Viva La Vintage at Vintage Goodwood

  If you landed from another planet you might be forgiven for wandering what time you had arrived in.  
Everything that is vintage in the world was happening right here and now.  Where ????
Well not far from here in the beautiful South downs of England, a stones through from the historical Roman city of Chichester there lies a country estate of great beauty, and on this estate lives a typical English Gent.  We might call him an entrepreneur or just a plain clever chap, to the locals he is just called Lord March. You know the type,  makes things happen kind of guy, knows the right people etc. The mastermind behind the internationally acclaimed Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival, (of all classic cars and planes) and proprietor of one of the largest organic farms in the south of England.
Well this summer Lord March, together with designers Gerardine and Wayne Hemingway created a Festival like no other,celebrating 5 decades of the best of British culture from the 1940's to 1980's to include Music, Fashion, Dance, Entertainment, Food and transport.
So come on lets go back in time -
Hop on the bus for a ride back in time to a place called Vintage Goodwood. 

We caught the bus from the station ON TIME .. oh i remember going to school on one of these , (amazing, they have never been on time … not back in my day anyway ;-)  …..  This lovely old vintage Bus came from the Stratford Blue Fleet.
We were encouraged to dress up vintage style and the girls chose a 40’s flavour

Jump on, and  hang on - 

On arrival you check in and set off on a short walk through a forest on a wood chip road, as you get to the clearing you are welcomed by a huge entrance, a red carpet and paparazzi.

Once inside you see before you a film set style shopping street,

an ambitious project

  Oooh here are the girls again …. outside  a beautifully designed vintage clothes shop.
Beauty parlour and hair stylists were on hand to recreate your image for the day.
Stop for tea at one of the many tea and coffee shops

or the good old British pub
with over 30 bars and restaurants, there was plenty of choice.
 

a fab cocktail lounge.
70 Art and Design workshops

dresses  recreated out of scraps  is just my thing.

Knitting bee’s

The company Cloth kits has re- launched  - i loved making clothes for my children from there fabric/pattern kits, glad to see they are back  on the market with some trendy styles  -
Along the way was the Torch Club a war time style Night club with a dance floor and stage and live bands like the Miller band. The Tea Dance was popular, including swing, jive and ballroom dancing, and dance lessons for the uninitiated, also  variety of vintage performances from stand up comedy to Burlesque.
A real deal … a Spiv – just like the  Black market dealers of the 1940’s  – with watches up his arms and his legs, and plenty of nylons for the ladies, he must have got them from the GI’s …. oooh wonder if he has any chocolate !

The Cinema was very popular with 34 classical movies being shown over the 3 day event.
200 classic cars, caravans and bikes

   ,

“sisters sisters there were never such devoted sisters “
Lets not forget the music with 80 bands covering all the era's, 85 DJ's, 6 nightclubs,  even a 70’s style Disco at the Soul Casino.
There were numerous children's attractions 
Including Butlins the masters of the quintessential English family holidays since the 1940s, the red coats celebrated their rich cultural heritage by recreating a Butlin's resort in the heart of Vintage Goodwood from there Baby love disco to there children's cinema and character Olympics, all ages were entertained, there was even a sandy beach to play on with deck chairs for the parents.
OH and DRUM ROLL last but not least .. my favourite – the Vintage Fashion tents ….   With 30,000 items of vintage apparel,12 catwalk shows, there was plenty of inspiration.

Note the very handsome presenter George Lamb,  presenting in his wellies … where else in the world would you see that.  Unless you know different of course ?
  
 
I  seem to be favouring vintage pink*  ;-)  don’t I.
Or maybe not  so pink, I love this ivory twinkle gown.
 

Many family groups were kitted out right down to the vintage pram ....
which i have to say is definitely a must accessory for the next time,

noooo not baby, the PRAM ! 
           
 

Well there is plenty of inspiration for next year …. right girls.

The good news it that Vintage Goodwood was a roaring first year success and is coming back in August 2011. I fancy coming back as a 40’s gal, with a snood  for the hair and wiggle dress. Hmm food for thought. 

See you there !.