Dotcomgiftshop Vintage Blog
Just in case you haven't noticed, we're mad about vintage. We stock a vast range of vintage gifts and decorations and this entire section of our blog is dedicated to everything and anything vintage.
Vintage kitchen masters - celebrity chefs through the ages
The term ‘celebrity chef’ seems to describe more or less anyone who can wield a saucepan and smile at the camera these days. But who were the pioneering ‘stars’ of the vintage kitchen?
As suppliers of vintage kitchen accessories we made it our duty to bring you the men and women who brought cooking to the masses before the masses took to cooking.
Marie-Antoine Careme (1784 - 1833)
Regarded by many historians as the first ever celebrity chef, Antoine was born in Paris at the height of the French revolution. Abandoned by his destitute parents he survived by working as a kitchen boy at a cheap chop house. His first break came when he was apprenticed to Sylvain Bailly a famous Patissier who recognised the boy’s potential and gave him the training and encouragement that he needed.
Careme became renowned for his architectural pastry creations. He went on to work for Napoleon, George IV, Tsar Alexander I and James Rothschild - before dying prematurely at the age of 48, possibly as a result of breathing in too many charcoal fumes while turning the spit over his kitchen fire pit.
Mrs Beeton (1836 - 1865)
Isabella Beeton began writing articles about cookery and household management after she married wealthy publisher, Samuel Beeton.
Her most famous work and one of the most popular cookery books ever published, Mrs Beeton’s ‘Book of Household Management’, was a blockbuster of it’s day. The first installment launched in 1861 sold more than 60,000 copies and by 1868 sales had soared to almost two million.
More than just a recipe book for the kitchen, the tome gave information and tips on everything from childcare and etiquette to the employment of domestic staff. Sadly, Mrs Beeton suffered an infection following the birth of her fourth child in 1865 and died soon after.
Marguerite Patten CBE (1915-)
Marguerite Patten was a home economist at the out break of the Second World War. She worked for the Ministry of food, demonstrating recipes that made imaginative use of the available rations. She broadcast on the five minute morning show aired by the BBC - ‘the Kitchen Front’, becoming a voice familiar to beleaguered housewives in kitchens across the country.
After the war, she worked at Harrods demonstrating kitchen appliances. Her first TV appearance was in 1947 and she went on to become a prolific author - selling over 17 million copies of her recipe books.
Fanny Cradock (1909 - 1994)
A colourful character who married four times - Fanny Cradock’s celebrity began when she and husband Johnnie Cradock began writing a food column for the Daily Telegraph titled, the ‘Bon viveur’.
The year was 1950 and the column spawned a successful theatre show. The couple would cook huge meals for the audience while playing the parts of a hen pecked husband and a domineering wife.
Success on stage lead to a hugely popular TV show, Fanny assisted by her husband, producing luxurious looking concoctions that could be replicated using basic ingredients by people at home.
Delia Smith (1941-)
No guide to pioneers of the celebrity kitchen would be complete without a mention of the lady who is arguably the most famous of them all. Delia has sold more cookery books than any other author - 21 million so far and counting.
A cookery writer for the Daily Mirror and the Evening Standard, she became well known when she fronted a cookery programme called ‘Family Fayre’, in the early 1970s. The rest as they say is history. It was reported that as a result of her 1998 series, ‘Delia’s How to Cook’, egg sales nationwide rose by a tenth, coining the phrase, ‘Delia effect.’ Need we say more?
Keith Floyd (1943 - 2009)
Shambolic, sometimes sloshed but always entertaining, Keith Floyd took his kitchen to places never before reached by the world of TV chefs. His first BBC TV series, ‘Floyd on fish’, saw him cooking on a fishing boat in rough seas and set the tempo for the rest of his career.
Repeatedly married and often in financial difficulties, Keith Floyd succumbed to a heart attack in 2009, but his shows were hits and in a TV career that spanned the world, from Europe to America, Africa, India and Australia, Floyd could be found, glass in hand cooking up a storm.
If you're planning on starting your own vintage kitchen dynasty, make sure you check out some of the gorgeous products in the Dotcomgiftshop vintage kitchen range.
Vintage Blogs We Love
Vintage Chic is very much in-vogue at present, whether it be high-fashion or interior-design, it seems like the whole world has gone vintage-mad.
DotComGiftShop has everything you need to achieve the vintage look in your home from furniture to enamel kitchenware, to vintage children’s toys.
We're also doing our bit to promote all-things-vintage with this rundown of our favourite vintage-inspired blogs.
Please note these are in no particular order.
Vivien of Holloway Blog - Is the blog for dedicated 1950s retro clothes designer, Vivien, and her store of fab dresses, skirts and trousers - everything you need to go and have a rocking night out.
Love My Dress Wedding Blog - A comprehensive source of inspiration for wedding dresses, that Annabel updates regularly. It looks at every style including vintage styles.
Natasha Bailie Vintage Clothing Company Blog - Is a vintage fashionista. Natasha is always on the hunt for ways to retro up all aspects of our lives.
Mabel & Rose Blog - They know that even gardens like to go through time warps and here’s a blog that explores just that.
SLATERSPARKE STYLE BLOG - This vintage wedding stationery company runs a blog that’s all about hunting down ways to get a retro look into every aspect of your big day.
Lottie Loves - Is passionate about past fashions and declares herself to be a “domestic diva”. If she’s not busy drawing your attention to frocks, Lottie is giving the modern gal tips on how to be truly chic in her Finishing School Workshop.
Glamour Daze - If you’re stuck on ideas about where to get a glamorous look from decades past, then this Irish lass can help you on your way to hunting down the best in vintage and retro chic. She considers both originals and reproductions.
Vintage Vixen - Is a Black Country lady who knows how to hunt down those hard to get vintage finds in jumble sales and charity shops.
Lou Lou Loves Vintage - A country girl at heart, this self-proclaimed “Devon Dumpling” enjoys growing her own whilst scouring the countryside for vintage clothes and homeware.
Vintage Chic - Lover of almost everything vintage, from fashion to food, Miss Rayne seeks inspiration from the past.
Penny Dreadful Vintage - More delectable vintage wardrobe advice to be found here, along with some truly classic sources of style.
V & M - Otherwise known as Vintage & Modern Unite, the authors of this blog are masters of getting their hands on old finds, from buttons to talcum powder, and auctioning them off.
Chronically Vintage Blog - Canadian blogger Jessica has a keen eye for vintage chic as she tries to lead the life of akin to the savvy style of pin-up girls past.
Digs Frocks & Books - Even on the other side of the world, the draw of vintage chic is strong for Louise as she blogs about what she loves most - vintage fashion.
Rag and Magpie Blog - Not just centred on vintage finds, but retro, indie and alternative fashions too, this blog revolves around the style musings and finds that fill their clothing store.
Get Some Vintage-a-Peel by Miss Peelpants - Miss Peelpants looks back on past styles and trends using old photos, newspaper and magazine clippings, highlighting our oh so chic heritage.
Tea with the Vintage Baroness - This self-styled “vintage Baroness” has a passion for the past and loves to show off her vintage finds on her blog.
TheBestInVintage's - The authors of this blog are always keeping an eye out for the best in vintage clothing bargains.
Odd Socks and Pretty Frocks - Alex enjoys incorporating older accessories into outfits or going for a complete vintage look, and her blog examines her successes and failures with her vintage fascination.
Vintage Vicki - Taking the handcrafted approach to her life, Vicki likes to use older styles as a means inspiring what she creates.
Shabbily By The Sea- Having moved to a timber cottage beside the sea in the UK, Kristina has decided to make the best of her new home. Seeking a classic Cape Cod look for her new home, the blog follows Kristina as she works on her home.
Memoirs of a Vintage Magpie - Like a magpie, the author of this blog finds great satisfaction in discovering vintage items for her lovely house in Yorkshire.
Vintage Hearth - Trying to lead a simpler life in the Durham Dales means making the most of local car boots and charity shops. Join the author as she shows off her discoveries.
The Vintage Knitter - An avid knitter, seeking her knitting musings from vintage knitting patterns.
Beach Vintage - An Australian blog, the author is a home styling guru who gets a lot of her ideas from past styles. As well as showing off her unique finds and creations, she posts tutorials on how to make the handcrafted items that she blogs about.
The Vintage Bothy - Tracey is a home decorating vintage style guru who likes to share what she’s up to creatively.
the vintage heart - Living in the Yorkshire Dales in a Grade 2 Listed cottage would compel anyone to make sure that it’s filled with the vintage niceties to do it justice and that’s just what blog author Linda does. Linda uses her passion for collecting to keep her family’s cottage classically chic.
dee dee's vintage retro delights - If you can sew it, she can make it. This is one woman’s hands-on vintage style quest.
Vixen Vintage - This is one US blog that is seriously stylish. Solanah is a truly a “vintage girl trapped in a modern world”.
The Girl Can't Help It Vintage Blog - This out there US blog by Kim is an eccentric look at styles and trends from decades gone by.
Diary of a Vintage Girl - Occasional pin-up model Fleur wants to pass on her vintage fashion knowledge to the world, that’s why she began this fantastic blog.
Vintage Mum - With the kids all grown up, she’s on a mission to bring elegant handmade style vintage into our homes.
A Vintage Heart - Vintage savvy, Jann loves to do vintage inspired crafting.
The Vintage Dragonfly Blog - A good source of vintage themed ideas from the other side of the pond.
Magpie Chic - This New Zealand blog follows one woman’s obsession with all things tea related, as well as vintage knitting and fabrics, and finding gorgeous old-fashioned containers for the flowers from her garden.
Suzy's Vintage Attic - Blogging from Somerset, Isabelle finds her favourite vintage decades to run from the 1920s to the end of the 1950s. If it’s from that period, she wants it in her family’s home as she works with her family to renovate it.
The Vintage Gardener - It may be gardened themed, but it’s got retro themes at its heart.
Vintage At The Corner House - A nose were finding lovely trinkets and pieces at flea markets, Annie blogs about her finds and the markets she goes too.
home thoughts from vintage wants - Debbie is an acquaintance of Annie from Vintage At The Corner House. It can be risky taking Debbie past charity shops, as she admits, she just loves finding unique, old items.
tedandbunny - Incredibly fond of collectibles, vintage textiles and antiques.
Vintagelizzie - Lizzie Drake has been collecting and selling antique and vintage costumes for thirty years. In her spare time she’s also a textile artist who sources materials from decades past.
Wartime Housewife - When vintage chic is just not enough, The Wartime Housewife likes to put us in touch with skills and values that our modern lives have put us out of touch from.
Kitsch and Curious - Finding and making things is a way of life for Elaine who appreciates the more retro things in life.
The Vintage Housewife - Welcome to the intriguing world of Cat, a US blogger who lives a real vintage lifestyle with plenty of 1950s paraphernalia to keep the decade alive.
Country In The Town - This is one blogger that is determined to ensure that her home is filled with beautiful, vintage things.
Lemonade Kitty - The blog of a crafty grandmother who draws the ideas for her creations from times gone by.
My Grannies Attic - Driven by London tea rooms to seek out the more classically designed items of everyday life, this is one mother on a journey to discover vintage styles.
Shabby in Suburbia - This Australian blog highlights one woman’s drive to “girly” up her home in as fabulously vintage a way as possible. Thankfully her husband doesn’t mind.
Posy - Due to her love of all things flowery, Jane’s tastes see her pursuing many classic flower designed homeware pieces as well as fashion. She also enjoys crocheting and offers tutorials.
Mary Poppins - Hunting down pretty, vintage and country style pieces to decorate her family’s home is one of Mary’s big passions in life. She is very fond of the shabby chic look.
If you know any other vintage blogs that should be included on our list, please do let us know by emailing dotcomgiftshopblog[@]gmail.com.
