Vintage Finds

Last Sunday I went to a Vintage Fair in Cardiff. It was held in City Hall which is an amazing architectural building . The Fair was called 'Blind Lemon Vintage' which was created by Edwin Dyson. I was lucky enough to get a little Q&A with Edwin over the concept of Vintage and his fair.

How did you begin Blind Lemon Vintage?

It started life as a vintage clothing store in

Narberth in Pembrokeshire in 2005, we then started to develop the vintage fairs in 2006 in Bristol and Cardiff and then started to spread across the country. We then contracted slightly to work out of cities in the M4 and M5 corridors.

What is it about Vintage you think most appeals to the 2010 customer?

I think it's a combination of the value for money and the uniqueness of what's on offer. People want some bang for their buck and the vintage clothes were very well made. Plus high street fashion is very homogeneous and vintage can give you an on-trend look whilst you have what no-one else in the country is likely to have.

Do you think Vintage will get more 'in demand' as the years progress?

I think it will be like most trends in fashion; cyclical. It tends to peak and trough on a 3-4 year cycle. It won't ever go away but the older clothing will become more rare and expensive so people will be looking to the newer stuff like the 80s for value for money.

As a fashion student I'm only too aware of the effect that 'fast fashion' has on the economy and the environment, do you think Vintage or recycling is the way forward?

Vintage clothing is recycling, full stop. because you buy something that has already been owned and worn by at least one other person, you're not using more raw materials and causing transportation costs from overs seas by buying something from the high street. it's more ethical too.

What has been your favourite Vintage find?

For me personally it was a blue striped boating blazer that I found at the Cheltenham Vintage Fair this season. Normally the sizes are so small because they were made for teenagers and young men, and back in the day they were smaller than we men are today. It fits me perfectly and I'm a 40 Long!

The Fair was amazing, so many different items. From £100 Barbour Jackets to £10 skirts. I think I was most impressed by the jewellery section. So many different kinds of jewellery. What I love most about Vintage is knowing that no one else will have that item, Topshop is great but your guaranteed to find someone wearing that item of clothing and vintage will probably be half of the price!

I managed to get a long black fur coat which I've been on the hunt for, for ages, a leopard print cardigan which is so tacky that it's amazing (hopefully it will come across like that and not Bet Lynch) and a pewter horse shoe brooch. I love those House of Harlow Horse Shoe necklaces so I've been wanted to get something horse shoe related!

The next Blind Lemon Vintage Show at Cardiff will be held on the 6th February 2011 again at the City Hall. Don't Miss it!

You should also checkout their website here which has all their details!

P.S What has been your favourite Vintage find?

Sorry to come across all 'emo' in my photos, I was too embarrassed to ask anyone to take my picture, the first two were taken completely off guard as I was trying to fix my hair but these shots are better than the other self timer ones! Believe me! I will do more full length shots soon!

Lucy in Disguise

Lilly Allen and her sister's new store Lucy in Disguise will be launching soon and they've just launched their website. The website is quite cool with a video playing on the homepage. For those of you who don't know, Lucy in Disguise is a vintage boutique that sells vintage designer clothing along with renting out the clothes. I think the idea of renting out clothes for one night or a weekend is a really good idea. Imagine how many times you've bought a dress for an event and only worn it once? And this means you can rent out a Chanel dress for the evening. The store will be opening in London soon. Here's what "Lucy" had to say…

DARLINGS!

SO GLAD YOU COULD DROP BY! YOU’VE CAUGHT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEGA BUSY DAY. WE’VE JUST HAD A DELIVERY OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE NEW FROCKS AND I CAN’T DECIDE BETWEEN THE THIRTIES GIVENCHY GOWN – SO RED CARPET! – AND THE MOST DIVINE SEQUINNED BOMBER JACKET.

DECISIONS… DECISIONS…

HANG ON MINUTE: COULD IT REALLY BE BOTH? OMG! IT COULD!

I’M LUCY, BY THE WAY. LUCY IN DISGUISE. YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD OF ME. I’M THAT KIND OF GAL.

SO WHAT DID YOU HEAR? THAT I’M GLAMOROUS, SOPHISTICATED, SEXY? WHAT CAN I SAY? IT’S ALL TRUE!

WHAT ELSE? THAT I CAVORTED MY WAY THROUGH THE TWENTIES? PUT ON THE HOLLYWOOD RITZ IN THE THIRTIES? DUG FOR VICTORY IN THE FORTIES? ROCK AND ROLLED THROUGH THE FIFTIES? WIGGED OUT IN THE SIXTIES? DISCO DANCED THE SEVENTIES AWAY? WORKED IT IN THE EIGHTIES? SLACKED IT THROUGH THE NINETIES? GUILTY, BABES. GUILTY AS CHARGED.

IF THERE’S BEEN ONE CONSTANT, AS I SKIP FROM DECADE TO DECADE, CITY TO CITY, SCENE TO SCENE, IT’S BEEN CLOTHES: PARTY DRESSES AND COOL COATS, KILLER SKIRTS AND TO-DIE-FOR TOPS, HATS AND BAGS AND SUNGLASSES AND JEWELLERY.

HELL, I WAS WEARING VINTAGE WHEN IT WAS BRAND NEW.

BUT, MY LOVES, NOWADAYS EVEN I’VE BEEN PRICED OUT OF THE MARKET! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT COSTS TO BUY AN OSSIE CLARK GOWN? HONEYBUNCH, HAVE YOU EVEN CONSIDERED WHAT AN EIGHTIES ALAIA OUTFIT MIGHT SET YOU BACK? OR A CLASSIC CHANEL SUIT?

AND THAT’S IF YOU CAN EVEN FIND ONE! MY SWEETS, WHO WANTS TO SPEND HOURS ON THEIR KNEES FLICKING THROUGH GRUBBY JUMBLE SALE RACKS?

SO I NEVER THOUGHT I’D SAY IT BUT HERE I AM SAYING IT: I’M OPENING MY WARDROBE TO ALL OF YOU, AND PUTTING MY FAVOURITE PIECES ON SHAMELESS DISPLAY, UNDER ONE DEEPLY CHIC ROOF.

WE’VE GOT A BLOW DRY BAR AND A VINTAGE MAKE-UP SALON, PLUS MORE DROP-DEAD GOWNS THAN YOU COULD SHAKE A FEATHER BOA AT.

SO WHETHER YOU’RE AN OLD HAND TIRED OF PAYING THROUGH THE NOSE-JOB OR A VINTAGE VIRGIN, THINK OF OUR NEW SHOP AS OUR SHARED DRESSING UP BOX.

NOW, LET’S HAVE A LOOK AT YOU. TURN AROUND, GIVE ME A TWIRL. BABYCAKES, YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL! AND I’VE GOT JUST THE THING. FOLLOW ME INSIDE LUCY IN DISGUISE AND PREPARE TO BE DAZZLED!

LXOXO

Have a look at the website here!

Happy Birthday!

Just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my amazing Dad who turns 60 today! I remember crying in school because I'd be the 'only 9 year old with a 50 year old dad, in the world!' ha so here's a little photo of me and my dad back in the day! My swimsuit was very fashionable in its day! ha