Probably a health and safety issue now…and the apples would be returned by a disappointed recipient through your windows these days.

Tunic by Tu at Sainsbury's 

 But I am open to trying homemade pumpkin soup. Recipe in hand, I popped into my local Sainsbury to buy one, and was slightly distracted by the ‘25% off all clothes’ banner.  I felt a twinge of guilt, but it was the banner that lured me, and loving burgundy at the moment, was drawn to this little tunic dress.  At £15 after their discount, I would happily wear it for dog walking, but it looks FAB.  And top with a leather jacket or long cardigan.  As you all know, I love fur, and anything tactile, so although I didn't need another leather jacket, chasing after someone I spotted in Cambridge wearing THIS one from River Island, with its burgundy FUR collar, I had to have it!  Not easy, as it was sold out online but I am determined if nothing else and hope you think it was worth a week of begging calls to shops and friends across the country to find it – finally in Sheffield.  (Thanks to Martyn’s parents – whom I haven’t even met…)

River Island faux fur and leather

So with my Clark’s black suede shoe/boot and opaque tights I was pretty set to go. Oh and like the sweets – I forgot the pumpkin…..!!

John Lewis tights

Chorus Spirit - Clarks

Feel free to comment below or to ask me anything....

Find your 1920's luxurious style....

1920s luxurious style Dorothy Wood

Curvy Girl goes aboard The Orient Express

The Dilemma of Decadent Dorothy....

We Stylists are asked to dress people for all occasions and a trip on the prestigious Orient Express demands from us, an outfit that befits a respect for these beautiful carriages that once carried Royalty and Heads of State. The Pullmans were named after the American George Mortimer Pullman who designed trains to be “palaces on wheels” and were synonymous with luxury train travel.

Polished veneers of all sorts!

Veneered panels depicting exotic art deco marquetry, softly lit art nouveau lamps that cast a warm glow over the highly polished brassware, bevelled glass, and of course you and your companion. As you sink into your velvet upholstered armchairs with the silver cutlery gleaming, only the passing scenery reminds you that in fact you are on a train, as opposed to sitting down to dinner at Downton Abbey.  Perhaps Wallace and Mrs Simpson sat on this very chair….

So just what does a girl wear on such an occasion that graces many a ‘bucket list’.

A palace indeed.

It is true that you will never find yourself overdressed, so think 1920’s and a nod to a past era of opulence, decadence and luxury.  Lace, velvet, fur and in the absence of kid gloves, a well manicured hand.  You will be treated and served as royalty, so I was looking forward to enjoying embracing the persona.

And what did I wear? 

There were many dresses - too many to mention, but carrying a few extra kilos (I am decadent in every sense....) meant that I couldn't wear anything 'straight' or too figure hugging. and whilst my inner size 10 Dotty longed for a fringed flapper dress, my outer size 16 self knew I would look as if I had tried too hard and ending up looking like an over decorated period lampshade.

 Lorenna

The day before our Orient Express trip, I realise how suddenly focused I have become with one hour before closing and I popped into Monsoon.  Now as you know, I am normally a Mint Velvet girl but on this occasion I had to be unfaithful.  With dishevelled hair after the tenth dress, and my magic pants running out of, well, magic, I popped the black and gold Lorenna Dress over my head, and I was verily surprised.  I looked as if my waist had returned home. The Gods of retail were on my side!  A helpful assistant 'Jade' arrived with jewels aplenty and I opted for an art deco styled necklace which, for me, was understated, but oh so appropriate.  With the sparkles of the hairband, adding earrings would only make me look too 'regal' and over done.

Chorus Spirit

With 15 minutes to spare, I had to find a pair of shoes and ideally would have loved to have bought the stunning, but not practical Aziza Isobel 

heels in Clarks, but realistically (moi?) settled for the Chorus Spirit suede shoe boot, whose rounded shape was more akin to the period, and of course worn with black opaque tights, gave an 'edge'. And they was reduced..

Sparkling headband

Art nouveau inspired

Frivolous in fur....
My vintage fox fur came out of the wardrobe, as did Auntie Jessie's needlepoint evening bag.  I felt great, and can honestly say had the best day of my life aboard 'Audrey' - my beautiful carriage on the Orient Express.  Auntie Jessie's handbag has been to a few grand affairs in it's day, and there was certainly a magical feeling sitting in a chair that transported me to an era of glamour and opulence. 

Once aboard, we settled down as our delightfully gracious water arrived to pour champagne into our gleaming crystal glasses, and peruse the gold menu for the five course menu that we would enjoy over the next six hours as we sauntered through the Kent countryside. A veritable feast of the highest standard and would have delighted any diner at the Ritz. All arriving on silver platters and served on warmed bone china plates.  Pausing around the fourth course, we stopped at Felixtowe to be greeted by a brass band, and to stretch our legs on the platform as we sipped our champagne and ate the freshly sourced oysters that had been prepared for our arrival.  Back on board, all that was left to do was to enjoy our remaining courses, washed down with afternoon tea of course, and a glass of brandy.  As a jazz duet entertained the carriages, I found it hard to suppress a little squeal as I enjoyed a saunter through each carriage with it's own separate and defined personality.  




It is fair to say, this has been the best day of my life, and one that I would happily repeat.

The era of elegance, decadence and luxury may be something that we can only dream of, and I was a very lucky girl. And Auntie Jessie's handbag had another story to tell...

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