A Passion for Pencil Skirts

Good Afternoon, ladies! We've got that Friday feeling here at Vivien of Holloway and we're extra excited because next week, our Pencil Skirts are making a comeback! We're very much looking forward to welcoming back old favourites such as the candy-cute Pink Tartan as well as some new contenders. Look out for variations on Pinstripe, Flannel and Check!

Vivien of Holloway Pencil Skirts are the most authentic to the 1950s you can find. They're dangerously curvy, hugging you at the waist and sculpting your hips creating an enviable wiggle. They're perfect for the chilly weather and translate easily from a daring daytime look to elegant evening attire.

A great Pencil Skirt is a must-have for any glamourous gal and has been replicated for decades. But, as you well know, Vivien of Holloway is more interested in delving into the history of a garment. Want to know a little more about this slinky, sophisticated wardrobe staple?

Believe it or not, what could be considered the first ever pencil skirt was a complete accident! In 1908 aviatic duo, Wilbur and Orville Wright, invited a certain Mrs Berg to be their guest as the World's first female aeroplane passenger. As Mrs Berg settled into the aircraft she was horrified at the sight of chains and propellors churning away dangerously close to her billowing skirts - imagine doing this in a Halterneck Circle Dress!

In a stroke of unintentional fashion genius, the brothers tied a rope around Mrs Berg's skirt, above her ankles in order to keep her sitting pretty in safety. The event was a press sensation and Mrs Berg's skirt even caught the attention of designers in Paris who scrambled to recreate this accidental invention. Dubbed the "Hobble Skirt" or jokingly "Speed Limit Skirt", much-like the pencil skirt it was tight at the knees and created a seductive wiggle in the wearer.

The Hobble Skirt was short lived however as WW1 paved the way for practicality. Women were wearing trousers and hemlines were creeping upwards due to fabric shortages. Life was too fast-paced for a hobble!
Shortly after the war, women finally won the right to vote in the UK (1918) and America (1920) and the younger generation began to question the values of their elders. Enter dropped waistlines and flapper dresses. The Roaring 20s was a fabulous time for fashion but it wasn't so great for our figure-hugging pencil skirt.

The first pencil skirt, as we know it today, didn't arrive until 1940. Christian Dior took inspiration from the controversial silhouette of the Hobble Skirt and shortened it, updated it and fine-tuned a more tailored, close-fitting shape. Dior's 'New Look' is infamous in the fashion world and the pencil skirt, usually part of a suit ensemble at this time, was embraced by women in search of a curvy alternative to war-time fashions.
It wasn't long until celebrities of the day championed the classic shape and made it an aspirational style. Among these celebrities are starlets who Vivien of Holloway still takes inspiration from: Marilyn Monroe, Bettie Page, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn, the list goes on.

Channel Marilyn's outfit by pairing your Pencil Skirt with a Raglan Blouse.

 Today, women still recreate Golden Age style and even in modern fashions, you can spot a wiggle everywhere. Vivien of Holloway Pencil Skirts ensure that you walk (or hobble!) with confidence and we're certain they'll never go out of style. Don't believe me? Just ask our gorgeous customers!

Look out for new Pencil Skirts next week. If you're dying to get your hands on something, click the 'Notify Me' button on the product page and you'll be the first to know when it becomes available!

Happy wiggling, ladies! x

Snug Seperates

Autumn is my favourite time of year for dressing up and stepping out. The air smells fresh, the best parties are happening and it's a perfect excuse for a wardrobe overhaul!
Vivien of Holloway retro separates are a wonderful way to stay snug and stylish in the colder months. Our Pencil Skirts are ideal for the everyday femme fatale - cut to gently cinch your waist and tightly skim your hips for an hourglass silhouette any 1950s starlet would envy! I particularly love the Navy Plaid Pencil Skirt paired with its matching Swagger Jacket.

Sweet Swagger!

Wiggle Ready!

We're really excited to be expanding and restocking our selection of 1940s Swing Trousers. Can't wait? There are still sizes left in the thicker materials which are perfect for the crisp weather. There is no better way to wear our Trousers than with a sharp, smart Raglan Blouse. There are so many colours and patterns to choose from, I'm always spoiled for choice!
Another gorgeous way to layer up your ravishing retro garments is with a Bolero. In a variety of prints designed to match our Halterneck Circle Dresses and Halterneck Pencil Dresses, throw one of these beautifully cut boleros on and stay smoking hot at cool events.

It don't mean a thing if you ain't got that Swing!

Cute Cover Up!

We're delighted to have reached 30,000 Facebook fans and would like to thank you for all of your continued love and support. Use the discount code below to get 10% off of your Vivien of Holloway purchase until Monday 23rd.

Light reading? Don't forget to pick up one of our Magazine Bundles while stocks last! And really ladies, get clicking those Notify Me buttons: 1940's Swing Trousers, 1950's Jeans and Halterneck Pencil Dresses will be arriving very soon!

Happy shopping and enjoy your weekend!
Vivien of Holloway x

We've been Gok'd!

Gok has spoken! And it would seem that he is quite a fan of Vivien of Holloway and classic 1950s styling! As seen in 2 shows in the new series of Gok's Clothes Roadshow, we've featured in both the catwalk and the makeover parts of the show.

On the 8th February you might have spotted our red pencil skirt in Gok's High Street Catwalk when he was experimenting with some 'Clashing Colours'.



And last week you may have noticed a particular lady in red who dazzled her friends after a top Gok makeover, in a Vivien of Holloway Red Duchess Satin Halterneck Circle Dress!

Gok clearly knows what makes a woman look and feel feminine and how to accentuate those curves. He's been opting for some classic Vivien of Holloway pieces this season, and we hope you girls have been paying attention how to style yourselves up! Keep your eyes peeled for some more VoH featured in future episodes.

Using some this season's hottest trends such as 'Mad Men' styling, 'Heritage' and 'Block Colours', you can follow fashion while giving a nod to the 1950s. Where else can you pull these trends together whilst looking lady-like and feminine? We'll see you at Vivien of Holloway, where the girls here will be more than happy to help you get the perfect 1950s look for you!