Author Archives: judy

A cheeky chat with Vintage Norwich!

Posted on by
Comments

Greetings vintage fans!

The loquatious creatures that we are [clearly got ‘word of the day’ loo roll for Christmas, or have watched too much Frasier] it’s probably no surprise that we love a good chat!

This week on our virtual sofa, we sat down with the lovely Gemma of Vintage Norwich, ahead of her slot as a guest judge at this Sunday’s Norwich Affordable Vintage Fair [giving out medals to best-dressed guests – yikes!] Gemma, the floor is yours…

How did Vintage Norwich come to be?

“I’ve lived in Norwich for nearly 10 years, and I was writing a lot about events in Norwich, and listing dates of events on my blog Retro Chick (http://www.retrochick.co.uk), obviously these weren’t always of interest to all my readers who lived elsewhere, so I decided to start a separate site for the local information and in March 2011 Vintage Norwich was born!”

Do you have any links to the other ‘Vintage’ regionals out there? [like ‘Vintage London,’ ‘Vintage Manchester’] – is it a big ol’ vintage family?

“I’m actually part of a network, set up at the beginning of the year, with 3 other “Vintage” regional sites. We’re called the Vintage City Network (http://www.vintagecitynetwork.com/) and the sites involved are The Vintage Guide to London (http://www.thevintageguidetolondon.com/) Vintage Brighton(http://vintagebrighton.com) and Vintage Manchester(http://www.vintagemanchester.com/)”

Although you can’t be biased online,  which era are you all about?

“My favourite era is the 1930s. I love the glamour and decadence of 1930s Fashions. I also have a soft spot for the make do and mend ethos of the 1940s, and 1950s styles seem to be what suits me best!”

Is there any wardrobe advice you would give shoppers coming to the fair on Sunday? What’s going to earn them a medal?

“I like people who dress with style and panache. Smartly dressed, elegant, people who’ve made a real effort will likely catch my eye and earn themself a medal!”

The 70s was back last summer, the 50s and 60s are constantly in and now the 90s has reared its head – is there an era or item that you HOPE stays firmly in the past?

“I think most people can agree that the return of the shell suit would never be a good thing. I can’t think of a more unflattering or uncomfortable garment.”

Finally, it’s the Vintage Norwich awards this coming Monday – if you could get an award for anything, what would it be and why?

“Well if it can’t be for world peace or curing cancer, then maybe I’d like an award just for being a Jolly Nice Person. Or maybe I’ll settle for having good hair.”

A beautiful barnet – isn’t that the dream? For all wanting to see Gemma in all of her gold-medal glory, head down to St Andrews Hall on Sunday from 12pm. As for that award for being ‘jolly nice, Gemma you’ve already got it in the bag!

 

xVVx

Cool Kilo Customers!

Posted on by
Comments

We had an absolute blast in Edinburgh this weekend!!! The Edinburgh Vintage Kilo Sale in Leith was visited by over 900 style savvy customers and these folk kindly paused shopping to pose for our street-style team. What a well-dressed bunch you are! 

For more snaps from the Kilo, click here.

The Edinburgh Vintage Kilo Sale is returning to Out of the Blue Drill Hall (just off Leith Walk) Edinburgh on the 6th October… see you there!!

xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<3 New Trader Crush <3

Posted on by
Comments

Greetings vintage fans

When Jeniffer Paige sang that sexy late 90s/ early 00’s [‘naughties’ – lol, how appropes!] song ‘Crush,’ never for one second did we imagine her singing about furniture.

That was until today, when an email from new trader, RETROWOMBLE [you had me at Wimbledon!] revealed these shots in anticipation of YORK’S AFFORDABLE VINTAGE FAIR next week [22nd]

For once, we’re going to let them do the talking. But they are totally crush-worthy [we’ll be scribbling their initials in our notebooks before you know it.]

Hubba-hubba!

xVVx

V V cool! [the V V stands for ‘very very’]

Posted on by
Comments

Greetings vintage fans!

Like moths to a glossy flame, we are drawn to those most papped of our people…celebrities. Florence Welch, Daisy Lowe, Chloe Sevigny, George Lamb – all people who have graced our markets [gratuitous name drop there] – some have let us take their picture, oggle their wares and stare dumbfounded as the power of speech escaped us [soz Floz! I’m working on my people skills!] but never, vintage fans, NEVER has one asked to have a stall!

Imagine our amazement when glamour-puss V V Brown gets on the wire, wanting a stall at Spitalfields – *Insert comedy swoon here!

With bezza and business partner Lola, V V rocked-up to launch her new collection VVVintage and we [finding our voicebox along the way] had a little chat…

How did you get into vintage?

“Vintage has always been a part of my life. It began with not having enough money to buy designer wear and once I discovered vintage, I realised that it was a lot more fun and creative. It grew into a lifestyle as I began to read more about sustainability and the ethical side of the fashion industry leading to this business [VVVintage].”

What would your advice be to people who never really veer from the Highstreet?

“Be aware of the ethical impact of high street fashion and the conditions within the factories that make these clothes. The people who make them often do not feel the benefits. The idea of sustainability takes into consideration the ethics of the human being who created the item.”

What pieces can you not live without?

“Anything Black. My black rain coat is something I wear all the time even when there is sun. Black is so chic and timeless.”

What’s the WORST outfit you’ve had to wear? Any couture skeletons in the closet?

“The worst outfit was a dress I wore to the Shopaholic premiere. I couldn’t breath and I took it off in the Addison Lee taxi. It was a designer dress. Beautiful but uncomfortable. Never again.”

And there we have it – veni, vidi, VV! The proverbial cherry on the cake, the lovely folks from ITV came down to film it for the news. To check out VV’s collection click here, or to see it face to face, take a look at this clip here.

Missed out? Never fear. We’ll be back at the Old Spitalfields Market for the May Bank Holiday for more capital hijinx [so be sure to pencil it in!]

 

xVVx [Vintage Vulture, not VV Brown]

 

 

Dog Days…

Posted on by
Comments


The weeks when i can say i spent my Friday photographing dogs in medals – those be good weeks [PS Crufts, if you’re watching, watch out!]

This [as you may know] is office dog Dolly, modelling one of the many medals we intend to give out at Judy’s at Spitalfields – The Bank Holiday Special next weekend. What are we looking for? With snow on the horizon, perhaps a glossy coat!

Happy weekend vintage fans!

xVVx

Fifties Sense!

Posted on by
Comments

As a male, 20-something blogger [who has *wait for it* only seen 2 series of Mad Men] writing about the 50s and before always proves, well, a little tricky. That’s not to say i harbor any bad taste for the decades – they were divine in their own right and hats off to all who grew up in/ cherish/ wear them today.

Although not quite abandoning them to a pseudo-fashion-room-101, I think it’s the femininity that gets me. The frills, the florals and victory rolls are a little too much.

This isn’t to say i’m some sports-cheerin’ beer-swillin  XY-chromosoned archetype of masculinity [far from it] The brazen feminity of the 60s and the 70s captivates me. Perhaps it is the sheer text-book femininity of the fifties [the swooshing dresses, the flowers, the hair made-oh-so-nice] that frightens me, leaves me running to the glitter-ball androgyny of the 70s and on [where i feel most comfortable]

That said, I couldn’t help but share this dress with you from trader Your Vintage Life [and available at Oxford’s Affordable Vintage Fair this weekend.] TOTES contradictory to my mantra, i can’t help but feel love for it. And why? Not because of the cut, the warm, almost Autumnal florals or the time it represents,  but because I get the overwhelming sense that it has lived; worn in parks, dance-halls, homes and hearths – who knows! Whether in a Betty-Draper monochrome [or a grittier, British reality] – it’s era doesn’t matter to me.

Strip me of my prints, grab the tweed [and fire-up Mad Men series 3] – there’s hope for me yet!

 

xVVx

Mentally Redecorating…

Posted on by
Comments

Greetings vintage fans,

Today has been a day spent indulging in some mental redecoration; not as literal as it sounds, we’re not talking spending time with our cognitive Carol Smiley [nor letting Laurence Llwelyn loose on our lobes!]  but rather cooing over our new favourite thing…VINTAGE WALLPAPER!

Booked-in for The Vintage Furniture Flea this Sunday, we’re in love with E W Moore and their array of vintage things to cover your walls in. Here’s a few of our faves…

And one for the crack…

Check out their website here [and come along to the Flea on Sunday to get your mits on these in person]

 

xVVx

A cheeky trip to Condale

Posted on by
Comments

Greetings vintage fans. Are you well/ blossoming in this pseudo-spell of Springtime heat? Many a pasty leg has seen the light of late [our limbs included] – like Casper at the Seaside – MUST.GET.TANNED.

So, yesterday evening, we took a little jaunt over to Sheffield to go see one of our fave new sing-song duos, Summer Camp. Why are we telling you this on this most hallowed of fashion blogs? Because we FRIKKIN loved their outfits…

Aztec prints, crucifix earrings, more totally tropical than a Lilt Lady – lovechild with Mr Delmonte himself. Watching longingly from the It Box [don’t be deceived by the above VIP ‘side of stage’ photo – my arms just have the dexterousness of your average school project pipe-cleaner – handy!] safe to say,  we loved it.

And the music? As painfully 80s/ 90s infused as the shirt on Jeremy’s back; dreamy synth, lyrics brimming with the angst of a thousand corridors and a performance bursting like bubble-gum, leaving us pink and sticky in the face [which we’re TOTES ok with btw!]  – check out their album ‘Welcome to Condale’ here.

 

xVVx

 

 

 

Nice Rack!

Posted on by
Comments

Put your eyes back in your sockets vintage fans, for we mean literally! This lovely wee magazine rack comes courtesy of LOVE ME AGAIN! vintage [we like the name, needy but endearing!] and is up for grabs at Edinburgh’s Affordable Vintage Fair this weekend.

Much more efficient than the floor [or a magazine fort – we thought about it for a while but heck we’ve seen 127 hours – there’s got to be nothing worse than being trapped under an avalanche of old-school Harper’s Bazaars!] we’ll be racing you to the stall!

 

xVVx