This week I’d like to welcome the beautiful and talented Amanda Moorhouse, founder of Lipstick & Curls. Hi Amanda, introduce yourself and tell us what was the inspiration behind Lipstick & Curls:

Lipstick & Curls was born out of my love for the vintage look and my career as a hair & make up artist in the fashion industry. I studied hair & make up at the London College of fashion and then went down the usual route of assisting a established make up artist to learn my craft and make industry contacts. I assisted Illamasqua’s Alex Box for two years, whilst also working for a vintage inspired make up and hair retailer called Pout as their main stylist and product developer. For the last 15 years, I feel lucky to have maintained a career in hair & make up styling, a job that I still find stimulating and an area I continue to learn and grow in.

Whilst I had always loved watching old glamorous films I really found my passion for vintage whilst I was a student. There was the music of course but also the clothes. I’m sure partly due to student poverty I used to trawl the charity shops looking for interesting items and in those days it was easier to find some lovely vintage pieces. With these interests I began to research through old magazines and film clips looking for authentic period looks and incorporating them into my work.

I founded Lipstick & Curls in 2009.with a team of two artists, this has now grown to a team of 15. Lipstick & Curls specialises in hair and make-up from the past and can transform you into a jazz era flapper girl, a golden era Hollywood starlet, a rock n roll pin-up or a Mad Men sex kitten. We pride ourselves on having a fully qualified team that are all part of the different strands of the vintage scene, rockabillies, 40’s enthusiasts, Mods, Northern soul enthusiasts etc. While all experts in vintage styling, they are able to create any look from a bygone period. 

What, in your opinion, has been the most popular styles and make up colours in recent seasons? 

 We continue o look to the past for our inspiration in style and fashion. Media also play s a huge role in our influences, and now more than ever with TV hit series such as, Madmen, Downtown Abbey, Boardwalk Empire, Mr Selfridge …and many, many more. This is reflected in fashion across the board and even in hair and make up styling. Women are wanting a more glamorous appearance and are requesting styles from the 20’s to the 60’s. We also see the music industry being heavily influenced by the vintage styles, vintage is really everywhere and in my opinion is here to stay!!

I love the “Pop Up Beauty Parlour” idea …. and judging by the sell outs so do a lot of ladies!! What service tends to be the most popular? And what is your favourite treat at a beauty parlour? 

The pop up parlor is a great addition to an event! We have a few regulars at vintage fairs and festivals, and ladies can shop as well as getting beautified giving a complete experience. Most of our ladies choose our hair and make up package receiving a full vintage make over, this is our most popular service.

I find I spend most of my time making other ladies beautiful  however when I get the time I do enjoy a manicure and the odd massage, for me that is a real treat!

What’s your most favourite make up item in your collection?

Ooh that’s a difficult one! I am torn between my red lippy and my eyebrow pencil, it would have to be the brow liner.

Congratulations on Lipstick & Curls  being the Winner of Best Vintage Hair & Make Up in the 2012 Vintage Awards. Have you any new ventures/ideas that you’re planning for 2013?

We are always looking at ways of pushing the company forward. Our new Lipstick & Curls take away has proven popular and is a mobile service that takes glamour to the home. Made popular in the 40’s and 50’s the mobile stylist gives the company a connection with the hair & make up artists of the past.

We have recently started an exciting new venture with a company we love the Vintage Patisserie. It is a hair and beauty academy and our aim is to teach the basics in vintage glamour so ladies can look amazing without a daily visit to a salon. It’s more than just teaching skills though and it will have that very distinct vintage patisserie experience with lots of delicious food and drink.

 In the next few months we are also launching our online shop. From my experience as a hair and makeup artist I have sourced together many of the products and companies that are invaluable to my kit. Many not available in this country at the moment.

Personal now – what outfits and shoes would you normally be found wearing?

I love dressing up and have some loads of original clothes from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s but I also have a 3 year old so tend to dress more casually at home in reproduction and keep the originals for work and going out. I have to say I live in my ‘Freddies’ jeans (a reproduction of a classic 1950’s pattern) While I have a passion for shoes and have a great collection, I am on my feet a lot, so wear a lot of flats. I am a huge fan of French Sole ballet pumps, Remix Sandals, Miss L Fire and Terry Smith saddle shoes.

Do you have any favourite shops or online sites ?

I’m a big fan of Vintage fairs, where they have the best original clothing dealers but also love to find bargains scourering the charity shops and car boots. Some favourite shops for Vintage are Radio Days in Waterloo and Blackout in Covent Garden. As for reproduction I love Freddies of Pinewood (http://www.freddiesofpinewood.co.uk) , Morellos (http://www.morellos.co.uk/) and What Katie Did (http://www.whatkatiedid.com/)

What’s next on your clothes/shoe wish list?

I have recently bought quite a special gold 1950’s wiggle dress and I am on the look out for the perfect pair of 1950’s healed mules to wear with it!

Boots or Shoes? 

Shoes! I wear a lot of skirts dresses and capris and a boot wouldn’t work with either really. I do love my vintage court shoes and even my repro sandals … even in the winter!

Links you would like to share e.g. website/facebook etc

 

Info@lipstickandcurls.net

www.lipstickandcurls.net

https://www.facebook.com/LipstickandCurlsLtd

https://twitter.com/#!/lipstickcurls

http://pinterest.com/lipstickcurls/

 

Thanks Amanda!  I do like your idea of an online shop and I love the whole set up of Lipstick & Curls! I wish you continued success! 

Linda x

Photo Credits: Rhapsody Road; Claudia Rose Carter Photography; Steve Hart Photography; Tony Nylons; Nick Clements