Green Goddess

Emerald green is one of my all time favourite colours. I have spent my life searching for the perfect emerald green handbag and the perfect emerald green shoes. So far, no luck. I saw a great handbag in LA last year in a vintage shop, it was perfect. I missed it thanks to a bad dose of blood sugars! I was in this amazing shop in Long beach surrounded by so many fantastic things, hadn't eaten for hours and couldn't focus. So off I went in search of food, and when I came back it was gone! Not meant to be... I always say that to try and make myself feel better! Anyway, I found this beautiful photo on the web. The shape of the swimsuit is lovely but I think it's of the itchy bri nylon fabric variety, which would probably date it to the late 1950's, but I love the colour palette and the composition of the photo. Maybe I'll introduce a bit of emerald into a future collection!

And another thing...

I forgot to say that all Flying Fish cotton swimsuits are limited editions. I only source a few dozen metres of each fabric, so once it's gone it's gone!!! If you see it and you like it, better buy it, otherwise you might regret it later! Byeeeeeeee!

More from Flying Fish

Hellooo! As promised I am slowly filtering pictures of the collection onto the blog. Here's our lovely Sara looking absolutely gorgeous in a cotton one piece from the 'British Seaside' collection. This swimsuit is one of the few in the cotton range that doesn't have shirring (elastic panelling) on the back so we have used a zip for a super snug fit (see back view). I love this fabric so much. It's such a shame that vintage style conversational prints are so hard to come by now. Over the years I have collected bits of original fabrics and stacks of images and books all about the prints. I find them really inspiring for many different projects. At the moment I am working on an embroidery for a pillow case. I have taken the design from an original 1950's Alfred Meakin Parisienne street scene that I found on a plate! I'll post the results when I find time to finish it, and much more to come about easy embroidery projects later. Any questions about the collection please contact me on mail@flyingfishoriginals.com

Graffiti Gangsta's

Graffiti Knitters

Back in 2005, two frustrated knitters from Houston, Texas came up with an idea of how to put all their unfinished knitting projects to good use. The ladies (who shall remain nameless) formed a rogue knitting group called 'Knitta' Please! and began tagging various locations around Houston. Within weeks their wooly marks were appearing all over the city on trees, lamp posts, railings and monuments. Since then, several copy cat groups are following their lead world wide and knitted graffiti has been found in many far flung places including the Great Wall of China and Notre Dame in Paris.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that we have our very own Graffiti knitters at home in Whitstable... or should I say 'Knitstable'. They call themselves 'Inkogknito' and have already begun marking lamp posts, letterboxes and even pebbles on Whitstable beach. I found the bicycles above parked out the cheese shop. Apparently they arrive in the dark and leave in the dark and nobody knows to whom they belong! Well, I think they are fantastic, good one ladies. Erm... if you are reading, I wouldn't mind a jumper or two for the winter??? I hear aran is very 'in' this season.

Vintage Swimwear - 1940's Fashion

Curvy Fish

This is one of the swimsuits from the 'Silver Screen' collection that will be available in plus sizes. It is comfortably constructed with tummy support, boning in the bust for that welcome uplift and a zip up the back to ensure a snug curve hugging fit. For more information please contact Katy at mail@flyingfishoriginals.com

Curvy catwalk

Here are some images that give an example of how size in fashion is changing. I will be really interested to see what happens at fashion week this autumn.

Images are from Prada A/W 2010, Mark Fast A/W 2010, and Lily Cole modelling for Sonia Rykiel for H&M 2004.

A matter of size

One of the hottest re-occuring topics of note in the fashion industry today questions the issue of size on the catwalk. A few brave designers like Mark Fast, Marc Jacobs and Prada have stepped forward and begun to use larger than average models to showcase their collections, but overall there still remains some conflict on the subject.

Knitwear designer Mark Fast lost two of his employees after they walked out upon hearing his decision to use size 14 models in his A/W 2010 show back in February this year. This walk out was blamed on "creative differences", but in my opinion and from my experience of the fashion industry, there are still too many people who believe that big is not beautiful and that size doesn't sell.

My response to this would probably result in me being banned from blogging, but let me tell you now, I have spent months researching this subject and talking to women and believe me, fashion has got it so wrong.

For example, statistically, the most common size for women in the UK is a 16, but a high percentage of these ladies are over 60, most of whom aren't in the market for high fashion. So, bringing the average age to say, bullseye 25-50 years, this brings our statistic to a shapely size 14. Ten years ago this was a size 12. And as a result, we are a nation of women who are literally growing in size. More than 6 million women here in the Uk have weight issues, causing a boom in the plus size clothing market.

Research has revealed that providing garments for this market so far brings in £3.8 billion a year and that figure is rapidly on the rise.

Here at Flying Fish we are pleased to announce that we will be manufacturing swimwear up to a size 14/16 and will take special orders for sizes 18 and up. All of our designs have been carefully constructed to maximise support and to provide a boost in body confidence. Our swimsuits will look as fantastic on a size 16 as they would on a size 10. In the next couple of months I will be exclusively previewing pictures of some of our plus size swimsuits on this blog, so watch out ladies! There is no excuse to hide away under those cover up's any more, get Flying Fish, get on the beach and get CONFIDENT! Celebrate your curves...OK???

mail@flyingfishoriginals.com

A life in pictures

Here are my great grandparents on a trip to the seaside at Great Yarmouth. I think the picture was taken around 1920. They have made such an effort and look so smart! Imagine how fascinating it would be to turn back time and spend a few hours listening to their stories. Well, at least we have the pictures. I will always treasure them.

I have begun collecting vintage photographs which I buy at boot fairs and antique markets. It makes me so sad to think that these people and their stories really existed and now, here they are gathering dust in tins and boxes and being sold for pennies to strangers. I love my photograph collection and treasure the pictures just as much as the ones of my own family. Over time I will share my favourites with you.

Mavis Plume swimwear exhibition

Now I always thought that my vintage swimwear collection was, at about 60 pieces, pretty impressive, but then I read about Essex pensioner Mavis Plume.

At the ripe old age of 84, mavis has been collecting vintage swimwear for over 50 years. In that time, her collection has grown to over 500 pieces dating back as far as 1850. Impressed? I was... and just a touch envious too!

Her collection has created a fascinating record of social history, and after years of keeping the swimsuits stashed away in boxes in her attic, her son David has convinced her to share them with the world in an exhibition at the Southend Central Museum.

Mavis' first swimsuit was bought during a visit to a vintage car rally just after she got married. Her husband asked her to pose by a car for a photo wearing her purchase, and so the idea was born. Swimsuits began to arrive from every direction. Her neighbour donated a wooly piece from the 1930's, she begged her mother-in-law to part with her treasured 1920's suit, and she even managed to acquire regulation swimwear from public swimming baths that would have been rented for a few pence a go. She must have had such fun. These days original suits are becoming as rare as hen's teeth due to the deterioration from wear in sea water and chlorine etc, so how wonderful that all these pieces have been loved and preserved by Mavis, and now we can all appreciate them. I will be going to see the exhibition in the next couple of weeks and can't wait. This truly is the most exciting way for me to pass a day! I am indeed a swimsuit geek.

The exhibition is showing at the Southend Central Museum until 2nd October 2010.

Mavis looking Marvellous

Step back in time

I am very lucky indeed. A costume designer friend of mine acquired a rather tasty pair of shoes on a video shoot last week, and knowing that they were my size and that I would absolutely love them she has kept them for me. I can't wait to try them on! I have a couple of original pairs with this kind of 40's shape and I absolutely love them, and now Office have produced their own version. They are called 'Friendly Bow' and come in black or fuchsia suede. I have to say, as far as I can see the shape looks brilliant, even the heel looks vintage. I think these will fly out. They retail at £82.

Quotes by Friedrich Nietzsche

"Whoever despises himself nonetheless respects himself as one who despises"

"What is the mark of liberation? No longer being ashamed in front of ones self."

"Glance into the world as if time were gone: and everything will become straight to you."

Love this swimsuit??? For more info, contact me at:
Mail@flyingfishoriginals.com

Kyoto 1934... beautiful!

Yum Yum

Another of my life long desires has been to go to Japan. I made a pact with a friend at school when I was 15 that one day we would go together. We are still in touch, but I doubt very much that I will make that journey with her now... Though I can't quite believe I haven't been yet, especially since the last 4 years of my life have been spent trotting back and fourth from the Far East to visit my beloved. I'm not sure why I am so drawn to the country. Some have said I had a past life as a geisha, but personally I think it's my love of all things plastic and ridiculous. I love STUFF! I am a magpie when it comes to kitsch. I found this website today with lots of weird and wonderful gizmo's and gadgets.

In the food section I found some very interesting sweets. I'm not sure they are for my palette, but I would never say never. Apparently there is a 'Drop Candy boom' going on in Japan right now. Drop candy, or Sakuma drops as they were originally called were very popular in Japan from as far back as the 1930's, and yet again they are gathering fluff in the handbags of Japan's most fashionable residents. You can get the usual sweet flavours like strawberry and green tea etc, but they also have quite a varied selection of savoury flavours. Hmmmm... for my first course I think I will have sushi drops, and when I'm homesick I can have a good old baked potato with butter drop, and I think I'll wash it all down with a full tin of beer drops!... Hic! Sadly those ones are non alcoholic.

Anyway, I plan to go to Japan very soon with a very large, empty suitcase.

You can buy drop candy from j box.

I like this shot too... It's nothing we haven't seen before but I love the composition and the light. Shooting into the sun can sometimes work brilliantly. Oh and great specs!!! It was shot by a photographer called Nadia Moro.

Nice pictures...

On one of my recent lengthy visits to the world of the interweb I stumbled upon some images I really liked. These first ones are by a photographer called Natascha Zivadinovic. They sort of have a Frida Kahlo meets Moscow vibe, which is why I think I am drawn to them. I love the styling and the make up too. Really rich and colourful!

Sundae Sundae, the BEST British sweet shop

As mentioned in my previous link, the one place I always pay a visit to when I'm home in Whitstable is Sundae Sundae. It's the most brilliant Vintage style sweet shop you will ever find. Steve and Jan, the owners, have made it an aladdin's cave of sweets, drinks, ice cream, bric a brac, and vintage curio's that will satisfy young and old alike.

It's like stepping back in time, the memories of sweets gone by will come flooding back. I remember getting thrown out of the cinema for eating space dust and crackling so loudly that I disturbed everyone around me... 3 whole packets! The novelty of the noise and the sensation made me laugh over and over again. I must have been climbing the walls when I got home that night! And remember how if you sucked on space invaders long enough they stuck to the roof of your mouth and made your taste buds go numb because they were so sour? All these moments I had forgotten till I found this shop. It's packed with goodies galore and Steve even designs his own packaging for many of the products.

The atmosphere is so welcoming too... the first time I went I was serenaded by Steve over the ice cream counter, and last week they were all dressed as Pirates for carnival day. Their love and passion for this business oozes off every shelf, so If you are feeling down in the dumps and passing by, pop in. Where else can you be greeted with a smile and a song and leave feeling like a child again? Forget the calories for 5 minutes, the joy of just being there will leave you buzzing long enough to work off that ice cream.

Shame on you if you have been to Whitstable but haven't been to Sundae sundae!

Sundae Sundae, 62 Harbour st, Whitstable, kent. CT5 1AG

Mmmmmmmm..

I have to introduce you to my latest obsession.... Fentimans Rose Lemonade! It is absolutely delish!!!! I don't usually drink flavoured fizzy drinks as they are loaded with sugar and loads of tremble inducing crap (I'm a wee bit sensitive don't you know!), but this drink is gorgeous. Rose lemonade is the latest addition to Fentiman's collection of botanically brewed beverages which include Ginger beer and Dandelion and burdock. Yummy! The ingredients for the drinks are infused, slowly fermented and then blended to get the fantastic flavours. I'm not sure where to buy it yet, I buy mine from Sundae Sundae, the best sweet shop ever in Whitstable, but I am wondering if organic shops and maybe even Waitrose stock it? It's around £2.95 per 750ml bottle, which is very pricey, but it's worth every mouthful and completely preservative free. Great for special occasions and if you aren't a big drinker like me, it's special enough to pop into a champagne glass and enjoy with all the boozers. Enjoy!

Don't forget...

Remember...

Life doesn't get better, only your perception of life improves.

Mannequin... love that Cheese!!!

Brigitta Von Gut Max

I have been meaning to introduce you to one of my fairly recent acquisitions.. Brigitta Von Gut Max.

For many years I have had a rather strange interest in vintage mannequins.. especially the chalkware display type. I have searched everywhere for them, but they are so rare and when you do find them they are so expensive! I bought Brigitta from a Belgian dealer at an antiques market here in London For £45!!!!!! Can you believe it? I couldn't. She's from the 1940's, and was dead stock from a German factory that closed down a few years back. I wish I had been a little flush on the day because there was another mannequin.. could have been Brigitta's granny, she was amazing! Maybe a size 14-16. I wish I had bought her too. Oh well, I'll find another if it's meant to be.

A lot of people are put off buying mannequins that have never been used because their faces are a bit strange. When they left the factories they didn't have eyelashes or much colour. This was often applied later to suit the product/display. I have put some false eyelashes on Brigitta, black eyeliner and coral colour on her lips. So, next time you see a bargain, don't pass it by. Get creative!

JUNGLE FISH

Here's a couple of pics of me testing one of my swimsuits in the plunge pool on the deck to our jungle room... luckily the swimsuit kept it's shape and the colour didn't run! PHEW!!!! Every time we finish a new sample I can't decide which one is my favourite. I LOVED wearing this one. It felt so brilliant on my body. Supportive and extremely comfy. We have made all the designs to appeal to the curvy figure, big or small, so whatever your body issues Flying Fish will give you a little boost. I'm glad that I have spent so much time testing my products, it really means so much to me that everyone who ends up buying from me gains a little more body confidence. I can't wait to get them out there and see how they work with all those wonderful different body shapes.

Ta ta for now!

Tioman

Hi!

Another big gap.... sorry! Had a few hurdles in the past week that stopped me from blogging. I should have been back from Malaysia last monday but a small matter of a crazy taxi driver, monsoon rain, 75mph and some failed brakes sort of delayed my return. We are fine. I was on my way to the airport and missed my flight, so I guess my return wasn't meant to be. I had an extra 5 days nursing a sprained wrist and thumb. It could have been a lot worse as neither of us were wearing seatbelts. So ALWAYS buckle up people. I will never make that mistake again.

So we made it to Tioman island in the south China sea, just east of Malaysia. It's about 1 hour flight from Kuala Lumpur and 45mins from Singapore. You arrive to a little airport which is basically a hut, and a couple of blokes trot up the runway and load your bags off the back of a plane that seats about 30 people. So charming. We were collected by boat at the small harbour and taken to our resort (Japamala) by sea, as there is absolutely no road access.... Absolute bliss! If you are after the perfect honeymoon break or just some special time with your loved one, this is the perfect jungle hideaway.

We were greeted off the boat by the staff of the hotel and led to our jungle room nestled on the edge of the rainforest. I have to say, we had a jungle experience in Bali once where the room was partially open to the elements... as beautiful as it was I spent the whole time freaking out and having screaming nightmares about scorpions crawling on my pillow and ants crawling up my nose and laying eggs in my ears, so I was a little concerned that this would be a repeat performance, but my fears were rapidly extinguished.

The rooms are bug free and beautifully designed with the upmost respect for the environment. A couple of them even have trees growing in the bathrooms and huge rocks in the bedrooms... so you see, almost nothing has been disturbed. We had a room perched on the hill, surrounded by trees, and monkeys! Be warned though... if you are addicted to technology it's not your cup of tea. NO phone reception and no telephones in the rooms. You can pick up wifi in the lobby though, but my advice is, leave work at home and just switch off for a bit. It's well worth it.

There are only 12 rooms in the resort, so you will never feel crowded and have total privacy at all times. Most of the guests were gooey honeymoon couples, so they all kept themselves to themselves.

The food was brilliant.. what more can I say? GO! GO! GO!

We stayed for 4 nights and for me it was just enough. I have an active brain and itchy feet and by the 5th day I was craving civilization. I had a brilliant time though and would strongly recommend it to anyone in need of quality time with their nearest and dearest.

Japamala

Prada A/W 2010/11

This has got to be one of my favourite collections for autumn/winter 2010/11. I love the mix of fabrics and textures and the style is very MadMen! Sadly Prada is still financially out of my league, but I have a couple of vintage dresses in this style that could be copied in similar fabrics. I have a great dressmaker who will knock me up a dress like this for about £60. Absolute bargain! I will post the results closer tothe Autumn. In the mean time, check out these patterns I found on the internet for a few pounds. If you can findany similar, it's well worth finding someone to make them for you at a fraction of the designer price. GoodLuck!

Oh, and is it my imagination or are those Prada girls looking a little curvier these days??? Hurrah!

Kuala Lumpur

So, here I am in Malaysia. I arrived last thursday morning after a flight that seemed to go on forever. I have been long haul many times before, but for some reason this one felt a bit like torture!

Peter met me from the airport and took me for brunch Malay style. It was AMAZING! I can understand now why Peter never wants to eat Indian back home any more, for the price of one side dish in London (£4.25), we ate two huge plates of curried veg, daal and rice and drank two glasses of freshly squeezed carrot and starfruit juice. I have to say, it's the best curry I have had in ages. The food in this city is something else. Every street corner offers the most delicious delights from it's melting pot of cultures. All the street food is generally safe to eat, though I don't eat meat so I can't vouch for that. The thought of fish heads makes me go a bit wobbly but I had the most incredible fish head curry... (not a gill or glassy eye in sight!).

Jet lag kicked in and I didn't really surface again till Friday night when we went to the most incredible restaurant called Tamarind for dinner with a friend. The restaurant is owned by an entrepreneur couple who now own several award winning boutique hotels and restaurants in the far East. I'll be posting more about them later as we're off to their jungle hideaway on Tioman Island tomorrow. Anyway, I highly recommend the food here, especially the lobster Linguini!!!!

Last night we went to see the magnificent landmark Petronas Towers, and they are indeed, truly MAGNIFICENT! I could't believe how great the pictures came out on my iphone. The towers climb 88 storeys high which equates to 1,483ft , nearly a kilometre high! The buildings were designed to resemble Islamic art motifs through it's glass facade, a truly great architectural accomplishment. Check it out!