Spex Kitten

Not too long ago I reached out to the Pin Up's of Instagram to ask where on earth do you all get prescription lenses put in your vintage frames!

Well I had loads of responses, thank you all so much but one fabulous company really stood out and offered to help that company is Dundee's one and only Spex Pistols! Great name right? and even better customer service I truly can't fault them.

Last week  a package arrived at work and I was super excited, every inch of detail was incredible. As soon as I was handed the little brown cardboard box I knew where it was from. The fil gold stickers either end embossed with the Spex Pistols logo and brand name. The beautifully printed cardboard lid had a great font for the address and a little stamp of the Spex Pistols logo on the left hand corner.
Carefully opening it inside were three little separately wrapped pair of glasses.

Of course I couldn't wait to try them all on with my prescription finally in each pair.

Each pair of glasses had a Spex Pistols cardboard sleeve covering a plastic seal lock case that had another foil seal this time in silver. The glasses were then mounted on a brown cardboard plaque which all together looked ace.

Every single pair were perfection and they couldn't have been more friendly and amazing to deal with the whole way through.

I was even told my favourite vintage pair were actually dating back to 1955 and came from a factory in Brooklyn, from what they could tell were in never worn condition. Not bad for a pair of glasses I picked up at a flea market in a bargain bin six years ago hey!?

My favorite pair in action last weekend worn with the new Collective mint green Caterina swing dress you can find HERE

The other two pairs sadly as I found out were cheaper imitations of vintage glasses but like the genuine vintage pair I hadn't paid too much for them.

I would hands down recommend these guys to anyone who wanted to buy vintage frames or just have their prescription fitted into their own vintage specs. The customer service is second to none, the detail and care that goes in to each persons order is remarkable!
It's not just the added touches of the foil embossed stamps, the stamped box or the little cardboard bits and bobs its the quality that goes in to each and every order.
I couldn't believe how amazing my glasses looked, they fixed the screws, they buffed them I couldn't be more over joyed! I finally have glasses I enjoy wearing and not some cheap 'they'll do' ones from Specsavers because at the time I desperately needed a pair.

Spex Pistols are incredible and if you haven't already get over to the site, pick a new (well old) pair of glasses or get sending yours! I highly recommend it!

Make sure to visit them HERE! and let us know what you think?

Outfit breakdown

Mint Green Dress Collectif
Emerald Cardigan by Dancing Days (sister brand of Banned Apparel)
Bloody Mary Jumper by Miss Fortune

The Professional Pinup - Vintage in the Workplace

Working hard...or hardly working?

Good thing I didn't wear my Bridget Jones knickers today!

One of the questions that I often ask my fellow Belles is "what are you wearing today?" We are a gang made up of a multitude of different occupations including; office babes, sales assistants, a warehouse sweetheart and a nurse. Just because a job is not the 'typical pinup' job doesn't mean us ladies can't look our best at work. You can be practical and comfortable and still look 110% babe-licious!

Ask the British Belles - #2

Hello beauties!

A few days ago, we asked our followers on Instagram to ask us questions for our weekly feature, Ask the British Belles (#asktheBBs!)


@victoriana22_ asks: Are there any pinup style online clothing shops for petite girls?

Alice: Vivien of Holloway go down to a 24" waist, and even have 22" in store (limited to 2 styles of circle skirt). Also, Collectif size 6 fits me snug. 

Olive: Heels are your best friend. Even comfy mid heels you can find in Primark can give you a good vintage look! Also for clothes, being able to alter clothes or knowing a good haberdasher helps a lot. 

Miss VV: I use 'Stitches' in Birmingham if I'm too lazy to do it myself! Costs usually under £20. Ooh, and belts are your best friend! 

Fifi: I am no where near petite but I know BB favourite (and UK brand!) Lindy Bop do a fantastic petite range.

@m.loisel asks: Can you please plan something fabulous for us UK ladies who aren't going to Viva Las Vegas this year! The jealousy is too much haha!

Fifi: What a fabulous idea! We have all had a little natter about it and are pleased to say that we are going to arrange The British Belles Present: The Pinup Picnic for fabulous vintage vixens who aren't going to VLV! More details to come in due time...

Miss VV: Yay! How exciting! 

@frizzylois asks: Do you have any tips for styling curly/frizzy hair in 40s/50s styles?

Amber: I'd say do a head set with heated rollers to smooth out and get shape, then prolong it by doing pincurls with a good setting lotion like Motions Foaming Wrap Lotion and brushing out with a Denman brush. Finding a good oil or serum is essential of keeping frizz at bay.

We will be answering 3 questions a week so if yours isn't shown this week (and it hasn't already been answered on Instagram) just hold out for next week's installment.


Love always,

The 12 Days of Christmas - Miss Alice Donnelly

I am a young nurse in the making with a penchant for tattoos and red lipstick. When I’m not being a nurse, I love to show off my teeny weeny waist in clothes of the 40s, 50s and 60s. My icons include Dita Von Teese, Marlene Dietrich and Frida Kahlo. Strawberry milkshake and fried chicken is my staple diet.

The roots of my love for the vintage style stems from when I moved to London to study. Inspired by the masses of culture here in the capital of England, I decided that I needed a change. I started pin curling my hair, wearing bright red lipstick and wearing dresses so tight I had to waddle down the street (seductively, of course!) I am constantly learning new things about the vintage look everyday through social media sites such as Tumblr and Instagram and also through vintage-style blogs. 

 What I couldn’t live without in my day-to-day life:

• Lipstick (in case you hadn't guessed)
• Vintage clothes - anything from wiggle dresses, to swing skirts to high-waist capris!
• Eyeliner flicks (they are never perfect, and never will be. It is all part of the charm).
• Curled hair - My hairstyle of choice is the page, as shown below.