Vintage finds & goodies galore...

Hello!
I've actually got some time off- for the first time this year... I'm not gigging, recording etc etc for a week so I got my first chance to go shopping- vintage shopping to be exact (my favourite)! Since losing all my luggage on American Airlines (thousands of pounds of vintage, one offs and bespoke items) I have been not only gutted but in despair of what's left in my wardrobe so I have been de-cluttering bigtime. I am selling off 50% of my clothes and other random belongings that were gathering dust on the shelves. I'll keep you posted on where the sale will be but it's looking likely that Battersea Car Boot is about to be Gabby-fied!

ANYWAY

The clearout did clear some space for some new treasures and Katie Antoniou of London Plinth advised me to visit the £20 sale at 123 Vintage where you cram all you can into a large bag for £20, or £10 for a smaller bag. Katie went on the first day and very kindly picked up 3 dresses for me- all of which are GORGEOUS!

Stunning pink ballgown.

Floor length blue cocktail dress.

This needs work and a iron but great potential!

So of course I travelled through the rain to get there on my first day off- I needed retail therapy and £20 couldn't be better spent!
I found lots of great things - my favourites are:

Gorgeous 50s swing skirt

Purple tailored trousers

 (that you can't really see - but they're great!)

Great destructured wool top and black cotton breeches

A bad pic of blue checked skirt and white shirt

I bought home a kids dress...

Cut it in half...

Voila!

How very 80s of me!

 I also got a black velvet prom dress, a white and black netted hat, silk white shirt with birds on it, white braces for my man and a black and white velvet dress!

That's Tigger my mum's dog!

There were a few items that have now added to my 'for sale' pile but I think I did very well for £20!

 Another thing I have missed a lot from the luggage disappearance is my makeup- all my products from Illamasqua that I blogged about here were in that bag.... :(
However they have now replaced all lost items and more- I am so excited by my new kit and have already had 2 gigs for trying out the new colours and pieces and love them... THANKYOU ILLAMASQUA!

 Also as I blogged about before- I got some other amazing goodies...
Hairpieces from Annabelles Wigs who have named a wig after little ole me!

Which you can get now (just click on the picture). I am so excited to be the first to have this and I wore it at Festival Mundial in Holland last week for the show and for meeting fans and eating cupcakes made by the famous and charming Dutch chef Rudolph Van Veen . Huge thanks to Annabelles Wigs- I can't believe how perfect the match to my hair is! And now I don't have to hide under a hat when my roots get bad and I have no money/ time to sort them- yey!

Photo by Gem Hall

This picture might just end up in Rudolph's new cookbook!! Which reminds me our lovely Gem Hall (my official photographer and tour manager) was in The Telegraph this week with her amazing picture of Nell from Gifford's Circus:

GO GEM!!

ALSO Now Voyager sent me a whole load more gorgeous, colourful things for my hair... I love them all! Butterflys, birds and flowers (which I wore at Mundial Festival to lots of great comments!)

Here's a fan video of me wearing all three -Illamasqua makeup, Annabelles Wigs' 'Gabby' headpiece and Now Voyager flower fascinators!

Woh! I haven't done a long blog in a while... and now I'm doing two- come see what I'm up to in my new interiors blog Living On A Shoestring too...

Take care ladies and gents (I know there is at least one man who reads this! ;) )

Adieu!
Xox
Gabs

Two of Wands

photo by Albert Nijmolen

Just a quick post to thank some lovely people for their ongoing contributions to my work- firstly the lovely team at Illamasqua who've replaced all the make-up that was in my luggage lost by the airline on tour in America.I'm loving experimenting with some of their new range of colours. Also Felicity of Now Voyager who has sent me yet more incredible goodies for my hair, like the giant orchid in the picture above, taken at Festival Mundial yesterday. I've also just received some wonderful hair pieces and extensions from Annabelle Wigs.

Two of Wands by Katelan van Foisy

I've just seen this wonderful painting by my friend Katelan van Foisy, who did the beautiful artwork for our Song for Japan.This is the Two of Wands card from the Tarot Deck- I love that I'm wearing the headdress by Her Curious Nature and a fabulous dress that Katelan came up with herself- I may have to have one made!I love collaborating with designers, artists and all creatives really, its such a great complement when others find inspiration in my work, as I do in theirs.

Video blog from Australia

Here's another video for you, the latest in my series of video-blogs with the wonderful Jonny Levene. Featuring some tentative scuba-diving, voracious sweet-eating and some of the sites of Sydney!You can spot me wearing some of the fantastic domino hairclips by Hatastic, stil available from Gabberdashery.

And yet another video; this time from Illamasqua, my fantstic make-up sponsor who kitted me out for my tour. I'm SO excited about this new range- a whole new take on pastels which I can't wait to wear!

Here's another of my recent performance outfits:

Much love from across the pond!

Gabster

xxx

ILLAMASQUA INSTORE SHOW

Good eve all!
As you must know by know I am HUGE fan of Illamasqua- it is the makeup for my alter ego and I am in love with their ethics, originality, quality and personal approach. I am lucky enough to be sponsored by this amazing brand and when I first received some kit from them I gushed about it here.
Anyway needless to say I'm besotted with their products and when I was invited to do a pre Christmas instore I couldn't refuse.
I hadn't actually had to chance to visit their flagship shop in Dean Street until this day and knew it would be chic and beautiful as everything they do is but I had no idea how inspiring it would be - the first thing I saw was a black and white vertical stripe PVC curtain behind a shiny black perspex counter. It really is a gorgeous shop- I was so happy to be singing there!
Another thing I like about Illamasqua and something that I really relate to is there charity side they have a whole range dedicated called S.O.P.H.I.E to Sophie Lancaster ... here is a short tribute to her commissioned by Illamasqua (featuring one of my favourite songs- 'Roads' by Portishead):



I hope you don't mind me bringing down the mood- but this really effected me and I always want to help spread awareness - we are lucky to have brands like Illamasqua help educate young people about tolerance and promoting individuality.

*before I get tearful let's change the subject*

Everyone in the store were so friendly and welcoming and I have noticed this from everyone that works for Illamasqua which makes a nice difference from the snooty staff at some makeup shops that I am almost scared to go in... I will say no names!
I had my hair and makeup done by an incredible artistse -Claire Lille ... I think you can agree she did a pretty good job (you should have seen me when I went in!!)

All Illamasqua makeup

I'm wearing a beautiful black vintage dress from Beyond Retro

 Stephen (Ellis) joined me for the gig and we played in the shop to a very appreciative audience and some milling around the makeup who stopped to listen. The snow began to fall whilst we played 'We're All In This Together' and it was pretty idyllic!

All these fantasmagorical photographs were taken by the super talented and lovely lady, Gem Hall who we've all grown very fond of and is our official photographer now so expect so see a lot more from her!

I hope everyone had a lovely christmas and are enjoying the beginning of the 2011... I'm busy in and out of studio, plotting a new music video and getting ready to tour the world! I leave for Japan in 3 weeks then to Australia, Canada, America and Europe! Exciting times here- I need a new word for excited in fact, answers on a postcard please!

I will leave you with a video of a session we did at Green Man Festival - I am all decked out in bespoke beautiful Bonzie dress and wrap and yes, we DID need those wellies!
Oh and I URGE you to vote for Bonzie to be Ireland's Most Influential Designer 2010 there are only a few days left and I can't think of anyone more deserving than this lovely, talented duo.




Green Man Sessions 008 // Gabby Young and Other Animals - We're All In This Together from Green Man on Vimeo.

Nighty wighty kittens!
Xox Gab - up xoX

PS- Some people like to know when our next gig is and so I will use that excuse for a plug:
SATURDAY 29TH JANUARY
GABBY YOUNG & OTHER ANIMALS + THE IRREPRESSIBLES
AT THE BARBICAN, London
Details here
Tickets here

ILLAMASQUA - The make-up for my alter ego

One of the perks about my job is I get to wear amazing things by designers and collaborate with incredibly talented people and this includes MAKE-UP. As you are all aware, (because I can't stop going on about her) I am lucky to have my own hair and make-up stylist - Jennifer Nash, and she has become one of the most important parts of our live show - making the band look great and not just great but completely different every gig and ALWAYS unique and eccentric. SHE IS A SAINT TO US...
So when we came across a make-up brand that has the same ethos as ours -to dress the alter ego that comes out of me when I am onstage - the showgirl, the vamp, the starlet, the circus ringleader etc. naturally we were eager to find out more.
This brand is:

http://www.illamasqua.com/

It just so happens that the people that run this brand are equally lovely and have taken me under there beautifully decorated wing and will be supporting myself and Jen to create the looks that we aspire to for the future. We are so excited and in love with there looks it appears to be a match made in heaven.

To start with I have recieved my own kit to use when Jen is not around for me to be creative with and l have just recieved a beautifully packaged box of Illamasqua make-up.

Now I have had a chance to play with it all I can honestly say that it is the best make-up I have ever had - it is a dream to apply and actually doesn't end up under my eyes or faded after a few hours which is what I have been used to for years (and that is from some high end brands not just Tesco's own!!)

Here is a run down of my specially chosen Illamasqua kit...

NB, I would do before and after pictures but I am too embarassed to be seen in my current no sleep or makeup state...

CONCEALER in CC15 - I am definitely human and have regular outbreaks (annoyingly this started after my 18th birthday which upset me as I always thought adults don't get spots!!)

ANYWAY I have found it hard to get a good concealer to cover these naughty bits but this one does the job (HALLELUJAH!!) it's light and masks a whole manner of marks.

POWDER FOUNDATION in PF 120 - I've been lead into using a liquid foundation before and always got it a bit wrong (being taken aside at a party to remove streaks from your neck is not so pretty!!) so I decided to go with powder and I am pleased I did. This really stays and gives me that clear complexion that I aim for.

ILLUMINATOR in POISED (rose pink) - A new thing for me but I tried it out on my cheeks, eyes and lips and really loved the glint it gave them - it has now replaced blusher and will be a great addition to my make-up bag. It does wonders for my cheekbones!

LIQUID EYELINER in SHATTER (black) - I have to admit I went off the pen type eyeliners because of smudging and dripping but was willing to try it again as the pot and brush is just a little bit trickier when you are in a hurry so WELL DONE ILLAMASQUA I finally have one that STAYS and is so easy to draw with- I like to do all sorts of curls and spots with my eyeliner and this one lets me be really creative. 

VOLUME MASCARA in HARNESS (blackest black) - Like most girls I know - mascara is the bain of my make-up life ... I have tried so many and although I like some and have stuck with them for a while I am yet to love one... could this be the love of my life?! I'm sure by now you must all be thinking - she can't love them all THIS MUCH but I'm telling the truth when I say I will NEVER use another Mascara... I have annoyingly short eyelashes and now I feel like Rita Heyworth!!!

LIPSTICK in BOX (red red red) - This was a colour designed by the mindblowing make-up artist Alex Box who happens to be Illamasqua's creative director:

Yup- this is her work.... WOW! The lipstick is wonderfully matt and a great colour so when I feel like vamping it up I know what to reach for!

NAIL VARNISH in Untold (Red Glitter) -Glitter nail varnishes always rely on many layers to look good and I did 3 for the ultimate glamourous diva look! Their varnishes glide on beautifully and the brush is easy to apply with so I will definitely be adding many of these to my collection.

PENCILS - FINE in EERIE (black) and MEDIUM in SPELL (pillar box red) - both of these are great - good colours and show up nicely on my skin. I used the fine pencil for under my eyes and it worked like a fine kohl which I was impressed by and then 'Spell' makes a great lip liner for 'Box' Lipstick- as above- too.

ACCESSORIES - EYELASH CURLER, LIP AND POWDER BRUSHES - My happiness at these products goes right the way through... I especially love the lip brush that gave me perfect precision.

I did an acoustic gig on Friday at Marlborough Jazz Festival and wore some of my Illamasqua kit and after 10mins in the bathroom this is how I looked :

Dress By Lira Leirner ... but more on that later...

Jen will be able to create some amazing looks with these products so keep an eye out for my alter ego!

This is also a perfect time to intro you all to Illamasqua because at the moment they are running a brilliant campaign where you can take in your old makeup and replace it for new with 25% off everything!

It's also an inexpensive way to add some high end products to your collection - there is something for everyone!

Do go and check it out for yourself...

I assure you that I feel passionate about this brand I don't want you to think I have been in any way swayed to write this blog, I just wanted to do my bit to thank them for their generosity and spread the word to you as they are worth it and you are too!!

Till next time,

Gabbamasqua (!)

Xoxxoxoxoxoxox