Betty's One's To Watch - TV & Film

It's cold and rainy outside - the perfect British Winter you might say.  As much as we are trying to keep motivated and make the most of our time spent inside, some days we just want to curl up, do nothing and watch a film.  Recently we have done just that, and so we thought we would share with you films that have put a smile on our face and warmed us up.  

The Artist

If you haven't seen it, get your gloves, your coat on and go to the cinema!  We cannot recommend this film enough, a modern silent film set in the decadent 1920s is a perfect way to distract you from the weather outside.  It documents the life and times of fictitious silent movie star George Valentin and the rise of the his co-star and love interest Peppy Miller.  The 'talkies' (talking films as we now know them) are just about to make it big in the world of cinema and Valentin and his beloved dog Uggie are struggling in a new modern film era.  The dog Uggie, is just as good as you've heard he is, and the costumes are worth a watch alone.  The Betty team give this a full thumbs up.  

The Muppets 

We were lucky enough to attend a preview of the new Muppets film last Friday at The Soho Hotel.  As avid fans of the Muppets since The Muppet Show was aired way back when, we couldn't wait to see what 12 years had done to our favourite childhood friends.  A film so cheesy, it makes a parody of itself, with guest appearances as long as your arm, and a new Muppets character in the leading role; this film has everything you need to escape to a brighter more colourful world.  

The Muppets have to save their studios from being torn down by an evil oil baron, and so they re-unite to perform a charity fundraiser on TV.  One problem they face is they don't have all the original cast, Miss Piggy lives in Paris and is the editor of plus size Vogue, cue some very good scenes with Emily Blunt as her receptionist - flash back to the Devil Wear's Prada anyone?  All in all this film really did make us escape, maybe a couple of cheesy number's too many, but when The Muppets are involved all is forgiven.  On general release on Friday.  

We'll Take Manhattan

Ok so we haven't seen this one, so can't quite give it the Betty stamp of approval but we have our cups of tea and settees at the ready for Thursday night (26th January).  We'll Take Manhattan is set in the 1960s around the relationship between photographer, David Bailey and model, Jean Shrimpton, whether set on fact or fiction we will never get tired of tv shows or films that give us a glimpse into the time of the swinging sixties.  This BBC4 mini biopic has received some mixed reactions from those that have seen the previews, however good or bad we will be watching for the costumes, make-up and hair all the way through to the end.  

Let us know what you think of our 'One's to Watch' - we couldn't resist the pun and let us know what you are watching on these wet cold days.

Betty

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Orla Kiely Pre Spring Summer 2012

Orla Kiely is a British brand that keeps producing strong individual pieces that can slot straight into your wardrobe each season, with this one being no exception.  With scarlet bows, striped knits, scalloped edged blouses and printed tea dresses; we have quite the wish list from Orla mounting up.  We like the simplicity to this look book taken against the brick wall, we think it has a certain retro British working girl vibe.  We especially like the Heidi plaits that the model has, which is the perfect way to get your hair of your neck when the weather does start to heat up (no, we can't imagine it yet either).  Chunky black heels and socks, is a look we don't think we will ever get tired of, what better way to wear your summer dresses in the springtime without being too cold.  Below is our pick of our favourite pieces from the look book, the collection is available to buy online and in-store now.  You can visit the Orla Kiely website here.  

Betty

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Inspiring Monday's: Take a Trip with Retro Roadmaps

Our series of inspiring Monday's continues with dreams of Summer road trips across America passing through our mind.  Want some help with your daydreams?  Then meet Beth, aka Betty!  Not only is she a fellow Betty, but in her free time she scours her home country (all 50 states) for all things vintage and retro.  Betty then shares her finds on what is fast becoming, our favourite website: Retro Roadmap.  Always dreamed of taking a road trip across America, then let Betty from Retro Roadmap show you a few places to stop along the way....

  

We love Retro Roadmap so much that some of the Betty team have booked a trip there in September, now that’s inspiration for you.  When did you set up Retro Roadmap and why?

Though I’ve been visiting and taking photos of “vintage, retro and cool old places” for years, I officially started Retro Roadmap in May of 2009. It all came together when we had to travel to a friend’s wedding in a neighboring state. I wanted to make it a fun road trip, and not just a drive down the highway and eating at chain restaurants. I quickly discovered that I had to research many different websites for information on diners, old downtowns, vintage shops, classic roadside restaurants that all had that cool vintage vibe.  There wasn’t one main website that I could go to and read about all the fun vintage places to visit in an area. I also realised that not everyone would go through what I did to scout out unique places like this. 

What has been your favourite discovery so far? 

There have been so many “Oh-Boy!” moments – that’s the best part about doing “research” for Retro Roadmap and the thrill of a discovery.  One place that sticks out in my mind is my discovery of The Roxy Theatre in Northampton Pennsylvania. I had no idea it existed, and just happened to take a detour into the little downtown where it is located. Driving down the road and seeing the fabulous vintage neon sign and marquee was like stepping back in time, and discovering a lost treasure on an archeological dig! I called my husband, told him I wouldn’t be home for a few hours, and waited so I could see the neon sign lit up, and it was well worth it. I shared my excitement with a dapper gentleman working the door at the theatre and he ended up being the owner, inviting me to take a tour of the place. It was a magical discovery for sure. 

Do you have a favourite place to visit or somewhere you love to go back to?

I am originally from Massachusetts, and I do like travelling home to New England and seeing the cool old places that are still around. We’ve got some great vintage diners and I love seafood, so anyplace on the coast- from Maine to Cape Cod is fine with me! I love playing miniature golf, discovering a drive-in movie theatre to visit and sampling regional food , visiting thrift shops and getting the feel for how a place really is - anyplace with back roads to drive on and small towns to explore is fine with me!

Where have you not visited yet and can’t wait to explore?

It may sound like a cliché, but I’d still love to “get my kicks on Route 66”. Not only for the historic road itself but because it goes through so many states not yet on the RetroRoadmap! It’s a goal of mine to have all 50 US States represented on the Retro Roadmap – and foreign countries too!

Have you got any advice for our readers who want to set out on a road trip of their own? 

My advice is just do it! You can have a pre-planned route with stops or go on “an adventure” or you can just point your car in a general direction and hope for the best, either way is fun. Wherever you go, if you look close enough you’ll (hopefully) find some cool old places to visit. Maps are handy- I love old paper maps but I admit that the map app on my iPhone is incredibly useful to gauge distances and alternate routes. With the right mindset you can have an adventurous road trip and not even be an hour from your own home - it’s all about taking time to discover the places you may have normally passed by. It can be fun to be a tourist - even if you’ve lived someplace all your life!

What is the best part about Retro Roadmap?

While I do love the “thrill of the hunt” and discovering new old places, I think the best part about Retro Roadmap is that hopefully I’m helping these cool old businesses stick around for a while longer. I figure if I make it easy for folks to find these places - and learn a little bit about them through my photos and words, and realise they’re worth stopping at, that they’ll try them out.  If that happens then these folks are spending their money at these businesses, which keeps them alive. While I’d love to, I can’t buy every vintage diner, amusement park, carousel or movie theatre - but maybe with my photos and words I can help them survive and be visited by a wider audience.

What are your wardrobe essentials when setting out on the road?

There’s nothing I love more than waking up on a warm sunny day, putting on a vintage sundress, slip on my flip-flops or Keds, with my oversized sunglasses, grabbing my cardigan sweater and hitting the road! I’m rarely seen without a cardigan - no matter what season. If it’s too cold for that it’s a pair of jeans and a t-shirt (plus cardigan and Keds). I love the summer months and try to get out on the road as much as I can during the warm weather.

Tell us one thing about you that we should know... 

Hmmm....well  my family and friends call me Beth - but I’m really a Betty at heart! My nickname Mod Betty came about from a small “shop” I used to have, selling vintage and mid-century-modern house wares, vintage clothes, records etc. I’ve been told that my enthusiastic disposition, friendliness and helpful nature truly make me a textbook Betty (Note from Editor – she sounds like a Betty to us!).

Most importantly what is your perfect soundtrack to a road trip?

Though my husband is the professional musician in the family (CliffHillis.com) I love to sing along to whatever is playing when I’m driving. I like everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Fountains of Wayne, The Beatles, Mike Viola & The Candy Butchers, The Bird & The Bee, I’ve got pretty wide and varied tastes in music. I love being able to learn the word to the old jazz standards while I’m behind the wheel - Sinatra, Astrud Gilberto, Nat King Cole. When I’m singing along in the car no one can tell if I’ve messed up a lyric AND if I turn up the radio loud enough no-one can hear those missed notes. 

Now please excuse us whilst we go and daydream the rest of Monday away.  Have you ever wanted to take a road trip somewhere?  Or have you lived the dream and gone cross country?  Let us know, we would love to hear your tales.

Betty

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Words Words Words, Tatty Devine at Selfridges: Competition

When we found out Tatty Devine were going to be popping up at Selfridges we couldn't wait to see what that had done with the space and how they had made it there own - it looks really impressive to answer those two questions in one!  Tatty Devine is a brand that we have grown up with here at Betty, we can all remember our first piece of jewellery and how we saved our early earnings up for one of their wonderfully unique pieces.              Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine make up the two halves of the company which has come a long way since we were rocking our plectrum bracelets back in the day.  The duo set up the business in 1999, since then they have two stores in London and 100 stockists dotted all over the world.  

When we popped into Selfridges this week, Rosie was there to meet us, and she is every bit as lovely as you would imagine.  The Words Words Words space has popped up in Selfridges' Wonder Room to celebrate the power of words, literature and to co-inside with Selfridges 15,000-book strong library. 

TD have brought a pop up workshop with them to make bespoke acrylic name necklaces for you, one of the Tatty Devine technician's will take your 'order' and make your necklace on the spot for you (or at busy times, the same day).  There are so many colour, charm and font options you might be there a while deciding, we know we were, poor Rosie who was helping us choose had to put up with the constant deliberation.  

  

Anyway in the end we went with the new Peach Melba acrylic, the Ladybug font, with a heart charm on a gold chain....we think it looks great - perfect for Spring Summer!  The only problem is, no-one at HQ is actually called Betty so we decided a competition was the only way to get this necklace to it's rightful Betty.  So, if you want to win this necklace leave a comment underneath this post with your e-mail address* before Tuesday 31st of January and we will select a winner at random. 

The Words Words Words space featuring Tatty Devine will be at Selfridges until the end of February.  Name necklaces start at £27.50, with the option to make it bigger or have glitter/metallic acrylic for an additional £10.

Selfridges

400 Oxford Street

London

W1H 6HB

Good Luck!

Betty

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*All e-mail addresses will be submitted to the Betty and Tatty Devine mailing lists, you can opt out at anytime.  We will not pass them onto a 3rd party.  There will be one winner, with no cash alternative.  The editor's decision is final.

Bring Me Sunshine: Vivetta Spring Summer 2012

Week by week we are going to give you a sneak peak of our favourite Spring Summer 2012 collections, as the weather appears to be getting colder (and wetter) we need some inspiration to see us through to the lighter warmer days.  One of our firm favourites, Vivi Ponti the founder and sole designer of cult brand Vivetta, continues to please us each season with her quirky and playful designs.  This season is no exception, with her cloud print fabrics, large gingham checks and fruit inspired handbags; Vivetta takes you away to an almost Charlie and the Chocolate Factory inspired world.  The 50s Teddyboy quiffs in this look book, give what could be a sickly sweet look a rock & roll edge - we are in love!  

We have started writing our wish list, the only problem is that it seems to be getting quite long.  What is your favourite piece?  Take a look at the rest of the look book online, here. 

Betty

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Kevin Murphy Color Bug Review

We can't stop thinking about candy coloured hair, ever since we blogged about Bleach in Dalston (which can now also be found in Topshop Oxford Circus), we've dreamed of hair every colour of the rainbow.  However we have never been quite ready for the full commitment that comes with it, so when we got a Kevin Murphy Color Bug in our Christmas stocking (after we figured out what it was) we couldn't wait to try it out.  What on this earth is a colour bug we hear you cry?
It's compressed coloured powder that you rub on your hair to transform your hair either pink, purple or orange, that you can then wash straight out.  The Australian hairdresser discovered the idea after a trip to India, where to temporarily change your hair colour you rub on coloured powders to dry hair.....we can't believe we didn't think of it before either.  

After giving the Colour Bug a try we think it is a brilliant idea, whether it's for a night out or you just fancy pastel coloured hair.  Even if your hair is brunette it still shows up, as the colour sits on top of the hair, however the lighter your hair the more vibrant the colour.  After a day or twos wear it faded out to a pastel pink, and on light bleached hair it left a pink-ish sheen after washing, however we quite like that look so didn't mind.  On the instructions, which we rescued from the bin, it does recommend that people with pale hair treat their hair with leave in conditioner as the colour may grab.  We found a video on YouTube of Kevin applying it to a model's hair and here is our before and after images.  Kevin Murphy Colour Bugs can be found online, here.

What do you think to the Color Bug - have you tried it yet?


Betty


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Inspiring Monday's: Loft Living Decorating Ideas

In London it is increasingly hard to find a flat within your budget with enough space for you and the cat.  More are more people are getting creative with their space, and in the second issue of Betty, we spoke to graphic designer and cake baker Leanne Franks about living in her loft apartment.  With a dressing room underneath her bed, Leanne and her boyfriend have utilised their living space to make her a loft apartment the perfect retro escape.  Located just off Brick Lane, it certainly charmed us.  In our series of 'Inspiring Monday's' we speak to her to see how it was done:

Why did you decide to move into a space like this?

I had been looking for somewhere to live in East London for a while and someone suggested I should look at live/work spaces. These are usually affordable studio apartments converted from derelict warehouses. Looking at what was out there I loved how unique the spaces, this particular space was a blank canvas when I went to view and I thought it’d be fun to add my own touch to the space

How much work did you have to do to get it how you wanted?

Luckily I have a lovely boyfriend who’s extremely handy with a toolbox. I gave him a sketch of what I wanted, although it was his idea to add the bunk bed in the rafters to maximise the space (ever the logical thinker). We made all the kitchen fittings and the bed frame before we moved in, which took about 2 weeks. It was a case of knowing what I wanted and planning ahead before I moved in.

What are the benefits of this space?

The location is the greatest benefit of this space. The way we’ve set it out though has allowed a studio flat to be transformed into an apartment with separate living spaces within it. The actual building itself has lovely high ceilings making it feel much bigger than it actually is. The large warehouse style windows on all walls mean it is so bright all the time, which really adds to the look and feel of the place.

What’s your favourite part?

I think the bed being up in the roof is my favourite part of the apartment, it is really cosy. It’s so handy with it being high up in the roof as it allows me to have my dressing room underneath. It just makes the place much more neat looking and increases storage space.

Are there any downsides?

The windows. Whilst they allow lots of light in they also tend to heat the place during the summer. I get around this by keeping the blinds down most of the day in summer – which is a shame. Another downside is that it’s not great for entertaining. There isn’t much room for friends to stay over and it’d be an awful place to take part in ‘Come Dine With Me’...where would I disappear off to, whilst I talked about the other contestants?

What would you say your interiors taste is inspired by?

It’s definitely inspired by the 1950’s kitsch look. I’ve always loved everything about 1950’s style but I also think it’s nice to mix things up with a modern twist. The kitchen was definitely meant to look like a 50’s kitchenette but then the living room area is quite New York loft (think the ‘Friends’ apartment). When it comes down to it though the nature of the space heavily influenced how the interior was set out. With the fact I had to beg, borrow and steal (well maybe not steal) the furniture from various friends/relatives who were throwing things out, led it accidentally to be a mish-mash of vintage and modern style.

Do you have any tips for our readers who want to do something similar?

Keep your eye out for various live/work websites because there’s always places coming up, especially in East London where there seems to be converted warehouses in abundance. Also don’t be put off by somewhere if it’s totally bare, think of it as a blank piece of paper that you can stamp your style all over. Be prepared for a bit of hard work but it’ll pay off in the end when you have a fabulous unique home!

What do you think to Leanne's space?  Do you have any space saving ways of living?

Betty

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All images are property of Hayley Harvey and not to be reproduced without permission - thanks!