In the space of one week I’ve gone from extreme casual (walking-the-dog clothes) to extreme glamour (an evening gown and heels). I’m sure you can guess which is the least common of the two…
On Friday I was lucky enough to go to the Vuelio Blog Awards (pronounced view-lee-oh) as a finalist. An email saying I was shortlisted and had two tickets to the awards ceremony came out of the blue a few weeks ago and as any fashionista will tell you, the first thing you think is Aaaaaargh what do I wear…?!
Maybe I’m falling into a bit of a pattern here, but of course I fell back onto my tried and tested formula: vintage. (No chance of turning up in the same dress as someone else that way.) And not only vintage, but 1970s vintage AGAIN. Hey – if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, I say!
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Just to explain about the awards first: did I win? My chances were pretty slim to say the least.
When I said the Vuelio email came out of the blue, I really do mean out of nowhere. I hadn’t entered myself, and no friends or readers nominated me. Vuelio is a PR & Comms company that also work with bloggers and content creators (trying hard not to say that icky term “influencers”), and somehow I managed to end up in the six-strong shortlist of women’s fashion blogs. The reason I was so shocked was because of who was also in my category: unlike the UK Blog Awards where you enter yourself, Vuelio do all the shortlisting themselves. So if you’re on their database, you’re in with a running chance (at least that’s how I think it works).
To my disbelief I ended up in the same category as some of the UK TOP fashion bloggers. And when I say top, I mean L’Oréal TV advert top (Victoria MacGrath and Lydia Millen), for example.
So it came as no big surprise, but I DIDN’T win (Victoria of Inthefrow is pretty much the UK’s top fashion blogger and rather unsurprisingly won) – just in case any of you were wondering! I went with ZERO expectation of winning, which is kinda nice, in a way. As I mentioned on my Instagram, it was like a D-list soapstar being up against Meryl Streep for an Oscar… it just wasn’t going to happen. However when you go with zero expectations you can go and just enjoy the evening, which is exactly what I did!
My vintage 1970s one-shoulder gown
Let’s talk the dress! Yes, I know I’m becoming a BIT predictable when it comes to black tie/formal events, but vintage works for me. Vintage gowns tend to be less boobilicious than modern evening dresses, which also have a tendency to be beautiful at the front then only to be totally backless. When you’re a big-boobed girl who doesn’t “do” cleavage (and needs a bra AT ALL TIMES), low cuts and backless dresses just don’t cut the mustard. Dresses tended to be more modest in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and that suits me just fine.
I found this CRAZY gorgeous one-shoulder 1970s psychedelic dress from an Etsy shop, and only when it was posted to me did I realise the owner lives in the same town as me, 10 minutes walk from my house. I could have chosen something from anywhere in the world, and I chose something from someone down the road. How nuts is that?!
I’ve been drawn to dresses with mutton sleeves for evening looks a lot lately, but this time I thought I’d try something different. I’ve never done a one-shoulder before, and it felt pretty sexy on (I cringed slightly saying that, but I honestly can’t think of another way to say it)! All the dress needed was great shoes and great jewellery: I wore my new nude/black ombré heels from Lotus* and new pink and red earrings from Toolally* (kindly gifted so thank you to both brands). Messy curled hair, a little sparkle on the wrist and I was done.
Each time I go to an awards ceremony I sure feel the pressure of finding a dress as stunning as the last one… so far I’m pretty happy with all my choices!
The Vuelio Blog Awards – who, what, where
I must of course talk a little about the awards themselves. You’ll see that I wasn’t accompanied by Keith as the event fell on his busiest work day of the YEAR so him being allowed a day off work and getting up to London was out of the question. In a way we were both glad as unlike previous UK Blog Awards he wouldn’t have known anyone there, so I immediately knew who I wanted to take: my fabulous (and gorgeous!) work wife, What Lizzy Loves. I have several BBFFs (blogging BFFs) but as Lizzy couldn’t make it to last year’s event (when I had the support of six of my girls as well as the Instagram Husband), I wanted her to come as my +1.
I couldn’t have been prouder to have such a wonderful and beautiful person “on my arm”… she is ABSOLUTELY the loveliest person and we go way back, meeting for the first time at the Fever London photo shoot back in 2014. She kindly took the photos you see of me in our hotel lobby (thank you Liz!), and when she publishes her post up of the night I’ll link to the post here – wait till you see her stunning Self Portrait dress (ughhhh she looked so beautiful, as you’ll see below).
We had a fantastic evening – it was just a little bit of a shame that so few of the shortlisted bloggers that I know couldn’t make it. Some I’ve met before, others I hadn’t so it was such a shame there weren’t more there! But Liz and I had a great evening, and next day we had brunch with the equally fabulous Lisa, AKA The Sequinist. It couldn’t have been a better couple of days.
Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
WOULD YOU GO VINTAGE FOR A BLACK-TIE EVENT? COMMENT BELOW…!
Catherine x
Photo credits: Elizabeth Yeowart / Vuelio
Dress: Secret Siren Vintage
Strapless Bra: Wonderbra (A to G cup, I swear by this one for big boobs!)
Earrings: Toolally*
Heels: Lotus*
Clutch: Old, unknown (similar)
Bracelets: What Lizzy Loves c/o, John Lewis (this one and this one will go beautifully together)
OTHER VINTAGE PARTY DRESSES YOU MIGHT LIKE:
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What a gorgeous and unique look, everything suits you perfectly! That is amazing the dress was just around the corner, definitely kismet! I love your hair with it too, the casual waves really look fab with it! Sounds like a fun time, perhaps more relaxing than when you are worried you have a shot at winning! (er, not that you shouldn’t have won, silly blog awards! 😉 xo
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Aww Steff thank you so much – yes it was very relaxing simply BECAUSE I knew I stood no chance of winning. But I was shortlisted with just about the best fashion bloggers in the country, so I’m super chuffed about that!!
WOW what an honor to even be nominated for such a prestigious award, congratulations Catherine! And, I have no words for that vintage gown, it is to die for gorgeous!!
Cherie
STYLE NUDGE
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Cherie THANK YOU!! You can imagine how excited I got when I found that gown, can’t you…??!
That dress is just gorgeous Catherine, you both look stunning (you always do). Looks like you and Liz had great fun xxx
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Aww Kareema that’s so lovely of you to say, thank you x
You look gorgeous! I love the way that dress looks with your ginger hair.
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Thank you so much Haley – I love these warm colours with my red tresses! x
You look lovely. This dress is beautiful on you. I love the one shoulder details. Also, congratulations!
Xx, Nailil
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Thank you Nailil!! I still can’t believe I was even nominated 😀
CONGRATULATIONS – on being nominated and for being a finalist. Also what a fabulous dress you choose to wear. Original and bold – you would certainly stand out from the crowd. Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
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Aww Jill that’s so nice of you, thank you! x
Congrats on being one of the finalists of the award. It sounds really prestigious. It must have been such a fun, exciting evening.
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In terms of what was put on for us, it was one of the most prestigious awards events I’ve been to for sure, Julie! Thank you so much xoxo
I think you both looked absolutely gorgeous and it sounds like you had a wonderful time together. I wasn’t surprised that you were nominated, to be honest. I think you’re up there with all those other fashion bloggers!!
Suzy xx
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Oh Suzy that’s so sweet of you to say… thank you!!!!!!!!! x
Wow – what a fabulous dress – you look amazing! I am seriously on a diet purely for the purpose of being able to fit into vintage dresses!
Congratulation on the award nomination – it seems natural to me that you were there with the best of them. 🙂
Best wishes
Helen x
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The Etsy shop that I bought mine from seemed to have quite a large selection of different size dresses, Helen – they definitely weren’t all size 8s which is so often the problem with vintage!! And thank you my lovely for those kind words xx
Love that dress!
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Thanks Lauren 🙂
Well done Catherine – as you said a great honour to be on the list – and sounds as if you had a fab time! You have awakened the vintage bug in me. That dress is so stunning. The quality looks fab. I’m off to check Etsy,
Alison xx
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Hehe don’t blame me if you’re on Etsy for hours and hours, Alison…!! 😉
Thank you hon x
Wow Catherine you look absolutely fabulous..that dress suits you so well. And congratulations too.
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Oh Hilda thank you so much xoxo
You were spectacular, Catherine! And I LOVE the shoes, too. What a great idea about vintage at an event like that. Fortunately for me, all the evening wear in my closet is so old, it’s ALREADY vintage and there are NO worries about anyone else having it! I wore a black velvet top and long skirt to a formal affair this weekend that I bought for a New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas in 2002 😀 I always shudder when I hear that “get rid of what you haven’t worn in a year” advice – HA! Anyway, well done you – all us girls are proud of you.
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Thank you ever so much, Mary Katherine… you just can’t go wrong with vintage IMO!! I love that you’ve got so many vintage pieces that were originally yours: and I don’t buy into that “one year and it’s out” advice either! I think as long as you are keeping something because it’s a classic and great quality, then you DON’T have to wear it at least once a year. This dress is already “out of date” as it were (about 45 years out of date!), so I reckon I could leave it five years before wearing it again. And it’ll still look as fresh!! C x
OMG, I’m ALL ABOUT that 70’s look …. LOVE!!!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
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I’m crazy about the 70s too, Dawn Lucy…! Thank you sweetie x
You look gorgeous and a big congratulations to you!! I love all the colors and the pattern in this dress.
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Aww Chrissy thank you so much!! xo
That is stunning. It makes you look so tall and the colour is amazing with your hair. Major fashion envy going on!
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That’s so lovely of you, thank you Elizabeth xx
Catherine!
First what a huge achievement to even be nominated for such a prestigious award you should be incredibly proud of yourself…!
Secondly let’s talk vintage, as you know I am a huge vintage fan. I wear it, make Marc restore it for our home and take great pleasure in finding it in charity stores. That dress is a winner very Pucci I adore it…in awe actually.
congrats darling girl!
Ashley
xxx
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I don’t know why I didn’t think about how Pucci it is, Ashley – you’re right, it’s totally a Pucci print! I don’t think I’ll ever tire of vintage, I’m sure you can understand that 😉
Thank you so much my lovely xx
Oh how exciting, Catherine, even if you didn’t win! And you look magnificent! Such a cool vintage dress and totally Meryl Streep caliber!
Shelbeeweb1
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Thanks Shelbee – it’s actually quite nice going knowing you won’t win… makes it less stressful!!
I really need to spend some time on Etsy! Never done it but vintage clothing appeals more to me these days. What a gorgeous dress and how beautiful is the color of your hair with the dress!
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Oh you’ll find yourself down an internet rabbit hole, Nancy… Etsy is addictive!! Thanks hon x
You picked your dress perfectly – vintage is so unique and you know no one is likely to turn up in the same dress! The colours are incredible on you Katherine! Looked like a fabulous event and you have the best girl squad ever! xx Maria
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That’s the best bit about vintage, Maria – I live in fear of being in the same dress as someone else! Thank you my lovely x
Congrats! You rock! Yes, going vintage is a safe bet. You don’t won’t to end up as a who wore it better on social media! LOL.
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Hehe thanks Nicole… and no, I definitely don’t!
Gosh, aren’t award ceremonies the hardest when it comes to deciding on what to wear? You do, I have to say Catherine, make it seem quite effortless 🙂 I adore vintage myself, and lately, I’ve been investing much more into acquiring some nice pieces. Pieces which I can hopefully pass onto Eve one day xoxo
p/s you look GORGEOUS
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Aww thanks so much Sheela! I love the fact that vintage doesn’t date so they’re investments in a way…!
Awwwwwww Catherine. It was such a fabulous night. Thank you so much for inviting me. I loved every moment and am still super proud of you xxxxx
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Didn’t we have SUCH a great night, Liz… I’m so glad you came with me!!!!!!!!! Thank YOU for being so loving and so supportive XOXO
The dress is gorgeous Catherine. It looks like a great night and well done for getting nominated. xx
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Oh thank you so much Laurie – still can’t believe they put me in the same six as those other bloggers TBH?!!
Loving this retro evening look—it’s very you, and looks particularly fab with your new haircut!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
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Thanks Cheryl, it was a bit of an “in your face” dress but I loved it 😉 x
I love this dress so much it causes me actual pain in my stomach. I so want to borrow this one day! You and Liz looked phenomenally gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed getting you two all to myself for a few hours the following day. xxx
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OMG I could SO see you in this dress Lisa… in a way it’s more you than me!! Thank you my lovely 🙂
I loved seeing you too, I so enjoyed our mini weekend and spending it with you girls xx
I love that your dress is so vintage and like nobody else’s (I bet??). And what an honor to be on the list!!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
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Hmmm I definitely didn’t look like anyone else there, Jodie…!! Thank you xo