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Todays Dress of the Day features several dresses that I love from Iron Fist clothing. I’ve never got a dress from them but my husband loves their t-shirts and got a few girlie ones earlier this year. I’ve had my eye on a few of their dresses for a while now. Here are three of my favourites from their website…

Ladies Iron Fist Ladies Night-a-light Dress Fuchsia £71.99 Available here

Iron Fist Ladies Wild Flower Dress £71.99 Available here

Polka dots, roses and leopard print all on one dress? Yes please!

Iron Fist Ladies Bite Me! Dress Black £49.99 Available here

I’ve wanted this one for ages since I saw it on the US site a few months ago. I love the print.

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As you may have seen in one of my previous posts I went to the launch party of this lovely book just over a month ago. The party was vintage heaven, with fabulous tearoom treats and lot’s of bubbly. As mentioned in my previous post we had lot’s of fun delving into Betty Blythe’s decadent dressing up box.

The book written by Lulu Gwynne owner of Betty Blythe’s vintage tea room in West London. The book is a mixture of vintage styling, tea party etiquette and lot’s of authentic vintage recipes.

One of the things I like most about this book is that it stays true to the past. There is not a cupcake in sight. Now don’t get me wrong I love a cupcake as much as the next girl, but they’re not exactly vintage really are they! The recipes are divided into vintage eras and styles including Victorian Tea Party, Edwardian Breakfast, 1920’s Speakeasy, 1930’s Cocktail Party, 1940’s Picnic and 1950’s Street Party.

The book covers all aspects of the tea party and the fabulous styling tips are invaluable to creating the perfect retro inspired event. Everything is covered including finding the right outfit and what china and decorations to use. Whether your planning a large-scale event or an intimate party for two you’ll find all your idea in here.

One of the highlights for me are the cocktails (who said you have to have tea at a tea-party?) I love the look of Edwardian style Ruby Breakfast Cocktail and the 1930s Los Angeles Sunset, and will definitely be giving these a try.

There are tips on sourcing vintage tableware and even tips on writing and replying to an invitation in the correct way. These tips would be great if you were organising a vintage style wedding or birthday party.

The recipes all look delicious I am determined to give the Plum frangipani tart a whirl as soon as I possibly can!

After reading this you’ll be looking for the perfect opportunity to throw your own vintage soiree, so get those vintage dresses out and polish your best silver!

I’ve had loads of fun taking pictures of this book using my collection of antique and vintage tablecloths.

Style Me Vintage Tea Parties is Published by Pavilion at £9.99

You can buy the book on Amazon here

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I’ve been a little bit rubbish at posting on the blog the last couple of days. Firstly because of a bit of exciting decorating in the house and secondly because I got all over excited about a cake sale at Jess’s school on Friday and went a bit baking mad!

I have been told by a reader that I have to do Dress of the day more often, so I’m promising to do at least a couple a week. Luckily enough i already had this little beauty lined up after Love Miss Daisy posted it on their Twitter.

This fabulous 1950s sailor style dress is absolutely gorgeous and reminds me of Joan from Mad Men. The dress is only £49 and is a size 10/12 so sadly too small for me.

Here’s the description from the Love Miss Daisy Website…

This is a super dress from the 1950’s in navy and white. There are no fabric labels but it has the look and feel of a textured man-made fibre, possibly rayon or a rayon mix. the dress has short sleeves with white turn back cuffs, and a shallow white sailor style collar. There is a decorative white button just above the empire bust. The dress fits and flares over the waist and hips and there is a kick vent at the centre back hem. The dress fastens with a side metal zip and it features an AFL-CIO blue workers union label. The dress is probably unworn as it still has the original shop price tag from Sears!

You can buy the dress here

Love Miss Daisy Sailor Dress (above) The dress reminds me of this fantastic look worn by Joan in Madmen (below)

Cute buttoned Pencil dress Mad men Reproduction Joan dress wiggle

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I’m so grateful to everyone whose been reading the blog recently. Every week I seem to have more and more readers and it’s really nice to know people are enjoying the blog.

It’s very easy to forget that there are loads of other great bloggers out there who’ve been doing this a lot longer than me and there’s a lot to be learned from other people. So this week I’m gong to put an hour aside each evening to read other blogs and make a comment. I’m also going to read my whole twitter feed and retweet and reply to more tweets. Everyone  I follow is interested in similar things or are local to me so it’s always great to see what other people have to say. (I seem to have more free time in the evenings since the new Call of Duty game came out and my husband is distracted!)

I’m also going to follow more blogs, I have a few that are delivered to my email every time they post and others that I take a look at whenever I remember. Following blogs is a great way of supporting the people who write them as followers can raise a blogs profile no end.

If  see anything I love I will be pinning it on one of my Pinterest boards so others can enjoy it to.

I’m really looking forward to making the effort to be more sociable online.

Has anyone got any good blogs to recommend? If you think I might like your blog please post a link below and I’ll make sure I give it a read, a comment and maybe even a follow.

Be more sociable!

You can follow this blog in the side bar to the right —–>

You can follow me on Twitter @frocks_fair

You can like my new page on Facebook

Follow my pins on Pinterest

Or follow me on Instagram @jessiebeck

And lastly if you like books you can follow my Goodreads

That’s a whole lot of social media!

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You can take part in this weekly meme over on the Book Journey blog.

This week I finished reading Meet Me Under the Mistletoe by Abby Clements. The book was recommended to me by my friend Fay over at Blog A Book Etc. I’ve really enjoyed this book and it’s given me the christmas bug big time! I’ll be posting a review this week so look out for that.

I have just started reading From Notting Hill With Love… Actually by Ali McNamara as I was sent the sequel to review, and wanted to read the first one before starting it. I’m not sure if I can stick this one out. It seems really good, except the heroine is a huge Hugh Grant fan and her love of chick films seems to be a big theme in the book, and that’s not really my thing at all. Hugh Grant makes me ashamed to be English. (sorry H G fans!)

I also really need to finish off some books that I’ve started and not finished. Some of these were mentioned in my Unfinished Book Challenge and still need to be read. I’m a little bit over the craze for erotic fiction started by Fifty Shades but I’d still like to get these out of the way.

I am hoping to write my review of Style Me Vintage Tea Parties this week. the book is brilliant and I was lucky enough to attend the launch party.

I am also waiting to review The Biscuiteers book of iced biscuits but I’d like to try a few of the ideas in the book first so I’m going to put an evening aside to get baking.

Lastly I am currently listening to Rosie Hopkins’ Sweet Shop of Dreams on audiobook. I always like to have an audiobook on the go for when I’m doing the housework. I’m about halfway through this one and really enjoying it. The story contains lots of flashbacks to the 1940s and is really nostalgic, right up my street!

Please leave comments below if you have read any of these or have any recommendations. Please also link up to your own blogs as I love reading other people’s posts too. Have a happy Monday xxx