FORMER Essex schoolgirl and writer at England’s oldest women’s magazine, the Lady’s Melonie Clarke, is a vintage aficionada.

She's picked five vintage events to get your glad rags on for.

  • The Horse & Groom Charity Beer and Music Festival will be on from July 8 to 10.

Enjoy a weekend of 40s and 50s fun, great food, music, performers and much more at the Horse & Groom iin Cornish Hall End, Braintree. (www.thehorseandgroom.org)

  • Retro Swingin’ Saturday’s will be on July 16 from 8pm-midnight. Enjoy a night of vintage tunes and dancing.

There will also be a fun taster class for those not already down with the moves. The evening will be held at O’Neills, 119a High Street, Southend-on-Sea. Tickets can be bought on the door or booked online. (www.jiveswing.com)

  • It will be tea time on July 16  with an afternoon tea dance from 2-5pm.

Great music and dancing, all with a cup of tea and the odd slice of cake awaits at Capel St Mary Village Hall, Ipswich (www.a2jive.com). 

  • Master some vintage hair techniques and enjoy some tea and cake at a hair and make-up workshop with Betty’s Rock & Rollers on July 24, 2pm- 4.30pm.

Tickets are £25. Pinaglis Tea Room, 124 Hart Road, Thundersley ( www.bettysrockandrollers.co.uk).

  • One of the best loved military events in Essex, the Military and Flying Machines show will be held from August 6-7 at Upminster Aerodrome.

There will be a number of stalls and live music as well as military displays ( www.militaryandflyingmachines.org.uk)