Ugh I've been trying to get this post up all month! I've been having major computer, technical difficulties. Well I can't remember If I even posted about Ink n' Iron 2011! I know I didn't post about 2012, so I might as well post about them both! Last year I got to experience Ink N' Iron all three days, versus the one day I had attended in 2011. I was pretty much working the whole time well I helped my friend vend vintage clothing. I met new people, made new friends and bumped into familiar faces. All in all I had a great time hanging out, seeing some great bands and all the attractions! Being that Ink N' Iron 2013 was held earlier this month I was thrilled to find out that one of my all time favorite performers Punk legends, Iggy and The Stooges are playing! I've always wanted to see Iggy Pop since I was a teenager and I vowed I'd go, though I'm wasn't working the festival this year. However due to buying up concert and event tickets lately I'm a little short on spending funds, so I didn't make it out this year (soo sad!). I also wish that some of Friday's performers would be performing on Saturday night (like Wanda Jackson, The Growlers, Tijuana Panthers). To be honest this years lineup is not that exciting in my opinion, I did notice that there seems to be a 1960's theme with some of the performers this year. A lot of bands have that retro, soul, garage, lo-fi sound going on which is interesting for Ink N' Iron. Though I do enjoy those type of genres when I go to Ink I want to hear some good ol' Psychobilly! A lovely gentleman who I met at last years Ink N' Iron told me that the show promoters are trying to cater to a more "Alternative" crowd, therefore adding bands that you wouldn't typically see playing the festival in previous years. But the times are a changing and sometimes change can kind of be a good thing. So here are some photos of both my 2011 & 2012 Ink N' Iron experiences. Enjoy!
2011
Here I am with Jerome singer of the psychobilly band Batmobile!
Batmobile on stage
Pin Up Contestants
Here I am with my friend Gabriela Hernandez Owner and Creator of the amazing repro vintage inspired makeup line Besame
Unexpected Twinsies! Haha Here I am with my friend Justine, she's currently filming her documentary about women in the Vintage Scene, titled "Vintage Vixens"
I don't remember this fella's name, but I thought he was the best dressed guy here at the festival. The crowd is much different,but similar though it's no Viva. So yay for his spiffiness!
I don't remember this gals name either, but I thought she had such a cute little outfit and check out that cool mini double tier parasol! I want one!!
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2012
Here is my friend's booth, Got Vintage. We're set up and ready to sell! It was the first time Ink N' Iron decided to have vintage vendors, though it was new we didn't get much traffic. But we did make sales and met new people too! I had a lot of fun vending, it made me think about going into sales.
Here I am with one of my favorite ladies, the lovely Amanda Lee! She's such a beauty in person and totally sweet!
Here I am with my lovely friend Gloria and fellow blogging buddy. Her and her gal pals came all the way from Las Vegas to check out the festival, they weren't expecting such a casual crowd. If only every festival were Viva, haha
Some of the afternoon crowd
Cool a giant Tecate can!
I believe this gentleman's name is Jason. I thought he certainly looked very spiffy for Ink N Iron! Yay for dressing pre post war! haha
During my break I decided to do a little dancing with my friend Jason, because no one jives at Ink N Iron haha
Aren't they the cutest and fabulously dressed couple you've seen! I had to take a pic! This is Heather and (I think) Paul, they came from Northern California for their first Ink N Iron. I complimented them on their great garb, they too expected it to be like Viva. I actually spotted them this year at Viva, but I didn't get a chance to speak to them.
A sword swallower at the Pleasure Portal
Whoa! Work that Pole!
I loved this womans burlesque performance! She was so lovely and it was so 1920's-esque! I completely forgot her name (as of right now), but ever since I saw her consider me a fan.
Magician Christopher Wonder and his Chicken! He was a hoot and put on a great performance!
Ooohh
Such a classic and tantalizing burlesque act!
What a sunset!
Fire Dancer
Tight Rope Walker
Ready to watch the band!
She Wants Revenge!
Some cars out on the lawn
Someone's gone and lost their weave!
That's my friend Jason right in the middle! Haha go Jason go!
This cute little lady was one of our customers the previous day. She bought this awesome two piece vintage 1970's set and she wore the top out the next day! Awesome!
"High Heels coming back in fashion.. High Heels walk over me.." (Demented Are Go- High Heels)
Such a beauty! I'm loving that Cherry Red, can I get lipstick and nail polish in that shade?
Another shot of lovely and fabulously dressed couple Heather & Paul
Here I am with my lovely friend Ariana! Fashion Designer, Pinup Model and first ever Miss Uptown Whittier!
Exciting news everyone! I'll be vending vintage for the first time and at Ink N Iron!!
This coming weekend is the annual Ink N' Iron festival on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California
I'm pretty darn excited this year because I'll be helping my friend sell vintage clothing! In a way I'm kind of like her vintage inspector as she likes to call me "The Professional" hahaha I'll be helping her vend and organize so be sure to stop at her booth Got Vintage located in the new vintage bazaar all 3 days!! She'll have vintage clothing for Woman & Men, handbags, hats and accessories!!
If you don't see me at the booth I'll be roaming around or dancing somewhere so stop and say hello!
Pretty soon i'll be selling vintage myself in a variety of sizes and decades, as well as retro accessories and handmade items. So stay tuned, this is just the beginning of Victoria vending vintage!
For more info about Ink N Iron and Got Vintage, check out these sites:
It was my first time going the the Uptown Whittier Antique Faire and I'd have to say it was quite good! There were a lot of deals, a ton of jewelry, knick knacks, furniture and clothes too! I made off with quite a few items that I've really been wanting. My only regret though was not buying a fox fur stole for only $25!! I've been wanting one soo bad! I know it's fur and I'm an animal lover, but if it's been dead for over 40 years I'm okay with it, plus it didn't have a head on it or anything. I some how convinced myself that I didn't need more fur, but one can never have too much fur!!
Some items at the faire
My outfit for the day; I received plenty of wonderful compliments! The dress used to be my mother's in the late 1970's, now it's mine! I paired it with my 1940's hat from Bullocks that I bought at a thrift store for only $6!! Talk about a steal!
Myself and my lovely friend and fellow ReVamp intern Ariana! She's Miss Uptown Whittier!! A very lovely Miss Uptown I would say. She also designs and makes a lot of her ensembles, like this lovely Black and White frock.
My lovely new Vintage Black Patent Leather handbag! I needed a new one my favorite one broke, so this is much bigger, which is great for carrying extras. I believe it's 1960's and it was only $10.
Two new hats!! I purchased both for $20, the Forest Green one is 40's I love it!! It's velour and it has a thin netting draped on the sides. The Red one is early 60's, it's such a cute little Boater hat with a bow and birdcage netting.
I didn't only get myself something I surprised my brother Angel, with a 1940's tie and vintage flask! He's been wanting both, especially the flask (mind you he's only 17). He wants it more for joking around as to use for underage drinking, haha he said I'm allowed to use it anytime. Oh and those are two vintage hair curlers that I bought for my grandma. She recently lost her hair curler that she had since she was 16, she uses it to curl her eyelashes so I bought her these two as a surprise.
(all photos by. Victoria Inez Rivera)
1939's The Women Birthday Party
(April 30, 2011)
I was invited to my fabulous friend Ashley's brilliantly themed 1939 "The Women" birthday party!! Held on the glamourous historic Art Deco luxury ocean liner the Queen Mary. All us ladies were asked and encouraged to dress as a character from the film, guys were invited too but since there was no men in the film they can come as there own glamourous selves.
The 1939 original trailer, not the crappy remade version with Meg Ryan! This has got to be the original chick flick! Comedy, drama, cattiness, fashion and an all star female cast!! It's a must see, especially since the entire wardrobe is Adrian, including a technicolor fashion show in the film!
Check out these dames!! The birthday girl is in the center with the biggest grin! She's so sweet and I must say on of the most glamourous women I know, I'm always so envious of her outfits and accessories. You can find a lot of her items or findings for sale on her etsy shop:
With my friend Lauren and the birthday girl herself. Lauren was "Peggy" (played by Joan Fontaine), Ashely was "Sylvia" (played by Rosalind Russell) I soo wanted to be Sylvia, she's hilarious and she has the best wardrobe, but there wouldn't have been a better Sylvia than Ashley she even had the eye blouse!!! I wanted it soo bad, I forgot to ask her if it was an Adrian original. I was stuck on just who to be, I thought about being "Lucy" (you know the owner on that divorce ranch in Reno), but at the last minute I decided to be a background character. You remember those fitting room girls wearing black dresses with their updos? I was one of them, my friend Ashley knew who I was as soon as she saw me! A couple of friends told me "Do you know you have a measuring tape around your neck?" haha
Here's a fitting room scene, she the fitting girls wearing black in the background.
Some of us gals going crazy! My friend Sari on the left was "Crystal" (played by Joan Crawford) I loved her dress it was to die for! Other lovely ladies, lysbett wore this awesome powder pink late 50's matching coat and dress with ostrich feather trim and Jayde owner of Bell Jar Vintage wore her grandmother's late 1930's wedding dress!!
Me and my always dashing, dapper and handsome friend Andre.
Me and my friend 'The San Francisco Song Bird' Mikal Sandoval showing off our gams! As she likes to call it I'm her "Hotcha Muchacha" I love it!!
My brother Angel, looking very snazzy wearing that new tie I got him!!
Sipping away on a cocktail with "Jungle Red" nails haha! My dress is early 40's, I bought it at a friend's yard sale over a year ago for $25 and my 40's clutch though you can barely see it I also bought at the same yard sale for $5.
(all photos by. Angel Rivera)
2011 Smiths/ Morrissey Convention (May 1, 2011)
Well this year's convention was quite eventful and an actual Smith showed up, the placed was packed like crazy, These Charming Men put on an awesome show, I met old friends, made new ones and met a blog fan! And I never thought I would be dancing to David Bowie's "Fame" at a Moz convention (not that it was a bad thing). To be honest I had fun, just not as much fun as I would have liked too. Being that it was so packed the dance floor was really cramped and really really sticky eww, the song selections weren't as good, I didn't get any free items this time. But that won't stop me from going again next year!
The dance floor
These Charming Men!! Even though I've said The Sweet and Tender Hooligans are the best Smiths/ Moz tribute band, I think it's correct to say they are the best in the US, but These Charming Men would be best foreign tribute band being that they are from Ireland. Their singer was a great Moz and swung those gladiolas perfectly!
Richard Blade with Andy Rourke of The Smiths
People went mad for these raffled off banners, they ended up having a dance contest which I found myself in. I personally didn't want a banner, but this guy I met earlier that night begged me to be his dance partner he really wanted a banner. I wonder if he won? haha
Do you see that (what is it a Smiths single?) up in the left corner? It has Montgomery Clift on it!! Could it be any more perfect! I want it!! I just wasn't willing to pay the $60.
Me and my friends that I met up with later in the night
Literally as soon as I walked in the club, a stranger approached me and asked if I was Victoria. With confusion I said yes. He then asked if I was the "Victoria Vintage Girl", "Yes!" I exclaimed. I had just met a blog fan of mine for the first time! Englebert (or is it Ingelbert?) is a big Morrissey fan and had never heard about the convention until he read my blog, he thought he would check it out and had told his wife he had hoped to meet me. I was so thrilled, I hope they had a wonderful time at their first convention. (Remember Englebert you can find me on Facebook)
(all photos by. Victoria Inez Rivera)
Here's a video shot by my Facebook friend and huge Moz fan, Jay Tando of the 2011 Smiths/Morrissey Convention. The Fan interviews are a lot of fun, very interesting and oh so relatable.
