Bettie Page Experience

Last week i was involved in a photo-shoot, but this one was not just any ordinary photo-shoot. I am part of a roller derby team called Hot Wheel Roller Derby and as part of that team we all need photos for our alter egos, mine is Imelda Mayhem after the singer Imelda May.


I never really wear dresses and when i do it takes me ages to choose the right one. My main problem, if you want to call it that, is that i have a larger than normal bust and a very tiny waste. Which often makes it hard to choose what tops to wear and shopping is a nightmare. At Sasparilla my sister loves vintage clothing, Betty Page and Vivien of Holloway, as does my idol Imelda May.

So when it came to choose an outfit for the photoshoot i wanted to be as much like my idol as possible, but with a little flare of Imelda Mayhem. The only was to do Imelda May justice was to wear a Betty Page dress. I chose a Red Swing dress; tight around the waist and top of the dress patterned and in that old sailors uniform style. It meant that there was plenty of room up top. It fitted like a dream, it really made all of my good features stand out and it was good at hiding those "muffin tops" everyone likes to talk about these days.

To make the day even better we had a great photographer, Sophie Turner, www.boxhand.co.uk . It was clear that we had all not experienced such a photo-shoot before. All the girls were helping each other to get their make up on and to get their outfits sorted. Sophie helped all the girls decide what to wear making sure that their outfits looked good on them and most importantly that they suite their alter ego. So when we were in front of the camera we all felt fantastic and comfortable. I have to say that all the photos look fantastic, everyones personality shines and the photos are so vibrant. You can look at all the photos from the day here

If i learned anything from the photo-shoot is wearing the Betty Page dress is that it really pays to get somthing that fits your body shape just right and having that courage to maybe try somthing a little different. With out this experience i may not have had the confidence to try a different flare, but don't wait like i did, just go for it. And if you havent found that dress that doesnt fit you quite right dont worrie it will be there somewhere, maybe in Sasparilla or hiding behind that alter ego dieing to jump out.

All Photos Copy write Sophie Turner (www.Boxhand.co.uk)

The Corn Exchange Leeds

Well as this is my first blog of many i thought that i should talk about the Corn Exchange Leeds. We have decided to open shop here, yes when we tell people there first reaction is 'I thought the Corn Exchange had shut down?' well it hasnt and Sasparilla is here now.

We love the new unit that we have and its a great space, we have furnished it with great floor and wall vinals and of course our unique changing rooms are there too. If you havent been to one of our shops yet you will definatly like the unique changing rooms we have, most people think they look like a circus tent, and when kids come in the shop they love playing in them!

We are hoping that the Corn Exchange will do well and we area defiantly bring life back into this fantastic building. On our first day of opening we had some fashion bloggers come into the shop www.styleslicker.com and www.wayworddaughter.com. After they came into the shop they seamed enthuesastic about blogging about Sasparilla. When i checked out there website i was disappointing to see that they hadnt written anything about Sasparilla, instead they decided to feature Rose and Co. Im dissapointed because i really hoped that they would support and independent shop, but they chose the more corperate route. Also Sasparilla Knaresborough sold Vivien of Holloway and Betty Page dresses from the beginning, something which Rose and Co now do. I would have liked them to feature the Corn Exchange as a whole and what it has to offer because i believe that it is a fantastic building which has some fantastic shops and it will only get better. The Corn Exchange cannot be forgotten.