Hey there, can you introduce yourself?

Liz - Hello! I'm Liz, I'm 24 and I'm something of an "old stuff" obsessive. I currently work as a museum curator and also sell vintage clothes and accessories online. I'm an absolute magpie for anything sparkly and a bit different. I'm a bit of a "more is more" kinda person. 

Naomi - Hello! I am the author of Style Me Vintage Clothes and co-author of Style Me Vintage Accessories. I am a second hand addict, professional magpie and former personal shopper. I live on the South Coast with my baby girl and partner.

Tell us a bit about the book?

Liz - Style Me Vintage: Accessories is a very varied book – we have combined useful hints and tips, with historical snippets and beautiful imagery. There are ideas about how to jazz up plain shoes and handbags included.

Naomi - Right, we didn’t want to make just another book about vintage with lots of pretty pictures so we made another vintage book with gorgeous pictures and threw in a whole ton of obscure historical information, collecting tips, styling tips AND interviews with some of our favourite collectors, makers and designers including Terry De Havilland, Oliver Goldsmith and Cornelia James.

What was the inspiration behind it?

Liz - Naomi and I had a funny discussion about this – neither of us can quite remember the starting point for the book – but we are both vintage accessories lovers and so it really was the perfect book for us to write – there is lots of both our personalities in this book.

Which is your favourite project?

Liz - Definitely using clip on earrings as shoe clips.

Naomi - We explain how to recycle jewellery into show clips and how to jazz up hats.

What is your craft space like?

Liz - My boyfriend would tell you a mess – but aren't all creative people messy ; ) At the moment the room is split between his bike collection and my vintage collection with a huge bookcase filled with books and vintage magazines – I am forever looking to my 40s and 50s copies of Vogue for inspiration.

Naomi - I work all over the house. It depends where my 7 month old wants to play/sleep/settle. I can’t work in mess so the first thing I have to do each morning it make everything tidy and neat. Gets the blood going.

Have you always been creative?

Liz - Absolutely! I have always been into making "stuff" my first degree was in fashion design – so before I went down the writing route I was always making things.

Naomi - I think it comes and goes in waves. At the moment I am happy looking after my baby and when I feel inspired/inclined to do something then I will.

When did you first start crafting?

Liz - I can’t remember the first thing I made, but in my early teens I customised SO MANY clothes with fabric paint (does anyone remember tulip fabric paints?!? I think I had ever colour...). Lots of friends and family got fabric painted gifts... I'm not so sure how happy they were with those : D

Naomi - I used to sew and knit bedding for my dolls house when I was very young. I was quite fond of making my own skirts.

Who are your crafty heroes?

Liz - I really love Tilly and the Buttons blog- it's really easy to read and has made we want to get back sewing again- my sewing machine went walkies for nearly two years (blame university and moving house numerous times) but I would really like to actually finish off (finally) some of the projects I have started.  I also really admire people who make their own jewellery. I buy alot of modern jewellery by brands such as Luxulite and Tatty Devine- I love something with a quirky twist.

Naomi - Perri Lewis

Where do you find inspiration?

Liz - Oh gosh, I am always inspired by things. I love going to vintage fairs and seeing how dealers pair together their wears.

Naomi - Living by the sea in a town steeped with history. I went to the Mary Rose museum recently and found myself examining the leather bags and other adornments that had survived hundreds of years under the sea.

What's next for you?

Liz - I am currently working as a museum curator in Cheam, Surrey so am on the hunt for new ideas for craft activities for kids with a historical theme. I am also writing another book- due for release next April, but that's all top secret at the moment!

Naomi - Nothing hopefully! This book took 18 months from start to finish and encompassed my entire pregnancy and my entire daughter’s life so I am looking forward to some down time to see what I want to do next.

How to finish off your vintage look to authentic perfection—as always, in a retro-glam Style Me Vintage package

The accessories and smaller details are always the key to creating a final polished look. Whether it's an homage to the 1920s or the 1980s or something in between, it's oh-so-easy to get those details wrong and ruin the effect. Here to help the retro-obsessed are vintage experts offering invaluable advice on how to correctly identify and source vintage jewelry, sunglasses, hats, gloves, scarves, bags, and shoes. With informative and beautiful photography and no-nonsense tips, this is every vintage fan's ideal go-to guide.