1940s House

Mlle Fleur de Guerre wearing a discontinued Able Grable design at the Imperial War Museum in the 1940s house. Read her account HERE!

The Naughty Lady

Thanks as ever, to Douglas Monce, Miss Amanda Lee, Pat Roberts
and all who stared in this movie! Bravo

Tifa makes her 30s Debut

Tifa and I had been talking on and off for a while about working together.
I got an urgent request in my mailbox from her one day and managed to send the above gown thanks to Kate!! In return out came these fab pictures and I am able to release the gown for sale.

I am sure you'll agree she looks stunning.


Model: Tifa DeLeone here!
Photographer: Natalie G Sundling here!

October Cover Girl

I am proud to make dresses for such beautiful women and Stephanie is our Cover Girl for October.
You can follow her here !

Bernie for Able Grable!!

Dress Miss Ruth Wonderly 1931
Hat by: frolleinvonsofa

Bernie Dexter by Levi Dexter.

Erin July Covergirl!

I got a notification I'd been mentioned and when I went to look found this glorious
set of pictures....put a call out and found out who this delightful lovely is..

I present to you Erin, I was so taken by her that she's the cover of the website for July!
And features along side Fleur de Guerre on The Miss Iris Henderson page Here!

Find more about Erin Here!

Lolita Says special announcements!

It feels like I have known Lo for ages! I think she's smashing!

So:

She is now the official Burlesque House Muse USA for Able Grable, which will be news
to her today!

Her first piece is named "Lolita Says" it's a delicious aftershow robe, which I designed and made in a rich Burgundy red, typical colour for the 1930's & 1940's.

Because I fell over and fractured my ankle 6 weeks ago, I have been unable to
finish steaming the gown for Lo and hobble to the post office with the delicious goods!

This has made the anticipation of seeing Lo in the gown I designed for her, even more
fun.


This was the first photo I ever saw of Lo and you can see why I loved her style!

If you want to visit her you can do so here:

www.lolitahaze.com

She'll also be featuring on www.ablegrable.com in her enticing floor length robe, I can't wait!

Sari Says!

Interview for the book "Retrosexuell"

read more about Sari here! retromodelsari.blogspot.com

Miss Loretta

I get heaps of requests to model for me.

My new Model is Gemma of www.retrochick.co.uk

I had purchased an old Sinatra 78 online and when it arrived it was broken.
Gemma saw me twittering my upset and her husband sent me his.

In return, because I was so overwhelmed by their kindness I made Gemma a new
blouse, a brand new design.

She worked with Miss DeMuir Vintage Burlesque Photography (more about this lady coming soon!) and they produced some wonderful images for www.ablegrable.com also coming soon to the website.

No messages about wanting to model etc, just something that fell into place, Love things when they work out!


Visit Miss DeMuir here and find out more about Miss Matilda and how to get a special photo shoot, just like the above! Here!

2 Years old!

Introducing Bubbles McCoy

Ring Ring! Ms Grable Calling ....don't miss this!

Hello Sweetie, Ms Grable calling with some wonderful news!

As you know Able Grable donated £50 of vouchers to Swing For Skin event on Saturday 4th June.

If you can't attend the do, you could still win one of many wonderful prizes donated to DEBRA.

Check out the blog here to buy tickets and try for that elusive PASHLEY!!
Yes, you heard me right! A Pashley!


Swing For Skin Raffle

........

Frollein wears Miss M

Custom made to fit in dark red.

Read more about Frollein Von Sofa here!

www.ablegrable.com

What to wear under your Able Grable

What Katie Did Panty Girdle Here

I have been wearing What Katie Did since 2007, I was a late starter, but their shapewear
compliments my designs very much and if you are looking for a perfect piece to wear under my gowns then this is the one!

Naughty Lady

The long awaited Gilda tribute dress.

Model: Miss Amanda Lee
Photographer: Doug Monce

Swing For Skin Forties event

AbleGrable is pleased to have designed a very special frock for the lovely Melissa Smith for her
wonderful forthcoming 40's event.

Buy your tickets here and read the fab blog!

Swing for Skin is a fabulous Forties event held to raise money for the charity DEBRA UK, which works with and for individuals affected by EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa). EB is a devastating genetic skin blistering disease, which causes those who have it to develop wounds and blisters akin to second and third degree burns when they come into contact with the slightest friction - sometimes the blisters and wounds can happen apparently spontaneously.

The effects of EB are incredibly debilitating, resulting in sufferers fingers and toes fusing into solid masses on their hands and feet, scarring their mouths and throats until they can no longer eat or drink, blistering their eyeballs, and causing massive infections, chronic anaemia, organ failure and fatal skin cancers.

At Swing for Skin, we want to invoke the Blitz spirit, and work together to overcome the adversity this disease faces sufferers with. And we want to have a jolly good time while we do it! So we will be having afternoon tea style food, dancing to a dedicated vintage DJ, singing along to the wonderful Polka Dot Dolls, having our hair and make up styled by Lipstick and Curls, playing games and drawing a raffle for lots of lovely prizes. Everyone will be dressed in their Forties finest, and we will be celebrating the spirit of unity that got Londoners through the Blitz.

Though I've always loved vintage styles from all eras, I really started to embrace vintage clothes after I attended Tart @ 40 Winks last May. EB has always made me very body conscious, and can make physically getting dressed very difficult. Plus, I always thought vintage clothes were for a well-off elite, who were either very slim, or very curvy, rather than my "boyish with a bum and tum" shape. But at Tart, I felt so relaxed that I happily tried on a dress in a room full of women, even though it meant showing my scars and dressings. My friends were amazed, but there was a sense of sisterhood - however cheesy that might sound! - and I realised that women of all shapes and sizes could wear vintage and look fantastic! It was just a matter of finding the era or styles that suit you. Since then, I have started building a vintage collection, and it really appeals to my love of having clothes that no one else does. I love anything with a history, too; I like to imagine who has owned and loved things before me.

Ooh, favourite era...that's a tough one... I've always been really drawn to Victorian and 1920s styles, but I am finding that Fifties and Sixties styles suit me the best. I love to feel very feminine in my Vivien of Holloway circle dress and petticoat, or very smart in my Mod style shift dresses and tailored pieces. The latter is definitely inherited from my Mod-esque Dad! If my body would let me, I'd be wearing corsets and bustles at every opportunity, and if I were slight enough, I would love to flounce around in a Flapper dress, but I am very happy with my Fifites and Sixties treasures!

I love the Victorian era because I'm a Decadent trapped in a good girl's body, and everything then was so flamboyant. I fancy myself laced into an outrageous dress, with a green carnation pinned to it, reciting Oscar Wilde! The 1920s evoke an idea of freedom and frivolity, and I remember seeing a photo of my now 98 year old grandmother all dressed up as a little Flapper girl, wishing I could wear such a beautiful dress and accessories. The Fifties have had a place in my heart since I watched Grease every weekend with my sister when we were young, and I drooled over the petticoats and capri pants, wanting to be Rizzo (minus the ciggies!). I'm sure Mod is in my genes, as I often feel drawn towards the straight lines and monochrome - it all makes me feel smart and purposeful.

If I can be completely unrealistic, I would love to live in the Victorian era, because there was so much change and revolution then. The clothes and jewellery were just beautiful, but the literature was incendiary and social attitudes were alive with the want for change. Of course, there were a lot of unpleasant aspects, too, but there are in every era. Maybe I could have been a muse for Beardsley?

Unusual things are becoming something of a collection to me. I like antique jewellery - nothing expensive! - but little, unique things. 'Memento Mori' brooches or 'Give Women Votes' pendants that other people have overlooked. I like to collect things that no one else is likely to have, and things that mean something to me. I collect old books, too, and writing equipment.

My biggest ambition...at the moment, it is making Swing for Skin a success, and giving as much money as I can to DEBRA UK. Long term...I would love to be an established writer in some field, and to be able to work, even with EB playing tricks. And, most importantly, I want to make the most of my life, because I'm very lucky to still have mine!

Guernsey Glamourpuss!!

There is a smashing write up on the official Tourism website for Guernsey this week.

We are delighted!

You can find what they have to say here about Able Grable!

Gemma is M'Lady!!

Read about her elegant night out on her famous Retro Chick Blog here!

How to Measure.

A new delightful film!! Staring Amanda Lee & directed & written by Doug Monce

Miss Hotsy Totsy 1935

Lovely new design modelled by Kiten Von Mew
and photographed by Candee Handful.

Here!

Able Grable on Film!!

Magnificent 7 Summer designs...

.....coming for the Summer

Lolita Says

Ruth Wonderly

It had to be Murder

Miss Divine

Hotsy Totsy

and last Never Least

Naughty Lady

designs from 1930 - 1950

New Frock!

I am pleased to announce my newest design, the Miss M here!

100 Followers!!

Many thanks my darlings!

Sadly, the website is malfuntioning due to my web provider failing to provide for the 3rd time since before Christmas.

Don't forget I do have certain samples and one offs listed on Etsy.
I have added the link to my blog today xx

Who needs a stylist when you are this stylish?

Dee La Beau is one of my biggest customers, she certainly knows her stuff,
it's just wonderful to see what she does with her Able Grable goodies.

Look at this, for example, she's multi talented.

Photography : Jonathan Keys

Miss Amanda Lee

Miss Amanda Lee & Doug Monce do it again with this stylish calender.

You can see Amanda wearing her Wicked Lady Frock and her Miss Scarlet Street blouse.

Wonderful, yours for $10 direct from Amanda

Jitterbugdoll @ yahoo.com

Miss Lola Burns

We were thrilled when Model and Burlesque dancer Dee La Beau chose to wear Able Grable at her recent shoot with Mark Pinder.

The results are superb.

Dee has a blog here!

Find her on Flickr here!

This dress is discontinued, sadly!

Retro To Go

We are proud to have been featured on one of our most favourite Style websites on the 7th January for the second time.

We have numerous favourites on this site, you can find everything from a Pencil sharpener to a 1960's house!

Here!

Winners!

Firstly apologies for the delay! I numbered some doggie treats and my boy picked numbers 7 & 11 first.

So that's Tart Deco & Retro Chick, who are the lucky gals!

Send me your addresses to ablegrable @ g mail . com

Congrats!