'Seeing You' Through The Lens

Photography by Scott Chalmers

Our latest collaboration with Southampton based photographer Scott Chalmers has created some stunning forties style images to promote West Quay Vintage Fayre taking place on 3 and 4 August. With just two weeks to countdown, we were approached by Southampton's EAST store to join forces for the event and we jumped at the opportunity to appear live doing vintage hair and make-up demonstrations at EAST throughout these exciting two days. The first task in hand was to put together a photoshoot to create the total forties inspired look with EAST's new "Land Girl" vintage collection.

Poster design by Cassie Leedham. Photography by Scott Chalmers

So within just a few days we were prepped and ready to go; the shoot was to take place on Wednesday 20 July and we had just one hour to get the shots. Our beautiful model Dee pitched up at the EAST store the day before to be fitted with the outfits with the help of Patricia Keenan, and our own Sharon Holloway, armed of course with a library full of original Land Girl images to get the colour palette and the style bang on for the look. The hair and make-up design by Vintage Hair Lounge had similarly already been researched and trialled, and Scott was making plans for how to cope with the gloomy weather that we were anticipating for the shoot evening!

On the day itself, despite the intermittent rain, evocative of wartime Britain (we consoled ourselves), the key was to choose locations for photographs that were close by to the West Quay Shopping Centre but reminiscent enough of a rural past to give a timeless earthy atmosphere, and what better opportunity for Southampton's historic City walls to oblige.



And then the work really started! With the photos and film footage in the can, Good Show Studio designer Cassie Leedham once again proved why she is a Vintage Hair Lounge favourite, creating a stunning vintage magazine style poster design to promote the event.

Then to the editing, and a new short film was crafted under the patient supervision of Gang Girls editor Andrew Wilks. I'd started to firmly establish a style of filmmaking that I was inspired by, and as with Gang Girls, new film 'Seeing You' has style and informality that exudes emotion as soon as the right lyrical track is applied. So it was without hesitation that Miss Annie's version of wartime classic "I'll be Seeing You", recorded in the same session as Gang Girls soundtrack Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), was chosen to take the imagery to a new meaningful level.

Photography by Scott Chalmers

From 3 and 4 August through to 31 October, every purchaser of full price items at the EAST West Quay store will receive a very special gift from Vintage Hair Lounge, namely an exclusive 15% off discount voucher for all Ladies hairdressing services. We hope that the inspiration of vintage and classic looks whether authentic or inspired with a modern twist, will endure and show the world that Southampton is bursting with style!

Photography by Scott Chalmers

Vintage Hair Lounge LIVE at EAST, West Quay Vintage Fayre, 3 & 4 August 2011

We look forward to seeing you.