Being a Beach Bum

"When you're sad and feeling blue,

with nothing better to do,

don't just sit there getting stressed,

take a trip to the beach!"

Ok, so I've changed the last bit a little bit, but that's poetic licence for you!

I'm going through a ridiculously anxious time at the moment, and using all the techniques I can think of to keep my MH in check. 

One such technique is to dust myself down, glam myself up, and be the best version of myself. Something about projecting that confident persona tends to rub off on me - for a few days at least!

After working with the genius that is Laura Pearman for #bloggerspearjoy, we've often talked about working together again - and last Saturday was the perfect time to get myself glammed up, and to head to the beach to find out what she had in store. 

I honestly had no idea what I was walking in to, and that just goes to show the trust I have in Laura after just one shoot - she literally said 'Meet me at x, bring with you a swimming costume, a vintage dress, and have your usual winged eyeliner and red lip combo'.

Photo taken by Laura Pearman 

(screen shot from the YouTube taster video)

While I'm more than happy to spout about being a confident plus size woman, it's another to be able to pose like a mermaid. But the world didn't end, there was not an ounce of drama, and just good clean fun.

I even stripped off down to my bra while a group of 10k runners ran past.

While Laura and I can sit and natter about anything from Taylor Swift to the EU, we also know when to get to work!

The shoot was over, when the above photo was taken - never off duty us two!

Out of this day of fun and gossip, more than the actual reason I was in front of the camera, I got my mojo back! I mean:

Photos like these aren't about vanity, or about self promotion, but about the confidence, and the swagger they give you. The glow that means you've got this. 

Keep an eye out for the full video, and the full details as to what we've got in store for you all!

Much love my lovelies,

K x

#Bloggerspearjoy - Behind the Scenes

Oooh, after the lovely Rachel released her blog yesterday with you all, I couldn't wait to be able to share the wonderful, sharing, collaborative experience it was, being involved with #bloggerspearjoy. 

We ended up functioning like a hive mind towards the end - but that might have been the hunger kicking in!!

Meeting at the perfectly situated SalonLRM at Hoults Yard at 11am, we were bright eyed and bushy tailed (well, I was anyway!) and ready to get our vintage on!

After raiding my own wardrobe for a range of vintage options, Nichola (our super stylist) and I paired together the perfect 'day' outfit, from now on known as Fat Rizzo!

While the beauts that are Rachel, Alice and Laura B were getting their hairs and makeups did, I set to work, making the strongest coffee known to man, and helping Nichola out with making sure the wardrobe was as she wanted it, and that everyone had something to wear! 

We knew my hair wouldn't take that long to do, given that the brief was "Quifftastic", so I knew I had the time to be able to help out. I can't just sit and wait - and I trusted that if I was getting in the way, or getting too involved, I would be told to bugger off!!

The awesome Emily, was super kind with me, especially after I'd said I'd never worn false lashes before! She was patient, and willing to up my brow game to this:

Taken later in the day but showing her awesome brow skills!

And so, my first look! 

As I said, we opted for Rizzo from Grease as our inspiration, the rebel!

I MEAN!

So, shirt was Simply Be - no longer available - and the skirt was a jersey stretch tube skirt, also from Simply Be - the belt I've had forever, and the neck scarf was Laura P's! Et voila!

I can't believe that I had most of these things in my wardrobe, and had never thought I'd have the confidence to wear them together, but here we go! Big thanks to Nichola (Vera to my Reg), for putting it all together so wonderfully.

And we were set!

I was paired with the super cute Laura B to be my partner in crime - land girl to my rebel:

And were the first to go off on location, for great videoing (yes, VIDEO, but more of that to come) and photoing:

But the winner for me, was this beaut:

I'm not being over dramatic here, but we maybe got upstaged by Mr Buick!! 

A quick costume change, into my Polka Dot Polly Peacock Print dress, for more videoing and photoing, including these perfect shots:

Like what you see? Sign up here to become a Pear Pin-Up Aficionado and hear about all the latest deals for the best vintage photography experience.

Much love my lovelies, 

K x

PS - I think this is my favourite picture from the day (LEGS):

#BloggerPearJoy - The Build Up

When the super talented Laura contacted me about taking part in her Collaboration Experiment, I jumped at the chance, The brief was to showcase the talent the North East has to offer, with a vintage twist.

Well, that's right up my street I thought! 

Actually, no, I didn't, I squealed and got super excited about the vintage styling! We had a wonderfully productive styling meeting, getting the whole 'style' element of the team together:

Me, tucking into that risotto I mentioned in this post, along with the beautiful MUA Emily Emmett, and Alice trying really hard not to laugh!

The team that Laura Pearman, of Pearman Photography, managed to put together just goes to show the wealth of talent in the north east!

I remember stepping out from the meeting, and feeling a weight lifted, knowing that the wonderful Nichola English, the Wardrobe Provocateur, got me!

We talked of flared skirts, and waist cinching, when I kindly pointed out that I didn't mind VBO, and that I was from the school of 'F**k flattering'. 

She then showed me this image and I knew I was in safe hands!

We were going to opt for quiffs, and sneakers, with frilly socks and neck scarfs! So a powerful mix of femme and masculine.

Putting my own mood board together, to share the meeting and the vibe of the shoot with instagram, Nichola assured me it was what she had in mind.

Coming onto the production meeting, which was also to be our fitting, we finally got to see what vintage finds Laura and Nichola had lined up for us all!

The standard of vintage WOW, all sourced from It's Vintage Darling (from my home town of South Shields!), was astonishing! The day time wear was all genuine vintage, with vintage reproduction for our evening looks.

Sadly, with most vintage stores, there was nothing over a size 20 for me to wear, BUT that didn't mean I couldn't marvel at the wonderful pieces the lovely Rachel, Alice and Laura had to wear, as well as Ann Marie, our chauffeur, and Laura P, our photographer.

And it didn't mean I would go naked either! Obviously!

Head to any social media platform, and search for #bloggerspearjoy for some candid shoots from the day... more will be revealed later!

Much love my lovelies, 

K x