Birthday celebrations!

To celebrate my birthday this year I am forgoing drinks for ice-cream. Super childish, age-denying ice-cream. I'm talking knickerbocker glories.

At the seriously swish, rather retro ice-cream parlour at Fortnum and Mason.

I am going to wear a dress that makes me feel like Grayson Perry and possibly even ankle socks.

ps - no vintage as generally they're all too close fitting for the amount of ice-cream I plan to consume

New stock: vintage shirt - silk, Italian and handmade

I love this shirt. It's so beautiful. I'd keep it but I just don't need things this smart in my wardrobe any more.

The colours are perfect for this spring, totally on trend for the Celine shades of beige, camel and taupe trend beloved by Garance Dore et al. I think it would look great over capris with a pair of big heels. A vintage twist on the trend of the season.

I found the shirt in Glasgow and the girl I bought it from got it in Italy. It's handmade, or at least at hand finished and is silk. I think it could be as early as 1940s.

Happy bidding! Here's all the other stock available at the moment too.

ps - even my photo looks like Celine!

Blogs of interest: The Girl Can't Help It Vintage Blog

I prefer to put blogs up here that are starting out but I couldn't resist 'The Girl Can't Help It Vintage Blog.' Along side posts about vintage, there are some brilliant random finds. For example, check out handerpants...

Yup, that's handwarmers made to look like y-fronts. I kid you not. I think they might actually be real, they have a website and everything.

Full of treats like that!

The great stocking debate

I admit it, I am a dedicated wearer of stockings at every opportunity.

In vintage clothing this presents no problem. But the reality is that I don't wear vintage daily and modern clothes reveal stockings/suspender belts much more easily. I spent all of yesterday terribly conscious that when the wind blew it revealed the outlines of my suspender belt.

Solution: Henry Holland for Pretty Polly. These are GENIUS. Ok, so I'm about 6 months late but I got pair of last seasons' Super Suspenders and the look like stockings but are dark tights! (That's the other problem with stockings, ever tried finding a pair thicker than 15 denier?!)

Problem: this seasons are much lower and potentially more visable under skirts. Great, if that's your look, not so great for the vintage lover.

Why didn't I buy more pairs at the time they were out?!

This seasons are available at lots of retailiers, including ASOS.

More images from the vintage fashion photo shoot

Here's Rai wearing one of my favourite dresses, the 'Ike Dress.' I adore this dress - it's from my personal collection - but I've only worn it once as it's rather delicate. We went with a rather pin-up feel for this shot, with the little sailor hat too.

It's American (obviously) on printed cotton. I'm not 100% sure about the age, I feel 1950s.

The model was Rai Quartley and the photographer was Ray Morris-Hill.

And a few vintage accessories...

Here's the final few things that are already up and listed on eBay that finish on Monday. The vintage handbag is a little hard to date but it's around the 1960s I think. The vintage headband is much easier - clearly the 80s! Both are really fun! I hope whoever ends up with them enjoys using them.

Oh, and this shirt too! I nearly forgot it! :)

And here's the remainder of my stock :)

Fabulous vintage 70s maxi dress

I love this dress and am slightly surprised it hasn't sold earlier. It's really lovely, a gentle cream colour, full length with slightly puffed sleeves and a high neck. Definitely 70s, it's a cracker of a vintage dress! Here it is on eBay, happy bidding!

And here's my other stock, if should wish to peruse it too!

Awesome vintage jackets

Lots of stock on eBay at the moment. Here are a few of the jackets. Most of the auctions are ending on Monday but more stock is being put up today...

First images from the photo shoot...

One of the reasons this week has been quiet on the blogging front is that I have been working on my first ever proper photo shoot!

Just for the photographers' and model's portfolios, we were able to have a lot of fun. I provided the vintage dresses and the styling, such as there was.

Here's the first image, as yet untouched, but looking great! I just love this dress.

Taken by Ray Morris-Hill, his website's got more of his work on. More photos to follow!

Blogs of interest: Small Town Vintage

I often find vintage blogs can be a bit twee (hence the black background for my blog!) but I think Small Town Vintage has got a great balance. Not overly about vintage fashion itself, although the owner has an etsy shop, it has a nice selection of vintage things, food and her pets.

How cute is the picture! So spring like! And finally, apt for London! Woop woop!

And don't forget to check out my stock on eBay, there's lots of bargains to be had!

The great eBay trial

Given that the majority of people reading this blog are British, I thought I'd try selling via eBay for a while, as Etsy just doesn't have the reputation yet in the UK.

So, I've transferred a selection of items to eBay (by hand I might add, what a fun Easter Monday!)

Now I shall watch with bated breath to see if more is sold this way...

Happy Easter lovely readers!

New stock: Vintage headband 80s velvet

boy und schwester vintage brings you this fab vintage velvet 80s headband. You can't help but love it! It makes me smile every time I see it. And, it's only $10/£5. What more could you ask? :)

Available on boy und schwester's etsy shop here. And don't forget to check out our other stock! :)

Inspiration: Walter Sickert's Venetian palette

Are you finding the weather hard to dress for too? I have this huge sense of spring coming. I want to wear bright colours, light fabrics and be outside but the weather swings from sunny to overcast to rainy to cold to sticky at the drop of the hat.

I'm finding solace in the colour palette transition. Beautiful tones of grey, blue and green but mixed with shots of gold and yellow. I love Walter Sickert's work, I hope you find his colouring inspiring too!

Photos from The Telegraph, Country Life and The Independent.