Friday 1 August 2014

1940's Weekend at the Black Country Living Museum

The other weekend I had the abssolute delight of attending my first 1940's Weekend, at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.  Tickets for the event were cheap as chips (£25 per adult for the weekend), and the sourcing of a budget hotel within walking distance meant that it wasn't going to break the bank.  The weekend promised two days and one evening of events, with music, air-raids, displays and acting.

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum


We arrived on the Friday evening and as it was a scorcher headed to a local park, Priory Park, that proved the perfect picnic spot - lovely grounds, the ruins of a Priory, all set within a 1930's estate with a college and lots of housing, so perfect for architectural tourism.  A lovely evening was had soaking up every last ray of sunshine.

On Saturday the heavens opened!  We were awash.  I set aside all notions of wearing my 1940's style sundress and reluctantly reached for a sporty dress, waterproof jacket, sensible trainers, and a big brolly.  I'm glad that I did dress sensibly, as I think I would have become quite miserable otherwise - the rain was pretty relentless all day.

Our spirits were far from dampened though as the atmosphere at the museum was fantastic.  I was impressed with how many people had made the effort and came in original '40s clothes, hats and all.  I did feel embarrassingly underdressed, but knew we were coming back for the evening event and vowed to make an effort for that instead!  I wore a tea dress from Peacocks in the evening, and my Baby went all out in a 3 piece suit and Homburg (none of it 1940's, but it looked great nonetheless).  I was a little nervous about vintage snobbery - some of the rockabilly weekend's that friends go to have a bit of a bad rep for people frowning if you're not wearing the 'right' thing - but I have to say that everyone was very nice, and people kept thinking that we did this kind of thing all the time.  So I breathed a sigh of relief in my modern attire.

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

The museum is an open air museum with a selection of buildings representing the industrial and domestic heritage of the area (a bit like St Fagans in South Wales if you're familiar with that one), and is worth going to even when it's not a special event as there is a lot to keep you entertained. They did go to a lot of effort to make the whole place seem more '1940s', with little touches like tape on the windows.

One of my favourite vintage retailers, Vintage and Revival, had a stall at the event, and I had a good rummage in their rails.  They specialise in original 1940's clothing, and had a fantastic selection at very reasonable prices.  The average '40s dress is £65, and I bought one from them years ago that has been an absolute winner.  There was also a lady there selling the most wonderful hats, handmade by her as 'a hobby that got out of hand'.  I was so impressed with them, but couldn't think of where to wear them or what to pair them with.  I am on a bit of a spending ban at the moment also, as we're going on holiday soon and I am saving my money for that, so it's with regret that I didn't purchase anything!

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

We didn't end up going back to the museum on the Sunday as I wanted to go to Dudley Zoo, and make the most of seeing different things on our brief trip, but the evening event on the Saturday was wonderful with more al fresco snacks, great music from The D-Day Darlings, and a magical gaslit street at the end of the night to wander home along.

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

1940s weekend Black Country Living Museum

All in all, we had the most wonderful time.  The museum will be running the event next year as well, so if you're interested then I'll repeat that tickets are only £25 each for the whole weekend, including the evening event, and that we got a bargain room at the Quality Hotel (a mile or so's walk away) for £85 for two nights.  I'm really tempted to go back next year, or maybe go to a different 1940's weekend to try something different!

Have you ever been to a 1940's weekend?
 
Linkups:

12 comments:

  1. This looks wonderful! I like going to a 60s/mod night in Bristol and people can be a bit funny about what I wear there but I'm a size 18 and 60s clothes look awful on me so I stick to wearing Fred Perry or just focusing on my hair and make up. So glad you had a nice time, do let me know if any local events like this happen, would love to pop along for the afternoon. Love your Clarks shoes xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All thanks to you Gem! You do a great '60s look with your hair and makeup, can see that being a lot of fun in Bristol. Apparently there's a regular 1940's event in Barry?! Will have to find out some details. xx

      Delete
  2. What a wonderful experience! You look fantastic in your dress, so beautiful. I love the old streets and your photographs are fantastic. We used to dance a lot before we had our little boy and we went to a few themed 1940s nights. It was always such great fun to dress up and dance to the music of the era too. Great fun! Lynne xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so lovely, isn't it fun to dress up and dance to something different? It makes it so memorable! x

      Delete
  3. Great pics - and I think your outfit looked perfectly period without being the real deal. I'm always that person at these things in modern gear thinking everyone's judging me - but I think no one really knows/cares/minds as long as you put the effort in ;) I love the colours you put together - and your man looks ever so stylish!

    I'm going to the Secret Cinema Back to the Future event at the end of the month and they've set the whole thing in the 1955 part of the film - it's full on period dress for all! My outfit is sourced from modern repro brands with the exception of a vintage handbag... although more to come on that in a future blog post ;) the point is, do whatever you think looks good/feels comfortable and who cares what others think :) it's all about having fun... x

    ReplyDelete
  4. A 40s weekend sounds like so much fun! It's too bad about all of the rain, but I'm glad that you had a great time nonetheless. And even though your outfit wasn't period, it's still really cute - love the fan print on your dress, as well as your dapper dude.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks like a lovely place. I love both your outfits too!

    ReplyDelete
  6. It looks like a lovely place. I love both your outfits too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Would love to go to something like this but alas the closest thing to this in my area is the war of 1812 reenactments.

    ReplyDelete
  8. This looks like so much fun! I love your outfit and those victory rolls are perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That looks like a brilliant weekend, and I'm glad people were nice. I've never been to a 40s one, only a rockabilly weekender, but I found people friendly there too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow! Looks like fun! And I ADORE your sweater!

    xoxo
    -Janey

    ReplyDelete

Comments from readers make my day!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...