Sunday, 1st January 1950

Dear Diary,

Happy New Year!!! Oh how terribly exciting to start the New Year with a new decade and a brand new diary! I’ve got a jolly good feeling about this year. I’m so looking forward to a brave new world of ration free fashion! 

The hair salon certainly has seen some exciting times since I opened the fashion boutique in the back parlour last year. The hairdressers, Doreen, Anne- Marie, Grace and Lucy have all been so helpful and terribly hard working. Bless those gals. I couldn’t have managed without them! So, I just know they’ll be simply beside themselves once they see the new Eliza and Ethan Vivian dress arrive from Los Angeles, California. This designer brand is of the highest quality with garments inspired by Hollywood glamour. Of course they’ll all want one!! This slender number comes in two colours black and berry or navy and turquoise. I predict a best seller!

So I’m in my bedroom now, listening to Grace (my flatmate) sing along to the tunes on the wireless. I’ve just put some wave lotion and curlers in to set, so my hair will be curling as I write…. Golly gosh, I’m still nursing my poor feet after all that raucous dancing at New Year’s Eve. Oh we had such a ball; my dance card was entirely full all evening! I suppose I really ought to be thinking about my New Year’s resolutions. Well, I’ve sure got some high hopes for 1950!

Number One. Introduce some of the most fabulously stylish fashion into the boutique!

Number Two. I really must try to watch my figure. (Which won’t be easy, especially as sweets rationing to come to an end last year).  It’s so easy nowadays to sink my teeth into a whole bar of chocolate! Well, we’ve have all developed bad habits at the salon, not to mention the tightening of a few corsets!

Number Three. I’ll finally meet Mr Right!  Last year saw quite a few disastrous dates! What on earth was I thinking when I agreed to let Thomas Dudley and his mucky fingernails take me out to dinner? Oh, and of course there was that awful scene when Gerard’s wife discovered our romantic dinner date. I left the restaurant wearing Beaujolais on my Dotty Polka Dot Dress! Oh dear, I still have a soft spot for Lord Anthony, the gentleman crook. Jeepers! He sure had me fooled! I must confess though, it was rather wonderful to be treated like a lady and taken out for high tea at The Ritz. This year I would just love to meet a more appropriate gentleman, someone handsome who will simply adore me. I’ve kissed enough frogs to last a lifetime!