Having read some awful reviews of this weekend’s vintage event (for example here and here) I can’t help but feel a little disappointed in people! Sure, there weren’t enough toilets, and the drinks were expensive, and the market stalls were a little cramped and there wasn’t much in the way of shelter during the rainy bits, but for me these things faded away into far off insignificance as the magic of history and glamour took centre stage…
I understand that some of the people participating in the festival were unhappy with the way they were treated - for example, I read one blog in which the writer, who owned one of the vintage Vespas on display, complained that the organisation was terrible and there was no security provided for the classic vehicles during the evening and overnight - despite the Dyson handryer tent having a bouncer! I think it’s a shame that the people who had contributed to the festival felt neglected by the organisers - after all, there wouldn’t be a festival without them! However, of course, this was the inaugural year and hopefully any kinks and problems can be addressed in time for next year.
I, however, had the most wonderful time. Given that I am relatively new to the world of vintage, and this was my first major event, I was afraid I wouldn’t step up to the mark, but although there were numerous outfits more beautiful and glamorous than mine, I still feel I did make a good effort and even had people asking to take my photograph! This blog has so far documented my forray into vintage life but I think I learnt more this weekend than I have in all the months I’ve been delving through vintage shops, learning how to pin curl my hair, and reading other blogs dedicated to my obsession.
Surrounded by beautiful outfits and people who clearly love the vintage lifestyle as much as I do, I truly felt at home this weekend. Despite some people’s complaints I really felt that this is a festival with a true community spirit. Everyone was friendly and just wanted to share their passion - even those who weren’t dressed up in any way and perhaps do not embrace vintage in their day to day lives were clearly enamoured by the whole thing, and that for me made it the happiest place on earth.
So, here is the diary of my weekend - I hope you enjoy it!
When Friday morning finally arrived, there I was, stood outside the train station awaiting my ride to Vintage at Goodwood! With the roar of a very old engine a Morris Minor pulled in to view containing my boss Mark, and with a quick swing by my place to pick up my suitcase (yes, I took a suitcase to a festival, what of it?) we were off!
After some worrying encounters with very steep hills that the car nearly couldn’t defeat, we arrived at Goodwood and entered the most civilised camp site known to mankind. Rows of tents in their own little plots, with staff to direct you into your very own plot! None of this higgeldy piggeldy nonsense you get at other festivals, oh no. After wrestling with tent pegs and poles, our castle finally stood tall.
After re-applying many layers of red lipstick and tidying up my victory rolls we headed into the main site. And gosh, what an entrance! After walking down a little woodland lane strung with fairy lights we emerged through an archway and along a red carpet to find ourselves facing several beautiful vintage cars and the Main Street of the festival.
We went to see The Buzzcocks (who were great!) and although at this point it was raining elephants and mammoths I was far too excited to care. We went and had a wander down the Main Street, which reminded me of the street leading up to the castle at Disneyland!
Along the street there were some wonderful things to see and do, including a hair salon where you could get your hair done in all sorts of vintage styles, The Tanqueray No. 10 Cocktail Bar (vanilla whiskey sours are my absolute new favourite drinks), a cinema showing classic films, a cat walk (where I saw a great show about the styles of Brix Smith Start and George Lamb), an art gallery, Bonhams auction house, plenty of shops and an exhibition called Future Vintage which housed a collection of items that curators and designers believe to be the vintage objects in time to come, including Mr Men books and Crocs! For the people that complained there wasn’t enough stuff to do, they clearly didn’t walk down Main Street!
We went to see the motorbike display at the Demon Drome Wall of Death - just amazing! And it also offered the most beautiful rockabilly man I’ve ever seen. Swoon.
We went and had tea at the Marvellous Tea Dance Company, posed with a lot of lovely vintage cars, went on the Waltzers and the Chair’o’Planes (actually, we went on them twice, at my childish insistence), watched several bands - including The Damned, The Lonnie Donagan Band and The Puppini Sisters (who were an absolute highlight for me, absolutely wonderful) - and did the most amount of shopping possible.
Other huge highlights for me had to be the Chap Olympiad. The Chap is a great magazine for male enthusiasts of the 1940s, and is run by the kind of dapper, moustachioed, pipe-smoking man every girl wants to date (unless you’re me of course, and inexplicably decide to go out with someone who listens to grime, reads comics and plays Modern Warfare).
I cannot tell you enough how wonderful The Swingle Sisters were. They are a group that formed in the mid 1960s in Paris and have continued all the way through to now - with differing members. They cover pop songs, classical music and rock numbers - using nothing but their voices. Even the bass guitar, piano, violin and drum sounds are made by them! They were absolutely incredible; I could not get over how talented they were.
I also had the very great pleasure of meeting Mrs Stokes of Mrs Stokes Vintage China. Mark bought a beautiful set of china from her, and she was just was lovely as her wares, a true lady! I suggest you go and have a look at her website at once. I defy you not to spend any money! Not only is the china gorgeous but the packaging is too. Wonderful company.
The Let It Rock tent was probably the place I spent most of my time - great 50s and 60s bands, including the incredible Wanda Jackson, who is still as awesome as she ever was, and some superb DJs who played great rockabilly and rock’n’roll tracks until 2am. The dancing by some of the other festival goers was phenomenal and has reignited my desire to learn!
Two final memories of the weekend, one disturbing, the other lovely. The former was a bizarre thing called Babyoke!
It truly was weird - popping a baby into those bouncey things and having it bop around to the Sex Pistols! I didn’t know whether to feel disgusted or laugh forever.
The latter memory, however, brought together everything I said about the festival’s warm sense of community. As I was sat watching a band one afternoon in the Let It Rock tent, a little girl of no more than two years old ran up to me, put her hands on my skirt and looked up at me. Her dad followed her over from where he had been dancing with her, and informed me that she simply wanted a kiss. I leant my head down and this gorgeous little girl gave me a kiss on the cheek before running off! The happy family atmosphere and the friendly disposition of everyone I met made the festival for me. It was an absolute joy, I currently have the post-Vintage blues and I just cannot wait for next year!
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