1940s 'Roxanne' Starlet Swimsuit

While England's autumnal weather sent you scurrying for your hats and jackets, I was lounging by a pool on the other side of the world, in Far North Queensland, Australia! The sunny climate provided the perfect excuse to parade about in this gorgeous 1940s swimsuit.

I'm not quite sure that I successfully channelled the 1940s starlet, but wearing this swimsuit was a revelation: I suddenly had a waist! a bust! a flat stomach! Modern swimsuit manufacturers are doing us a disservice by skimping on fabric and using unforgiving, unflattering lycra. This swimsuit is made from a heavy, thick blend of acetate and cotton. Diagonal panels of fabric radiate from one side of the waist, and a cute 'modesty panel' skims down the hips and across the top of the thighs. Boobs are kept perky with boning and shelf support in the bust area.

I'll confess that it didn't feel quite so comfortable to wear when it got wet. The fabric became waterlogged and the swimsuit felt like it was sagging - although a surreptitious glance at my reflection confirmed it still clung in all the right places.

Found at: Blackout II, Endell Street, Covent Garden
Price: £50.00
Usability Factor: 5/5

Accessorise with: 1940s sunglasses.

In the interests of documenting vintage swimsuits (and confirming my history as a swimsuit model), here's two 'vintage' swimsuits from 1986, and 1991.

Vintage 1950s prom dress

I have a confession to make: in order to get my hands on this gorgeous dress, I committed a cardinal sin and broke my vow to never purchase items in 'proper' vintage shops. But I couldn't resist its creamy sheen and gorgeous stitched detailing. So far, it's had two outings: dinner at an Underground restaurant, where we were papped for Ms Marmite Lover's blog, and The Blonde and the Beast Last Tuesday Society's masked ball. Underneath, a layer of tulle puffs the skirt out and makes me feel like one of those miniature plastic ballerinas twirling on a circle of glass inside the lid of a girl's jewellery box.

Found at: Blackout II, Endell Street, Covent Garden

Usability Factor: 5/5

Accessorise with: Big pearl drop earrings, peachy-coloured Venetian mask for evening.

1950s 'Brexton' Picnic Set

Vintage Acquisition of the Day: 1950s picnic set, complete with asbestos lined thermos and original sugar cubes (plus a four-person set of side-plates, coffee cups and saucers, cutlery, tea-towel, food boxes, salt 'n' pepper shaker and glass storage jars).

This one had my name written all over it - I just couldn't resist (and a £30.00 spend on a single item is still not my most expensive outlay in a charity shop!).

It's completely unusable, and not just because of the life-threatening drink canister - no, despite its pristine condition, I just can't imagine myself lugging a suitcase-sized box of china crockery up Ally Pally.

Found in: Crouch End Charity Shop

Usability factor: 3/5

Accessorise with: 1950s glove-making pattern; Bush portable radio (I have my eye on an original on ebay), strawberries and a British summer.