Over the past nine or ten years, I have been attending Twinwood Vintage Festival.
Twinwood 2017
Initially as a half day, then a whole weekend camping, then renting 20 person bunkrooms, to having to adapt to attending in an electronic wheelchair.
Fast forward to the past two years where I have attended with my two mentally impaired relatives who are music mad!
Twinwood 2018
This has also put a completely different spin on things, and I have had to amend the wild weekends of drinking, dancing and having a whole lot of fun, to sedentary, old fashioned, wholesome fun.
Due to the change in the kind of visit, I have also amended my attitude to the event, which includes the months of pre-planning and getting organised.
Twinwood 2019
In the past I would leave Twinwood on Bank Holiday Monday and start planning the next years event. I would start looking for new outfits, or accessories to go with something I already owned. In some cases I had purchased an item at Twinwood and wanted to build a look all around it.
The past two years have been a different kettle of fish.
Twinwood 2021
Year 1 was only a month after my Mum died. I didn’t think I would even be attending at all, given the grief that was overwhelming me. However, I had promised my Uncle and Cousin that we would attend and I was not going to let them down.
I had no plans in place for my ‘looks’ which normally would send me into complete panic, however I genuinely didn’t have the energy to worry about it at all.
Secondly, I was not going to be staying overnight. No camping or glamping, just returning home at the end of each day.
Twinwood 2022 with a long time Twinwood Pal, Craig
This meant that there was no facility to go and change into an evening outfit, update the make up or hair and go back to partying.
Twinwood 2023
Not having a change of clothing meant I only had to worry about getting three outfits ready for the weekend, however I did take one outfit for the Saturday night, just on the off-chance.
Day 2 of Twinwood 2023
Eventually I chose two easy wearing, simple dresses, one in a Paris fashion print and the other in a green leaf design. These were both made by Devil and Desire clothing, who make bespoke items to your requirement.
Change of Hat
The last day, I put on a pair of my much loved, favourite trousers, white shirt, vintage tie and braces. During the course of the day, I visited the wonderful Heritage Milliner and purchased a stunning red vintage fedora style hat. It was perfect with this outfit and I had to wear it.
With the BEST couple ever, Dickie and Jenny Tree
I did get a chance to wear my evening outfit, but sadly due to issues with my pain levels, I only got to show it off for a couple of hours before I needed to get home before I wasn’t capable of doing so.
The outfit was brand new, from Vixen by Micheline Pitt; Golden Era in burgundy velvet, with matching cape and gloves. I had purchased a small burgundy velvet bag from the marvellous twins, Susy and Kitty, which finished it off, brilliantly.
Looking Golden
Fast forward to this past year and I was a little more organised in that I had pre-planned some of my outfits a month in advance.
Again, we were not stopping over at the site, so I didn’t bother with any night-time outfits as I knew it would be difficult to change.
Day one threw my plans totally down the pan, when it torrentially rained for a couple of days before, and on Saturday itself.
Day 1 2024
My summer outfit was put to one side and I grabbed a heavier weight Miss Candyfloss Natalia Bo dress, in more autumnal colours. I added simple black court shoes, a vintage platter/cartwheel hat, and acrylic jewellery.
It suited the day perfectly, due to the constant rain and winds, and I had to have a large coat for over my outfit as it was pretty chilly.
Miss Candyfloss at her very Best
So much for August?!
Time for Tea
Day two found the weather was a lot better and so I went with my original idea.
A Vixen white dress covered in red roses, a red platter/cartwheel hat, red Miss L Fire shoes and a Nicoletta Carlone lucite bag.
Adding the Finishing Touches
I had a choice of two walking sticks from Neo-Walk; Emerald City or Cherry Bomb. I went with the vibrant green as it was a lovely match to the ensemble.
Rocking and Rollin’
The dress came with a matching long scarf, which I used around my shoulders and also as a head wrap, which was a bit of an experiment to see how it would look.
Wrapped Up
Day three was Monday and again the weather was much better so a summery outfit was perfect.
An English Rose
Most people who know me, will tell you that I have to have things that match when putting an outfit together.
If I am wearing a dress that is red and yellow, all my accessories would be those colours. Shoes, hat, umbrella, bag, you name it, it matches.
You can see this in pictures of me in past years at Twinwood.
Matching at Twinwood 2017
I have friends who can take a green outfit and add purple, fuchsia and mustard. They look absolutely stunning, and I envy their style. I also envy the fact that this doesn’t make them “twitchy” like it does me.
Recently I have tried to challenge this a little, and it hasn’t been a disaster, but not as successful as those who put the outfits together with such panache.
Even my Hair matches
I tried to do this a little with my outfit on Monday.
I had a vintage print dress from Pin Up Girl Clothing (no longer trading) which features a full skirted purple dress and matching bolero, covered in tiny coral and marine life in hot pink, yellow, green, and white.
Now, in the past, I would have put it with purple shoes, bangles, flowers etc.
Purple Passion
This time I decided to add yellow shoes, pink, green and yellow bangles and a bright pink candy cane walking stick.
I didn’t have a hat or flowers in any of those colours that would work, so had a neutral straw hat with a pink/lilac flower.
Even the glass matches
That “matching” didn’t completely go away though. I wasn’t keen on the flower I had chosen, so I went to visit my pals at the Shazam stand and bought over a dozen different flowers, including some emerald ones which I put on straight away.
I felt these really suited it better, and wore them for the rest of the day.
Lovely Ladies, featuring Boo P and Karen
During the course of the day though, I came across a stunning little velvet ‘half-hat’ which had been hand-made by Vintage Amelia.
It was perfect for my outfit, but I would need to do a different hairstyle in order for it to look right, but I bought it knowing it would give me options for this look, going forward.
New Flowers
The past two years may have been different from the previous ones, however they were a lot simpler, with less organising and ultimately I had just as good a time as I have in the past.
I do miss getting fancied up in the evenings though, so that may be something I change next year, so watch this space.
Till next time,
SPSG xxx