Just Dance.

Since my NYE disaster, I had been dying to wear this dress again and give it a proper outing. It's a dress very much made for dancing, and feels very 80s despite it's bodycon style. The shoulder pads give it a strong shape, and I felt like a proper riot girl rebel upon slipping into it - part Ditto, part Joan Jett but with a whole lot of wiggle.

Dress: Yours Clothing.
Roses in hair: Handmade by Bink at Pearls & Swine.
Necklace: Custom made Whiskey Kittens necklace with lightening bolt from Punky Pins.

Art Deco Ring: Tatty Devine
Lighting Bolt Ring: David Bowie Is Exhibition at the V&A.

Tights: Simply Be.

Underbust Body Shaper: Simply Be.
Black heels: Yours Clothing.

I was genuinely surprised by how comfy the dress was - the sequins are on top of a soft, stretchy fabric which pulls in without being overly clingy. The wrap design brings cleavage and curve to the forefront, so is very much a dress which will get attention. 

Although it's not my usual style, it certainly brought out my inner diva. And although I'll always feel much more like myself in my circle dresses, it was nice to dress up in something a little bit different.

Until next time,

Diana xx

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

You Spin Me Right Round

Dress by Igigi. Details below.

On Monday I was lucky enough to be invited to a private view of the V&A's new Club To Catwalk Exhibition.Knowing the sort of fashion crowd I was going to be walking with, I went through the biggest amount of wardrobe angst of my life before deciding to wear my beautiful green Igigi dress which had been given to me by a wonderful friend.

My wonderful dates for the evening - Howard and Lana.

I certainly made the right choice - I have never received so many compliments before, and felt confident that I really held my own in the style stakes. It was just as well as my dates (my wonderful boyfriend Howard and 80s icon Al Pillay) looked incredible and we met a long list of interesting people including Nick Rhodes, Pam Hog, Steve Strange, Zandra Rhodes, Sue Tilly, Toyah Wilcox and Patrick Cox. I was also lucky enough to chat at length with bespoke tailor extraordinaire, Mark Powell - a fascinating and dapper chap, and someone who has had suits commissioned by the likes of David Bowie.

The exhibition itself is brilliant, and I cannot wait to run back for a second look to fully take it in. It explores the creative and artistic looks from one of fashion's most experimental periods, with pieces from the likes of Betty Jackson, Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and more. It traces the thread between London's Blitz Kids from the club scene, and how they influenced the designers of the decade. It also seeks to celebrate the likes of Adam Ant and Leigh Bowery with specific segments for New Romantic, Goth, High Camp and Rave as well as enabling the viewer to step back into Blitz in the form of a dark room with pumping music and multiple screens showing footage from "back in the day".

Patrick Cox and Al Pillay.

Steve Strange with Al Pillay.

Toyah Wilcox and Al Pillay.

Myself, Al Pillay, Howard and Nadia in the V&A's #clubtocatwalk Twitter "Photobooth".

So what does a girl wear when her vintage wardrobe doesn't stretch to the 80s? It was time to pull out the corset and up the glamour factor as much as possible. The weather was against me as London is currently amidst a scorching heatwave but none the less, I donned a corset and heavy dress all in the name of fashion.

Dress by Igigi, bag by ASOS, belt from a vintage thrift store.

Roses in hair by Pearls and Swine, Emerald Parakeet Necklace by Tatty Devine, Black pointy ring by Tatty Devine, Crystal Kitty ring is a gift and the red and silver teardrop ring is from a vintage thrift shop in Brighton.

Because it was so hot, I kept my hair and make-up simple. Loose waves, gold eyes and red lips complimented the green of the dress and although I felt a little Christmassy, it worked in the setting of the exhibition and grounds. Underneath the dress I wore a Gok Wan Banger Booster Bra from Simply Be along with a corset from Neve Lingerie. As the dress had a very prominent high split to the side, I gave a nod to the 80s with my Black Fishnet Lace Top Hold Ups from Yours Clothing.

I had such an amazing evening, and cannot wait to pop back and see the exhibition again. It's one to spend time on to truly appreciate just how incredible the outfits are.

Club to Catwalk runs until 16th February, and you can find out all the information for it here.

Powder Your Face With Sunshine

London is currently experiencing a period of very intense humidity. As such, make-up turns into an oil slick, pin-curls turn to frizz and ice-lollies turn into an acceptable excuse for a sweltering studio lunch break.

Yesterday saw one of my favourite people step into the studio for some new promo photos to go with some very exciting projects. Al / Lana Pillay (80s disco diva,  star of The Comic Strip Presents / Eat The Rich and MUA extraordinaire over at The Empress of Slap) arrived with a flight case filled  with make-up and a stunning array of extravagant sequined costumes. If the head hadn't already made me swoon, the table covered with sparkles, Mac and Smashbox certainly would have!

A back of camera shot of Al getting ready.

Make-up and caffeine - shoot essentials!

Kryolan, Mac and Smashbox.

Sequins, textures and sparkle.

As for my outfit choice yesterday, what do you do when battling frizzy hair and balmy skin? Embrace it! My hair went into a messy bun and was made much better with the help of some Pearls and Swine flowers. Rather than my usual matte make-up, I decided that a light BB cream and highlighter would be better wearing under sweltering studio lights. Bright pink lips courtesy of Barry M finished the look off perfectly. I recently had my "Kitten" necklace fixed by the lovely people at Tatty Devine, and have barely taken it off since.

Dress by Simply Be, Belt by Vivien of Holloway, Cardigan by New Look and leggings from Evans Clothing,

Black Glitter Jelly Shoes - a £4 bargain from eBay.

Flowers from Pearls and Swine. Kitten Name Necklace from Tatty Devine.

Flowers from Pearls and Swine. Kitten Name Necklace from Tatty Devine.

Detail of the necklace with it's heart charm.

Tarina Tarantino Hello Kitty Pink Head Ring by Tarina Tarantino. Kitten Name Necklace from Tatty Devine.

With thanks to the magical properties of tea, hummus and grapes, Al and I made it through the shoot despite the heat. And it was just as well as I received an exciting invite in the post to something I've been looking forward to for quite a while!

I absolutely love the V&A and recently spent three hours wandering around the David Bowie Is... exhibition utterly transfixed. I have no idea who the speeches are being given by yet, but absolutely cannot wait to find out.

Until next time!
Diana x

Absolute Beginners

It's incredible how life really does get in the way sometimes - it's been eleven months since I've wrote anything on this blog, but as my website goes under a massive revamp, that is all about to change.

If you are reading this, you will know that I work as a photographer and occasionally write about fashion, culture and the arts - three of my favourite subjects! I also regularly DJ with a mixture of vintage tunes and rock and roll, co-running Whiskey Kittens, a night of burlesque and fun with my partner in crime, Tom.

It's been a busy year - I've had a chance to shoot with some incredible people in locations ranging from a metal manufacturing works to cute and kitsch cocktail bars. An underground bank vault with a stripper pole was probably the most bizarre, as discovered when shooting with the amazing team from Rush Hair. I'm going to make sure that this blog shows all of the behind the scenes fun and also the out-takes once the editorials have been published.

Behind the scenes with Alex Hardy from Rush Hair.

Going a bit crazy on set - myself with one of my favourite MUAs, the Empress of Slap, Al / Lana Pillay.

With one of the publications who I frequently wrote about fashion for sadly no longer existing since this Spring, I've missed writing and interacting with fashion and beauty bloggers on a regular basis so have decided to incorporate that into my blog here. I adore fashion, and one of the things I'm asked most about is my hair and my clothes. I have a love of  50s styling, and enjoy mixing real vintage with high-street pieces to get a unique look.

Sequin Skater Dress - ASOS Curve. Cardigan - Simply Be. Flower (just seen in hair) - Pearls and Swine.

Street Style in Look Magazine. Dress - Collectif. Cardigan and tights - Simply Be. Handbag - vintage. Camera Necklace - vintage. Ring - vintage. Boots, Primark.  Flower (just seen in hair) - Pearls and Swine.

Taken by the lovely Hanna of The Wardrobe Challenge. Dress and belt - ASOS CURVE Midi Dress with Pleat Skirt (on sale from £17.50). Cardigan and tights - Simply Be. Flower (just seen in hair) - Pearls and Swine. Necklace - Tatty Devine. Cat Boots - a gift.

A better shot of the Tatty Devine necklace and Pearls and Swine flowers, as well as the beautiful Hanna of The Wardrobe Challenge

The ongoing search for the perfect red lipstick. Again I'm wearing my favourite Tatty Devine necklace and Pearls and Swine flowers,

So, what are my plans for this blog moving forward? It'll be a combination of writing about behind the scenes shoot action, out-takes and snippets from things as they're published with lots more personal blogs about fashion, beauty and the arts. I've been lucky enough to have been invited to a private view at the V&A to see their "Club to Catwalk: London Fashion in the 1980s" exhibition, so am hoping that will be one of my first things to write about. It's probably what has given me the impetus to dust this page off and start to write again.

Instagram: instagram.com/grungekittyphotogeek

I am very much looking forward to having a new site and a new beginning, and hope that you'll enjoy reading about the mishaps of a tea obsessed cat loving photographer.

Until next time,
Diana x

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