When we heard about Gentry De Paris’ show we knew we had to go. It was at the Cafe De Paris, the very stage with the very same bakelight staircase that Josephine Baker descended in 1925.

Our Friend Millicent Binks was to perform and the fabulous Warren Speed, plus many more performers whom we’d heard so many great things about and of course the chance to see the wonderful Dita Von Teese was an opportunity not to be missed.

Louise was already in Paris at the Annual Textile fair. So I got the 4.25pm from Kings Cross International, London straight to the heart of Paris in 2 and a half hours. Why don’t I visit Paris more often?! I did my hair and makeup on the train and managed to get changed in the station toilets (not very glamorous eh?). I arrived at the Taxi rank by 8.20pm, the queue 80 plus people long! The show was starting at 8.30pm. Oh no!

Luckily the queue moved swiftly and I made it to my seat during the first act.

The show consisted of 18 tableaux with a cast of 35 singers, dancers and actors.

The sets were breath taking as were the costumes; feathers and crystals everywhere! We were bombarded with act after act, a non-stop stream of entertainment which tickled all the senses; cheerful comedy, beautiful music, sensual dancing.

It was a truly spectacular show; the fabulous Joséfiend appeared silhouetted on the magnificent staircase in a wonderful banana skirt; it was almost as if Josephine Baker herself were on the stage, he proceeded to dance gracefully yet like a whirlwind in a mesmerising homage to the icon Josephine.

The glamourous Gentry Lane made a breathtaking entrance by descending from the heavens in the centre of a giant silver star; she then performed a dreamy act in a feather and crystal encrusted costume whilst dancing on pointe in crystal encrusted point shoes with the Gentry Girls waving their giant ostrich feather fans.



The lovely English rose Millicent Binks performed a wonderful half woman half woman half flower act in a gorgeous red velvet rose costume beautiful and elegant as always she gradually plucked the petals off one by one...


And of course the magnificent Dita Von Teese; she performed her new Opium Den piece.

An incredible and opulent set fit for a far Eastern princess; as though in the boudoir of a grand geisha; Dita reclined on silk cushions inside an oriental carved four poster bed. She dazzled us in a shimmering kimono gown encrusted in fire red and dragon green crystals. So beautiful and graceful she hypnotized us as a shower of red rose petals rained down.



We were filled with excitement and wonder after the show and very excited about going to the afterparty!


Gentry Lane has put on such a spectacular and incredible show; we are very excited to whisper that there may be some collaborations to come with Twin & Tonic and Gentry De Paris so watch this space!

Vintage Shopping in Copenhagen

So I (Louise) was in Copenhagen last week for work.. I decided to have a search for some new vintage dresses whilst there... I have been to Copenhagen a few times and there is always one shop that stands out as being a lovely little treasure trove full of beautiful dresses; the shop is called FN92.



If you head off down the side streets off Copenhagen's main pedestrian shopping street; Strøget. FN92 is just one of the many second hand shops in the lovely area in the City called Pisserende/The Latin Quarter.



You'll find the cosy basement packed full of wonderful dresses from the 20s through to the 80s. Lovely cotton 50s tea dresses, gorgeous mesh, lace and net party dresses from the 40s and fifties. There are also shelves above the rails of dresses with original hats and shoes; it's alomst like a costume museum.

FN92 is owned and run by Pauli Tvilling he is a true vintage fanatic and has been collecting for at least 8 years. He has a collection of over 10 000 pieces and also works in his 'lab'; 'Customized Vintage: Hemlines burnt, embroidery of glass- and wooden-pearls, flowers in all sort of materials...'

For me places like this are like a dream; also quite dangerous! I ended up buying several dresses; some lovely day dresses. A 50s day dress with a print of large green and orange painted flowers and also a pretty cotton dress in a soft lemon yellow both with nipped in waits and full skirts.

I explained to Pauli that I was looking for pairs of dresses that would work well together for myself and my twin sister and he was very helpful pulling out dresses that complimented each other.

My favourite finds were a beautiful bodice fully constructed with boning for shape and encrusted in aqua sequins; stunning! Also a fit for a princess bodice and skirt set; the bodice is also carefully created with shaping in a lovely ballet slipper pink then covered in pale dove grey mesh and encrusted in pearlescent sequins; the matching skirt is also in the ballerina pink satin with layers of the grey mesh on top; tiny at the waist and full and voluminous at the hem.

I was very excited to discover that there was a sister dress to go with it! A lovely lilac bodice of delicate lace at the top with a scattering of sequins soft lilac organza pleats above the waist going around to a huge bow at the back and a dreamy pink organza skirt.

Pauli told me that these items where given to him by a woman who used to be a Danish showgirl. How I would love to chat to her about her time as a showgirl; I bet she has some wonderful stories to tell!

So I came out of the shop very happy indeed but also a little afraid of the credit card bill; oh well some things a girl simply has to do!

xxx

FN 92
Larsbjørnsgade 6, 1454 Copenhagen
www.fn92vintage.com