Deadly is the Female

January opening times at Deadly is the emale

2012-01-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers to some of the FAQ's about our opening times in January 2012.

When exactly is the shop open?

Thursday 12 - Friday 13th - Closed
Saturday 14th - OPEN 10 - 5
Sunday 15th - Friday 20th - Closed
Saturday 21st - OPEN 10 - 5
Sunday 22nd - Friday 27th - Closed
Saturday 28th - OPEN 10 - 5
Sunday 29th to Monday 30th - Closed
Tuesday 31st - OPEN 10 - 5 and then open as usual from then onwards.

What does this mean for the website - will I still be able to shop online?

The website will be running as usual with the exception to posting out orders. Please order as usual but be aware that we won't be quite as speedy as usual at getting your orders processed and posted. Also until Tuesday the 31st all UK orders will be sent with Royal Mail with their Special Delivery Service and NOT with ParcelForce.

What if I need to return something?

We always ask that you email us before returning anything anyway but please be aware that we have a temporary returns address and exchanges and refund will take a little longer to process. If in doubt please contact us. Please email us to get the returns address and remember we cannot process any returns until we receive them and cannot be held responsible for any items lost in the post.

What if I need to contact you?

You can call the shop on Saturdays between 10 - 5 and speak to the lovely Lauren or email us at any time at info@deadlyisthefemale.com where we will do our best to reply as quickly as possible. We won't be updating facebook or twitter as much as usual so please email if it is urgent.

Thanks!

Up to 50% off 50's style dresses & more at Deadly is the Female

2012-01-05T06:04:00.000-08:00

Up to 50% off selected items online & in store!

Click to visit the Deadly Sale!
We've got up to 50% off selected items to suit a range of sizes and bank accounts - but hurry - things are selling out fast & sizes quickly become limited.

Here is a selection of some of our great sale items...

Sydney Dress was £175 now £105

Femme Fatale Tee was £30 now £22.50

Glitter Ballerina Pumps were £25 now £15

Vintage rose was bag set was £25 now £17.50

Vivien Dress Was £85 Now £59.50

Bowed Over Heels were £65 Now £45.50

Sandy Dress was £120 now £78

Sophia Corset was £145 now £101.50

There are MANY more items to choose from both online and instore!
Please note - prices & availability were correct at the time of sending but are subject to change without notice.

Please also note that the shop will only be open on Saturdays from the 12th to the 27th of January!
The website will be running as usual but please allow a little extra time for orders to ship. If you need something urgently during this time please email first so we can let you know an ETA on your order. During this time is is extra important for you to email us before returning any items too.

Thanks!

Deadly's Christmas Opening Hours

2011-12-19T05:43:00.000-08:00

Below are the opening times for the boutique...

Tuesday 20^th 10 - 5

Wednesday 21^st 10 - 5

Thursday 22^nd 10 - 5

Friday 23^rd 1 - 5

Christmas Eve 10 - 3

Christmas Day - CLOSED

Boxing Day - CLOSED

Tuesday 27^th - CLOSED

Wednesday 28^th - CLOSED

Thursday 29^th - 11 - 5

Friday 30^th - 11 - 5

New Year’s Eve - 10 - 3

New Year’s Day - CLOSED

Monday 2^nd - CLOSED

Tuesday 3^rd - CLOSED

Wednesday 4^th to Saturday 7^th - 10 - 5

Please note from the 8^th to the 30^th of January we will be open Saturday’s only.

Open as usual from Tuesday 31^st of January.

During this time the website will be operating as usual but please note orders will be sent less regularly and returns will take longer to process.

At this time it is even more important that you email before sending things back to us to get the most up to date information.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful customers on line and in person - it's been another fabulous year!

Happy Holidays to you all!

xxx

Christmas Dates for Party Dresses and Gifts!

2011-12-01T05:21:00.000-08:00

First of all we'd like to let you know our Charity Christmas cards are on sale in store now! They are £2.50 and 50p from each card goes to Bristol Children's Hospital

Christmas Post Dates for the UK

We've just had confirmation that the last date for posting UK orders is Thursday the 22nd of December so please make sure your orders for your favourite festive dress or Christmas gifts are in by 9am on the 22nd or we can't promise your order will be with you in time.

The shop will be open extended hours up until Christmas too!

Tuesday 10 – 5

Wednesday 10 – 5

Thursday 10 – 5

Friday 10 – 5

Saturday 10 – 5

Sunday – CLOSED

Monday – CLOSED

Don't forget....

We are open this Sunday, the 4^th of December

for the Artisan Market from 11 - 4

The shop WILL be open on Christmas Eve but the times are to be confirmed.

Pre-Christmas News!

2011-11-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

We are getting very excited about Christmas now!

Yesterday we dressed our windows ready for the festive season. We've gone for a Deadly Winter Wonderland with a snow scene, silver cherubs & pink & red kitsch baubles!

Most importantly, Cedric is happy to have his Yuletide nose on and the window is packed with everything a Pin Up could need for the Holidays.

In the run up to Christmas the Shop will be open from 10 - 5 Tuesday to Saturday.

We're also excited about some projects over the next month...

St Catherine's Christmas Artisan Market in Frome

We will be open for the St. Catherine's Artisan Market on December 4th from 11 to 4.

The Artisan Markets are always a great day out and the Christmas Market is always that little bit extra special. Miss Cherry Bomb will be singing retro Christmas songs outside & the whole hill will be a-buzz with festive fun.

Deadly Pop Up Shop in Bristol

We will be popping up at Bristol's best Erotic Boutique - Pomegranate on Park Street in Bristol on Thursday the 15th of December from 4 'til 8pm!

We'll be there with a selection of dresses, shoes & accessories for you to try on & I have to say, this boutique has maybe the best changing rooms we've ever seen... You'll have to pop in to find out just what we mean!

Happy 3rd Birthday Deadly!

Finally, We'd like to say the biggest THANK YOU to all of our wonderful customers, friends & family! We opened our doors 3 years ago & it has just been magical. We never dreamt we'd have such fabulous & inspiring customers - you really do make all the hard work worth while.

We can't say thank you enough.

Extra thanks to my Saturday Girl - Momma Deadly & our very own GoGo Gomez who makes us smile every single day!

Vintage style & Pin Up gift guide

2011-11-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Deadly is the Female Christmas Gift Guide
Put a smile on someone's face this Christmas with a little something Deadly!
Below is our holiday gift guide with ideas for wives, girlfriends, daughters, mums, friends and anyone else who appreciates vintage style glamour!

All suggestions are available in store and online (subject to availability) alongside dozens of other fabulous gift ideas.
In store we also have a gift list so you can write down your favourite things & make sure you get the exact size/colour you were after!

If you simply can't choose, Gift Vouchers are available in store & online.

Gift ideas under £50
Whatever your budget there is something for everyone with gifts from just £10!
Vintage inspired gift ideas from stocking fillers to Besame make up, lingerie, jewellery, purses and so much more!

Pin Up Panties in a Tin
£15
Choose from 4 styles of these fabulous knickers in pretty tins.
These adorable knickers make a great stocking filler or girlie gift.

Vintage Hairstyling
£29.99
This book is beautiful & a must have for any budding retro pin up!
Complete the set with the Retro Make up book for £19.99

Faux Fur Stole
£32.50
We promise this faux fur & ribbon collar will add vintage glamour to any outfit.
All you have to do is choose from a great range of colours!

Gift ideas from £50 - £100
If you have a little more to spend why not choose from a selection of lingerie, books, jewellery, clothing & more!

Vivienne Westwood ballet pumps
£84
Vivienne Westwood Ultragirl ballet pumps with bows over your toes!
These dainty pumps look great AND smell like strawberry bubblegum!

Spider Brooch
£65
Stunning Swarovski crystal spider brooch for instant glamour

Hollywood Robe
£70
Oh so lux 40s style black robe by What Katie Did, ideal for relaxing in the boudoir!
Why not wrap yourself up in this stunning robe as your gift to him - it's win win!

Splash out with Gift Ideas over £100
If you really want to splash out take a look at our gift ideas over £100!
From here the sky is the limit, be it the perfect dress, some Vivienne Westwood shoes or a real leather bag! We have many more gifts all available in store or online.

Vivienne Westwood LadyDragon Shoes
£120
Vivienne Westwood heels in cherry red rubber with a metallic heart over the toe.
Walk the line between classy & kitsch in these fabulous heels.

Pigalle Laurie Corset
£190
A striking burlesque inspired corset to help create the perfect hourglass figure.
This corset is too beautiful keep hidden - wear with a pencil skirt for a knockout outfit!

Kelly Grab Bag
£110
This 100% real patent leather bag is the perfect vintage accessory.
Functional & stylish, smart but sassy, this beautiful bag is also available in glossy black patent.

Party Dress Suggestions

Purr-fect Party Dress
The Sheba Dress from Stop Staring!
£170
This little number is sure to put a wiggle in your walk & turn some heads this party season. It's not often leopard print is this understated & classy but this dress really is, but that's not to say it won't unleash your wild side!

Ultra Glam Marilyn inspired Niagara dress

£99
Get Marilyn's style in this Marilyn inspired bombshell dress!

Based on a dress worn by the glamour goddess herself in the film Niagara, this dress is ultra-glam and the ideal way to show off your inner femme fatale this Christmas.

Above are just 2 dress suggestions for the festive season. We have many stunning dresses to choose from & new stock arriving all the time. Be sure to keep an eye on the website for the most glamorous collection of faux vintage dresses in the UK!

Don't forget to 'like' us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter for up to date info & exclusive offers.

A Night of Glitz and Glamour

2011-10-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

We’re very excited here at Deadly is the Female, as we’ve been invited to be involved in the fabulous charity event ‘A Night of Glitz and Glamour’ happening at the Archangel in Frome.

This event, held on the 4th November, is going to be an amazing night, helping to raise money in aid of the charity ‘Positive Action on Cancer’ (P.A.C), a local charity which is the only organisation in BANES, Somerset and West Wiltshire to provide free, professional counselling to any adults and children affected by cancer and other life threatening illnesses. Their support helps to relieve the emotional suffering of patients, their families and those who have been bereaved to help enable them to live the best quality of life possible.

This is such an important cause that we really want to raise as much as we can for them!

We will be there with our stall selling some of our fabulous shoes, handbags and accessories along with many other stalls, some of which include:

Droollery for Jewellery, (a jewellery designer who specialises in transforming vintage and retro materials into one-off pieces as well as creating more main-stream items with a quirky twist)

The Townhouse Retreat (a new health and beauty place in Frome offering many beauty treatments from manicures to eyelash extensions) who will be offering taster makeovers and cosmetics.

Lolita Noir’s Hair Emporium (a local hairdresser who specialised in Wedding, occasion and vintage hairstyling) will be offering mini vintage hair-makeovers, so if you’ve ever wondered what you’d look like with victory rolls, why not come and give it a go!

And of course the P.A.C will be there themselves with a wonderful rarffle table offering some amazing prizes, one of which is a goodie 'handbag' from ourselves , some amazing jewellery and much more...the top prize is a free meal at the Archangle so this is definately a raffle not to be missed!

There will also be entertainment to get you in the retro mood, from Miss Cherry Bomb, the little Redhead with the big voice and Bramble and Wild, the amazing new flower shop on Catherine Hill will be helping out to.

(Miss Cherry Bomb) (Bramble and Wild)

So get yourselves glammed up but don’t forget to dress to impress as there will also be a prize for the best dressed! Come down to see us and enjoy a few of the Archangel's infamous cocktails while helping us raise as much as we can for a very worthy cause.

A Night of Glitz and Glamour
Navel room at the Archangel in Frome
Friday 4th November
From 7.30pm – FREE ENTRY!

Carol Vorderman in a Deadly dress in Celebs on Sunday Magazine

2011-10-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Did you spot the fabulous Carol Vorderman in the Blue Ella dress in last weeks Celebs on Sunday Magazine? We think she looks fantastic - look at those curves!

You obviously all thought she looked great too - we sold out on the very same day!

We are expecting more to arrive towards the end of the month, but in the mean time we've just had a delivery of them in Red!

End of Season Sale

2011-09-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

Now's the time to hurry, here at Deadly is the Female our End of Season sale is beginning to wind down, so don't miss out on some great bargains!

Here are just a few of the great deals we have to offer...

Tease Black Bow Shoes

These high shine black patent heels have a 5 3/4 heel with concealed platform. With naughty toe cleavage, topped off with a pretty black bow - who could ask for more?

There is only one pair of these left in a size 8 ½ so if you’re a size 8 ½ then get on and order yourself these utterly burlesque, leg lengthening eye candy shoes!

They're the perfect way to finish off any outfit and you'll wonder how you ever survived without them!
And with an amazing 50% off this sassy pair of heels are now only £27.50

Next in line is this stunning 'Stop Staring!' dress

City Girl Dress

Inspired by the classic vintage style of New York City girls, this soft, grey knit, Mad Men inspired dress is a wardrobe essential!

Made from a super soft medium weight stretch knit, this dress is the perfect balance between warmth and comfort. It's chic and elegant, perfect for the autumn season.

This is a perfect outfit for a classy look at work or a stunning evening event. Stylish and sexy but understated and wearable, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without this dress!

And with a whopping 50% off this dress has gone down from £165.00 to only £82.50

Another great addition to the sale rail is this beautiful full skirt

Scarlett skirt in Black and Pink

This beautiful full black skirt fits your waist with a deep band, hemmed with a contrasting pale pink trim and then sweeps out into a gorgeous circle. Your nipped in waist is further accentuated by the 2 oversized buttons detail.

This is striking skirt on its own or you can go all out and wear it with a net petticoat for maximum impact! A pink or white one would be a good choice to compliment the colour of the trim.

The sizing works a little differently on these skirts:
S = UK 10/12 M = UK 12/14
L = UK 14/16 XL = UK 16/18

The amazing deal on this skirt is a huge 50% off making it only £22.50 on its own or £72.50 with a petticoat.

Another great bargain is this stunning 1940's inspired vintage style blouse

40's Blouse

This classic vintage style blouse is an instant wardrobe must have - The Pussy Bow neck is a fabulous detail, very 1940's! And the soft satin feels luxurious against your skin. The cap sleeves delicately cover your shoulders and the vertical pin tucks through the front effortlessly nip in your waist.

This 1940's blouse in white satin will look stunning with just about everything! Pair it with your favourite pencil skirt; your Katherine Hepburn style wide leg trousers or the Scarlett skirt in black and pink (above)

And with an amazing deal of 60% off this blouse is only £46.00 on its own or teamed with the Scarlett skirt in black and pink (above) you would have a whole outfit for only £68.50!..... a massive saving of £91.50!

And last, but by no means least, what about this stunning 'Stop Staring!' dress

The Belle dress

This sweet and romantic faux vintage dress is sure to melt your heart!

Made of highest quality stretch bengaline, the Belle dress is black with red polka dots and contrast details at the neck and hem, a classic retro design.

The sleeves can be worn on or off the shoulder and together with the gently gathered bust this creates a great statement neckline. The skirt is fitted and features cute kick pleats which are accentuated with faux buttons above them.

This eye-catching dress was £160.00 but with an astounding 50% off, you can now buy it for only £80.00

There are so many other spectacular items in our End of Season Sale so hurry while stocks last!

Prices and availability were correct at the time this blog was published.

Deadly is the Female hit's Vegas

2011-09-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, Claudia, the fabulous owner of Deadly is the Female, flew back from a whistle stop tour of Vegas. She was attending one of the biggest trade shows in the world to source some fun new items to add to the Deadly collection. Here at Deadly is the Female we know how important it is for us to be kept up to date with next seasons fashions and all the new goodies coming out, especially in the faux vintage sector. It is important for us to visit all the trade shows so we can be sure to be among the first to bring you the latest fashions......well that's our excuse for a trip to Vegas and we're sticking to it!!

Now those of you who are fans of the Deadly is the Female's Facebook page might have seen Claudia's fashion diary of photo's but there is one very special photo on here that she didn't post....read on for an exclusive photo and quote from Pinup Idol, Bernie Dexter.

We caught up with Claudia when she got back to have a chat with her about her trip and to make sure she didn’t just spend all her time taking pictures of herself in the bathroom mirror!!

Claudia, tell us a bit about your trip to Vegas. What did you get up to on your first day there and more importantly, what did you wear?

Well it was so hot in Vegas that, on the first day, I wore the Black Cherry Dress, as it is cool and easy to wear.

The first half of Day One, I started at Mandalay Bay, where one of the trade shows was being held. The trade shows were in two separate venues up either end of the strip, one was in Mandalay Bay and the other was at the Hilton Hotel so we had to get a shuttle bus between the two. I started at Mandalay Bay quite early as I had an appointment with the Pinup Girl stand. I had a look through their new collection and placed an order for some Pinup Couture and Deadly Dames outfits. I then had a look around the rest of the show to see what was about.

That must have been fun, did you find anything interesting?

Well yes, I did! I spoke to the owner of the beautiful Besame makeup range and discovered their new Rouge (which we now have in stock), and then I hunted down the Lux De Ville stall and ordered some exciting new bags for the shop - some due in this month.

So that sounds like a pretty busy morning, did you make it to the second venue?

Well I thought I would pop down quickly at the end of the day to see what was there, we took the shuttle bus to the Hilton Hotel where the second part of the trade show was being held and had a look at the Stop Staring and Esther Williams swimwear.

So you were in the city that never sleeps (although I think that's New York but hey, I doubt anyone gets much sleep in Vegas either!), what did you get up to in the evening?

In the evening we decided to go to a place called the Cat House.

The Cat House is a burlesque style bar and club at the Luxor Hotel. It was a great place and we enjoyed cocktails and free Vodka till midnight thanks to a very helpful doorman and 2 foxy girlfriends!

Sounds like a great place to end a jam-packed day. So what happened on Day Two?

Well as the weather was still pretty hot (up to around 42 degrees!!) so I decided to wear the 40's Dress in Olive Floral from last season.

And after a slightly later than planned start we went straight back to the Hilton Hotel where I met the Pinup Goddess, Bernie Dexter.

She was tiny and so lovely. She gave me a massive hug and said that she remembered me from last year's trade show, which was a huge compliment. I placed an order with Bernie Dexter for some exciting new things, so keep an eye on the website for their arrival. I also re-ordered the Lenora dress in black and added the blue to our collection - they will be arriving in the next couple of weeks - can’t wait! They sold out SO quickly last time and are perfect for the autumn (and I want one!).

After such a busy day we headed out for some Sushi with some of the great people we met at the show, then headed to Frankies Tiki Room for the Pinup Girl party and tiki-tastic cocktails. It was a great night and I brought home some souvenirs to add to my collection from last year.

Wow, you met Bernie Dexter and she remembered you from last year? That must be such an honour.

It was, she is so lovely and absolutely beautiful. She emailed me after to say how nice it was to see me again and that I had looked like "living art" - needless to say I was over the moon and she made my week! I have to say, she is one of the nicest people I've ever done business with and I hope we can bring over more and more of her wonderful collection!

That’s amazing! So tell us about the last day, what did you get up to? You must have been sad to leave.

Well it was beautiful weather again so I decided to wear the Red Pinup Couture pencil skirt and black lace bolero (from one of the first collections Deadly is the Female stocked - sadly discontinued now) and a black vest top from H&M.

I also wore the Rosalie fascinator again (by Nanny K) .....although as it was the last day I decided to go all out and add lots more flowers too.

On Day Three we went back to Mandalay Bay, to make sure I hadn't missed anything. I found a great stall that made Mexican silver jewellery and placed an order with them, they have a stunning collection so keep your eyes peeled for their arrival nearer to the holidays. I had to leave at lunch time to catch my plane so I didn't get time to do much else at the show. I was a little sad to leave but the taxi driver who took me to the airport cheered me up loads, after complimenting me on my outfit and my age! She thought I was 19! She cheered me up and it was a great end to a very productive and fun packed trip.

It sounds like you had a great time in Vegas and it's great to see all the amazing things your wore..... we can't wait till all the orders start arriving. Credit cards at the ready girls!

Besame's Classic Enchanting Lipsticks

2011-08-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Inspired by original decorative cases used during the post-war 1940's when metal was in big demand, this bullet shaped lipstick was the first product that the founder of Besame Gabriela Hernandez created.

It is the most delectable lipstick, infused with a semi-matte finish and an alluring high pigment, making it great for a 1 coat full strength look and a blotted stain for a subtle look.

It’s the high natural pigment content that makes this lipstick smooth and incredibly long-lasting, not to mention its feather-proof finish. Each lipstick is set in a gold plated bullet shaped case, with a protective velvet pouch for storage. They are enriched with vitamins A, E and C, aloe and green tea which help protect your lips from drying out, without losing its long-lasting effect. The collection of vintage reproduction colours are the exact shades used by your favourite Hollywood starlets.

The colours from this collection, stocked by Deadly is the Female are....

Besame Red

Besame Red is Beseme's signature colour. It is a true red with a cool/blue tone. It is bright and vibrant and brilliant for those with a cool complexion.

Carmine

Carmine is an orange/red colour which changes depending on skin tone. It is a semi-matte, vibrant shade which is a more neutral orange and isn't too yellow. At last - a red-orange lipstick that is becoming on warm and olive skin tones! This is our favourite for this season

Cherry Red

Cherry Red is a deep, rich, dark red shade. It can also be worn as a stain which gives a beautiful rose colour. This Besame lipstick is a cool, deep, ripe cherry colour which is very flattering to medium and olive skin tones and incredibly pale skin.

Debutant pink

Debutante Pink is a soft pink with cool tones which offers the perfect alternative to the classic vintage reds. It has a slight pearl tone to it and is great to use when going for a dramatic eye look. As the saying goes, you only draw attention to either your eyes or your lips, not both....unless you are a drag queen!

Dusty Rose

Dusty Rose is a natural rose shade which is great for everyday use. Best on lighter to medium skin tones.

Portrait pink

Portrait Pink is a warm baby pink. It is very pale pink which makes it good on light skin tones. With a no shimmer, opaque finish and a soft pastel shade, it is true to vintage and again, great to use if you are going for a look where you are accentuating your eyes.

Red hot red

Red Hot Red is bright and bold. It is a bit warmer than Besame red and Marilyn's favourite!

Red Velvet

Red Velvet is a deep, rich red which is flattering on most skin tones. Great for office wear or an everyday red, this delicious lipstick is neutral and not too bright.

We're adding this last product to the list as a little bit of a cheat and although it's not technically a lipstick, it is a beautiful colour and great addition to the Besame collection.

Lip Glaze – Cotton candy

Being enthusiasts for the eras before super-shiny lips were in vogue, there aren't many types of lip glosses that we would wear, but Besame's is one of them! Their Enriched Lip Glaze is beautifully creamy and thick, and is packed with anti-oxidants and anti-ageing ingredients. Vitamins A, C and E, green tea extract, marine collagen and peptides all work to keep your lips feeling full and healthy.
The wonderfully moisturising formula will keep your pout perfectly shiny for hours and has a delicious, subtle vanilla scent. We love to layer them over lipsticks, but they're fabulous for wearing alone too.

All these colours are stunning for day and night wear and are essential additions to any girl's handbag. But these lipsticks aren't the only products that Besame do, so check out Deadly is the Female's website and shop for an amazing selection of conditioning lip-liners, eyeshades and powders

Shipping Delays between 20 - 30th August 2011

2011-08-19T06:17:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick update to let you know we are off to Las Vegas & a giant trade show to shop like mad for lots of lovely new goodies to fill up the shop & website!

The shop will be open Wednesday - Saturday as usual but there may be a slight delay in getting web orders out to you. They will be processed over this time but we will be a little slower than usual!

We might also take a little longer to get back to your emails (8 hour time difference & loooooooooooong days of shop, shop, shopping!) but we will do our best and promise to make it up to you all when we get back.

We'll be sure to update our Facebook page with our adventures along the way too!

We hope you all have a fabulous week!

xoxox

Pin Up & Vintage Agony Aunts!

2011-08-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here at Deadly is the Female we are always being asked questions like 'what dress would I wear a petticoat with?', 'How high on the waist should I wear my belt', 'which colours suit me?, 'What are quick & easy ways to add some vintage glamour?' …
So we thought, why not open this month's blog up to you wonderful people, so you can ask us all the style questions you want.

On hand to answer your style questions is the style obsessed owner of Deadly is the Female, Claudia and vintage Hair and Makeup artist, Lolita Noir.

Please feel free to comment below or email info@deadlyisthefemale.com to ask your questions and we will blog our replies.

Burlesque Performers of the South West - Final Part

2011-08-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here, in the third and final part of our 'Burlesque Performers of the South West Profiling' we are taking a look at the A-mazing Diva Hollywood. We may have cheated a little here as Diva is actually from the North West, but we’ve seen her perform a few times at the fabulous Coco Boudoir in Bath and we just had to include her!

Photo by Steve Angstrom

Diva Hollywood, "evokes the sultry sirens of Hollywood's classic films, with her curvaceous Marilyn-esq charms and Bette Davis looks. She was recently voted one of the world's top 50 burlesque performers by 21^st Century Pin Up" and here she is to answer a few of our questions

Diva, as a well known Burlesque performer, your costumes are an integral part of your performances and they never fail to have an impact. When you are off stage I can imagine you give the same amount of attention when dressing for a night out. What would you normally where for a night out on the town?

I love my Stop Staring dresses. They fit me really well and are designed for ladies with curves, so I have got quite a big collection now.  Last year in San Francisco I picked up a couple of lovely Betty Page dresses from their shop, I spent about five hours in there trying on everything! I would definitely like more of their dresses because I feel great whenever I wear them. 

If I don'' wear a dress I love a pinstripe suit, and I have a few which I usually I wear with boots, a fitted blouse and a corset. I like to mix the masculine with the feminine.

As a finishing touch I wear a lovely ponytail or bun from Annabell's Wigs, because it's an easy way to add some drama.

Also a hair flower is always good, my favourites at the moment are from Tiki Tearaway. They are lovely ladies and really have a great range of hair accessories, they even have a very cute little clip on lobster!

I do love my heels but on a night out I normally will wear my flats on the way, and then slip my heels on when I get to the venue. I hate being the girl trailing at the back of the group that can't walk across the cobbles in her heels! 

All of us girls know how important it is to have a great make up collection, what is your ultimate makeup must have? And why?

Oh I can't just pick one thing; it would have to be a combo. Base is really important if you get that right then your make up should look really good. I think sun cream is a must if you want to have healthy and younger looking skin for longer, so I always start off my day wear with a factor 50. Mac do a lovely serum that I think is a factor 25, I use that a lot, for non sunny days.

Then it's finding the right foundation for your skin type. I have noticed as I get older I have had to keep changing foundations. For day I use a Chanel foundation its very light and gives your skin a great glow and I love the smell. For evening and for stage I used to use Mac but found it too drying for my skin for every day wear. I have been using a compact from the Body shop but sadly they have stopped making it, so I am back on my hunt for an evening foundation, if anyone has any suggestions for a full cover foundation please do get in touch!

Most of the time when I am not performing I don't wear that much makeup, only what I have said above, a light lip gloss and mascara.

I have just treated myself to a lovely oil based Eyeshadow palette of colours from Kryolan and I'm very impressed with the blending and final effect. I had a photo shoot at the weekend and I mixed these with some fab pure pigment pots from Rickys in New York the combination was amazing and did not flake off under the hot lights.

As for Lips I have moved from Mac to Rockalily . I love her shades! It’s a relatively new range run single handily by ReeRee Rocket. I think that as she is a one-woman organisation who has a passion for sexy lip colour for ladies, we should all support her.

'Burlesque' covers many era's of clothing, which would you say is your favourite era of clothing? and why? 

I love my 50's style it really suites my body shape. But I still like to mix and match and if I find something amazing that’s modern I will still wear it. I just bought a very well cut little black woollen dress by 'Firetrap' which is perfect for the freezing summer days.

When I was young I had no boobs and was stick thin, so I went for the punk girl look with tartan kilts and big boots. But as you get older you have to dress in a way the works with your body shape. I hate to see an older woman wearing cheap clothes, that don't suite or fit them!

I love well made clothes that have had time and effort gone into them. I can't walk by a charity or vintage shop without a little look around for forgotten gems. 

Have you ever had an Idol? Who was it and why? 

I think one of my biggest idols was the formidable talent that was Bette Davis. I love the passion she had for her craft and her no-nonsense attitude, both on and off the set. I have often been told I look like her, and when I was younger I would dress in similar ways to her. I used to get very funny looks because I grew up on a farm and insisted on wearing a little hat or gloves. I think Bette is the main inspiration for the creation of Diva Hollywood, to be the best and strongest woman you can be, always pushing yourself as an artist to discover new things, and enjoying the glamour and style even if you are not a conventional looker.

We've seen you perform at the fabulous Coco Boudoir in Bath a few times, what other projects do you have in the pipeline? Where can we see you next?

At the moment I have two really exciting new acts that I am working on. I love this time when you are building a new act and you can have all the ridiculous and crazy ideas. Then you slowly pull it back in to reality, and work out a realistic version ... something that is possible to do without needing a herd of elephants and a troupe of fire eating walruses to make the act work!

You will next see me perform in August at few private parties then it's up to the Edinburgh Fringe for me. I can't wait it's my first ever Fringe and I get to take my whips with me!

My partner and I also have a few shoots and mini films that we are planning. I am stepping back into the art world and loving it.

We also have a huge project being planned for next year. I am so excited about the project and really want to shout about it but can't. Just please keep your fingers crossed for me and I promise as soon as I can I will let you know what it is.

Photo by Paul Wright at Headline Honey's

Renowned for your quirky and unexpected props, which is the most treasured of all your collection? and why? 

I don't think I have one favourite but I can give you my top 4.  

First, I love my whips as they were specially made for me and learning the craft of whip cracking has been an amazingly fun challenge that I will have for the rest of my life. Also the target board was designed and hand painted by me and my partner.

Second come my white five foot ostrich triple-layered fans with the lights built in. They will always have a special place in my heart as they and the act are dedicated to a friend of mine Mike who died. He was an amazing artist with a great imagination and he created light shows and installations at events all around Europe. He like me, loved adding lights to unexpected places, except mine are with a Busby Berkeley glamorous twist. 

Thirdly, for being such a bargain and getting a lot of laughs, it would have to be my inflatable binoculars for my Mermaid act. I got a two pairs and they were only £4.99 but they are the turning point of the act, the point where it goes from being very pretty, to being pretty funny.

And lastly, is my Black swan which was made for me for by my boyfriend. The swan is called Burt and he represents the dark spectre in my life that is MS, troublesome and unpredictable. I love the act as it represents me coming to terms with my illness and having fun being a performer, It gives me strength every time I do it. But Burt can be a little difficult to work with and really does like to try and steel the lime light. Saying that I do love working with puppets, they bring another character, story, feeling and mood to the stage.

How did you become involved in the Burlesque scene? 

It's a funny story really. I met a few performers in the early Naughties and was so impressed by what they were doing, but I didn't feel confident about doing it myself and starting something which I thought required me to be a size 0, or to be much younger than I am!

Then in 2005 I got a phone call from a friend. He had recently started to date a trapeze artist who was making a new show for the Green Room in Manchester called 'Serenade'. In it he played a Russian trapeze artist who has fallen on hard times and has become a bit of a drunk. He needed a film made to work as a dream sequence in the play. It was about how his girlfriend who ran away from the circus, him and a life of poverty to New York to become a burlesque star and gets involved with a bad rich man.

The girl who they had planned to work with dropped out at the last minute, so they gave me a call and by luck I had that week off, so I went for it. I had to work really quickly, with James Stevenson, the choreographer, but the instant we started to work on the routine I started to fall in love with burlesque. When it was nearly done they whisked me away for a wonderful shopping trip for all the bits for the costume, then straight in to filming.  The film was a success as was the show.

But I was left with a routine, a costume and my first taste of burlesque! So I thought "I can’t let this go!" Later that same year I was actually going to New York to take part in an art residency with a contemporary dance company (called Troika Ranch) who use electronic triggers in their productions. So I wondered if I could make art imitate life a little and perform my burlesque routine in New York.

I did a lot of research before I went and found out about a few clubs, the most popular being the Slipper Room. So the first weekend there I persuaded my fellow artists to come with me to the Club. It was the first burlesque show I had seen and boy had I come to the right place! On the bill that night was Dirty Martini, Julie Atlas Muz, Little Brooklyn, and hosted by The Big Blue Bunny himself Scotty. After the show I got up the nerve to speak to James, who runs the Slipper Room, I told him I was a performer from the UK and would love to take part in one of his shows. He gave me a slot two weeks later! The next two weeks were a blur of creating art by day, going to parties in New York and rehearsing my act. The New York burlesque scene is so helpful and welcoming and with a chance meeting of the lovely Darlinda not Darlinda, I was put on an email list that helped me shop for any bits of costume I needed.

Finally the day of the show came and I could either chicken out or stand up to be counted. It's still all a bit of a blur to me but I did it. I think it was probably a little tame for the New York audience but I was hooked. I was so lucky to be on the same bill that night as amazing performers such as Tigger and Pinky Special, who to this day we are still great friends.

Your shows are incredibly unique, where do you get your inspiration from when choreographing a new act?

I come from an art background so I have always naturally looked for the unexpected in life. I always carry a note book around with me as inspiration can come from the strangest of things. 'Evolution of woman' one of my signature acts came from a conversation with lovely French artist. We had this very heated conversation about the difference between English and French humour and the use of hair in French comedy. Which, then made me think "how could I use this to make a British audience laugh?"

My 'Ruthless love' act came from my long time interest in the story of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be hung in the UK. It's a fascinating story and probably not one that other burlesque artist’s might tackle! I was so lucky that while I was making it I was back in New York and was able to get a perfect rubber noose form The Halloween store. It’s a great store with 3 levels of amazing things. They also have a performer discount!

Music of course plays a big part in inspiring me, but I have learnt that if you use a piece of music that you love in an act then it's a sure fire way of never being able to listen to that particular piece of music every again!

At 'The Bizarre Summer Ball' taken by Johanna Spiers

Is there a particular brand of clothing or designer you prefer to wear?

I love Stop Staring and Betty Page but to be honest I am not a huge lover of "labels!" If something is well made and it fits then that is good enough for me. When it comes to rubber though, I do love the designs of Anatomic Bomb. They are so feminine and designed to fit a woman's curves. I was so pleased to have one of her dresses for my 'Ruthless Love' act and also a set of underwear. As the designer Bunny Warren is a performer herself, she understood my needs and tinkered with the design of the dress for me.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? and which is your favourite?

Oh gosh! I don't think I should count, I know that they all sort of fit into 6 large containers in my bedroom and about 10 shoe boxes!

I did recently count my bras and I had over 50! So I am guessing that I will have many more pairs of shoes. They are mostly red, because I really have a thing about red shoes. I have two favourites at the moment both of them were from Faith, a shop that I miss so much. A ridiculously high heeled, red, mock snake, leather pair with a peep toe. The second are just as high, leopard print with a red heel and peep toe. They go with so much and have been all over the world with me. I do love Kurt Geiger though and I have a few pairs of those which I wear in my acts, as they are so comfortable to dance in.

And finally

What style advice would you give to anyone wanting to achieve the Burlesque look?

Although burlesque is often thought of as a retro style of elegance, to me it’s more than that. I think a modern burlesque has a sense of humour to it and a saucyness! The old-time burlesquers were the naughty women who lived fast and hung around with bad boys, so it's worth bearing that in mind. For me it doesn't matter if your hair is less than perfect, I think the essence of this style is personality and if you can carry off a devil-may-care retro sexiness then that's burlesque. The best practical advice I can give to anyone, is to dress to suit your body-type. Burlesque, for me is about being 100 percent woman so just go out and enjoy being a woman and being sexy.

Photo by InaGlo Photography

Thank you so much to Diva Hollywood, Geigha Go Disco and Fifi Fatale for taking the time out of their uber busy scheduals and being part in our incredibly popular 'Burlesque Performers of the South West" blogs.

We hope to do another one soon and bring you more glamour and glitz from the Burlesque scene around us.

Win a Deadly Goodie Bag worth over £175

2011-07-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

To be in with the chance to win a Deadly Goodie Bag worth over £175 just post a piccy of you in your favourite purchase from Deadly is the Female on our Facebook page.

Goodie Bag includes...

Lux De Ville Bag

Leg Avenue Hold Ups

Bessame Lipstick

Rosie Fox Jewellery and Hair Flower

Crumpet & Skirt Greetings cards

Deadly is the Female pocket mirror

and more...

Just your average handbag contents then!

Your photo can be of a whole outfit, just a dress, a pair of shoes, handbag, necklace, hat or even your favourite besame lipstick whether you boughtit last week or last year!

We welcome entrys from anywhere in the world and can't wait to see your photos!

We haven't yet set a closing date but will keep you informed and post reminders when the date approaches. We've had some fantastic photos already & can't wait to see more!

Any questions please e mail us at info@deadlyisthefemale.com

Thanks

Burlesque Peformers of the South West - Part 2

2011-07-18T10:11:00.000-07:00

In the second part of our Burlesque Performers Profiling, we are taking a look at the ever so glamorous and vibrant Geisha Go Disco.

Geisha please tell us a bit about yourself, your style and what you do.

I'm a burlesque dancer, agent, writer and producer of "Coco Boudoir" and "Geisha Go Disco presents...". In my performance I use a lot of 1950's bump and grind techniques, fan dancing and tassel twirling but I tend to take a lot of visual inspiration from myths and legends as well as religious iconography.

All of us girls know how important it is to have a great makeup collection, what is your ultimate makeup must have? And why?

A strong, long-wearing foundation to base the rest of your colours on is so important. I have oily skin with uneven tones so I love MAC Studio Finish and Mineral Powder.

'Burlesque' covers many era's of clothing, which would you say is your favourite era of clothing? And why?

I love skin tight wiggle dresses so probably the mid 50's era. It just matches my shape!

Have you ever had an Idol? Who was it and why?

I don't have an idol as such. I admire and take strength from public figures like Queen Elizabeth I, Madonna, Coco Chanel, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Katie Price and Michelle L'Amour.

Photograph by Bertrand Vessier

How did you come up with your stage name?

GeishaGo Disco was a male, cross-dressing fairy I invented for a dark fairy story I was writing a few years ago. He was the good guy in a power struggle against his female evil twin, Geisha Go Death. When my hard drive crashed and wiped all my work, I stole the name for myself. It symbolises rebellion.

Stockings or hold-ups?

Stockings, all the way.

Photograph by Bertrand Vessier

How did you become involved in the Burlesque scene?

I was going to shows a lot in Melbourne back in 2005/2006. I was trained in music industry management and, from 2001 onwards, watched the interest turn from rock, punk and metal shows and club nights to more creative and interactive events, including fashion shows and burlesque.

Back then, burlesque shows were produced by troupes that would perform the whole night's entertainment between themselves. Sometimes it was four girls; sometimes it was up to ten. Sometimes they would do a double act, then some solos while the other girls changed costumes back stage, then end in a full troupe act.

We used to go to shows by Man's Ruin Burlesque, The Voodoo Trash Dolls and Hi BallBurlesque and there was a great mix of classic, neo, fire skills and really obnoxious tassel-twirling cheesecake.

I planned to start performing back then as part of a double act. But I decided to move to the UK and didn't end up actually training in Burlesque until 2008. Burlesque works differently now, both here and in Australia. There are a lot more solo artists, I guess because there is more competition, girls need to get paid and costumes are so expensive that costs are difficult to recoup in a troupe.

Where do you get your inspiration from when choreographing a new show?

The 1950's Irving Klaw dancers like Lily St Cyr and Bettie Page are big inspirations, as far as my pelvis is concerned. I was trained by Venus Noir from Bristol so a lot of her teachings are still present in my more classic movements. Tuesday Laveau also teaches me a lot about faster, more tribal bump and grind techniques.

Geisha Go Disco performing the Kali Goddess Dance with Tuesday Laveau

Tassels or Pasties?

Tassels!

Is there a particular brand of clothing or designer you prefer to wear?

Actually I just landed an endorsement from my favourite corset designer Heresy Clothing, so I'm really excited about that. She pads her corsets to make them super tough. My new one is going to withstand a nuclear apocalypse! Obviously I love Deadly Is The Female too, especially the StopStaring range. I recently took seven dresses into the change room (chosen by Claudia Kapp) at Deadly Is The Female and I think only one of them didn't suit my shape.

How many pairs of shoes to you own? and which is your favourite?

Not that many! Maybe eight pairs? My favourites are a pair of red mary-janes my boyfriend bought me for Valentine's Day last year. I also have a lush pair of glitter gold triple strap mary-jane heels from Vivienne Westwood by Melissa from Mee Boutique in Bath.

What style advice would you give to anyone wanting to achieve the Burlesque look?

Throw all your modern day fashion and posture rules out the window. Embrace your waist, because modern high street has taught us that our waist is somewhere around our hip bones! Use a reliable hair spray (you can't go wrong with Tresemme Freeze Hold which a lot of dancers swear by) and back comb your life away!

and finally ...

What other projects do you have in the pipeline? Where can we see you next?

I've got a new act coming up at the end of 2012 which will be my biggest yet. It's based on a Native American story about the Sun. I'll be taking some special skill classes to prepare for it. Also, Coco Boudoir will be hosting a special one-off big Christmas show which we'll be investing a lot more money into and calling in our very best contacts.

Wow, we can't wait to see that act! Sounds like it’s going to be pretty impressive. And the Christmas show sounds like it's not to be missed either!

Thank you so much to Geisha Go Disco for taking time out to answer our questions, we'll look forward to seeing more of you in the future.

Next week we will be profiling another of our fantastically talented Burlesque Performers in the South West....stay tuned!

Burlesque Performers of the South West - Part 1

2011-07-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here at Deadly is the Female we have decided to pay homage to the wonderful art of Burlesque and this month we will be profiling some of the most talented Burlesque performers in the South West.

By asking a specific set of questions we will be finding out a bit about these very special ladies.

This week the spotlight will be on the enigmatic Fifi Fatale...

Please tell us a bit about yourself, your style and what you do.

My name is Fifi Fatale and I'm a London based burlesque performer. My performance style is classic, sultry and sensual burlesque inspired by past hedonistic eras and the glamour and indulgence of the 1920's and 30's. I have been lucky enough to perform on International stages in Italy, Belgium and Ireland as well as across the UK and even the small islands of Jersey and Guernsey! I am also a regular performer for 'The Tassel Club' at the decadent 'BathHouse' in central London.
My past clients include Universal Films, Renault Clio, Specsavers, a VIP launch of premier nightclub 'The Wright Venue' in Ireland, Bike stuntman Eddie Kid aka 'The Black Knight', the 'London On' film festival and London Fashion Week 2009.
You can find out more about me and what I do on my website www.fififatale.com

All of us girls know how important it is to have a great makeup collection, what is your ultimate makeup must have? And why?

I suppose it would have to be a good Eyeshadow and slanted brush for eyebrows. I believe eyebrows frame the face. I always fill in and shape my eyebrows before I step out the door!

'Burlesque' covers many eras of clothing, which would you say is your favourite era of clothing? and why?

Well I adore the eras of the 1920's and 30's. I think I would have to pick the 1930's, as the bias cut silk gowns with beautiful draping are really feminine and glamourous.

Have you ever had an Idol? Who was it and why?

I don't really believe in Idols but there are people who I look to for inspiration and influence and there are too many to list!

How did you come up with your stage name?

I've always been a fan of the women who are the vamps in life, 1920's vamps, the women from 40's film noirs, even the modern day bond girls. To me they represent strong women with attitude and I wanted a name to represent that and that I felt was an extension of my personality and who I want to be, (at least on stage!)
I think Fatale sums up my performance style - classic, sensual and sultry. I chose Fifi as it wasn't a name I'd heard of much and I like a first and last name to start with the same letter as I feel it has impact, plus it was a name that just felt right for me.

Stockings or hold-ups?

Stockings, always!

How did you become involved in the Burlesque scene?

People always ask me this and yet I can't really remember any specific point that led me to what I do now. I was into the alternative scene anyway and from this fetish and burlesque are interlinked, so I found out about it from there and instantly fell in love with the glamour and escapism of it all.

Where do you get your inspiration from when choreographing a new show?

Ah, many places! Art, music, film, fashion and past performers. My style is more towards the 1920's/30's eras so I take a lot of inspiration from Parisian vamps, Erte, Alphonse Mucha, macabre fairy tales, the folies berge etc. I have no specific way in which I formulate an act but I feel, for me, music is essential. Sometimes I'll just hear a piece of music and ideas will start coming together in my head. Other times I'll be influenced by some art I've seen and an act will form around that.

Tassels or Pasties?

Hhmm I love both. I tend to wear tassels, which doesn't make much sense as I don't tassel twirl!

Is there a particular brand of clothing or designer you prefer to wear?

No. My favourite colour is black though and I'm rarely seen in anything else!

How many pairs of shoes to you own? and which is your favourite?

Many, many shoes! I don't know how many I own. I have a couple of favourite pairs though and they cater to my different interests. One pair I use for performing, they're 20's style t-bar in dark blue with silver detail (bit difficult to describe without a photo) with about a 4 inch heel, I love them as they look really vintage but were actually from accessorize! My other favourite pair are really high black patent and snakeskin heels with straps covered in studs. They're very rock and roll!

What style advice would you give to anyone wanting to achieve the Burlesque look?

It's easy to find advice on how to style yourself in a classic 1940's/50's way which is so popular with burlesque - victory rolls, hair snoods, red lipstick, high arched eyebrows and cats eyes eyeliner but I would say be true to yourself and don't follow the crowd. Everyone has their own influences and interests and these should come through in the way you dress, that way you have your own style and you'll stand out more.

and finally

What other projects do you have in the pipeline? Where can we see you next?

At the moment I'm performing a lot in London, so you can see me at places like Proud Cabaret and Volupte. However I co-run Coco Boudoir in Bath and our next show is on August 20th. I will be running the night and performing there, so come and see me! I should have another re-vamped act ready to perform by then.

Thank you so much to Fifi Fatale, for her great answers. We hope you enjoyed reading them as much as we did. And we look forward to seeing her at the fabulous Coco Boudoir in August.

Next week we will profiling the very glamorous Geisha Go Disco.

Free shipping!

2011-07-08T05:11:00.000-07:00

From now until Thursday the 14th of July we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over £10!

We aren't going to be able to send things out from now until Thursday, so this is our way of making up this short delay to you!

The shop will be open as usual & on Thursday orders will go out as usual on a Parcelforce next day service so you will have your goodies in time for the weekend!

Free shipping is available anywhere in the world & will automatically be added to all orders of £10 or more until Thursday 14th July 2011

A Wet and Stormy Artisans Market

2011-06-22T01:05:00.000-07:00

On the morning of Sunday 5th June 2011, the heavens opened and thunder and lightning streamed across the sky. But did this stop the people of Frome supporting the events happening in their town that day?......Nope!..... Not at all!

It was a very special day for Frome, as not only did we have the ever popular Artisan Market, the Frome Flea Market's second appearance (and it's proving to be just as popular as the Artisan Market) it was also the third appearance of the fun filled Cheap Street Fair too.

Frome's Flea Market

The Cheap Street Fair is in its third year now and even on a wet and windy day; it was still as busy as ever. This year's happenings at the Beach Themed Cheap Street Fair included beachy rides for the children, like the swing boats, live music, mouth-watering food and from the look of FromeTV's pictures, lots of fun and a few glasses bubbly.

Even, Deadly is the Female's resident poet, the delectable Muriel Lavender, was meandering between the three events. Looking stunning, as usual, Muriel was out promoting the Burlesque Night that is now happening on a monthly basis at Frome's Westway Cinema, organised by the enigmatic and ever so talented Venus Noir.

Here at Deadly is the Female, it was a special day too. Claudia and Gomez were taking a little break so the shop was looked after by the fabulous Tamara Dibsdale and Lolita Noir. It was a busy day for all and a remarkable sight to see so many people out to enjoy all the festivities, even in such terrible weather.

Tamara, dressed in the Sadie Dress in Bows Print, and Lolita Noir, wearing in the Billion Dollar Baby Dress in Black and the Pink Satin pumps, were on top form that day. They welcomed everyone in from the rain, to the fun and cheerful sounds of Imelda May, the Baseballs and maybe a little Britney!

Among the most popular items that day was the Doris Shirt in Black and Red and the Natasha Dress in Cherries. Not to mention the amount of compliments the Summer Dress, that is currently in the window, got.

Once again, the people who supported the Frome Festivities are to be congratulated. They truly made, what could have been a total wash out (pun intended!), a fun filled day.

1950's Makeup Lesson

2011-06-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

A History of 1950's Makeup

(A snippet from the 'Retro Makeup Book')

"After the conservative years of WW11 came to an end and the cosmetics industry caught back up with demand, makeup styles took the biggest turn seen to date. Along with bright coloured kitchen appliences and couches, came bright and shapely makeup, with well defines eyebrows becoming the look of the day"

The base for the 50's style makeup was a foundation cream, creating a pale, mask-like complexion which was topped off by patting on a flesh coloured powder to set it. Once your base was set, then "slowly, comes the metamorphosis"

The eyebrows of the 1950's were mostly thicker in the inner corner and then tapered out to a clean point. But they varied in styles; the inner corner could be rounded or squared. The ascent could be a straight line or pointed to a peak. A gradual rounded eyebrow was very popular, as was straight! It was customary to take what you had, tweeze it to a clean line and then use a pencil to darken in and possibly thicken.

Next came eyeliner, by the mid 50's the winged/cat eyeliner was a very important part of the decades makeup looks, and that too had many variations, from striking to soft. The various products on the market included pencil, liquid and gel eyeliner. The possibilities for the wing eyeliner were endless. By changing the length, thickness, flip (wing) and colour, the appearance of the eye and the rest of the makeup changed dramatically.

Lip shapes in the 1950's, for the regular girl, followed the basic shape of the natural mouth, but in Hollywood, they began to customise it! They began to taper the fall from the peak to the outer corner for a droop that almost mimicked a pleasant, innocent smile. Sultry movie stars like Marilyn Monroe and Sylvia Lopez were over-drawing their top lip for a fuller look.

The most duplicated look of the era is Marilyn Monroe's. Her blond 'bombshell' image, complete with sultry red lips and thick eyeliner, is one that has been sought after for many years.

By following these simple steps we will help you capture the essence of the 50's Bombshell look, with her glowing skin and sultry eyes.

The Bombshell (Retro Makeup Book p.82)

Apply a cream foundation (that matches your skin tone) all over your skin, including eyelids and lips. Then gently pat on a flesh coloured powder that is light but gives a good coverage, like Besame Cashmere Powder Compact (which comes in 2 shades - light or medium. And also has refills available)

Next comes the eyebrows, which are essential to define as they frame the face. The high pointed eyebrow of Marilyn is created by first brushing the inner half of the eyebrow up and to the right with a wand coated with eyebrow gel (or clear mascara). The outer part of the eyebrow is combed down and to the right. Then fill in the peak of the eyebrow with an eyebrow pencil like the Masterline Eyebrown Pencil

Apply a light, neutral Eyeshadow to the entire eyelid. Then apply a fine layer of a brown colour, like Besame Eyeshadow in Socialite Brown, to the upper eyelid. Be sure to concentrate the colour in the area of the crease of the eyelid.

Using a black pencil eyeliner, like the Besame Masterline in Kohl, draw a soft line that begins at the inner corner of the eye and runs along the lash line of the upper eyelid to the outer corner. Draw a small wing out that begins just above the outer corner of the eye. This naturally gives a rise to the appearance of the eyes. If the wing is too low, it makes the eye appear to droop.

Add three or four single eyelash clusters to the outer corner of the eye to increase the doe-eyed effect. Finish the eye makeup with a conditioning black mascara, like the Besame 1930's Mascara, one of the most natural mascaras on the market.

Use a warm bronzer (the Besame Eyeshadow in Socialite Brown can also be used for this) below the cheek and on the lower part of the apple of the cheek, to add contour. Always blow on the brush to dispel some of the powder before applying it, otherwise you'll get a mass of colour which will look unnatural and be hard to blend. You can always add more colour, but it's harder to take it away.

Use a warm shimmer cream to add highlight on the temples and upper part of the cheek bone. Marilyn Monroe’s makeup often had a glimmer to it that gave her a healthy sun-kissed glow.

The Hollywood Bombshell look wouldn't be complete without glamorous red lips! Lips are over-drawn to give the appearance of fullness (obviously if you already have full lips you don't need to do this) and the upper lip is given a full round cupids bow. You lips should already have foundation and powder on, this helps to prolong the lipstick and create a blank canvas for you to work with. Use a dull point lip liner in a shade that matches your lipstick - for instance, if you're using Besame Red lipstick then you would use Beseme Masterliner in Red - Draw the desired lip shape and then fill the lips with the same liner. Apply a luscious red lipstick, like Besame Red lipstick. Cover your lips entirely. You can use a brush if you find it easier. Carefully clean any difficult edges or smudges with foundation and a cotton bud. Lastly lightly sweep a light coloured (white or cream) matte Eyeshadow around the bottom lip and the cupids bow, blend. This really makes the lips pop.

Finish the look with a soft beauty mark by using a black pencil eyeliner like the Besame Masterline in Kohl.

For more advice on how to acheive 'Retro Makeup', check out the 'Retro Makeup Book' by Lauren Rennells, sold at Deadly is the Female (this book is currently out of stock but we will be getting more copies very soon)

Words (in Italics) and photographs taken from the 'Retro Makeup Book' by Lauren Rennells

Additional makeup tips by Lolita Noir - Vintage Hair and Makeup artist www.lolita-noir.moonfruit.com

Deadly is the Female at the BAFTAs 2011

2011-05-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

One of our customers was lucky enough to be invited to the BAFTA TV awards and she chose to wear her Billion Dollar Baby dress from Deadly is the Female. Here is Mina's story...

Hi there Deadly Females!

What a night! Did I dream it or was I actually at the BAFTA t.v. awards ceremony on Sunday? Well the girl on the photo bears a striking resemblance to me so, yeah, I was there - dressed to kill in my smoking red Billion Dollar Baby dress Thank you God for providing me with the necessary tool to bag me a hottie - a killer dress!

I'm a t.v. scriptwriter and member of BAFTA so I'm fortunate enough to be allocated tickets for one of the most happening events of the year. This year was to be no exception - held at The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane, London. Dead posh, as we say in Liverpool. If the loo paper is still hanging in the right place and not strewn all over the ladies' toilets, then we're talking real class.

My dress was unbearably close fitting - skin tight, in other words, 'I daren't eat or breathe' tight and to keep the bulges at bay the obligatory spanx reinforcement underwear with extra butt padding was needed to give me that J-Lo full arse effect! Without it, arse around my knees was not exactly a pulling credential!

Breathing was going to be difficult but hey that was the last of my worries! My Spanx underwear was now virtually impossible to remove for calls of nature. I had no other choice but to strategically cut a slit in the crotch area to enable the probable eventuality of needing the ladies - a must, given to the alcoholic excesses of the evening.

The red carpet was crammed to the rafters with paparazzi desperate to not take my photo! After all, who was I - an unknown, a disposable triple z lister with no scandal qualities, in other words, a non TOWIE! Still it gave me the chance to star spot and an array of household names sauntered past, hesitating momentarily to sign autographs for their adoring fans. Jim Broadbent, Trevor McDonald and Phillip Schofield, the cast of Downtown Abbey, Coronation Street and Eastenders all paraded past, unaware that the lady in red was about to collapse at any moment due to lack of oxygen!

The champagne reception was held in a decadently decorated reception hall and as I descended the luxuriously carpeted stairs, flanked by security and waiters, the importance of the event started to dawn on me. The array of men in black were a pleasure to behold and I realised at that moment that God was indeed a woman and I thanked her for such a wonderful display of male beauty. Black suits, white shirts, black ties adorned fit, muscular bodies and yet - they all eventually morphed into one, a swamp of varying shades of black, leaving us ladies to add a touch of colour and glamour to compensate for the guys' drabness! Had I unintentionally gatecrashed a Reservoir Dogs convention perhaps? Some of The Reservoir Dogs glanced me up and down, admiring glances because of my Billion Dollar Baby dress or had I already started to turn a mild shade of blue? I wandered or dare I say wiggled around, as by now, walking had also become an additional hazard. Still, in my head, it looked sexy and that's all that mattered!! I pretended I was looking for someone, all the while keeping my radar fully tuned for any passing eye candy.

Champagne reception over, we were herded into the main ballroom, where the tables were beautifully decorated and adorned lovingly. So much cutlery. So little time to learn what to do with it all! Now for the presentation of the BAFTAs. I was seated on the balcony and unfortunately an enormous chandelier dominated our view. Thankful for the chance to stand before my dress popped open, a la Judy Finnigan, I wiggled my way to the balcony where I had a first class view of the evening's proceedings. Nominations were read and the 'unhappy' losers managed to force a semblance of a smile, while an enormous 10 inch lens was stuck firmly in their faces, desperate for a sob or a 'bastard - why did he get it'. Instead, they clapped lethargically, successfully hiding their seething jealousy at the 'deserving' winners. I swore that if I was ever nominated for a BAFTA and didn't win, I would give the cameras exactly what they wanted - a hysterical melt-down of tears!

Obviously, The TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) gang stole the show! The Essex mob had won the Utube audience award for best serial drama. They were understandably ecstatic and responded the Essex way. Amy Childs looked immaculate but sounded like a train crash tragedy, squeaking and squealing, adding the show's catch phrase, 'Oh Shut up!' to end the most eloquent speech of the evening. Nelson Mandela eat your heart out!!! Were the Industry audience applauding with embarrassment or genuinely pleased that top drama Downtown Abbey had been thwarted by non-actors playing themselves? Were they laughing with them or at them? The TOWIEs didn't care. Non-actors they may be, but they were going home with their own BAFTA!

At last food! I'd already devoured the BAFTA chocolate figure, the one that I was going to treasure for the rest of my days and I prayed to every God available for the speedy delivery of anything remotely edible! Crab starter, chicken and a selection of desserts filled a gaping hole as the zip on my dress began to lose the will to function.

The after party was a huge hit and went on until the early hours! The ballroom was big enough to cater for the many guests who, by now were all pissed! Yet, they all still managed to look glamorous while us mere mortals had begun to slowly wither! How on earth did they manage to do that? Did they have a secret army of make-up artists hidden in the wings to reapply make-up and fix hair? Hmm, I wonder.

I danced the night away with a variety of celebs from Downtown Abbey and other hit shows that I hadn't heard of! The highlight of my evening was meeting and chatting to the most gorgeous German actor on the planet! Ladies, google him if you dare! Ken Duken. Not of the Dukan diet fame! That's Dukan with an 'a' not with an 'e'! But I'm sure The Duken diet I'm picturing would be a much more entertaining way of losing weight, If you get my drift!! He was sublime - made my evening, my week, my decade infact! But, as always, he was married! Never mind. Still, a girl can dream, can't she?

The event ended at 3.00 am and we stumbled out with the dregs. A few sad press guys still hung on desperately to see if any celebs were still there. At this point they weren't fussy - anyone would do! I informed them that the event was now celebless, but all was not lost. As some small compensation for their disappointment, I would allow them to take my photo! Why they were laughing I don’t know, but good-humouredly, they obliged this crazy inebriated Scouse lady! So for one brief moment, in my Billion Dollar Baby dress, I posed and pouted, living the fantasy that I too was a hot A lister!!

Can't wait for next year!!! Same again TOWIEs? You betcha!!

Mina Parisella

We'd like to say a huge thank you to Mina for sharing her adventures with us!

Deadly doll's at the World Beard & Moustache Championships!

2011-05-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Allie Astell got the chance to go to Norway to hang out at the World Beard and Moustache Championships. As you do.

Allie and her friend Laura went over to represent Captain Fawcett, purveyor of Captain Fawcett's Moustache wax. With their best Deadly outfit packed they mingled with some fantastic facial hair and some lovely people.

Allie wore her red Doris Shirt with a Pin up Pencil Skirt in Cherries print and Laura wore a Heidi dress in Cherry print. They had a Red Train Case full of Captian Fawcett goodies.

We had a chat with Allie to find out a little bit more about it all...

Hi Allie, tell us a little bit about the World Beard and Moustache Championships in Norway & how on earth you got involved?

It's a biennial competition in which men with beards and moustaches display lengthy, highly-styled facial hair. The first Championship took place in Germany, in 1990 and over the past few years competitors with the world's most hirsute faces from the UK, America, Germany and other countries convened for the championships in Brighton, Anchorage, Alaska, and last weekend the 2011 Championships were held in Trondheim, Norway.

Since launching the Captain Fawcett's moustache wax website in November 2010, I've been assisting the Captain with his social media marketing and PR, via my online marketing consultancy Manage My Website

The wax is handmade in deepest Norfolk and is available in 3 scents: lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood. Legend has it that the Captain (an explorer) went missing in 1905 along with his secret moustache wax recipe. It has recently been discovered at a house clearance in Mytchett, Surrey, and is being lovingly recreated.

If anyone here has been keeping up with the Captain Fawcett's Journal , Facebook and Twitter pages they might know that he recently got himself into a bit of a scrape on an expedition to the Arctic and the poor soul is now recovering from scurvy at a sanatorium in Bognor Regis.

My good friend Laura and I were sent to Trondheim by the Captain, armed with plenty of Captain Fawcett's moustache wax , business cards and leaflets. I hope we did the Captain proud!

Did you meet any famous faces of the Beard & Moustache world?
Yes we met many of the competitors and winners. They were the loveliest people - obviously eccentric - and hilariously funny. I don't think Laura and I have laughed so much in a long time! There were parties in the local bars most evenings too, so we got a chance to mingle and peddle our handmade moustache wax to them. We both left Trondheim with a new appreciation for hot bearded men!

You & Laura dressed up in some Deadly clothes to help sell Captain Fawcett's Moustache wax - do you think it helped get you noticed?
Absolutely! We wore our gorgeous Deadly outfits on the Saturday night (the Championship was the next day) and we received a lot of attention in them. I also had one of your fabulous train cases to keep our wax and business cards in. Even that received a lot of attention, with gallant gentlemen offering to carry it for me when it got too heavy. I can't recommend your clothes enough. They fit beautifully, hug all the right places and made us feel like a million dollars!

What are your plans now with the Captain?
We're busy finding new suppliers for his wax and it's already being stocked by The Chap magazine, Trumpers, Carter and Bond and AH Hale in Bath as well as being endorsed by the Handlebar Club and PAM London. Orders are increasing every day from around the world, so the Captain's being kept very busy despite his debilitating dose of scurvy!

We're also planning our next trip to the US Championships in October. I'm actually helping out with a Facebook campaign to persuade Tom Selleck to judge it. We’ve got big plans for Captain Fawcett's moustache wax so watch this space!

And finally, where can you buy the 'Gentleman's Stiffener'?
You can buy it if you go to his website and click on the "Buy" stamp. Do it now! ;}>

Here are some photos taken by Allie and Laura of some of the amaizing people they met.

Oh now we really want to go to the championships in America - it looks like they had a blast!

The Artisan Market Is Back!

2011-05-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

The 1st of May 2011 welcomed the return of St Catherine Hill's highly-anticipated Artisan Market, and it certainly didn't disappoint! The weather was glorious and the people also: it never fails to amaze us, the support generated for what is now considered such a town treasure.

The day started for us when we opened our door at 10am, and was filled with the hustle and bustle that we love from the market till way past 2pm, when the market was supposed to finish. There was an amazing turnout of local people and visitors from all over the country; we even had a lady who'd come all the way from Scotland in the shop at one point!

On such a hot spring day there was much interest in our beautiful tea dresses, especially the '40's Dress', modelled on the day buy the shop's stylish owner, Claudia.

The 'Rose dress' was a particular favourite too: even our resident poet Muriel Lavender couldn't resist trying it on!

Muriel was in high spirits that day. "I love our Artisan Market - especially the first one of the year," she told us. Delighting the visitors with her eloquent and audacious poems, not only at the Artisan Market, but also down at the brand new 'Frome Flea' market, held outside the library. "I spent the whole morning flitting between the two," Muriel says. "I even met some fans, which was exciting!" And of course here at Deadly is the Female, we're one of her biggest!

Recently Claudia teamed up with Frome TV to interview Muriel for 'Sex & the Picnic Forecast at Deadly is the Female' - a most popular feature which showcases Muriel's talent for words and sassy clothing. This witty film can be seen on the Frome TV website.

The shop was buzzing with activity that day, helped along by the glamorous Muriel at the Artisan Market. As she told us, "You can be sure I did right by the ladies - taking care to direct them all to the top of the hill, where they could treat themselves to something divine at Deadly is the Female. Naturally I rounded off my morning there as well! Understandably, of course: I simply had to buy the 'Satin Pumps in Pink', which I wore for our Frome TV interview. I couldn't help myself!" To see the interview, and Muriel wearing the Satin Pumps in Pink, click here.

And they are definitely popular heels! In five different colours, black, green, red, pink and leopard, there's a style for every occasion. The Black and Pink ones went down especially well that day.

We're so excited about the return of the Artisan Market and the amazing turn out for the first one, that we can't wait for the next one on the 5th June. So make sure you pop down and say hello! We can't think of a better was to spend our Sunday - can you?

Pictures by: Jade and Ed Thomas - Doubleshot and Frome TV

A Night Of Burlesque, 23rd April 2011

2011-05-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

On Saturday the 26rd of April, Deadly is the Female donned their feathers and flowers for a night at the fabulous Coco Boudoir at Chapel Arts in Bath.
As always, the night was full of fun and frivolity, hosted by the ever so regal and oh-so saucy Countess Arseuppi and headlined by the amazingly original and talented Diva Hollywood, whips n’all.

Other acts included the amazing voice and presence of Laura Mai (pictured above), the enchanting Domino Burlesk, the incredible Flaming Feathers (with a fantastically vigorous rendition of the screaming Cancan) and the two of the co-creators, the enigmatic Fifi Fatale and statuesque Geisha Go Disco, who gave a brand new meaning to the balloon dance!

The sold out show was jammed with an electric and buzzing crowd, who, clothing wise, definitely rose to the occasion. We just love seeing the fashions that people show off at Burlesque nights, and let’s face it, if you can’t show off at a Burlesque night, where can you?

What was more exciting for us was seeing how many people were wearing clothes and accessories either from or stocked by Deadly is the Female, one of which, the ‘30’s Bombshell Dress’, actually reached the top 3 in the ‘Best Dressed’ competition. And it was great to see the effort that some of the ladies went to, lots of slinky 40’s and 50’s inspired dresses, like the ‘Madmen dress’, were flaunting curves all over the place! and of course, as it was such a lovely, hot day, there were some elegant, floral tea and circle dresses, like the beautiful ‘40’s Dress’ worn by the dazzling creator of Deadly is the Female, Claudia, and the enchanting ‘Peacock Skirt with black Chiffon Petticoat’. They all gave the night a lovely spring feel.

So top marks for the Ladies! Although… we did decide that the men should really put a bit more effort into their clothing next time! They can’t expect to be in a room filled with exquisite women dressing in slinky clothing and not make the effort! That being said, there were 1 or 2 that get gold stars from us with their quirky and debonair attire. So come on men, be a bit more dapper, it’s not that hard…a simple 3 piece suit and bow tie is perfectly acceptable and maybe even adding a pair of spats would make the outfit a bit nattier. And you can’t go wrong with a hat, be it top hat, bowler or trilby, just as long as you raise it for the ladies.

All in all it was a great night, filled with energy and laughter and we all left in high spirits, provoking a ‘Grease’ sing-a-long on the way home. If you haven’t been to Coco’s then where have you been?! It’s on bi-monthly, so there’s no excuse, show off the Deadly Female in you and get yourself down there!

Free Shipping, Easter & New goodies!

2011-04-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

Previously only advertised on our Facebook & Twitter we are now offering everyone in the UK FREE SHIPPING until midnight on Monday the 25th of April 2011 with the code FS411

Why not take this opportunity to try some of our new collection!?

And if you'd like to visit the shop for a closer look, please note our opening times over the next few weeks...

April 22nd (Good Friday) CLOSED
April 23rd 10 - 5

April 24th (Easter Sunday) CLOSED

April 25th (Easter Monday) CLOSED

April 26th 11 - 5

April 27th 11-5

April 28th 11 - 5

April 29th CLOSED

April 30th 10 - 5

May 1st - 10 - 2 for the St Catherine's Artisan Market

Then we are back to normal!

Lots of new goodies have arrived at Deadly is the Female!

2011-04-07T13:33:00.000-07:00

Our favourite thing about this time of year is packing up our dark winter wardrobe and unwrapping some colour! We've re-stocked some favourites & added some brand new lines to get you all hot under the collar!

Just arrived from Stop Staring we have the Cover Girl Dress in Red and Black dots

The striking Evelyn Dress in a wonderfully retro Feather Print.

The Doris Shirt which is always sure to turn some heads - now in Black or Red

We'd also like to introduce these stunning new heels - the perfect balance between style and comfort.
These are the Lola shoes - real leather and really cute!

We can't even explain how excited we are about these beautiful faux vintage Lucite bags.
Introducing the Paris Bags. Available in Black, Red & White.

We've also just re-stocked some classics.
Here is the Flora Dress - a knockout in watercolour floral.

1950s style prom dress, The Birdie Dress in Red Roses - shown worn with a petticoat for added head turning impact!

A little something extra...
We've expanded our range of Besame Classic Colour Lipsticks to include 8 vintage style colours including Cherry Red, Carmine, Dusty Rose & Red Velvet

We've updated our Jewellery selection to include a wide range of silver plated Pin Up jewellery and lots of twinkly costume jewellery too!

We've added lots of lovely things to our Hair Accessories section too, including the most amazing book on Vintage Hairstyling

You might also have spotted us in Vogue this month!...

We were over the moon to be included in this month's Vintage Vogue feature. Thanks to Doubleshot.tv for the photography, Lolita Noir's Hair and Beauty Emporium for the hair and Make up and of course our Beautiful model, Sophie Jones.

Changes to our delivery system

2011-03-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

We are always looking at ways to improve our service for you and we are pleased to announce that all UK orders will now be sent out with Parcel Force’s next day service.

Next day refers to the service once it has been posted. We post Tuesday – Friday. We are closed on Mondays and so cannot guarantee we will post on a Monday, although we will when possible.

We also would like to let everyone know that we will be away on the 21^st & 22^nd of March so orders will be sent out from the 23^rd onwards.

We promise to make our next news update more exciting!

Spring is in the air at Deadly is the Female!

2011-02-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

We've been a bit quite on the update front but it is only because we've been so busy! We've been all over the world (well Vegas and back but we popped into New York, New York and Paris hotels while we were there so that counts right?!) selecting the very best in glamorous faux vintage fashion, looking at everything from shoes & dresses to swimwear & bags!

Brand new to our collection includes the following goodies from PinUp Couture, Lux De Ville, Stop Staring!, Esther Williams and more...

And we've re-stocked plenty of your favourites too...

We also have many end of line items in the SALE including...

Stop Staring Lace Dress with 30% off. Was £185 NOW £129.50

Joy Brogues with 40% off. Was £60 Now £36

Striptease Bralet WAS £22.50 NOW £14.63 and Sally Knickers were £20 now £13!

Rhinestone Anchor Necklace with 50% off - WAS £35 now £17.50

We are so happy to announce that we are offering our news and newsletter readers an extra 10% off EVERYTHING on the website - INCLUDING sale items with the coupon code SPRING11 valid from the 23rd of Feb to midnight on the 28th of Feb 2011.

Coupon is valid once per customer on all orders of any size. This discount excludes shipping and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers.
Prices and discounts are correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change without prior notice. Coupon is valid worldwide and there is NO Minimum order!

Information for January 2011

2011-01-07T06:33:00.000-08:00

If you are a regular to the shop or website you will know that our Frome shop will be closed from Sunday the 9th of January until Wednesday the 19th of January when we will be open from 11 - 5 as usual.

If you shop online you may be wondering how this will effect you?

Basically you can shop away as usual, but if you are in the UK the option for Special Delivery and priority shipping has been temporarily removed. All this means is we won't be sending things out as quickly as usual, so if you need something in a hurry please e mail info@deadlyisthefemale.com for up to date info on shipping dates. We will of course do our best to make sure no one ends up disappointed.

From the 19th of January we will be all back to normal both in store and on line.

We'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has become involved in all things Deadly, as customers, suppliers, photographers, hair and make up artists, models, Facebook friends and Twitter Tweeps or in any other way! We are so excited about all our plans for 2011 and hope we can keep bringing a splash of faux vintage glamour to your lives!

Love,
Claudia, Siobhan, Tamara and of course, GoGo Gomez