Shopping for vintage clothing: the tips

Following on from my previous post about visiting the vintage kilo sale, I thought I'd elaborate further and express how I prefer to go about finding the items suited for me once I step into a thrift environment. It can sometimes be overwhelming entering into the world of vintage clothing, especially if it's for the first time. There's just so much choice and often it's normal to feel like you have no idea where to start. Rummaging through numerous collections from the past isn't always an easy job but hopefully these tips of mine will be a guide and give you a rough idea of what to aim for when searching (but to disclaim - don't always take my word for it because everyone is different.)

Have in mind what you're looking for

Before you tootle off to a vintage fair, a charity shop or even a vintage based high street stop, think about why you're going there, your intentions and what you have in mind to buy. Are you looking for a quality handbag? A loud print? A stylish piece? A unique day to day dress? You'll know when a piece strikes out at you but it's always best to question whether or not you are going to get plenty of wear out of it and whether it's really worthy of spending money on. There's no point jumping into a purchase just because you think the piece is a rare kind or would be on trend, you actually have to like it to wear it. If you see something that catches your eye, consider whether they'll be a real investment. Doing your research and having a strategy when it comes to choosing specific type of clothing and accessories that match your personal style will help you make your decision much quicker. 

Start with a classic

There's nothing more rewarding than finding a timeless classic that will add something special to your wardrobe. Beginning with a basic piece such as a cardigan, a coat, a little black dress, or even a pair of staple trousers is a great technique to have when thinking about the essentials and it makes things less confusing and complex with the thrill of the hunt still being intact. Once again, you have to study whether what you've picked is/are worth shelling out for and reflect on the possibility of losing its charm right away. I think once you've found that perfect piece, the rest follows and you can start building your collection. 

Look past the size

I'm sure you've heard this many a times but sizes can vary to the extreme in the vintage clothing range, especially if it's from an older era. Times change, so do the approximate measurements of the size expectations and standards. What may be a size 14 in past tense, would more than likely fit a size 10 in today's generation (I know purely because this has happened to me a fair few times now). The best way to find out if it is suited to your size and shape is to try it on but understandably, due to time issues and lack of private space in a busy, vintage based venue, this isn't always possible. To get the most accurate demonstration you can hold it up to yourself or just compare the sizing you see in front of you to your usual wardrobe. Even if the garment appears a little big or small, it's good to look at the other options. You could wear it oversized, shorter and it could be even be altered with care. However, some items due to the way they've been made may be unalterable and a vintage piece is a rare kind which is why it's important to be aware of body proportions. 

Know your eras 

It's handy to build up your knowledge on all eras, not just because of the sizing differences as the years go on but because you want to identify the old to the new. The easiest route to take is to follow the closest to now and then move on to past. You can find some real gems in the 80's and 90's and even 00's period and naturally this seems to be the most popular as it fits into the ever changing current styles but this might not always be to your tastes. Experimenting with more contemporary eras allows you to distinguish which era is suited to you and changes up the modern vibe. Being label savvy is also mega helpful when vintage shopping, to know which are true vintage and what value you are actually looking at. You should always check the labels for the good brands and designers as you can find some real bargains!

Check the condition

This may sound a tad odd, but whenever I'm vintage shopping I always have to investigate the condition of the item before I buy. As most garments and accessories are at least 10-20 years old, they are going to have a little wear to them but you want to avoid fragile pieces to prevent future damage. Removing from the rail, straightening the item out and thoroughly having a feel (why this sounds so wrong I do not know) will ensure you will be pleased with your potential purchase. The quality and fabric of an item is necessary to the wear you will get out of it as there's nothing worse than going home with an item for it then to fall apart after a few uses. Inspecting for flaws; the thinning of material, the colouring and whether it's faded, any holes, the brittleness/dryness and even the smell is significant. Don't be afraid to have a sniff of an item. It's paramount to touch an item and see it it still has life in it but you also don't want to be buying something with a stale scent which will be hard to get rid of. Gathering all these aspects together will give you a clearer idea when weighing up the costs and effort put in for the price given.

You can find some real gems when hunting down vintage items and that's the beauty of it. I believe the earlier you attend vintage based events, the better chance you'll have of finding that key piece which will go on to have a place in your heart (we've all been there with an item of clothing, surely?! Maybe it's just me).

Do you have any other tips to consider? Hope everyone is having a lovely day.

Bridie x

Life: the Leeds vintage kilo sale

For the last couple of years now I've developed a love for vintage fairs. There's just something so satisfying when you find a piece of clothing which feels as though it's been saved for you from past time. Knowing you're going to get a lot of wear out of something which nobody else will be able to pick up in the high street shops is a discovery to treasure. It's the unique characteristics that you wouldn't find on your average day to day piece that I love about vintage clothes and how you can bring back the items from the teddy boy era and include them in the current trends. 

The Vintage Kilo Sale is an event I've heard about previously but one I've never had the chance to visit whilst it's being in its (and my) hometown of Leeds. To sum it up, a Vintage Kilo Sale is a widened opportunity for you to grab a bargain and experiment with trends you may not have otherwise considered. Tons of clothing, shoes and accessories ranging from the 60's-90's are displayed throughout in rails and tubs for you to pick and mix whatever takes your fancy. It works by grabbing a large bag upon entry, placing your rifled choices in there and then when you're done (or when whomever is accompanying orders you to stop and drags you away) you take it to the weight tills where you will be charged £15 per kilo. It's certainly an ingenious way of doing your shopping. If you think about it, a kilo could be added up with 4-5 lightweight items or a new coat (like I did, just call me Joseph) with space for another 1 or 2 items and that's your wardrobe stocked up in a measly fraction of what you'd usually pay.

When I received an email from the lovely Jenessa asking me if I'd like to come along and take part in a little blogger challenge, I accepted straight away. (To be fair, how could I have hesitated? Me? Shopping for more clothes? Never!). The fair took place in Riley Smith Hall inside the student union in Leeds Met University. As I wasn't familiar with this part of town I made sure I left myself plenty of time, which actually turned out to be a bad idea. The North unfortunately got hit by more snow on Thursday and typically, as soon as we (the we meaning my brother who I dragged along with me) walked out of the door, it started again. After a dreadful experience of getting caught in a bitterly cold snowstorm blizzard and losing track of where I was, I finally arrived an hour and a half later looking as though I'd just stepped out of a shower (makeup disaster and flat hair; not a good look, guys). After my brief greeting, I got started! 

 

As the kilo sale had been live for 2 days, there wasn't as much choice as there'd usually be. Don't get me wrong, the rails were organised, filled with variety, detailed designs and the atmosphere was fun, music playing and lots of young people searching for great bargains but obviously, I had less of a selection than I would have done if I attended first thing Wednesday morning. That's the only problem with vintage fairs, as exciting and unpredictable as they are; once something's gone, it's gone. Not that, that mattered though. 

After a good rummage through the presented rails I found this gorgeous creamy beige belted coat which was the perfect match to the desired spring jacket I had in mind. As well as that, I came across this basic but more upper class basic white/Ivory top with pretty buttons in a couple of sizes larger. Me and my oversized clothing go hand in hand so this will be the ideal comfortable shirt I can just throw on.

I can pleasantly say my first vintage kilo experience was a positive one. I'd highly recommend going to one because you'd be surprised at what you can uncover. As they travel city to city compromising their excellent value and quality, you can find out if or when they're in your area by following their Facebook page. Easy peasy. 

Have you been to one of these events before? What are your thoughts?

Bridie x

*this blog post was in exchange for a free kilo and free entry at the fair

Forage and Find

Now if there's one thing I love in life, it's jewellery and if there's an element that increases that love, it's vintage jewellery. However, this isn't just any vintage jewellery business, this is an authentic, dynamic vocation which doesn't believe in losing jewellery that would otherwise be forgotten about, but instead plans and puts together a whole new concept. I was recently approached by the lovely Alice from Forage and Find which lead on to my discovery of these beautifully unique, handmade jewellery pieces. Not only did I fall head over heels for the striking items, I loved the creative approach both Alice and her mother take on reproducing precious historical valuables, reworking them to suit individual styles and producing a spanking brand new fragment from the past, bringing it fresh and wrapped into the future. This not only means you're always guaranteed an interesting, unusual statement piece of jewellery that you will never find elsewhere, but it also benefits the environment, saves a perfectly reusable segment from being wasted, and upcycles those forlorn materials giving them a new and inspiring lease of life; all of which I'm 100% supportive and respectful, which I'm sure everybody else will also be. 

The story and background of the trade is so sweet and their positive attitude towards it is uplifting. To have an essence of history locked into the stunning gems is such a brilliant idea. Alice and her mother 'believe everyone should have access to interesting handmade vintage jewellery that provides a talking point.' They state 'We don't believe in mass produced, and instead prefer to rework previously unloved fragments of the past and dedicate our time to developing unique pieces of jewellery that will never be repeated again.'

What the virtuous duo do is simply special in each and every way. They are most certainly the most clever and skilled mother and daughter I have ever stumbled across. You can tell straight away the amount of time and effort that is put into designing the assortment of antique pieces and can identify the care, love and protection of these assortments. Each piece has a strong eye-catching feel to it and are so elegant and well thought out, the carefully crafted clarity shines through instantly, showing great tenderness towards every component and bringing them back to life. The majority of the jewellery even manages to tell a story, most of which gears up your imagination to represent a fairytale like the The Fox Jumped Over The Moon Silver Statement Necklace and the 1930's Watch Mechanism Necklace which reminds me of something I'd see lurking in the setting of Alice In Wonderland. From clock mechanisms, to swallows, to books, there really is something for everyone to choose from, indulge in and lust over (like I am at this moment in time). Below I've picked some of my favourites which was exceedingly difficult to narrow down, but I managed it... just.

1/2/3/4/5/6/7

8/9/10/11/12

13/14/15

All images taken from www.forageandfind.co.uk

There are so many distinctive pieces you can work with and with affordable prices starting from as low as £7 and international shipping, you really couldn't ask for more. Each and every one of the products from the collection would make the perfect gift, especially now Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If this is something you like to try out or be inspired by, you have to check out this noteworthy brand. Once you have found that solitary piece, I'm truly certain it will be treasured for a long time. Forage and Find deserve the recognition and deserve to evolve and I have an enthusiastic instinct that this is going to thrive into something huge. 

You can find them here:

- Website

- Facebook

- Twitter

- Etsy

Feel free to let me know if you took out that spare moment to browse through the glorified jewellery, I'd love to know what your favourite pieces are and if you now adore it as much as I do!

My 3 vintage buys

Last Sunday (a week today in fact) I visited my 3rd vintage fair of the year. I seem to have developed a strong love for them over a period of a few months and when I saw that not one, but two vintage fairs were back in Leeds, I had to attend without no second thought. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to browse around Judy's Vintage Fair as I had to rush back home for my Sunday dinner (mmm!) but what I did manage to do is spend a good hour in Lou's Lou's Vintage Fair which was the fair I went to all the way back in September (see here). As per, it exceeded my expectations; the stunning town hall which may or may not just be my favourite part of living in Leeds, is the perfect venue for the layout of this fair and upon entering I was once again intrigued by all the charming decor, the unique accessories and the iconic styles. This time there was also a lovely lady singer up on stage to entertain everybody and a man was handing out tasters of lemon curd tart before you could visit the ditsy tea room and experience more of that kind of food yourself.

I use my time at vintage fairs to not only browse around and investigate every era of clothing, but to also look around at the people in view. It is luring to notice distinctive fashion and I find myself noting tips in my head how I could reflect on people's style. The atmosphere is always pleasant too, it has a nice feel to it as soon as you step inside which makes you want to stay longer. There's a variety of all ages and genders but  we're all there to share the same love of clothing that will never go out of date (however, it's not so good when you have your eye on something and someone gets there before you). I didn't spend much and I never really do as somehow I manage to find the bargains, but I thought I would show the world the three items I did buy.

I've been looking for a Christmas jumper since October but I seemed to be out of luck no matter how hard I tried, even the Christmas jumper wishlist I made was no good as half of the stock on there seemed to have vanished. There wasn't one that caught my eye (either that or they've been too expensive in the shops) until last week when my inner Christmas jumper lover raided the festive rails. I was so happy when I spotted this adorable piece and I did risk it by leaving it until I looked around fully but my instincts revolved back to this one. I accidentally didn't even consider the cost and snapped it up as quickly as possible but I was pleased I'd finally found one and it met my desired jumper pattern. It was £15 which is the most I've ever spent on one item at a vintage fair but it was well worth it and it has knitted parts so to say it's hand knitted, it was reasonable. Not only is it comfortable and warm, but its characters sparkle with cheeriness and scream out cuteness. I can't wait to christen it on Christmas day now! 

After buying my Christmas jumper, being the cheapskate I am, swooped back over to the £5 and £10 rails which are my preferred kind of stall. Here I bought this pretty patterned pussy-bow shirt which I also spotted on my way round but left to the last (and that was a mistake as the second shirt I'd spotted had gone!). This was only £5 and it's such a great buy because there are so many ways I can wear it. You can never go wrong with a shirt and the bow at the top adds to that classy but casual look. 

Thirdly, was the Marilyn Monroe necklace which dangled within a jewellery filled environment. I think it may have been the stall which was there before and it's so dreamy, the area in the corner has low light but the gorgeous, retro lamps make up for that and gives it that cozy feel. I myself, love the Marilyn Monroe era and her image is iconic to me so I couldn't resist this cameo style necklace with a silver bow. I thought it may be ideal to wear for when I go to a Frank Sinatra tribute night with the family just before Christmas. The dress code is formal *cue me glamourizing to the top* and I already have my outfit planned, so this is a little extra. 

Now, here's a couple of pictures of me with the jumper and shirt on:

As I said before, I'm struggling an awful lot with the lighting for photos with these dark winter nights drawing in. Getting dark at ridiculous times like 2pm and being dull near enough everyday just isn't working for me, my camera nor my severely poor lit house so you may have to bear with me there. The good news is, I've invested in a notebook to write the ideas down for my blog posts so I'm hoping to post more frequently and to build my blog up to where I'd like it to be. I'm also in the middle of getting my bedroom to where I want  it to be (as you can see from the new curtains, voile and tiebacks even though this is the first time my bedroom's background has featured on my blog so actually, you can't see the progress...) and lastly, I've found my new favourite lipstick and my new favourite easy to do hairstyle. Back pinning one bit of hair up higher than the rest makes me feel less stressy when it comes to trying to keep my hair out of my face. I may look even younger and it may not even suit me but I'm happy with this new discovery.

So that's that, I shall say goodbye for now my lovelies. Hopefully I'll be back soon with my Christmas related posts! (Here I am again with the word hope). Hope everyone's had a nice weekend!

Lots of love...

A day at Lou Lou's Vintage Fair

Yesterday, I attended my very first vintage fair at my local town hall. I'd heard about it on Facebook and persuaded my mum to be my partner for the day as I've been wanting to go to one for so long now. As I ventured in, I didn't have a clue where to start. There were around 50 stalls of men's and women's vintage clothes, shoes, jewellery and accessories scattered around the hall followed by another few stalls downstairs displaying glassware, vintage furniture and a cute, dinky tearoom decorated with patterned bunting. 

We spent around an hour browsing upstairs and then headed downstairs, ending the day with some tea and cake served in pretty crockery (well coffee, as I don't like tea *shock gasp due to the British stereotype* and I aren't even keen on coffee either but hot chocolate wasn't available tut tut). I had such a great day, I really enjoyed searching through the era's from the 50's to the 90's and not only that, the fashion, beauty and decor inspiration around me; including the hair salon where clients were experimented on with the old school hairstyles. The atmosphere was totally up my street, classic music was playing, the lights were dimmed and the gorgeous, detailed items shone through with the cozy lights.

I only spent £22 which was an even bigger advantage. The picture below is what I purchased and I am so so happy with the shirt which was only a tenner and is such a beautiful print. I loved the fair so much that I'm going to another one this weekend (Judy's Vintage Fair) with my brother who said he wouldn't mind going to the next one as they also sell vintage designer clothing. I'm intending on going to so many more in the future, especially with how some of them began in Leeds so offer free entry. I suppose you can't get fairer than that!

Lots of love...