About Me – Vintage Fashion Blogger

Welcome to my vintage fashion blog with a slightly modern twist!

My name is Dominique de Merteuil. I’m a vintage fashion writer, guest lecturer, and founder of It’s Beyond My Control, the vintage fashion blog for a modern woman with a unique style.

I like to write as though I’m having a conversation with women who equally share my passion for fashion from the 1930s and 1940s, as well as those who are only starting their adventure with vintage and would like to learn how to pair something that’s at least 70 years old with contemporary brands. I detest fast fashion, and instead, I prefer smaller brands that produce high-quality garments and accessories and follow the motto, quality over quantity.

What the It’s Beyond My Control blog is all about!

Regardless if you are a vintage novice or an expert, It’s Beyond My Control is for everyone who loves to learn about;

• The history of fashions popular in the 1930s through to the 1950s,

• How to date and take care of vintage clothing like a pro,

• Ideas of how to pair vintage garments with contemporary brands.

If you happen to be a fan of the British Utility Clothing Scheme, I’m the biggest collector, as far as I know, of CC41 clothing in the EU, so you are up for a treat. Since I got your attention, read my in-depth article about the history of CC41!

Also, I create stylised product images for my blog, along with social media of beauty, fashion and accessory brands. For more information and booking take a look at my Services page.

My credo: Life is too short to wear ordinary clothes, even in bed!

Remember!

It’s more important to find and refine one’s own personal style, rather than obsess over the latest trends.

I’ve been collecting, wearing and writing about vintage fashion for two decades now. As a very passionate self-taught fashion historian, I pride myself on being extremely diligent in doing extensive research before I put pen to paper.

I have a proclivity for studying the history of vintage fashion, leaving no stone unturned until I get all the facts. Believe it or not, I do have a couple of museum curators and textile conservators on my speed dial.

One Vintage Woman Operation

The only other ” team” member of It’s Beyond My Control, except my beloved husband who happens to be a fashion & beauty photographer, and takes all those incredible pictures of me, is my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Isia-Lilith. She is a born model and loves to pose because she knows that fish bits are waiting for her after every shoot.

9 Things About Me – the vintage fashion blogger

1. The one thing that can definitely be said about me is that I’m an aficionado and collector/wearer of vintage fashion from the 1930s and 1940s. I also have a penchant for procuring costumes from my favourite films, which I buy from auction houses when the budget permits. * sigh *

2. My fabulous mum, a real style icon, initiated my interest in fashion and art. She used to take me to see ballet and opera from when I was 5 years old.

3. I’ve lived in 4 different countries and I’m fluent in 3 languages. When asked where I’m from, I always reply, “From everywhere darling!” and even though I reside in London*, which has grown on me over the years, my heart belongs to NYC because it’s the only place where I can wear couture to breakfast without being pointed at.

*I currently divide my time between London and Warsaw. I’m utterly in love with the capital of Poland! If you are curious about the reasons why I share my time between the two countries read about it in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – essentials for your new puppy article!

4. I studied classical ballet for a few years but my teacher had me marked as trouble from the day she caught me warming up to Megadeth.

*As of  2017 I’m back to taking classical ballet lessons, or as I call it “70 min of humiliation”, and I LOVE it!

5. I love everything related to Eighteenth-Century France! Also, I adore the 1930s and 1940s Hollywood Glamour.

6. The works of Woody Allen (especially his writing) and David Lynch have had an incredible impact on me and it would be an absolute dream come true if I had a chance to interview them both!

7. I love dogs, especially two breeds: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and American Pit Bull Terrier. I wish that people were much more educated about Pit Bull Terriers, after all, there are no bad dogs, it’s just that sometimes good dogs happen to bad people!

8. Horse riding is my biggest indulgence in life. If I could, I would be at the stables every single day. Every time I ride, I learn something new, and it’s incredibly gratifying.

9. Number 9 is magical and it’s my birth number.

Contemporary brands I had the pleasure to collaborate with on many vintage projects.