Tag Archives: vintage

York Festival of vintage

Posted in 40s, 50s, Festival of vintage, Jonathan Logan, Liberty, York by


  


On Saturday I had a completely wonderful day in one of my favourite cities in the country, York. My reason for travelling up to York was for the Festival of Vintage a brilliant event organized by Keeley Harris the lady behind the Discover Vintage fairs and the Vintage Emporium shop in York.
What can I say? Not only did the event have some completely amazing stalls offering something for everyone (in particular lots of wonderful mid century dresses) but there was also a collectors corner, music, cars, hair and make up, talks and fashion shows.
My outfit for the day was a lovely two pieces 1950s Liberty of London airforce blue grosgrain suit and 1940s Lotus suede platform shoes.





Here are just a few of the purchases I made. 

An amazing Jonathan Logan Suit. I think I might need to alter the skirt a bit as the line isn’t quite slim enough for me and do something about the fading on the arm, but love it nonetheless. (apologies for the weird angle of the picture my cupboard door decided that was the prefect moment to spring open)









A lovely little Lucite purse and rhinestone beaded bag




 A fab lucite “confetti” bangle

(These four bits were all from one of my favouirte sellers who I seem to buy from every time she is at the big vintage fair at Leeds town hall)



A totally fab 50s Blanes Dress which is a perfect fit and still has its original integral net underskirt
And here is me with the lovely Becca @bookishbecca on twitter whom I had never met before Saturday and the Lovely Naomi of Vintage secret who was talking at the event (and rather an excellent job of it she did too!)
There will also be another festival of vintage happening in September at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey, details here!

A New (to me) 50s vintage novelty print skirt

Posted in 50s, Richard shops by

Sorry I have been so ridiculously quiet of late! Unfortunately this is likely to continue for the next two weeks until my final degree coursework is handed in.

So, for now I’m just going to keep sharing some pieces purchased lately : )
Today is this rather spiffing 1950s skirt which is in absolutely perfect condition (the cotton is so crisp i wouldn’t be surprised if it had never been worn)

I am an absolute sucker for novelty prints. Give me something a little bit different or random and I am a happy bunny. This gorgeous skirt is not exception printed all over with champagne bottles and grapes. It really is a perfect skirt for someone like me who certainly enjoys a tipple!

This skirt comes from the retailer Richard shops, although it has no makers label. Richard shops designed their own brand garments as well as selling pieces by other companies. Richard shops was a well known department store with the brand first started way back in 1927 by Jack Lyons. The company finally ceased trading in 1999 after being bought out by Arcadia and most stores changed to those within the Arcadia group.

Richard shops Preston c.1962
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpsmithbarney/4439858182/

I also have a Horrockses dress with a Richard shops retailer label in it (the same label as this) which demonstrates they were one of the many department stores that stocked Horrockses dresses in the 50s.

I’m actually pretty interested by Richard shops as it’s only since buying vintage that I’ve come across the department store despite the fact it was still operating in my lifetime. Was it mostly a Northern operation? And what sort of price level were they at? (I’m guessing due to their buy out by Allders at one point it was somewhat similar to them). Anyway I’d love to know more if anyone has any info!

40s Platform shoes- two of my best EVER purchases

Posted in 40s, lotus by


This week I bought two of the most sensational pairs of shoes that I have possibly ever owned.
They are both amazing pairs of platform shoes, so I’ll start off with a little background about the platform shoe…
Platform shoes aren’t a fashion trend restricted to the 20th century, with examples existing of chopines (the forerunner of the platform) right back to the renaissance period, originally used as an overshoe or patten. Due to the fact that the “platform” was often made of wood or cork original examples do still survive.
Into the 20thcentury it was the 30s when the platform came back into fashion.
Vogue October 1938 “ It’s no sin to call a shoe clumsy, these days It’s a compliment. If you haven’t already worn a platform or wedge sole, do have a pair of two for autumn with this new thick look”.
Carmen Miranda was also a big influence on the popularity, she wore the shoes due to the fact she was a very diminutive 5ft and apparently she commissioned a pair from Ferragamo in 1936 and this was when the craze for platform really set in!
Ferragamo was an innovator with the variety of materials he used and his often art inspired designs.
Platforms remained popular throughout the 30s and 40s worn for day and evening wear. Especially during the war the style was popular due to the materials that could be used to make platforms (materials that were cheap and in supply like wood  and cork). Ferregamo was using cork from wine bottles for his shoes!
The cork wedge was particularly popular in America, supposedly by 1938 86% of all shoes had wedge soles in America.

Now onto my two pairs of shoes which are not only beautiful but also fit me like a dream.
First off this gorgeous red pair which date to 1949, these came with a pair of matching nylons to go with them, I adore these shoes so much,,such a chic colour! I spoke to my Grandmother about these yesterday and she remembers having a pair almost identical but in white in the late forties, if only she had kept them.




I know these date to 1949 because I have the original provenance for them, but a good way of dating shoes is peep toes. As, during the war it was rare to see shoes with peep toes as they were considered “dangerous”. Of course there are exceptions to this rule- but generally this is the case!. Meaning if you have a pair of CC41 peep-toe shoes they will probably be post-war examples.


This pair though are my super special “holy grail” pair and date to 1948. They were worn as the original owners wedding shoes, purchased with her post-war ration coupons (I’m such a sucker for a good story!). They are also by iconic brand Lotus, who regularly advertised in the pages of Vogue (pick up any 40s or 50s copy and you’ll probably see their gorgeous and quite expensive shoes gracing the pages!)


Why though are they a holy grail purchase?

 Years ago I saw another pair of these shoes in Hope and Harlequin in Brighton, but they weren’t for sale. My mum and I have spent over four years asking Louise the owner of the shop if she would sell them to no avail. Not only that but this very pair of shoes appear in the dictionary of fashion and fashion designers. So, I cant believe that I now have a pair of the very shoes that I always dreamed would be mine!
Hope you enjoyed my lovely new shoes. They certainly made me happy!