TOP TIPS FOR BUYING VINTAGE CLOTHES...

 

1.Always check the garment's care label for washing instructions,if they don't have any on them they should still have what the fabric is made of, so you can still find out how to clean it.

2.Always try the article on for size as the sizes in the 1950's/1960's is nothing like the sizes of today.

3.Always check for moth infestation as if you find one hole you will probably find more.

4.If you have found something you like in a charity shop but you can't afford it ask for a discount as most charity shops will give you one.

5.For the 1950's and earlier, if there is a zip it should be metal and poppers, hooks and eyes means it could well be early 20th Century clothing.

6.If it has shoulder pads, they should be small, neat and fairly rigid.

7.Look for hand stitched hems as well.

8.After the 1950's look for plastic zips.

9.Shoulder pads would be large and spongy and inner seams were over locked.

HOW IT WAS IN THE 1950's...

 

Think holiday camps and Butlins with home bars and cocktail cabinets a very fashionable accessory in your home.



Flat-packed furniture was introduced with tops laminated in a marble or wood effect.



The Queen's Coronation meant mass production of souvenir items, from biscuit tins to cigarette holders.



Tupperware parties were popping up with melamine plastic tableware very fashionable.



Wall art and prints of swans and flamingos, think Coronation Street. Everything was patterned, from wallpaper, carpets, curtains and cushions which are coming back into fashion at the moment.



The most popular tipple of the 1950's was Babycham with collectable glasses with the babysham on them.


How strange that some of these things are coming back into fashion again :)

AMAZING MENS VINTAGE WORN OUT WEAR...

 

Men's Vintage Fashion lovers must know about Richard and Cosmo Wire.


A father and son who have the most beautiful collection of old clothes, you have ever seen.


Based in a rambling building in Hackney Wick, where they live and work which has every available space covered with rails of historic clothes.


The father and son have spent a lot of time seeking worn-out work garments, which are more often than not pre 1930 and some as old as 1800 from rural France and Japan.


With their expertise in this field they have found contemporary ways to change the old clothes to be wearable and also to create new clothes inspired by these.


They dress in clothes from their collection and anyone seeing their range of clothes could only be inspired and amazed at their choice and workmanship

SEW CURVEY...

 

With vintage fashions like above cooing back into fashion it was no surprise to find a site with curvesin mind. Sew Curvey Is a small business near Oxford in the UK, which specialises in corset making supplies.
It has corset making kits that come beautifully presented in a box containing everything you need to make  a corset.

Because they are beautifully packaged, they make an  ideal gift*!
Kits are supplied with a length of continuous steel boning in order that an exact fit can be obtained.  Pre-cut flat steels for the back of the corset are also supplied in each kit as corset patterns do not differ in length per size at the centre back.

This has to be the easiest way to lose a few inches without needing to diet

THE LITTLE BOOK OF 'SCHIAPARELLI' by EMMA BAXTER-WRIGHT...

 

If you are a 'Schiaparelli' fan, then this book is just for you.

It's far from 'little', but full to the brim with facts, stories, history and lots of illustrations and old and new photographs.

This is not the first book that Emma has written, she also wrote 'Vintage Fashion', which is one of the best books on the market about Vintage Fashion.

The book follows a biographical chronology of the designer with chapters organised into collections, collaborations and themes, including her collaborations with celebrities, and even her fragrance.

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT VINTAGE CLOTHING TO SELL FOR A PROFIT...

 

People are always on the look out for great bargains. So it’s important to regularly check your local vintage clothes goldmine to see if any new stock has come in that could potentially make you some money.

Check out your local charity shops and don’t be afraid to rummage. The chances are that the most collectable items lurk at the bottom of the pile.

Also, keep going back to any shop and get to know the staff so that they know what you are looking out for. Maybe even leave your contact details so they will let you know when something special comes in.

Look for items that are made of high quality fabrics such as wool or cotton. Don't worry if an item has a small hole, is missing a button or needs to be hemmed up, this can all be easily fixed.
Don't spend much as there aren’t any items of clothing in particular that make the most profit, its more about the condition, the label and how limited the availability of the item is. There are plenty of books out there on shopping for vintage.

Although big names generally sell for more money, it’s much more difficult to find them for just a few quid. Because of this, you’re better off sticking to lower priced items to begin with.

Charity shops are a great place for vintage bargains. There are also some fantastic online shops such as somelikeitvintage that have amazing bargain items.

There are literally thousands of collectors out there searching for certain items. They are willing to pay big money for the vintage designer shoe.

Some well known sites to sell them on are ebay, asos marketplace, and specialist auctions or of course at your local vintage fair.

VINTAGE FABRICS FROM THE 1900's TO THE 1980's...

 

If your looking for that vintage fabric then this is the online store to head to, www.donnaflower.com
Donna Flower is the online store for beautiful antique, vintage and retro fabrics. From 19th Century French fabrics to fabrics from the 1980's, they have a wide range to suit all. They also sell items made from vintage, recycled fabrics.

Whether you are looking for small pieces of fabric for quilting or yardage for curtains, or dressmaking, they have a huge stock and may have just what you are looking for.

She also sells beautiful buttons, vintage ribbon and twine.

Donna sells to collectors worldwide, particularly the Japanese, who love Liberty 'Lawn' fabric. She also visits vintage fairs in the West Country to meet dealers and buyers face to face. On 1st July, she will be at the Country House Vintage at Castle Hill, Filleigh, South Molton, Devon (www.countryhousevintage.com)

VINTAGE MANICURE SET WITH THE LETTER 'S' ON FRONT...

 This is a lovely vintage manicure set with the letter S on the front

It is a leather holder and has three items inside it with wooden type handles

It measures 1.24” in width and is around 3” in length

Each manicure piece is around 2.5” in length

Item No 020

SPLENDID STITCHES...

 

 

With all the rage being 'second hand/vintage' clothes it will be no surprise to find some that are in a bit of a state. Especially ones bought from a charity shop.

Well, if your not handy with a needle then London's Splendid Stitches is the place to take your outfits to be repaired.

They can repair, restore and alter clothes so they stay true to their original style.

They offer a personal service and owner Nanna Sandom says they can handle everything from a zip replacements, patching, hemming, mending tears and replacing linings, using genuine vintage parts wherever its possible.

I'm sure it won't be long before more of these types of services will be popping up around the UK.

You can find out more details about Splended Stitches by looking on their website www.splendidstitches.co.uk

HARDLY EVER WORN YOUR OUTFIT?...

How many outfits have you got in your wardrobe that you have hardly every worn? I bet you even have some that still have their tags on them. Well if you have some original designer outfits or accessories then a new website HARDLYEVERWORNIT is the one stop shop for you.
Sharon Wolter-Ferguson has spent the last two years developing this site which is a one stop shop for all those designer items you have hardly ever worn.
They call this' the crème de la crème' of designer clothing. So, if you're a shopaholic in remission, or a fashion magpie who just can't say no at the checkout, this is the place for you.
It works a bit like Ebay in that you upload and manage your own listings, and then the site just takes fifteen percent from your sale or Sharon and her team will sell it for you.
Its basically an online resource where you can find your designer clothes at a fraction of their retail price. http://www.hardlyeverwornit.com/
'A verified designer version of Ebay - Grazia'

WHERE TO SELL OR RECYCLE YOUR VINTAGE CLOTHES...

 

With such an awful summer, I'm sure many of us (myself included) have a wardrobe full of items we need to either sell or want but haven't been inspired to do anything about it.
Well, I've done a bit of research for you and you are sure to find one of the website below perfect for you to either sell, recycle or buy clothes.
www.bigwardrobe.com
www.fashionfayre.com
www.clothesagency.com
www.kerrytaylorauctions.com
www.auction-help.co.uk
www.stuffusell.co.uk
www.auctioning4u.co.uk
www.dropbuysell.com
www.gumtree.com
www.vivastreet.co.uk
www.priceminister.co.uk

VINTAGE FASHION...

                                     VINTAGE FASHION...

'We Heart Vintage Co', is a stunning blog on fashion and photography for the 1920's to the 70's and beyond.

The photographs are beautiful and the writer covers the different decades, fashion, cinema and tv, music and pin-up girls with flare.

You will want to spend all day slowly browsing her site to learn all there is to know about the vintage years, www.weheartvintage.co

THE SEWING DIRECTORY FOR ALL YOUR SEWING NEEDS...

Do you want to make some of your own clothes, revamp your home or want to learn how to sew with workshops, how to guides, and projects ?

The Sewing Directory site has all your sewing suppliers (local or online) sewing courses and sewing groups.

For example 'monthly mending soc-ials' in Central Bath. Details on how to revamp your home. You name it you can find it on this amazing web site. I've totally fallen in love with it and would love to go on a sewing course when things have quietened down at home.

You will be 'inspired', there is no question of that.

Go to 'The Sewing Directory', for more details.

GUCCI CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY...

In 1881 Guccio Gucci was born in Florence. He found some work at the Savoy Hotel, London in 1897 but returned to Florence to join the leather manufacturer Franzi in 1902.
Between 1905 to 1912 Gucci and his wife Aida have three sons, Aldo, Vasco and Rodolfo. He doesn't open his first store in Florence until 1921 when he was 40, and had his first successful suitcases made in 1936. In 1938, the Rome store opened on Via Condotti in 1938.
After World War 11 Gucci introduced the pigskin, which became a signature house material and the first bamboo-handled bag, inspired by the shape of a saddle was produced.
Rodolfo (one of his sons) opened the first Milan store in 1951 when the green-red-green web became a hallmark of the company. By 1953 Gucci became a pioneer of Italian design in the US where Aldo (another son) opened the first American store in the Savoy Plaza Hotel on East 59th Street in New York.
Guccio Gucci died at age 72, only 15 days after the New York store opens. Since then his sons have opened stores all over the world and the rest is history.

FASHION OF THE 60'S IN CARNABY STREET, LONDON...

Many fashion traditions were broken during the 1960s, especially those in the United Kingdom. But the most famous street of all in London which housed independent fashion boutiques and designers was 'Carnaby Street'.

According to wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnaby_Street by the 1960's, Carnaby Street proved for followers of both the Mod and hippie styles. Many independent fashion boutiques, and designers such as Mary Quant, Marion Foale and Sally Tuffin,[6] Lord John, Merc, Take Six, and Irvine Sellars were located in Carnaby Street as well as various underground music bars such as the Roaring Twenties in the surrounding streets. With bands such as Small Faces, The Who, and Rolling Stones appearing in the area to work (with the legendary Marquee Club located round the corner in Wardour Street), shop, and socialize, it became one of the coolest destinations associated with the Swinging London of the 1960's.Harry Fox and Henry Moss opened the first ladies boutique in Carnaby Street called "Lady Jane" in 1966.

The Carnaby Street contingent of Swinging London stormed into North American and international awareness with the April 15, 1966 publication of Time magazine's cover[7] and article that extolled this street's role:

It now has its own website http://www.carnaby.co.uk/
which has
Womenswear
Menswear
Children's Fashion
Hair, Health & Beauty
Home & Lifestyle
Accessories
Cafes
Bars
Restaurants
Nightlife
Fitness
Hotels
Newburgh Quarter
Kingly Court

SIMPLE SEWN GIFTS, BY HELEN PHILIPPS...

SIMPLE SEWN GIFTS BOOK REVIEW...

'Simple Sewn Gifts', by Helen Philipps has 25 projects to make and give. From bunting and aprons to pin cushions and stockings.
Every one of these gorgeous sewing projects is so simple to make up, Yo-yos, applique, embroidery and other stitching techniques add that essential touch of personalisation, and each project comes with a lovely cross stitch motif.
With an easy-to-follow sewing techniques section, and a comprehensive guide to the stitches used in the book, so that you can try your hand at new decorative sewing tricks on a small and easy scale.
It has 184 coloured illustrations of decorative bunting and wall hangings to laundry bags, aprons and eggs cosies, vintage sewing sets, embroidered tote bags and stuffed toys for children. You will be spoilt for choice to decide what to make for Christmas, with a whole chapter full of fantastic needlework designs for Christmas. Available from all good book shops and www.amazon.co.uk

SEWING VINTAGE MODERN by Nora Abousteit and Jamie Lau...

SEWING VINTAGE MODERN...

BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern by Nora Abousteit and Jamie Lau [Hardcover]is due out on the 11th December 2012, so an ideal Christmas gift and available from www.amazon.co.uk

The editors show key fashion looks of the past and deconstructs them so sewers can learn to use these iconic elements to make their own sylish clothes.

Using five basic patterns for a dress, blouse, trousers, trench and skirt, the book gives step-by-step instruction on how to apply versatile techniques from the 1920s through to the 1980s to create an inspiring collection of fresh, new looks.

Fashion designers have always looked back to move forward and budding designers and fashion savvy sweres will use this indispensible resource as a springboard to an amazing range of sewing possibilities.

VINTAGE FABRICS AND TRIMS...

Donna Flower is one of the biggest online store specialising in beautiful antique, vintage and retro fabrics. From 19th Century French textiles to fabrics from the 1980's.

Whether you are looking for small pieces of fabric for quilting or yardage for curtains, or dressmaking, they have a huge stock range to choose from. You can even email them if you do not see what you want on the website as their online selection is not their full range.

They also have some great Christmas gift ideas, from gold floral terrecotta vases, Inspiritus Christmas Candle Floral pots, or a Vintage Button Bag for your Vintage lover friend.

Head to the website for loads of ideas http://www.donnaflower.com/

SHOES THROUGH THE CENTURIES...

Shoes are by no means a 20th Century invention, in fact Japanese geisha'ss wore 'wooden geta', which were thonged sandals mounted on two blocks of wood, which gave them height and made them walk with what they called a provocativee gait'.

In the 15th - 17th centuries shoes were given extra height by a platform sole called a chopine.

During the time of Louis X1V and Marie Antoinette, in the 17th Century, Paris, the heel really became a fashion trend but by 1789, Josephine Bonaparte wore flat shoes and then the most fashionable women wore them as well.

By the mid 19th Century, heels were back in vogue again and in the 20th Century, heels fluctuated as often as the skirt lengths.

In the 1940's, they were high and wedge-shaped and in the 1950's high and pointy (my mums favourite). In 1960 there were low kitten heels as well as high stilettos. The 1970's saw a revival of the 1940's wedge, and the rise of the platform. The 1980's was linked to the stiletto and in fact the working girls of the 1980's wore high heels to the boardroom as well as the bedroom.

The stiletto heel came into vogue in the 1950's when a pair of stiletto court shoes was as essential a part of a woman's wardrobe as her gloves, hat and handbag, and preferably all matching.

The word stiletto means sharp dagger.

Roger Vivier is the fashion designer credited for making the stiletto heel so fashionable due to his designs for Christian Dior.

Many osteopaths agree that the shape of your spine have been irrevocably altered into high heel mode.

VINTAGE SEWING PATTERNS...

With Vintage Fashion being the 'one to wear' at the moment, it is no surprise that Vintage Sewing Patterns are also making a comeback.

One website http://www.sovintagepatterns.com/vintagepatterns.html has over 4,000 hand selected true vintage not copies dress making sewing patterns to choose from!

One example is a 1940s beautiful strapless evening gown dress, flowing cascade overskirt, which was a Vogue Couturier Pattern.

And it's not just patterns for vintage style dresses that this website has but also lingerie slips patterns, which they say is 'totally Audrey Hepburn'.

Other's on offer are 1970s Dress Patterns for Betsey Johnson patterns, 1960 Dress Patterns , Movie Star Patterns, Evening Gown Patterns, 1900-1930s Dress Patterns, 1950s Dress Patterns for new additions, Vogue Couturier Patterns.

Their choice in vintage patterns is wide with the big band swing era 1940s and the glamorous 1950s being their speciality!

And for the home-maker or collector they offer a vast selection of vintage apron patterns from 1920s to the 60s, as well as children's patterns, such cute clothing styles from 1910s to the funky 70s!

They also have fabulous Hats purses and gloves and a wide selection of slips, robes lounging pyjamas and nightgown patterns.

So, get that sewing machine out of the attic and give it a good dusting down as you have no excuse now to not have a vintage style dress in your wardrobe. Of course, the patterns would also make a great Christmas present for someone you know who adores vintage wear.

You can also get some patterns on ebay but personally after browsing the internet this website has by far the biggest and best choice of vintage patterns