It’s think pink week for Advantage In Vintage

Posted in 50s, laura ashley, susan small by liztregenza

If you follow me on twitter @liztregenza you might have seen tweets that I was going to be selling off some of the fabulous @vintagesecret (Naomi Thompson’s) collection. Well, I am delighted to say that at the moment I have some of these wonderful items avaialable on ebay, including a dress that was featured in her recent book Styleme vintage: Clothes.

I am keeping my listings each week at the moment to distinct themes. This weeks theme is think pink. So there are lots of fab pieces from the 30s through to the 80s in pink tones. Not only are there items from Naomis collection, but some of the examples currently up on offer are from my personal collection too. With not one, not two but THREE Susan Small dreses from the 1950s. I am still desperrately downsizing, and there are lots more items coming up in the next few weeks (dresses by Alice Edwards, Blanes and Radley to name but a few).

To go to the listings on ebay just click the link under each image

A gorgeous white dress with blue and pink floral design

A simply delightful 50s St. Michael skirt

One of the dresses for sale as featured in Style me vintage

An amazing pink floral dress from my collection that is up for sale. This dress has a wonderful back detail back!

Not just pink, but polka dot too. This ace dress is an 80s Laura Ashley number

Another from my collection (and one I really don’t want to let go of). A Susan Small dress

There will also be more to come from Naomi’s collection including some highly collectible pieces (the most amazing novelty print berketex dress, a quorum skirt and a delightful 30s black evening dress amongst other items.)

If you want to know anymore about the pieces I am selling feel free to drop me an email.

Or check out my full current listof ebay auctions here

24Jun2012

My final farewell to Leeds

Posted in Uncategorized by liztregenza

So, its over.

This is probably one of the most emotional posts I’ve ever written. Not strictly what I normally write about, but I feel it is a must.

Today after four of the craziest years of my life I said my final farewell to Leeds. I honestly can’t quite believe that my undergraduate degree and my life as a student of the University of Leeds has come to an end. I actually finished my degree way back in mid may but I’ve still been in the good city of Leeds since.

I remember way back in 2008 when I started my degree and hating it more than I can possibly explain, there were so many occasions when I wanted to quit (mostly because I felt I couldn’t do my course) but I am so glad that I stuck it out. If I hadn’t done my course I would have never done my year in industry and worked out my true vocation. I think the year out I had changed me for the better, and if anyone else out there is currently on a design based degree I can not recommend it highly enough. Everyone I know who did a year in industry benefitted from it immeasurably and not only that came back focused and ready for their final year.

I have to say a huge thank you to people for making the last four years so amazing, girls from my course, friends I’ve made along the way, tutors, everyone. There’s certainly been good times, and also horrendously bad times but I’ve come out of this experience knowing what I want to do with my life and having made some (what I hope will be) lifelong friends.

The biggest thanks though probably has to go to my housemates who I’ve lived with this year. Ally, Derms, Janet and Vic have helped to make final year of uni an amazing experience and also the year in which I FINALLY truly enjoyed being in Leeds. I have to say an especially big thank you to Vic. Poor girl has had to deal with a lot from me (I’ll never forget her birthday in second year when she looked after me when I was hysterically crying under the kitchen table- true friendship there). Not only have we done the same course but we’ve also lived together throughout the three years I spent studying in Leeds.

I honestly can’t believe I wont be living with these ladies anymore they are four of my best friends and also four of the most amazing people I know. 2 superbly talented fashion students ( the pride i felt watching Vix and Janets clothes go down the catwalk of the uni fashion show…oh my), one textile student (whose knit designs are simply top notch) and one law student who is perhaps one of the best cooks i know (Ally if it all goes tits up you can come and be my personal cook : )).It gets me all emotional just thinking about the fact i’ve left, I’ve loved not only spending this year living with them but also the fantastic house we lived in in Woodhouse (we had the sweetest landlord ever). I know I’ve been a pain with my hideous messiness over the year and the fact that my vintage clothing seems to explode EVERYWHERE within the house so thank goodness they have put up with me for this long.

Sorry for the mess guys

And now a few particularly funny photographic highlights from life in Leeds.

First year

My housemates back in first year.

A picture for comic value. I can’t believe i used to wear skirts this short and tight sometimes!

The infamous night where I headbutted my wall and put a hole in it.

2nd year

Not strictly in Leeds, but the somewhat legendary chin bruise I encountered.

Final year

So now onwards and upwards. Leeds you’ve been great.

20Jun2012

Shopping in New York- Brands

Posted in buffalo jeans, carolina hererra, lilly pulitzer by liztregenza

The second in my series of New York post focuses on something I love to do; shopping. Now, I’m not normally one for buying new, but whilst in the states I thought I should at least *investigate* some different brands (I.e. I spent a good few hours aimlessly wandering up and down 5th avenue and Madison avenue trying on silly amounts of clothes). One great thing I found whilst doing this was that there were actually lots of really well made clothes to be found by brands I had never come across. This is often one of my big bugbears about buying new; poor quality but a lot of the All-American brands seemed to be producing very high quality pieces (Yes, the prices were high, but the quality made them seem fairer).

One of the best brands I discovered was Lilly Pulitzer. This brand was SO up my street. Beautiful novelty print garments in bold bright colours. I particularly loved the bustier dresses and shift dresses. Best of all their sizes went to a 00 which was a perfect fit. I so nearly purchased a dress in the store on Madison avenue but managed to just about hold myself back.

Here are a couple of my fave pieces.
Blossom Dress

Blossom dress

Franco Dress

Franco dress

Callahan Short

Callahan shorts

Another brand was Banana Republic, I know we have this over in the UK now, but the selection in the US is just soooo much better. I have very short legs, so I loved their petite stuff which actually doesn’t require me to either turn up the hems or pretend that cropped trousers are actually full length.

(website isn’t great but check out their stuff in stores as it looks much netter in the flesh)

In New York I also found TONS of really great denim. Whatever fit of jeans you’re after, whatever waist size or leg length you can certainly find great jeans in any of the big department stores. A number of the big stores had crazy selections of levis at great prices and I also particularly liked buffalo jeans. Their brightly coloured jeans were some of the nicest I’ve seen and the brand also had some ace western style shirts that would look great tied.

Buffalo jeans

And finally going a bit more upmarket (and even further out of my price range) Carolina Herrera. I’ve seen stuff by this brand before but never had I dared tried anything on! Anyway I was in one of those moods and tried on some amazing stuff by the brand in Bergdorf and Goodman . The novelty dog print (apparently of her dog called Gaspar) skirts and blouses were simply amazing. Oh if only for that funny thing called money…