Easy Virtue - Film and Style

Having a week off completely to myself has been absolutely lovely after spending a totally tiring 7 weeks on my final teaching placement since Christmas. I've relished the free time by pretty much vegetating for a whole week. However, I'm beginning to feel like I'm in need of something to do again, so I'm looking forward to going back to uni on Monday. There is only so long I can enjoy having absolutely nothing to do before I start to go a bit stir crazy! But for the meantime I'm still enjoying the last few days of freedom by finally getting around to watching some of the DVDs I got for Christmas and watching a lot of films...

One of the films I recieved for Christmas was Easy Virtue. I went to see this film at the cinema when it came out. I didn't really know very much about it at the time but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love everything about this film, it has style, a bit of silliness and humour, an interesting soundtrack, oh and of course, a bit of Colin Firth too!

The film started life as a Noel Coward play in the 20's. The film has brought the drawing-room melodrama up to date but keeping true to the original play and style. The film, set in the 20's, has a faux-twenties soundtrack with songs like "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going" and "sex bomb" re-hashed in a twenties jazz style. The whole film is a lot of fun and is rather humorous.

But most of all I love the clothing and style. Jessica Biel's character is a feisty and glamourous American racing driver and she looks stunning throughout the film wether she is wearing trousers and fur jackets or beautiful dresses. I highly recommend this film for any fans of the bygone era of the 20's and 30's and for anyone who likes a light-hearted British comedy - oh and if you like Colin Firth then no doubt you'll enjoy it too!

Kristen Scott Thomas is one of my favourite British actresses. She is always brilliant in whatever she is in and she excells herself in this style of film. She was also fantastic in Nowhere Boy, Gosford Park and Keeping Mum.

The Alternative Village Fete - Frozen Yoghurt, Music, Cupcakes and Creativity

Last weekend I attended the Alternative Village Fete on Southbank in London, a "sideways slant" on the traditional family day out. The programme for the weekend included performances by dancing troupes and live music, Morris dancing, make-do-and-mend, the British Gent stall, tea and cake, 20's style workouts, gentlemen's grooming and etiquette, hill billy barn dancing and yummy and scrummy treats! Everything a vintage-loving lady or gent could possibly need!

There were come gorgeous knitted (and polka dotted) things for sale on the many stalls.

Love this cute little mini tea set!

All over the square that the event was held in there were people getting creative with needle and thread, material, buttons and bows! I loved how everyone got really involved with all the creative activities.

The Pictotronic was a huge cardboard box that "magically" drew pictures for you: if you put a suggestion into the Pictotronic, after a short wait the illustrators living inside the cardboard house drew your picture! I've never seen anything quite like it before, it's brilliant!

Naturally I gravitated towards these delicious looking cupcakes! But I resisted... if you peek at the picture below you will realise why...

My new obsession is frozen yoghurt! I love the tartness of the flavour, and how well it goes with raspberries, one of my favourite fruits. At the Alternative Village Fete the very first thing I stumbled across was a little frozen yoghurt van. It was incredibly yummy! I went for my natural choice of rasberry fro yo, and Jenny went for blueberry. The fruit was blitzed in a blender then added to the frozen yoghurt machine and the flavour was amazing.

The raspberry frozen yoghurt

The wonderful Hot Potato Syncopators I thoroughly enjoyed the set by these dapper, utterly charming and amusing chaps! They played tunes straight from the 20's, 30's and 40's and the act comprised of ukeles, a tea-chest bass, musical saw, comedy moments, stage theatricals, acts of ear and eye defying balancing, bang bells, hooters and pop guns. The act was brilliant, thoroughly entertaining, and had the whole audience laughing. I enjoyed them so much I bought their CD that came with a fantastic little book with a "history of the band" and various bits and bobs in the Chap magazine style.... speaking of which...

...One stall was selling Chap Magazine

Overall, it was a totally enjoyable event, and if it is all repeated next year I will definitely be attending for some retro fun, and I suggest you all do the same!